[Official] Shard of Focus | Shard of Focus

[OldTrees]

I think zanz has already fixed the main problem: first turn nova then Sofo. It seems AI skips the first Accretion it can do with Sofo  now.

Do more testing please. The AI has a random chance to use each valid ability. (The chance is based on the cost and the automatically targeted card's variables)

That said, it is extremely hard to fix a PvP problem by changing the PvE AI.

[kimham8a]

I think zanz has already fixed the main problem: first turn nova then Sofo. It seems AI skips the first Accretion it can do with Sofo  now.

That problem cannot be fixed by AI alterations.

Lol I was editing my post to reflect this and then I read this. Anyway, so of course, you're right. But my point is I think zanz did something about it.

Can someone confirm this nerf actually happened?

edit: OMG people are replying fast.
@OldTrees
I think I had hourglasses, a sundial, and a thorn carapace out while he had one sofo that had been out for one turn already and then for that turn just played one more sofo and didn't use ability (and I think each sofo also rested 2 turns, but I wasn't paying attention for that). But yeah I'll keep my eyes open for it next time I play. (probably tomorrow)

[sunyata]

New idea for a nerf: SoF stays as is but on activation (every activation of accretion) it costs you all quanta but gravity (like SoSa does).
You can still play the black hole but it hurts most decks that just pack them with novae to slow you down since they are slowed too.
Also, some of the combos (rage potion) become unviable, while the gravity combos (gravity pull, overdrive) still work.

Like it :-)  One of the best nerf suggestions I've seen yet.

[furballdn]

New idea for a nerf: SoF stays as is but on activation (every activation of accretion) it costs you all quanta but gravity (like SoSa does).
You can still play the black hole but it hurts most decks that just pack them with novae to slow you down since they are slowed too.
Also, some of the combos (rage potion) become unviable, while the gravity combos (gravity pull, overdrive) still work.

Like it :-)  One of the best nerf suggestions I've seen yet.

SoSa's design is not as good since instead of having an elemental benefit, it has elemental penalty instead. Shards should benefit their specific element, not penalize every element besides theirs.

[kimham8a]

New idea for a nerf: SoF stays as is but on activation (every activation of accretion) it costs you all quanta but gravity (like SoSa does).
You can still play the black hole but it hurts most decks that just pack them with novae to slow you down since they are slowed too.
Also, some of the combos (rage potion) become unviable, while the gravity combos (gravity pull, overdrive) still work.

Like it :-)  One of the best nerf suggestions I've seen yet.

SoSa's design is not as good since instead of having an elemental benefit, it has elemental penalty instead. Shards should benefit their specific element, not penalize every element besides theirs.

Also it doesn't solve the first turn nova sofo combo issue at all.

By the way, I played a few more games against platinum today and I saw the same AI for the Sofos; after playing the Sofo they cannot use Accretion for two turns, rather than one.

[Tirear]

By the way, I played a few more games against platinum today and I saw the same AI for the Sofos; after playing the Sofo they cannot use Accretion for two turns, rather than one.

I tested in the trainer, and the AI destroyed all three of my permanents with its four SoF played in the previous turn. I can only conclude that you were using low value permanents and the AI decided to save its uses of accretion for a bigger threat (and then got tired of waiting next turn).

[sunyata]

By the way, I played a few more games against platinum today and I saw the same AI for the Sofos; after playing the Sofo they cannot use Accretion for two turns, rather than one.

I tested in the trainer, and the AI destroyed all three of my permanents with its four SoF played in the previous turn. I can only conclude that you were using low value permanents and the AI decided to save its uses of accretion for a bigger threat (and then got tired of waiting next turn).

I can confirm.  AI continues to use SoF next turn when it wants to.
N.B. how AI uses SoF is irrelevant to card balancing which should be based on cards abilities in a real player's hand.  This thread is large enough without going off topic to discuss AI issues, which should be in a separate thread elsewhere.

[Little Lord]

New idea for a nerf: SoF stays as is but on activation (every activation of accretion) it costs you all quanta but gravity (like SoSa does).
You can still play the black hole but it hurts most decks that just pack them with novae to slow you down since they are slowed too.
Also, some of the combos (rage potion) become unviable, while the gravity combos (gravity pull, overdrive) still work.

Like it :-)  One of the best nerf suggestions I've seen yet.

SoSa's design is not as good since instead of having an elemental benefit, it has elemental penalty instead. Shards should benefit their specific element, not penalize every element besides theirs.

Designwise, i agree with you but since SoSa (the 2nd most OP card in my opinion) does it already...
 /offtopic
SoSa should cost more (permanent!) life if you dont have a deathmark, which would also nerf its synergy with Shard of Divinty+light mark
/offtopic
With SoFo we have not only PC for every element, it even REPLACED the PC that we had before.
Monofire / immolation decks no longer use explosions because SoFo is BETTER.
In my opinion it needs to be nerfed AT LEAST to the point where it becomes worse (yes, worse, not equal to) in its use than an explosion in a fire deck or a rainbow.
My nerf would do that.

[OldTrees]

With SoFo we have not only PC for every element, it even REPLACED the PC that we had before.
Monofire / immolation decks no longer use explosions because SoFo is BETTER.
In my opinion it needs to be nerfed AT LEAST to the point where it becomes worse (yes, worse, not equal to) in its use than an explosion in a fire deck or a rainbow.

What is your reason for why an Other card should be worse than an elemental card in a rainbow? (Being worse in an elemental deck is obviously good design)

[Pepitoss]

In my opinion , SoFo could be nerfed just by saying that the skill can be used once every two turns , It would slow down the permanent control , gravity pull on SoFo becomes a lot weaker but it still gives this permanent control to colors who don't have some.

[Little Lord]

With SoFo we have not only PC for every element, it even REPLACED the PC that we had before.
Monofire / immolation decks no longer use explosions because SoFo is BETTER.
In my opinion it needs to be nerfed AT LEAST to the point where it becomes worse (yes, worse, not equal to) in its use than an explosion in a fire deck or a rainbow.

What is your reason for why an Other card should be worse than an elemental card in a rainbow? (Being worse in an elemental deck is obviously good design)

As always, you are right :-). Scratch that bit. Argument still stands though.
(being: should be worse than explosion somehow)
Removing all quanta would actually take away its supposed "other" = rainbow synergies.
But to me, "other" does NOT mean rainbow, just "anyone can play it".
You wouldnt put a sword or a tower shield in your rainbow when you can have, say, vampire dagger and permafrost.
You shouldnt put a SoFo in your rainbow when you can have explosion (which should be the better choice but isnt).

Shards should be a way to get a specific element`s traits, even if you dont play that element.
Want healing, but dont like life? Get a Shard of Gratitude. It will work, but not as good as in its natural environment (lifemark).
Sadly, most of the newer shards turned their back on that rule.
It would make way more sense to me if the "PC-Shard" was the fireshard, and the shard of bravery was the timeshard.
(draw cards = time trait, but your opponent draws too, so its worse than hourglass)
By making the shards "new and exciting", they lost their original theme.

[meowww]

With SoFo we have not only PC for every element, it even REPLACED the PC that we had before.
Monofire / immolation decks no longer use explosions because SoFo is BETTER.
In my opinion it needs to be nerfed AT LEAST to the point where it becomes worse (yes, worse, not equal to) in its use than an explosion in a fire deck or a rainbow.

What is your reason for why an Other card should be worse than an elemental card in a rainbow? (Being worse in an elemental deck is obviously good design)

Though when it come to the point which even a mono player DO think SoF might be the better idea over their own PC card, that become petty obvious...
At least it should make Fire players think stick to explosion is a obvious better idea over SoF.

Not to mention explosion itself is a popular card, before SoFo came out.