Elements 1.4

[Haruko]

Can't wait until it's all done, looking forward to playing 1.4, even if it takes a year or more.

[Snopel]

I have a small nitpick about the mark upgrades.
It's good in the world with those badass massive HP hulks, but having 150 HP with the AI3, AI4 and AI5 pretty much makes you untouchable. Ive beaten False Gods with simple rush decks.

I think the Mark Upgrade should only be for the world. That way the other AIs are just like classic elements!

Its always nice to have the option of playing it classic against the AI you like. That's all.

[Keolino]

I have a small nitpick about the mark upgrades.
It's good in the world with those badass massive HP hulks, but having 150 HP with the AI3, AI4 and AI5 pretty much makes you untouchable. Ive beaten False Gods with simple rush decks.

I think the Mark Upgrade should only be for the world. That way the other AIs are just like classic elements!

Its always nice to have the option of playing it classic against the AI you like. That's all.

The AI 1, AI 2, AI 3, AI4 and False God buttons will be removed in the final version (And replaced by a random-system which lets you choose an enemy level area, lets say Level 10-20, and you will then battle a random enemy with that strength). You will only be able to find those guys on the map. And False Gods will be more difficult because you have to beat at least 1 of his minions before him, so you probably won't have all health when you start your fight against FGs.

Anyway, there won't be classic farm-battles against thsoe old 13 AI3s, for example. Because the new Level 30-40 random button (which has about the same strength as AI3?) will have at least 50-100 different decks.

And precisely because the mark upgrades make you stronger against the known enemies, there are new enemies with even more power which wait for you to challenge them, so that thing won't get boring.

[dragtom]

I dont really get this health-keeping after killing a minion.
Zanz once stated that he wants decks to focus around winning rather than rewards
-which was a reason to prevent vampire EM's-
But now making EM's (on the minion) has become way more important.

[Jaydos99]

Only just heard about Elements 1.4 but after playing it feels amazing! 

I was thinking that perhaps the NPC's could be hidden in the field. Such that if you want to travel to a certain spot in game, randomly you would be attacked by an NPC with a level in line with the area level. One-off mini boss NPC's could guard the exits of an area with a level in line with the level of the adjacent area. This gives the new player a goal to "break out" of each beginner area and explore, on top of the quests to keep things interesting.

The exact mechanics would have to be worked out, but effectively this would alter the way that a new player can travel the map. Forcing them to buy better cards and create stronger strategies in order to move further around the map. Just an idea but it would lead very nicely into an RPG/storyline based version of Elements.

[Jyiber]

Perhaps the feeling of "traveling" would be more effective if a player could only move 1 square at a time.

Yes, it might be a little bit slower and seem suffocating to those with short attention spans, but it could also be used to introduce ambush mechanics (random encounters) and it would make the map seem bigger.

Other ideas:

Randomly spawning "events" like creatures that take up spaces on the map. They can give the players free cards or electrum. This would also have the duel benefit of making exploring a fun task; especially for new players. Oh, the power of instant gratification.

...and the hated and feared paid content. I already know the policy on that, but hear me out. Extra areas of the map to explore. It could be cheap: $0.99-2.00 range.

[dawn to dusk]

Didn't zanz say a big no on the topic of paid content? He said he will refrain from implementing it and the only way for users to pay is to donate directly to zanz himself?

[Keolino]

Didn't zanz say a big no on the topic of paid content? He said he will refrain from implementing it and the only way for users to pay is to donate directly to zanz himself?

Yep, Zanz is against paid content/payment for this game in any way, aside from donation.

[Jyiber]

Exactly.

Why the guy doesn't want to make more money, especially if the idea is one that won't damage game fairness, is completely beyond me.

[Keolino]

Exactly.

Why the guy doesn't want to make more money, especially if the idea is one that won't damage game fairness, is completely beyond me.

Money isn't the most important thing for everyone after all. I probably wouldn't want paygates in a game I made as well. Using strategies which are normally used by big money-starveing companies would leave a bad taste in my mouth. (Aside from that, I would want to like and be liked by my whole community without any kids around whose parents don't want to pay for the games additional features. (like it was with my parents at times I couldn't pay for myself) It is NOT fair to leave anybody out of the whole content of the game. And each part of the map IS content.) <--- Anyway, those would be my reasons, zanz may have totally others. I just wanted to show that there are reasons.

I am not some greedy F2P-fanboy who sits on his money either, and definitely think that zanz deserves money for the pure awesomeness of a game that he made, so I donated sometimes in the past. If you want to show gratitude for the game he made, you can always donate. If you totally hate paying for games, you don't  have to pay. If you don't have excess to money for payment cause of one reason or another, than that's fine too.

[Jyiber]

No, I already understood all that. But at the end of the day, "money is money" and "the cost of living is too high". I'd go and find a meme with a developers need to eat too sign, but alas, I'm lazy.

I've personally never been bothered by paid content in a free to play game. I've never spent a dime on it though... not because I'm greedy, but because it's not in my budget. My poor minimum wage income barely cover my rent after all (also why I can't donate), but I ask: why not take money from those rich kids who have it? As long as it's not something that gave a completely unfair advantage (i.e. holographic cards, unique marks).

I never realized there were those out there like yourself that viewed such simple marketing tricks with disdain. I mean, I agree that they're not exactly classy these days with the bad rep they've gained (nods to a couple unmentioned games) but again: "money is money".

[ddevans96]

Unpopular opinion: If Zanz actually used Elements as a potential source of revenue, he might have a reason to do anything with it more than a couple times a year, and this game and community might not be in the pathetic lull it's in now.