Hearthpwn

With Zeriyah back in action, we've got another round of blue posts for you which, thankfully, doesn't include bad jokes from Phenteo.

No Test Phase NDA

As previously stated, there will not be an NDA when the testing phase comes.

Originally posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)

If I get invited to the Beta test, I want to stream Hearthstone on my nightly Twitch stream. Will there be an NDA in effect that would prevent me from doing that during Beta?

If you are invited to the closed beta, feel free to stream Hearthstone as much as you like! You won't be under an NDA. I look forward to watching your stream. :)

Linux Support

Originally posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)

We do not have plans to support Linux at this time. However, if there is a great demand for it from our community, we may consider supporting it in the future.

Ancestral Spirit / Redemption

Originally posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)

How do we handle Ancestral Spirit and Redemption in terms of buffs on the card and ability that proc when a minion plays? I guess the more specific question would be, is the minion considered to simply stay in play, or is it considered to leave them and then be played again?

Cards brought back with Ancestral Spirit or Redemption will not return with buffs on them. They will proc minions like Knife Juggler. They will not trigger any Battlecry effects that card may have. If minions brought back to life with Ancestral Spirit or Redemption have Divine Shield or Stealth as a keyword, they will return to the board with those buffs active.

Prophet Velen and +Spell Power?

Originally posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)

As was pointed out to me in another thread, there is a mechanic about which I'm not entirely sure (and seemingly nobody else) anymore: Prophet Velen and his interactions with +Spell Power effects. If I have a Mind Blast (baseline 5 damage) and cast it while having +1 Spell Power, we know it will deal 6 damage. If I cast it while having Prophet Velen into play and no +Spell Power, we know it will deal 10 damage (5 x 2). However, what happens if I have +1 Spell Power AND Prophet Velen? Would Mind Blast deal a total of 11 damage (5*2 + 1), or 12 damage [2(5 + 1)] ?

Velen will take Spellpower into account first, so the answer to your question is 12. When you view the spell in your hand, the text itself changes when it is affected by Spellpower. Mind Blast, for example, will read "Deal *6* damage to the enemy hero." Then that will be multiplied by Velen's power.

Ask Zeriyah

Originally posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)

I have Illidan Stormrage in play and I cast an ability. My opponent's Counterspell triggers and "counters" my ability. When this "counter" effect occurs, will Illidan Stormrage proc or will I not gain a Flame of Azzinoth because the spell was not cast?

Ah! Yes, Illidan Stormrage will still proc if a spell is countered by Counterspell.

Question: does the game consider The Coin a spell for the purposes of Counterspell, Violet Teacher, Gadgetzan Auctioneer, Archmage Antonidas, etc?

The Coin is considered a spell, yes. It can be Counterspelled, and will proc minions like Gadgetzan Auctioneer.