Hearthpwn

Stormwind Gameboard Audio

In Hearthstone, the gameboard is an interactive masterpiece that will keep you entertained while your opponent is deciding how he'd like to lose. The four corners of each gameboard feature interactable objects which perform small animations and sound effects when used. The video below shows off the sound effects which are unique to the Stormwind gameboard. Enjoy!

Bonus! Gameboard Art to go with the Audio!

Blue Posts

Zeriyah dropped a knowledge-bomb on the forums this evening to help clarify the Silence mechanic and Aura Buffs. It also looks like there will not be a way to play a client enforced, faster gamemode without the aid of Nozdormu.

Silence and Aura Buffs

Originally posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)

First off, let me address some questions people still have regarding Silence and Aura buffs. 

Health in Hearthstone works much like it works in World of Warcraft. Imagine a Priest running through Warsong Gulch with 1 Health remaining, only protected by the power of his Power Word: Fortitude. If a Shaman purges away the PW: Fortitude, the Priest's maximum Health decreases, but his current Health isn't affected. He lives to carry the flag another day. This is also true in Hearthstone. Silence effects remove buffs but doesn't affect current Health, unless the new Max Health is lower than the current Health.

Silence effects are technically not heals but it can remove instances of damage. Let's look at some in-game examples:

A 3/3 minion is buffed by Blessing of Kings, making it a 7/7. 5 damage is dealt to the minion, then Silence is cast on it. The minion goes from a 7/2 to a 3/2. Four of the instances of damage was removed along with the Blessing of Kings, and one carried over to the minion.

 

A 3/3 minion is buffed by Blessing of Kings, making it a 7/7. 1 damage is dealt to the minion, then Silence is cast on it. The minion goes from a 7/6 to a 3/3 with no damage on it. The one instance of damage was removed along with the Blessing of Kings.

 

This 3/3 minion we are picking on is buffed by a +1/+1 non-Aura effect (like Shattered Sun Cleric), turning it into a 4/4. 2 damage is dealt to the minion, then Silence is cast on it. The minion becomes a 3/2 with 1 damage on it. One instance of damage was removed along with the +1/+1 buff, and one remains on the minion.

Aura effects do not remove instances of damage when they are removed, because Aura effects will still persist through Silence unless the origin of the Aura buff is Silenced. 

My opponent's Stormwind Champion is buffing his Murloc Raider, making the Raider a 3/2. I try to Silence the Murloc Raider (ahh why would I ever do that??). The Murloc Raider is still a 3/2 - the Aura is coming from the Champion, and Silencing the Raider won't accomplish much.

After my terrible misplay, I do one damage to the Murloc Raider, bringing him to a 3/1. Then, I kill the Stormwind Champion, eliminating the +1/+1 buff on the Murloc. That instance of damage is not removed with the Aura and remains on the Murloc, who goes back to being a 2/1 (with one damage on him) and dies.

They are not explicitly called Aura buffs, but they are buffs that affect multiple minions simultaneously. Stormwind Champion, Blood Imp, or other minions that have effects such as "your other minions have..." are considered Aura buffs.

Turn Timer Modification

Originally posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)

One of the things that drives me nuts in some CCGs is how long a player has to play a card. Some CCGs have implemented different playing speeds. For example, the time you have to play a card can be 45 seconds, 30 seconds, or 15 seconds depending on your settings. Only other people with the same settings can play against you (in other words, if someone is set to 45 seconds and you're set to 15 seconds, the game won't match you up). Will there be anything like this in Hearthstone?

Currently, there is no option to set the game timer speed. Each player has 90s to take their turns.