I'm not a senior game architect or smth. But may I humbly propose some ideas for future expansions:
1) stop inventing a new keyword for each expansion; seriously, it's quite lame to have all decks revolving around a single mechanics, like corrupt or reborn, and then drop it completely next expansion;
2) think how you might creatively apply all that stuff you have already invented, like give a Mage big worthy offensive spells instead of a single Drakefire Amulet, or some items really worth discarding a card to a Warlock;
3) please, the randomness of 'discover' is totally enough, no need for another archetypes fully dependent on sheer luck, like a Thief Rogue
4) make each class unique with its own features that synergize with hero power, not like 'okay, this expansion is all about mechs, let's look what class has better mechs'
6) would be extremely nice if you prevented one-sided play, when one party just seeks to fulfill their deck's winning condition (remember Quest mage with infinite fireballs or Shudderwock Shaman?) paying little to no attention what another player is doing; add interactivity, please!
I would also ask to stop introducing new legendaries that are just improved regular cards, and you pay for a having a bit more chance. But I'm a realist.
I am very confused by your take, because you seem to be reacting to things that.. don't exist?
1) The only point that does stand with what we know, but the new keyword that they revealed today is not a new mechanic, they just named a mechanic that was already in the game on many cards. That said, i absolutely agree with the point about using a keyword for one expansion and then dropping it entirely. I can see the value in doing that, from a design point of view, as it makes it easier to keep things contained in a more controllable way, especially with the concept of standard sets rotation, but it's a fair point and i wish they would re-use some keywords/mechanics a little more, to see them used in more varied/innovative ways.
2) I agree with the intent, but we have barely seen 10 cards of the whole expansion, we have no particular idea about how they designed any synergies and stuff like that yet.
3) I'm genuinely confused about what you're talking about. I agree that there is way too much randomness, but 1. "discover" is one type of randomness that at least asks for skills/clever decision making to be valuable, so that's at least a type of randomness that i believe can be perfectly healthy, but more importantly 2. apart from the shaman cards, which entirely play into a mechanic that has already been made part of the class' identity for a while now, there is currently nothing in what has been revealed today that indicate a particular emphasis on randomness?
4) Again, we have no idea what "themes" they are going to focus on for each class in this expansion. The general theme and vibe that were revealed are super vague and don't allow at all to pull conclusions like "they're going to make every class do x and z".
5) Two points here: 1. there is an issue that is kinda core to hearthstone, is that they're (activision executives) trying to sell an expansion; they're trying to push for as many sales as they can with every new expansion. If they focus first and foremost on gimmicks and "fun" cards that aren't competitive, people won't want to buy it as much because it won't give them an advantage in ladder and stuff. Also, cards that have a crazy/unique effect are usually legendaries, which take time to make and test, and that you can't release too many of in a single expansion, otherwise it creates an imbalance in terms of monetization. 2. Again, they literally revealed only 10 cards! One of which adding a new "guess which card the opponent chose" interaction which, imo, sounds fun, one increasing deck sizes to 40 cards, which is crazy and adds a ton of new potential for literally the entire game, and one that we literally don't know what it does because "solve 3 clues about your opponent's cards" is a completely new and unique effect that we have no idea what it'll look like yet, AND again, sounds like fun. So i am genuinely confused as to what in today's reveal sounds like "not enough fun cards" to you.
6) Absolutely 1000% agree. But then again: they barely revealed 10 cards. What are you basing your reaction on?
I'm not a senior game architect or smth. But may I humbly propose some ideas for future expansions:
1) stop inventing a new keyword for each expansion; seriously, it's quite lame to have all decks revolving around a single mechanics, like corrupt or reborn, and then drop it completely next expansion;
2) think how you might creatively apply all that stuff you have already invented, like give a Mage big worthy offensive spells instead of a single Drakefire Amulet, or some items really worth discarding a card to a Warlock;
3) please, the randomness of 'discover' is totally enough, no need for another archetypes fully dependent on sheer luck, like a Thief Rogue
4) make each class unique with its own features that synergize with hero power, not like 'okay, this expansion is all about mechs, let's look what class has better mechs'
5) ADD MORE FUN. More non-trivial obnoxious decks! I was enjoying playing Sherazin, Corpse Flower or Rin, the First Disciple — I sucked like hell, but it was a pure joy still
6) would be extremely nice if you prevented one-sided play, when one party just seeks to fulfill their deck's winning condition (remember Quest mage with infinite fireballs or Shudderwock Shaman?) paying little to no attention what another player is doing; add interactivity, please!
I would also ask to stop introducing new legendaries that are just improved regular cards, and you pay for a having a bit more chance. But I'm a realist.
I am very confused by your take, because you seem to be reacting to things that.. don't exist?
1) The only point that does stand with what we know, but the new keyword that they revealed today is not a new mechanic, they just named a mechanic that was already in the game on many cards. That said, i absolutely agree with the point about using a keyword for one expansion and then dropping it entirely. I can see the value in doing that, from a design point of view, as it makes it easier to keep things contained in a more controllable way, especially with the concept of standard sets rotation, but it's a fair point and i wish they would re-use some keywords/mechanics a little more, to see them used in more varied/innovative ways.
2) I agree with the intent, but we have barely seen 10 cards of the whole expansion, we have no particular idea about how they designed any synergies and stuff like that yet.
3) I'm genuinely confused about what you're talking about. I agree that there is way too much randomness, but 1. "discover" is one type of randomness that at least asks for skills/clever decision making to be valuable, so that's at least a type of randomness that i believe can be perfectly healthy, but more importantly 2. apart from the shaman cards, which entirely play into a mechanic that has already been made part of the class' identity for a while now, there is currently nothing in what has been revealed today that indicate a particular emphasis on randomness?
4) Again, we have no idea what "themes" they are going to focus on for each class in this expansion. The general theme and vibe that were revealed are super vague and don't allow at all to pull conclusions like "they're going to make every class do x and z".
5) Two points here:
1. there is an issue that is kinda core to hearthstone, is that they're (activision executives) trying to sell an expansion; they're trying to push for as many sales as they can with every new expansion. If they focus first and foremost on gimmicks and "fun" cards that aren't competitive, people won't want to buy it as much because it won't give them an advantage in ladder and stuff. Also, cards that have a crazy/unique effect are usually legendaries, which take time to make and test, and that you can't release too many of in a single expansion, otherwise it creates an imbalance in terms of monetization.
2. Again, they literally revealed only 10 cards! One of which adding a new "guess which card the opponent chose" interaction which, imo, sounds fun, one increasing deck sizes to 40 cards, which is crazy and adds a ton of new potential for literally the entire game, and one that we literally don't know what it does because "solve 3 clues about your opponent's cards" is a completely new and unique effect that we have no idea what it'll look like yet, AND again, sounds like fun. So i am genuinely confused as to what in today's reveal sounds like "not enough fun cards" to you.
6) Absolutely 1000% agree. But then again: they barely revealed 10 cards. What are you basing your reaction on?