Hearthpwn

Yes, these discussions are always interesting and entertaining:) One argument that I see popping up every now and then (also in this thread) that actually does go against the collective scientific knowledge is the "I know myself, and I don't buy more if I lose more, I buy more if I win more" argument. Decades of research show people on average do actually make more impulsive decisions (buy more, spend more) if the are not content but rather a bit frustrated or "flushed". Researchers call this state "arousal", and whether it is caused by winning a lot or losing a lot is irrelevant. In the context of free-to-play games, the best thing the profit-driven game designer can do is design a game that continuously has the player on the edge of their virtual seat. See e.g. "The Candy Crush Sweet Tooth: How ‘Near-misses’ in Candy Crush Increase Frustration, and the Urge to Continue Gameplay" (https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10899-016-9633-7.pdf) This is the reason the game is designed to keep most of the players around the 50% win rate.

What is sure is that every single one of the successful free-to-play games utilise mechanics aimed at increasing player arousal, and many exploit the fact that frustration leads to poorer impulse control. Whether you call the mechanics that are used to reach such states "rigged" or not is semantics in my opinion (I must say, though, that I am also not a native English speaker). I do agree with the view that it is not some secretive rocket science, though. It does not need to happen on the micro level of individual card choices or actions. Actually, doing it at that level would indeed make it easier to spot and expose. It can be done much easier on the macro level of general matchmaking and, of course, by designing asymmetries in the power level of the cards themselves (thereby explaining why there will never ever be a "balanced" meta - it would be poor design from a monetisation perspective).

Fun is always subjective. For me, long (15 turns at least) games with a lot of resource generation and management and a chance to play big, flashy, game-changing cards are the epitome of fun. Therefore, I have stopped playing HS for now. Possibly for good. There are other games out there where you actually have to think during gameplay.

But it is exactly the problem! In an aggro meta, control decks should be able to come in and control the speed of the game. Normally, priest, warrior, shaman and warlock (at least) would have the tools to fight off the likes of face hunter etc. But now, if you build a deck that does exactly that, and has a respectable 55-60% win rate against aggro, the fact that every now and then you absolutely lose to Warlock's Tickatus means that the overall win rate drops below 50%. And this is the fundamental problem that no amount of statistics on HSreplay will show. 

Disruption is fine. Giving one class, and one class only, the ability to burn a third of the opponent's deck is not fine. Bringing Dirty Rat back could help a bit (Vol'jin does not help due to the legendary status -> one copy only, and due to the fact that even if you manage to pull Tickatus from the hand, there is suddenly an 8/8 on the board and you have just spent five mana to pull it out and don't have a taunt in the way...).

I love playing control decks, and have been having the worst time ever with them in current HS. There is simply no chance for "honest" control decks from classes such as Priest, Warrior, and Shaman to exist as long as Tickatus is around. And I for one think that it is not only sad, but also bad for the state of the game.

[edit] I was reading some other comments, and had to add this: To those who view Tickatus as an unproblematic card in current Standard, have you tried playing other control decks against it? I mean really? Seeing all of your win conditions being burned away, not only once, but twice? I have, for example, created a home-brew control Shaman deck with Yshaarji returning four corrupted cards to deal 16 damage from hand that actually has a positive win rate against Paladin and Mage. This means I have been able to climb with it this season almost as nicely as I normally do (for me, the most fun in the this game is in creating my own decks). But against Warlock... I have like 10% win rate, and the only reason for this is Tickatus. A single card. If that is not bad design in a card game aiming for diversity of strategies and a resemblance of balance across its many classes, I don't know what is.

Video shows bees staying on board if their target does not kill them. So tempo away!

Had an epic fight in wild with my Reno priest versus a control warrior. We were down to Elysiana cards, and I had already copied and Entombed his Elysiana, sure to win. And then...and then the game shuts down and tells me that Hearthstone has been updated, and that I need to update the client to keep on playing! Needless to say I lost that game. Half an hour down the drain:( Why cannot there be an ingame warning for shit like this?!

Replacement ideas for Nozari and Crystalsmith? I am now trying with Zilliax and Aldor peacekeeper. Nozari feels too slow anyway.

I have teched Mossy Horror into my control warrior, and while it helps a bit, it still is not enough. The new versions of token druid can generate a board at least six-eight times, often out of nothing and following your board clear. It is clearly broken, when even the most broken control tools in standard have no chance of stopping it. But yeah, time to play zoo!

I fully agree... with both points of view. Barnes into Ragnarok is almost impossible to beat with anything besides polymorph effects. However, it is possible to have a fighting chance, and to play intelligently. For example, in my home-brew Reno dragon priest, I run:

- Hungry Dragon (generates crap for them to resurrect)
- Kazakus (aiming for the 5-mana polymorph effect)
- Shadow Madness (being able to steal anything but a Rag on turn 4 and kill it against Barnes)
- Dirty Rat + Entomb (for picking up one of their heavy hitters - never take the 4/8, though! It is irrelevant) + Shadow visions for doubling either this or the one above
- and of course Psychic Scream, which should always be used to give them something like Netherspite Historians, Gluttonous Oozes, etc. smaller creatures from my deck

I used to have more tech, but I feel that these options work well against other opponents as well, and therefore do not dilute the overall plan of the deck (well, perhaps with the exception of Hungry Dragon). I still lose too often against big priest, and it is always as aggravating, but I have my fair share of wins against them as well, especially if I manage to Entomb two of their key cards.

Or...one can play aggro and win before they get to the resurrection spells;)

Hi, have I misunderstood something, or should there have been a series of quests related to the launch? I got the first one yesterday, completed it, and then nothing appeared to replace it. I had only one other active quest. Logged in this morning, and only a normal quest appeared. Are they still coming, or should I contact support? Playing on EU.

Mr. Smite is one for the worst design decisions the devs ever made, not least because it came after they explicitly classified the "charge" mechanic as "being bad for the game". Imagine sending Leeroy Jenkins to the Hall of Fame, and then printing this?!

Everyone here complaining about mechashark but it's not a problem at all. The thing that makes it a huge problem is Seafloor Gateway. Being able to cheat two of them out on turn 7 with 5 other cheap mechs and creating a dumb OTK in an aggro deck is what the problem is. Mana cheating, once again...

I think it was made into an article because the deck was created by a staff member (or site contributor). I actually appreciate the insight into a high legend deck in wild that isn’t Hunter or Warrior tbh

that pirate warrior % in total matches is disgusting. nice winrate against it though 

Quote from Legend_Entomber >>

They banned Warlock quest and did some balance changes around Wild cards earlier this year, it is not like they completely ignored Wild mode. It is just not on their priority list. The existence of the Mercenaries mode slowed their priorities even more.....

It is understandable that balance changes are considered around Standard format, but to make it easier for both modes, best is to ban Warrior/Hunter quest in Wild... so we don't have to ever worry about these and their balance changes again in Wild.

If you just play and care about Standard format, then these ban shouldn't affect your game anyway.

 That was exactly my point to Andrei, but he appears to be one of those folks who Loves To Whine About The "Whiners", which there is no helping. *shrug*

Quote from Andrei2007 >>

So if you want to whine about cards affecting wild mode, why don't you post in the wild section? It's very natural to assume that general constructed refers mainly to Standard, since it is by far the most played game mode. The wild pond is much smaller than standard, because you count the players, not the number of cards. I hope this finally enlightens you, darling.

 The thread is literally titled "how to nerf quests" in the General Discussion and I pitched in with my views on where they are problematic and how to fix them. You come flying in saying how quests are fine and Wild sucks, neither of which were very useful for the discussion. So again: Why are you posting here?

Warlock is still "totally fine" in Wild at the moment. Renolock is again playable and Evenlock ist viable too.

Quote from Kolento >>

Ok, I know that Warlock is problematic right now, but... "banned in Wild" ?! Am I missing the point of the format called "Wild" or Blizzard does? Is this the best and only way to resolve an issue like this quest? I don't know, but this isn't "Wild"

 Advocating for "wild" to be synonymous with "busted" is just idiotic.

If i would publish a deck every time i stand 7-4 after 11 Games i would have to quit my job

I could creat a random Priest Control Deck -right now- and would be 7-4 with a little bit matchmaking luck.

11 Matches are just. simply. meaningless.

Quote from Kurgo >>

Quote from JawsLoanCompany >>

C'mon folks! Where's your sense of humor?

 Sense of humour? For a shitpost that isn't particularly inventive or original? No offence but it'll take more effort than that, posts like these are a dime a dozen on plenty of other websites.

 Well, they aren't here. Most people on here are entitled shit stains that can't let people enjoy things and only want to rage about the game.

It's nice to see a fun post like this once in a while.

Personally, I really enjoyed the read. Thanks.