Hearthstone Needs More Game Modes - What New Modes Could They Create?
Game modes are always an interesting topic in the Hearthstone community. Originally, the game on release had regular play through Ranked and an Arena mode originally called The Forge. Over time we received Tavern Brawls and Adventures which made for some other great content to play through, though that doesn't run all the time.
Without a doubt, the Hearthstone team is still interested in adding more modes to the game though, proven with Dungeon Run being added in the Kobolds & Catacombs expansion, though PVE content isn't for everyone.
Clearly, Hearthstone needs more game modes!
We've been thinking about it recently and had a couple of ideas we thought were worth bringing up to encourage community discussion to see what ideas other people have. We're interested in different ways of drafting cards much like the Arena, so we're going to talk about that!
The modes described below both share a unique attribute Hearthstone doesn't currently have in that it would be something played upon entry and not something you can play over time like Arena. You'd also be paired up with an opponent (maybe even multiple people - tournaments?) and we think playing a few matches against them, best of 3, would be a better test of skill and make the processes more worthwhile.
Idea #1 - Pack Draft
Hearthstone's Arena is modelled after a traditional card game drafting tournament but downscaled for one player. What would normally happen is a pack of cards is opened and each player participating in the draft event take turns picking cards from the packs until they're all gone, which ends up being a very lengthy process.
Blizzard themselves has stated having a true draft would take too long, so why not draft packs of cards instead of single cards, taking turns between players?
- You end up in a lobby with your opponent(s) where pack selection can take place.
- In order, each player takes one pack from the pool of packs until all packs are exhausted. Pack contents are visible.
- You build a deck using the cards opened from your packs in a limited amount of time and then fight!
Idea #2 - Mirrored Sealed
Similar to the first idea, you're going to receive a brand new set of cards to build your tournament deck with, but there's no drafting phase at all!
- Each player receives the exact same collection of cards from randomly opened packs.
- You're given a set amount of time to build your deck using the cards opened from those packs.
One neat take away from this idea is that it can add some serious depth and mind games to the deckbuilding process. You have the exact same cards, who can build and play the stack they're dealt better?
What do You Think?
Polls are awesome and we'd like to know what you think. Which of our ideas do you think is better and even more importantly, what ideas do you have for new game modes?
Don't mind me, I also just randomly commenting here for a secret. :P I hope this works now... :O
Don't mind me, just randomly commenting here for a secret. :P I hope this works now...
Trying the same, also with replying to your post ;P
Add a mode where some expansions are rotated out, so we can get the old-fashioned classic hearthstone experience.
"Don't mind me, just randomly commenting here for a secret."
^^
Don't mind me, just randomly commenting here for a secret.
I would like to see a Free Play mode, where you have access to all the cards in the game, meaning you can create any deck you want and have some matches with it. It wouldn't be available to do quests (gotta buy those packs) but it would give you the opportunity to try a deck, for example, get the hang of it and then you could decide to craft those cards that are lacking in your collection (you don't have those 2 legendaries that make the good archetype of the season, but you know it's risky to craft them, so you go into Free Play mode, try the deck and then you can make a decision).
These are awesome ideas, but I'd like something like the Dungeon Run was. I kept playing even after I reached rank 5, which I normally don't do. Usually after reaching it I doing only the dailies and that's all and because the new ranked system, I play even less as I'm reaching that rank faster. Don't get me wrong, I'm okay with the ranked system, I'm just not having so much fun like before.
How about a Solo mode that earns daily rewards?
Tournament, as long as its separated by dust cost or previous tournament wins
Two headed giant has been a long time coming
A Quickplay mode would be fun too where no turn can go more than (maybe) 40 seconds. I hate that slow trolling is part of the meta. (If I have a ton of free time, then there is a chance you will get interrupted and lose or skip turns).
A few more expansions and we should see a "modern" format, since we have (Standard/Standard, ??/Modern, Wild/Legacy) (HS/MTG)
For a tournament mode, before queuing for a match, you would select your decks (more than just one) and you would then be matched with an opponent.
Each player would then be shown the hero portraits and names of each deck the other player has entered the match with. Below each icon would be 3 random cards actually in each deck to somewhat verify the archetype being played (to avoid deck title being misleading) so the entire deck isn't known, but enough information is there to determine which deck to ban for that match.
The 2 player tournament would then begin when both players confirmed an opponent's deck to ban and compete for a best of 5 games.
There could be a ranking system offering higher end-of-the-month rewards than the normal ranked ladder, but I would play even without them.
I've been entertaining the concept of a quickplay mode where you build a 20 card deck and both players start at 25 (max) Health and 2 mana. thoughts?
Pauper mode. Only common cards allowed.
I would like this. Or any kind of Division settings. Its a bummer how often really high dust cost decks fill the top of the ladder (yes i know there are exceptions)
Have you ever had a game where RNG got you so bad you wished you could have a rematch?
Would you be sure that if you played again that noob would for sure lose!?
Introducing a concept from the fighting game community with a twist, the rematch best of 3.
If you lose a game you get the chance to ask your last opponent for a rematch, the twist is that you up the ante with some of your dust on the line e.g. 50 dust, you send him/her a message and a challenge!
Now go show that noob he was just lucky all along!
They could do this fairly easily I imagine. I wonder if it would be more realistic that they would do it with ladder stars or something,, you beat me.. I challenge you to a rematch.. If you accept and lose its just a regular loss.. if you accepts and I lose its equal to another 2 losses?
The ideas in the article will never happen because they are not casual-friendly. They both take waaaaaay too long and require participants to stay online together for the duration.
I'd be happy with a "mode" where emotes are auto-squelched.
First thing I do Every Match is auto squelch. No idea why it isn't a setting. Some weird mentality at blizzard that people online will be friendly? I should be able to not see "all chat" in overwatch too.
I'd like a mode where you can wager dust and gold and play games like poker or blackjack with decks of Hearthstone cards that are like regular plying cards, but with Hearthstone art, depending on what character you play. Different cards represent the Ace through King depending on your character class. I'm sure there are some legal issues to be sorted out though. The four suits could be Mechs, Dragons, Beasts and Demons.
So.. just regular poker with reskinned cards?