MArcomage

Despite the fact that Christmas update is still weeks away, I started working on the next set of balance changes. These changes are far from being final, so feel free to post your suggestions how to improve these changes or suggest balance changes for cards that I missed. Thanks for help ;-)

Balance changes preview (keyword insignias)

Balance changes preview (keyword in text form)

From a first look, I think Elven Warlock is quite weak. Maybe it should be Attack 10N, gems production x4.

Also, Purifying Fire should do something in case the condition is not fulfilled. Maybe add banish keyword or some minor Gems gain (1 or 2)?

There will be new cards also right? Why wait until xmas?? :)

About Beasts:
I don't really like Byakko changes because that Legend keyword would raise either Magic or Quarry instead of Dungeon if Dungeon is higher than Magic and Quarry. Unicorns except Black and Azure, Koschei, Arthoria, Rainbow Dragon and especially Ancient sage can return part of its cost when played. Maybe you should add something like this for Byakko or make it mixed-cost. After all, if enemy has 4 dungeon and you have 3 - Byakko will do 0,5 damage for 1 recruit. Doesn't fit Beast decks.
New Centaur tribe would be nice for rush decks. I like it.
IMO War wolf was the most useless common Beast, and it definitely needed some changes, but I don't get - why Skirmisher? Maybe will be better if you make the condition "if #Beast in hand > 4".

About Mages and relevant cards:
Arcane bolt seems to be viable. But it would definitely be much, MUCH better than now.
Elven Warlock - I like it! Finally there will be a rare Mage that can do more that 1 damage for 1 resource.
Magic Sanctuary... Hard to say, but I think it can be a good change.

About others:
I really like new Earth eater, Enforcer and Shapeshifter. Should they stay keywordless? Earth eater fits Beast and Unliving, Enforcer - Brigand, and Shapeshifter - Illusion.
Mana burn and Storm of bricks needed some changes like that. But what about Battalion of fear?
And thanks from me for Watchtower and Witch rider nerf :)

dimitris wrote:
From a first look, I think Elven Warlock is quite weak. Maybe it should be Attack 10N, gems production x4.

I play a Mage/Legend deck a lot, and I can't remember last time when I ended a game with Magic lower than 6. Even in this case Elven warlock can do 48 damage and give 6 gems for 18 recruits.

Yes, but Elven Warlock isn't suited only for mage decks.
I mostly play it after Elven army.

i really liked the old Miramix and used it in a lot of decks (its not weak..), it was usefull just because of how cheap it was and its current effect is not a ballance but a complete removal of the old card and an implenmentation of something entirely different

Byakko is really strong right now, but I don't like this change.
I would simply add recruits production x0 and leave it as it is.
Anyway, if you want to give to it the legend keyword you should give it also to its friend Suzaku.

With all this new skirmisher you should add more charge cards. I like the change to red dragon.

Magic lamp is alredy overpowered in my opinion. a common that summons rares should have more restricted conditions.

I like monster slayer, now it's good as bounty hunter and lancer.
What about changing also master hunter? Maybe making it far sight or banish/skirmisher.

Micramix should stay as it is. it's a good card, it just needs support from uncommons. something like: replace neighbouring cards with gleaners, next card will be micramix.

I'm glad that imp cache, wheat farm and farm will be buffed. I often use them.

All the other changes are fine.

Fithz wrote:

What about changing also master hunter? Maybe making it far sight or banish/skirmisher.

Yes, Master hunter is a really good card, but requires some boost, by adding some keyword to it, in order to overcome its conditionality. Far Sight is a good suggestion. I was also thinking of Alliance maybe.

Overlord's modes are both named Mode 1 (rename one into Mode 2)

It's a nice upgrade pack, although I'll agree that Elven Warlock will become very very weak. Perhaps increase gems production or attack. Also, Death Pact will become a very powerful card now. 70 attack for its cost is very overpowered and the downsize effect is nothing, especially if someone is playing for Construction Victory, or is in Long Game mode. Maybe increase the cost a bit? or increase the - tower effect

Buyakko could perhaps have it's effect changed to 10(N+1) instead of 10+10N. It could be more compact and comprehensible.

How is Laputa not a part of this change? It should be nerfed, especially in long mode.

Apocalyptic rain should have the Destruction keyword. It just fits with the card.

I agree with Fithz about Byakko.

Elven warlock will be too weak. How about "Magic production xN, where N = #Magic." That way the card scales well the higher your magic is.

If Magic lamp stays how it is, the cost should be raised. I rather like the current version. Or it could summon Lost city instead of Genie or Efreet.

I don't see why Magic sanctuary has to give the opposing player gems. Why not just make it conditional such as White lady that if you have the lowest gems, you get 4 gems?

jbryant3 wrote:
Apocalyptic rain should have the Destruction keyword. It just fits with the card.

It has the Destruction keyword.

Mojko wrote:
It has the Destruction keyword.

Facepalm. :/

Overpowered:
Apocalyptic rain: In the hands of a Mage or Legend deck, this would be ridiculously powerful. But even if your magic remains at the base, doing triple your bricks in damage is really quite imba.
Wheat Farm/Harvest fairy: These cards were already quite powerful, and I've seen them in use a fair bit. I think the proposed change would make them too good as common resource builders.

Underpowered:
Death pact: Without even looking at the penalty to your defenses, its resource to attack conversion is just horrible.
War wolf: The old version was weak, but at least kind of interesting. This one is less interesting, but still weak. Only good as keyword fodder.
Purifying Fire: Why did this need a nerf? I thought it was very well-balanced.
Orc brute: People don't tend to like durable commons unless they have some deck-cleaning feature, and for good reason. The low damage doesn't make this card any more appealing.

Weird:
Adding skirmisher to everything: Why are we essentially nerfing charge cards when they weren't very popular to begin with? I think we need to make them more attractive, not less. (Though maybe we'll see new ones in the Christmas new cards pack?)
Completely reworking Earth eater, Enforcer and Shapeshifter: I liked those cards as they were. What was wrong with them? :(
Completely reworking Micramix: Again... it was a cool card.

I like the changes to Barbz's Pupil, Magic Lamp (take that, Fithz!), Firestorm, and Dragon egg. I'm undecided about Byakko.

I will agree with dindon on Puryfying Fire, at least let it discard common + uncommon cards. And this is coming from someone who doesn't use it and is always facing it

Also, I forgot Mojko asked about omissions. I think the most conspicuous one is Residence of the Gods (needs to be balanced for long mode - I like Fithz's suggestion of giving a constant amount of resources). I also think Citadel of Myr and Duplication are overpowered in long mode, though balancing them is a bit more difficult. Dwarven Fortress might also be a little OP in long mode, though I seem to be the only one who uses it.

Because of the nerf to Wind, Elemental Storm has become extremely powerful. I'd like to see the former buffed (I liked the old quick effect a lot...) or the latter nerfed.

Laputa should also be balanced for long-mode (maybe by capping to normal mode - like Sabotage).

Yup, I definitely agree with that. Forgot Laputa.

dindon wrote:
I think the most conspicuous one is Castle Beyond Looking glass (needs to be balanced for long mode - I like Fithz's suggestion of giving a constant amount of resources).

I suppose you are talking about residence of gods

Yup, that's what I meant. Thanks. Edited.

I have to second the question as to why Earth Eater is being changed.

Also, should you post another with corrections made, could the next screenshot use text for keywords rather than the images? I don't use them, and it took me minutes (and recalling previous forum discussion) to figure out that the crossed swords were Skirmisher. I'm having trouble telling what the changes are while concurrently trying to tackle cryptography.

Aqua as a target for Monster slayer seems odd since the keyword includes water-based structures and geography. Take that, Hidden lagoon! I best thee, Jungle river! Have at thee, Waterfall! Sea gate, Sunken ruins, and Swamp will all rue the day they crossed weapons with me!