Ive been programming and designing games professionally for 7 years now. So I have a bit of experience when I say: That camera angle is the dumbest design choice Ive seen in a game in a long time. Putting your opponents cards at an angle distorts the image, making you need to mouse over WAY more often. Makes everything a little less clear.
Theres a reason most games (and broadcasts of pro-tours) go straight over head (with maybe a slight isometric tilt to the field, like HS). Conveying information visually is one of the most important things in a game like this.
Lack of a stack makes me wonder why they didnt just make a new game. Use classic Magic characters/visuals/etc, but build a game better suited to simplistic play. This wont compete with HS, this wont draw in most Magic players (who want more interaction), this is a game that hasnt committed to what it wants to be. (edit: looks like stack is planned for the game. They promise a faithful rule set)
Personally, I wouldnt mind a simplified version of Magic. Hearthstone is too random most of the time, and Id like something a bit more serious (both tone and strategy). I like what the Elder Scrolls card game is doing (not perfect, but its a nice start and I find it closer to Magic). But I dont think this is any better than Duels.
Magic as-is is far too complex for a mobile game. I get that. They need a game to get on mobile because getting on mobile is highly profitable. Makes sense, no complaints. But... This game isnt that. Still WAY too much going on to work for mobile effectively. So if its probably PC/Mac only, why not give us full Magic? I dont understand what/why they want this to be
EDIT:
So, the website says the rules "Are accurate to tabletop magic". While I still have issues with visual cues, this is alpha. I dont expect major changes, but there will definitely be changes.
It looks like (for now) this will be a digital standard. While I question that decision (who the **** wants to play standard?), at least that makes more sense than the gutted version of Magic we thought it might be
probably to call out the fact to avoid the backlash that Jurassic world received
That got backlash? Really?
1. It would have been AWFUL to not have the raptor/Trex iconic look return
2. They addressed that the look of the dinos was heavily influenced by the scientists
3. Its a fantasy. Go nuts. We arent even 100% positive many species had feathers or scales (though there are strong and highly likely theories to support either one for various species)
Feel like people giving backlash over that are either anti-fun puritans or people trying to look smart but dont actually know the research and reasoning behind theories on how they looked. Willing to bet they read a headline about "Dinosaurs had feathers, no scales" headline, read half of the first paragraph of the article, and considered themselves experts. lol
Anyway, apologies for slightly derailing the thread
So... pirates, scientifically accurate Dinosaurs, explorers and legendary cities. So... it's basically Road to Eldorado: The Block? I dig it.
I found it annoyingly dumb the way way he postured in the video to mention "historically accurate". Some dinos had feathers, some did not. Why even mention that the the physical body of the dinosaur being fought by the gorgon who can travel between worlds and raise the dead is currently fighting is 25% based on reality?
I avoided adding in DFC for a long time, but I honestly think they compliment my cube very well. The Origin walkers are what finally convinced me to go in, but the other Innistrad cards mentioned here are amazing.
I have either a duplicate or a proxy in normal sleeve for draft/deck, and the real card in a clear double sleeve to flip easily while in play. I also have cheat sheets printed with translations for my Japanese cards / text for my full art cards, and both sides of every DFC are listed there as well (these prevent new/older returning players from having to ask during draft, spoiling whats in the pack and tipping their colors)
I said competitive magic, i.e. standard. Who plays competitive Legacy or vintage any more?
Funny, I often ask myself who plays Standard anymore. I havent found it interesting in the least since the original Ravnica era.
Vintage is an off shoot sure, and no one is talking about that format. But Legacy is still massively popular in most areas. Here In Los Angeles its still the competitive game of choice. Modern is a close second, and though missing dream halls it can probably pull something off still using the hideaway.
Standard it isnt playable but neither are most cards in the already small standard pool. Your options are pretty limited, and most decks use the same cards. Maybe the next set will add some variety but I doubt it. Would be nice to see some cool cheat into play mechanics with all of the EDH only fatties being printed now.
It's a Timmy card too because it is a) an enormous amount of mana which is mostly unachievable in competitive magic and b) a 'blue-sky' win condition that will almost never work.
Hideaway land with dream halls somewhere in your deck for instant win sounds like it will work a lot actually. I think this card may find a place in my cube as a Storm combo instant win (hideaway can hit dream halls for a good chance to win sure, but this is a guaranteed win if it resolves). But even without storm, this can certainly win.
As for constructed formats, the hideaway method can still work. Brainstorm and Top or similar can make the hideaway hit its target easily, and Im sure there are even better combos. Its still way more Johnny than Spike, but its not useless.
It can easily win if it resolves, its just you have to cheat it into play because 12 mana isnt going to happen.
It also shouldnt be your only win condition, obviously, and I dont expect it to be seen making top 8, but it can. Its fine if it never does though, because It will be fun with Cube
Theres a reason most games (and broadcasts of pro-tours) go straight over head (with maybe a slight isometric tilt to the field, like HS). Conveying information visually is one of the most important things in a game like this.
Lack of a stack makes me wonder why they didnt just make a new game. Use classic Magic characters/visuals/etc, but build a game better suited to simplistic play. This wont compete with HS, this wont draw in most Magic players (who want more interaction), this is a game that hasnt committed to what it wants to be. (edit: looks like stack is planned for the game. They promise a faithful rule set)
Personally, I wouldnt mind a simplified version of Magic. Hearthstone is too random most of the time, and Id like something a bit more serious (both tone and strategy). I like what the Elder Scrolls card game is doing (not perfect, but its a nice start and I find it closer to Magic). But I dont think this is any better than Duels.
Magic as-is is far too complex for a mobile game. I get that. They need a game to get on mobile because getting on mobile is highly profitable. Makes sense, no complaints. But... This game isnt that. Still WAY too much going on to work for mobile effectively. So if its probably PC/Mac only, why not give us full Magic? I dont understand what/why they want this to be
EDIT:
So, the website says the rules "Are accurate to tabletop magic". While I still have issues with visual cues, this is alpha. I dont expect major changes, but there will definitely be changes.
It looks like (for now) this will be a digital standard. While I question that decision (who the **** wants to play standard?), at least that makes more sense than the gutted version of Magic we thought it might be
That got backlash? Really?
1. It would have been AWFUL to not have the raptor/Trex iconic look return
2. They addressed that the look of the dinos was heavily influenced by the scientists
3. Its a fantasy. Go nuts. We arent even 100% positive many species had feathers or scales (though there are strong and highly likely theories to support either one for various species)
Feel like people giving backlash over that are either anti-fun puritans or people trying to look smart but dont actually know the research and reasoning behind theories on how they looked. Willing to bet they read a headline about "Dinosaurs had feathers, no scales" headline, read half of the first paragraph of the article, and considered themselves experts. lol
Anyway, apologies for slightly derailing the thread
I found it annoyingly dumb the way way he postured in the video to mention "historically accurate". Some dinos had feathers, some did not. Why even mention that the the physical body of the dinosaur being fought by the gorgon who can travel between worlds and raise the dead is currently fighting is 25% based on reality?
/end pointless rant on a trivial pet peeve
I have either a duplicate or a proxy in normal sleeve for draft/deck, and the real card in a clear double sleeve to flip easily while in play. I also have cheat sheets printed with translations for my Japanese cards / text for my full art cards, and both sides of every DFC are listed there as well (these prevent new/older returning players from having to ask during draft, spoiling whats in the pack and tipping their colors)
Funny, I often ask myself who plays Standard anymore. I havent found it interesting in the least since the original Ravnica era.
Vintage is an off shoot sure, and no one is talking about that format. But Legacy is still massively popular in most areas. Here In Los Angeles its still the competitive game of choice. Modern is a close second, and though missing dream halls it can probably pull something off still using the hideaway.
Standard it isnt playable but neither are most cards in the already small standard pool. Your options are pretty limited, and most decks use the same cards. Maybe the next set will add some variety but I doubt it. Would be nice to see some cool cheat into play mechanics with all of the EDH only fatties being printed now.
Hideaway land with dream halls somewhere in your deck for instant win sounds like it will work a lot actually. I think this card may find a place in my cube as a Storm combo instant win (hideaway can hit dream halls for a good chance to win sure, but this is a guaranteed win if it resolves). But even without storm, this can certainly win.
As for constructed formats, the hideaway method can still work. Brainstorm and Top or similar can make the hideaway hit its target easily, and Im sure there are even better combos. Its still way more Johnny than Spike, but its not useless.
It can easily win if it resolves, its just you have to cheat it into play because 12 mana isnt going to happen.
It also shouldnt be your only win condition, obviously, and I dont expect it to be seen making top 8, but it can. Its fine if it never does though, because It will be fun with Cube