Suggestion for Coin Flip Replacement
So I feel like the biggest issue with the game's structural balance currently is the coin flip. I was trying to think of a mechanic that could replace it meeting four criteria:
1. Active player experience where some knowledge and tactics can lead to an advantage;
2. No more that 15 seconds;
3. Relatively even opportunity of going first;
4. Can be smoothly incorporated into the main game.
So this is what I came up with. The game as currently designed is Mulligan, then coin flip, then game. This replaces the coin flip with a guessing game derived from the mulligan.
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Each player would be required to mulligan at least one card. Each card that is mulligan-ed (up to six) is placed face down over the middle of the board from as the mulligan process happens. The players are asked to each select one card. When the first card is selected by a player, it is turned face up for both to see and the other player can no longer select it. The other player selects a different card and it is turned up for both players to see. The order of who goes first is determined like this:
1. Whomever selected the card that has the highest color goes last (Gold beats Silver beats Bronze);
2. If it is a tie (because it will frequently be all bronze cards), whomever selected the highest value card goes last (special cards count as 0 value);
3. If it is still a tie (say two bronze special cards), then whomever selected first goes last.
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I think this little game would accomplish all of the goals above. It's an active player experience that incentivizes speed and knowledge of the game. It also has some risk because if you pay attention, you may know where your cards are to know where some value you be. However, by selecting one of your cards your opponent will see it. Also, by selecting an opponent card, you can get a hint as to what they are playing. The process could be done very quickly during the mulligan and immediately after. Maybe even put a 10 or 15 second timer on it. There is the opportunity for each player to go first, and it fits right into the course of the rest of the game, making for smooth segues from mulligan, to turn selection, to game.
The rest of the game would continue as before. Whoever wins round 1 goes first in round 2. If there is a round 3, the winner of round 2 goes first there.
That was the best could come up with around midnight last night. Thoughts? Does that make sense?
So I feel like the biggest issue with the game's structural balance currently is the coin flip. I was trying to think of a mechanic that could replace it meeting four criteria:
1. Active player experience where some knowledge and tactics can lead to an advantage;
2. No more that 15 seconds;
3. Relatively even opportunity of going first;
4. Can be smoothly incorporated into the main game.
So this is what I came up with. The game as currently designed is Mulligan, then coin flip, then game. This replaces the coin flip with a guessing game derived from the mulligan.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Each player would be required to mulligan at least one card. Each card that is mulligan-ed (up to six) is placed face down over the middle of the board from as the mulligan process happens. The players are asked to each select one card. When the first card is selected by a player, it is turned face up for both to see and the other player can no longer select it. The other player selects a different card and it is turned up for both players to see. The order of who goes first is determined like this:
1. Whomever selected the card that has the highest color goes last (Gold beats Silver beats Bronze);
2. If it is a tie (because it will frequently be all bronze cards), whomever selected the highest value card goes last (special cards count as 0 value);
3. If it is still a tie (say two bronze special cards), then whomever selected first goes last.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I think this little game would accomplish all of the goals above. It's an active player experience that incentivizes speed and knowledge of the game. It also has some risk because if you pay attention, you may know where your cards are to know where some value you be. However, by selecting one of your cards your opponent will see it. Also, by selecting an opponent card, you can get a hint as to what they are playing. The process could be done very quickly during the mulligan and immediately after. Maybe even put a 10 or 15 second timer on it. There is the opportunity for each player to go first, and it fits right into the course of the rest of the game, making for smooth segues from mulligan, to turn selection, to game.
The rest of the game would continue as before. Whoever wins round 1 goes first in round 2. If there is a round 3, the winner of round 2 goes first there.
That was the best could come up with around midnight last night. Thoughts? Does that make sense?
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