Cost of deck efficiency and other observations.
Well, after playing for quite a while at 4000-4100 in the current patch, ive got some thought.
Disclaimer, i intentionally play pure wild hunt deck, just because i want to. This topic is NOT "buff monsters plox", its ment to be a discussion on current state of gwent, with its good and bad sides.
So, firsly, about good sides.
In terms of faction variety this just might be the best patch yet, as you can meet any faction pretty high up.
Ive had several draws over the last evening, and many fairly close games, so cant complain too much about overall balance state.
So, now that we established, that from my POV this patch is fairly good, to things that raise questions.
Main trouble is reflected in the title - there are at least two decks (Discard and Spy NG) that reach almost 100% deck efficiency on a regular basis.
Good thing on paper, trouble lies in the fact that cost of said deck efficiency is too low.
Latest meta report is fairly indicative of how strong exatly such efficiency is.
On individual Factions and cards:
ST: Two fairly common decks are SpellTael and dwarves, and they appear to do fine, not too much to complain here.
Zoltan is like a reverse pre-nerf Caranthir. Wich was good in any deck, and it was a problem.
Seer - well, if you gonna have a snowball card like that, it unclear why doesnt it die in 1 alzurs. It should.
NR: apparent underdog in current state of the game. There is hope for planned armor rework. Sadly, atm they are seemingly on the weak side, survivng of balistas power spikes against Dagon swarms.
Trololo is obviously extremely strong for a silver, then again, it cant carry the faction.If anything, NR could use some love.
NG: from what appeared to be the best designed faction in game it degraded into 25 units deck.
Assasin - this card simply should not exist. If it does, not under any circumstances shall it be able to target golds. Actually, no. Simply shouldnt exist.
Infiltrator - at 9 power, its effect triggered with either Impera unit pushes it towards 11, pretty much examplory performance for bronze in current state of the game. It unclear, why however it can enable a 1-shot kill on any card in the game, golds included.
Magni Division - mill is not fun to play, or play against. This archtype should've never been implemented. Desicion to reinforce it further is beyond my comprehension.
Overall, with inclusion of enforcers faction recieved a total of 6 bronze units that demand answer, witch is around 3 too much.
Monsters: as it has been for a long time by now, most varied faction. Might as well be 2nd most annoying (nobody can touch Mill in that regard). Between Dagon swarm/consume in multiple variations and Eredin WH (wich is considerably more rare, to be fair) you face them a bit too much.
Woodland spirit - basicly THE trouble with the faction. Out 4 golds in most popular deck, 2 are royal decree to play him and restore to play him again. Simply put, this card gives too much tempo unconditionally, to a point where another nerf to him (or well, harpies/foglet) looks absolutely neccecery.
SK: A much harder case, faction doesnt really have one big offender in its arsenal, and owes its power to near-perfect deck efficiency.
Warmongers - well, they are the latest addition in that deck arsenal, and sitting at 7/8/9 power, efficiency that they bring comes waay too cheap.
Restore - what was ment to be a nerf took a turn to the worst. However, this card would i guess be more or less ok, if not for the last member of this list.
Neutreal: Dorregay - Hes in the same bucket with Assassins - a card that should have never existed in its current form. Ekimmaras arent ment to be neutral. Considering that complete removal of this card is unlikely, it must be removed from summon list.
There is also a long list of cards that never ever see the light of play: Yenn:Con, Triss:Butt, Witchers, Crones... It could be a long list, you get the idea. If there are snowball bronzes out of alzurs reach, no way Yenn shall stay in it. And there certainly shouldnt be a 1-power disloyal bronze taking it out with giggles.
Thats all i had to say, /disucss, i guess.
Well, after playing for quite a while at 4000-4100 in the current patch, ive got some thought.
Disclaimer, i intentionally play pure wild hunt deck, just because i want to. This topic is NOT "buff monsters plox", its ment to be a discussion on current state of gwent, with its good and bad sides.
So, firsly, about good sides.
In terms of faction variety this just might be the best patch yet, as you can meet any faction pretty high up.
Ive had several draws over the last evening, and many fairly close games, so cant complain too much about overall balance state.
So, now that we established, that from my POV this patch is fairly good, to things that raise questions.
Main trouble is reflected in the title - there are at least two decks (Discard and Spy NG) that reach almost 100% deck efficiency on a regular basis.
Good thing on paper, trouble lies in the fact that cost of said deck efficiency is too low.
Latest meta report is fairly indicative of how strong exatly such efficiency is.
On individual Factions and cards:
ST: Two fairly common decks are SpellTael and dwarves, and they appear to do fine, not too much to complain here.
Zoltan is like a reverse pre-nerf Caranthir. Wich was good in any deck, and it was a problem.
Seer - well, if you gonna have a snowball card like that, it unclear why doesnt it die in 1 alzurs. It should.
NR: apparent underdog in current state of the game. There is hope for planned armor rework. Sadly, atm they are seemingly on the weak side, survivng of balistas power spikes against Dagon swarms.
Trololo is obviously extremely strong for a silver, then again, it cant carry the faction.If anything, NR could use some love.
NG: from what appeared to be the best designed faction in game it degraded into 25 units deck.
Assasin - this card simply should not exist. If it does, not under any circumstances shall it be able to target golds. Actually, no. Simply shouldnt exist.
Infiltrator - at 9 power, its effect triggered with either Impera unit pushes it towards 11, pretty much examplory performance for bronze in current state of the game. It unclear, why however it can enable a 1-shot kill on any card in the game, golds included.
Magni Division - mill is not fun to play, or play against. This archtype should've never been implemented. Desicion to reinforce it further is beyond my comprehension.
Overall, with inclusion of enforcers faction recieved a total of 6 bronze units that demand answer, witch is around 3 too much.
Monsters: as it has been for a long time by now, most varied faction. Might as well be 2nd most annoying (nobody can touch Mill in that regard). Between Dagon swarm/consume in multiple variations and Eredin WH (wich is considerably more rare, to be fair) you face them a bit too much.
Woodland spirit - basicly THE trouble with the faction. Out 4 golds in most popular deck, 2 are royal decree to play him and restore to play him again. Simply put, this card gives too much tempo unconditionally, to a point where another nerf to him (or well, harpies/foglet) looks absolutely neccecery.
SK: A much harder case, faction doesnt really have one big offender in its arsenal, and owes its power to near-perfect deck efficiency.
Warmongers - well, they are the latest addition in that deck arsenal, and sitting at 7/8/9 power, efficiency that they bring comes waay too cheap.
Restore - what was ment to be a nerf took a turn to the worst. However, this card would i guess be more or less ok, if not for the last member of this list.
Neutreal: Dorregay - Hes in the same bucket with Assassins - a card that should have never existed in its current form. Ekimmaras arent ment to be neutral. Considering that complete removal of this card is unlikely, it must be removed from summon list.
There is also a long list of cards that never ever see the light of play: Yenn:Con, Triss:Butt, Witchers, Crones... It could be a long list, you get the idea. If there are snowball bronzes out of alzurs reach, no way Yenn shall stay in it. And there certainly shouldnt be a 1-power disloyal bronze taking it out with giggles.
Thats all i had to say, /disucss, i guess.