I confess, I never imagined I would develop such a taste for forum interaction. But quality comments are an inspiring thing.
[2.1] "Select A Card" Bonus
I maintain that the unknown factor is key, mystery must last until the last moment, and the Slide Show (to quote
4RM3D) must go. But I admit there is value in utilizing the unique strengths of the virtual medium, and so propose the following.
As suggested:
- 5 cards on one screen
- All cards are fixed
- Generic "Gwent" backs
- Transform after click
With This Addition:
All 5 cards are side by side in a horizontal row (like now). When you click on one, sometimes a different animation event occurs, and the card explodes into 2 cards positioned vertically (one above the other), with both cards continuing to transform and turn over. You then select the card you want.
This will not be guaranteed, but will be relatively common. So it's possible it may not happen in a keg (if you're unlucky), but it could theoretically happen up to 5 times (if you're very lucky). And the chance of getting a 2-card choice is not connected to the chance of getting Silver or Gold. So when you open the keg, it fixes the cards based on one calculation (with low drop rates on Silver & Gold). Separately, it calculates whether each card (#1-5) will split, using a random roll with an equal chance for each card position.
Example: When you open the keg, it calculates whether each card (#1-5) splits, returns "No" on 1/2/4, but "Yes" on 3/5. It also fixes the cards, without considering split results. Randomly, it fixes 3 as "Boulder" & 5 as "Scorch." Since 3 is Bronze and 5 is Silver, it randomly selects another Bronze & Silver (respectively). When you click on card #5, instead of simply transforming into "Scorch" as it turns over, it explodes into "Scorch" & "Cleaver."
This would keep the "Select A Card" feature, while still keeping everything a mystery. It would also be exciting, because the explosion is like opening a "snake in a can" (the prop gag). It jolts you, because you never know when it will happen (unlike the current "Pick 3" screen). And the split animation should have explosive audio to accompany the visual, so every time it happens you get an unexpected burst of energy to your senses. This would revitalize the experience of opening kegs, injecting spontaneous unpredictable possibilities into every card reveal.
SIDE NOTE: I want to tip my hat to
Makhil for thinking outside the box. That's a creative concept, as it turns kegs into a mini-game. And obviously, every Gwent fan loves mini-games. But it would introduce new issues. As
4RM3D points out, one is the potential flood of Gold. But also imagine the poor guy or gal who picks 5 Bronze 20 times in a row, knowing they missed out on 20 Gold & 40 Silver.
[5.1] Drop Rates VS Special Kegs
I maintain that kegs need to be more attractive. In particular, buying kegs (with real money) needs to be more attractive. But after more thought, rather than increase Silver/Gold drop rates (and potentially Ore cost) on all kegs, I think CDPR should have more special deals. Instead of one-time purchases like the Starter Pack, though, have rolling specials (as GOG does). And instead of just having generic "X Kegs @ Reduced Cost + Animated Silver/Gold" deals (which are fine) they should have themed kegs.
Use the term "Common" for the current kegs. These can be free, received as rewards, bought with Ore, or bought in bulk with real money. They favor Bronze cards but have a chance of giving you Silver & Gold.
Then have "Premium" kegs (this term is no longer used for cards, which are now "Animated"). These cost real money, and are sold in single units (you can buy multiple kegs at once, but no bulk discount). They are more expensive than Common kegs, but they offer certain guarantees based on themes.
Example: Guaranteed Silver & Gold cards. "The Lodge" kegs have a sorceress (Fringilla, Triss, Yennefer, etc). "Witcher" kegs a Witcher (Lambert, Letho, Geralt, Ciri; Yes, Ciri). "Tavern" kegs a bard (Dandelion, Priscilla, Draig Bon-Dhu) or other themed card (Odrin, Ale of the Ancestors, etc).
Example: Guaranteed theme, but no Bronze/Silver/Gold guarantee. "Animation" keg (Animated card). "Machine" keg. "Spy" keg. "Beast" keg. Faction kegs.
There are many possibilities. And CDPR would be wise to consider them. The Shop could use more variety on kegs (for real money), because you want people to spend money, but when free kegs and purchased kegs are identical and often have only Bronze cards, the desire to buy kegs plummets.
[6.1] Shop Expansion
I want to reemphasize that for players to enjoy opening kegs, it helps if they enjoy being in the place where you open kegs. CDPR needs to develop Gwent as a complete game. Flesh out the Shop so players enjoy spending time there. The goal (from a business standpoint) is to make money, and you make money on the Shop, so don't treat the Shop as an inconvenient side trip before you hurry back to multiplayer. The Shop needs to be a popular destination in its own right.
As previously stated, various settings and characters are needed, and those characters need robust dialogue. They should make random comments, and maybe even have interactive options where players can talk to them (and their mouths should move, unlike current Shupe). In the Witcher games, you could hear stories about the world (Example: An innkeeper in TW1 told the story of Ciri...with errors, in my opinion, but still). Gwent could have the same thing. Program a variety of dialogue options, and have the Shopkeepers change them each day (cycling through the list randomly until all options have been used, then reset and select them randomly again, but do NOT have them appear once and vanish forever, because that's mean to players who can't log in every day). Also, have random scenes trigger in the background while players are in the Shop, so it can be fun to sit and watch (like watching Animated cards for easter eggs, but again these should be repeatable, not show once then never again). This will make the Shop fun to visit, and players may enjoy the experience so much they decide to buy something while there as a "thank you" to CDPR for going that extra mile.
[7] Do More With Ore
Another reason kegs are boring is because Ore is boring. Ore isn't a currency. It's just a counter; when it fills up to 100%, you get a free keg.
CDPR should have more things you can buy with Ore. Here are some ideas:
- Trinkets (Avatars & Frames)
- Taunts (More customization for player interaction)
- Adventures (Add single-player content in the Adventures section)
- Menu Artwork (Different images for Casual/Ranked/Practice/etc; for those who hate Yennefer)
- Background Music (Instead of just Gwent or TW3 Gwent music, you can get every track from the Witcher games)
Again there are many possibilities. How this relates to kegs is that Ore becomes a currency. The choice to buy a keg is not your ONLY choice. That gives players a sense of agency, which makes kegs more interesting because the player chose to spend their Ore on that item instead of something else.
SIDE NOTE: CDPR may already be planning this on Trinkets, because those you could only unlock in past seasons still appear as "Locked" on your account, which implies you can still unlock them somehow. It makes sense: give them as free rewards to hardcore players, let them boast exclusive cosmetics for a while, then let others purchase them (like how preorder bonuses on games are later released to everyone; but if they include Titles, only season Titles, as "Pioneer" should remain sacred). I only hope CDPR makes season Trinkets cost Ore (higher cost for higher rarity, but ONLY Ore, so gameplay is still required to unlock them). Because charging real money in this case will be viewed as soulless greed.
[8] Adventures For Sale
NOTE: Though not related to kegs, I want to explain this because I mention it above. And because it IS related to making things less boring.
CDPR should introduce "Adventure Scrolls/Books" as an item in the Shop. These would add content to the Adventures section. Some should cost Ore. And some should cost real money. The following are examples of each.
Leader Challenges:
As stated in
another post, I believe that Leader cards should be unique (unlock with Challenges, no Mill/Craft/Transmute). But as an alternative to my suggestion that they be received by default, all Leader Challenges could be purchased in the Shop with Ore. No Leader Challenges would be available by default, thus all Leaders would still be treated equally.
Holiday Challenges:
Past Holiday Challenges (Mahakam Ale Festival, etc) could be sold for real money in the Shop. This would permanently add them to your Adventures section. Everyone wins here. Holiday Challenges are still free to those who are active during the event, but after the event ends you can buy it and be able to replay it whenever you want. It only grants rewards once. So once you unlock the avatar/frame/title there is nothing more to gain, but you can still play it for the story. As CDPR values storytelling, it would be a shame to deny new players the ability to experience these Witcher tales. Personally, I missed Mahakam Ale Festival (busy), so I would definitely buy that, and I caught Saovine, but I would buy it too for the story (I'm also a completionist; so I would want the full collection of Adventures). And on Holiday Challenges specifically, I think they should ONLY be sold for real money. CDPR gave them out once for free, but they weren't free for CDPR. It costs money to write and program, so fans should (and would, I hope) be happy to buy these Adventures to reward CDPR for their work.
Conclusion
Despite my obvious bias, I believe these features would objectively benefit everyone. CDPR would give players more reason to spend real money. Kegs would be more interesting. Ore would be more interesting. And the entire experience of playing Gwent would be more energizing.
The more time I spend in these forums, the more hopeful (and less jaded) I become. I believe Gwent can still be something special, and I hope someone with influence brings this thread to the attention of CDPR. CDPR may dismiss these ideas, but at least they will have been introduced to them.