There is nothing more frustrating than to have the first card you play getting killed by a cheap bronze card. Blue Coin (Going first) has its own disadvantage in terms of card advantage and who gets the last play in R3. On top of these things, the cards which can kill the first card you play is a huge pain in the rear. Why do we even need such cards in the game? And why are there some cards which are super cheap and can kill guaranteed your first card you play? The two cards which are the most annoying are The Marauder and Predatory Dive. They are both 4P and 5P respectively and can kill the first card you play (Marauder 99% of the time). Strangely these two cards come from the most beloved factions by CDPR, SK and MO. No other faction has such cheap cards which can just kill the first card you play even if it is an immune card. I wouldn't mind if it gets killed by Scorch or even Epidemic (Bronze, but still 9 provisions). But to be killed by 4P or 5P card and there is no way you can play around them is just unfair.
I know, SK and MO players will say "Play around it", "It is an interesting Mechanics", "Different abilities are cool". But is it? Blue Mountain Elite was a such a card and she couldn't survive in the first two updates. It was too oppressive to kill a 4 power body put on the board and getting wiped immediately. At least BME couldn't target immune cards. If a card can kill unconditionally the first card you play, it should have a much higher provisions, say at least 7. Would Predatory Dive become useless if it is priced at 7? May be Yes, but it is where it belongs. Marauder should also have some conditions, Range 1 and if you control a Warrior, Range 2. Would it kill that card? Yes, of course, like how BME was killed and that is where kind of ability belong to.
This kind of blatant favorism showed by CDPR towards SK and MO are the only off putting thing about Gwent for me. The rest of the three factions could never have such a card. Even if it somehow survives and comes to the game, it will be killed in the next couple of updated. But for SK and MO, CDPR always gives a blind eye and treats them like the favorite child.
Lets say you play against SK and get blue coin. If you use TA, the card may get Cleaver-ed (or Geralt-ed). If you don't, it will be Maraudered. So, what can anyone do? Start with an Artifact? Throw away your first card?
You go against MO, blue coin, it is the case thing. The card you play may be killed, no matter how big or even immune it is. And the worst part is, it will be done by a stupid 5P bronze card.
I know, SK and MO players will say "Play around it", "It is an interesting Mechanics", "Different abilities are cool". But is it? Blue Mountain Elite was a such a card and she couldn't survive in the first two updates. It was too oppressive to kill a 4 power body put on the board and getting wiped immediately. At least BME couldn't target immune cards. If a card can kill unconditionally the first card you play, it should have a much higher provisions, say at least 7. Would Predatory Dive become useless if it is priced at 7? May be Yes, but it is where it belongs. Marauder should also have some conditions, Range 1 and if you control a Warrior, Range 2. Would it kill that card? Yes, of course, like how BME was killed and that is where kind of ability belong to.
This kind of blatant favorism showed by CDPR towards SK and MO are the only off putting thing about Gwent for me. The rest of the three factions could never have such a card. Even if it somehow survives and comes to the game, it will be killed in the next couple of updated. But for SK and MO, CDPR always gives a blind eye and treats them like the favorite child.
Lets say you play against SK and get blue coin. If you use TA, the card may get Cleaver-ed (or Geralt-ed). If you don't, it will be Maraudered. So, what can anyone do? Start with an Artifact? Throw away your first card?
You go against MO, blue coin, it is the case thing. The card you play may be killed, no matter how big or even immune it is. And the worst part is, it will be done by a stupid 5P bronze card.