v1.3.4: Animation Speed

Animation Speed

In an effort to improve the UI, I've updated the code for animation speed. Animation speed is now dynamic, speeding up when there's a lot of animations to be made. (Right now, this feature is being tested only for the new card this patch, but I plan to eventually roll it out for stuff like Triosurge as well.)

Other UI Improvements

Hovering over a class icon now gives a brief overview of the class.

Eclipse now correctly says "an enemy creature" instead of "an enemy".

Deluge now says "of each mana" instead of "of each power".

Fixed a bug that lead players to believe they still had a few seconds left on their clock when they were out of time.

Game Design

Arrows (3) has been efficient, but I've decided punishing "creatures close together" should be Banisher color pie. Arrows has been removed from the game. Expect new cards that will fill a similar role.

Darksteel7, while not overperforming in the stats, has led to some very unhealthy wall gameplay. Darksteel8 will remain legal, as its harder to build the wall, and the game ends in a more timely manner once you do.

Darts (Fire, Ice, Poison, Chain) can no longer damage creatures beyond the current health bar. Any excess will hit the player.

Balance

Craftsman(3) 2/10 -> 2/11.

Mystic Flare, Rank 7: 6 -> 7

Ritual of the Commander: [34] -> [35]

(E5): 1/10 -> 1/9

Dev comment: Currently, each player plays their managen almost every game. While I want it to be a play made usually, I also want skipping to be a viable strategy. Since my data has E5 > W5 > F3, I decided to nerf the strongest one to bring the overall power level of the mana gens down slightly.

(A7): 4/17 -> 4/18

Dev comment: A playtester told me this card is OP. While I do take playtester feedback into account, this card wasn't just underperforming, it was underperforming extremely severely in the latest dev server dataset and was significantly below average in previous data sets.

New Cards

First, a new card that can produce a lot of animations, showing off the new animation speed code.

Shrapnel Storm, Rank ? (Illusionist)

! Enemy creatures lose X total health, divided as evenly as possible.

(Won't waste effect on overkill.)

?

Dev comment: No plus signs today because double digit numbers with a plus sign do not look pretty in the UI.

Next, an arrows replacement, kinda. There's some Banisher, Evoker, Illusionist, and Restorer stuff here, hopefully not enough of any to infringe on its color pie.

Chromatic Sphere, Rank ? (Neutral)

! Attack all enemies. enemy creatures.

@ enemy. Attack it (again). Heal yourself.

?

Dev comment: While tier 6 looks worst on paper, its actually performing the best in the dev server. 12 damage might be a key breakpoint to hit.

Enjoy the new patch!