Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft [ Page 7 ]

Kripparrian Covers The History Of Hearthstone Card Nerfs

Kripparrian recently posted a really great video going over the history of Hearthstone card nerfs. I really enjoy this as I played the game in an early state but don't remember much of the game balance so it's nice to get the history of how it's evolved. Interesting to consider the last card nerf was Warsong Commander and not much has been balanced since then. It seems Blizzard favors releasing new cards as a response than nerfing older cards, which I don't mind. I do think some cards should be buffed, but again Blizzard seems against that sort of thing in favor of releasing a new card that work with something less powerful.

Blizzard Will Release Details of New Hearthstone Expansion On March 11th

We've all been waiting for the new Hearthstone expansion and Blizzard has finally confirmed that on March 11th they will unveil all of the details. So yeah, it's a announcement of the upcoming announcement of the expansion because you know... marketing in 2016!

That said all of the signs point to this expansion having something to do with World of Warcraft The Old Gods and word on the street is it will be called "Whispers of the Old Gods." The expansion announcement will stream live from the Blizzard Twitch page linked below.

What are you wanting from this expansion? As they phase out Naxxramas and Goblins VS Gnomes the new expansion has big shoes to fill and Ben Brode... Read All

What Would Hearthstone Look Like As A Retro Game?

I really enjoyed watching this Hearthstone de-make video. As per-usual the playing Priest got a terrible start, which is ... you know.. how it goes in Hearthstone.

Hearthstone Dailies For Ghosts: Episode 4 Talking Upcoming Changes and Coming Back From the Brink

In this episode I talk about the upcoming changes to Hearthstone while I grind my dailies. I play my Raptor Rogue, Dragon Priest and my brand spankin' new aggro Mage deck. In one of my matches I go down to 1 hp and still bring it around for the win making a very fun Hearthstone moment. I note that the decks I see most play now are really aggro, do you find that to be true in what you are seeing right now?

Check more on the upcoming Hearthstone changes below and let me know what you think of these matches? Should I have played differently or is there a deck you have been having fun with I need to play?

... Read All

Hearthstone Shake Up - Normal Mode & New Deck Slots Coming!

One of the biggest problems in Hearthstone has been new players starting the game. There are a ton of cards to get and because of that, it's very daunting for new players. Changes are coming that should address this and create an entirely new game mode that should shake up the base game for the better.

There is so much here, I am going to clip out most of it to discuss.

"You’ll play Standard using a deck built solely from a pool of cards that were released in the current and previous calendar year, along with a core foundation of the Basic and Classic card sets (which will always be valid for Standard). You’ll be matched against other players who are also using Standard... Read All One of the biggest problems in Hearthstone has been new players starting the game. There are a ton of cards to get and because of that, it's very daunting for new players. Changes are coming that should address this and create an entirely new game mode that should shake up the base game for the better.

There is so much here, I am going to clip out most of it to discuss.

"You’ll play Standard using a deck built solely from a pool of cards that were released in the current and previous calendar year, along with a core foundation of the Basic and Classic card sets (which will always be valid for Standard). You’ll be matched against other players who are also using Standard decks.

Standard will help make for a more dynamic and balanced metagame:

* A select set of cards makes each new card have more impact!
* The developers will have more freedom to design exciting new cards.
* It lets newer players jump in faster without having to collect as many cards.
* Standard is only available as a format in Friendly Challenges, Ranked, and Casual play, so it won’t affect Arena, Solo play, or Adventures.

Wild is our new name for the Hearthstone you already know, because it’ll be the format where anything can happen. While Standard puts a bright spotlight on recently released cards and brings a more balanced experience, when you queue up for Wild, you’ll be cozying up with the crazy fun of Hearthstone you’re already familiar with. Of course, as more and more cards are added over time, the wilder and more unpredictable Wild will be!

In terms of gameplay, nothing is changing for Wild: you’ll be able to finish quests, earn gold, rank up on the ladder, get card backs, earn Legend rank, and use all the cards you’ve already collected to build a Wild deck, just like you always have. When you queue up for Ranked or Casual play with a Wild deck, you’ll always be matched with other players who are also using Wild decks.

The arrival of Standard format will also be an excellent time for us to take stock of Hearthstone. While normally we’re quite conservative about making balance changes to Hearthstone cards (and we’ll continue to be in the future), we’re planning to take the new Hearthstone year as a golden opportunity to re-evaluate a number of cards in the Basic and Classic card sets, including class cards, and make some long-considered adjustments."

Blizzard will also be phasing out the ability to buy old expansions and adventures that are not part of standard. You will be able to craft these cards if you want, but the Naxxramas adventure and Goblins VS Gnomes packs won't be available for purchase. Additionally you will be able to dust all the old Adventure cards for full value, so if you want you can dust Maexxna, Wailing Soul or Sludge Belcher if the only mode you play is Standard.

After I first heard the news I'll admit, I was a bit scared but after more consideration this really does seem to be a good move for Hearthstone. Standard will be the new primary format and Wild will be available for anyone that can swing it. I've always dreamt of crafting Dr. Boom but since Goblins VS Gnomes is heading out there is no longer a reason to do that. That said, we will all lament some cards being phased out like Sludge Belcher and Loatheb.

That said, having a more accessible format to new and existing players seems like a great thing. But what do you think? There is a lot here so I recommend reading the whole post and FAQ linked below.

http://us.battle.net/hearthstone/en/blog/19995505/a-new-way-to-play-2-2-2016

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 02/03/2016 at 06:32pm

This is a HUGE change. One that will be worth following. I jumped on the Hearthstone bandwagon hard when it came to mobile and was pretty decent at it.

I've not played for a month or so now, and this update upsets me a little. I don't like losing adventures like Naxx. When I started, I was more interested in Black Rock, so I played through that, then saved my gold for the Grand Tournament expansion. I've played a couple tiers of the League of Explorers adventure, but got a little burnt out on the game. Now if I want to play Naxx, I have to get in a quickly grind up to 700 gold to unlock a level of Naxx before it goes away if I want cards from it. This frustrates me.

But at the same time, I realize that having a Standard game will greatly help out newer players. Wild could be really fun years from now when you see a card you've not seen for years played as well :)

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 02/03/2016 at 08:01pm

I will probably play both Standard and Wild. Keep decks for each.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 02/03/2016 at 09:27pm

@AdamPFarnsworth, it sounds like you'll still be able to acquire the cards from Naxx or the Goblins/Gnomes adventures via crafting, rather than doing the adventures. The cards aren't going away, they're just changing how you get them, and limiting what will be available for use in the Standard vs Wild arenas.

AdamPFarnsworth wrote on 02/03/2016 at 10:21pm

Sure, I know that, but crafting a card like Kel'Thuzad seems impossible lol

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 02/03/2016 at 10:41pm

@Adam @scrypt "How will purchasing Adventures work?
You will be able to purchase Adventures that are part of the current Standard format normally. Adventures that are not part of Standard will no longer be available for purchase. If you already own at least one wing of such an Adventure, you’ll have the option to unlock the remaining wings using in-game gold."

So if you have at least one wing of an Adventure open you can keep unlocking the rest with gold to collect the cards. So if you haven't already and still want to unlock at least the first wing of Naxxaramas.

http://us.battle.net/hearthstone/en/blog/19995505/a-new-way-to-play-2-2-2016#cards

Bina wrote on 02/03/2016 at 11:39pm

Did anyone else notice how forced the cheerfulness of that designer was? His smile was a little to big and his voice has an underlying tension. I think he's trying to be reassuring, but it comes off as just kinda weird to me.
I'm really excited about this change up. Though I have to say I hope they continue to balance some of the cards from classic so that we see a real change up. Cards like Tirion and Silvanas still seem OP and may go back to being an auto-include if Blizzard doesn't do something. Or I could be really wrong about that and we might see a flood of new builds wildly different from anything we've seen before.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 02/05/2016 at 01:20am

"Did anyone else notice how forced the cheerfulness of that designer was? His smile was a little to big and his voice has an underlying tension. I think he's trying to be reassuring, but it comes off as just kinda weird to me."

I've been subscribed to the Hearthstone YouTube channel and seen a few of Bens videos where he talks. From my observation, I could be wrong, he seems to have a nervous energy about him and also seems like he wants to be select with wording. I think one reason why he is careful with wording and especially this news drop is how much of a big change this is and how vocal the Hearthstone community is. Some people are really upset and very vocal about it. I think the, general, consensus is somewhat mixed but coming out in support of this. That said, some people are pissed and I can see how they'd be a bit nervous people might riot. Change is hard and some gamers are really really hard to deal with sometimes.

"Though I have to say I hope they continue to balance some of the cards from classic so that we see a real change up. Cards like Tirion and Silvanas still seem OP and may go back to being an auto-include if Blizzard doesn't do something. Or I could be really wrong about that and we might see a flood of new builds wildly different from anything we've seen before."

I think some balancing to Classic is essential for this to work, otherwise the best cards to get are the OP ones from classic.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 02/05/2016 at 02:50am

Interview with Ben Brode after this news. It's really interesting and well worth a read.

http://www.pcgamer.com/ben-brode-on-why-standard-hearthstone-has-to-ditch-the-old-card-expansions/

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 02/05/2016 at 02:57am

PC Gamer also listed the most important cards that will leave Standard when that starts and #1 is Sludge Belcher. I agree, that card is important and nearly always a win to any deck you add it to.

http://www.pcgamer.com/the-20-most-important-cards-that-will-be-removed-from-hearthstone-standard/

Will_Ball Game Mod Super Member wrote on 02/11/2016 at 05:26pm

Good pcgamer interview. Thanks for posting @jdodson!

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Hearthstone Dailies For Ghosts: Episode 3 Basic Decks, Raptor Rogue and Aggro Shaman

A few people have been asking me about starting strategies for Hearthstone. It's a tough grind when you start and I discuss what I would do if I started now and then get in playing with a basic+naxx Warlock deck. I round out the show playing a few new Aggro Shaman and Raptor Rogue decks.

Basic+Naxx Warlock Deck:

http://hearthstoneplayers.com/basic-naxxramas-warlock/

Raptor Rogue(I don't run Sylvanas or Dr. Boom as I don't have them)

http://www.hearthpwn.com/decks/376635-top-5-legend-raptor-rogue

Aggro Shaman:

http://www.icy-veins.com/hearthstone/shaman-face-aggro-loe-deck

Last year I created a post for new Hearthstone players. My only update would be to unlock Naxxramas,... Read All

Nicholas_Biondi wrote on 02/03/2016 at 01:36am

good vid. As a new player, this was real helpful.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 02/03/2016 at 01:39am

Thanks. If you have any suggestions or maybe issues you run at with the game, let me know. I made this video based on conversations with you and a few other friends.

scrypt Supporter wrote on 02/03/2016 at 06:26pm

Very cool video. I really enjoy gameplay videos where the player explains their process, especially games that cater to deeper levels of strategy (e.g. Hearthstone). Thanks for making these!

On a selfish note, the alpha turned out really well on the banner image, which I'm also thankful for :D.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 02/03/2016 at 10:42pm

The alpha did turn out well, I like how the Ghosts are surrounding me

Nicholas_Biondi wrote on 02/05/2016 at 04:58am

ghosties be spoopin

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Hearthstone Dailies For Ghosts: Episode 2 Final Tier of Blackrock Mountain

In this episode of Hearthstone Dailies for Ghosts I grind up to 700 gold to unlock the last tier of Blackrock Mountain. Am I able to defeat all the bosses? The last bossfight is a bit tricky, do I have the right cards to finish Nefarian?

Hearthstone Dailies For Ghosts: Episode 1 The Show Begins

One goal of 2016 is to do more Cheerful Ghost video projects. Keep the Roundtable going strong, do more local developer interviews and game streaming. I love Hearthstone and I know some of you do too and thought it might make sense to do a new Hearthstone series where I play the game and talk a bit about it. Specifically i'll be focusing on grinding my Hearthstone gold dailies, talk about the game in terms of strategy to help people understand the game a bit more and learn that they can do pretty well playing the game for free. In this first episode I grind out one of my daily quests while playing 3 ranked matches. I talk about and use two of my new decks specifically... Read All

A Few Things I Liked In 2015

http://thehearthstonesecrets.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/xfqk2e.jpg

If people are handing out awards for the laziest post titles, i'd put "A Few Things I Liked In 2015" up for nomination. I wanted to make it "Things I Just Couldn't Even In 2015" but you know, I couldn’t even.

This post is a wrap up of a few things I enjoyed in 2015. It's not an exhaustive list but I am sure I am saying that so you don't judge me for only putting popular stuff on this list. You know, so if someone is all like "hey man why is this list Star Wars The Force Awakens" 20 times I can say "it's not meant to be exhaustive.”

The following lists aren't in any sorted order unless otherwise noted. This list is of things I experienced in 2015 not just stuff that was... Read All

Winter Veil Comes To Everyones Favorite Blizzard Cash Creation Engine

https://bnetcmsus-a.akamaihd.net/cms/gallery/KOYUKLN4X91M1449535529201.jpg

"Oh the weather outside is frightful,

but the Inn is so delightful.

With our decks all good to go,

Play Hearthstone! Play Hearthstone! Play Hearthstone!"

It's nice to see Blizzard getting in the holiday spirit with Hearthstone. Then again, it's not too hard getting excited for something that makes more money than Donald Trump. To celebrate Winter Veil Blizzard is replacing the standard Hero greeting with a special Winter Veil line as well as decorating the boards with a nice festive theme. They are teasing more to come, which might take the form of a fun Tavern Brawl or ... possibly ... some free stuff? If Winter Veil Claus brings us all a free pack or two that would... Read All

JaBo wrote on 12/11/2015 at 04:48am

So, one thing I noticed is that there's 10 extra packs when you buy 40, so it's $50 for 50. I did that just now. I pulled 8 cards I didn't have yet lol. 7 were golden versions, 1 legendary I didn't have (I did pull a 2nd ragnaros). Then I disenchanted the rest and gained over 3200 dust so I crafted two more legendary cards.... all in all, can't complain.

I finished the heroic mode today and gained the new card back (and the rest of the cards). I haven't played yet with these weeks cards, but so far, I like Ethereal Conjurer, Entomb, Jeweled Scarab, pretty much any discover card is awesome and good for value. The spider, the mech, all card advantage. Thinking of crafting gold versions of some of them (then they give "discover" gold cards).

If anyone needs tips on the boss fights, I'd be happy to share my tactics.

Good expansion

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 12/11/2015 at 08:33pm

> so I crafted two more legendary cards.... all in all, can't complain.

What cards?

Entombed Spider is great and works really well in Hunter beast deck. It added so much to it already. That and Glaivezooka.

Was talking to a friend and we both think this will be the new model for Hearthstone going forward. A yearly expansion + adventure in that order plus anything new they plan on adding, not sure what that would be though

JaBo wrote on 12/14/2015 at 05:08pm

Don't remember exactly which two, I have a few new ones I've crafted lately. I got the 2 good mage ones (I already had pulled the flame tank thing), and the dragon that gives +5 spell damage.

I'm kinda running out of legionaries to care about. I do have epics I need though. I had only pulled 2 giants, so I'm working on getting those now. Frost Giant seems decent in a control deck. In priest or warrior I easily use my ability over 10 times, so those would be 0 cost 8/8s w/o me having to be at 10 life, or having cards in hand, or full board... I may try them out.

This should be public vieable, but here's my collection: http://www.hearthpwn.com/members/Nardraug/collection

Not sure what my legendary I want next... I may just keep grabbing some epics. I'm tempted to also craft some golden cards I use a lot.

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 12/14/2015 at 06:30pm

It seems to require a login to see it.

JaBo wrote on 12/14/2015 at 06:44pm

Hmm, well HearthPwn is a really great site to read up on decks/ideas/cards. I haven'r used it too much, but it's cool for comparing your decks vs others similar to see what others try (and see how popular they are with the community). You can search for decks filtering down to certain card combos.

JaBo wrote on 12/14/2015 at 06:50pm

It also shows you how much dust is needed for the deck.

Like this dragon priest deck, it costs over 10k dust. http://www.hearthpwn.com/decks/394674-loe-shadow-reno-dragons
But it tells me I only need 1600 to complete it based on my collection. (missing one legendary for it)

jdodson Admin Post Author wrote on 12/15/2015 at 06:13pm

Nice, i'll sign up for an account then.

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