Ixalan Blog Posts *Updated (2/8/18)

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  • Szamsziel
    Szamsziel Posts: 463 Mover and Shaker
    @Brigby one thing is unclear. Is the new event replacing totp standard or legacy based? Is there any chance that new event complement totp?having 2 event concurrently shouldn't make a problem. 
  • ElfNeedsFood
    ElfNeedsFood Posts: 944 Critical Contributor
    Updating TotP to encourage more participation is a good thing. We will have to see if 20 crystals gets us there...
  • wereotter
    wereotter Posts: 2,070 Chairperson of the Boards
    speakupaskanswer said:
    "Hey, we get lots of new and different styled events - so let's complain about what we don't get!"

    Anyway, I'm very curios how all of this plays out. The events sound really interesting and different which is what I care about the most after months of playing the same old stuff. 20MC is not much if the rewards are adequate. And if they are less than that any event would be irrelevant. I cannot wait to play these events.

    I also worry about some of the overcosted cards but I hope Treasure is really good enough to balance this. Again, we should be cautious, it is hard to predict how the set will play eventually, we've only seen a couple of cards (and no common ones!). And there are some really fairly costed cards there too.

    The idea of having more events even for past sets in the future is exciting and a nice tease. Sure, we don't get them NOW but there is so much new stuff just around the corner that I find it hard to mind.

    Open questions:
    - What will the rewards look like for these events?
    - Will there be objectives? Different ones?
    It's a legitimate complaint considering there are two types of events, PvP and PvE, and the new release will only have one of them. It's even more legitimate to bring up the absence of these types of events considering the mock conversation regarding Legacy vs Standard players.

    I'm all for more content for all types of players as long as content for one group doesn't take away content from another group, and that seems to be what's happened here. Content for legacy and standard PvP has meant no development for those who prefer PvE and only play PvP either as a frustrating way to pass time, or as a necessity to get resources (cards, gems, etc) to help progress your ability to play PvE
  • IM_CARLOS
    IM_CARLOS Posts: 640 Critical Contributor
    I like the new totp on paper. We willwsee in practice.

    But all the cards I saw are way to costy. I think cycle will still rule the meta until nerf or some better cards come arround. But maybe treasure is a real killer ingame and proof me wrong. We will see also.

    I am not so excited yet. 

    @Brigby: when will be the hou exclusives craftable and when will will be hou crafted for standard costs (5k = mythic)?

    Will be the pw still in vault for mc two weeks after release? 
  • Krishna
    Krishna Posts: 205 Tile Toppler
    edited February 2018
    IM_CARLOS said:
    I like the new totp on paper. We willwsee in practice.

    But all the cards I saw are way to costy. I think cycle will still rule the meta until nerf or some better cards come arround. But maybe treasure is a real killer ingame and proof me wrong. We will see also.

    I am not so excited yet. 

    @Brigby: when will be the hou exclusives craftable and when will will be hou crafted for standard costs (5k = mythic)?

    Will be the pw still in vault for mc two weeks after release? 
    Totally agree that pretty much every spoiled Ixalan card appears to cost too much (which may be the direction they want to go).

    The HOU exclusives and HOU to standard cost crafting will very likely coincide with the release of Ixalan (2.4 update)
  • Gunmix25
    Gunmix25 Posts: 1,442 Chairperson of the Boards
    Krishna said:
    IM_CARLOS said:
    I like the new totp on paper. We willwsee in practice.

    But all the cards I saw are way to costy. I think cycle will still rule the meta until nerf or some better cards come arround. But maybe treasure is a real killer ingame and proof me wrong. We will see also.

    I am not so excited yet. 

    @Brigby: when will be the hou exclusives craftable and when will will be hou crafted for standard costs (5k = mythic)?

    Will be the pw still in vault for mc two weeks after release? 
    Totally agree that pretty much every spoiled Ixalan card appears to cost too much (which may be the direction they want to go).

    The HOU exclusives and HOU to standard cost crafting will very likely coincide with the release of Ixalan (2.4 update)

    AHK seemed to be heading in the right direction away from power creep ... then HOU happened and we were right back in the mess, I don't know if mana increase is their answer to power creep or it was because of the treasures mechanic. regardless I cannot see too many cards having long term value when other cards are vastly cheaper for similar effects
  • wereotter
    wereotter Posts: 2,070 Chairperson of the Boards
    Gunmix25 said:
    wereotter said:

    I'm all for more content for all types of players as long as content for one group doesn't take away content from another group, and that seems to be what's happened here.
    Exactly, Keeping Ixalan from taking away content from Rivals is what they did here. Sadly the time constraints did not allow them to create a new PvE event. Many in here asked day in and day out about Ixalan and how Okatagon was not progressing fast enough ... this is what happens. Something had to be sacrificed apparently and PvE due to the size and effort needed on top of everything else had to take a back seat. Bummer really, but I suspect set release delay because of no PvE would have caused an uproar in here. In fact, I know it would have.
    Except that’s the thing. Two new PvP events and no PvE means that a new form of PvP could have been responsible for resources not being applied to PvE. These aren’t just put players against each other PvP like we’ve seen before, but encounters that dynamically change on every color. 

    I applaud the attempt to freshen things up, but you can’t deny that there had to be resources spent to accomplish it that ended up taking away from another part of the player base. So rather than execute patience, now only some of us are getting an enjoyable update while the rest are not. 
  • FindingHeart8
    FindingHeart8 Posts: 2,731 Chairperson of the Boards
    Brigby said:
    Drewster said:
    FindingHeart8 said:
    Brigby said:
    Just as an FYI for everyone, Across Ixalan will initially be replacing Trial of the Planes, as the PvP event with an entry cost.
    Love the more affordable cost! So...you're gonna keep the rewards the same though, right? It'll be like xmas all over again ;)
    I hope the rewards are kept the same or better because I like grinding jewels.
    Yes. The rewards for Across Ixalan will be the same as Trial of the Planes.
    httptreachtvwp-contentuploads201601Squeepng
  • __Adam
    __Adam Posts: 111 Tile Toppler
    No PvE is a real bummer.  PvP is a thinly veiled attempt at goading players into an arms race where the publisher is the real winner.

    I absolutely despise legacy, it's so broken its laughable.  Really hoping these cards are the new norm and they bring the Nerf Hammer of Unstoppable Force to the legacy sets.  Maybe legacy would be with playing if it didn't have 346324 decks that can win in < 3 turns. 

    At least give us a TG that has a non legacy option so its actually usable.  The only thing lamer than winning 4 koth oliv/pig games in <10 mins is losing to them.
  • andrewvanmarle
    andrewvanmarle Posts: 978 Critical Contributor
    --Adam said:
    No PvE is a real bummer.  PvP is a thinly veiled attempt at goading players into an arms race where the publisher is the real winner.

    I absolutely despise legacy, it's so broken its laughable.  Really hoping these cards are the new norm and they bring the Nerf Hammer of Unstoppable Force to the legacy sets.  Maybe legacy would be with playing if it didn't have 346324 decks that can win in < 3 turns. 

    At least give us a TG that has a non legacy option so its actually usable.  The only thing lamer than winning 4 koth oliv/pig games in <10 mins is losing to them.

    Don 't rag on legacy, if you don't like it dont play it. hoping it get's wrecked is just beingmean to players who do like it.

    I do agree that trial grounds should have a legacy/stadard choice
  • Drewster
    Drewster Posts: 116 Tile Toppler
    I am very happy about all this updated news!!! Thanks you awesome people in charge! :smile:
  • Gunmix25
    Gunmix25 Posts: 1,442 Chairperson of the Boards
    wereotter said:
    Gunmix25 said:
    wereotter said:

    I'm all for more content for all types of players as long as content for one group doesn't take away content from another group, and that seems to be what's happened here.
    Exactly, Keeping Ixalan from taking away content from Rivals is what they did here. Sadly the time constraints did not allow them to create a new PvE event. Many in here asked day in and day out about Ixalan and how Okatagon was not progressing fast enough ... this is what happens. Something had to be sacrificed apparently and PvE due to the size and effort needed on top of everything else had to take a back seat. Bummer really, but I suspect set release delay because of no PvE would have caused an uproar in here. In fact, I know it would have.
    Except that’s the thing. Two new PvP events and no PvE means that a new form of PvP could have been responsible for resources not being applied to PvE. These aren’t just put players against each other PvP like we’ve seen before, but encounters that dynamically change on every color. 

    I applaud the attempt to freshen things up, but you can’t deny that there had to be resources spent to accomplish it that ended up taking away from another part of the player base. So rather than execute patience, now only some of us are getting an enjoyable update while the rest are not. 


    I follow you now and see where your stance is. Makes sense as energies devoted to two PVPs detracted from the development of a PvE. Only wonder if Oktagon is planning on something larger for PvE than in the past by Those-who-shall-not-be-named? I truly hope so, like you I love PvE far more than PvP.


    --Adam said:
    No PvE is a real bummer.  PvP is a thinly veiled attempt at goading players into an arms race where the publisher is the real winner.

    this is true for any App game.

    --Adam said: 

    I absolutely despise legacy, it's so broken its laughable.  Really hoping these cards are the new norm and they bring the Nerf Hammer of Unstoppable Force to the legacy sets.  Maybe legacy would be with playing if it didn't have 346324 decks that can win in < 3 turns. 

    A by product of the QB days when speed was essential to ranking. And it's 346325 decks. :p

    --Adam said:

    At least give us a TG that has a non legacy option so its actually usable.  The only thing lamer than winning 4 koth oliv/pig games in <10 mins is losing to them.
    I've been asking for this since TG was created. I hope that when Oktagon gets caught up that they can devote some resources to adding this option.


     
  • ElfNeedsFood
    ElfNeedsFood Posts: 944 Critical Contributor
    spesler said:
    Brigby said:

    Yes. The rewards for Across Ixalan will be the same as Trial of the Planes.

    Wow! I hope people aren't glossing over this fact.  This is great news, and, assuming there are no other surprises, is a significant step away from the policies that created so much controversy last year.
    Exactly. Now the paid event is actually something that helps early players get cards at a vastly reduced rate and not just a platinum tier competition to accumulate jewels for more mythics and masterpieces. 
  • Furordraco
    Furordraco Posts: 142 Tile Toppler
    Many good news! I like the cards it's new content what the hell I'll get what I can. I'm also however one like above people disappointed of no pve events. They are a core part of why I always liked this game. I hope they will come out not too much in the future. Still, cheers Oktagon!
  • __Adam
    __Adam Posts: 111 Tile Toppler
    andrewvanmarle said:
    --Adam said:
    No PvE is a real bummer.  PvP is a thinly veiled attempt at goading players into an arms race where the publisher is the real winner.

    I absolutely despise legacy, it's so broken its laughable.  Really hoping these cards are the new norm and they bring the Nerf Hammer of Unstoppable Force to the legacy sets.  Maybe legacy would be with playing if it didn't have 346324 decks that can win in < 3 turns. 

    At least give us a TG that has a non legacy option so its actually usable.  The only thing lamer than winning 4 koth oliv/pig games in <10 mins is losing to them.

    Don 't rag on legacy, if you don't like it dont play it. hoping it get's wrecked is just beingmean to players who do like it.

    I do agree that trial grounds should have a legacy/stadard choice
    Not really an option a lot of the time as it legacy or nothing.  And just when I think it can't get any more brain-dead along comes enraged legacy!  That's when I actually just roll my face on the screen and still roll nubz with less than half mythics in their deck.

    I'm mostly exaggerating for fun.  Seems to be the norm w/the claims of 10 minute omni loops every 3rd game :smile:

  • khurram
    khurram Posts: 1,090 Chairperson of the Boards
    edited February 2018
    Wow... really appreciate the new events ideas but it seems that octo-devs energy has mostly been directed at these complicated node mechanics because most of the cards they have spoiled are cringe-worthy.

    A 14 Mana mythic spell to drain the first card? There are commons that cost less. Those treasures better be worth it but I highly doubt.

    Also I might be missing something and correct me if i am but the skit at the end of the latest blog post is giving me the impression that once Ixalan is rolled out there won't be any events where people can play with legacy cards except for TG? 
  • Matthew
    Matthew Posts: 605 Critical Contributor
    There's far too much on here to sift through that I've missed over the last few days, so forgive me if I'm repeating. But my biggest worry about all of this so far is that Oktagon seems to have a poor understanding of how to make common and uncommon cards economical and worth using.

    Deck space is at an insane premium because of the design constraints we have to work with both within the deck and on the board. That means that cards have to be economical from a mana cost standpoint, and from the standpoint of how impactful their abilities are. The uncommon cards we've had revealed so far are, to me, not at all worth playing (except perhaps for Raptor Hatchling; that one does look interesting). The Amonkhet block was the first one that seemed to at least acknowledge the need for legitimately useful cards of lower rarities, and I was hoping to see that trend continue. But if the rest of the common and uncommon cards for XLN and RIX are of similar design to the cards we've seen so far, I will be sorely disappointed.

    A perfect example is cards with Defender. In this game, that means that your creature is pretty much guaranteed to die. That's all well and good, because that's what they're supposed to do. However, it's crazy to me that the designers appear to have failed to understand that these creatures should be easier to cast precisely because of their built-in expendability.

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