This is a very thorough and well-composed assessment of the state of things, and I hope it will help those who read it make decisions for themselves about what will be best for their gaming habits and expenses.
I'll share my experience for anyone who cares to read it.
I've been a daily player for almost the entire 10 years of the game's existence, but I stopped spending money on it a couple years ago (due primarily to the sexual harrassment suits, but also because I had become uncomfortable with the expense in a "sunken cost" type of way). Before that, I bought every expansion's pre-order bundle, but nothing else. Quests/Rewards Track typically bring in about 10K gold per cycle, which I spend on packs, and I have enough dust saved up that I can craft Legendaries when I really want them. What this means is that I am still enjoying the game as F2P, but that's partly due the money I spent historically. I am just as fed up with the bullshit linkblade91 has described so clearly above (especially the Corridor Sleeper), but I don't have a difficult decision to make at the moment. I have no plans to start spending money on the game again, but if the in-game resources I am able to gather decrease to the point that it impinges on how much fun I'm having, I'll have to consider leaving. In the meantime, I'll just keep F2Ping, and I encourage others to do the same if you feel similarly put out by Blizzard's practices. Maybe if enough people hold back their dollars, they'll get the message and roll back all the crap.
Wow, making it to Diamond playing achievement decks is impressive! I usually just play garbage decks in Wild that are built just to get the achivement, which is ... not so fun.
Dragon Priest sounds fun! I love the concept of Zarimi and think crafting him would be worthwhile. I think you're onto something with those Thirsty Drifters!
Thanks for starting this valuable discussion! I'll add my 2 cents.
I completed the Paladin one in Wild using just about every card that draws cards. I had no intention of winning any games (and I didn't!), as this card is just rubbish. I was just focused on surviving long enough to complete the achievement, which I did after 3 tries. Boring, but done now.
Similar strategies would probbaly work for some of the others, like Warrior and Warlock.
I'm pissed that most of these require either a Legendary or an Epic, most of which I did not manage to unpack.
Some, like the Shaman and Priest ones, will just happen eventually if you have the needed cards and play them in a viable deck.
I'm planning on trying for the neutral Mustache one by running mostly removal and healing spells, plus a handful of minions that can deliver lethal from hand, like Leeroy and Alexstrasza. Maybe Warlock with Doomguard? Maybe Hunter with King Krush?
That was my first thought, but I can't seem to find that option anywhere. It's right there in mobile, but not on the laptop. Looked both in game and in the battle net app.
Personally, I'm quite fed up with Paladin-stone and am excited for these nerfs. Paladins just have too many good things right now: Rush, Lifesteal, handbuffs, boardbuffs, AOE, efficient tutoring. A bit of a tone-down is definitely warranted.
Odyn is also quite strong, though not as oppressive IMO. Even a 1 mana increase would be impactful, as it would close off a number of armor gain options from being played the same turn, like Hero Power and Shield Block.
What really bugs me is the in-game achievements that require specific cards (usually Legendaries and Epics), as these CANNOT be completed in Tavern Brawls. I think it would be a nice QoL upgrade if they allowed those achievements to count JUST in the Deck Recipe Brawls, as there is no way to abuse the situation.
Has anyone else encountered the Horn of the Windlord/Zilliax interaction where the weapon sets the minion to 3/3, Zilliax buffs it to 4/4, they swing in for 3 and the minion lives as a 4/1? Hilarious!
Wouldn't you know it, my pack openings included Zilliax Deluxe 3000 (VERY exciting) and 3 Legendaries from classes with which I already have 1000 wins. I guess I'll be trying those out!
I'm finding this card to be pretty good overall, but slower to upgrade than I expected. It also sucks to hold it for the first few turns, taking up valuable hand space, but if you don't, it won't be getting upgraded.
I think this card is bugged. I played it with one Doomguard and 2 Enhanced Dreadlords in my deck, and it only summoned one Doomguard. Anyone else try this out yet?
Does anyone else feel the need to only play classes that you HAVEN'T completed? I'm over 1000 wins with Druid, Hunter, Mage, Paladin and Warrior, so I pretty much never play those classes. This feels bad, since I have those sweet portraits, but I want to get every class to 1000, so I focus on the others. I'm pretty close with the other 4 original classes, and still under 600 with both Death Knight and Demon Hunter. I'll get there eventually, but in the meantime, my ladder options keep getting smaller and smaller.
You personally have 2 packs in the top 5 of the leaderboard, both have a golden legendary and 2 golden epics, but the difference between them is over 200,000 (nice packs, btw!). Maybe that golden common multiplied it?
This is a very thorough and well-composed assessment of the state of things, and I hope it will help those who read it make decisions for themselves about what will be best for their gaming habits and expenses.
I'll share my experience for anyone who cares to read it.
I've been a daily player for almost the entire 10 years of the game's existence, but I stopped spending money on it a couple years ago (due primarily to the sexual harrassment suits, but also because I had become uncomfortable with the expense in a "sunken cost" type of way). Before that, I bought every expansion's pre-order bundle, but nothing else. Quests/Rewards Track typically bring in about 10K gold per cycle, which I spend on packs, and I have enough dust saved up that I can craft Legendaries when I really want them. What this means is that I am still enjoying the game as F2P, but that's partly due the money I spent historically. I am just as fed up with the bullshit linkblade91 has described so clearly above (especially the Corridor Sleeper), but I don't have a difficult decision to make at the moment. I have no plans to start spending money on the game again, but if the in-game resources I am able to gather decrease to the point that it impinges on how much fun I'm having, I'll have to consider leaving. In the meantime, I'll just keep F2Ping, and I encourage others to do the same if you feel similarly put out by Blizzard's practices. Maybe if enough people hold back their dollars, they'll get the message and roll back all the crap.
Wow, making it to Diamond playing achievement decks is impressive! I usually just play garbage decks in Wild that are built just to get the achivement, which is ... not so fun.
Dragon Priest sounds fun! I love the concept of Zarimi and think crafting him would be worthwhile. I think you're onto something with those Thirsty Drifters!
Thanks for starting this valuable discussion! I'll add my 2 cents.
I completed the Paladin one in Wild using just about every card that draws cards. I had no intention of winning any games (and I didn't!), as this card is just rubbish. I was just focused on surviving long enough to complete the achievement, which I did after 3 tries. Boring, but done now.
Similar strategies would probbaly work for some of the others, like Warrior and Warlock.
I'm pissed that most of these require either a Legendary or an Epic, most of which I did not manage to unpack.
Some, like the Shaman and Priest ones, will just happen eventually if you have the needed cards and play them in a viable deck.
I'm planning on trying for the neutral Mustache one by running mostly removal and healing spells, plus a handful of minions that can deliver lethal from hand, like Leeroy and Alexstrasza. Maybe Warlock with Doomguard? Maybe Hunter with King Krush?
Good luck everyone!
My favorite:
That was my first thought, but I can't seem to find that option anywhere. It's right there in mobile, but not on the laptop. Looked both in game and in the battle net app.
Personally, I'm quite fed up with Paladin-stone and am excited for these nerfs. Paladins just have too many good things right now: Rush, Lifesteal, handbuffs, boardbuffs, AOE, efficient tutoring. A bit of a tone-down is definitely warranted.
Odyn is also quite strong, though not as oppressive IMO. Even a 1 mana increase would be impactful, as it would close off a number of armor gain options from being played the same turn, like Hero Power and Shield Block.
Great PSA, thanks!
What really bugs me is the in-game achievements that require specific cards (usually Legendaries and Epics), as these CANNOT be completed in Tavern Brawls. I think it would be a nice QoL upgrade if they allowed those achievements to count JUST in the Deck Recipe Brawls, as there is no way to abuse the situation.
Has anyone else encountered the Horn of the Windlord/Zilliax interaction where the weapon sets the minion to 3/3, Zilliax buffs it to 4/4, they swing in for 3 and the minion lives as a 4/1? Hilarious!
Just play Popular Pixie on turn 8 for free hero power next turn. That deck looks super fun!
Wouldn't you know it, my pack openings included Zilliax Deluxe 3000 (VERY exciting) and 3 Legendaries from classes with which I already have 1000 wins. I guess I'll be trying those out!
I'm finding this card to be pretty good overall, but slower to upgrade than I expected. It also sucks to hold it for the first few turns, taking up valuable hand space, but if you don't, it won't be getting upgraded.
So I guess it's not recognizing Enhanced Dreadlord as a Demon?
I think this card is bugged. I played it with one Doomguard and 2 Enhanced Dreadlords in my deck, and it only summoned one Doomguard. Anyone else try this out yet?
Wishing you all a great Launch Day!!!
Does anyone else feel the need to only play classes that you HAVEN'T completed? I'm over 1000 wins with Druid, Hunter, Mage, Paladin and Warrior, so I pretty much never play those classes. This feels bad, since I have those sweet portraits, but I want to get every class to 1000, so I focus on the others. I'm pretty close with the other 4 original classes, and still under 600 with both Death Knight and Demon Hunter. I'll get there eventually, but in the meantime, my ladder options keep getting smaller and smaller.
Has anyone seen a streamer test this card yet? I'd like to know what stats those Slimes have.
Beautiful work, and a delightful read! Love the treatment for good ol' Silverback Patriarch.
Congratulations winners! I hope you enjoy those bundles, as this set looks to be tons of fun!
You personally have 2 packs in the top 5 of the leaderboard, both have a golden legendary and 2 golden epics, but the difference between them is over 200,000 (nice packs, btw!). Maybe that golden common multiplied it?