"There's always room for another"
How about, we chill out on that for a moment.
If you've been in the loop on Hearthstone expansions teasers and leaks, you may have seen our post yesterday that indicates the new expansion launches on April 7. This was thanks to a, since deleted, leak of information on the official Fireside Gatherings website and quite frankly, it is concerning with the current state of the world.
Microsoft, I'm also asking you to reconsider public events at your stores.
Everything about the expansion announcement so far feels wrong. It is my opinion that I believe they should have already made an expansion announcement since time is running out for a card reveal period. Perhaps the current coronavirus panic has caused certain elements in Blizzard's overall plan to be delayed, I don't know and honestly, all we can really do is speculate at this point. With that in mind, it is possible on another timeline, the one without "beerflu" (sorry, not sorry Corona), those Fireside Gatherings posts that went up yesterday were scheduled to go live in a time where the expansion had already been announced. Maybe this entire article is pointless because they don't have any intentions of running Fireside Gatherings for the expansion - but what if they don't.
Blizzard, you're a world leader in games and although I and plenty of players disagree with you on many things over the past few years especially, I still hold you in high regard. If you are still planning on running Fireside Gatherings for the new expansion, I ask that you reconsider. Obviously, I'm only one idiot on the internet and nothing should change because I simply have an opinion to share, but keeping people inside as much as we can help prevent spreading the coronavirus.
I do think it would be incredibly unfortunate to lose such a powerful pre-expansion tool, but I have a solution.
Tavern Brawl to the Rescue
I know this is crazy talk, but what if, you let everyone open their packs early without needing to set up their own Fireside Gathering. It is definitely something you have the technology to do and you can keep the cards themselves locked from constructed play. Although this doesn't provide the same experience as a Fireside Gathering does, it would allow you to then host a public Tavern Brawl, allowing the use of our "2020 Expansion 1" cards, much like would be possible during the Fireside Brawl.
Don't be like these characters, keep a distance from each other.
Understandably this does come with a big issue. Those without a pre-order aren't really going to be able to participate in the brawl. One way around this would be to instead allow people to play with all the sets that are going to be live in the Year of the Phoenix rotation so at least they can earn their weekly card pack. It would be a cool way to highlight the new rotation and get people to start considering new decks.
The big brain play though would be to temporarily enable all the expansion cards for a Tavern Brawl. Just think about how great it would be to let everyone play the new expansion early, even without pre-ordering. You're giving people on the fence about coming back a chance to see the new cards you've created. Granted, maybe your big announcements alone will do that since I don't know what you've got planned.
Or, make it a Whizbang brawl and let us play with the Blizzard-created decks from the upcoming expansion since those will be in the client at that point. It will also give a proper send-off to Whizbang the Wonderful.
Pokemon Go Takes Charge
Pokemon Go, a game that only exists to get everyone to get out into their communities made an announcement and is being responsible. An upcoming event has been cancelled and they are changing core gameplay to encourage not meeting up with other trainers. Considering Hearthstone doesn't need players to leave their house for any reason, it sounds like a good time to continue with that!
Quote From Niantic The following events have been canceled, postponed, or changed.
- Abra Community Day: This event has been postponed.
We will also be making the following changes to Pokémon GO which are effective starting now until further notice.
- A one-time purchase bundle of 30 Incense for 1 PokéCoin. Incense will also last for one hour.
- 1/2 Hatch Distance when Eggs are placed into Incubators during this time period
- PokéStops will now drop Gifts more frequently
- Pokémon habitats will increase and more Pokémon will be appearing in the wild
I really can't reinforce how important it is that you, Blizzard, prevent players from meeting up. Even if it ultimately stops a couple of people from getting sick and mainly serves as a way to indicate the severity of this pandemic, that's really powerful! Give everyone the ability to celebrate the new expansion and new year and you'll get some serious points in my book.
Share your own take in the comments below. I'm interested to know what you think about the situation.
Also, wash your damn hands.
Comments
Dear Blizz, your fan base is anyway socially awkward when not completely feral or anti-social ...
Please reconsider ^^
That unexpected Pokemon Go news are great! Gonna be opening some Meltan Boxes for people in the building.. Here I am praying my Door Salesman job doesnt make me work this Monday... Knocking on so many doors every day is just pottentialy dangerous in the long run. At least we are taking some measures about it.
(If anyone knows how to tell I wish I dont have to work on monday after saying what I do, I would be gratefull as I am not Native and already thought about it a whole lot)
Also, really like the Brawl Idea. I am always able to create a Gathering but it would be much better with a wizbang brawl
Even if they don't cancel it, fireside gatherings will be cancelled nevertheless for 3 reasons:
-some countries are closing all public places including bars and similar
-place owners will close their places
-people simply won't come to public gatherings during the virus outbreak
Anyone else really happy you don’t have to scrub your card collection clean of germs? Just your ands and device :D
I wish more people would realize their phones are dirty. Doesn't matter how much you wash your hands if you use your dirty hands on your phone at any point during the day =(
I do love digital though in this case. No chance of plaguing collections :D
Another very thoughtful, very timely, and very relevant article from our friends at Out of Cards. Wash yer durned hands!
I have a feeling blizzard will cancel them if they already havent. They moved masters to online so that shows they are not blind to the situation. But hey.. Ya never know. I won't be attending one.
Seconded!
Good ideas! They should definitely cancel the gatherings as it seems like a no-brainer, unless they want this:
March 17th is coming
Honestly, the fact that a section of the people cant actually attend these gatherings, these kind of stuff should have just been scrapped from the start. A tavern brawl that features a mismash of new cards, or better yet, actually allow you to play the recipes earlier, would be more appropriate.
I think if a persons gonna preorder, hes gonna preorder, vice versa. Allowing them to play those cards for free, even if for a short period of time, will not change that.
Can I give this article 5 stars twice? Especially the mike drop at the end. I don't even care about the tavern brawl or open sandbox idea (though it is a good idea), just do something to help people understand the severity of the issue. Announce there will be no gatherings and get some public relations cred.
No one comes to fireside gatherings in the Inland Empire anyway
Arent public gathering already banned?
The world is in denial. Social collapse will occur if they keep hiding themselves from the truth.
Its not covid-19 virus its fucking SARS-cov2. Hiding the true name led ppl to not giving importance to it
You can call it whatever you want, you can "take a bucket of piss and call it Granny's peach tea" but that won't chance the importance it should be given and the consequences it's causing.
I'm sorry to be so harsh (I've even read your comment multiple times), but your post doesn't make any sense.
is this a joke? maybe my english isnt the best but "the importance it should be given and the consequences its causing" is EXACTLY what i mean. ppl arent giving it the importance that it represents, the danger, ppl are just going about their life like nothings changed while Italy is living like its some sort of dystopian sci-fi movie and spain is on its way.
I mean I even said the virus AINT Covid-19, thats just a disease named by WHO to not cause panic, cause if they called it by its real name SARS-cov2 ppl would have probably panic but at least gave it the importance it should have for many ppl relate the name SARS to a deadly disease. Instead they continued to think it was just a flu until shit started to hit the fan.
Im sorry that ppl didnt get what i said, but its really funny how we were all on the same side.
I like the idea of the Fireside Brawl, hell you can sweeten the reward by giving out those fireside card backs to players who don't have 'em or even Nemsy if you don't have her.
This. Once again Flux you and I are in total agreement about sensible measured precautions relating to this virus. There's just no need for these physical gatherings right now for an online card game.
Hopefully those in charge agree. Plenty of ways around this to still provide a pre launch experience as you said.
They will 100% cancel the fireside gatherings, but i doubt they'll just let anybody open their packs, knowing bliz they'll probably release a new bundle that costs $20 that will enable you to open your packs early....
If it's 30 packs for $20... Maybe. You have my attention. ... I'm in!