Balancing Going Second, Adding More Cards to Classic Set, and More: A Q&A with Ben Brode, Game Director on Hearthstone
Summary
In this Q&A, Ben Brode, the Game Director on Hearthstone, talks about balancing the game for players going second, adding more cards to the Classic set, the decision to add hero characters, and the possibility of making wild sets purchasable with in-game gold. He also shares advice for aspiring Hearthstone world champions.
Table of Contents
- The Balancing Act of Going Second
- The Plan to Add Cards to the Classic Set
- The Decision to Add Hero Characters
- The Lack of Buffs in the Game
- Making Wild Sets Purchasable with In-Game Gold
- Advice for Aspiring Hearthstone World Champions
- Developers are Working on In-Game Tournaments
- The Future of the Inspire Mechanic
- Concerns Around Cube Lock
- The Possibility of a 60-Card Deck Variant
- Rewarding Fully Levelled Heroes
- No Plans for a Spectate Random Match Button
- Reversing Nerfs on Cards
- The Hall of Fame and Playing Cards in Wild Format
Introduction
As one of the most popular digital collectible card games in the world, Hearthstone has captured the hearts of many gamers. However, with the game’s constantly changing meta and new mechanics being introduced, players are often left with questions about how the game is being balanced and what new features can be expected. In this Q&A, we speak to Ben Brode, the Game Director on Hearthstone, who sheds light on some of the most commonly asked questions from players.
Q&A
The Balancing Act of Going Second
Q: Balancing the game for those going second was a big issue for Hearthstone. Can you explain the thought process that lead to the decision to add “the coin” as a balancing act?
A: We tried a lot of different things to balance going second in Hearthstone. One of the biggest issues with going second was that you had one less card in your starting hand. We tried giving the player going second an extra card or an extra life point to compensate, but this didn’t work as intended. Ultimately, we decided on adding “the coin” as a way to balance things out.
The coin is a zero-cost card that the player going second can play at any time during their turn. It gives the player one extra mana crystal for that turn only. This can be a big advantage, as it lets the player going second catch up in terms of tempo.
The Plan to Add Cards to the Classic Set
Q: Can you tell us more about the plan to add more cards to the Classic set? Will these be completely new cards or will some be from previous expansions?
A: Yes, we’ve announced that we plan to add more cards to the Classic set in the future. These will be completely new cards, not reprints from previous expansions. Our goal with this is to keep the Classic set feeling fresh and relevant. We want these new cards to add new archetypes to the game and shake things up a bit.
The Decision to Add Hero Characters
Q: What was the thought process behind adding hero characters, such as Lord Jaraxxus, to the game?
A: The addition of hero characters was a way to add more personality and flavor to the game. We wanted to provide players with more ways to customize their gameplay experience. Hero characters also play a role in the lore of the game. Lord Jaraxxus, for example, is a demon lord and one of the bosses in the Burning Crusade expansion for World of Warcraft. Adding him to Hearthstone was a way to tie the two games together.
The Lack of Buffs in the Game
Q: Why aren’t there many buffs in the game? Will we see more buffs in the future?
A: Buffs are a tricky mechanic in a game like Hearthstone. They can be very swingy and lead to unbalanced games. One of the ways we’ve tried to get around this is by introducing “transform” effects, which are similar to buffs, but don’t add to the overall power level of a card.
As for more buffs in the future, we’re always exploring new mechanics for upcoming sets. We’ll have to see if we find a way to introduce buffs in a balanced way.
Making Wild Sets Purchasable with In-Game Gold
Q: Is there any plan to make wild sets purchasable with in-game gold?
A: We’ve definitely talked about this idea, but there are no plans to make wild sets purchasable with in-game gold at the moment. For now, players will have to use real money to purchase wild sets.
Advice for Aspiring Hearthstone World Champions
Q: What advice would you give to aspiring Hearthstone world champions?
A: The best advice I can give is to simply play the game. The more you play, the better you’ll get. It’s also important to seek advice from other good players. There are a lot of great resources out there, like the Hearthstone subreddit or watching Hearthstone streams. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice or get involved in the community.
Developers are Working on In-Game Tournaments
Q: Are there any plans to add in-game tournaments to Hearthstone?
A: Yes, we’re currently working on in-game tournaments for Hearthstone. We want to keep things simple initially, but we plan to keep adding new features over time. We don’t have a timeline for when this feature will be added, but it’s definitely in the works.
The Future of the Inspire Mechanic
Q: Will we see the inspire mechanic return in the future?
A: It’s possible. We like to rotate mechanics in and out of the game to keep things fresh. Inspire was a mechanic that didn’t have a lot of cards associated with it, so it’s definitely possible we’ll bring it back in the future. However, for now, we want to explore new mechanics for upcoming sets.
Concerns Around Cube Lock
Q: Cube Lock has come up as a concern for players recently. What’s your take on the state of the deck and its power level?
A: We’re definitely aware of concerns around Cube Lock. We’re looking at its power level, how it feels to play and lose with it, and whether the next set will impact its performance. We always try to keep an eye on the meta and make changes when necessary to keep the game balanced.
The Possibility of a 60-Card Deck Variant
Q: Has Blizzard ever considered implementing a 60-card deck variant?
A: Yes, we have considered a 60-card deck variant. However, it may not become a core mode for the game. We want to make sure that Hearthstone remains accessible and easy to understand for new players.
Rewarding Fully Levelled Heroes
Q: Can you tell us more about the system for fully leveling up heroes? Will we see something similar for other parts of the game?
A: Yes, players can earn rewards for fully levelling up their hero. At level 60, players will receive a golden hero portrait for that hero. We may extend this system in the future to other parts of the game, but for now, it’s just for hero levels.
No Plans for a Spectate Random Match Button
Q: Will we ever see a “Spectate Random Match” button in Hearthstone?
A: There are no plans for a Spectate Random Match button at the moment. However, players can always watch random streams on Twitch to see what’s happening in the game.
Reversing Nerfs on Cards
Q: Molten Giant was recently un-nerfed. What was the thought process behind this decision?
A: Molten Giant was specifically nerfed to facilitate a changing environment in Standard format. However, it had a large following among players. We decided to reverse the nerf to allow players to continue playing and enjoying the card.
The Hall of Fame and Playing Cards in Wild Format
Q: What’s the process for moving cards to Wild format? What’s the reasoning behind moving certain cards to the Hall of Fame
