Asmodee Humble Bundle right now. I have the ones I would want that are on iOS, and don’t need them on Steam, but someone here might want this.
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There are some titles on there I’d like to grab if the price were right, which it isn’t. Amazing how badly reviewed these boardgame adaptations are.
The Hearthstone Mercenaries patch comes out later today. I’ve long thought that the Hearthstone solo content, which usually plays like Slay the Spire and it’s ilk, is far superior than the multiplayer card game. I’m not rushing out to download Heartbstone again because of this Mercenaries gameplay, but I am at least intrigued. If anyone gives it a go let us know what you think.
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I was never a fan of Hearthstone until a friend had me try Battlegrounds, and I really like that game mode. I play it off and on. I will be interested in trying Mercenaries.
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I’m pretty into it so far. Feels far more RPGey than Hearthstoney. Lucked out and got the exact top tier merc that I wanted in the bundle I bought too (Sylvannas Windrunner).
I have put a little time into Mercenaries, so here is my initial impression:
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The game is not like Slay the Spire or similar games. We’ve got that in other modes and Mercenaries much more resembles the myriad of f2p character collecting RPGs where you go through a series of battles with a party. That said, there are real tactical decisions to be made and there game can’t be played on auto.
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Regarding those decisions, you can take a group of mercenaries along with you but can only use 3 per battle. There is a rock-paper-scissor system that lets mercs deal x2 damage to the type they are strong against, so that is one consideration. Another is that after everyone has locked in their ability for the turn, they fire off in order of speed, so some thought needs to go into that as well. That said, mercs only have up to 3 skills so it isnt as if your options are vast.
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As far as monetization, I don’t think it will take too long to collect all the mercs as the there are about 24 or so and you get 1 per pack. The heavier monetization seems to come from coins, or whatever they are called. Mercenaries level up with experience but each of their abilities can be leveled up as well, but only by using the tokens/coins/whatever that you find in packs or as mission rewards. I’ve always hated systems like this, but Blizzard has to make their money somewhere, I guess.
So what is the draw? For me, not much. I don’t care about the story and I doubt I’ll put much time into multiplayer where people who spend more are just going to be better. I suppose there is some fun in trying to max out each mercenary (level 30, I think), and the gameplay itself is interesting in a turn-based RPG way, but I don’t see wanting to spend my hard-earned Hearthstone currency in this mode, and while I do love RPGs, the deck-building of the other solo modes is more appealing to me, at least as far as Hearthstone goes.
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I literally fell asleep trying to play through Mercenaries last night. Like I was working on the 3rd section of the Barrens and just nodded off at my desk.
Not sure if you have seen, but full release Gloomhaven in a week. I am excited. Played jaws of the lion with my kids and would love a digital full game implementation.
I bounced early off this ages ago but realised it was all random and not design scenarios. I hear the scenario design is an amazing experience which I am looking forward to!!!
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i’m looking forward to playing co-op campaign with my sons and friends.
looking forward to Baldur’s Gate 3 as well.
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The Fox in the Forest is out on iOS now and it looks like all of Dire Wolf’s other games are on sale.
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My review of the Oceans app by North Star Games. Pretty neat game if they ever add online multiplayer.
They did for Evolution, so I’m hoping this will be the same (they did tell me that they want to do it).
Battle for Wesnoth is free on iOS. I have yet to play it but I love strategy RPGs, so I’m looking forward to giving it a go. I have not seen it on sale before, let alone free.
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I didn’t even know Darkest Dungeon 2 was a thing but it is apparently out today?
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Yup, only on Epic Games in Early Access at the moment. I managed to get a £10 off coupon by wishlisting it and toggling that I wanted emails about my wishlisted items. Sounds like you can get that coupon from any method of letting them contact you by email about something but that was the way I triggered it.
It’s definitely not full game status yet. I think the first one was in EA for about a year, looking like this one will be as well, but it’s definitely fun, and I love DD enough that it’s for sure worth it for me at about £13 with that coupon.
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It’s their Connect and Save event. Follow the simple instructions and they’ll add the coupon to your account in no time at all.
I grabbed DD2 with the coupon for only $17 when it dropped at noon EST and love it! The move to 3D really adds to the atmosphere. When you select a hero skill during combat, the hero will ready the appropriate weapon, waiting for you to confirm the attack. Slick as hell!
Speaking of combat, boy, I wish its UX/UI was back-ported to DD! I’m in love with it. Being EA, of course it will be improved further, but I much prefer it to DD’s. Oh, and for DD vets, combat is simplified in that Accuracy was eliminated; all attacks will hit, failing an enemy’s status.
I really like how they implemented scouting and the affinity system. If DD was all about hero management, DD2 is all about hero affinity (i.e., how the four heroes on the run feel about each other) management. Some might not like this new direction, but I do, and look forward to enjoying its development.
BTW, for those who were in the Old World EA, you’ll be happy to hear Red Hook followed their lead: there’s a DD2 Experimental install available, as well!
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I loved Darkest Dungeon, I’m double loving this so far. I’m really happy with only having to consider one group of heroes for the entire run and the removal of “supplies” and base management in exchange for inn items and carriage upgrades is very welcome. Definitely glad I picked this up today even if it’s not going to be a complete experience for a while.
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Too bad it is on Epic Games. Although honestly, my backlog of games is so big, it is fine it won’t come to Steam for 5 million years.
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Yeah, I really haven’t explored DD much. Time to fix that!
Sounds like the streamlined nature of DD2 will be much more up my alley than DD, where I always ran out of steam after a few missions with all the heroes I had to manage.
Of course, having said that, seeing DD2 release inspired me to reinstall DD on my iPad. I don’t have a PC powerful enough to run the new game, so I might as well give the old one one more shot …
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Who are out f2p junkies, here? Tales of Luminaria is out and I am waiting to hear from the Guinea pigs how bad it is so I don’t feel bad about not trying it.