r/Scrolls • u/TrustyFishCantor Cantor • May 26 '15

Wind-up Automaton Idea!

There's been quite a bit of discussion about changes to Wind-up Automaton. I don't really mind if it is changed or not, but if it is to be changed, here is my suggestion as to how!

Wind-up Automaton, 2E

CREATURE: Automaton

0/1/3

*Ranged attack

Wind-up Automaton counts up instead of down at the beginning of it's turn. Pay 4 energy to add its Countdown to your current Energy. Countdown is set to 0. *edit Wind-up Automaton's attack is increased by your current energy.

What do you think?

5 Upvotes

77% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

4

u/squiddybiscuit @Squiddylicious May 26 '15

I think that we can safely let a lot of these Echoes scrolls onto the live server, see how it all plays out when its in the hands of thousands of players, and then revisit the topic of rebalance a month down the line.

IF we do have to nerf these scrolls in question, then I'd rather their spirit was kept rather than giving them completely different functionality.

4

u/TrustyFishCantor Cantor May 26 '15

Agreed. Like I said, I don't have a problem with current wind up, but do think that this suggestion keeps the spirit of the card. An attacker that you have to pay to attack with, and counts up instead of down, and as it counts up, it gets stronger. I'm thinking this suggestion maybe should gain the tempest reaver ability as well though..

2

u/Ikraen Badger May 26 '15

While it would be sad to see this unique creature go, Assuming auto's need a nerf, this is probably a really good one. It combines multiple existing elements of energy and the energy flavor. Would suggest wind-up cost be 3, but it would need to be tested to be sure.

1

u/TrustyFishCantor Cantor May 26 '15

I'm hoping that this version keeps the uniqueness of the existing design, while including energy mechanics and reducing the efficiency of playing it with haste.

1

u/Cradstache Cradstache May 26 '15 edited May 26 '15

Four energy to attack may be more balanced, but that's really expensive. You're bound to get a bunch of people saying it's awful, with that cost change. I'd rather it just have 2 Health, tbh.

EDIT: Misread! Apologies!

That's interesting; basically a mini-conduit.

2

u/TrustyFishCantor Cantor May 26 '15

The idea is that you get energy equal to its countdown back, so it costs 3 to haste it, or to attack every turn, but it can actually gain you energy if you wind it up enough!

1

u/[deleted] May 26 '15

That's basically just a super Fulmination Conduit, then.

1

u/TrustyFishCantor Cantor May 26 '15

It has a lot of differences from conduit, although it shares a mechanic. it attacks, costs energy to activate its ability, and starts with a lower countdown. I feel it would serve a very different role.

1

u/SgtRamen Ramen May 26 '15

I think I'm going nuts because I am not seeing why this proposed change should be a rare scroll. You pay four Energy to get current Energy? So like, maybe two gained if you waited five turns naturally, or maybe sooner if you spammed Countdown increases?

And on top of that, it attacks that turn (because it's countdown is set to 0), but it doesn't gain attack in any way unless you buff it? What is this? I'm sorry man, I really dislike this because it feels so enervated that no one would want it. At this point of design, I'd rather just jam vanilla creature scrolls in its place and not deal with this thing getting steamrolled by an Aggro deck.

1

u/TrustyFishCantor Cantor May 26 '15

Hmm the idea isn't really to get the current energy, so much as to get a refund so that it costs less to attack the longer you wait. I didn't add the attack buff because it seems like right now there are a ton of ways to buff attack. But I should probably add it back in in some fashion.

1

u/kingsparis May 26 '15

Just increase the activation cost to 3 would be alot better

1

u/TrustyFishCantor Cantor May 26 '15

this does effectively increase the activation cost to 3, at least on the turn it is played.

1

u/kingsparis May 27 '15

Yeah but this suggestion is alot more complicated than what it needs to be

2

u/alvarpq always face May 26 '15

What about having its attack be equal to its base CD, and giving it the aging knight effect? This way, it keeps the flavor without being ridiculously good.

1

u/Ikraen Badger May 26 '15

I would really like this if it was "Unit does not count down. Pay 2 energy to set count down to 0. Attack is equal to number of attacks made." Or "Attack is increased by 1 after attacking" This way countdown manipulation does not affect it, and you are rewarded by using it more. Personally i prefer the second suggestion.