ParaFCnF - another take on Para

[prioli]

Definition:
if you successfully para yourself or your own monster (not canceled by another enchantment or counter), then you must break your FFF chain with a gesture other than F on the following turn (or surrender later if you forget)

Note: you don't have to surrender if you are charmed or otherwise forced into continuing the FFF (thanks BioLogIn for clarification)



Why?

A lot has been said about para, and the good and bad things about it.

In my view Para is a great part of the game,
but I no longer have the time for long Para games, and all in all too much para makes the game less diverse and less fun.


Para yourself is a good thing, even as a way into disease and others.
But you should pay a dire price for a randomly failed self-para. Same goes for para monsters.

WDYT?

[BioLogIn]

I've played only 1 game of ParaFCnF, so my experience with it is very limited.

It is a subtle change, and I guess that's good in a sense that it lowers the power of para without butchering it right away. But because it is subtle, it is hard to say it if it is "too much" or "just right" or "not enough". It might become more clear after having more games; which is somewhat complicated given the current number of players online.

However, I think I have to (return the favour and) ask you "what problem you are trying to solve?". If the problem is "para feels boring to player Prioli", then, like, fine, but only you can be the judge of that.

If what you care about is not balance but the general fun / feeling of the game (especially the general feeling of new players), then I guess I am not qualified to answer that. But my hunch is that para is not something that stops new players from staying in the game.

If what you ask is "How do you feel about para?" then my personal answer would be about balance. And para is not an real balance issue for low to mid levels of play. If might be a balance issue for mid to high level of play, but, to be frank, we don't have much of it about these days.

[prioli]

You are raising good questions.

This track is not related to the track about solving new player issues, and increasing the number of players.
I don't think new players have issues with Para.

My main reason for posting it here was to put it up for discussion in a more general place where people can comment, outside my own profile.
I realize we don't have many players now, and I can't tell how long I'll stick either, but this board may live after that.

The problem I'm trying to solve is my own problem, as you write, and is therefore a subjective one.
But it's the same one that has been raised many times in the past, therefore may be related to more players, today and in the future.

I don't know if it is a good solution either.
I don't know if others share my feelings.
I don't know if others are interested in trying this too, to get more insights and see if it makes the game nicer or not.
That's why I'm putting it here

Makes sense?

[BioLogIn]

Yeah, these questions make total sense. (And, FWIW, I apologize if my comments look smug or snarky, that was not the intention.)

The para problem, was, indeed, discussed before (before I came to know this implementation of WH); and I agree it is somewhat problematic both in terms of balance and in terms of being somewhat unfun. I don't know if it's problematic enough to try to solve it, given the current state of the game; as you've mentioned, it is also a matter of one's attitude, and my attitude towards Warlocks is quite laid-back / relaxed these days. I don't try to compete very much (although, I would consider that if there's be a community looking forward to some competition), so I just enjoy some matches in an old favorite game of mine. I'd say I've grown to love it despite all it's flaws, including para and, to a lesser extend, D/P opening.

Twelve, ten, and even six years ago I'd have given a different answer, I guess. But that's was when there was a competition, and my passion for the game was burning much hotter.

I apologize if that was way too personal and not quite about para; I'm merely trying to give others a proper context for my opinions I voice here. Hope that makes sense.

Talking about paraFCnF again, I can only repeat that the idea looks fine. But it needs to be tested way more to be evaluated properly.

[prioli]

All's good

You know, I wasn't a young man when I started playing some 16-17 years ago, and I'm not a young man now.
I think that just like you, my passion has changed over the years, and is definitely more laid back.

I guess I'm driven now by some desire to bring an old love back to life, and to help whatever community exists now or in the future.
I don't think I ever contributed anything to this game. I was never even a registered player (until very recently).

My day job happens to be in product and funnel optimization, so I try to use whatever experience I have (even if I may be wrong) to help here.
Trial and error is anyways part of that.

...and well, Covid-19 did provide me with some more free time to do that.

I wasn't here all these years like you to "carry the torch"
If you are worried that I'd try to push things fast in the wrong direction, or just go in and break things that are already working - that's not my intention.

Some things can happen fast and do no harm, like the app changes I'm working on with Galbarad. If they work we'll have a community again.
If not - well, we'll just have a nicer looking app.

Other things need time for a community to grow and think about, and try, and agree on, or not -
and this forum looks like the best place for that.