Introduction

Recently, it was the Pirates that were criticized for being too strong, too fast, too versatile, and for allowing players to draw too many cards... and the list goes on. And with each new meta, it’s pretty much the same story: players start complaining (rightly or wrongly, that’s not the issue) and demand that the developers nerf the cards... Which, unfortunately, means that the game is somewhat doomed to stagnate and avoid promoting truly powerful decks without facing the inevitable but necessary outcome: Nerfing.

Moreover, playing cards that aren’t strong or whose abilities aren’t particularly efficient, or using decks that are of lower tiers or less powerful, is never rewarded. The only goals being to crush the opponent, making their playing experience ultimately unpleasant. And these present goals are quite simple and too few: 'Tidal Wave' the opponent's board, seek a hasted Wulven Shredder, heal like Zhanna and draw cards like She-Lah... I am missing some, but I am sorry to say, maybe the game is becoming a bit… boring ?

Proposed Mechanism: "Tug of War"

Concept

The Tug of War mechanism introduces a new dynamic where certain cards or effects create a "tension line" between the two players. This tension line represents a force field or influence that can swing in favor of one player or the other. The actions of each player affect this line, and if it swings too far towards one side, it triggers a powerful effect for that player.

Functionality

• New Zone: "Tension Line"
  
  • The "Tension Line" is a virtual zone that may not necessarily appear on the board, but is represented by a counter or marker on a specific card.
  • This line starts in a neutral position at the beginning of the game or when a specific card or ability is activated.
    
    

• Activation of the Mechanism:
  
  • Certain powerful cards or abilities affect the Tension Line by moving it towards one player or the other by just having them in play, or in the graveyard.
  • For example, a successful attack, a special ability, or the destruction of a specific card could move the line one point towards a player.
  • Each player can have cards that interact with the Tension Line, either to move it or to stabilize it.
  • The difference in the number of cards between the graveyards, decks, or hands of the players.
    
    

• Triggering Effects:
  
  • If the Tension Line moves far enough towards one player (e.g., reaching 10 points in their direction), it triggers a powerful effect in their favor.
  • If the Tension Linemoves too far without being triggered on a based time to be specified, it triggers a powerful effect against them.
  • The effects could include:
    • Ally Buff: All of the player’s allies gain an attack and/or health bonus, or the contrary.
    • Power Surge: The player can deal direct damage to the opponent's hero or multiple targets, or the contrary.
    • Divine Protection: A protective barrier surrounds the hero, reducing damage for several turns, or the contrary.
    • Why not create some effects directly tied to the hero classes?
    • What if the developers could change the type of bonuses whenever they want? In the realm of Balor, it rains and shines… If She-Lah is too present and makes too much noise on the lands of Balor, perhaps the gods will no longer be in her favor?
      
      

• Resetting the Tension Line:
  
  • Once an effect is triggered, the Tension Line resets to its neutral position, and the process begins again.
  • Some cards or effects may prematurely reset the line to prevent the opponent from benefiting from the effect.
  • Some heroes, often forgotten or rarely played, would have an ability to exert some control over the Tension Line.
    
    

• Associated Strategy:
  
  • Players must decide how and when to invest resources to push the Tension Line in their favor, knowing that the opponent can counter or stabilize the line.
  • There is a "push and pull" dynamic, where players must evaluate the risk of pushing too hard or allowing the opponent to take control of the line.

Examples of Use

• Command Card: A card that, when activated, immediately moves the line two points in your direction.
• Snare Ability: An ability that temporarily prevents the opponent from moving the Tension Line for a turn.
• Equilibrium Ultimate: A special card that resets the Tension Line and deals damage to the opponent if the line was in the player’s favor.

Why This Mechanism Would Be Interesting

• Dynamic Confrontation: The Tension Line creates a direct confrontation dynamic between players, adding a new layer of strategy where each action can have an immediate impact on the state of the game.
• Risk-Reward Balance: Pushing the Tension Line towards a player can be risky especially if too quickly, as the opponent could turn the situation to their favor. This forces players to constantly evaluate the optimal time to act.
• Impact of Cards: This mechanism gives new roles to certain cards, which can be specifically designed to interact with the Tension Line, creating new synergies and strategies.