How we embraced change, inspired by the Hearthstone card game. - Expand design space - Tease out fun tidbits - Get it in front of users

1. Lessons from Hearthstone:
Iterative Design
Ben Schmoker
ben@foxlight.co
tiny.cc/ben-resume
github @bschmoker

2. 1. Expand design space
2. Tease out fun mechanics
3. Playtest with large/diverse group
4. Build new cards
(Repeat)
Iterative Design

3. Push the limits of mechanics
Incentivize playtesting, players feel “epic”
Sustainable iteration cycle
Tavern Brawl as Testbed

4. Blackrock Brawl - Design Space
Ragnaros
- undercosted cards
- high instant damage
Nefarian
- powerful card interactions
- control and flexibility

5. Blackrock Brawl - Fun Mechanics
- Cards that change hero powers
- i.e. Steamwheedle Sniper, Soulpriest
- design space for weapon/minion Deathrattle
- Strong minions
- high attack is easier to board clear than high health
- design space for Paladin with divine shield

6. Proposed Brawl - Nature vs. Industry
“Swarm of robots chopping down forest”
- Undercosted mechs with a singular purpose
- Low health and high attack
“Trees and druids fighting back”
- High health and flexible cards
- Removal and board clear

7. Nature vs. Industry - Heroes
Cenarius
- Deal damage equal to number of mana
crystals to a minion (2)
Sneed
- Get two random Spare Parts (0)

8. Deal damage based on current board state
Players can:
- Set up minions to prevent removal
- Remove minions with instant damage
- (currently) Spell Damage helps Mage
- (proposed) Wild Growth helps Cenarius
Mechanic - targeted instant damage

9. Mechanic - minion erosion
Minions that take damage after your turn
Players can:
- Plan for changes in minion health
- Make a cost/benefit tradeoff
- (currently) Imp Master for persistent benefit
- (proposed) Shredder with high one-time benefit

10. Mechanic - leftover minions
Deathrattle summons random minion
Players can:
- Adapt to changing minion effects
- Maintain board control
- (currently) Piloted Shredder summons 2-cost
- (proposed) MechanoTank summons 2-cost Mech

11. Acknowledgements
Ellen McBarnette - flavour
Nick Beede - mechanics
Michael George - design
Hearthstone developers - made it possible