I love that you are one of the few people who do blog based content for Marvel. Blogs like Beorn and Tales from the Cards really helped me a lot with LOTR. I love reading people’s thoughts, especially because it allows me to go at my own pace and view my own cards or view online. So I was glad to find your blog for marvel. That said, it’s nice to also find the “fix” discussions (which are fantastic) in video form.
I'm glad you enjoy both! It would be far easier to do only one or the other, and my blog is far far more popular. But I think there's a benefit to doing the same piece of content in both forms. I'm happy to hear that it works for you!
The fix i use to balance Heroes is by sleeving 1 card in a different sleeve for each hero. That card is referred to as a signature card. instead of a mulligan heroes can discard a card from their starting hand to search and add the signature card to their opening hand. For heroes with 4 card handsize or weaker setup, it is their card draw tech to make sure their opening hand is useful. For overpowered heroes like Strange or Quicksilver, it's an alter-ego card that is not quite as useful in early game but thematically viable. Other heroes is mostly the cards that let them have more fun early on. I have found this a good help all around and lets me increase difficulty without fear of having unlucky opening draw.
5:43 Hulk makeover: identity: Bruce Banner: Action (thwart): Remove 1 threat from a scheme (once per round). Banner may perform heroic action thwart events as if he is in hero form. Hand: 5. Hulk: Gains +1 attack per Rage token on your identity. Hand 4. Setup card: Your identity cannot transform through normal means. After you thwart place 1 rage counter on your identity. After you attack, remove 1 rage counter from your identity. Forced Interrupt: Whenever there are 5 or more rage counters on Bruce Banner, transform him to Hulk. Whenever there is 0 rage counter on Hulk, transform him to Bruce Banner.
The problem with most perceived issues with the game lies in the impossibility to balance it any all player counts. Since the very beginning of playing MC, I have noticed that it scales very poorly with higher player counts and is mostly balanced around single player and maybe 2 players. I am not going to pretend to know how this can be fixed, or if it can be fixed at all. I just feel like the game is meant to be played at a difficulty that players deem comfortable, and the modular nature of the game supports that.
Valkyrie is interesting because I feel like she is designed just fine, but is definitely one of the heroes that struggle in true solo. Most of that struggle is somewhat baked into her playstyle, but I think a tweak or two might help you out. Try treating Deathglow as a zero-cost card instead of one cost. There's already a lot of effort involved with trying to manage Deathglow in solo play. Saving cards and resources on using it should help out quite a bit. Alternatively, you could add an effect on Deathglow that would remove one threat from a scheme any time it is detached. Valkyrie is pretty bad at threat removal and threat management tends to be disproportionally challenging in solo play, so that should help. You could use both at the same time if you're still having trouble. Just keep in mind I've never tested these suggestions. I'm spitballing a few here and now using my general understanding of the game's mechanisms and balance issues. If you end up using them, I'd love it if you reported back at some point and let me know how they worked out!
I’m anxious to experience the fixed Doctor Strange and the Incredible Hulk. Hoping their fun factor will be boosted! Two personal dislikes about Marvel Champions: 1. Neutering a signature ally because its corresponding hero pack is being played by someone else. I simply replace it with a different ally, who hopefully improves the deck’s theme. 2. Chump blocking is necessary to win but willfully sacrificing your allies feels less than heroic.
I love that you are one of the few people who do blog based content for Marvel. Blogs like Beorn and Tales from the Cards really helped me a lot with LOTR. I love reading people’s thoughts, especially because it allows me to go at my own pace and view my own cards or view online. So I was glad to find your blog for marvel. That said, it’s nice to also find the “fix” discussions (which are fantastic) in video form.
I'm glad you enjoy both! It would be far easier to do only one or the other, and my blog is far far more popular. But I think there's a benefit to doing the same piece of content in both forms. I'm happy to hear that it works for you!
Always appreciate your Marvel Champions videos. Looking forward to that Sinister Motives review.
Thanks so much!
The fix i use to balance Heroes is by sleeving 1 card in a different sleeve for each hero. That card is referred to as a signature card. instead of a mulligan heroes can discard a card from their starting hand to search and add the signature card to their opening hand. For heroes with 4 card handsize or weaker setup, it is their card draw tech to make sure their opening hand is useful. For overpowered heroes like Strange or Quicksilver, it's an alter-ego card that is not quite as useful in early game but thematically viable. Other heroes is mostly the cards that let them have more fun early on. I have found this a good help all around and lets me increase difficulty without fear of having unlucky opening draw.
That's a pretty cool idea, and one I haven't seen before!
That's a really cool sounding idea!
Excellent ideas! Thanks for making this.
5:43
Hulk makeover:
identity:
Bruce Banner: Action (thwart): Remove 1 threat from a scheme (once per round). Banner may perform heroic action thwart events as if he is in hero form. Hand: 5.
Hulk: Gains +1 attack per Rage token on your identity. Hand 4.
Setup card:
Your identity cannot transform through normal means.
After you thwart place 1 rage counter on your identity. After you attack, remove 1 rage counter from your identity.
Forced Interrupt: Whenever there are 5 or more rage counters on Bruce Banner, transform him to Hulk. Whenever there is 0 rage counter on Hulk, transform him to Bruce Banner.
The problem with most perceived issues with the game lies in the impossibility to balance it any all player counts. Since the very beginning of playing MC, I have noticed that it scales very poorly with higher player counts and is mostly balanced around single player and maybe 2 players. I am not going to pretend to know how this can be fixed, or if it can be fixed at all. I just feel like the game is meant to be played at a difficulty that players deem comfortable, and the modular nature of the game supports that.
I miss your written reviews on your website with all the new packs, expansions...
Are these changes intended for expert/master difficulty? The 4 cards hero seems to be more than good enough to beat standard level villains
Hi Gideon! Do you have any fix ideas/suggestions for Valkyrie?? Really struggling with her in true solo. Thanks!
Valkyrie is interesting because I feel like she is designed just fine, but is definitely one of the heroes that struggle in true solo. Most of that struggle is somewhat baked into her playstyle, but I think a tweak or two might help you out.
Try treating Deathglow as a zero-cost card instead of one cost. There's already a lot of effort involved with trying to manage Deathglow in solo play. Saving cards and resources on using it should help out quite a bit.
Alternatively, you could add an effect on Deathglow that would remove one threat from a scheme any time it is detached. Valkyrie is pretty bad at threat removal and threat management tends to be disproportionally challenging in solo play, so that should help.
You could use both at the same time if you're still having trouble.
Just keep in mind I've never tested these suggestions. I'm spitballing a few here and now using my general understanding of the game's mechanisms and balance issues.
If you end up using them, I'd love it if you reported back at some point and let me know how they worked out!
@@GideonsGaming awesome!! Thanks Gideon. I sure will!
Any chance of a new ally limit update? Thank you
Thanks man!
I’m anxious to experience the fixed Doctor Strange and the Incredible Hulk. Hoping their fun factor will be boosted! Two personal dislikes about Marvel Champions:
1. Neutering a signature ally because its corresponding hero pack is being played by someone else. I simply replace it with a different ally, who hopefully improves the deck’s theme.
2. Chump blocking is necessary to win but willfully sacrificing your allies feels less than heroic.
Both are solid points, I agree.
Are you bumping Banner up to a 6 hand size?
No, there shouldn't be any need due to the other changes.
Do you also recommend giving She-Hulk an additonal card in hero form? Or a Setup card?
I give she-hulk a five card hand in hero form. She's a solid character so that's the only adjustment she needs