Welcome to our (slightly delayed) Touchstone Tavern, where we talk about everything that happened last week in the world of Hearthstone (Free) . Last week we got Wing 3 of One Night in Karazhan, and it was quite a fun one with plenty of beasts and other promising cards. Other than that, though, there wasn’t that much going on in the world of Hearthstone. What I have noticed is that the voices claiming we have too much RNG in the game right now are getting increasingly louder. Whether that’s a bad thing or a good thing remains to be seen. Other than that, we got some fun Wild decks if you want to jump over to that side of Hearthstone, a fun cartoon, questions about Yogg-Saron’s role in tournament play, and more. So, let’s jump in .
Karazhan Wing 3, The Menagerie, Normal and Heroic Guide
If you haven’t yet beat the third wing of One Night in Karazhan, you can check out our guide on how to beat both Normal and Heroic. I enjoyed The Menagerie, although it didn’t really blow my mind. Fun encounters overall and some good cards to collect. So, if you haven’t entered The Menagerie yet, use our guides to quickly get in and out with a handful of loot.
Anduin Vs Garrosh Cartoon
If you want to see Anduin take on Garrosh in an entertaining Hearthstone duel, check out the video below. I like the way it turns the usual opening rounds into a cartoon duel, quite well made. Check it out below and make sure you watch it all the way to the end.
Developers Not Worrying About RNG Ruining the Game
Debates about RNG in Hearthstone have always ebbed and flowed. Before League of Explorers came out, most players worried that the game was becoming too luck-based to be competitive. Once LoE hit and brought the Discover mechanic to the game, many felt that the game was finally doing RNG right. However, Karazhan seems to have reignited the RNG conversation. According to this interview with Dean Ayala, the developers aren’t really worried that RNG is ruining the game. They don’t want the game to feel like a coin-flip every time, and they think that at the moment random cards are largely not game-determining and are actually adding to the game’s strategy. He gives the examples of Mad Bomber, which might have a random effect, but when the player sets up a board that benefits him or her, then Mad Bomber’s RNG isn’t that random.
Another example was Prince Malchezaar, the card that has many worried since it adds five random legendaries to a deck. Ayala said that Malchezaar also needs the right deck to work – a deck that goes for late game for instance – so even though it has a random effect, it still requires plenty of thinking. The interview contains some other interesting points about RNG, and you can check it out here.
Should Yogg-Saron be Banned From Competitive Hearthstone?
This story uses a recent Yogg-Saron win from the HTC Summer Preliminaries – where Yogg-Saron completely turned a losing situation into a win – to ask whether that card shouldn’t be in the competitive scene. Yes, the developers do want RNG in the game, but perhaps this is too much RNG for tournaments? The story goes on to interview the guy who lost to Yogg-Saron in the tournament, and he talks about how he felt helpless when his opponent played Yogg, which was frustrating because he felt he had played great up to that point in the game. He feels the card is broken and while it’s entertaining for the audience, it’s not good for competitive players. Check out the whole story here.
Tempo Mage Guide
According to this story, Karazhan has added some interesting weapons to Tempo Mage, so now is a good time to play the deck. The story explains why the deck is good – partly because of how customizable it is – how you can build a strong version of it, tips on playing it, and ways you can counter the deck if you find it on ladder. A good guide that helps you go the Tempo Mage way. Check it out here.
The Importance of Fun Decks
After talking about what he thinks are serious flaws in the game at the moment, the writer of this story talks about the importance of not just netdecking efficient, but maybe difficult to play, decks in order to just win but also making new, fun decks. It’s important to remember that this is a game and should also be played for fun, not just winning. It talks about how to build fun decks and how playing fun decks could even help you improve on ladder. A good reminder that Hearthstone should be played not just for winning and getting more coins but also for fun. Read the story here.
Wacky Wild Decks
If you want to take a ride on the Wild side, check out these fun decks that include Curator Malygos Spell Druid, Deathrattle Priest, Legend Midrange Hunter, and more. I sometimes forget how much fun Wild can be, and I should start visiting it more often. Check out the decks here.
Hearthstone and Patch Notes
In this video, Disguised Toast talks about the need for better patch notes because when card interactions change without any warning, players are left wondering. Keeping in mind that Blizzard always talks about how it wants the game to be predictable, you can see how unclear patch notes can be an issue.
Meta Report
So, what’s going on in the meta after the release of Wing 3, The Menagerie? According to Tempo Storm Snapshot, Beast Druid and Tempo Mage got a very nice boost both because of new cards and because Mage does well against Druid. Tier 1 still consists of Aggro Shaman, Dragon Warrior, Yogg-Saron Token Druid, and Tempo Mage. Hunter is getting stronger because it’s getting possibly the best cards in Karazhan, and Beast Druid got great help from The Curator among other cards. What are you playing at the moment?
Trump’s Curator Reno Science
Kripp’s The Purifier
Purify Funny and Lucky Moments
Kolento’s Beast Druid
Best of Thistle Tea
Best of Onyx Bishop
What the Coin Could Have Been
How Good is Ivory Knight
Reasons to Play Barnes
Topdecking All Day
As always, we have some good resources on the site for you in case you are new to the game or simply want to sharpen up your game. There’s never such a thing as too much help in Hearthstone, so check out our guides.
One Night in Karazhan Prologue Guide
One Night in Karazhan Wing 1 Normal and Heroic Guide
One Night in Karazhan Wing 2 Normal and Heroic Guide
One Night in Karazhan Wing 3 Normal and Heroic Guide
Hearthstone Deck-building Guide
Shaun I salute you for being an awesome historian and the coolest host I can hope for. Here's to many more in whatever incarnation it has.
You do amazing work, I look forward to the new format.
The new content sounds great!
Figured I would de-lurk and say thanks Shaun for all your efforts over the past couple years... RPGs have always been my favorite genre and I really enjoy your in depth articles on individual games as well as the history of handheld RPGs! Your work is one of many reasons I've maintained my high level Patreon support for TA :)
Make sure to take care of yourself first and foremost... I hit the other side of 40 several years ago and went through a tough mess of problems that I'm only now getting under control.
Definitely looking forward to your new format and developer interviews, when you run out of cool people to talk to I'll throw my hat into the ring! Maybe by then I will be back into iOS dev full time again too ;)
We fear change. - Garth
The book club idea sounds awesome. :)
Always enjoy your articles, reviews and podcasts Shaun.Your knowledge and insight of old RPG's is second to none.
I think a play along is an excellent idea! I am doing that now with Final Fantasy 6 on Saturdays on Mobcrush. Can't always be there due to work but i always replay them later in the day.
RPG Reload is the best thing on TouchArcade, hands down. Thanks Shaun for all you do, keep it up!
Great work Shaun. Can't wait to see what comes next.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Nice work Shaun, I know a bunch of people enjoyed these articles, and some new and fresh things will be super cool. Those ideas you listed are great! Looking forward to some of the future articles. Also, get some sleep!
Shaun you're awesome. Your articles are always a great read. I'll take whatever I can get.
Thanks for sharing the awesome plans! Looking forward to every bit of it.
Your work is wonderful and appreciated. You've given us a very great deal of pleasure over the past 100 weeks. Please always put your family first, even if this is the end of the road for RPG Reload! You owe us nothing, we owe you a great deal of thanks.
Love the Playalong idea, I can't wait for it to start up!
Go get some sleep. ;)
Sounds like a great plan to me. Love the play along idea as well. :)
Thank you for RPG Reload - it's been amazing every week
How DARE you put your health and family first?! Honestly... Thanks for producing the - with respect to the other great writers - best stuff on TA. If the RPG Reloads stopped tomorrow, we'd still feel lucky for the past two years' worth of columns. The new ideas sound great, and I look forward to reading more of your work. Your very good health, sir. Now put the iPhone down and go play with your boy!
I have enjoyed all your work, Shaun, written and spoken alike. I'm always astounded by the amount of stuff you get done but do take care of yourself. If you ever need to take a Reload Vacation or have a guest writer for a week, I doubt your audience here will hold it against you at all.
And that’s why I fell in love with Yo…hummm Your work.
Developer interviews?
Honestly, pretty hard task to balance such a topic.
Not too technical, not too blunt. Some interesting info from development. Ooo my. With all that business crap like NDA etc. And so many great devs out there. Can’t wait!
As other mentioned, health and family first!!
Even if you stop now…
Hack man, you did so much for community/platform already. Don’t push yourself…like at all!
Even short comment on mobile gaming topic would be valuable as long as you will be sane. :)
GL
I think focusing on quality is more important than keeping a schedule. Shaun's RPG writing is always detailed and interesting, and holds up over time -- that's not something you can say about the flavor-of-the-week twitch game reviews. Changing formats is OK by me if it keeps Shaun happy and healthy. The goal of increasing the quality of games in the App Store is worthy and I look forward to the upcoming interviews.
Heck, I don't even like RPGs much but I respect good writing, you have what it takes Shaun. Now go and find new lands to conquer through detailed articles!
*claps loudly*
Thanks for all of this Shaun. Really great work.
So when it's gonna be released as a book?will it be released on ibookstore?
Thanks shaun, for me personally i got to enjoy a lot of rpgs on your recommendation, games at one point i would not have even considered playing.
Games which helped me escape into their world especially when having a bad day, and some games that stirred the emotions. In other words i got some great gaming memories to take with me, and isnt that what its about?? Making good memories..whether with family, friends or your faivroute hobby such as ios gaming for me one of the best gifts i could give to somebody else would be the ability to have some fond memories when they look back on something. So yeah defo with your recommendations ive had some great times with gaming so thanks for that, and appreciate all the time you have took out for it.
P.s the new idea of speaking to people behind the content is an awesome idea.
I am another fellow lurker coming out of the woodwork to thank you for all your efforts. They are greatly appreciated.
And consider me a very big +1 for the RPG replay book club. That sounds like a winner!
Rob
Sounds like a great go-forward plan to me! And I'd certainly be up for an interview, if you're interested in having me!
Shaun, thank you so much for all these awesome reads :)
I'm exited for what the future holds for reload! It's been amazing to read your writings and getring exited to play these games. Befoee playing an rpg often I will read your reload and it gets me pumped. Other times I get pumped and start my 15th rpg at a time just because I get the urge too. I particulary enjoy reading those parts where you share your history with the games.
I love love the gameclub idea! I really hope others do too. It's a lot of fun discussing games. We do that a lot in the reload thread anyway, but to have a dedicated game all share would be great!
The thread has gotten its' life of its' own and we enjoy it a lot, popping in and hearing what others are gaming.
I very thankful you got this idea and I admire how dedicated a writer you are and of course you cover my little niche interest corner so it makes it the perfect thing. I'm proud to support you!
Here's to a hundred more and a more rested Shaun (don't forget to use the inn)!
For a second near the top of the post I was worried you were going to say: "And so I'm no longer going to do any RPG reviews" and I was preparing for the worst. As a fan of all RPGs, happy to have you reviewing them here!
Thank you, Shaun, for all of your hard work. I have very much enjoyed your articles each week. And make sure to take care of yourself - you don't have anything if you don't have your health!
cheers Shaun for some truly awe inspiring knowledge in your articles, have enjoyed reading them all n may there b many many more to come!!
Shaun thank you so much for all of your onsite and gaming knowledge over the last couple years man! You have been a joy to read and get to know somewhat through PM. Get your health right man! You're no good to us dead! Take a little break man and have some "me" time. I know it's tough with a family but nowadays that is "me" time. Just hang out with the family. Full attention. We will be ok for a little while while you re coop bro.
Much love from Texas!
Jake
Whew!
I was afraid you were quitting, but relieved you're backing off. Family and health are very important, but you love for the RPG shines through every article you write.
I hope some brave soul comes along to help you review all those Kemco games. I want to play them all, but I'm too busy trying to get a game going myself,
Anyway, thanks for letting us in on the secret world of Shaun!
1) I'm glad you're doing well. Your dedication to this is fantastic 2) The RPG Reload Play Along is an amazing idea, even if you didn't send anyone anything from Japan. 3) Developer interviews are a good idea too. I sometimes wonder about older RPGs and what the process was when they were being made. I think of Chrono Trigger and wish there was a behind the scenes kind of thing where we would hear from the "Triumvirate of Awesome" (that's not their name, I know) just to see what the collaboration process was like. Thank you again for being a part of what makes TA awesome. Love, The La Li Lu Le Lo
As a reader from the very first edditon of RPG Reload, I want to than you for all the effort and passion you have put on those articles. So many good recommendations I will never have time to play!
I am excited by the idea of the play-along, since I was always asking you what was the game of the next podcast to give it a go before hearing you guys speaking about it.
Also, I have been meaning to ask a question to be addressed to the podcast, and this one article encouraged me to ask it properly: How many games can you guys play at the same time?How many RPGs? Also, what if you're playing a social RPG or MMO (that last part largely influenced by the comments in recent podcast to be careful about those games "stealing away your time").
Thanks for once again
Way too many lol. I try to focus on one on each device at a time, but mostly fail. Right now I'm playing KH Unchained and feel like one Free to play is all I can manage at one time, there's so much to do! Also playing Kingdom Hearts Chain, FFIX, Pokemon Alpha S. , FF Tactics and Chrono Trigger. Wondering if I want to try FFXI too. And a ton of Pokemon Go. Maybe you want to ask this in the reload thread? It's an interesting question!