10 minutes is actually on the long side. Duels should take about 5 minutes, usually. If you're playing draft, async will suck unless you remember everything you and your opponent has already selected. Doesn't make much sense to me.
It doesn't. Anyone who can't find the 10 minutes or less to play a match needs to either play other games or maybe just not own an iPhone. This is just more chirping from the "put asynch on every single app EVAR!" crowd. It's ridiculous.
Draft Online Here's a pic of the draft I played with Meneisyys earlier today. He's 5 hours ahead of me, so I admit there is some rationale for async, although I just do not see it working without major modifications, including a complete log of what cards have already been cast in duels and a catalogue of what cards have been drawn for Draft. Otherwise, how can you possibly remember everything? You can't! There are 116 cards and how many iterations? A zillion? Menneisyys insisted I go first. Anyone care to guess my first pick? I'll respond tonight (GMT 2400) with my choice and the reason I chose it.
While I agree that asynchronous wouldn't hurt, I really don't think that Orions is that slow of a game. I play Orions with others daily and the longest moves take like 20 seconds, and thats when they have to make really hard choices. Otherwise, the iphone passes from hand to hand every 5-10 seconds, and that really isn't an all that long time to wait. Part of the beauty of Orions is what a fast-paced TCG it is and how you barely have time to think your next move before you have to make it. While again, I agree that in rare cases asynchronuous would be nice (especially when playing with new players who need to take their time to read card texts), I'd say that it really isn't needed all that much.
I'm a hardcore Orions player and I've been pushing the assynchronous method from the beginning. I seem to be in the minority, however. Assynchronous is the best way to play a multiplayer strategy game on a mobile platform. But MP Orions is MP Orions, I'll take what I can get
More on async I have no problem with anything you say but realistically, it can't all be implemented that quickly for reasons I've already outlined. Async might be possible in an update or maybe not. Who knows? In any event, the games you mentioned go on for far longer than an Orions Duel or Draft. I'd love to have async too, but I'd rather have multi soon rather than have to wait a lot longer for async. Re fewer people coming back, that remains to be seen. The developer has already mentioned the possibility of leaderboards and I suspect tournaments would even be possible at some point. Instead of interest waning, there is the possibility that the developer actually has a tiger by the tail. It could be h-u-g-e. At least I hope it is.
I agree as well about the many points listed. But i still think that even if it's later implemented. It would be a great plus for the game. Any multiplayer is great from the developers and I can only hope that they support it to the best of their abilities.
Personally, asynchronous seems a PERFECT fit for campaign mode. I'd love to be able to play a territory game / multiple battle war with a friend. That said, live MP would probably work better for draft and duels. But when I want to play multiplayer, it's not for just 5 minutes. Five minutes, to me, is stolen-moment gaming, and it's hard for me to do that (without being rude) outside of single player.
Just got schooled by amn624. Great games, though -- one draft where he dominated the game right out of the gate, and one Duel where a timely Chimera saved him from what would have been his last turn.
Draft Choice Actually, I should have asked what was my second pick. My first was the Water Troll, which has the neat ability of also damaging opposing creature for 4 and 2 to those on each side. So, if it's out for three turns, it can cumulatively cause as much as 12+24=36 damage. The cost used to be 1 water for the cast, recently raised to 2, which considering it's ability, seems a little fairer. The second choice (almost the 1st) was the dumb Wall of Ice, which seems really, really lame but.... See the casting ability? Ok, here's the situation. I have a Werewolf in play with enough mana to cast Blood Rage on itself and increase it's strength from 6 to 12. Problem is, the Werewolf is blocked by another creature. So, I cast Ice Wall unopposed and switch its position with the Werewolf, then cast the Werewolf's Blood Rage, attack and wind up doing 12 damage to my opponent. Not too shabby. Another benefit. If I want to save a creature that is currently opposed, I can cast the Ice Wall to an unopposed slot and simply switch it. What a great set of cards. There is an answer for every creature and every strategy.
Vs. Izzy I'm sure it'll go differently next time, Izzy. That was great fun, though. Spread the word. Orions 2 is going to be HUGE.
Have imoregames released a tentative release date yet? Its coming to the end of Jan so I would hope we Would get some news. I don't mind if it comes in March, I just would like to be informed.
Yeah, shifting ability is great. Some uses: - save a card from a (currently) indestructible or, at least, slow-to-kill opponent. For example, Ethereal when you don't have e.g. Slug to poinson it so that it loses 1+ HP each turn; Fireball or Wind of Souls, which is especially deadly against high-offense cards. The same stands for saving e.g. Wind of Souls from a low-damage card like Dispercer or any Fire creature from Red Drake or any Water creature (except for Elemental) from Ocean Lord before it decreases its damage to 1. - quickly switch e.g. Apostate (and quickly use its Serve Death ability) or Banshee to an empty position so that you can attack enemy owner for 15 HP. A decent player will always try to block these two cards from directly attacking his owner but by using switching, he really can't know where the opponent is going to switch these deadly cards in the next ground.
Ironically, I'm sure they have not been able to because they are listening to their fans and have ramped up efforts to provide the most sought after feature - multiplayer. There is definitely a process here that must be adhered to, including testing the environment for problems and improvements. For instance, I feel there needs to be a one line description at the bottom of the screen to show what has been drafted. This is currently in the draft vs. CPU mode but is not in online mode. Unless you can memorize everything on screen with one glance, it is often hard to remember exactly what your opponent may have taken. Draft is dependent upon careful planning to counter opponents choices, so this needs to be added. Yes, it's only one small step, but there are many of these before the product is finished. I understand the frustration involved. All I can tell you is the wait is going to be worth it. MP puts this into another category entirely. This is just so awesome.
And yet nobody can agree on what is 'done right' in this case. I just want the friggin' thing already. And hope that there's a way to easily play with a friend.
