Hearthstone

[frunk]

For a while the season ranking resets bugged me, but it's been reinforced recently.  Not doing Arena to save my currency and buy the dungeons has pushed me into more ranked play.  It all seemed kind of pointless to drop everyone by a few ranks at the end of each month.  Now I realize it's to fix (or perhaps just to balance) the inflation caused by the win streak bonus stars.  Those bonus stars effectively mean that if you are at a rank where you are playing players as good as you are you'll net gain a star about once every 8 games.  So the ranking system isn't an equilibrium, a given rank is continuously being downgraded in competitive quality as players get pushed into higher ranks.  A lousy system if you want to use a given rank as a comparison between different points in time, but useful for creating that "I'm doing better all the time, look at my ranking climb" feeling.

It gives an incentive to grinders to play more games, since even a losing record can advance on the ranking system.  For those that are curious, ~45 1/3% win rate is the break even point.  It also means that waiting to play ranked until later in the season is likely to net more wins, since the quality of each given rank is at the lowest then.

[Habbaku]

After spending a lot of time playing HS, I am now convinced that people who tell you "Well Played" just before they win are assholes and douchebags.

We already went over this.  Grow up.

[celedhring]

So, after watching the Warcraft movie in a bout of nostalgia I reinstalled this. Logged into battle.net and it seems that all my progress from the last time I played (2014) has been reset. Well, that's my bout of nostalgia over even before it started. 

EDIT: Seems I was logging on the wrong server.

[Habbaku]

   What's your name there?

[celedhring]

  What's your name there?

Guess what, "Celedhring" 

I use this username for everything internets. Can't be arsed to remember more than one.

[Habbaku]

I figured that, but I need the number attached as well to add you to my friend's list. 

[celedhring]

I figured that, but I need the number attached as well to add you to my friend's list. 

Aha! #2813

[Alcibiades]

Never played this, been kind of getting into card games lately.  Is it enjoyable?  Do I have to spend money to make it worthwhile?

[Berkut]

Yes, no.

Although spending a very small amount of money is pretty beneficial. They've done a nice job of making it not *necessary* to spend money, while at the same time making a small spend pretty fun with the expansions.

[frunk]

If you are more of an intense, play a lot in a short time I'd spend at least some money ($10-15) to buy some cards.  If you prefer to play a bit over a longer period of time you don't need to buy anything, just do the daily quests.

[Berkut]

The expansions are where a new player would spend some money I suspect. Once you unlock all the base cards, paying for the latest expansion might be a good way to get some cards for use in semi-competitive play...

[frunk]

The expansions are where a new player would spend some money I suspect. Once you unlock all the base cards, paying for the latest expansion might be a good way to get some cards for use in semi-competitive play...

Yeah, that's true.  If you stick around those cards will be in Standard longer too.

[celedhring]

Expansions are the only thing I shelved money for, back when I played. They are actually fun to play by themselves.

[frunk]

Expansions are the only thing I shelved money for, back when I played. They are actually fun to play by themselves.

I think you are talking about the adventures, which are pretty fun.

[celedhring]

Expansions are the only thing I shelved money for, back when I played. They are actually fun to play by themselves.

I think you are talking about the adventures, which are pretty fun.

Yeah, that. I have been away nearly two years and I have to re-learn all this shit again.