Blitz Server New Reset - Feb 27, 2013

[Hypello]

Blitz Server will restart at Wed Feb 27 06:00:00 2013.
Armageddon is scheduled to begin at Sat Apr 27 14:00:00 2013.

Changes from previous set

Changes:

• Enlarge Animal changed:
  • Rank increased to complex (from average)
  • Research cost doubled (to 3 000)
  • Upkeep cost increased by 100% (to 150 mana/turn)
  • Cast cost increased by 50% (to 15 000 mana)
  • Off colour attack point bonus reduced to 5% (from 23%)
  • Opposite colour attack point bonus reduced to 2% (from 4%)
  • New added effect: hit points for all own animals increased by 20% (on colour only)
• High Elf changed:
  • Holy attack resistance increased to 40% (from 35%)
  • Phantasm spell resistance increased to 40% (from 0)
  • Nether spell resistance increased to 50% (from 0)
• Griffon changed:
  • Primary attack power increased by 15% (to 2750, from 2400)
  • Secondary attack power increased by 15% (to 3450, from 3000)
• Dark Elf Magician holy attack resistance increased to 25% (from 0)
• Love and Peace hit points bonus decreased to 25% (from 30%)
• Volcano Eruption changed:
  • Units killed decreases for each additional cast
  • Buildings destroyed increased by 30%
• Thunder Blade effects reduced by 50% (to 15%)
• Assassin hero added
• Status report sharing enabled
• Patron status temporarily disabled
• Mages cannot leave their guild after the 7th seal breaks
• Chronicle icons added to highlight own/guild activity

NB. Set ended prematurely due to hardware failure on April 10th.

[Hypello]

Changelist finalised.

[Laanders]

The mechanics team has decided to try and share some of the underlying thinking and goals on which changes are based. As a first, the team has agreed on the following comments to the current changes:

Enlarge Animal and Griffons have been updated to provide Green more reliable stacking options to help mitigate the drastic impact of Dark Elf Magicians on the Green meta as well as help reduce their overall predictability. High Elves' spell resistances have also been adjusted to balance the opportunity cost of Paralyze and Cursing (Witch). We believe these changes will translate to a more balanced interaction between Green and Blue/Black and provide that extra pressure on White. As a result of these changes, Dark Elf Magician's holy attack resistance is increased back to a normative level.

Enlarge Animal off-colour effect reduction and Love and Peace changes have been introduced to slightly decrease the strength and efficiency of flier White. While we strongly believe that protecting stacking variety is important, we also believe that no fixed strategy should win you the game. We will be looking at ways to rejuvenate other flier stacks. However, they will remain as transitional strategies that are only effective up to a certain acreage.

The new Volcano Eruption (VE) incentivises players to employ a little bit more stacking knowledge, player awareness and coordination while organising VE bangs. It also gives the targeted player a high risk high reward opportunity to negate VE bangs, provided he is online and can dispel/summon back up. As a result, the new VE bangs will have a more action oriented feel and will be far more devastating on low land mages. Lastly, the inclusion of assassins opens up ways to target otherwise near-unreachable resources, promoting strategical balance and variety.

On behalf of the mechanics team, I'd like to wish all players - in and out of draft - a great set.

[Laanders]

A bug was found and fixed today. Serenity had accidentally been changed to the recently removed beta version. The fix was executed 15 minutes ago.

[Hypello]

Please note that the day of armageddon has been rescheduled to begin Sat Apr 27 14:00.