[DoctorEldritch]

Originally Posted by GoLLuM13

Storytelling games, Oh my ... 🤩

See anything you like yet? 😉

[DracoTarot]

@DoctorEldritch Mmmm! Sounds great. I'm in when it comes to folklore. So yea I'll definitely play it then. 😊

[DoctorEldritch]

@DracoTarot So long as you do not mind deckbuilding. But given your card expertise, you should be fine 😉

[DracoTarot]

@DoctorEldritch I do not mind deck building. I still have Magic The Gathering on my PC and have a few decks of my own I've collected over the years. Of course Tarot decks are my favourite as you know and some are also deck builds. The cards are sold separately and not as one full deck. 😊

[DoctorEldritch]

@DracoTarot Ah, thank you for reminding me about Magic: The Gathering, I was meaning to share some news about the planned series and films based on that game.

Yeah, but then again, deckbuilding games are not the same as irl card games or Tarot. I know many people who do not particularly like them, they can be "too calculus" or "too chance", and it is hard indeed to find that pepper balance there, not many game developers can do it. I remember @Aapje mentioned Slay the Spire to you, that's one of the good ones. They are making part 2 now, by the way.

Black Book is...I want to say good, but also...I guess, easy? Once you find a good combo, you can pretty much stick to it and win. Maybe if you play it on higher difficulty it could be more satisfyingly challenging.

[DracoTarot]

@DoctorEldritch You're welcome. Yeah, it's not the same and Tarot is different. I still need to have a look at Slay the Spire and definitely will.

Maybe Black Book is one of those games to start with the highest difficulty. Some games are just designed that way. I did it with a few other games in the past. Diablo 2 was one of those.

[DoctorEldritch]

@DracoTarot Personally, I like Griftlands better, but Slay the Spire is a great game against which all others can be measured, and it is very good for getting into the genre, too.

I guess it may depend on how familiar you are with deckbuilding games. For those who play in this genre regularly, finding a good strategy in Black Book is much easier, I want to say, so it does not present much of a challenge once you find it. But if you're new to the genre, it can be more challenging. But at the same time, a nice learning curve in those games, too.

But when it comes down to it, Black Book has one fairly big difference that sets it apart from other deckbuilding games: it is not a roguelike. As in, normally, deckbuilding game is a "run" where you construct the deck, gradually going through tougher and tougher enemies and building your deck with an element of chance in what cards you are getting from the "pool", then either lose or beat the final boss, get some EXP that opens new cards and/or locations and repeat it again and again, and trying out different strategies in each run depending on what card lady luck deems to give you is part of the fun.

Black Book, on the other hand, is a story narrative game, you only need to beat it once, there is no chance involved in what cards you can get, you move from battle to battle with all your cards and can edit your deck at any time. This does not make the game worse by any means, but it does take away that element of chance and, with it, an element of risk. Though I suppose without roguelike that is not really needed. Still, it makes it easier to tinker with your deck and find a winning combination.

Anyway, that's my take on this.

[DracoTarot]

@DoctorEldritch the only deck-building game I play is Magic the Gathering PC version. The game is much easier and fun on PC. I am new in the genre and haven't touched deck-building games in a while. I'm always up for a challenge and think I will like the difficulty aspect.

The way you described Black Book sounds similar to Yu-gi-oh or am I mistaken? I'm referring to the PC version.

Actually, I prefer games where you do not lose anything you collect. Card games are one of those and hate when some cards are not available anymore and need to collect again. It's better to choose from your collection and level through the game the way you want to. It also doesn't bother me if it's a story narrative game as long as all the elements stay intact.

[DoctorEldritch]

@DracoTarot I would imagine, no need to carry decks around, no fear of losing a card, and it is probably easier to find someone to play with even if they are all the way on the other end of the world. Though, for me, MtG is a bit too big, it is such a massive institution these days, with massive lore, and decks upon decks, and all that. I prefer smaller projects, little card games based around a few original or unusual ideas, not something as massive as MtG. But that's me.

If you get into deckbuilding games and like them, at some point, you may want to try Menace from the Deep:

I tried it out, but it seemed unpolished to me, I am waiting for them to make a few patches before I get on that.

I never tried Yu-gi-oh, but if you like those games, then this is literally just out:

I guess it is up to a personal preference. I do not mind a deck-builder where you do not loose cards, so long as it gives you different enemies or scenarios where you need to change strategies and rebuild decks to succeed. Black Book does not really do that, or does it very rarely, so once you find a winning strategy, you can just stick to it. Makes it less challenging somewhat.

[DracoTarot]

@DoctorEldritch The digital version with always be my favourite option to have a duel or two with someone. Anyways we do not have conversations here anymore and many people lost interest in card games.

It also got very expensive to arrange such events.

Massive decks are a hassle and too much work. I'm with you on this one and also prefer smaller projects.

I think I wanted to download Mencace form the Deep a while back. The game sounds familiar. I'll keep it in mind when I have the patience for some deck building. 🙂

I've seen the new Yu-Gi-Oh game on Steam. Not going to touch it for now. I'm sure there's going to be a lot of add-ons coming out.

Good to know. It's really disappointing when you loose the decks and then have to start over.