Magic: The Gathering - Battlegrounds

2008-01-03 08:14:19 pm

Waiting hurts my soul...

Anyone interested in seeing this? Probably won't start soon unless there is an overwhelming response, but I really don't expect anyone to be interested. Just an idea. I'd have to get Fraps or something similar, as I don't currently have a way to record PC games. So, unless I get five people saying they'd like to see this, I'll put it off.

It's not a very good game, but it might be fun to watch.

Thread title:

TheVoid

2008-01-03 08:22:07 pm

You've got my vote. I enjoyed the card game a while ago so watching this is probably funny too Smiley

paK0

2008-01-03 10:18:41 pm

o.O

haha, yeah, id love to see one

but i really think this game is to fixed to be creative with time saving issues, in the fisrt missions of every colour the spells are just to limited to go an unexpected way

but some missions might be fun to see done fast (black 50 hp mission xD)

well, if you do a speedrun i would really like to offer my help since this is a nice game^^

good luck

Abaddon

2008-01-04 01:51:30 pm

Heyyy... wait.. i don't know you. Don't confuse me

Bring it on. Still have my old Artifact build deck here ^^

Id LOVE to see this one!!!

Gimme gimme gimme... plx kkthxbye Grin

getter77

2008-01-04 02:01:30 pm

100% runs=great to watch

Go for it! Variety is the spice of life. 8)

ZenicReverie

Edit history:

ZenicReverie: 2008-01-04 08:34:35 pm

2008-01-04 07:48:01 pm

Waiting hurts my soul...

I guess the game isn't that bad. Here's a video of the game for those that never had the chance to see it in action:

Someone has a walkthrough for the game up on youtube, but it's definitely not a speed run... Has more gameplay though:

Lag.Com

2008-01-04 11:53:50 pm

sda loyalist

Yeah that game is pretty crap, I had it a while back. You can finish it pretty fast, I guess, but it's all luck luck luck.

krael

2008-01-05 04:19:20 pm

Verified verifier and hangaround :)

You got my vote as well.

Alot of luck involved, perhaps you can manipulate it to your advantage.

MTGjumper

2008-01-05 05:03:46 pm

Having not really heard much about the game, from what I can see, cards are not used at all.

T'is a shame, as I am very knowledgable of the card game (no cookie for working out where the three letter acronym at the start of my name is from!) and would be interested in seeing it run.

ZenicReverie

2008-01-05 09:30:24 pm

Waiting hurts my soul...

Individual level seems to be the best option since there's so much luck involved, and there isn't actually a way to "save". Progress is made on a profile basis and levels unlocked. Some levels are pretty boring though, of course it's still below 10 minutes each level, but watching blue control can wane on people's patience. Luckily there's only two or three levels like that.

The AI is fairly predictable though, so it should be easy to nail down a strategy. I've already found a pretty easy way to defeat the last two levels. Sadly the game play reminds me a lot of a fighting game, although I hate to use the 'f' word for it, but who knows, it may be the first step towards an interesting fighting game.

I just beat the game for the first time last night. The main guy at the end of the blue level against that quick red guy was difficult to get right. That's one of the levels I used a lot of counter spells. I couldn't get past that level for the longest time.

Dual color spellbooks are pretty weak against the AI. I couldn't find a good combination for any of them. The higher level spells take longer to cast since all spells require their color of mana (i.e. there is no generic mana cost). Although mana regens at double the speed, being stuck with smaller spells is really difficult to get over. So it seems single colors are the way to go.

I guess there's enough interest, so I'll start on this next month some time. Any suggestions for PC recording? I'm thinking Fraps, but I really don't know how those things compare.

Individual level seems to be the best option since there's so much luck involved, and there isn't actually a way to "save".  Progress is made on a profile basis and levels unlocked.  Some levels are pretty boring though, of course it's still below 10 minutes each level, but watching blue control can wane on people's patience.  Luckily there's only two or three levels like that.

The AI is fairly predictable though, so it should be easy to nail down a strategy.  I've already found a pretty easy way to defeat the last two levels.  Sadly the game play reminds me a lot of a fighting game, although I hate to use the 'f' word for it, but who knows, it may be the first step towards an interesting fighting game.

I just beat the game for the first time last night.  The main guy at the end of the blue level against that quick red guy was difficult to get right.  That's one of the levels I used a lot of counter spells.  I couldn't get past that level for the longest time.

Dual color spellbooks are pretty weak against the AI.  I couldn't find a good combination for any of them.  The higher level spells take longer to cast since all spells require their color of mana (i.e. there is no generic mana cost).  Although mana regens at double the speed, being stuck with smaller spells is really difficult to get over.  So it seems single colors are the way to go.

I guess there's enough interest, so I'll start on this next month some time.  Any suggestions for PC recording?  I'm thinking Fraps, but I really don't know how those things compare.

Lag.Com

2008-01-06 12:29:07 am

sda loyalist

Quote:

knowledgable

Hello Mr. Holistic Wisdom, a rare from Odyssey with an illustration by Rebecca Guay which lets you pitch cards to retrieve cards of the same type from your graveyard. I have a German one. Smiley

MTGjumper

2008-01-06 12:01:11 pm

W00t! I have an English holofoil one Tongue

Pwetty. T'is my favourite card; I use the art as my avvy for most forums I browse.

Lag.Com

2008-01-06 11:48:19 pm

sda loyalist

Yeah I have a foil one too. My brother has a Rebbeca Guay collection - he has the 6x9 Serra Angel from her, that cost him a lot. Smiley

SandsZebra

2008-01-11 04:25:10 am

So, is the run getting going or you haven't enough votes yet? Or you need some tricks, that I can help you on because I know the game kind of quite much^^.
You've got my vote for a speedrun of this game ;D. As for tricks, I'll try to help much if there's any question, or if I think to something useful later. I know that W/R are pretty fast decks, so maybe it would be great against the Bosses even if dual-colored.
I didn't tried myself because my PC is too slow (I think) for FRAPS and this game, and I thought that there wasn't much of a reason to try finding tricks for a speedrun. But who knows, maybe there's interesting tricks, and anyway surely the run would be quite interesting Cheesy

SandsZebra

Edit history:

SandsZebra: 2008-01-11 04:29:21 am

2008-01-11 04:28:16 am

Ah yes, not about the game, it's funny to see how even a moderator can be talking just about what he like ;).
Thank you Lag.com for being that sort of moderator 8) If I may say so.

ZenicReverie

Edit history:

ZenicReverie: 2008-01-13 07:04:29 pm

2008-01-11 11:08:06 pm

Waiting hurts my soul...

So, I've started some posts with the name of each stage based on what magic you're stuck with.

For most of the levels, the best strategy is clear, but there are a few that have a couple of possibilities. Each color's Chapter always starts with one spell and then one spell is added each level after that. You can 10 spells in a spellbook, so up to level 10 of each chapter (there are 14 levels in each chapter) you don't need to choose which spells to level out. Then the Boss levels have even more possibilities for strategy.

In the Boss levels, you build your own spellbook of 10 spells. They can be dual colored or single colored. The advantage of dual colored is you have two mana bars of each color both filling up at the same speed, which gives you faster overall regeneration, but it takes longer to get more mana since each orb will alternate between the two colors keeping it even.

Boss Levels
--------------------------

Multani Returns

Akroma Returns

Arcanis Returns

Ihsan's Shade Returns

Maraxus Returns:
Control seems to be the best way to defeat Maraxus. Turtles to slow down the goblins. Counter spell to prevent Magma Golem. Djinn or Air Elemental with Guile to defeat him. Guile is to prevent him from burning them to death. Cowardice might be another option although.

Tsabo Tavoc:
Again Control seems to be the way to go. She uses a deadly Red/Black combination, and starts with 6 black and 5 red orbs I believe. I've found a way to game the AI though by getting down to <= 4 life. Counter spell everything except goblins, then once you have 4 or less life Tsabo will try to finish you off with a burn spell that does 4 damage. That's when you build up enough mana to spelljack it each turn. This is kind of boring, but it's the best way I've found so far.

Mishra
He already has one liability up, so I made a black deck that has liability and many ways to kill creatures. Thus he takes 3 damage for each of his creatures that are killed. It did him in pretty quickly and effortlessly if I remember correctly.

So, I've started some posts with the name of each stage based on what magic you're stuck with.

For most of the levels, the best strategy is clear, but there are a few that have a couple of possibilities.  Each color's Chapter always starts with one spell and then one spell is added each level after that.  You can 10 spells in a spellbook, so up to level 10 of each chapter (there are 14 levels in each chapter) you don't need to choose which spells to level out.  Then the Boss levels have even more possibilities for strategy.

In the Boss levels, you build your own spellbook of 10 spells.  They can be dual colored or single colored.  The advantage of dual colored is you have two mana bars of each color both filling up at the same speed, which gives you faster overall regeneration, but it takes longer to get more mana since each orb will alternate between the two colors keeping it even.

Boss Levels
--------------------------

Multani Returns

Akroma Returns

Arcanis Returns

Ihsan's Shade Returns

Maraxus Returns:
Control seems to be the best way to defeat Maraxus.  Turtles to slow down the goblins.  Counter spell to prevent Magma Golem. Djinn or Air Elemental with Guile to defeat him.  Guile is to prevent him from burning them to death.  Cowardice might be another option although.

Tsabo Tavoc:
Again Control seems to be the way to go.  She uses a deadly Red/Black combination, and starts with 6 black and 5 red orbs I believe.  I've found a way to game the AI though by getting down to <= 4 life.  Counter spell everything except goblins, then once you have 4 or less life Tsabo will try to finish you off with a burn spell that does 4 damage.  That's when you build up enough mana to spelljack it each turn.  This is kind of boring, but it's the best way I've found so far.

Mishra
He already has one liability up, so I made a black deck that has liability and many ways to kill creatures.  Thus he takes 3 damage for each of his creatures that are killed.  It did him in pretty quickly and effortlessly if I remember correctly.

ZenicReverie

Edit history:

ZenicReverie: 2008-01-13 06:57:14 pm

2008-01-13 06:25:29 pm

Waiting hurts my soul...

Training Levels
-------------------------------
Mana Glade:
The Globes after the first are randomly generated, so this will be all about how lucky you get.

Attack Training:
Running across to the other side to kill the elf is a good option here.

Shield Training:
About the best you can do is stand on the edge of your side since your shield doesn't work on the enemy side.

Do training levels need to be completed?

Red Magic Levels
---------------------------
Hero:
Cast lots of Goblin Heroes as fast as you can... not much else for many of these first level ones.

Defiant Ones
Time Runs Out
Attack of the Elves
Reckless Life
Look to the Skies
Scorched Earth
Blue Morning
The Bigger They Come
King's Run
Spawn With Destruction
Violent Tendencies
Red Dragon
Multani, Maro-Sorcerer

ZenicReverie

Edit history:

ZenicReverie: 2008-01-13 06:57:28 pm

2008-01-13 06:25:40 pm

Waiting hurts my soul...

Green Magic Levels
---------------------------------
Goblins Everywhere!
Giant Steps
Trampled Under Foot
Save the Elves
Enchament No More
Giant Killer
Gorillas in Your Midst
Mana Rally
Youthful Indiscretion
Into the Fire
Doubly Blessed
My Avatar
Akroma, Angel of Wrath

ZenicReverie

Edit history:

ZenicReverie: 2008-01-13 06:58:27 pm

2008-01-13 06:25:54 pm

Waiting hurts my soul...

White Magic Levels
--------------------------------
Tangled Web:
Cast Suntail Hawk as fast as you can as close to the edge as possible.

Death From Above
Aces High
Quest For Life
Thunder in the Sky
Mysterious Ways
Way of the Warrior
Stay Alive
The Avatar Returns
Life Gain
Hanging by a Thread
Feel My Wrath
Air Apparent
Arcanis the Omnipotent

ZenicReverie

Edit history:

ZenicReverie: 2008-01-13 06:58:37 pm

2008-01-13 06:26:20 pm

Waiting hurts my soul...

Blue Magic Levels
--------------------------
Unsummoner
Riding the Wind
The Best Offense
Spiders Run Wild
Fight Waves with Waves
Turtle Defense
Magic Mist
Thunder in the Air
Cunning and Guile
Engulf Us All
Legions of Angels
Lost Potential
Here There Be Dragons
Ihsan's Shade

ZenicReverie

Edit history:

ZenicReverie: 2008-01-13 06:58:49 pm

2008-01-13 06:26:41 pm

Waiting hurts my soul...

Black Magic Levels
-------------------------------------
Zombies Ate My Goblins
Coming of the Darkness
Death and the Duelist
Life or Death
Pitch Black
Clear the Air
Dead of Night
Against All Odds
Krovikan Domination
None Can Escape
Evil Is Eternal
Soul Survivor
To Hell and Back
Maraxus of Keld

paK0

2008-01-26 03:56:30 pm

o.O

hmmmm, what i think about the levels:

hero: only cast at full mana, since this will increase you regeneration^^

Defiant Ones: unse ingulf in flames once at the beginning then do the same as before, make sure to smack all the defiant elfs she is summoning to get direct hits everytime

Time Runs Out:
spend yout mana and then run over to smack him to death

Attack of the Elves: smack the defiant elf at the beginning and then summan a goblin(required for victory) after that stick to goblin heroes ant macke sure to smach every elvish warrior after it battled a hero of yours(defiants should be killed instantly, but make sure to run over and dont waste mana on engulf in flames

Reckless Life: summon a raging goblin and use as many recless charges as needed(try out how much^^)

Look to the Skies: dont waste mana on creatures on the ground here, yust summon one skyraider and give him recless charge whenever you have full mana, if she hits him once kill it yourself to get the mana and summon a new one

Scorched Earth: clear the spider with a raging goblin and recless charge and then use a skyraider + recless charge to win the mission, dont forget to finish this with a scorching missile(it might be faster to swarm him, but im not sure about that^^)

Blue Morning: use engulf in flames twice and steal her second mana shard summon your new creature and this will be a quick win

The Bigger They Come: skyraider + recless charge is the key to victory while killing his elves with normal attacks, when he stops summoning them kill your skyraider and save your mana. threaten + recless charge will end this

King's Run: use a goblin king asap and then stick with the skyraider again, this time you have to use some mana for raging goblins as a defense

Spawn With Destruction: use magmagiant once and the swarm him with raging goblins and a goblin king

Violent Tendencies: raging goblin, double damage, recless charge = gg

Red Dragon: kill the spider with a raging goblin + recless charge while smacking down the elvish warriors. with enough mana summon a volcanic dragon while killing the spiders with your goblins, whenever you have mana to spare use a recless charge on your dragon( skyraider might work as well but you have to summon a dragon anyways)

Multani, Maro-Sorcerer: use engulf in flames to do some damage in the beginning, when he casts untamed wilds just run over an stel it, after that SWARM use your enchantments so he has to use tranquility instead of defending

hope this helps a little

hmmmm, what i think about the levels:

hero: only cast at full mana, since this will increase you regeneration^^

Defiant Ones: unse ingulf in flames once at the beginning then do the same as before, make sure to smack all the defiant elfs she is summoning to get direct hits everytime

Time Runs Out:
spend yout mana and then run over to smack him to death

Attack of the Elves: smack the defiant elf at the beginning and then summan a goblin(required for victory) after that stick to goblin heroes ant macke sure to smach every elvish warrior after it battled a hero of yours(defiants should be killed instantly, but make sure to run over and dont waste mana on engulf in flames

Reckless Life: summon a raging goblin and use as many recless charges as needed(try out how much^^)

Look to the Skies: dont waste mana on creatures on the ground here, yust summon one skyraider and give him recless charge whenever you have full mana, if she hits him once kill it yourself to get the mana and summon a new one

Scorched Earth: clear the spider with a raging goblin and recless charge and then use a skyraider + recless charge to win the mission, dont forget to finish this with a scorching missile(it might be faster to swarm him, but im not sure about that^^)

Blue Morning: use engulf in flames twice and steal her second mana shard summon your new creature and this will be a quick win

The Bigger They Come: skyraider + recless charge is the key to victory while killing his elves with normal attacks, when he stops summoning them kill your skyraider and save your mana. threaten + recless charge will end this

King's Run: use a goblin king asap and then stick with the skyraider again, this time you have to use some mana for raging goblins as a defense

Spawn With Destruction: use magmagiant once and the swarm him with raging goblins and a goblin king

Violent Tendencies: raging goblin, double damage, recless charge = gg

Red Dragon: kill the spider with a raging goblin + recless charge while smacking down the elvish warriors. with enough mana summon a volcanic dragon while killing the spiders with your goblins, whenever you have mana to spare use a recless charge on your dragon( skyraider might work as well but you have to summon a dragon anyways)

Multani, Maro-Sorcerer: use engulf in flames to do some damage in the beginning, when he casts untamed wilds just run over an stel it, after that SWARM use your enchantments so he has to use tranquility instead of defending

hope this helps a little

paK0

2008-01-26 04:07:22 pm

o.O

about the boss levels:

im still not sure what he best way is, but control is a LOT to slow imho

against the 5 "normal ones" there is a good way to beat them: elvish warriors, just use them to their fullest, the ai has no idea how to deal with this^^

tsabo: this is by far the hardest battle, the spell lock you described works, however i still think there is something that can be done about that green/red should be woth a try

just stall with red and use untamed wilds as often as possible. with enough mana use tranquility and swarm her with elvish warriors and goblin heroes

mishra: overall he is really an easy one, but its hard to take him down fast

he uses mostly 3 spells: elvish warrior, reaver deamon and counterspell

white/blue should be fine against him
kill his elvish warriors with a youthful knight + guided strike and use suntailed hawks against the demons

with enough mana make sure to use counterspell on all the demons and the spell that gives every creature -2/-2 (forgot the name :P) and swarm him with a combination of youthful knights and warriors honor

about the boss levels:

im still not sure what he best way is, but control is a LOT to slow imho

against the 5 "normal ones" there is a good way to beat them: elvish warriors, just use them to their fullest, the ai has no idea how to deal with this^^

tsabo: this is by far the hardest battle, the spell lock you described works, however i still think there is something that can be done about that green/red should be woth a try

just stall with red and use untamed wilds as often as possible. with enough mana use tranquility and swarm her with elvish warriors and goblin heroes

mishra: overall he is really an easy one, but its hard to take him down fast

he uses mostly 3 spells: elvish warrior, reaver deamon and counterspell

white/blue should be fine against him
kill his elvish warriors with a youthful knight + guided strike and use suntailed hawks against the demons

with enough mana make sure to use counterspell on all the demons and the spell that gives every creature -2/-2 (forgot the name :P) and swarm him with a combination of youthful knights and warriors honor