Petition: Nerf Rune Plate

By Skiffling, in Descent: Journeys in the Dark

Assuming that you don't buy anything and that you don't get the same cards in the second shopping step (which is of course a simplification) you can say that you are effectively drawing 10 cards at once.

Yeah well, that was the point behind my question if he shuffles or not. If you are assuming you won't draw the same cards, then the calculation is off, since its perfectly possible if you shuffle it each time.

Atom,

(may I call you Atom?) Please note that the probablities I listed were cumulative in time. That is, the chance to draw the rune plate during the first shopping step is very similiar to the chance to draw it during the second. However, what I listed were the chances of drawing it during the:

First

First or second

First, second, or third

This is why the probabliity essentially doubles- it's draw 5 without replacement vs draw 5 without replacement, replace 4, then draw 5 more without replacement.

Sure, no problem. :) You can even call me by my real name, Steven. As long as you don't call me Atom Four GeVampire (4 is supposed to be an A, but that was taken on Xbox back in the day) it's all good! :D

And sure, I understand, just wanted to confirm that that was the case, and not that I was dumb ;)

Edited by Atom4geVampire

Are you guys trying to give me a migraine.....?

Seriously, good stuff. I won't be signing the petition. I think it's a good thing that some items are (much, even) better than others. Rune plate is highly interesting and I'd hate to see it nerfed, not that I think it ever will be.

In my last four campaigns, the overlord has feasted. The heroes need all the help they can get.

Also, Even with Zaltyre's math, you have to keep in mind that at least one (advanced?) rumor gives an even better armour... for everyone.

The Aurium mail: black die, exhaust for an extra brown... no drawback... AT ALL.

Also, Even with Zaltyre's math, you have to keep in mind that at least one (advanced?) rumor gives an even better armour... for everyone.

The Aurium mail: black die, exhaust for an extra brown... no drawback... AT ALL.

Because of this, no Overlord in their right mind would ever play this rumor. The upside for the heroes is gigantic, and the Overlord's is almost nothing.

Also, Even with Zaltyre's math, you have to keep in mind that at least one (advanced?) rumor gives an even better armour... for everyone.

The Aurium mail: black die, exhaust for an extra brown... no drawback... AT ALL.

Because of this, no Overlord in their right mind would ever play this rumor. The upside for the heroes is gigantic, and the Overlord's is almost nothing.

A common issue with practically all the rumors, unfortunately.

Also, Even with Zaltyre's math, you have to keep in mind that at least one (advanced?) rumor gives an even better armour... for everyone.

The Aurium mail: black die, exhaust for an extra brown... no drawback... AT ALL.

Because of this, no Overlord in their right mind would ever play this rumor. The upside for the heroes is gigantic, and the Overlord's is almost nothing.

A common issue with practically all the rumors, unfortunately.

Agreed. :(

I made the mistake to play this card during a shadow rune campaign once and the heroes won the rumor quest. I didn't bother to hit syndrael the knight wearing this armor anymore. A waste of time. (I killed her in the finale though :D )

But you can use rumors for an unexperienced or extremely unlucky hero party.

I had a campaign with BOTH Aurium mail and the Rune Plate. As a beginner OL I put the rumor "Gold digger" in table, not knowing the risks of the reward would represent. Im not complaining against the rumor, I think rumors have a cleary downside to OL if he loses, since he already get a free threat for the rumor being played. Furthermore, the OL assumes the risk of playing a rumor. He has to balance the up/downside to decide when to play, or even if he wanna play the specific rumor.

In the case of "Gold digger" the task to the OL is very difficult, even in the 1st match. The heroes got the armor before the 1st mission in act I, so they really had an advantage in combat. Was fun to play, and see the joy in table of the heroes, but I knew a snow ball effect was about to come. A few matches after, they got a Rune plate, having 2 heroes with an added black defense dice.

If you ask me if I would play "Gold digger" again, I'd be inclined to not play it, unless my OL build strategy was something related to unit speed up, with cards like "No rest for the Wicked" and a party with a warrior having low awareness/knowledge, so the Basic II would be a great deal for mobility.

Luckmann, on 04 August 2016 - 08:16 PM

A common issue with practically all the rumors, unfortunately.

I still play some rumors, mainly if I manage to get a specific rumor from Manor of Ravens. It's kinda tough to heroes and its reward makes the OL very happy: "Shards of Ithyndrus". I'd research about it for future reference.

However, even having a very armored party against me, I managed to win the campaign.

As a OL I do not think Runeplate need to have any change. Players really need the extra defense for Act II escalation (almost every group of heroes buy the runeplate in interlude shop phase if they didnt get it earlier). I think Runeplate is itself a game balance and the OL have a good amount of ways to see the armor bearer wounded (a pierce 2 effect usually overcome the runeplate, traps, not speaking the conditions itself).

Edited by Dommus

Yes, Manor of Ravens rumors is a bit of an exception, most of those are OK, hence the "practically all the rumors". Most, unfortunately, range from pulling even to downright catastrophic for the Overlord. I wish all the Rumor quests would be revised to conform to the more balanced nature of Manor of Ravens.

Well in our first campaign run through the first side quest ever attempted was the 'my house, my rules' quest from manor of Ravens. This was the single most one sided game of anything I have ever played. Being able to force the heros to test on a 2 on every door and with a group of changlings in the mix even thought the three heros had two lucky charms between them only one hero ever made it through the first door, and was promptly knocked out and kept down by a wraith and a plucky bandit. The rest of my forces kept the heros on thier asses in the first room whilst my lieutenant ran round, collected his 4 objectives and ran out the exit pausing briefly only to pulverise the already battered heros stuck in the first room some more.

After that experience I highly doubt my heros will be attempting any more rumours soon!! If I hadn't have pulled some punches on the next main quest to let them feel a bit more heroic and less like rabbits in the headlights I may have lost them all forever. I cannot fathom how any party composition could deal with that quest.

Well in our first campaign run through the first side quest ever attempted was the 'my house, my rules' quest from manor of Ravens. This was the single most one sided game of anything I have ever played. Being able to force the heros to test on a 2 on every door and with a group of changlings in the mix even thought the three heros had two lucky charms between them only one hero ever made it through the first door, and was promptly knocked out and kept down by a wraith and a plucky bandit. The rest of my forces kept the heros on thier asses in the first room whilst my lieutenant ran round, collected his 4 objectives and ran out the exit pausing briefly only to pulverise the already battered heros stuck in the first room some more.

After that experience I highly doubt my heros will be attempting any more rumours soon!! If I hadn't have pulled some punches on the next main quest to let them feel a bit more heroic and less like rabbits in the headlights I may have lost them all forever. I cannot fathom how any party composition could deal with that quest.

I did the same quest to win the "Shards of Ithyndrus" Raug, and the actions happened very similar to yours, I just placed Flesh moulders instead of changelings, what was a little evil from my side, since I would be able to snipe heroes from the other side of the portal and return to safety, with a plus of a master moulder healing from behind. I believe this was the quest were I KO'ed heroes more.

My problem with the Rune Plate is that is is still a very good item in Act II, so the heroes don't need to spend money on the mage (durability wise) after they get it (100% chance after the Interlude). If this armour would just have a gray die it would still be very good. Even if you removed the +2 health bonus. It is not even the best armour for mages, it is the best armour for anyone in Act I. Gray die, no movement restriction? That is very good for 5 speed warriors, even for that price.