Is this game even good?

By gokubb, in Star Wars: Destiny

So, I jumped full into this game from the start. I have complete playable sets, have played a ton of games and had some fun doing it. A few days ago, some buddies came over and we played some old school Vs System. We had a blast playing a dead, old game. I was excited to show those friends Destiny. We built some good tourney worthy decks and started playing. During that play, we all unanimously felt underwhelmed. The game broke down to who can activate, fix and resolve before opponent can cancel dice. We didn't play a single game where a character didn't get defeated within the first two turns. We all left wondering, if this weren't Star Wars, would we ever play it again?

I've started to realize that I feel very much the same as I did about their LCG. I'm going to give this a tournament season and at least one more set to make a definitive yes/no. But, I can't help but thinking this game is more a product of the hype. I see a lot of people selling collections off. What do you all think? If this wasn't Star Wars, would we even give it a chance?

The game is good imo, the cards are very few so your expeience isn't representative of what it's capable of. That being said, yes this is a crazy hype train from hell and ffg has failed on many levels to make it an enjoyable experience. Please do give it until the next set drops to cement your judgement. The fact that it's Star Wars is absolutely part of the over hype but the mechanics are sound and there was another thread discussing if other ip's would be a good idea and I feel a resounding yes on that. Star Wars doesn't make this game it is just the mask it wears and any mask would do.

Edited by LordFajubi

I think it is a great game. We all have different thoughts on what makes a good game but I like that it is fast and there are often a lot of options to consider. Most of my games have been fairly close where it could have gone either way. Even when I lose I still enjoy the game, so that is a good sign. But best of all it is Star Wars! I would probably not have got this game if it were not Star Wars, certainly I would not have sunk a few hundred credits into it. But it is Star Wars, and a good game as well I think. Let's face it, just adding dice to a card game wasn't going to make it a hit, without the IP the game wouldn't sell.

For me the LCG is a better game and feel more star wars than Destiny.

Wait. You complained about not getting 26 Booster boxes, and now you are asking if it is good? Why would you complain about your order, when it was clearly for flipping...then ask if it is good!?

That-look-you-get-When-you-realize-just-

I think it is a great game. We all have different thoughts on what makes a good game but I like that it is fast and there are often a lot of options to consider. Most of my games have been fairly close where it could have gone either way. Even when I lose I still enjoy the game, so that is a good sign. But best of all it is Star Wars! I would probably not have got this game if it were not Star Wars, certainly I would not have sunk a few hundred credits into it. But it is Star Wars, and a good game as well I think. Let's face it, just adding dice to a card game wasn't going to make it a hit, without the IP the game wouldn't sell.

This is my experience. I've never been sucked into a card game before this one. It's probably true it has to do with the dice to some extent, but I've very much enjoyed the choices in this game. I think it would still be solid if it weren't Star Wars.

I think they could make reasonable money selling this as a dungeons and dragons style party combat game with the same rules set

The game broke down to who can activate, fix and resolve before opponent can cancel dice. We didn't play a single game where a character didn't get defeated within the first two turns.

This bit rang true with me, but I don't think it's a game issue. With all respect, I think it is a player issue. This is how I felt with about fifteen games under my belt, when I still had to reference the rules manual here and there, and before I knew which cards were great and what truly made up a good move. Even if you give your opponent's great decks, playing with inexperienced people can cause this situation of uneven play to occur as well. It's hard to play a fun game when you know all the most optimal moves, and your opponent's do not (even if they have the makings of said move in their hand).

It reminds me of a game I played recently at the LGS. My opponent had maybe five games under his belt, and I had many. He was running an eRey/eHan netlist, and I was running a homebrewed mono-blue variation of eRey/eQui-Gon. Despite having a great netlist, he didn't yet know what made up a good opening hand, or what he should mulligan for, or how he should play the cards in his hand. I tired to go easy on him, but by turn two I had lined up a seven damage strike on his Han, and he became frustrated and forfeited. I do not think he is enjoying the game, but that's because he's in that muddling grey area between knowing how the game works, and knowing how to play the game well.

Once both you and your opponent know how to play well, the game becomes a real blast. It flows, it reveals its strategic depth, and it becomes a real pitched battle rather than a slaughter. I think you make a valid point, if your point is that the game does not grab certain individuals well enough to keep them playing until they know how to play well, but otherwise all I can suggest is that you encourage your buddies to hang in there.

I know nothing about this game. But the OP clearly didn't like the SW LCG either.

Let me put it this way: the SW LCG is one of the best card games I played ... ever. Fabulous game, so I can't trust anyone who doesn't see through a brilliant design.

at low level play, no.

the more I play, the higher level games I play, the more I play against decks controlling... no, there's so much strategy and so many choices and a huge press your luck element.

even bluffing, when it comes to resources and leaving certain die faces out.

we've only begun to tap into the depth of the game.

Yup, coming from Magic which has 25 years of deck theory to peruse, I see the deck building in SWD as undeveloped. Then thereĀ“s new thing of many tactical layers with the dice faces and resource management. The Jango/Veers "buy one thing a turn and toss the rest to re roll dice into damage sides" we have atm will develop.

It's getting a little boring for me. I think the number of decks, comboes and strategy is underdeveloped atm because of the limited card pool. I am at a point now, where I need very few cards, and those cards I was unlucky not to pull, like holocrons (for rares), Vade, force choke, for legendaries.

I have 5, 3 cost blaster, 5 infiltrate, 6 force protection and several other more than 2 offs ik the rare department. I have AT-ST, Black One and Millennium Falcon in legendaries and absolutely no chance of getting the cards I want, because no one wants to trade good cards for horrible cards. This is my main gripe. When there is such a limited card pool and you have no way of getting the stuff you need without paying robbery prices on the internet, it sucks the fun right out of the game.

For a buy in investment in Destiny, you can get Imperial Assault and the expansions you want for a list, or X-wing and the squad you want. Here, well here you get a lot of crap before getting the useable stuff.

Had a reply typed but this new format sucks and it wiped it before I signed in. It also seems to allow you to post as a guest now. Wow utter garbage the anonymous bs that will fling like monkey poo in this and the x wing forums. At least banned people will get to return in a mask then. Good god this was a stupid move. Hate the layout too. /end rant

On 1/23/2017 at 6:54 PM, gokubb said:

So, I jumped full into this game from the start. I have complete playable sets, have played a ton of games and had some fun doing it. A few days ago, some buddies came over and we played some old school Vs System. We had a blast playing a dead, old game. I was excited to show those friends Destiny. We built some good tourney worthy decks and started playing. During that play, we all unanimously felt underwhelmed. The game broke down to who can activate, fix and resolve before opponent can cancel dice. We didn't play a single game where a character didn't get defeated within the first two turns. We all left wondering, if this weren't Star Wars, would we ever play it again?

I've started to realize that I feel very much the same as I did about their LCG. I'm going to give this a tournament season and at least one more set to make a definitive yes/no. But, I can't help but thinking this game is more a product of the hype. I see a lot of people selling collections off. What do you all think? If this wasn't Star Wars, would we even give it a chance?

Pretty much sums up my feelings as well (although I generally like SW LCG). Maybe a bigger card pool will make Destiny more interesting, but for me it wasn't worth the investment to stick around and find out. That's not to say the game can't be fun. I certainly did have some fun actually playing it, but I didn't like it enough to justify the cost of the CCG model (partially for the reasons you mentioned). If it wasn't Star Wars I wouldn't have tried it at all. I sold my collection off last week. I need to stop checking this forum but it had worked itself into my morning ritual :)

For all the people complaining about the card pool size, you do realize 2 things:

1. The game has been out for 7 weeks approximately.

2. There is an expansion due out in Q2 17.

Now on that being said I think the balance in Awakenings is fantastic aside from 1-2 cards (Jango/Holocron).

Finally this is a collectible game. With that comes higher prices for money cards (Vader/Force Choke/Han). That's how things go. People routinely shell out $$$ for new magic decks every few months. This is no different.

2 hours ago, Spector1331 said:

For all the people complaining about the card pool size, you do realize 2 things:

You are right, but, not everyone has to like the game either.

"The game broke down to who can activate, fix and resolve before opponent can cancel dice."

I think many card games similar to this have this in common: as removal goes, so goes the game.

As far as is destiny good? Yea I think it's really good.

I like the game, the mechanics and what not. It plays fun and fast, and is simple to learn but engaging. I think it would work for other IPs as others have suggested.

That's the problem for myself. It feels too generic, I don't get a sense or feel of "Star Wars" like I did with Decipher's CCG.

Replace and rename some cards and we could be playing "Sesame Street-Follow That Bird", or something totally bland and generic. Unicorns, trolls, mermaids, Caesar, Wright Bros...etc. I feel I could insert anything into this game and it would work. That's the mark of a good game system, it works across a broad spectrum. But, at least for Destiny , it's flaw when it comes to capturing the flavor of what it tries to represent.

I like the game system, but for me, I think the representation of most IPs with this system would be emotionless.

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I find fun, escape and meeting people fun....So Yes

It's admittedly getting a bit hard to differentiate between FFG's various properties, considering how often they recycle the same art and game terms/mechanics. Destiny is fun, maybe even good, but all the recent rules confusion leaves me wary about how great it may or may not be in the long run.

I'm not usually into any sort of card or deck building games anymore (I'm an original Star Wars CCG fan) and I really didn't take to the LCG at all but I LOVE Destiny.

Even just playing the starter sets was FUN and now I've managed to get my hands on the gold dust that is Awakenings boosters I'm actually starting to enjoy building some decks and playing it properly.

I'm not interested in tournament level stuff but think the additional depth from the boosters plus the random element of the dice makes it good and have long term playability. I'm looking forward to seeing what Spirit Of Rebellion does to the gameplay.