Manalink Update 7/31: Challenge Mode + Launcher

[whelp]

how many duels i have to win to complete the onslaught challenge? and does it finally unlock the welder?

[jatill]

No idea, I'm still stuck on the 1st challenge

[somacat]

Onslaught is supposed to be 10 rounds; I'm not sure if you are having the same problem as me, whelp, but I just finished the 10 rounds of Onslaught, only to have the gauntlet continue without the unlocked card vs. a normal deck.

This may be a bug, as I know jatill only added the 10th round of Onslaught right before testing. Which would suck because there's only one more challenge to beat after that (although that one might take a while, the last boss is *insane*!)

[hiddicop]

Jatill, I'm using the challange feature, and I'm enjoying it very much!

I have not beaten the first challange yet though. I usually reach the sixth or seventh battle or so, but eventually I always end up with a horrible hand, even after one or even two mulligan, and before I really get a chance to do anything the situation is out of hand. I have reached the 9th battle, but I can not seem to win there.

A suggestion for future improvements of the challange mode would be to have fewer battles. You inevitably will end up with a bad hand when playing 10 consecutive battles, and having to replay six or seven of them time after time becomes rather annoying. I would prefer having perhaps 5 battles per challange. It could still be made very difficult, but less frustrating.


Edit: Or is it a bug that I can not save (or rather, I can not load) while playing in challange mode?

[jatill]

A suggestion for future improvements of the challange mode would be to have fewer battles. You inevitably will end up with a bad hand when playing 10 consecutive battles, and having to replay six or seven of them time after time becomes rather annoying. I would prefer having perhaps 5 battles per challange. It could still be made very difficult, but less frustrating.


Edit: Or is it a bug that I can not save (or rather, I can not load) while playing in challange mode?

The challenge was intentionally made to be as difficult as possible. (So yes, I did make saving not work on purpose.) It's tough, and can be frustrating, but it's also a great accomplishment when you win a round. Later today I'll be updating the "prize" structure to really increase the incentive for undertaking such tough challenges. Stay tuned.

The only thing I'm unhappy with is when the game crashes and spoils your run. Nothing I can do about that, unfortunately.

[jos]

I'm also enjoying the challenge mode very much, though I've only reached the 6th battle.

A normal save system would indeed make it too easy, but using a nethack-style save system might not be a bad idea. For example, during challenge mode you can not save, only save+quit (although the game could auto-save without quiting when you win a game). You can then load a challenge mode save-file at a later time, but when you lose/concede/quit the save-file is deleted. This means that you still have to beat the challenge in 1 'logical' sitting (1st -> 10th battle), but you no longer have to do it in 1 'physical' sitting (so you can save after the 5th battle, and then continue tomorrow). It would also mean that after a crash you would only have to redo that battle.
Note : just like in nethack, players could cheat by copying the save files and then putting them back after they died...
Of course such a save-system is not a very important feature, as most decks will usually either win relatively fast or lose relatively fast so the fact that you have to win in 1 physical sitting is normally not very relevant.

Another possible 'improvement' might be to play '2 out of 3'. This would reduce the effect of luck (either for the AI or for the human player), but of course all matches would take at least twice as long

[Wally]

I'm curious if people are using and are successful at this feature.
If you are using the challenge mode, please let me know in the forum. Also mention which level you've managed to get to. Thanks.

Playing it a lot and finding it a challenge indeed. Haven't completed it yet, have got as far as the soldier deck (the 9th level) this is over maybe a dozen total attempts at the challenge. I also think it would be better overall if it was a little bit shorter as its easy to have a bad match over the course of a challenge this long and then need to repeat the lot. Am keen for another crack at the soldier deck but lot of effort needed to get back there.

Been playing it with a UB deck with either Tendrils or Inkwell as my kill condition.

[jatill]

For anyone having trouble with challenge mode 1, keep in mind that there is a single card that completely shuts down 7 of the 10 decks. As SomaCat noticed while testing, it's all about building the right deck for the challenge.

[whelp]

For anyone having trouble with challenge mode 1, keep in mind that there is a single card that completely shuts down 7 of the 10 decks. As SomaCat noticed while testing, it's all about building the right deck for the challenge.

Actually its only 6 of 10, 4 decks can still kill u (even without help of the challenge effect)...

Finally i got the welder! its time for 7/10 split

Bring in more good cards, but this time without the challenge please...

[somacat]

Wow, I can't believe someone unlocked the Welder, congratulations! I'm still stuck on the final boss of the 5th challenge - I have no idea how to beat it, except by being ridiculously lucky. Good thing for you, more challenges are on the way

[jatill]

Challenge Update:
http://www.savefile.com/files/1997761

First of all, I added a 6th challenge level, for those of you who are insane/talented enough to complete the first 5.

Also, instead of getting a measly 1 card prize per challenge, you now get 1 card for each challenge level you are on, for a total of 21 cards!

Mathusalem-
Please add art for Smokestack, Serrated Arrows, and Coalition Victory

[reng0r0]

Oh man, this mode has me totally hooked.

Although, just last night I realized I had the gauntlet set for best of 3. In that mode, the first deck is correct, but then manalink puts you against a random deck for the second match. I was playing twice as many games to try to get through the challenge.

I still have yet to beat the first challenge, but I have an idea I'll try tonight to get me through.

Thanks goes to those who made this release possible.

[somacat]

Well, you have been busy - nice collection of new cards. Hope it doesn't mean I have to start from challenge 1 again tho!

[jatill]

Well, you have been busy - nice collection of new cards. Hope it doesn't mean I have to start from challenge 1 again tho!

Nope, if you already beat a challenge, the cards are already unlocked.
And I forgot to mention:

Bug Fixes:
-Kraken's Eye cycle do not have colorless flag
-AI can now use Figure of Destiny
-AI can now use Cloudgoat Ranger
-Update Cemetery Reaper text

[MalkolmX]

Jatil do you mind saying which cards can be obtained via Challenger Mode?