New Update, Who Dis?
We highlight some of the main changes to the Synergy of Serra prototype following the v1.11.1 patch update.
On Friday, 19 May, we previewed some big changes to the Synergy of Serra prototype game client, which is now playable to anyone with access.
This article will overview some of the changes we’ve implemented.
We’d like to send a big thank you to all the community input on the changes so far. You’ve been a massive help in identifying rough edges that need to be smoothed. If you keep it coming, we’ll keep improving.
Important note: there will likely be many tweaks to the game over the coming weeks as we refine this big update. This will also include changes to card effects and Units as we balance the game for playability.
Proto Alpha v1.11.1
We have made some significant changes to the game with the aim of simplifying and speeding up the gameplay. The game is now more intuitive to play for beginners, and with smoother interactions, it is quicker to play.
The other revamp has been in the game's presentation to improve players’ all-around experience.
We’re super excited to see what you think of the update and how all these changes will evolve and further improve over time.
Please leave us your feedback in our Discord server, and if you don’t have access to play the game, follow our socials for news on how to join us.
Gameplay
Pacing
As we have simplified the mechanics overall, we have been able to further quicken play by lowering the turn timer in ranked games from 120 seconds to 90 seconds. Lobby matches without turn timers still exist for people to play at a slower pace if they wish.
In addition, Attachments are now played on the board rather than in hand. The area of effect on the Unit is also larger to make it easier. Simply drop the Attachment on any Unit with an available slot. This is instead of needing to highlight and drop it in the small hexagonal slot to attach it.
Faction Points
Faction Points have changed. They are now only accumulated through card effects, and they are spendable. To Enhance a Unit, players must spend the amount of Faction Points equivalent to a Unit’s Enhance value. This will then subtract that amount of Faction Points from your total for that Faction. Once a Unit has been Enhanced, it will remain Enhanced for the rest of the game.
In this way, players accumulate Faction Points by playing cards, but then they can use those Faction Points to Enhance a Unit before continuing to play more cards to collect more Faction Points.
Resources
Previously, players needed Energy to play cards, limiting what you could play from your hand. The resource system has changed, and Energy has been removed from the game. This means the only limit to playing cards is your skill and imagination.
At the same time, Credits have been rolled into a new system of acquiring cards to build your deck. Players can now buy three cards per turn for free, but they can also buy more through card effects if they have those cards available to use.
The River & Speed
You build your deck by acquiring cards from The River. However, not all cards show at once. Cards available to the players are now decided by their Speed value, as opposed to their Credit cost previously.
If you do not like what you see in The River, you can trade a buy for a refresh to hopefully get a card you want to add to your deck.
Strategy Terminal
The Strategy Terminal is a completely new feature that allows players to assess the full contents of The River at any time. This allows players to plan their deck as the game unfolds. Cards selected in the Terminal will be highlighted in The River, making them easier to see and, therefore, quicker to pick up. As Remodel has been removed from the game, any time spent planning could be important for building a coherent deck.
Visual
The client menus have had a refresh that will instantly be noticeable if you are a returning player. There have been many other small but useful changes that will improve players’ experiences.
In-game tooltips are now attached to the card when you hover your cursor over the card. The pop-up tooltip will display different information depending on its location.
Similarly, the card effect language and display have been overhauled. The triggers and keywords now use colored tags, and triggers use more descriptive language to signal their intent; for example, Attack is now When Attacking.
With so many changes, the game guide has been updated with the new rules and mechanisms. Importantly, all text is selectable so that it can be translated into players' native languages should they wish to.
Get playing
There are more changes besides, and there will be more changes to come. As is often the case, the best way to learn is by playing, and regardless of tweaks and adjustments, the more you play, the better you will get.
The client is ready to update and play whenever you are. We look forward to seeing you there!
If you don’t have access to play, keep an eye on our socials for access key giveaways and raffles.
Who are we?
Our vision at Calystral is to unleash the potential of gamers. We are focusing on building games where the time and effort put in is rewarded with real value. Enhancing the players’ experience and empowering gamers to achieve more. In the process, we strive to overcome the technical limitations of Blockchain Technology and use its benefits to lift games to the next level. We would love to share these solutions with the community and other developers. Towards a better future of Gaming!
________________________________________
Join our journey:
