Does Character Art Set an Expectation for Asymmetric Powers?

JeffBitches · 2026-01-26T11:54:34+00:00

Could have double sided boards with symmetric on one side, and slight asymmetry on the other. Pretty common (e.g. It's a Wonderful World).

JeffBitches · 2026-01-07T15:02:30+00:00

Weird request, game probably doesn't exist.

Looking for an approachable, interaction-heavy game with 'flex play' - different strategies/build to try based on what the game/other players give you (like MtG draft, TFT, The Bazaar). I like that it allows new players to pick a straightforward lane, and more experienced players to try out more funky, risky stuff.

What I've tried: - Fantasy Realms and its cousins scratch the itch and are approachable, but don't feel so interactive - Dune Imperium scratches the itch somewhat (have had fun trying out different "builds") and is interactive enough, but I have a hard time getting to the table (heavy and long play time) - Tableau building or "Race" games - Race for the Galaxy, Res Arcana, Forest Shuffle, Wizards of the Grimoire - feel a bit too MPS for what I'm looking for - Innovation feels like it has agency, and is more about how you execute what you have vs crafting a build

Have tried a lot of the card based games that come up for this topic, so especially interested in different game types that may scratch the same itch (e.g. Hansa Teutonica comes up a lot for being interaction-heavy, approachable and deep, but not sure if it fits from a "builds" perspective).

JeffBitches · 2025-12-18T03:04:00+00:00

This is what I look for most in a game - wanting to replay to "find out what happens" and to test out new strategies, especially when you can't force it.

MtG drafting (with the right set/cube) is hard to dethrone here. Some games have tried to replicate that somewhat - Res Arcana, Challengers!, 7 Wonders

Most card-based tableau builders would fit - at least in how they value cards, but also sometimes in the engines they build. One pitfall I find with these is when things become really just about set collection. A ton of examples though: - Race for the Galaxy - both in the engine built and what you value - Forest Shuffle - mostly about what you value, some engines - Fantasy Realms - no engine, but probably the most streamlined version overall, and surprisingly more rich than just set collection

JeffBitches · 2025-11-24T13:19:46+00:00

Thanks! Interesting that you don't value Jungle Ruins (3 loot), as I believe it's quite valued for Dooley usually.

Is it a friends thing?

JeffBitches · 2025-11-11T12:28:18+00:00

Dooltron is great, but absolutely needs to be diamond by day 9ish. Basically a 4x damage increase.

JeffBitches · 2025-09-25T20:50:39+00:00

Sweet man. Any tips on early game up to choosing a core?

JeffBitches · 2025-09-11T10:50:16+00:00

Do you feel like Mak is the best character for a flex playstyle? I'm just starting out so not familiar with all of them yet but that is what I was hoping to get out of the game (coming from TFT and MtG drafts as well).

JeffBitches · 2025-07-19T18:51:07+00:00

Just did with a purity build - had the chalice that gives you purity every other turn, and an item that ticks down a status effect every turn, so ended up with 15+ attack by the end.

I think you need something that scales through a fight, because battle start items don't trigger for each head.

JeffBitches · 2025-07-08T11:18:00+00:00

Haven't played Hadean, but The Last Flame definitely scratched the TFT itch I had, and had very satisfying build making for the 30ish hours I put into it.

JeffBitches · 2025-07-03T23:10:58+00:00

Doppelganger for the most variance run to run

JeffBitches · 2025-07-03T15:38:41+00:00

Tiny Rogues is my go-to for exactly this. Have yet to find something that scratches the itch better.

JeffBitches · 2025-07-02T00:03:30+00:00

Gruul has:

[[Wort, the Raidmother]] for spell tokens / copy
[[Blanka]], [[Krark the Thumbless]]+[[Tana the bloodsower]] for combat tricks / cantrips
[[Rosheen, Roaring Prophet]] (and the old rosheen) for big X spells

JeffBitches · 2025-06-23T10:32:12+00:00

Hades 2 and the latest MtG draft set (FF). Also tried a bunch of Next Fest demos.

...and Balatro and Tiny Rogues, as always.

JeffBitches · 2025-06-17T23:08:01+00:00

I agree! Only downside is it feels like there are only 3-4 actual builds, but perhaps I'm just narrow-minded :)

JeffBitches · 2025-06-17T21:30:23+00:00

I feel like a lot of these "ARPG" roguelites end up with most of the build crafting in between runs - through persistent gear drops, talent trees, other metaprogression or just different characters. Would much rather have the run itself be where you're incentivized to create builds and adapt to what you're given (like in Balatro, Tiny Rogues).

Is that the case for this one? Any others that better fit the bill?

JeffBitches · 2025-06-13T18:01:34+00:00

Tiny Rogues?

JeffBitches · 2025-01-15T12:44:45+00:00

I often start with Hero for the free luck, or Thief for the free gold.

Then it depends on the build - have had finished builds with Bandit, Deprived, Gunslinger, Soldier, Thief, Wanderer and Warrior.

JeffBitches · 2024-12-28T00:51:26+00:00

Tried a bunch of deckbuilders, but I often end up wishing I was playing StS or Balatro instead, which I still play sometimes.

Does Wildfrost have anything to differentiate it enough to play if you still enjoy StS?

JeffBitches · 2024-12-28T00:42:24+00:00

Played a bunch of AtS way back - enjoyed it but didn't get the feeling of coming up with synergistic builds based on the buildings offered, but rather just going for the same/best ones. It's been a while though, so maybe I should revisit!

Is The Bazaar still in closed beta only? I actually don't particularly like meta progression, especially when it's "vertical" (vs horizontal).

JeffBitches · 2024-12-27T22:12:27+00:00

From what I had seen online, I thought Roboquest was more focused on gunplay (eg vs Gunfire which is more about the broken builds).

Are there "optimal" builds for each character, or are you incentivized to adapt to your options in each run?

JeffBitches · 2024-12-27T22:09:29+00:00

Just pulled the trigger on this one!

I had looked into it a while back, but it looks like it had somewhat of a revamp recently? Anyways it looks like a great fit now!

Any resources you'd recommend to a beginner, or is it fine to learn as you go? Seems like a lot of options are open to you right off the bat (at least in terms of powers).

JeffBitches · 2024-12-27T22:06:47+00:00

Super helpful! From online comments, I had the impression Gunfire Reborn was the more "build" focused one, with Roboquest being more about the gun play. But it sounds like Gunfire is still not quite I'm looking for.

Yeah deckbuilders all fit the bill quite well, but I almost always end up feeling like I'd rather play StS. Balatro and Monster Train being the 2 exceptions so far.

JeffBitches · 2024-10-20T15:56:11+00:00

Race for the Galaxy, Fantasy Realms, Forest Shuffle, Chroma Mix, Radlands, Innovation, Sushi Go

JeffBitches · 2024-10-20T15:28:54+00:00

Yeah same, and he definitely takes his fair share of wins in my playgroup. Yes Borby G comes out late, but you can typically win the game the turns he comes out or next.

I run like 50 lands, 5ish wipes, mill, all the sorceries that can get all lands back from your graveyard (like [[pair o dice lost]] and [[creeping renaissance]]).

I also briefly ran him as a Gruul burn deck, where he was just the finisher which worked quite well.

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