At the beginning of this year, I submitted the below linked thread.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/624868/the-top-balance-changes-that-i-would-make-during-2023/p1

It's my intention, in this thread, to review the yearly happenings and touch up on my earlier suggestions.

-

_

My tips and tricks thread seems to have impacted change.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/626042/tales-of-tribute-tips-and-trick#latest

I reviewed some of the more technically complext mechanics of TOT within tip number 5 & 2, I reviewed needing to consider the "top left most" card selection process for ensuring that card destruction and card refresh cards function how the player wanted them to.

An undocumented changed to the game as noted in the below thread, is that cards would only be destroyed from the played cards pile and that refresh cards now would care about card selection order rather than top left most card in the pile.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/629610/a-seemingly-undocumented-change-and-my-thinking-about-it#latest

Although I was at first hesistant about these changes because they do technically remove some level of skill from the game, I'm now thinking that these changes were for the better. The required thinking to work through the mechanics was too tedious. Now the mechanics are better streamlined and accessible for all players. That is to say that the barrier for competitiveness was lowered, but not in a way that undermines high level play.

_

In the create a class thread from the end of last year, I noted a card stealing like mechanic that I thought would be fun (for me) to play with. It seems to have been picked up by the designers.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/comment/7755224/#Comment_7755224

My card number 4, a contract, is as close to the Almalexia Confine cards as the developers could likely get.

"Card 4: Remove a card in the opponents cool down pile from the game. Combo 2: Remove a card in the opponents cool down pile from the game"

-

I suggested a change to the card Pilfer as to make it more in line with the other card morphs. All card morphs cost the same amount to buy from the tavern.

Pilfer was changed and, honestly, this has been a good change from the perspective of not just consistency, as I pointed out, but also for balance.

-

A UI element now tracks the number of Patron presses one has left for the turn.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en-gb/discussion/626835/delmene-combo-killer-psa#latest

-

Although I have brought up these types of game problems a large number of times, I'll note this success as a community win.

Our collective will has been regarding how it's too easy to end up without good cards in the tavern so that players have a real back and forth. Likewise, it's too easy for players to get power cards in the early stages of the game that carry the game for them. The game designers explicilty responded to both of these concerns.

https://www.elderscrollsonline.com/en-us/news/post/64277

John: Ultimately, each deck players pick for a game of Tribute only contributes 1/5th of the total cards seen in game. Previously with the Druid King, we wanted to give players a consistent way to see more cards in the Tavern during a game. With Almalexia, we felt players needed more interaction with the cards their opponent purchased so they can tip the scales of randomness in their favor.

Druid and especially Almalexia have added positively, and to a large degree, to the TOT experience. So it does seem like the designers have some good ideas in response to feedback.

-

-

The below listed failures of the year may seem somewhat glib, but there isn't much more that can be said at this point that hasn't been said before.

-

Power cards... Yes, Almalexia has somewhat helped with the abuse of some strategies or individual cards. That said, trying to counter a game wide problem of power cards with a Patron effect that has a signifigant cost (not making a writ of coin) is not sufficient to curve the power of early game power cards.

A card that is too strong will warp games even if it doesn't warp all games.

Here is to looking at you Pounce and Profit and Grand Larceny. You are one of the designers stubborn points that obviously will never be corrected despite the toxic game patterns that you cause.

You know my suggestion...

Oh, and this applies to your Druid King idea too. It's awesome that you made a Patron that affects the Tavern. The Tavern still needs to be improved outside of this improvement that is offered by a single Patron and under costly conditions.

-

The Leaderboard... Really, what else needs to be said? The ranking system is one of the most unfun parts of TOT. Likewise, I am consistently waiting long ques to get a ranked match, play my heart out when I finally get matched, and usually only walk away with a measly 30 to 40 points. What gives?

My suggestion is that the matchmaking system is condensed. There should no longer be casual play as to encourage players coming together in competition, increasing their skills, and lowering que times. Likewise, there is a hidden que system that matches players who aren't Tales of Tribute Rank 8 against other players who aren't rank 8. Some of these players are pretty good and they should all be mixed into the same que pool as everyone else. TOT leaderboard rank alone should be the measure determining who plays who.

-

The new player experience... First and foremost, the game literally trains people, from the very first scripted TOT game, to use the Crow Patron. I shouldn't have to say why that is an abhorrent way of instructing brand new players. Many ill-advised players go on to smash the Crow button on their first turn. How this hasn't been seen, studied, and changed by the designers is a bad sign. Likewise, the Patrons themselves are not a great selection for new players. New players also unwittingly sacrifice the cards to Delmene. New players will rarely find the value of the Celarus or Pellin Patron buttons. New players will struggle to find the value of Celarus cards at all. New players will be inhibited by Fortify limiting their economy. New player games easily devolve into gaining power with Pellin cards which isn't such an elevated way of playing the game.

Really though, the new player experience could be much much better and actually help them learn how to play. Instead it stacks the deck agaisnt them.

-

Concede penalty... Since my main character has been in a bugged state since Whitestrakes Mayhem event, I've had to play TOT on other toons. It is extremely easy to set toons up to play TOT. It takes zero effort and they aren't affected by the concede penalty that was gained on another toon. Therefore, there really is no use to having the concede penalty. This is a sore point for a number of players and it's time to just get rid of it.

-

Game RNG seeding is broken to the point of statistical significance.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/638738/proven-rng-of-starting-position-is-broken#latest

-

Lack of communication... A number of changes to the game are going undocumented and that is so silly. Is the bug with Bewilderment cards breaking the patrons fixed? What about the bug with the Almalexia Patron button. The bugs seem to be fix and that would be a huge player feedback success, but who actually knows if the bugs were fixed because the designers don't include a whole slew of changes that they make in the game inside of the patch notes. @ZOS_GinaBruno , can you please work with the TOT team to ensure that they submit their changers? Also, what happened to the statistics of TOT post? That was a great post and we would all love to see more fun game statistics!

-

Upgrading cards feels bad and lowers your ability to compete. There is still no way to choose which morph of a card that you want to be used when selecting a deck. This simply needs to happen. Issue better documented below. Seriously, I feel as though my account is ruined because I wanted to complete achievements by collecting card morphs. Big mistake!

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/634946/on-not-punishing-progression-and-advancing-diversity-of-options#latest

-

There are still game effects that can't be cancelled regarding Agent knockouts.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/632404/why-cant-we-skip-knock-enemy-agent-mechanic#latest

-

Scrying is still clunky and takes too much technical foresight!

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/630619/please-allow-us-to-look-in-our-draw-while#latest

-

Delemene is still poorly worded.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/629938/lets-see-if-the-designers-are-paying-attention#latest

-

Power generating starter cards are still incredibly unfun to draw and still incredibly advantageous to get rid of. Players feeling like they should get rid of unique starter cards that assist in combos is simply poor design.

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/625285/lets-talk-about-war-song#latest

-

Sorcerer-King Orgnum is the worst piece of design in the game and the designers have been set on making it even worse.

As shown in this thread, when players show their opinion about the Sorcerer-King, it's that the patron sucks!

https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/637533/2023-edition-what-s-your-favorite-deck-and-why#latest

And yet, the designers both buffed Snakeskin Freebooter for the first player, you know, the player who wins an inordinate number of games based on their starting position alone and especially in Sorcerer-King based games!

Why on earth would you do that? And why was the other 5 cost Agent also buffed? Rider and Wavecaller were already strong first picks and you buff them. Seriously! You are going to make me write something that gets me banned from the forums!

Sorcerer-King Orgnum is a giant mistake. Fix your mistake! If you aren't willing to do a complete overhaul of that patron, then absolutely nerf the cost of every single card.

-

General changes to lower card power.

#10 - Eldertide Fenwitch/Draoife Ritecaller - From "when any card, including this one" - To: "when a card, excluding this one."
#9 - Siege Weapon Volley - From 4 power Combo 2 1 gold - To: 3 Power Combo 2 2 gold.
#8 - Warrior Wave - From: 3 gold or 3 power - To: 2 gold or 2 power.
#7 - Envoy of the Draoife - From: 3 health 1 power - To: 2 health 2 power.
#6 - Toll of Flesh & Toll of Silver - From: 4 cost - To: 5 cost.
#5 - Forest Wraith - From: 4 cost - To: 5 cost.
#4 - Briarheart Ritual - From 5 Cost - To: 6 cost.
#3 - Prophesy/Prescience - From: 3 gold - To: 2 gold.
#2 - Luxury Exports - From: 2 cost - To: 4 Cost.
#1 - Pounce and Profit/Grand Larceny - From: 5 cost and 4 gold - To: 6 cost and 2 gold and Combo 2 2 gold. (knockout effect retained)

Sorcerer-King Orgnum changes

#5 - Sea Serpent Colossus & Ghostscale Sea Serpent - From: 2 cost and Combo 2 power generation - To: 3 cost and Combo 3 power generation.
#4 - Serpentguard Rider & Storm Shark Wavecaller - From: 5 cost - To: 6 cost.
#3 - King Orgnum's Command - From: 2 cost - To: 3 cost.
#2 - Snakeskin Freebooter - From 5 cost 3 health - To: 6 cost 2 health.
#1 - Maomer Cutter & Sea Raider's Glory - From: 2 cost - To: 4 cost.

These changes to Sorcer-King Orgnum would go a long way to evening the balance between 1st and 2nd player as well as make the deck a more thoughtful deck to use in overall strategy.

Other Notes:

Base Deck Changes for streamlining play.
Red Eagle, King of the Reach: War Song - From: 1 power - To: 1 gold
Saint Pelin: Fortify - From: 1 power - To: 1 gold

All starter cards to have an on theme "combo 3" effect.

Card Morph Change for streamlining play.
Duke of Crows: Squawking Oratory - From 6 cost - To: 7 cost.

Note: The card currently is too similar to Pilfer and Plunder. Currently either Squawking Oratory or Plunder could be a morph of Pilfer!

Patron Change for streamlining play.
Rajhin, the Purring Liar: Patron Use - From: 3 cost - To: 4 cost.

Tavern Card Rework for streamlining play.
Tavern card offerings - From: 5 cards - To: 6 cards.

Balance: Watch List

Hel Shira Herald
Hira's End
March on Hattu
Murder of Crows
Scratch
Currency Exchange
Oathman
Hireling
Dreaming Cave
Time Mastery
Prowling Shadow
Stonelore Rockseer

-

Thank you for reading and, yes, I'm still a free "Agent." A Contract Agent nonetheless!