I started when there were just the original 4 decks and it took me awhile before I started to understand it. Now there are 12 decks and I still don't have a good understanding of some of them. So I'd say to get to know the decks first.

For some context you need to disregard everything the first commenter said because they spent the first few weeks of ToT release whining on the forums about losing (and being bad at addition up to 40 and simple probability) and then claiming they had figured out the entire game after a month and finally tried to ignore better players in-game so they wouldn't be matched against them. Did well enough to earn all the furnishings is the equivalent of having a basic driver's license and claiming to be racetrack ready.

To partially answer your question, every server has a small group of a few hundred very committed players. Unfortunately at that top level there are some mild seeding/RNG issues with cards (personofsecrets has a few posts in the ToT subsection if you care) that end up giving an advantage to one side (usually the first player). Up until you get high into the leaderboards though, most people are quite terrible at the game (much like any aspect of ESO to be honest) and you can easily overcome any mild RNG disadvantage.

Things that have been claimed about my past posts are incorrect. The fact is that I played a lot of ToT after it's release, quit for a couple of years then came back a few months ago and play a casual game or 2 most days now. So my feedback is relevant and not to be disregarded.

Learning the decks is the most important thing to do first.

Lokiator wrote: »

ToT is a very fun game, but it has one major flaw. For players of approximately equal skill with equal RNG on their decks, the player who goes first has a MASSIVE advantage.

I would add to that that for players of equal skill the match is decided in the first 3 rounds, which is entirely RNG based on what cards are available to whom.

ToT has the same RNG as a game of poker, but without the ability to bluff. At matching skill levels it is all RNG. Even novice NPCs can win against a skilled and experienced player simply because of the RNG.

MRAW wrote: »

Gabriel_H wrote: »

At matching skill levels it is all RNG.

Well yes, by definition.
But there are no matching skill levels in two humans. Otherwise there would not be chess championships.

Any miniscule difference in skill is far eclipsed by the RNG. Chess as a set board that both players can see at all times. There are no random pieces that suddenly pop into play.

I like it in general.

But it is too unbalanced and RNG in my opinion. Sometimes the person who can buy the first card wins.

I relly don't understand what's the logic behind picking the patreon and card first. And it takes too long for one round.

MRAW wrote: »

Gabriel_H wrote: »

MRAW wrote: »

Gabriel_H wrote: »

At matching skill levels it is all RNG.

Well yes, by definition.
But there are no matching skill levels in two humans. Otherwise there would not be chess championships.

Any miniscule difference in skill is far eclipsed by the RNG. Chess as a set board that both players can see at all times. There are no random pieces that suddenly pop into play.

Not logical. RNG will grant equal players 50% winrate, if you play enough games.

I didn’t compare chess with TOT, but as a proof there are not equal skills in human beings.

Ironically, the often top rank player NA increased their win rate against me, by what my records show is now 50%, after the design team released the clown fiesta RNG effects of Mora and and Alessia.

This is what happens when game designers adopt the idea that RNG is skill too. This is what happens when design would rather have quickly finished games rather than longer ones with more important player choices.