In the ever-changing world of Flesh and blood collectible card game, where warriors and technologists fight for supremacy, the next expansion, Sparkling light, introduces a new version of equipment cards. This will completely change the way players build decks around new and returning Mechanologist heroes.
In his heart, Flesh and blood is a turn-based strategy game that pits unique sci-fi and fantasy heroes against each other in brutal combat. A bit like Magic: The Gathering Meet him Pokémon Trading Card Gameplayers start each game of Flesh and blood with their only chosen hero in play and use a variety of weapons, equipment, and attack cards to trade blows until a hero’s health total is reduced to zero.
The gear they wear on their legs, chest, head, and arms is central to each hero’s identity and playstyle. Equipment cards are essentially the hero’s armor and protect the hero from opposing attacks or provide additional benefits that can synergize with a given hero’s playstyle or card pool.
Unlike traditional equipment cards that all hero classes have access to from the start of a game, the new Sparkling light The expansion introduces an Evo gear cycle specifically for Mechanologist heroes who are pretty mixed up in players’ decks. Players must then draw the cards in order to play them to benefit from the powerful new effects that these equipment cards introduce.
“As game designers, I think our main job is to provide fans with a compelling puzzle, with game pieces that inspire them to want to build different decks, try new strategies, and have fun exploring new games. new ways to play,” wrote creator James White. in an email. He is also CEO of the game’s publisher, Legend Story Studios, based in New Zealand.
“’Bright Lights’ is the first time we’ve taken our fans to Metrix, the City of Wonders,” he continued, “so we had to deliver an experience that was true to the siren call of Metrix; the future of Rathe is reinvented daily in the Metrix research centers, that everything is possible, that you can Become more than human!. Learning how to build badass mechanical Evo suits to become more than just humans captures this vibe.
Among the design objectives of Sparkling light, expansion FABThe Mechanologist archetype with new heroes and equipment is central to the theme of the set. The heart of Sparkling light lies in transforming underpowered base equipment into cutting-edge Evo upgrades.
There are several different options for base equipment that players can use for their heroes’ heads, chests, arms, and legs. But these equipment cards do nothing on their own and in some cases feature the “Blade Break” keyword which destroys equipment when used to defend against an opponent’s attack. Otherwise, players begin the game with these basic pieces in play like any other traditional equipment card.
The new Evo cards introduced in Sparkling light are designed to enhance and improve the abilities of base pieces, but they are shuffled into the player’s deck, meaning the Mechanist deck has to draw and play them, adding a little extra variance to the gameplay.
When a player draws Evo equipment, they can transform the base piece by placing it under the Evo. Depending on the equipment used, the transformation may require an action point, but this is not always the case. Regardless, transformed core gear falls under the new map, which will be a benefit for some Evos who care about what’s in them.
What’s particularly impressive about this cycle of cards is that they negate any damage that previous equipment might have accumulated throughout the game. So if, for example, a Mechanologist wearing basic equipment is hit by enemy attacks such as Drill Shot or Buckling Blow, which place damage counters on the equipment, those damage counters are removed when the equipment is upgraded to new Evo part.
However, these Evo gear cards force players to accept a short-term compromise, as the base gear required to play Evo upgrades is quite low and has no effect other than supporting the subsequent upgrades. But this initial sacrifice has a potential benefit as the game progresses, and Evo upgrades for the head, arms, chest, and/or legs are drawn and transformed.
“Typically, you play an entire game of Flesh and Blood with the (four pieces) of gear you start the game with, so giving fans the opportunity to transform and evolve their gear setup throughout the game with Evos is a really compelling proposition,” says Blanc. “The design challenge was simply making sure we provided enough rewards for the effort required to build your Evo Suit, compared to just playing with normal gear.”
In other words, almost every other piece of gear players will be able to use early in the game will be more powerful than the base gear required to use the new Evo gear. But according to White, the set introduces 29 new Evo equipment, which will hopefully add enough options to provide fun and powerful strategies that make this deckbuilding restriction worth it.
Among the most impressive new Evo gear is the Evo Atom Breaker, a chest piece that generates two additional resources every time a player boosts. In a game where resources are typically generated by discarding cards from hand, the Evo Atom Breaker provides a powerful source of alternative resources. It does not block like other equipment, but allows players to destroy previously played item cards and convert them into two additional resources.
Meanwhile, the Evo Mach Breaker leg gear generates Quicken Tokens when you boost. Quicken tokens are used to allow players’ attacks to “restart”, meaning they generate additional action points for playing more cards per turn.
While generating these Quicken tokens may initially seem redundant with the boost ability also allowing a restart, it could complement Mech Gun strategies in particular, providing an alternative source of feedback without relying on previously used item cards. to fulfill this role.
The Evo Circuit Breaker headgear introduces a rare ability by allowing players to shuffle banished zone attack cards into the deck. This mitigates the weakness of the boost plan, which inherently places cards from the player’s deck in the banished zone. By shuffling two attack action cards into the Mechanist deck, the Evo Breaker helps ensure that more aggressive strategies can apply pressure for longer without running out of cards.
Image: Legend Story Studios
Finally, the Evo Face Breaker weapon equip is perhaps the simplest in the cycle, as it makes attack cards a bit stronger. It’s not immediately clear whether this fits the existing Mechanologist’s playstyle, as it doesn’t support the popular gun strategy that Mechanologists currently play, but the Face Breaker could prove more appealing as Future attack cards will be introduced.
As Flesh and blood players looking to utilize the new gear cycle, they will also have a brand new Mech hero designed to support the maps of Sparkling light.
“The Evo Breaker gear is primarily designed like the Maxx Nitro Suit, although it can be played by any Mech Hero,” White said. “Maxx’s hero ability is able to create Hyper Driver tokens (he’s a balls-to-wall type of guy), so naturally he’s able to increase the power level of Breaker equipment better than others .”
Players will get their first chance to play with Sparkling light during pre-release events between September 29 and October 2, followed by the set’s worldwide release on October 6.