December 2018 Changes Part 2: Stacking
We have recognized some difficulties in our implementation of the Stacking mechanic and stated rules. We’re making a few changes that should improve the usability of this mechanic and open up more design space for us. The rules we created initially for Stacking were highly restrictive in order to give us a safety net for any possible interactions between cards. What we’ve found is that we only need to balance the gain mechanism and the expenditures, and we have a lot more room for cooperation between patterns.
You will now gain stacks across various categories. Each category refers to one of our methods for gaining stacks. When spending stacks, you spend all of the category that is spent, but retain any stacks in other categories. You should only ever need to track categories related to patterns you have purchased, so there’s an opt-in on complexity here. Because these categories create standards across our stacking patterns, we have more flexibility when making cards reference the mechanic.
NEW STACK CATEGORIES:
[Brutal Stack] - An offensive stack gained by landing Hits.
[Finesse Stack] - A defensive stack gained by making Contact
[Focus Stack] - A stack gained by channeling and then making Contact.
[Precision Stack] - Stacks for gunslingers that provide a passive benefit, but lost if you miss.
[Setup Stack] - Stacks that are unique to their pattern and target. Usually involved in Exploit and other powerhouse effects.
Stacks now build on your character and can be transferred between enemies. Currently, many foes will die while you try to build stacks, and stacking patterns only matter against tough or armored foes. After these changes, you will have the option of building up stacks fighting minions and using those stacks against a hard target. One exception to this is the new [Setup] category associated with Exploit. We want Exploit to always require interaction with the target, so Setup is unique in that it does not transfer between targets.
If it hasn’t already been made clear yet, the changes we have announced and plan to announce in the weeks to come will make A LOT of current Codified patterns non-functional. We will be offering an exchange/refund for those affected by the new changes. Expect more details on this and the new Codified patterns in early November.
TL;DR Rules Changes
Previously: Stacks are gained on the target and do not transfer.
Now: Stacks are gained on the player and transfer unless specified.
Previously: Stacks are gained per-pattern and must be used by the same pattern.
Now: Stacks are gained in categories, and can be spent by any card referencing the category. Weapon requirements refer to requirements on the spending attack, so a stacking card that says “requires dagger” sets that requirement for the attack that spends the stacks.
Previously: All stacks are lost when any stacks are spent.
Now: Only stacks within the spent category are lost, other categories keep stacks.
Previously: All Stacks are lost when hit.
Now: No change.