Trading Card Ideas
 

In December 2007 we have released the first trading cards on Graal. By collecting a full card set you can activate effects like stealth, dwarf, giant and aura which work on any server.
The cards were quite successful :) This summer we want to release new cards which replace the current cards and introduce fresh new ideas to Graal. If you have nice ideas or suggestions then please post them in this thread.

Possible additions imaginable for the trading cards:
- server-specific cards which give items only on one server, imagine things like more HP on Zone, a special weapon on Zodiac, a pet following you on Classic
- more and nicer effects that work on any server
- limited time of use or limited number of use to make them more valuable

You could do server-orientated packs of cards. Like buy 8 cards for Zodiac. Cards might include rare weapons, novelty items, stat boosts, temporary effects (like a godmode card that makes you invincible for 15 seconds to NPCs).

If you do packs, don't have a pack with cards for multiple servers as this would not appeal to many people. Keep them server specific.

Only bad thing is that this won't work for every server. For instance, Packs wouldn't work on N-Pulse because there isn't much to get there.

Could also get cards which unlock global games you could play as well as things like a sneak-peak at graal 3d for 5 minutes card.

I think this might be a good idea, but the effect on gameplay should be limited, for example no stealth or hiding cards should be out.

Paying for advantages is a bad idea.. I never did like the concept or execution of these trading cards though.

Agreed.

When you pay for items etc., they should only have visual effects, and nothing that can give you unfair advantages over other players (read: stealth).

So people pay for subscriptions, for access to the game, and then other people can pay for benefits? Visual or not, I don't think that's exactly fair.

If we're going to be paying for access to the game, then everyone should have the same access to benefits.

This kind of system works for free games... well, because they're free. Everyone gets free access, but people have the chance to pay for benefits if they so choose. That's fine, because if someone is playing a game for free, they really don't have much room to complain... That doesn't work here, though, because we are paying for a game.

Either subscriptions and no benefits, or free access and benefits... but I don't think it's fair to mix the two.

Ideas for new cards? Let this one thing be number one:
Do NOT add any cards that change the player size or alpha.

Alright, now the actual ideas:
Why always make them serversidish? Make a card that change the tile layer alpha so you get that motion blur effect. I saw people on Era really enjoying that one.
Next cards should have some effects again. But please, not so much pink..

Maybe more later, having my uncreative time :noob:


Edit: Also, yea, basically cards should give no real advantages like some of the old ones did.

We can try to make the stealth mode be less strong on ice/snow levels may be, although it's not simple. I don't think changing the size slightly is a problem, currently its only make the player around 25% taller or smaller (and is not changing the collision behaviour).
The tiles motion blur things can be interesting, although the effects are more interesting if you can impress other people with them :D I remember that there was some interesting effect on some playerworlds where you are seeing player motion blur (transparent copy of yourself displayed behind you).

One that causes a lightning effect to surround the user? It would look cool and awake our DBZ childhoods hehe.

http://www.saiyanultimate.com/ssj2gohan.gif

Not talking about the golden stuff surrounding him, but the small bit of lightning that comes up. Notice how it has such random shapes and is very sudden.

Hmm, isn't there a shield which is like that?

It sucks, though. Having it scripted by a real NAT and using effects could only make it so much nicer.

It is a problem, don't you listen to us? We've been saying this since the beginning.


Ideas:

Option to disable cards (e.g. player.cardsdisabled) so that in events where part of the key is stealth, the players color is not changed, etc.

Only change the looks; no advantages.

Don't change the alpha or size.

See attachment. The level is Unholy Nation's main (and only populated) spar arena.

This cards stuff is a terrible idea.

I would rather pay more for subscriptions than being annoyed by these goodie cards...
Its very cool, too, that CJ obviously does not care that they might disturb gameplay on playerworlds, they just care about the profit with the cards.

Sorry, that is not the trading card. There are several servers which have their own items for zooming, don't blame it on us :rolleyes:

I often see a lot of people using those card effects so they appearently like them a lot :D Of course they could be even better if we work together to make some interesting use for them.

Sorry, but if you actually played the game you might see how much these cards are detested by the players. Try hosting a fair event when people are shrinking, and using their cards as an advantage over players who pay, but not for these crappy extras.

How can the shrinking to 75% of your original size be a big advantage? x-x It's not changing any game play. Also if you think that effect is bad then try to give some suggestions for more interesting effects that are fitting to your particular event

Flying technology cards

Era doesn't have anything else which zooms regular players, so I'm blaming the most annoying bug on you, because the zoom cards are causing it, and I'm sure of that. When somebody around you is using a zoom card (not you yourself), sometimes objects around you just disappear, even showimg objects on the 4th layer or higher. Why? Because the viewport of the person using the zoom card is zoomed too, and sometimes applied to yourself, but still going with the zoomed person of course. It's hard to explain, but it's the cards, several people are 100% sure of that.

They give you a huge advantage in zone events like hide and seek because they can open an avenue of hiding places that you wouldn't have otherwise.

The viewport is not zoomed, just the player.

It's hard to explain, but once you've seen it, you will probably agree with me. I suppose Graal saves memory by really only drawing what you should see, so it cuts off graphics that are out of the viewable range, and exactly that part is zoomed when a player uses such a card and sometimes causes Graal to flicker between these two and have things cut off that you should see.

Show me, I'm on Era now.

Either way, I don't think you should mess with the look of players. I see there being clashes with this stuff and servers. What if a server wants to have players be invisible via a script? Then the alpha card goes and makes them visible? Same applies with messing with their size.

Yeah just checked, if it happens it doens't happen all the time. Intermittent bugs suck.

Can't show you since I don't have any cards, but I guess you saw already?

I think you should ask some players who spar what they think on that, but I know most would agree with me. 75 percent is still quite small of a size, and you are placed at a disadvantage when sparring someone like that, because you lose your idea of range. Server specific cards will be a hard task, and personally I can't see how it'd be done, and as the servers are supposed to be diverse from each other, I can't see how the effects are going to fit in everywhere. I don't see how my post was nonconstructive either, but maybe you negative rep any player that doesn't like your ideas?

They're annoying and distracting, so yea it kind of is changing gameplay.

Simple solution: Disable the effects of cards in spars and events. I think that's what a lot of us want.

What about cards that give you a special hat/sword but they're just for looks.

Wouldn't work on most servers, as hat setting is included in the tailors/commands these days and that would have to be one hell of a sword, lol.

Yes but that's actually making it more fun :)
Trading cards could be connected to the flying technology yes :D

No, it isn't because it is just unfair for everyone else.
Gee Robin, thanks! Now we have to pay to use the flying technology :rolleyes:

Well the Christmas cards gave false promises of 3D previews, etc, and that's one the only reasons it did so well. You'll probably have to give some sort of surreal prize(s) again for the cards to work as well as they did. Maybe you could rarely instantly win 30-60 days of gold or some Graal3D gold time, etc.

Hay wheres the wii lottery.

Yeah, I'm gonna miss all these years that it was free.

So will I :cry:

Please more ideas :)
What about the idea of having a virtual pet following you on servers? I wouldn't be that hard to add, and there are not a lot of servers doing similar stuff yet.

yes do that :o
and maybe an little copy of you self following you?
i seen it on 1 server for a time .. but it got removed i think'
it wasnt following the gani you had, just your x&y so it was using the walk & idle ani'
(might been utopia i seen it on? chris?)

What about the idea of you helping "us" develop a successful playerworld that will help bring in more players to Graal and improve the game alltogether?

On another note, I think the cards should strictly be for visual effects only. I think pets might be over-doing it.