Espo on Tilt

Intro:  

Welcome to the Legend of the Innkeeper.  We’re glad you could join us for our 79th episode.  

This week we are talking about…

Updates:

What did you do this week?

Quests?  Ranked play?  Fun Guaranteed with friends?

Top Artwork from Blackrock Mountain

Vastidious – Dragon’s Breath

SquishieDragon – Druid of the flame/Dragon egg/Dragon Consort

Espo –  Axe Flinger

News

Blizzard announces significant changes coming

New Play Modes

Wild – What we play today. Includes cards from all expansions.

Standard – Includes current cards (Basic, Classic and cards released in the past year and the prior year)

Available for Friendly Challenges, Ranked and Casual play only (Not Arena, Solo Play or Adventures)

When the first expansion is released in a year, that’s when everything resets

Ranking Changes

You will now play ranked in either Standard or Wild. You can choose or even do both.

Your lowest ranking is what counts at the end of the season regardless of which mode you achieve it in.

The Developers will revisit cards to consider ‘balance changes’. Balance will be for both Standard and Wild modes.

More Deck Slots – Going from 9 to 18 – Useless?

All game boards will remain in the rotation

First Standard Season will include the following Expansions/Adventures

Basic

Classic

Blackrock Mountain

The Grand Tournament

The League of Explorers

 

* The Spring 2016 Expansion

NOTE: Curse of Naxxramas and Goblins vs Gnomes are NOT included

Expansions and Adventures not a part of that season will no longer be available for purchase through the store. BUT you can craft them instead with dust for their normal value.

Interesting comment:

Ben Brode said in an interview with PC Gamer, “Well Standard is going to grow and shrink over time because we’re going to launch that first new set—it’ll be a big set—and then the next couple of sets that release in 2016 will just go into Standard and nothing will be removed. “

FAQ:

How do random effects work in Standard mode?

Random effects (including summoning random minions or cards, the Discover mechanic, transformations, or any other similar effects) will only summon cards that are eligible for the format you are playing. Thus, random effects in Standard will summon only cards that would be usable in the Standard format. All cards are legal in Wild format, so such effects will function as they always have.

Will Tavern Brawls use formats?

Tavern Brawls have different rules each week, so some Brawls will be in Wild format, while others could be in Standard format, but they’ll all be crazy fun!

Can I earn Hearthstone Championship Tour points by competing in Ranked in both formats?

No. Standard will be the only format that offers Hearthstone Championship Tour points for 2016.

Will all official Blizzard esports events be played in Standard format?

Yes. Standard is the official format of the Hearthstone Championship Tour and the Hearthstone World Championship in 2016.

Significant Cards That Will Be Removed From Standard

Mechs – Annoy-o-Tron, Mechwarper, Clockwork Gnome, Spider Tank & Mechanical Yeti

Neutrals – Sludge Belcher, Deathlord, Nerubian Egg, Piloted Shredder, Kezan Mystic, Mad Scientist, Haunted Creeper, Shade of Naxxramas, Zombie Chow, Unstable Ghoul, Antique Healbot, Hobgoblin, Mogor The Ogre, Kel’Thuzad and Dr. Boom

Paladin – Coghammer, Shielded Minibot, Muster for Battle, Avenge, Quartermaster

Warrior – Death’s Bite, Shieldmaiden

Warlock – Imp-losion, Darkbomb, Voidcaller, Mal’Ganis

Shaman – Powermace, Crackle,