Phageborn will feature gameplay content - cards and avatars - that will only be unlockable by playing. This means we will be adopting a premium, buy-to-play monetization model.
Why are we doing this?
We wanted to do something a bit different for our game, to make our gameplay be pure gameplay. Instead of playing to acquire random content you might or might not like, you will know what to expect and when to expect it. Unlock content you want, at your own pace.
Unlocking content
You will level up your account as you play, which will award you points for unlocking cards. You can imagine these as a form of "upgrade points". You will use these points to upgrade a faction, leveling it up and gaining access to more of their cards. Neutrals will always level up, regardless of your factions, so you can have more deckbuilding options when you switch to leveling a lower level faction.
Progress will be earned through gameplay. Win or lose, you will gain some, with wins giving you more progress. We don't want you to feel like you're wasting your time if you lose.
Avatar reworks
Along with this, we have a rework to how our Avatars work. Avatars used to level up during gameplay, gaining access to perks that could change how you play the game. These perks are no more.
Avatar traits
Instead of perks, Avatars will have traits. They are similar to perks - passive bonuses that empower your Avatar in some way, or even change their playstyle. However, you can have only one trait, and that trait is selected during the deckbuilding process instead of during gameplay. While some perks were encouraging some forms of alternate deckbuilding, there could be situations where you don't even reach the perk you wanted. Traits are picked during deck construction, so you don't have to worry about not reaching them.
Avatar special cards
In addition to these traits, with every Avatar having 3 traits to choose from, they will also have exclusive cards. These cards can be used in your deck only with their corresponding Avatar. These also serve to replace perks, as well as to give more flavor and more uniqueness to each Avatar. You will start with one perk unlocked, with the exclusive cards and other two perks unlocked as you play with the Avatar.
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We strive to bring you the best gameplay experience we can offer, and for you to create your own experience the way you see fit. We hope we can achieve this through our monetization decision, and we hope you will stay with us on this journey ahead. We'll reveal the official pricing for the game somewhere down the line, most likely alongside the official release date for the game.
For now, the only thing we can say is that it will be fair :)
Until then, enjoy the content we'll be delivering in the meantime and don't forget to add us to your Steam wishlist!