DBG (Deck Building Game) is not alien to Chinese players.
Many Roguelike card games has emerged since 2018. Players start with a slim basic deck and obtain more cards by defeating opponents and triggering events. Every turn is a fresh start.
Like Slay the Spire, Monster Train and Hearthstone. It is a combination of Roguelike chance and strategy. The population of DBG fans is growing. I am one of addicted DBG players, trying every new work in this genre.
Speaking of which, DGB fans may become aware of the topic of this article: Endless Voyage ( just launched on Steam on 8th January. This game made its demo debut on several Chinese indie games communities last summer. I am surprised by its quick development.
Well, players may found considerable similarities between Endless Voyage and Slay the Spire.
After Slay the Spire went big, every user recognized the simplicity in showing cards at the bottom. Now, you may fnd this kind of display in random DGB on Steam.
Griftlands - a DBG made by Klei
Endless Voyage seems aggrieved for being charged of the similarity of display. As players could tell the difference between the two after round one : players may set minions on the vacant background.
Minions have different characteristics and power. The characteristics of Gatling Gunner is to help players’ others minions stronger; the power of Gatling Gunner is to strike four random enemies units each round.
This design is rather rare — Monster Train designed minion cards last year, however, most of those minions work on enemies’ units. While Endless Voysge set colorful attack effects for minions, enabling minions to activate whimsical chemical reaction with others cards: Gatling Gunner afflicts high frequency and low harm, so it works well with raising-harm cards; Wine Maker could do true injury to enemies and raise friends units’ power, so player would rather armoring Wine Maker than lifting its injury power.
Cards could also take effect on minions, beside hero
These designs have brought players special experience. Players may also choose not to deal minion cards, build normal deck: strengthen hero’s harm, armor up or spirit up. These genres also work in Endless Voyage. While players choose the minions genre, the hero become the Buff provider and consellor, enjoying recruiting followers.
What’s more, palyers may set minions as enemies unit. This design make many patterns accessible, like putting harmless minion in enemies team( providing one extra drawing card on its death); like being mugged genre could place high-frequency-low-harm minions on enemies’ team for its spikes effect.
The most brutal way: Barrel Bomb( giving 10 harm to each friend units on its death)
Besides, I deem very highly of Endless Voyage. In fact, Chinese indie games developers are creative. However, the whole design of Chinese indie games were not carried out thoroughly, there were a few flaws, which made palyers can’t enjoy smoothly, let alone experience the details.
In this respect, Endless Voyage’s developers did a great job. First, it is beginners-friendly, the understanding cost is low, unlike foreign DBG needs players to spend dozen hours to manage the strategy guide. Other Chinese indie games tried to sacrifice the difficulty, but players may easily get bored. While Endless Voyage enables palyers to choose pirate relics( like original equipment), only for beginners to experience for once, making considerable coins, lifting Max HP and Spirit. Once beginners finished this pirate challenge, it will turn gray and players couldn’t experience for twice.
Which could tell beginners and non-beginners apart, if palyers haven’t passed through for the first time, they will be faced with less difficult challenges to getting better; if players will be deemed as non-beginners after passing through at the first time, and they will encounter more difficult challenges.
Pirate relic will be unavailable after pass
There is also a common DBG Relics system, providing a permanent buff. Endless Voyage has fine adjustment, splitting the relics system into two parts: Blueprint and Forge Hammer. In most circumstances, players get the blueprints, instead of relics. In order to forge the relics, players should get the Forge Hammer and blueprints.
Gray blueprints and forged Relics
Usually, the relics in DBG is very crucial to a game. If one player builds up a fine card combination without appropriate relics, one may get frustrated. Players may obtain considerable blueprints( but more difficult to get the Forge Hammer), the randomness of relics system is dented. It is up to palyers to decide which blueprints to be forged. It is better than waiting for random relics.
Pirate relics, relic blueprints are not new to traditional DBG, but they indeed provide better, more immersive and addictive experience for palyers.
As I mentioned earlier, most Chinese indie games are creative but weak in execution. Endless Voyage has distinguished itself by its current hero, colorful genres and playful gameplay, still, I am expecting the second hero, endless mode and other new updates. The current hero- pirate has been carried out splendidly. I appreciate Endless Voyage than other so called self-given Chinese indie games.