Set 3, Triple Threat, yes it looks like that name is sticking due to being able to work it into the lore, has been a very difficult set to work on. A cycle of feeling like it's done, then going back, not being happy with it anymore and questioning the thought processes behind it, but a couple months ago, it felt done. I wasn't satisfied with Satria (Red) or Naagpal (Blue), but I couldn't think of any way to improve them and frankly I was sick of working on the set. It felt like I was spinning in circles working on it. Snowy (Yellow) however I am satisfied with and feel she turned out best. She is finished and good to go.
Set 3 had taken something of a place on the backburner while we worked on Set 2.5. Set 2.5 came together at a brisk pace thanks to it being the first set with input from the new play tester from the start and both of us being really excited for what it brings to the table. Set 2.5 is planned to be the next set once some things are addressed.
With that said, I moved onto drafting Set 4 as I had some ideas I wanted to get into card form for testing down the road. Getting rather excited about the new concepts introduced in Set 4, I brought an unfinished version of the Yellow character to playtesting when we finally got to both meet up and play Hyper Juken this past weekend.
This new Yellow character is an absolute blast to play. Even with blank cards in their Arsenal and Corner, it was fun. Very different to anything you currently have, but also supports your current cards, sets up the future and is a coherent package, so you wouldn't think it is doing so much. The Arsenal has been tweaked a little since, but Set 4 Yellow, in combination with how well I feel Set 2.5 turned out, has reinvigorated my personal love for this game.
I've made it no secret that I have a lot of regrets with Set 2 and frankly Set 3 was feeling much of the same. Love Snowy, she's on point, the other two were perfectly viable and the set didn't really have any notable dud cards, but I just wasn't happy with how Satria or Naagpal turned out. With how much fun Set 4 Yellow is looking right now and how both Red and Blue for the same set are progressing, along with Set 2.5, I finally feel motivated to go back to Set 3. I want to use everything I've learned from designing Sets 2.5 and 4 to finally finish Set 3. End up with a result that I'm actually happy with.
Satria will likely end up the bigger task as I'm probably reworking his entire attack lineup, Hyper Fighter, one of his Kata cards and one of his two Tactic cards, all Arsenals in Set 3 come with two Tactic cards, but I think I can keep his original core concept, who he is, then make something more cohesive with both him and the existing Red card pool.
Naagpal on the other hand requires less individual cards redesigned. Still a fair bit of reworking, but not on the level of Satria. I guess Satria may end up on the easier side here because his Arsenal is basically 50% blank now, but I think he'll get to the position where the final couple cards are a bit tricky. Usually happens.
I didn't think I could feel so optimistic about Set 3 again, but I'm happy I am. I think this time I can finally end up with all Characters and their Arsenals in a satisfying condition.
Till next time friends, thanks for reading.
-Erik
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