Jeremy 23 months{"ops":[{"insert":"\nHello brewers,"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nWith today’s update, we introduce an entirely new Playtester with many feature improvements over the old one. Details below!\n\n"},{"insert":{"image":"https://i.imgur.com/e5iMwsX.gif"}},{"insert":"\n\nPlaytester Features"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Mulliganing"},{"insert":" - We now support London mulligans, providing a dropzone to ship cards to the bottom of your library on the overlay that appears when you first open the Playtester. You can also take free mulligans for days if you’d prefer."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Card sizes"},{"insert":" - Depending on your monitor size, you may immediately notice cards appear bigger or smaller than you’d like. In the Settings menu along the bottom toolbar, there are four options for card size (i.e. cards in play) and hand size."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Other settings"},{"insert":" - The Settings menu includes a variety of other personalization options including: disabling/enabling hand curve, showing/hiding card labels, enabling/disabling an upkeep reminder, enabling/disabling a static card preview on hover, toggling foil overlay, setting sleeve color, setting playmat color, and toggling light/dark mode. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Click type"},{"insert":" - Along the bottom toolbar, there’s a toggle for Actions click/Options click. Actions click is enabled by default on most devices and allows you to use drag and drop, play cards from your hand with a single left click/tap, and tap cards in play with a single left click/tap. Right click/long press will provide you with a wide variety of additional card options. Options click, meanwhile, makes card options menu appear on left click/tap instead. This is enabled by default on iOS because right click is not an available action. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Hand options"},{"insert":" - A dropdown menu to the top right of your hand provides you with a number of hand options. These include: moving to another zone, viewing full hand (in an overlay… helpful for really big hands), hiding/showing hand, revealing hand in the Popout (more on that later), discarding a random card, and ordering your hand by Salt, color, name, type or mana value. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Library options"},{"insert":" - You are provided with a number of library actions when you right click/long press it (left click/tap with Options click turned on). These include: drawing, drawing X, moving the top card to another zone, searching your library, shuffling, revealing the top card, and peeking at the top X cards (used for scrying and other top deck manipulation). "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Card options"},{"insert":" - You are provided with many card actions when you right click/long press a card (left click/tap with Options click turned on). These include: tapping, moving to another zone, flipping/rotating/dimming, adding all varieties of counters, adding custom power/toughness, viewing/setting card notes and oracle, creating token copies, and deleting the card from game (used for cards added from search… more on that later). "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Multiselect"},{"insert":" - On desktop, you can select multiple cards in play at once either by left click-dragging over an area, or by Ctrl-left clicking multiple cards. Selected cards will be highlighted in orange and can together be moved, tapped, grouped, aligned, given counters, etc (as described under “Card options” above). On mobile, you can initiate multi-select by long pressing an empty place on the battlefield (single tap with Options click turned on) and tapping “Select on click”. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Power/toughness sum"},{"insert":" - On desktop, with multiple cards selected, the number of cards selected, their total power and their total sum will be displayed in the lower left corner of the battlefield. These sums take into account added P/T and any +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters on the cards. Hopefully this will make big attacks a bit easier to calculate damage for!"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Card grouping"},{"insert":" - Cards can be snapped, or “grouped”, together using either multiselect or by dragging with Ctrl pressed. When a card is dragged in this way, hovering over another card will allow you to snap it into 6 different positions depending on where you drop it. An outline of the card will show you where it will be placed. Please note: A grouped card can be dragged away from its group at any time. In order to move a group together or tap it together, all cards within the group will need to be multiselected."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"More actions"},{"insert":" - Right clicking/long pressing an empty spot on the battlefield or clicking “More” (top left on desktop, bottom left of the battlefield on mobile) will provide you with a number of additional actions you might find helpful. These include: tap/untap all, new turn (untap and draw), proliferate all counters, add a token, add a card from search, create a custom card, select call, and select on click."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Add a card from search"},{"insert":" - Mentioned above, this option allows you to search the entire database for a card and put it into play. You may find this particularly useful if simulating stealing/copying another players’ card. The “delete card from game” option mentioned above will allow you to fully remove these cards when they’re destroyed rather than erroneously having them end up in your graveyard. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Tracking stuff"},{"insert":" - Along the bottom toolbar, you can track a number of different metrics including turn count, life total, poison, experience, mana pool, and energy. Each can be modified by a menu opened by left click/tapping on the metric. On desktop, Ctrl+left/right clicking can be used to more quickly increase or decrease the metric your cursor is currently hovering over."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Random generator"},{"insert":" - This menu can be found along the bottom toolbar. From it, you can flip a coin, or roll a d4/6/8/10/12/20."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Popout"},{"insert":" - Also along the bottom toolbar, this button will open a new window that mirrors the battlefield with all confidential elements (such as hand and static hover card) hidden. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Keybinds"},{"insert":" - On desktop, there are a multitude of keybinds available to help speed along your playtesting. You can find a list of all of these keybinds either by clicking the “Keybinds” menu in the upper left-hand corner of the battlefield or by pressing ? (Shift+/). "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Attractions"},{"insert":" - This is a silly one, but we’ve added support for the Unfinity Attractions mechanic. If you have an out-of-deck category called “Attractions”, it will be included under “View other zones” (along with a Junkyard) at the bottom right of the Playtester. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nRegarding the old Playtester"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"If you prefer the feel of the old Playtester, it is still available via a link at the top of the new Playtester. Just please be aware that it will not receive any updates in the future. That said, we’d love to hear what you prefer about the old one so that we can ensure the new one meets your needs. Though there are no immediate plans to do so, we’ll likely remove it once we’re certain there’s no reason for anyone to be using it. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThat should be it, but honestly, there’s a lot of depth here and it wouldn’t be surprising if we missed something. What do you think of it? Are there any missing features you’d love to see or existing features that don’t quite work the way you’d like?\n\nIf you have anything to suggest or report, you can find us here, "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://twitter.com/archidekt"},"insert":"@Archidekt"},{"insert":" on Twitter, or over in "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://discord.gg/eZg3mvJd7v"},"insert":"Discord"},{"insert":". As always, feedback is greatly appreciated!\n\nThe Archidekt Team"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"}]}
Edited 10/19/2022, 4:58:52 AM
31
DuskGuard 23 months{"ops":[{"insert":"It feels wrong, sure it looks more dynamic, but the space is all reduced, it feels claustrophobic. Most zones are now hidden, the hand takes an unnecessary amount of space. \n"}]}
11
Jeremy 23 months{"ops":[{"insert":"Check the settings in the lower right of the page! There are four different card size options. Hand card size and battlefield card size can be adjusted independently. Extra small is the same size as the old Playtester.\n"}]}
Edited 10/19/2022, 4:59:31 AM
3
edgebright 23 months{"ops":[{"insert":"First off, thank you all for the website and thank you all for all your hard work. Not sure why people are commenting their concerns so aggressively and coldly. I think sometimes people forget how difficult it is to appease everyone, or make something new or improve something, or make something for others without getting a thank you. I’ve read a lot of these comments and I understand their concerns I’m just sorry they didn’t word them more respectfully. I also appreciate your professionalism and considerate responses, another reason why I love this site. My brother and I use this site for all our decks and he uses the play tester a lot before buying cards. Thank you again for the time and effort you put in and the thick skin you have to have to deal with less than respectful suggestions or comments. Keep up the great work!\n"}]}
Edited 10/19/2022, 7:28:37 PM
6
Jeremy 23 months{"ops":[{"insert":{"image":"https://i.imgur.com/BR0lWjW.png"}},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"insert":{"image":"https://i.imgur.com/FOFbu3O.png"}},{"insert":"\n"}]}
Edited 10/19/2022, 8:54:24 PM
6
Burningpheonix 22 months{"ops":[{"insert":"a suggestion for archidekt is that \n"},{"attributes":{"color":"var(--color)"},"insert":" if someone marks a card as they have it ,it should probably be removed from the the buy deck option an the price calculation."},{"insert":"\n"}]}
1
RegolithMTG 19 months{"ops":[{"insert":"One suggestion is to add the little window in the top right of the screen that shows you the card details or make it togglable.\n"}]}
0
adamdroid 22 months{"ops":[{"insert":"Not sure if this is a category issue or a playtester issue. I have made a category named \"additions\" and when using the playtester, it adds all cards in that category to my command zone. I don't see anywhere that would make that category count as the commander.\n"}]}
0
wade42 23 months{"ops":[{"insert":"Good stuff, y'all! I'm hard pressed to think of anything that's not at least as good as the old playtester.\n\nIf nothing at all changed, from here out, I would be happy. That said, here's a few points of feedback:\nThe Mulligan and Peek views appear to use the \"Card Size\" option, which can be a bit small. Could there be a way to either set those card sizes separately, or to make those views not gray out the \"Static Card\"?"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Die rolls: do they have to take so long? Could there be a list of previous rolls (useful if you're rolling multiple then adding, or picking the highest)?"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nDealing with the Command Zone feels a little clunky, but I'm not sure if I know how to make it better. Thoughts:\nIt's a bit awkward to shuffle around when you have a partner or background. Could the zone be a stack (like the deckbuilder) instead of a pile?"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Perhaps, if a card is in the \"Commander\" category, the \"Move To\" option could include \"Command Zone\"?"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Could the Command Zone be an extension of the Hand? Any other card can be played by clicking on it, but with the command zone, you have to drag or use context menu or keyboard shortcuts."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nEdit: Additional thoughts\nThe token list should probably be sorted alphabetically. (context menu and \"view all tokens\")"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Could the \"Static Card\" continue to show the selected card after the mouse leaves it?"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Should the selected card stats (# selected, total power/toughness) show near the Static Card? I do miss the right hand margin a little. As it is now, the selection stats can be obscured by cards on the battlefield."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Some background colors make the selection stats and the \"More\" and \"Keybind\" links hard to read."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nAnyway, enough armchair software design. Please don't mistake the above word vomit for a lack of gratitude. Nice update!\n"}]}
Edited 10/20/2022, 4:22:38 AM
3
michael(Alpha User)
23 months{"ops":[{"insert":"Thanks for the suggestions! I'm gonna take a handful of them and implement them now!\n\nPeek menu: Fair point. I don't feel like adding an extra card size for just that would be the way to go though, but I'll give this one some thought. It's possible we can just bring the overlay card up higher, it'll block elements under certain instances but it already does that so probably not a huge deal.\n\nI'm probably gonna leave the dice duration as is for now, it's 1 second long start to stop. Removing it would mean removing any animation at all, and I think the animation adds a lot to a fairly boring page. We have talked about adding a log of which answers you've gotten though, so since we're getting asked about it I'll just add it. \n\nI don't wanna stack the command zone for height reasons. Not that it _should_ ever go higher than 2, but idk some users build weird decks, who knows. But I will add a move to command zone option under the move to menu, and I'll add a play card as the default option so it'll just happen on click. \n\nToken list is now sorted, that's a good idea. \n\nLike the log of previous dice rolls, caching which static card was shown was something we chatted about pre release, so since it's come up again I'll just do it.\n\nThe sum of power toughness stuff I don't think should show near the static card mostly since we don't really know how much the static card will be used yet as it's off by default, so I'm not sure putting them together is necessarily the right choice. I'm not opposed to the idea outright, but I don't think the two need be conflated. It does block cards sometimes, but that would happen regardless of placement depending on where cards are. \n\nWe know about the optional background colors conflicting if you set them to something really light/dark. We could think of a workaround, but since it's user configurable, it'll always be wrong in some instances anyway, so I'm not too bothered by it. By changing the dark/light mode will change the primary tone of the text elsewhere on the page to light/dark respectively. Doing so should allow most users to hit what they want.\n\nSorry if some of my answers sound a bit short, lot to get through! Either way thanks for the suggestions! If you ever have more let us know! \n"}]}
3
wadledo 23 months{"ops":[{"insert":"I'm finding that everything being hidden as default rather than on the side panel makes it much more difficult to use. Having to click multiple times to increase your turn counter if I don't want to hit N, for example. Maybe having a side panel with everything that is currently on the bottom line, but allowing it to slide out of sight?\nThe cards in hand constantly dancing around is kinda disorienting. \nI'd prefer to be able to either default to right justification or Right for Creatures, Left for non-creatures. Center isn't really useful, especially since it doesn't really give a order for when they came onto the battlefield, since they alternate. \n"}]}
2
cyr62110 23 months{"ops":[{"insert":"This is absolutely awesome. It will make easier to play on the playtester over Spelltable.\n"}]}
2
akimon3 23 months{"ops":[{"insert":"Loving the new playtester! playing with large hand size is definitely easy on the eyes\n"}]}
2
Saamok 23 months{"ops":[{"insert":"I for one welcome thew change and thank you a lot for it, the old one was useable but this one is just better and more intuitive, good job\"\nAlthough I'd like a function for cascade like effects like \"reveal until condition\".\n"}]}
2
wade42 23 months{"ops":[{"insert":"I was mulling over something like this, too... a way to deal with \"exile cards from your library until\" effects would be nice. I think a good way to do it would be to modify the \"Peek\" view to add a \"One More\" button, and you can keep hitting that until you find a card that meets the requirements.\n\nEdit: now that I think about it, just dragging one by one to a pile on the desktop is just as good a way to do this. Also, you can drag-select the pile and send it all to the bottom of library at the same time.\n"}]}
Edited 10/19/2022, 10:42:24 PM
1
michael(Alpha User)
23 months{"ops":[{"insert":"So we try for the most part to avoid programming specific game logic, but this one has always interested me, though I'm still not sure it's really feasible. \n\nFor one, it's kinda complicated since sometimes the revealed cards go to he bottom, sometimes to exile, sometimes to the bin. Should we also allow revealing until you hit a land, creature, etc? There's a lot there. \n\nIt's cause it's all game logic. Once we start down that train, it's never gonna stop. \n\nWe'll give it some thought though, cause cascade is kinda a pita the way it is now \n"}]}
0
orge343 23 months{"ops":[{"insert":"Where is my commander? How am I supposed to playtest EDH?\n"}]}
2
michael(Alpha User)
23 months{"ops":[{"insert":"On smaller screens, the other zones get pushed into the view other zones menu on the lower right. Clicking the button that says 'View other zones' should give you your other zones. \n"}]}
4
orge343 23 months{"ops":[{"insert":"To clarify, it disappers when the screen is not full and I do not know how to access it...or the other zones.\n"}]}
1
nuLLism 23 months{"ops":[{"insert":"I love the new playtester! However, there are some things I like about the old one that I found convenient- for example, I liked it when there was the huge card image on the right side of the screen. Something like that that's like a collapsible overlay would be epic! Also, a second life tracker would be nice to keep track of the damage I deal. These are small things, and there are workarounds, but those are inconvenient and while are not annoying to manage most of the time can begin to grate. Regardless, thank you for the great update and I wish you all the best. \n"}]}
1
michael(Alpha User)
23 months{"ops":[{"insert":"Check the settings. The static card is what you want for the card in the upper right. As for the second life tracker, I'm adding that back in today. Thanks for the feedback!\n"}]}
1
RobertHReaper 23 months{"ops":[{"insert":"I know this would be far down the road, but I would love it if you had an option to play against a bot running one of your decks. Test out 2 decks at once. \n"}]}
1
Jeremy 23 months{"ops":[{"insert":"That would be super cool, but unfortunately building an AI that can play Magic using any card in the game (as opposed to a very small subset like in the Arena tutorials or some of the older PC games) is either impossible or at least impossibly far out of our capabilities. What's more, something like that is guaranteed to bring the wrath of Wizards' lawyers, and that's definitely not a bear we want to poke. \n\nI apologize for the disappointing answer!\n"}]}
5
BaleKenyon 23 months{"ops":[{"insert":"The new playtester is too difficult to use. Sure, some tweaks could've been made to improve the playtester, but this is wholly unusable in my opinion.\n"}]}
1
michael(Alpha User)
23 months{"ops":[{"insert":"Ouch, this one cuts deep. Care to elaborate on why you don't care for the update?\n"}]}
0