Creativity and individuality

Multiplayer Discussion
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I can already imagine the kind of hate I’m going to get on this post, but that’s fine, but here’s my thoughts.

I sometimes believe games like this that pushes people to only want to use meta decks/make them have to use meta decks in order to be competitive because the meta is so power is a reflection of society as a whole. Sure you may have choices between a few classes, but ultimately you start seeing more and more of the same kind of play style.

That said, I feel like if everyone is playing the same way and thinking the same way etc, it’s not good for humanity in the long run, which is why it boggles my mind when people get angry on here simply because someone speaks out against blizzard. Liking something is wonderful, but being a fanatic not so much.

It’s like that in politics now as well. Everything has become so polarized and inflammatory, and I’m guilty of it too. The sort of uniformity that demands you conform to a certain way of thinking or believing or else you’re the enemy, it’s dangerous.

That’s why it’s so important for things like diversity of thought and embracing people who are different because if not we turn rabid as a species and pit ourselves into extreme fractions. It’s literally happening in real time (current state of affairs)

Idk to me it just seems like individuality and creativity are being snuffed out by extreme capitalism and because of it people are becoming more hostile and tribe like.

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You don’t have to use meta decks to be competitive, but you do have to know the meta if you expect to reach high legend. You can reach legend fairly easily with enough games now from what i understand, even with a suboptimal deck

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I don’t think the way people play hearthstone has that much impact on humanity.

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Look…

Who is really stopping you?

The thing is that once you do that you have to accept that “your creation” will be tested against cards and decks that already exists.

But of course all that pro diversity talk is usually about people who don’t know a thing about merit as always.

Diversity exists to push people into getting better. Not to virtue signal.

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First a correction on wording; everyone is in the meta; you’re not talking about meta decks but about netdecks of the meta. On the topic: yes the Devs should balance the game so variety is higher; this has limits to some extend; every game has rules and it’s NORMAL to gravitate to the optimal so it’s very normal to gravitate to a netdeck even if you’re a good deck builder (i.e. you will often make an existing netdeck even if you make it independently without knowing about its existence if you’re good (assuming the netdeck is good)).

Now in order for them to produce better balance and increase variety they should probably be proactive with good simulation of the meta; i.e. produce automatically theoretical decks and simulate on a theoretical meta of no overplaying that they are balanced; this doesn’t ensure balance because players may not produce the optimal decks and the simulation software might be incomplete but it increases the chances.

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You missed the entire point of my post. The entire point.

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What is the point of your post? To go off on a weird tangent about nothing to do with hearthstone? That net decking is causing the downfall of our whole society?.

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Individuality n creativity is on the players, not the company. While i respect peoples’ right to netdeck if they want, i couldn’t do that myself, too boring for my taste, deck creation is half the fun for me.

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Is it, though?

Is it really fine?

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Both of these are only as possible as what is allowed by the corporation and it’s designers.

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Net decks aren’t stopping creativity. Net Deck just set the bar you have to surpass with your creation. Just aimlessly slapping a random 30 cards together and expecting it to perform well and crying that it doesn’t in no way indicates that there is no individuality and creativity in the game.

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You bring up a really important point about the pressure to conform, both in gaming and in broader society. I completely agree that the way meta decks dominate competitive play can feel stifling, almost like we’re losing the essence of creativity and diversity in the process. It’s frustrating when you feel like you have to play a certain way to be “in the game,” and I think that mirrors how society often pushes us to think or act within narrow boundaries.

I also think it’s not just about the mechanics of the game or political polarization but the bigger picture, like you mentioned—this tribal mentality where people cling to certain beliefs or systems without questioning them, and it becomes dangerous when there’s no room for alternative viewpoints. Whether it’s in gaming, politics, or even everyday interactions, there’s a growing fear of being labeled “the enemy” if you think outside the accepted norm.

You’re right to point out that diversity of thought is essential, not just for a functioning society but for growth and innovation. The danger of snuffing that out—whether through meta-dominance in games or ideological uniformity in society—is that it limits us. We stop growing and become more divided, which is what we’re seeing now.

It’s a tough cycle to break, especially when extremes are so loud and dominant, but I believe conversations like this can be a step towards bringing back that balance of individuality and respect for different perspectives.

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This might come as a complete shock to you but there is a severe ratio between players.

The Deckbuilders
These folks like to build decks. They don’t care what kind of deck it is, they want to build it, play with it, refine it - that’s their thing.

Underneath the deck building umbrella, you have your Meme Kings/Queens that will play meme decks with a bad win rate just to pull off the meme a time or three.

Then you have deck builders that build competitive decks. They want to build decks that perform. They want to build decks that will win. They refine, they practice, they talk to each other to see what’s working and what isn’t, etc etc etc.

The Pilots
These players just want to play decks. Some want meme decks. Some want competitive decks. Some just want a deck that does something cool.

There is a much higher percentage of pilots than there are deck builders.

Secondly, 30 cards in a deck, and two hundred some cards per xpac to such a massive playerbase, well, a lot of minds are going to think alike.

You are looking for creativity and individuality in a narrow and limited space.

Creativity is the desire to create.
Individuality is the self. The person.

So why not create something just for yourself?

I have my journal.
My crochet.
My writing.
And my tarot cards that provide inspiration.
And the occasional solo ttrpg when the mood strikes.

All of them designed to satisfy and please no one except me. So if you want more creativity and individuality, Hearthstone is not the place to find it.

As for the political stuff, plenty of other spaces to delve into all of that. Gaming platforms are not the place.

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my ex read tarot as a side hustle, lol.

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A lot of people do - I do it just for me, myself and I.

I have read for friends, coworkers and etc. People have told me I should make a business with it but that isn’t my cup of tea.

It’s mainly for my mental health and a visual aid to help me understand my subconscious thought processes.

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I don’t think my ex was all that good at it. They would have had more money, lol.

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When it comes to ESP’s, I approach anyone claiming that stuff with a liberal amount of doubt and skepticism. But that’s not to suggest I doubt these things COULD exist; there was an article within the last week that claimed scientists have discovered a potential third state of consciousness that sort of exists “between” our previously understood concepts of life and death. Might could be a literal spirit realm? :person_shrugging:

Instead I just innately distrust anything akin to a “Miss Cleo” for what I would hope to be obvious reasons. I’m giving neither money nor time unless something is shown to me in person, Doubting Thomas style.

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It’s an incredibly saturated business. It’s also full of stigma, charlatans and superstition.

As well as a lot of overlap into other practices that I do not partake. (Numerology, Crystals, Astrology, etc.)

I am what is called a secular reader. It all comes from within me. My own intuition and mind. I don’t think there are any angels/guides/etc sending me messages or whatever.

It’s 78 cards that depict The Human Experience in a variety of ways. There are more tarot decks to choose from than ever before and I think some of the meaning has been lost.

Similar to people using an established universe to tell their own personal stories that have no place or business in that universe.

While I think it’s important for readers to be knowledgeable of the OG Three (RWS, Thoth, and Marseilles), I also don’t believe they are the end all/be all and that there are modern decks out there that retain the meaning.

However, without doing your homework, you’re not going to get much out of it. Spiritually or financially. But that is just my personal take. Every one has their own way/practice.

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I am highly skeptical of folks that aren’t a little bit skeptical from the start. That kind of blind faith does more harm than good.

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Well, I think my ex was like the Value Village version of Miss Cleo.
I don’t think he ever got one thing right, lol.
25 bucks a reading tho, 'cause people are gullible.