Greetings, citizens,

Starting next Monday, we’re introducing a new scoring system for Campaigns that fundamentally reworks the existing Victory Points (VP) model. This change aims to address long-standing issues with fairness, clarity, and strategy while maintaining a performance-based tie-breaking mechanic.

Why are we changing the current system?

The original campaign scoring often resulted in tied scores, with rank determined by who logged the score first. This was unfair to players with limited availability or unfavourable time zones. The current VP system was introduced to prioritize performance rather than a binary “win-or-lose” outcome, but it had its own challenges:

  1. Complexity
    The scoring formula was intricate and hard for players to understand or predict. Breaking down how scores were calculated after a match was equally difficult.
  2. Strategy Limitations
    The emphasis on factors like remaining wounds pushed players toward slow, defensive builds. These were often less enjoyable and overly reliant on high-level cards to maximize points.
  3. Randomness
    Variability in opponent decks introduced a significant element of chance. Factors like how much damage a player could inflict or avoid varied wildly, making scores feel inconsistent and arbitrary.

The New Scoring System

To resolve these issues, we’ve reimagined Campaign scoring to be simpler, fairer, and more flexible. The new system rewards performance while giving players greater freedom to approach matches their way. Here’s the formula:

Victory Points (VP) = (Level × 100) + (21 − Turns Taken [min. 0]) + (Cards Remaining)

Let’s break this down:

  • 100 points per level cleared: Your primary score is tied directly to progress, making victory the most important factor.
  • Up to 20 bonus points for speed: Earn 1 point for each turn saved, calculated as 21 minus total turns taken by both you and the AI.
  • Up to 9 bonus points for surviving cards: Gain 1 point for each card (including your Warlord) still in play at the end of the match.

What’s Improved?

  1. Victory Takes Center Stage
    Unlike the previous system, bonus points can never outweigh the base score from clearing levels. Winning the match is the primary goal, ensuring the focus remains on progressing as far as possible.
  2. Simplified Scoring
    The core principles of the old system—rewarding damage dealt and survivability—are preserved but simplified into an intuitive formula. Players can now see how their actions translate into points without needing a calculator.
  3. Turn Efficiency Adds Depth
    The “Turns Taken” bonus incentivizes faster matches, encouraging offensive strategies. High-initiative decks, which can end games sooner, gain renewed strategic value.
  4. Strategic Deck-Building
    The “Cards Remaining” bonus adds a layer of strategy to deck construction. Bringing a full deck offers more potential points, but the risk of losing cards—and therefore points—forces careful consideration of balance and synergy.

Why This Matters

This new scoring system fixes the randomness and complexity of the old model while making Campaigns more engaging. Even earlier levels, which had become trivial for top players, now offer interesting decisions: How do you maximise speed, survivability, and level progression simultaneously?

Players also gain more freedom in how they approach matches. Whether you prefer fast, aggressive builds or balanced decks with a touch of defense, the scoring system is flexible enough to reward your unique playstyle.

What’s Next?

We’re confident this update will make Campaigns more rewarding and enjoyable for everyone. As always, we’re eager to hear your feedback once you’ve had a chance to try it out. Let us know what you think, and good luck conquering the updated campaigns!