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Action Timer is too short!
Sometimes there is a lot to consider in a turn because of how much can change and how many cards need to be read and how much text is on each card.
Sometimes I need to think about exact ordering of what I am trying to do after reacting to what my opponent has done. I can't just consider all of my moves on my turn when things can change rapidly in a single turn. What I thought I was going to do suddenly becomes having to pull off something crazy and ensuring that I am searching my deck or discard pile for the correct cards and ensuring that I am making the correct play.
So many of my misplays come down to the timer being so freaking short per action. I am trying to look at the board and consider if I should get bosses orders or if a different card would be preferable.
MTGA and even YGO does the timer better and is far more considerate of the player needing to think before taking an action!
Comments
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I agree the timer is badly implemented, but in the other way around… a player should get less timer if keeps letting it go almost to the limit, not to mention the amout of time it takes to flip coins, select who goes 1st, select mulligans nr and so on.
If you say this things:
"…many cards need to be read and how much text is on each card..."
"…so many of my misplays come down to the timer being so short per action…"
You are probably a beginner… a player with a bit of experience should know all their deck cards without need to read it and even most of the opponent cards too. All you need is more practice, as you play more you will memorize by repetition.
Most games at first look overwhelming, but you will see with a bit more experience you will not need to read most of the cards and even anticipate your opponent moves, until then keep practicing because devs will not increase the timer that's for sure.
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While a longer timer will reduce misplays, it also opens up more ways to BM, so I'm fine with the current timer.
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They come out with new cards constantly and there is no way to know how all the cards will interact and what any individual will play. Sure, you can figure out meta cards but that doesn't mean every game will play out the same or that corner cases don't arise where you have to calculate whether you should pull boss's orders and swap one of their cards or pull the switch and swap one of yours and delay a turn.
When you only have 15 seconds to make a decision in those cases then it's a problem.
And yes, I am new to Pokemon, literally just started playing, made it to Ultra League in the week that I played before the season ended playing an off-meta deck.
I don't think new players should be getting punished for trying to learn the game just because some bad actors will abuse the system.
The timer as it is, is just too short. They don't need to extend it to 2 hours but then could give more than a minute per action. There is absolutely no reason this game needs to be played at light speed and I don't think you know this but this whole game is automated and they can monitor individuals who constantly abuse the system.
Some people are just slower than others. There is no reason that the game can't be slowed down and accommodate for slower players. After all, this is a children's card game.
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Apparently, my comment didn't post?
There is no reason this game needs to be played at light speed.
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Exactly you're new to the game that was my point… how many other games have you played and felt overwhelmed at the beginning?
Your reaction to the timer it's natural because you're new to the game… you wanted to start playing for a couple of weeks and dominate a game with a large amout of information? lol The timer it's more then enough if you're new you have to get more practice a learn better how to play, with time you will see the timer short at all.
Just as an example have you played EU4 or Civ6? Those games are not for everyone, the learning curve is long, I'm pro player in both of those games (I'm able win in highest dificulty in both) and I still sometimes I miss some basic stuff, in Civ6 case even tho I'm a deity player I'm not that great in multiplayer.
Pokemon TCG is far from being as complex has those games but there is a learning curve too, don't expect to dominate everything as a new player… take your time to learn the game like everyone else.And also, it isn't just a "children's card game" there is no age limit on it… and some people make a living of it, there is money envolved, from Championships and other physical events, to online paid events (using TCG Live client), pack selling business, content creators, trainers, and so on.
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The LIVE client is not a tournament. There is no reason it needs such short timers.
Most games provide time for a player to learn and develop skills.
I've been playing games my entire life and no game has seriously been like, "Here is an impossible question, you have 3 seconds go, oh, sorry to late you lose!"
Every card game app that I have used.. MTGA, Duel Links, Duel Masters... Even real money poker apps give you more time to think and make a decision.
It's not like I need 30 minutes every single turn, and most turns I don't get to an action timer but there are the situations where I need a little more time to think through my next move because the board stat has changed so much. Because picking the wrong card could mean the difference between winning and losing and the average player couldn't just look at it and get it correct without a bit of thought.
It's funny that you chose non-card games as your examples and only chose games you play at high level. I have played those games, I just find them boring. Never felt overwhelmed by the timer in them either. Civ6 you have plenty of time to play and learn in each turn. In fact, it's unlimited.
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I shudder at the thought of making the timer longer. The turns for some decks take so long right now. Opponents are taking 4-5 minutes per turn in decks that run Noctowl & Ducknoir. And I too often my opponents go AFK once it looks like they are going to lose, which means I am basically waiting for the timer to run down repeatedly.
But adjustments could be made to the game, other than just making the timer longer. There is different online TCG, which gives you time extensions that you can use. This allows more time for a few critical decisions, without adding too much time to the game overall.
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The timer "is too short" only for some new players because as a new player you can be overwhelmed by the amout of stuff that's going on... like any game, for players with more than a few months of experience the timer "is too long", sometimes I even quit the game because it's so boring how long some people take to play (it's not rocket science).
They will not increase the timer, the new players have to learn the game, meta, cards and need to think at a normal speed.
And also you are wrong... this game is actually used for online tournaments where the timer is an important part of it.
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