[Functionality] Neow Blessings

[little hedge]

Download: Github link

Neow has transformed into a cute little card! This is a mod for balatro that gives you 4 blessings at the start of your run, inspired from Slay the Spire.

Requires Steamodded.

** Install guide **

Download the whole repo as a .zip file and un-zip it in your mods folder. More information in the Steamodded link above.

** Blessings list (WIP) **

Note that this list is just an initial stub, any feedback on balance changes, possible additions or removals are very welcome! Feel free to make a pull request.

• Get a common mult Joker
• Get a common chips Joker
• Get an uncommon Joker
• Get $10
• Open a Mega Arcana pack
• Open a Mega Celestial pack
• Open a Spectral pack
• Open a Mega Standard pack
• Open a Jumbo Buffoon pack

** Future development **

• Make a better card for Neow
• Come up with blessings that give a drawback but also a big bonus, like in StS Curse for a Rare Colorless card, etc.
• Balance and playtesting

[keen wolf]

i would remove the spectral pack one tbh, it just seems like a hold-r fest until you get a good spectral or whatever

[sullen cave]

jumbo buffoon also seems objectively better than the other joker options, right? you get 2 jokers instead of 1, and it can be from the whole pool

[little hedge]

jumbo is 1 out of 4

mega is 2 out of 4

[leaden flicker]

is this mod alrdy working and if yes where can i find it?

[little hedge]

Oh apologies I thought I added the GH link give me a sec

[little hedge]

https://github.com/kjossul/NeowBlessings

[leaden flicker]

np thx for link cause the mod sounds super interesting

[lime socket]

I'd suggest replacing Neow with a more-regular "The white whale"

get it? because

as for blessings, I'd say

• "Start with Joker (+4 mult)"
• "Choose an eternal common/uncommon joker to start with"
• "Choose a food joker to start with"
• "Start with 2 Delay Tags (become Double Tags after beating the first boss blind)"
• "Open a Mega Arcana pack"
• "Open a Mega Celestial pack"
• "Open a Spectral pack"
• "Choose a card in your deck, choose a seal to apply to it"

[little hedge]

I like the “choose” ideas but I’m unsure how to implement those

[amber mist]

I think something that could make this mod pop off mechanically is if you grouped the rewards and assigned them tiers based on how far you got in your last run, this way

If you lost on ante 1 (aka reset) - you don't get a reward at all, this would help curb the urge to reset until the first reward is good

And you can scale it high, so if you won your last run one of the options could be

Gain a rare Polychrome/negative joker

Or

Gain $40

With something

Gain a holo/foil uncommon joker being a reward for like losing on 6

[little hedge]

I like the first suggestion! Like in StS where you need to reach the first boss to get full boons 👍

[faint crow]

@little hedge I've opened a PR in github with bugfixes. Very cool mod you created, great idea for this kind of game. I will try to contribute more when possible.

As for suggestions:
Have a kind of blessing where you get a high reward (like a random joker card) but skip the first ante entirely or get a -1 to hand size

[tacit tendon]

.

[amber mist]

When I saw this thread I thought I was in a Slay the Spire server by accident, very cool mod!!!

[little hedge]

Thank you! Looking at the PR when I get home tonight 👍

[paper scroll]

How does the rarity portions of the code work?

        {
            desc = "Get an uncommon Joker",
            f = function()
                create_joker(nil, 0.8)  -- (rarity > 0.95 and 3) or (rarity > 0.7 and 2) or 1
                G.FUNCS:exit_overlay_menu()
            end
        },

[little hedge]

it's a bit hacky but basically the create_joker function accepts a RNG roll as an argument. [0,0.7] creates a common joker, (0.7,0.95] an uncommon joker and (0.95,1] is a rare one. So basically I pass 0.8 since it's inside the second range and I force the created joker to be uncommon

I should refactor it tbh but I just wrote it that way since I use the get_current_pool function in the source code to get the available jokers (it's in common_events.lua) that also wants that rarity parameter

[paper scroll]

ahh yeah I'm trying to modify it for some broken runs just for fun. I'd love to be able to create events at the beginning of the run to add things like Tags and specific jokers. Currently I'd be happy with a way to add a random legendary joker. Any ides how to do that as it stands?

My Lua's not great... I've used more python but they are similar enough that I can kinda see what's going on.

I've also never RE'd a love2d exe before (if you can call extracting an exe file using 7zip and seeing source code REing lol)

[faint crow]

I got a few UI improvements I'm working on, like hovering over some blessings and getting a tooltip with the description of the packs blessings . @little hedge since you are the creator, would be nice to have input and get some ideas from you. One other thing, do you have anything planned regarding new features? or just the blessing mechanic?

[faint crow]

The create_joker function from the mod file is a good example of adding jokers to the run, just have to select the exact one you want instead of selecting one randomly

[faint crow]

Also, next PR i will update the readme with a updated screenshot including the tooltips

Im also new to lua @paper scroll, everything I know modding this game was by reading balatro source code and understanding what the functions do in the base game when approaching new features like these

[faint crow]

The PR with the tooltips has been created, you can check it out and comment if you have any improvements or tweaks in mind 😁

[paper scroll]

So I'd probab;y want to chage this function's last line to a specific joker then? But that line also sounds like it sets a flag that the joker has been used and won't show up in the run. My only other thought is to change the local card variable.

    function create_joker(effect, rarity)
        pool, pool_key = get_current_pool('Joker', rarity)
        choices = {}
        for k,v in pairs(pool) do
            if G.P_CENTERS[v] then
                joker = joker_effects[G.P_CENTERS[v].name]
                if joker and (not effect or string.match(joker.effect, effect)) then
                    table.insert(choices, v)
                end
            end
        end
        key = pseudorandom_element(choices, pseudoseed(mod_name))
        local card = create_card('Joker', G.jokers, nil, 0, nil, nil, key, nil)
        card:add_to_deck()
        G.jokers:emplace(card)
        card:start_materialize()
        G.GAME.used_jokers[key] = true       
    end

[faint crow]

You would change the key variable, key stores the joker that is randomly picked by the pseudorambom_element function. So look at the table that lists all the jokers, and change it to something like this:

key = "INSERT THE VALUE OF THE CHOSEN JOKER mod_name"

[paper scroll]

Gotcha. I'll fiddle around with it

[faint crow]

since the pseudorandom_element function return the key of a table, it may not iterate through the jokers list in the same order every time, so you might want to store the key value in some other way. Checking the source code for the pseudoramdom_element function and understanding what the function returns might help

[paper scroll]

I think it might not be necessary to use the pseudorandom function. I could probably have a list of all the jokers parsed by name, rarity, and mod and stored to a seperate dictionary to be called from.

also makes it a bit less hackery as far as the randomness goes. You can make your own randomizer using that dictionary.

[faint crow]

Exactly, you are not using the pseudorandom function, but checking the format or the values it returns might help you to write the correct form of passing a specific joker to the create_joker function

I dont fully understand both those functions, but thats how i would approach it anyways

[little hedge]

Awesome giving it a look tonight! I’m really grateful of all the work you’re putting in fleshing out this mod.

As for other ideas, I’m unsure at the moment. I think the biggest design space in Balatro is in creating new jokers / decks and so on, which is out of the scope of this mod I’d say. I would like to balance this mod further but mostly I’d wait for official mod support, steam workshop etc. before considering putting more work in

I mostly started working on this to fiddle around with Lua since I’m a beginner in the language as well

[faint crow]

also, i believe the create_joker function uses the string key thats located in the same file, so maybe it uses the string of the specific joker to create it

[faint crow]

I understand. Creating StS inspired decks/jokers would be a good idea. As for the official support or workshop, I wouldn't count on that considering how early we are in the game life cycle, I bet they are going to focus on content updates. But yea, I'm putting this much work because I enjoy learning lua and at the same time making something that I would actually play

[paper scroll]

^^ what he said.

STS is by far the most played game in my steam library and this is scratching the modded run itch I've had for long while 🙂

[little hedge]

Yeah I get you! The reason I started with this mod and the other one (better stakes) is just that I’ve found frustrating resetting over and over at orange+, so having a starting buff made my experience of the game better

[faint crow]

I feel you 😅

[little hedge]

I’m sure the dev will address this somehow since it’s a common critique from what I read around

[faint crow]

Okay, that's a lead. Would be nice

[paper scroll]

ugh yeah. I found a mod for a quick blind reroll on ante 1 which made it way better but it was still brutal on black chip and up

Losing a hand and a discard was bad enough but needing almost 2x the amount of chips to complete blinds after act 4 really narrowed down what types of strats you can use

made coupon tags absolutely necessary

[faint crow]

Anyways, considering I got the streak going, i might come up with more stuff and new features in the near future. I would like your permission tho, to code new content like decks or even entire new features like the remove a card in every shop like StS has @little hedge. I would like to keep working on your mod considering the theme and just keeping everything on the same place. I dont want to create different mods that complement this one and just makes the installation process worse

[little hedge]

If you want I can make you contributor on the repo

I would be very happy if we can bring more StS experience into Balatro

Like giving you repo access I mean

[faint crow]

I think i was auto assigned contributor since you approved a PR

I just cant approve those said PR into the main branch

[faint crow]

That's what i had in mind, creating StS inspired mechanics or content that fits the balatro experience

[little hedge]

Yup that would be great! Alright giving this a look when I get back home 👍

[faint crow]

Thanks for the conversation and the inputs, really appreciate the time

[paper scroll]

I also want to be a part of this if that's cool. idk how much time I can dedicate but thisn mod has been my favorite that I've messed around with and I'd love to contribute to it's development.

[faint crow]

That would be very nice of you, I think we can keep the discussions about what we are doing here. So we can keep track and make sure everyone is on the same page

If you come up with something, just create a PR on the github repo and we can take a look. For now i think just @little hedge has permission to approve PR's but I will read through and comment on it if necessary

[paper scroll]

🤘🤘

[little hedge]

Yup here or opening issues on GitHub both good options for discussion

[faint crow]

By the way, i think i fixed by accident the bug that was reported on the last issue about hover tooltips on the blind selection screen

I tested the game last night and didnt found it, so maybe

[little hedge]

Nice one! I'm not sure what caused that lol

btw added you as a collaborator you should be able to merge PRs 👍

[faint crow]

Thanks!

[shy aurora]

sooo sick

for a blessing that hasa drawback but a big bonus maybe get a legendary joker but start in -15 debt

or more

[faint crow]

Steammodded now has thunderstore mod manager support. Would be interesting to make the mod available in their directory. Here's the link to the requirements: https://thunderstore.io/c/balatro/create/docs/

Would make everyone lives easier to install the mod. Would serve as a great store front as well

[glossy valley]

I don't know if this is just an issue for my combination of mods, although so far as I know I don't have anything that would cause this issue-

When using the Neow Blessings mod, all "jumbo" and "mega" boosters seem to display the amount available/amount pickable of the "base" variation of the boosters, although when you select them you still get the appropriate amount for the name

not a major issue by any means. assuming maybe a result of cloning the initial setup for the packs to the bigger variations?

[faint crow]

The wrong descriptions were used to create the tooltip because the base game uses the base variation text string and dynamically updates it, the mod doesn't. Thanks for pointing that out. Should be fixed soon

[glossy valley]

no problem! glad to help
I love the mod, by the way, it really helps give runs individuality from moment one

[little hedge]

looks great I'll look into this tomorrow!

[little hedge]

So I'm thinking to change the Neow card using this image as a reference, thoughts?

Think just the 6 yellow eyes on black background look neater, also thinking about the icon.png for the packaging

[sudden minnow]

@little hedge how big can you make the png file for the neow card?

Limited to 71*95?

[little hedge]

yes and the high res version max 142x190 iirc

[sudden minnow]

It might be possible to pull off a 3d effect with the card space

Esp if the card is made a smidge smaller

[faint crow]

I personaly like the whale as is, but the yellow eyes are such a good reference and looks way cooler

[little hedge]

yeah I'm not good enough to do that lol I just run images through a pixelate filter lol

even the current card is just AI art aahha

[sudden minnow]

Like something along these lines but with a card instead of cracked glass

[little hedge]

I see what you mean!

[sudden minnow]

Ahh thats why its grey

Lmao

[little hedge]

yeah gave some prompts to DallE and just used what I got

[faint crow]

How about the spire tower as reference?

for the packaging icon

[little hedge]

something like this? https://www.behance.net/gallery/149353977/Artworks-for-game-Slay-the-Spire

[faint crow]

I'm looking through StS assets and images but found nothing that really focus on the tower other than the steam background cover image in the library

[faint crow]

Yea, exactly

[little hedge]

love it

[faint crow]

also theres this one https://store-images.s-microsoft.com/image/apps.23915.14612220527269160.ea029917-6726-4b37-a510-8449863efad4.26be57ed-6cf3-48da-9c65-eb533fed3b76?q=90&w=480&h=270

[sudden minnow]

What about neow’s lament?

Already a nice symbol and related to neow

[faint crow]

This image has a high resolution version of the spire but with the iron clad colors after a win https://static1.thegamerimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/the-gamer-cover-images-5.jpg

[faint crow]

That's true, maybe focus more on neow? for the icon

[little hedge]

the lament icon looks pretty neat indeed 👍

[sudden minnow]

@little hedge what would happen if you put a card thats wider than usual?

could you try doin this?

just as a test

[little hedge]

Why? Also I don’t know

[sudden minnow]

for maximum neow emergence

[little hedge]

lol I'm not sure if this would work, the cards need to have a specific aspect ratio but maybe I'm wrong

[sudden minnow]

lmk if you figure it out

i can def crank out a cool neow sprite

[tropic terrace]

Is anyone else's NeowBlessings just not working on 0.9.5?

nvm I think one of my other mods had overriden the blessings for some reason

[spice pollen]

did you figure out which mod(s) was the culprit? because this stopped working for me when i updated to 0.9.3 >_<

[tropic terrace]

It was the Pampa Joker Pack for me I believe

[spice pollen]

confirmed, thanks!

[fickle belfry]

Does this work on the 1.01 beta?

[lofty flare]

yes, don't worry

[tropic terrace]

i am gaming

[tropic terrace]

WIP of a recode, instead of using the function in the OG 0.9.8 mod I'm just gonna make it use tables

little less jank and isn't as hardcoded so I can just reference a table rather then the variable

[gilded silo]

basicly r untill soul

[tropic terrace]

true 🗣️

I think an idea to balance would be making like

weights like in base balatro

some are more common then others kinda deal 👀

I just gotta see how vanilla balatro does weights and make a janky implementation 👀

random ideas -

Get a pack

Get a tag

Get a Joker (Common, Uncommon)

the good old 10 dollars

Enhance a card

[sudden minnow]

I think mod needs upside + downside combos like in StS

Like maybe “Get a Rare joker but start with -$10” or something

[feral musk]

there are other mods that add larger than usual jokers, so it could work