Idea for Skip Reworks: Double Downs

[trail vessel]

I had this idea a while ago: I really like the CONCEPT of skipping because there is some strategy with it, such as in preserving perishable jokers or boostimg your econ in a niche situation. However, I think the way that skips are right now not only feels thematically unfitting but those niche situations are often too few and far between. The opportunity cost is way too high to miss a shop for a single Mega Arcana Pack, sometimes even for $25.

My idea is simple: Double Down.

Skips take a form similar to consumables where they can be used in certain situations and then get deleted. In exchange for this tag, the blind you play will have a certain base score multiplier depending on the ante. This gets you the reward while also making you engage with the game’s systems to the fullest and gives the player more agency as to when they can use these tags to affect their builds.

Here are a few ideas for potential Double Down Tags if it would help clarify my point:

-Shop Hop: Skips upcoming small or big blind and goes directly to the shop (very rare)
-Scalper: Reroll booster packs in the shop
-Speedy: $5 for each Double Down Tag used
-(Any edition tag): Makes a random joker in the shop free and have the edition
-(Any rarity tag): Rerolls the shop for free and makes a joker of the specific rarity appear

These are just a few ideas, but I hope this makes sense and sounds fun!

[lapis mountain]

better than how tags are now definitely

i like the idea of a risk reward system

[trail vessel]

Thank you so much!! If you have any other ideas for this I’d love to hear!

Another thing I forgot to mention is that Juggle Tag can be used either inside the blind or inside an Arcana or Spectral pack, and pack tags can be used either in the shop or choosing a blind

[lapis mountain]

i think the booster pack ones should maybe be slightly buffed but appear in the next shop as opposed to instant use with this so you dont instantly get the reward that you havent earned

[trail vessel]

I was thinking something along the lines of that, yeah. Instead of instant you can use it whenever you want outside of a blind

[lapis mountain]

im curious as to how double tag would work here

does the requirement also increase more with the addition of another tag or do you just get an extra of the same tag as a bonus

[trail vessel]

My idea for the double tag would be that it copies the next tag you acquire like usual

[trail vessel]

Could you clarify a bit please?

[dusky linden]

I'm not sure I understand, what do you mean by a certain base score multiplier?

[trail vessel]

If you were to double down on ante 1 small blind, it would have, lets say, a 1.25x increase in the necessary score, going from 300 to 375. This base score increase could scale with the ante, but I feel that it should never surpass the Boss Blind in score (with the exception of the Needle)

[dusky linden]

Ok, so basically you still get to play the blind but it's harder?

[trail vessel]

Yes, for the tag you can use practically anywhere

[dusky linden]

I'm not sure that really works from a design standpoint (at least not without major changes to the game's balance)

If you're doing well enough to score well over the blind requirement, you probably don't need the tag

With that said, I kind of like the idea of tags being a manual use instead since I think that gives them a lot more versatility

For example, Boss Tag is usually pretty terrible because it rarely appears when you need it

But if it was something you could hold on to for later, then it becomes a lot better

For example, if you're doing well enough to pass most blinds but know a certain boss blind will end your run on the spot, you could take the tag as a cautionary measure if you don't have Director's Cut

[lapis mountain]

like does the double tag also increase the requirement twice when you choose the next tag that gets duplicated because you get double the reward or is it free of charge