RE: Splinterlands suggestion, changing up gameplay, hampering bots.

i understand (or perhaps im mistaken) that spells might become a thing in the game, i wonder how might something like this idea be a complement?

i suspect for an idea like this to take off, it may need to something a bit more compelling than simply being allowed to use a of 'run-of-the-mill' neutral card.

i know this messes with the balance of your proposal a bit, but if we are going with the idea of mercenary cards, perhaps the idea of lore-friendly 'hero' cards might do the trick (or at least, have something like 'hero cards' show up alongside regular neutral mercenaries from time to time. not that im any familiar with the lore (or really care much for it at this stage), but im sure many in the community would really appreciate a greater integration of lore elements into the gameplay itself.

such 'hero' cards would resemble standard cards with some slightly adjusted stat, buff or debuff. think 'jim raynor's vulture' - distinctive, immersion-enhancing, but not game-breaking.

perhaps the two opponents could 'hire' from the same set of randomized hero/merc cards for an initial DEC cost (and/or an extra % of DEC winnings if we want the 'mercs getting a share of the spoils' angle) on a first-come first-serve basis. so if your opponent snatches the card you want before you do - tough luck.

hero cards i imagine would have to be neutral, but you could 're-skin' a card from any splinter so that it simply becomes a neutral version of that card.