Feature Suggestion: Combos
TappedOut forum
Posted on March 27, 2012, 10:07 p.m. by OmegaSerris
I was thinking that a neat little feature (I say 'little' not know what the infrastructure of the site looks like, so it might be a bigger project than I'd hope) that could be added to the card detail page is maybe a list of other cards that combo really well with each other. For example Devoted Druid could be on the Quillspike page due to the infinite combo they create.
How to go about doing this could have several different forms:
1) It could be as simple as just extending a comment section like on the 'concept cards'. Though that could be a bit unwieldy to read and may add more work to the limited staff team should it require moderation.
2) An automated system much like the new 'Card Suggestions' for deck building. Again, this could prove difficult for the system to pick up between true combos and cards that just work well in similar decks.
3) User submitted combos is probably the easiest to work with in the long run. A user submits a card with a few sentences explaining the interaction. Rather than having to manually approve each one, the system can just wait until there are X submissions of the same card and then display it on the card's page. Another option is using a user-based 'rate up/down' system so if someone doesn't explain it properly, another user can resubmit the card/combo with a better description to be rated up over the previous one.
Again, I don't know how well or easily something like this could be implemented to the site, but it's just food for thought. :-)
Epochalyptik says... #3
I think something like this is already being considered. It's just difficult to log all the interactions between cards just based on the sheer number of them. There's also the problem of categorizing all these combos...
March 27, 2012 10:41 p.m.
metalmagic says... #4
Well they don't have to be categorized at all if something like what I mentioned happens. It will all be automated as the program receives submitted groups of cards. When the 'combo suggestion' button (or whatever it would be called) is clicked, it only shows cards that have had enough user-submitted pairings with the card. If a card doesn't have enough or any pairings with a certain card, that one won't show up. I don't really know much about programming so I don't know how cumbersome it would be, but in theory it doesn't seem like it should be too hard to do.
March 27, 2012 10:48 p.m.
OmegaSerris says... #5
Well, it was just a thought. I think the best/easiest way to accomplish it would be to tap into the user base. As I understand it, there is a very limited amount of people working in the background (of which, I'm very impressed for doing so well on the site). So that means larger projects like categorizing cards and interactions can't be simply brute forced.
You almost have to turn to the user base by laying down a system for them to use. And crowd sourcing can be surprisingly accurate as long as you allow for self correction (like a rating system that hides the most downrated submissions). My suggestions were just there to hopefully spark an idea, nothing more.
March 27, 2012 10:54 p.m.
metalmagic says... #6
Yes, we know. I am going along with your 3rd suggestion, as the seemed to be the most sound, and mixed my own ideas. It would still be user based, but would be easier and should erase the need for a rating system, although the current "Ignore" button could still be added for the dumb suggestions that somehow slip through.
March 27, 2012 11:16 p.m.
I've got kinda a mountain of boring stuff to do but this is kinda next feature on my list.
Basically, I want to use user submissions as a barometer for my other algorithms which attempt to detect combos automatically.
March 28, 2012 1:09 a.m.
The amount of awesomeness yeaGO!'s statement just contained is off the charts.
He said the words "barometer" and "algorithm" in the same sentence, and then mentioned something being automatic. I love automatic stuff. It means I don't have to do anything.
This would be incredible if it works well. Cause combo's are awesome.
-BuLLZ3Y3
March 28, 2012 6:18 a.m.
lol, thx. extra points if I was drunk as I typed that? cause I was. but its still true.
March 28, 2012 12:10 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #11
I've drunkenly posted in the Q&A before and everything turned out alright. I think you're winning, though.
March 28, 2012 12:14 p.m.
I can't wait to see all of the cards that combo with Island. I've got a stack of those just sitting around.
metalmagic says... #2
I don't think there should have to be an explanation. I do think users should be allowed to submit a group of cards that work well together (group being 2 or more) and have the computer recognize once the same cards are listed in the same group together maybe 5-10 times, it will show Card X on Card Y's combo suggestion choices since it has been grouped together however many times. Generally the same concept as what you said, but slightly more streamlined.
March 27, 2012 10:32 p.m.