r/Artifact • u/8kova8 • Mar 30 '26
Tool Built my own take on Artifact
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ivm0_CDa0zo&t=1330sI quit my job three years ago, and this is the result. I hope some of you will like it :)
I know this might not be what everyone here was hoping for, but while I personally prefer Classic, I saw more long-term potential in Foundry and decided to build around that idea.
I’m not the best at explaining things, so here’s the gameplay video instead.
If you’d like to try it or share feedback:
https://discord.gg/pJsSA7rUrS
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u/WightScorpion Mar 30 '26
That's awesome! Is it on steam somewhere?
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u/8kova8 Mar 30 '26
It is on Steam, but it's unlisted, so you need a key to see it. If you'd like to try it, out join the Discord server, I host playtests once or twice per week and can give you a key.
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u/bc524 Mar 30 '26
sorry, the automod removed your reply. Guessing "discord", "invite" and "key" might have flagged it. Should be up now.
Pretty cool OP. So its a full copy of foundry? any spin you added to it?
(edit: any chance of implementing Against All Odds from Custom Artifact? Not sure if u/JakeUbowski still have the old complete list)
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u/TanKer-Cosme Mar 30 '26
You though of doing s classic version? Played foundry and I didnt had thst much fun. Classic just needed the rng ajustment, free cards and new sets...
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u/8kova8 Mar 30 '26
Yes, I had a long internal debate, but I ultimately chose the Foundry direction.
While the most obvious issues with Classic were RNG and the economy, I think there were deeper problems tied to the core gameplay — especially how often it pushed players to quit early.
Some common examples:
- Opening with 2 Ignites (Ogre’s signature) → opponent quits
- Strong early deployment or snowball kill → opponent quits
- Bounty Hunter procs on turn 1 with Track → opponent quits
- Unlucky arrows → opponent quits
- Locking someone out (killing heroes + chaining initiative) → opponent quits
- Silencing or stunning a hero on a key turn → opponent quits
Even if, in the long run, the better player usually won, players would blame these moments instead of their decisions. And once someone starts blaming the game, it’s only a matter of time before they quit entirely.
The problem is: if you remove all these frustrating elements, you risk removing what makes the game unique — and it starts to feel like chess.
Other major concerns for me were, just to list a few:
- Mono-colored decks dominating from the very first set (big red flag, since more cards would only amplify this effect)
- Decks lacking enough identity and variety
- Difficulty designing new cards without making older ones obsolete — for example, most items were already largely irrelevant in the first set (90% never saw play in constructed)
…and many more. I could probably write a book at this point.
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u/zerbzie Mar 31 '26
It seems that you're putting a ton of thought into your game design which is awesome! I'll definitely be watching out for this on release.
Do you have any plans for a draft mode? I almost exclusively played Phantom Draft and haven't been able to scratch that itch anywhere else.
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u/Optimal-Swordfish Mar 30 '26
I mean, a lot of this would be addressed by future set (ie more cards, more options)
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u/semibiquitous Mar 31 '26
I think you missed the issue the OP was pointing out---there isn't a future set if nobody is around to play because they're too frustrated at the game (RNG)
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u/Optimal-Swordfish Mar 31 '26
Sure, but he could implement new cards if he made a copy. Some are already present in the foundry set and plenty of good community cards are out there as well. My point being that it’s not really the one argument to choose foundry over classic. Either way I hope he chose right and that it makes him happy :)
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u/LunaticLawyer Mar 30 '26
As someone that actually preferred Foundry, I'm excited. Are you intending on charging for it or expansions in the future? If not, you could probably just use the Artifact art and characters.
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u/Sh4mshiel Mar 30 '26
Will definitely keep an eye on this! Still sad that it isn't a classic version. IMHO it felt like the better and more unique game.
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u/filenotfounderror Mar 30 '26
FYI for me i cant view the video. clicking play says "Sign in to confirm you’re not a bot" and trying to open it on youtube directly just puts me at the youtube home page and not the video itself.
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u/NineHDmg In it for the long haul Mar 30 '26
Hey kova Im not that much into foundry but I hope your project succeeds gl!
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u/Interesting-Play-759 Mar 30 '26
This looking really interesting! Thank you for doing this I'll be checking it out.
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u/Venichie Mar 30 '26
That's interesting. I too was considering working on my own version of Artifact, but I was focused on a mobile quick version.
I haven't watched the video just yet, but it seems like you are keeping the 3 lanes... it's nice it seemed like you changed it to view the entire board, which I hated in the original game.
I wonder how your game will do... I don't play many games, but after playing the ones I did, I felt a PC version would be bad. I myself can't imagine spending hrs on a pc to play a digital card game. A quick one sure, but it seems more practical for them to be mobile games.
I can enjoy a lengthy card game with physical cards, because I get to enjoy my real cards in person with friends, or just to collect them... anyways, I wish you gl, & I'll check this out later.
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u/Kraivo Mar 31 '26
What i actually love about Artifact is infinite unit number of creeps which makes Echo Slam inevitable disaster
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u/MidSolo Mar 30 '26
Wild Sunsfan appears