Hacker card is WAY unbalanced, making the Hacker Boss too difficult

[JGalaxy]

I actually saw the developer commenting that the difficulty for this boss might be lowered but just wanted to throw my feedback out there to concur that in my opinion it should definitely be nerfed! :P And I think it's specifically due to the hacker card being too op, not only it does damage of 4 to a building (something that would be way worse if the AI for some reason didn't prioritize on finishing buildings like I would do, instead of damaging others) but it does it directly on the same turn it's played, even the 'early bird' card only does 3, and then gets and income of 200$ (When most workers bring 100$!!) so it destroys your economy and then gets a setup that is almost impossible to lower (I have only seen one card that disables a worker and actually the hacker boss is the main one that I have seen using it of top of everything, and haven't had the chance to buy it myself yet) On top of that hackers multiply the effects of other cards! it's just too much (oh and then you have the clone a worker card the boss uses too...)

I have reached the hacker boss with several factions and always get destroyed no matter how good the deck has been performing, If I play my buildings they get destroyed unless I'm very lucky, and even then I can't compete with their income, even controlling several streets (!) I have also tried to withhold my buildings till the hackers get played, but then they occupy the biz slots and with their ridiculous income the hacker boss just runs away with the income anyway...

And that's not even taking into account the other cards from the hacker boss' deck, like the crypto mining which gives her more continuous money for free without me being able to do anything about it (what should I do? Not play any cards??) And on top of it she has several thieves to even further set you back while she gets even more money, and they are beefy ones too, I had a henchmen focused deck that was controlling the streets in every other game that far, but she was able to get dominance and have several thieves by the endgame stealing money every turn.

On a side note I also think there should be a way to see your discard pile, which I might have missed, ideally on your deck tab maybe? as in put and icon or darken cards in your deck composition that are now used so that way one can see better what can still come up if you are as forgetful as I am... :P

In any case I'm glad that the developer is looking into it, and by the way even though I have raged pretty hard at this game with some of the unbalanced match ups I have faced :P I understand it's early access and I really love the concept and refreshing theme and artstyle, so please keep up refining the game! ;)

[Zoppy]

Regarding the the destruction of buildings. I've already written a bit of a tutorial in another thread on how to beat it, but here is a short version:

The hacker has 3 hacker cards, 3*4=12 building damage. Don't play any (weaker) building cards, until the hacker has used at least 1 hacker card—preferably all 3.
You can stack 2 building cards, when the hacker has only cast 1 hacker card. I wouldn't recommend this, if you don't have more in your deck as to further strengthen the building stack. You do, however, have to, make sure, you can cast both of the building cards on the same turn. As it's quite likely the hacker will get another hacker card soon and you'll have your hands full controlling the streets. I suggest having at least 4 strong (around 4 attack) henchmen in your deck and some fluff of henchmen (whatever strikes your fancy). Stuff like magic tie and turtle shell will tip this balance. Doesn't HAVE to be 4 strong henchmen (and fluff), but it's easier this way. You'll have to compensate the lack of strong henchmen with even further fluff. It's about finding a balance. Also try and have the debt below 2500 before the boss fight. Going so far as to hold back on making buildings on the fight leading up to the hacker fight (there could and should be a clearer indication, where the boss fight is on the map).

Getting 200 each turn is not that much, especially for a rare card. A few examples are the sales person card, which often ends up earning 300 or 400 each turn and that's a common card. The condo king earns 300 each turn flat and also draws a building card while only being an uncommon. The bookie which has something of the same variable as the sales person while costing 100 money less.

Regarding the disablement of workers. Gas Town also has the corner dealer card, which disables a worker and earns you 100 flat per turn for 400 money. A proper OPER build just laughs at the petty earnings, which the hacker calls an economy and proceeds to steamroll them.

Crypto mining is a very weak card. Think of it as a worker that in the end game only gives 50 and sometimes 100 money each turn, which is often half of what the weakest workers card does.

The amount of thieves has been severely reduced, before the hacker also had a bunch of identity thiefs, who would clone the hacker a lot of times.

I agree on the discard pile thing. We can currently, only see the latest few cards.

[Zoppy]

Sure it's something of a wakeup call the first few times you play against the hacker boss. You can't just play your own cards and hope for the best. You'll have to think and learn. As it is now, it is actually considerably easier than before. I know all this isn't very encouraging, but it gets more straightforward, once you learn the boss'es patterns.

[JGalaxy]

Thanks for the strategies, I'll try some of that next time ;)

[Zoppy]

You are welcome mate. I wish you good luck and lots of fun.