Let’s talk about flavor and lore for a second.

I appreciate the Gwent team a whole bunch, these new cards are some 4D chess stuff and i don't have any issue with the abilities. But i'm also a chronic lore b*tch so i've got a few thoughts about the witcher in the card game.

1) The yearly cycle. I like frogs as much as the next gal, but consider: irl, the year is of the tiger, and the cycle could have easily bent this just a little bit and be of the Lynx. Yknow, the animal on the kinda huge witcher related announcement made recently. That Gwent's former game director is working on.

2) Seasons. Losing just the names is one thing (that i can live with) even though competitive seasons went from being numbered to being titled 'of the Bear/of Love/of Elves' etc. around 3 years ago and it was one of the extra little things that separated Gwent from other games. But the entire concept of a themed reward tree every month? This was the stuff the lorebeards maybe didn't come for, but probably stayed for. Even if the tree would be random every month, at least there would be something to look forward to. Seasonal cardbacks were actually very popular, and character trees were by far the best sources of new lore. Gwent gave Ida Emean a personality, that's more than Sapkowski ever did for her, and i loved that. Hit me up for like 50 season theme ideas.

3) The new set. I already lowered my expectations to Witcher 3, commonly considered the canonest of canons, because it had a wide selection of funky items, and still ended up thinking how i'd rather see the Phylactery instead of a random Puzzle Box or Lara Dorren's necklace over Prism Pendant. There's nothing wrong with making stuff up, but i'm starting to feel like mentioning book things the likes of anything to do with Renfri, Essi Daven or Vereena might as well be useless soon. Hit me up for 50 card theme ideas.

4) Final words. I know i'm nitpicking, just, please Gwent devs, remember the game's roots. You're still doing a miles better job at a unique flavor than Netflix ever will, but don't be afraid to reference things inside the universe. Next drop Keira's lamp as NR specter support?