Well, player Scfdivine has looked to create a neural network that takes on this task of creating new Hearthstone cards. They were inspired by a similar network that makes random cards for Magic: The Gathering that has gained a solid reputation. So, Scfdivine attempted to do the same with Hearthstone, and it has proven to be a treasure trove of the bizarre and the spectacular.
It has been remarkably successful at developing cards considering how simple the AI mechanic is.
Essentially, as Scfdivine explains, after inputting the card list into the network, it predicts what the next character should be based on previous ones encountered. Despite not recognizing what a Hearthstone card even is, it uses this system to develop a whole new list of cards, yielding some strange results.
Sounds very promising that such a basic mechanic has proven capable of establishing exciting new character prospects for the WoW-inspired card game. However, Scfdivine does point towards a couple of drawbacks in the system, as a result of Hearthstone’s relatively small card pool and the power of his own PC. As such, the output quality can be somewhat erratic, leading to unexpected results:
The neural network has thus been able to produce a vivid variety of new characters, ranging from the genuinely intriguing to the downright unplayable. Scfdivine includes links to some of the program’s unique creations, including some which have true potential in Hearthstone:
Some which are slightly lacking but show promise with a few tweaks:
And, finally, some that will have you kicked out of the Tavern as a laughing stock:
