Is Hearthstone a game-within-game?

[BACK]
Is Hearthstone a game-within-game?
Posted On: August 25, 2023

Hearthstone's visuals suggest that the game is played in a tavern in the World of Warcraft universe on a (possibly magical) game board.


Is Hearthstone a game-within-game in WoW? When you play Hearthstone are you actually playing a character who's sitting in the tavern playing the game? Is Hearthstone mentioned in World of Warcraft?


Question from user Moyli at stackexchange.


Answer:

Since Warlords of Draenor, there have been multiple Hearthstone reference added to the game:.


You can buy items related to Hearthstone from a NPC named Benjamin Brode in your Garrison. He is named after and is a tribute to Ben Brode, the Hearthstone Senior Game Designer. You can buy from him:.


A Winning Hand (Use: Show everyone that you just won a game of Hearthstone! (2 Min Cooldown)).


The Hearthstone Board (Use: Throw down a Hearthstone board, letting everyone know you're ready to play! (3 Min Cooldown)).


There's a rare Garrison mission called Hearthstone Tournament available for your subjects which will reward you of:.


Autographed Hearthstone Card ((Use: Turn the card over to see what you got! (10 Sec Cooldown)) "Signed by Trump and Reckful. Not too shabby.").


Hearthstone Strategy Guide (Use: Teaches a follower the Hearthstone Pro trait. "Transforms an ordinary follower into a tactical genius.").


The related trait Hearthstone Pro which can only be learned with the above book and gives additional XP to your subject during the missions.


Thus, we could safely conclude that Blizzard is kind of trying to add Hearthstone to the lore of their Word of Warcraft game by implying that Hearthstone games are played mainly in Orgrimmar, Stormwind, Stranglethorn and Pandaria (out of the four boardgames currently availables).


But those are still easter eggs at their current states, as we've never actually seen NPC playing Hearthstone in the game. It seems a bit weird that the common NPC would be playing as Jaina against Thrall, using demonic and draconic entities. (But Blizzard's NPCs are always a bit off so it's a possibility nonetheless.).


It's more of an opinion-based at the moment but I'd say it would be accurate to add this in a Role Play lore or assume people are playing Hearthstone in Stormwind's inns, thanks to the easter eggs added by Blizzard.


EDIT.


Thanks to Michael Hampton for pointing that out: there's a game actually being played between Merra Finklestorm and Waina Steelpaw in front of the Shrine of the Seven Star (and probably at the Horde counterpart too). We can't talk to them but they sometimes let out things like "I need to rebuild my deck". There's probably other players in other cities too.


And as many have said, it's not stricly speaking "a game within a game" which could be played through World of Warcraft, but it is nonetheless a game that does take place within the World of Warcraft universe (which was the original question the OP asked for).


Answer from user Ananas at stackexchange.



[BACK]
Is Hearthstone a game-within-game?
Posted On: August 25, 2023

Hearthstone's visuals suggest that the game is played in a tavern in the World of Warcraft universe on a (possibly magical) game board.


Is Hearthstone a game-within-game in WoW? When you play Hearthstone are you actually playing a character who's sitting in the tavern playing the game? Is Hearthstone mentioned in World of Warcraft?


Question from user Moyli at stackexchange.


Answer:

Since Warlords of Draenor, there have been multiple Hearthstone reference added to the game:.


You can buy items related to Hearthstone from a NPC named Benjamin Brode in your Garrison. He is named after and is a tribute to Ben Brode, the Hearthstone Senior Game Designer. You can buy from him:.


A Winning Hand (Use: Show everyone that you just won a game of Hearthstone! (2 Min Cooldown)).


The Hearthstone Board (Use: Throw down a Hearthstone board, letting everyone know you're ready to play! (3 Min Cooldown)).


There's a rare Garrison mission called Hearthstone Tournament available for your subjects which will reward you of:.


Autographed Hearthstone Card ((Use: Turn the card over to see what you got! (10 Sec Cooldown)) "Signed by Trump and Reckful. Not too shabby.").


Hearthstone Strategy Guide (Use: Teaches a follower the Hearthstone Pro trait. "Transforms an ordinary follower into a tactical genius.").


The related trait Hearthstone Pro which can only be learned with the above book and gives additional XP to your subject during the missions.


Thus, we could safely conclude that Blizzard is kind of trying to add Hearthstone to the lore of their Word of Warcraft game by implying that Hearthstone games are played mainly in Orgrimmar, Stormwind, Stranglethorn and Pandaria (out of the four boardgames currently availables).


But those are still easter eggs at their current states, as we've never actually seen NPC playing Hearthstone in the game. It seems a bit weird that the common NPC would be playing as Jaina against Thrall, using demonic and draconic entities. (But Blizzard's NPCs are always a bit off so it's a possibility nonetheless.).


It's more of an opinion-based at the moment but I'd say it would be accurate to add this in a Role Play lore or assume people are playing Hearthstone in Stormwind's inns, thanks to the easter eggs added by Blizzard.


EDIT.


Thanks to Michael Hampton for pointing that out: there's a game actually being played between Merra Finklestorm and Waina Steelpaw in front of the Shrine of the Seven Star (and probably at the Horde counterpart too). We can't talk to them but they sometimes let out things like "I need to rebuild my deck". There's probably other players in other cities too.


And as many have said, it's not stricly speaking "a game within a game" which could be played through World of Warcraft, but it is nonetheless a game that does take place within the World of Warcraft universe (which was the original question the OP asked for).


Answer from user Ananas at stackexchange.



[BACK]

Best way of accumulating large amounts of Candy Corn in GW2 Best way of accumulating large amounts of Candy Corn in GW2

Posted On: December 26, 2023
The new Blood and Madness season has begun in GW2. New items have become available from the TP. These items range in price from 1 - 12 Candy Corn Cobs. The only way I know to get 1 Candy Corn Co...[More]


When do enemies get added to to the Piklopedia? When do enemies get added to to the Piklopedia?

Posted On: April 6, 2024
What are the conditions to unlock an enemy's Piklopedia entry in Pikmin 2? Do entries show up if an enemy is encountered for the first time? Do they have to be defeated first? Does a sample of the ene...[More]


How can I jump across the bridge? How can I jump across the bridge?

Posted On: December 30, 2023
I'm playing Half-Life 2 Episode 2 and I need to get this car to the other side of the bridge. Perhaps I'm missing something dead obvious, but how on earth do I do this? It seemed some in-ga...[More]


Is it possible to get a Diamond Shovel from a Toolsmith villager in Minecraft Java Edition? Is it possible to get a Diamond Shovel from a Toolsmith villager in Minecraft Java Edition?

Posted On: March 3, 2023
According to the Wiki and some forums, an Expert-level Toolsmith villager can offer three types of trades. Diamond -> Emerald. Emeralds -> Enchanted Diamond Axe. Emeralds -> Enchante...[More]


Is there any difference between Super Mario Wonders characters? Is there any difference between Super Mario Wonders characters?

Posted On: November 4, 2023
The game explains that choosing any Yoshi or Nabbit lets you play an easier version since you can't be damaged. But what about the other characters? In Super Mario 3D World each one had a special ...[More]


Tell me why I should like Minsc Tell me why I should like Minsc

Posted On: September 27, 2023
Because he’s the first person at camp that I don’t like (well except Mizora). I don’t like his character and at this point I don’t really. Red a ranger. Question from user B...[More]


How do I get the star behind the gate in The City? How do I get the star behind the gate in The City?

Posted On: March 29, 2024
Near the start of The City, there is a star behind a gate down in the water. The B3313 wiki says I can bypass the gate with a vanish cap, but I'm not able to find it. Where can I find the vanish cap t...[More]


Zelda Breath Of The Wild Where can I find spicy peppers? Zelda Breath Of The Wild Where can I find spicy peppers?

Posted On: May 3, 2023
I used all the spicy peppers and the old man says that I will find them by the citadel of time, but I've searched and found nothing. What does this plant look like and where is it? Question ...[More]


Why does the Pokémon count show one more than the actual Pokémon I have? Why does the Pokémon count show one more than the actual Pokémon I have?

Posted On: June 17, 2023
I have 11 Pokémon, none duplicate. But the count at the top shows 12. Is this a bug, or does it count the Pokémon in the egg, too? Question from user Shaunak D at stackexchange. ...[More]


Is it possible to play Prop Hunt in GMod without CS:S? Is it possible to play Prop Hunt in GMod without CS:S?

Posted On: July 5, 2023
I've got GMod and just about every mainstream Valve game excepting CS:S. I'd like to play Prop Hunt, a GMod game mode. Is it possible to play Prop Hunt without CS:S, possibly by obtaining t...[More]