I've been enjoying the game, using the default Northern Kingdoms deck. Not sure if I am doing things right in the rewards department. I am just picking things at random.
Is there a way to check your all time wins/losses? I feel like I've won just about as many times as I've lost. I never redraw cards, I just go for it.
Edit: I also don't understand some of these mechanics. One opponent was able to play numerous cards in a row - a few cards each round for something like three rounds in a row, while it kept making me pass even though I had five or six cards left to play. He just burned through those several plays throwing out a few cards at a time while I just had to sit and watch my huge lead dwindle down, unable to do nothing about it. It was weird.
Edit 2: I don't understand why there's a huge bonus to go first. The card that boosts an ally by 5, just because one won a dice roll. I've had about ten opponents immediately quit when they didn't get to go first and I don't blame them.
Edit 3: Man it is really, really slow. Even with the options to reduce time like not having to see every card they play for several seconds, it is excruciating. It takes me about ten seconds to figure out what to play, especially when we're in the final round. But I end up waiting until the timer almost expires for the opponent to finish their decisions. Even when I'm beating the pants off them. I wish CDPR would reduce the timer to something like 15 seconds.
For Edit1: There are cards that fetches other cards and play them. Those are usually gold and rare. If the opponent passes, you can still play cards, but be very careful. Never go more than one card down (see below).
Edit2: Going first is nearly an automatic loss in this game (or at least, it used to be). The bonus of getting 5 points is not really enough to compensate the importance of card advantage (and going first is losing that card advantage). In my experience it is very common that new players thinks that going first is an advantage, and anecdotally it is a sign that they don't understand card advantage and last say. Use cards like Geralt of Rivia and Scorch, if you have them, to practice these concepts. Understanding and using CA is absolutely crucial to Gwent.
Here is an example: Opponent is monster and will finish with a very big unit. You have Geralt in hand (kills a very big unit).
If you have card advantage, he has to play his large unit on his last turn and you can kill it with Geralt, your last card.
If they have card advantage, you have to play your last card, Geralt, BEFORE they put their big unit down. Thus Geralt is worthless and the big unit survives. Losing CA is losing the game.
Edit3: Early game Gwent is torture because it is slow. Especially if you play ranked. Playing casual on the other hand, will match with people with very strong decks so it is lose/lose no matter what.
On the other hand, pro players often run out of time, so it's not really like they can shorten it.
