Monitor Duty: SG Idea with strong RP possibilities


Comicsluvr

 

Posted

This is copied from a thread I was interested in for a new Base addition called Monitor Duty. It ties in with RP so I decided to copy it here as well:

Proposal for CoX improvement we currently call Base Monitor.

Overview: This upgrade would enable a single character to assume the role of Base Monitor and use special Base equipment to aid teams of characters in the field. Aid could come in the form of simple information, calling for outside assistance, gathering and organizing the team and emergency evac teleports to name a few.

Specifics: In order to assume the role of Base Monitor a character would have to be present in a Base where the necessary Monitoring Equipment has been installed. Clicking on this equipment would open another window (likely full-screen but not necessarily) from which the character could perform Monitor Duties.

The initial piece of Monitoring Equipment would be relatively inexpensive and draw little power but it's capabilities would be very limited. Initially the Monitor would be able to see the map of any zone the base has active Teleport beacons to. From these maps he would be able to send and receive communications in Broadcast, Team and SG channels as well as tels. He would also be able to facilitate the forming of teams by use of a Team Searching / Looking for Team roster. From this roster he could send information to various characters on teams awaiting other characters or looking for teams. Any characters in the SG whose Base he was Monitoring from might have additional information at his disposal such as mission preferences ('Don't like tunnels') and personal messages ('No PLing').

Once a team was formed they could elect to maintain contact with the Monitor or not. If they did then at the end of their mission he would receive the Mission End bonus or at least a fraction thereof for his efforts. If the team elected not to remain in contact there might be an option to Trade with the Monitor so the team might gift the Monitor for his time gathering the team.

If the Monitor maintained contact througout the mission then he would have several abilities granted to him based on how good the Monitoring Equipment was and possibly tied to the Monitor's level as well.

The initial Monitoring Station might enable the Monitor to see the mission maps as the team clears them and communicate to the team. This could facilitate searches, lost or down teammates etc.

Upgrading the Monitoring Equipment might enable the Monitor to (in no particular order) do the following:

See a small portion of the map not yet cleared by the team.

Activate ally Buffs and/or enemy Debuffs that could be defined as hacking the mission location's power systems, security, lights and so on. These Buffs and Debuffs would be small (on the order of 5%) but they would stack with the team's existing Buffs if any.

Call for outside assistance in the form of one or more groups of allies (PPD, Longbow, Arachnos, etc). Such assistance would have a time delay to arrive and a time limit on-site to prevent abuse. The typical level of the reinforcements would be dependant upon the level of the Monitoring Equipment (better is good) and the Difficulty setting of the mission. They're intended to help out...not do the mission for the team. Think of the Thug MM Power Gang War.

Teleport downed team members back to the base even if there was no Resuscitate Ring in the Base (as long as there was an ative Teleporter to that zone). The character would arrive unconscious and need to be revived by established means (Inspirations, Rez Powers, etc). Alternately a VERY expensive and sophisticated Base upgrade might enable the Monitor to use a form of Teleport Other to send the downed team member to another (cleared) point on the map such as where the team has gathered to heal up. The top end for this gear would be a system whereby the character gets Teleported to the Base, has a chance to rest and refill Inspirations and can then be sent BACK to the mission instead of having to travel back.

The possibilites for this are virtually endless. The benefits are many and range from added Base use to faster team assembly to the ability to add a 'ninth man' to the team.

The range of players that could benefit is also very wide. Tactical team experts could utilize the Team Roster function to quickly and effectively gather teams. RPers could enjoy the RP aspects of being the Base Monitor or from being on a team with a 'big brother' watching over them. Players that might have trouble finding a team could list themselves on the roster instead of spamming the Broadcast with LFT messages. If any of the Monitor functions were tied to the Monitor's level then the higher-level characters, especially 50s, could participate in missions in a whole new way. Even soloists could benefit if they wanted to do the 'one-man tac-ops' type of mission with the support guy on the radio feeding the guy in the field intelligence.

With the addition of some sort of voice-comm (teamspeak, Ventrillo) the Monitor could be an invaluable asset to the team. This could also tie-in to Inventions since some of the Monitor upgrades could be invented. There could even be a Monitor Duty badge awarded for so many hours or missions spent on Monitor Duty.


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