This idea is sort of a (ahem) Nemesis system that could be added to the Scanner/Newspaper content.
An additional tab added to the Scanner/Newspaper window. We'll call it the "Nemsis Tab". In this tab there would be a drop down menu. From this menu the player could select a specific villian/hero group and recieve a random mission just like we're used to, but it would be a mission against the villian/hero group chosen in the drop down menu.
There would be a few restrictions . . .
(1) No villain/hero groups would be available to a player until they met a certain requirement. This requirement *(see note below) would be "Successfully finished X number of Scanner/Newspaper missions against <Group Y>" Once that requirement was met then that specific group would be available in the drop down menu in the Nemesis Tab.
*(note below) even better, a whole new set of Accomplishemnt Badges could be designed and awarded for completing the requirment.
(2) The "Finished X number Scanner/Newspaper missions" requirement would be seperate for each zone that Scanner/Newspaper mission are normally available in (and X would get larger as you moved to higher level zones). This would prevent a level 40 character in a level 40ish zone, for example, from choosing a villian/hero group that doesn't have a level range that high becasue they accomlished the requirement back at level 10 in a level 10ish zone.
(3) Only 1 mission would be offered via the Nemesis Tab and would block out "rerolling" on the Standard Tab (and visa versa). So, similar to how it is now, you check the Scanner/Newspaper once and it sets the available missions and that's your choice(s) . . . you either pick what was offered or leave the zone. So, for instance, if you chose a Nemesis Tab mission and didn't like it you couldn't "reroll" on the Standard Tab without zoning . . . and conversely, if you rolled Standard missions you couldn't then try Nemesis because you didn't like the choices. (I don't really understand the "no reroll w/out rezoning" mechanic of Scanner/Newspaper missions, but since it's the way they work I've incorporated it into my suggestion. It's also the reason I came up with the idea).
So lets go to Make Believe Land and see how it works . . .
Our player has just begun patrolling King's Row. His backstory involves a run in with the Skulls. Armed with his new powers and thirst for revenge he sets out to bring the villian group to justice. He begins by signing in with PPD and spends his nights scanning the police waves for word of any Skulls' activity. Some leads don't pan out (non Skull missions), but some do. More and more our hero is learning about the Skulls' underground operations and methods of operation. Soon, he can sniff out a Skulls' plot with ease (he has met the "Completed X Scanner missions against Skulls" requirement).
Confident that he has helped crush the Skulls' grip on King's Row our hero moves on to Steel Canyon. But, it's a whole new ball game now (the player has to begin completing Scanner missions to meet the requirements again, even against Skulls). The Skulls aren't as active here, but there are other, stronger threats to be faced . . . and who knows, some of them might lead back to the Skulls.
Or . . . just let us reroll Scanner/Newspaper missions w/out rezoning. I like my Nemesis Idea better though.
Posted
Huh. Sure, sounds interesting, but a lot of players might abuse that to simply beeline for the easiest groups available.
This idea is sort of a (ahem) Nemesis system that could be added to the Scanner/Newspaper content.
An additional tab added to the Scanner/Newspaper window. We'll call it the "Nemsis Tab". In this tab there would be a drop down menu. From this menu the player could select a specific villian/hero group and recieve a random mission just like we're used to, but it would be a mission against the villian/hero group chosen in the drop down menu.
There would be a few restrictions . . .
(1) No villain/hero groups would be available to a player until they met a certain requirement. This requirement *(see note below) would be "Successfully finished X number of Scanner/Newspaper missions against <Group Y>" Once that requirement was met then that specific group would be available in the drop down menu in the Nemesis Tab.
*(note below) even better, a whole new set of Accomplishemnt Badges could be designed and awarded for completing the requirment.
(2) The "Finished X number Scanner/Newspaper missions" requirement would be seperate for each zone that Scanner/Newspaper mission are normally available in (and X would get larger as you moved to higher level zones). This would prevent a level 40 character in a level 40ish zone, for example, from choosing a villian/hero group that doesn't have a level range that high becasue they accomlished the requirement back at level 10 in a level 10ish zone.
(3) Only 1 mission would be offered via the Nemesis Tab and would block out "rerolling" on the Standard Tab (and visa versa). So, similar to how it is now, you check the Scanner/Newspaper once and it sets the available missions and that's your choice(s) . . . you either pick what was offered or leave the zone. So, for instance, if you chose a Nemesis Tab mission and didn't like it you couldn't "reroll" on the Standard Tab without zoning . . . and conversely, if you rolled Standard missions you couldn't then try Nemesis because you didn't like the choices. (I don't really understand the "no reroll w/out rezoning" mechanic of Scanner/Newspaper missions, but since it's the way they work I've incorporated it into my suggestion. It's also the reason I came up with the idea).
So lets go to Make Believe Land and see how it works . . .
Our player has just begun patrolling King's Row. His backstory involves a run in with the Skulls. Armed with his new powers and thirst for revenge he sets out to bring the villian group to justice. He begins by signing in with PPD and spends his nights scanning the police waves for word of any Skulls' activity. Some leads don't pan out (non Skull missions), but some do. More and more our hero is learning about the Skulls' underground operations and methods of operation. Soon, he can sniff out a Skulls' plot with ease (he has met the "Completed X Scanner missions against Skulls" requirement).
Confident that he has helped crush the Skulls' grip on King's Row our hero moves on to Steel Canyon. But, it's a whole new ball game now (the player has to begin completing Scanner missions to meet the requirements again, even against Skulls). The Skulls aren't as active here, but there are other, stronger threats to be faced . . . and who knows, some of them might lead back to the Skulls.
Or . . . just let us reroll Scanner/Newspaper missions w/out rezoning. I like my Nemesis Idea better though.