Regarding my story about AE shutting down...
By
Aura_Familia,
Posted on: 2009-07-17 11:07 in Suggestions and Ideas
[ QUOTE ]
The fake story I posted up in the Issue 15 discussion forum "Dr. Aeon Arrested! Architect Entertainment Closed!" (which I now realize should have been posted elsewhere) was an attempt at a way the devs could throw a curve ball into the MA system once in a while.
This could be activated now and then, not to slow Power Leveling down (since you can already PL anywhere) but to make the MA system "feel" more like the classic style of heading to a hide-out to take down a goody goody or filthy mc nasty.
Please keep in mind that I propose this as an "event" that happens maybe every two to three months like the rikti invasion weekend we have running today. Also, I apologize if I repeat myself too much below. I have that attention... thing.
If AE was "temporarily" shut down pending the outcome of some investigation, little VR houses would certainly spring up (think Prohibition and secret drinking clubs) as a way for Supers to feed their holo-addiction.
So, what if an anonymous person (Countess Crey) took steps to set up one VR location accessible ONLY by using a circuit board style token or "key" which was ONLY made available via the consignment shops/black market at a cost of 1 Inf? These tokens (an endless supply) would stay on the market for forty-five minutes before being pulled. This should provide enough time for someone not in a Task/Strike Force to grab one off the market. I suppose a message could pop up similar to Rikti invasion messages for when Countess Crey submits a new batch of tokens).
After purchase, the token would exist until a new batch appeared on the market. At such time, the existing token would then disappear (explode, crumble, evaorate, melt... you get the point). At such time, you could get a new one!
The token would unlock a VR house beacon somewhere in the zone in which the token was purchased. Once you get into a VR house, you (and anyone else on a team having one player holding a token) could use that location for selecting arcs to play. However, once Countess Crey submits a replacement batch of tokens to the market, the current VR house would shut down and no new missions could be obtained from that location. If you logged out inside a mission from that house and logged in after the house has moved, your mission will have been removed from your cue.
The tokens would remain on the market for 45 minutes before being pulled, and this event would reoccur randomly every one to two hours. All tokens bought from the same event in a particular zone will lead everyone (holding a token or teamed with a player having one) to the same building in that zone. There will only ever be one VR house at a time per event per zone. Therefore, it would be a good idea for players to be in various zones so that someone can unlock the door to the VR house in those zones.
The catch is that the missions offered by these VR houses would be restricted to the level ranges of zones in which they exist. Moreover, your combat level would be automatically set to the team leader's level, which would in turn be affected by restricted by the zone's level range.
So, you could be a true combat level 5 player at a VR house in Peregrine Island or Grandville raised up to 50 yet you'd only have the powers available at level 5. Or you could be a true combat level 50 player in Kings Row or Port Oakes only having access to the powers you'd have if you were level 5 to level 9 as an example... like a preset task/strike force level range.
In a nutshell, I think this would bring more players to the Consignmenet shop/Black Market truck if for nothing other than buying a VR house token/key. This would add a twist to the MA system, and also encourage players to get to know all the zones because a VR house would spawn in random sections within a zone. If you wanted to hang out and beat up the locals in the area while you're there, various villains and do-gooders are always standing by; ready to serve you.
Again, I don't propose this to be a replacement for the current MA system. I see it as an "event" that happens once in a while like Zombie/Rikti invasions. Originally I thought it would be cool if it was triggered by completing some new Crey TF/SF, but I think it would disrupt people's using the AE building too much and would be an annoyance. I'd rather see this happen for a day or two every two months or so... just to stir things up a bit.
It's just an idea. I'm not asking to replace anything... just change it up temporarily every so often as kind of a lore driven... thingy. Please don't all go "David After Dentist" on me at once!
[/ QUOTE ]
The problem is the whether the tech to allow AE mission entrances to be sprinkled throughout the zones exists. From the developer diary articles (if I'm remembering correctly) I don't think it does. I think it was one of the problems that they ended up having all MA missions spawn in one location in each zone--hence the AE building.
Blazara Aura LVL 50 Fire/Psi Dom (with 125% recharge)
Flameboxer Aura LVL 50 SS/Fire Brute
Ice 'Em Aura LVL 50 Ice Tank
Darq Widow Fortune LVL 50 Fortunata (200% rech/Night Widow 192.5% rech)--thanks issue 19!
The fake story I posted up in the Issue 15 discussion forum "Dr. Aeon Arrested! Architect Entertainment Closed!" (which I now realize should have been posted elsewhere) was an attempt at a way the devs could throw a curve ball into the MA system once in a while.
This could be activated now and then, not to slow Power Leveling down (since you can already PL anywhere) but to make the MA system "feel" more like the classic style of heading to a hide-out to take down a goody goody or filthy mc nasty.
Please keep in mind that I propose this as an "event" that happens maybe every two to three months like the rikti invasion weekend we have running today. Also, I apologize if I repeat myself too much below. I have that attention... thing.
If AE was "temporarily" shut down pending the outcome of some investigation, little VR houses would certainly spring up (think Prohibition and secret drinking clubs) as a way for Supers to feed their holo-addiction.
So, what if an anonymous person (Countess Crey) took steps to set up one VR location accessible ONLY by using a circuit board style token or "key" which was ONLY made available via the consignment shops/black market at a cost of 1 Inf? These tokens (an endless supply) would stay on the market for forty-five minutes before being pulled. This should provide enough time for someone not in a Task/Strike Force to grab one off the market. I suppose a message could pop up similar to Rikti invasion messages for when Countess Crey submits a new batch of tokens).
After purchase, the token would exist until a new batch appeared on the market. At such time, the existing token would then disappear (explode, crumble, evaorate, melt... you get the point). At such time, you could get a new one!
The token would unlock a VR house beacon somewhere in the zone in which the token was purchased. Once you get into a VR house, you (and anyone else on a team having one player holding a token) could use that location for selecting arcs to play. However, once Countess Crey submits a replacement batch of tokens to the market, the current VR house would shut down and no new missions could be obtained from that location. If you logged out inside a mission from that house and logged in after the house has moved, your mission will have been removed from your cue.
The tokens would remain on the market for 45 minutes before being pulled, and this event would reoccur randomly every one to two hours. All tokens bought from the same event in a particular zone will lead everyone (holding a token or teamed with a player having one) to the same building in that zone. There will only ever be one VR house at a time per event per zone. Therefore, it would be a good idea for players to be in various zones so that someone can unlock the door to the VR house in those zones.
The catch is that the missions offered by these VR houses would be restricted to the level ranges of zones in which they exist. Moreover, your combat level would be automatically set to the team leader's level, which would in turn be affected by restricted by the zone's level range.
So, you could be a true combat level 5 player at a VR house in Peregrine Island or Grandville raised up to 50 yet you'd only have the powers available at level 5. Or you could be a true combat level 50 player in Kings Row or Port Oakes only having access to the powers you'd have if you were level 5 to level 9 as an example... like a preset task/strike force level range.
In a nutshell, I think this would bring more players to the Consignmenet shop/Black Market truck if for nothing other than buying a VR house token/key. This would add a twist to the MA system, and also encourage players to get to know all the zones because a VR house would spawn in random sections within a zone. If you wanted to hang out and beat up the locals in the area while you're there, various villains and do-gooders are always standing by; ready to serve you.
Again, I don't propose this to be a replacement for the current MA system. I see it as an "event" that happens once in a while like Zombie/Rikti invasions. Originally I thought it would be cool if it was triggered by completing some new Crey TF/SF, but I think it would disrupt people's using the AE building too much and would be an annoyance. I'd rather see this happen for a day or two every two months or so... just to stir things up a bit.
It's just an idea. I'm not asking to replace anything... just change it up temporarily every so often as kind of a lore driven... thingy. Please don't all go "David After Dentist" on me at once!