If you could redesign a canon faction (or two)

I overlooked the obvious canon faction I'd change: the Praetorians.

To start with I'd make the followers of the different Praetorian Guards less of the hobos and reskinned mobs and into more unique and defined groups. Then I'd do a lot more in flipping Primal Earth to Praetorian Earth, just with more Praetorian hands behind things (and I still love my idea of the Vahzilok King being the Praetorian Clockwork King).

We'll see what GR contains, of course, but the Praetorians are a group who could really do with a full going over.

More like sponsored. And it's not like Malta isn't controlled by Nemesis. (note: joke)

I discussed Sky Raiders with a friend yesterday and we concluded that the following changes would make the group more interesting.

1) Remove all human minions. Replace them with robotic drones of various kinds; a force field generator, a gun drone, etc.

2) Make the former human minions into lieutenants. Make jump bots into lieutenants. Make Captains into bosses.

3) Remove sky skiffs from regular spawns. Let sky skiffs be part of special spawns for outdoors locations only.

4) Let the new Captain bosses summon paratroopers (human minions arriving by parachute) and robotic minions like masterminds. Give Captains more machete attacks and give them dual pistols once that's available.

5) Introduce "mine fields", pre-deployed as part of spawns. Nearly invisible for unenhanced perception, these immobile underlings simply explode when stepped upon. Just like mines from Traps or Devices.

6) Change all Sky Raider weaponry into a high-tech light-weight arsenal to promote the idea of flying pirates. One idea was a lightning-gun similar to a Malta Sapper's gun but with less end drain and more damage.

Now they are more like mid-level Malta and their lore can be altered to represent this. Maybe Nemesis loses interest in the Sky Raiders once his involvement is exposed as part of the story, and the Raiders turn to Malta for support, which means that they will get a stronger anti-supers agenda, which in turn will give the Raiders a more interesting motivation than simple piracy and mercenary activities.

Why stop with just one faction, there are several that need some serious updating.

1) Sky Raiders and GoldBrickers. The Sky Raiders are meh. They have a compelling story line to thier existence, but for ex-mil spec ops, they are really really weak. Matla pwns but the Sky Raiders suck. What gives? Take some of the 'Brickers' sonic weapons and put them with the Raiders and you start to have a faction with a little more bite. I dont want to just eliminate Midas' story, because it too is pretty good, but it just stops too early in the game. These two groups need to talk to each other, because they really need each other.

2) Malta. They need a better reason to exist. For a "behind the scenes" organization, they tend to flaunt it quite a bit. They should be ret-conned into being the "elite" of the Family. The members of the Family that show exceptional prowess get invited into the Malta ("an offer they can't refuse.") It would make a nice transition from the 30s into the 40s for the Family fading away and the Malta stepping up. And of cource adding some gravy powers to some of the Malta would just be silly fun.

3) Outcasts, Warriors, and Tsoo. 3 low to mid level groups that seem to have a perfect 3-way battle for control of the streets. Outcasts have thier elemental powers, Warriors are focused heavily on physical/melee attacks, and the Tsoo are a magic/MA hybrid. The Tsoo persist alot longer than the other groups, but I dont see why dont have more street fighting between the groups aside from some minor skirmishing in the northern end of Steel. Some serious ret-conning of not only the origin of these groups but how they should have intertwined past, present, and future should be in order.

4) Trolls. I have no idea where to start here. Okay, I like the raves, I don't mind they have most of the Hallows, but seriously, who goes to the Hallows anymore? The trolls need a new offensive, spreading deeper into Steel and Skyway (beyond the raves) and perhaps trying to get a foot hold in IP or Talos. I like this group, but they seem to be stagnating despite having thier own zone event.

Actually, Malta's attitude is more "enslave-the-supers" their attitude is that superpowers belong to the State.

I love it when factions are interconnected - it makes the world feel more alive - so we need lots more of that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AzureSkyCiel Sky Raiders are actually controlled by Nemesis.

And everything else isn't?

I would love to see more Vahzilok, maybe have them return for 30-40 doing deals with the Freakshow on Heroes, then the Meat Doctors can be transferred over too.

I could see the Cadavers and/or Abominations being underlings, with Mortificators and Meat Doctors being Minions and Eidolons as Lieutenants (similar to the Crey leveling up with their power suits going from Boss to Lieut to Minion). For bosses, hulked up masses of flesh/Freakshow tech similar to the good Doctor himself, with a detonation pack for when they get on low health could work.

As for Doctor Vahzilok, he can show up again at the end of a two-part arc from 30-35, then 35-40, making deals with some high ranking Freakshow, with both parties having been upgraded by each other.

Dr Vahz would have to be beefed up by Freak tech, with a better gun and more bodies attached to his armour, the odd metal spike sticking out from here and there. Add in a damage aura, full auto and/or flamethrower variant and better damage resistances. The Freakshow deal maker could be a large Tank with a circular saw as one weapon and large gun like Dr Vahz'.

Speaking of, always wondered why there was a Freak Tank Gunner with a gatling gun for one hand and rocket launcher for the other.. That would have to be added too.

I would also like to redo the Minions of Igneous, put them up to level 10-50 and move them to more zones. Give them some presence in Faultline, Siren's Call, Founders and Eden. Add in a TF/Trial/Arc where you try and stop a forthcoming war or alliance between Igneous and DE.. Maybe a badge or two.. They could be a force to be reckoned with if buffed up through the levels and given powers like Mud Pots, Earthquake, Stalagmites (AoE mez version) or Foot Stomp. Throw an Inferno and/or Rise of the Phoenix at the Magmite Lords and you have a powerful rival to the Devouring Earth.