[Something to play towards or un-necessary forced time sink]

I have been reading this thread with some interest. I am a long time player from beta and the general theme of this thread is how can we grab new player's interest while also keeping long time players. I believe that more people playing is better for everyone.

 

This thread has brought up some interesting ideas for how to use rewards as a way to maintain the interest of some of the players. The way those rewards are used and even what defines a reward has been discussed in some interesting ways here.

 

While I enjoy several different styles of play in this game, one of the biggest motivators for me is character development and the progression of a story that is encouraged through some type of reward. I have thought about how this can be done in game while not taking away from someone else's enjoyment. This is the idea that I came up with:

 

Have costume pieces open up options to gain badges or small bonuses at certain times during your character's progression.

 

Example) Your character wears a cape and obtains the Hero One Memorial Badge. This unlocks a moderate speed bonus (say 5%) to your character when wearing a cape.

 

Example) Your character wears a vanguard costume piece. When you reach level 35 and obtain the Member of Vanguard badge, a new contact sends you a message asking if you would like to earn that costume piece. After completing this mission you get a small increased bonus to gain Vanguard Merits.

 

Example) Living Costume Badge
Every main piece of a costume has a mission tied to it. Head, Upper Body, Lower Body, Back Detail, Auras all have a mission that unlocks with certain types of costume parts that give certain types of bonuses. The Vanguard hat gives a small bonus to Vanguard Merits, the Stealth Upper Body parts give a bonus to stealth radius, Zombie leg gives a 5% resistance against negative energy.

 

These missions unlock at different levels and once you have completed all 5, you gain the Living Costume Badge that states: "You have become one with your costume and it no longer slows you down". This will give the Living Costume accolade that is a 10% recharge reduction on all powers.

 

Example) Costume Set Bonus Unlock
Every costume set has a specific bonus that unlocks after you run a specific TF or Mission arc, while wearing that full set. Your character keeps that bonus as long as you wear one piece from that set.
So if you run the ITF while wearing the Roman costume set, you unlock an accolade that gives a 5% defense boost while wearing any part of the Roman costume.

Vanguard set gives a Merit boost.

 

Zombie gives a negative energy resist boost.

 

These are just examples of how this idea can be used in game. I like this idea of my costume opening up certain aspects of the game, because it gives my character some background into his costume that steers me towards certain missions that flesh out his story of becoming super powered.

[Weekly Discussion 77: Designing an Epic Archetype for Praetorian Earth]

Dimensional Gemini

 

You select this PEAT when building your character at character creation. You proceed as a normal character until you reach level 20. At this point depending on your alignment you will be presented with a specific mission. For heroes, you will be informed by Vanguard that there is a Praetorian double that is ruining your good name and you must stop them. For villain's, there is a Praetorian double that is trying to end all of your wrong doings. And for a Praetorian, there is a primal earth double that threatens to destroy your world.

 

This mission will begin with you designing your counter-part double in the character creation screens.

(Technically it would be great if this could be setup as an alternate build on your character, but program limitations might force a whole character slot and alternate character to be used.)

You would then be sent to a the Moon base, where you would eventually face against Metronome and Neuron. This ends up with you captured along with your double that is strapped in a experimental tube next to you. Metronome has decided that merging both primal and praetorian dimensions will stop Hamidon as he will be depowered by being merged will a weaker form of himself and all of the super powered individuals will gain in power if their double is also super powered. Your character is the first attempt at testing this theory.

 

As usual, Neuron has taken shortcuts and the experiment ends badly with you getting flung through a dimensional rift ending up in the Shadow Shard. Your double is nowhere to be seen and you have this voice in your head complaining about being unable to see or hear anything. You have been merged with your double, but neither has full control.

 

(Auto Power) Unstable Gemini - You switch between your two characters every 30 minutes. Since neither side is in full control you do not have a label as hero or villain. Everything is yellow to you. You can travel to any non-PVP map and be treated as that side's color. In Atlas park you are treated as a hero, and in Mercy Island you are treated as a villain. On PVP maps, you are given the option to choose what side you are on and can change that option every 15 minutes.
The alignment system and changing to Rogue or Vigilante are not available to you.

 

(Innate Bonus) Gemini Stamina: All powers have a 15% end reduction, this bonus is affected by diminishing returns. This bonus grows to 20% at level 30, 25% at level 40, and 30% at level 50.
(Power) Dimensional Affinity: This would be the same as Teleport.
(Power) Alternate Self: This would be similar to Rise of the Phoenix without the damage portion, and you revive as your counter-part double.

If the character is defeated, they must use Alternate Self as no other form of revive will effect their dimensionally broken body. 

 

As the character gains in experience, their quest for a cure will open up specific missions that will help to unlock their full abilities.

 

At Level 25:
(Power) Incomplete Form: This would be similar to the Phase Shift power from the Concealment Pool. 

 

At Level 30:
(Innate Bonus) Gemini Strength: All powers have a 15% damage boost, this bonus is affected by diminishing returns. This bonus grows to 20% at level 40, and 25% at level 50.
(Power) Stabilizing Injection : This would be similar to Aid Self from the Medicine pool without being interruptible.

 

At Level 35:
(Power) Double Trouble : This would be similar to Invoke Panic from the Presence Pool.

 

At Level 40:
(Innate Bonus) Gemini Resistance: A 5% bonus to all resistances. This bonus grows to 10% at level 50.
(Power) There can be only One: This would be similar to the Unleash Potential power from the Force of Will pool.

 

At Level 45:
(Power) Dimensional Hole: Similar to the Beta Fold Space power from the Teleport pool.

 

At level 50, the character will face his double in a mission where after defeating the double they come to terms with each other and team up to attack the Moon Base and end the experiments.

(Power) Gemini Mastery: The power Unstable Gemini will be replaced with this power that functions the same, but is now a clickable change instead of being every 30 minutes.
 

[Weekly Discussion 77: Designing an Epic Archetype for Praetorian Earth]

5 hours ago, InvaderStych said:

 

Alternatively, it's an opportunity to start a character from scratch with that exact path in mind, and eventually leveraging the ability to switch between Life/Afterlife builds on the fly.

 

When I read the concept, it never even occurred to me that I'd be using an existing 50 to run the path.  Doesn't fit their original design, but I know not everyone approaches their characters the same, so YMMV.

 

In a practical sense, it would probably make more sense to use the "multiple builds" function than have two separate toons at the character creator.  Easier to implement the lvl 50 unlock that switches back and forth that way.  There might be some issue with that approach, like a couple I can think of:

 

It might not be possible to setup an A/B set of the 3 builds each.

 

There may not be a way to invoke the AT selection screen via command similar to /respec; ie there might not be a way to be a Tanker in Life and a Defender in death.  Code limitations might mean you're stuck with two different power sets of the same AT.  Of course, I like the narrative idea enough that a technical limitation like that wouldn't bother me much.  Something about reaching for victory after a seemingly ultimate defeat speaks to me these days.

 

So basically, finish the instigating arc, dying in defeat, Personal Story Mission & or Cut Scene, invoke either AT or Powers selection screen whichever is technically possible, all previous builds and costumes are temporarily unavailable until finishing out the lvl 50 arc and finally being victorious in a version of the original objective in the first place.  Power takes on a "Forms" button that swaps between A/B build and costume sets..

Great summation of my idea.

 

I like the idea of being able to swap between different ATs as an alternative to starting a new character.

 

The idea is to try and leverage our existing systems with minimal effort as possible. I would like the dual builds to function like multiple builds that use different AT and powersets, but think that an easier solution would be to have two separate character slots that are allowed to change mid-mission without going to the loading screen.

 

This would also force the player to essentially earn twice the XP, with the benefit of gaining the dual-build option and some nice (hopefully not balance destroying) bonuses that help with enhancement slotting and access to some nice utility pool powers.

 

This ability to switch between different AT and powerset builds gives access to a lot of possible ideas to access it through character development.

[Weekly Discussion 77: Designing an Epic Archetype for Praetorian Earth]

The Infected

 

Hamidon is destroying the world, all of humanity will perish. Emperor Cole desperately tries for one last attempt to save humanity. Once your praetorian character reaches level 20, instead of leaving for Primal Earth you can accept a mission from Emperor Cole.

 

This mission will ultimately end with the character failing to stop Hamidon and becoming Devouring Earth infected in the process. Emperor Cole tosses your character outside the Sonic Fences to keep Praetoria pure. You then fight through the area hoping to maintain your sanity as you end up deep in Praetoria's underground.

 

You will then create a new character that can choose any one of the ATs but must select as least either a primary or secondary one that is Plant, Nature, Earth, Thorny, Stone, Beast, or Bio. Their origin would be set to Mutation. This character will be granted experience to get to level 20 and given the following additional abilities:

 

(Innate Bonus) Infected Stamina: All powers have a 15% end reduction, this bonus is affected by diminishing returns. This bonus grows to 20% at level 30, 25% at level 40, and 30% at level 50.
(Power) Beastial Enhancement: This would be the same as Super Jump.
(Power) Nature's Glory: This would be similar to Rise of the Phoenix without the damage portion.

 

If the character is defeated, they must use Nature's Glory as no other form of revive will work on their infected bodies.

 

(Power) Glorious Vengeance: Through sheer force of will and hatred for Emperor Cole, the character is able to fight the infection and assume their previous form for a short time. This button will switch the character to their original Praetorian character with a timer for 2 hours before they revert back to their infected forms. When reverting back to their infected form, the character remains confused for 15 seconds as they fight to regain control. If the original character is chosen from the Character select screen, the timer will start at 2 hours.

 

As the character grows, other praetorians will hear of the one that did not succumb to Hamidon's influence and will offer missions to enhance their abilities. These missions will come from both the Resistance and the Loyalists but not from Emperor Cole. These missions will unlock their Infected abilities.

 

At Level 25:
(Power) Toxic Spore: This would be similar to the Corrosive Vial power from the Experimentation Pool.

 

At Level 30:
(Innate Bonus) Infected Strength: All powers have a 15% damage boost, this bonus is affected by diminishing returns. This bonus grows to 20% at level 40, and 25% at level 50.
(Power) Chameleon Skin: This would be similar to Invisibility from the Concealment pool.

 

At Level 35:
(Power) Pandemic Presence: This would be similar to Invoke Panic from the Presence Pool.

 

At Level 40:
(Innate Bonus) Infected Resistance: A 5% bonus to all resistances. This bonus grows to 10% at level 50.
(Power) Hatred Unleashed: This would be similar to the Unleash Potential power from the Force of Will pool.

 

At Level 45:
(Power) Raging Infection: Similar to the Spirit Ward power from the Sorcery pool but affects the character.

 

At level 50, the character will find a way to face down Emperor Cole now in a secret Vanguard black site prison and steal some of his power. Using the stolen power from Emperor Cole a cure will be found for the Infected restoring their full humanity and bringing hope to restore Praetoria's lost humans as well.

(Power) Infected Mastery: The power glorious Vengeance will be replaced with this power that no longer has a timer and the character can now freely switch between the two characters with a long cooldown in-between without any confuse penalty.
 

[Weekly Discussion 77: Designing an Epic Archetype for Praetorian Earth]

2 minutes ago, Night said:

Making your character unplayable because you wanna try a new AT is a terrible, bad decision and gets a huge NO

At level 50, the original character becomes playable again with the ability to switch between the two characters without going to the loading screen. It's a temporary thing to make the change also feel like an initial loss and the start of something new.

[Weekly Discussion 77: Designing an Epic Archetype for Praetorian Earth]

The Undying

 

Hamidon has destroyed the world, all of humanity has perished. But in Night Ward, the huge influx of the dead has taken it's toll and the veil between the living and the dead is as frail as ever before. Montague Castanella desperately tries for one last attempt to save humanity.

 

Once a character has earned the badge "One of the Eight", Montague will contact them for a mission to save Praetoria. This mission will ultimately end with the character failing to stop Hamidon and dying in the process. Montague will then use the Manual of the Dead to reanimate your character as an Undying, to once again take to final fight to Hamidon.

 

Your old character will be greyed out in the character screen and un-selectable. You will then create a new character that can choose any one of the ATs but must select as least either a primary or secondary one that is Dark, Darkness, or Necromancy. Their origin would be set to Magic. This character will be granted experience to get to level 20 and given the following additional abilities:

 

(Innate Bonus) Undying Stamina: All powers have a 15% end reduction, this bonus is affected by diminishing returns. This bonus grows to 20% at level 30, 25% at level 40, and 30% at level 50.
(Power) Incorporeal Locomotion: This would be the same as Flight.
(Power) Deathless Rebirth: This would be similar to Rise of the Phoenix without the damage portion.

 

If the character is defeated, they must use Deathless Rebirth as no other form of revive will work.

 

Seeing the character trying to adjust to their new state, Montague will send the character back in time and recommend that they go and gain experience in their new undying form and come back to him when they are ready.

 

At levels 25, 30, 35, 40, and 45 the character will go back to Montague for specialized missions to unlock their Undying abilities.

 

At Level 25:
(Power) Ghost Form: This would be similar to the Invisibility power from the Concealment Pool.

 

At Level 30:
(Innate Bonus) Undying Strength: All powers have a 15% damage boost, this bonus is affected by diminishing returns. This bonus grows to 20% at level 40, and 25% at level 50.
(Power) Netherworld Blast: This would be similar to Arcane Bolt from the Sorcery Pool.

 

At Level 35:
(Power) Haunting Presence: This would be similar to Invoke Panic from the Presence Pool.

 

At Level 40:
(Innate Bonus) Undying Resistance: A 5% bonus to all resistances. This bonus grows to 10% at level 50.
(Power) Incorporeal Form: This would be similar to the Phase Shift power from the Concealment pool.

 

At Level 45:
(Power) Undying Ward: Similar to the Spirit Ward power from the Sorcery pool but affects the character.

 

At level 50, the character will be called on to permanently damage Hamidon and save Praetoria. Once completed the character will gain the following ability:

(Power) Undying Rebirth: This power would allow the character to switch between the Undying character and their old original character which would no longer be greyed out. It would have a long cooldown but would allow for the switching of characters in the middle of missions or TFs. Basically giving the character a chance to once again interact with the world as who they once were before their death.

 

The idea behind this is to allow for a character to grow after reaching level 50 (or at least after level 35) without adding in new levels, and give access to pool powers that might not normally be chosen. It would also leverage existing game mechanics and powers in a hopefully fun and new way.