Taking Mission Architect System into the "real world" ... and giving bases a boost!

[PancakeGnome]

The mission architect system was always a great first step towards infinite original content in the game. But the original developers were too scared of allowing it to have an effect on the larger game (I mean, the entire thing is contained in the idea that it's virtual reality training.... in a super hero game...lol). 

Now the AE system is just used for farms mostly. Infinite influence and EXP, easy missions, designed for fire tanks to mow down. 

 

So I'd like to propose some changes to get the system actually being used more widely ((and just changing the original contact won't do that)). While also getting SG bases used more!! A win/win for two awesome CoH features!!!

 

1) Create a base AE terming that only contains missions made by those in that SG through the Base AE system.

 

2) Add a base progression currency for architects. If someone runs your mission you should get points to spend on base-unique items ((more on that)). The amount of points you get depends on the difficulty and the the length (so no point in making it super easy).

 

3) Remove influence gained from running these missions (leave the normal AE system alone, but just make it so this doesn't turn into an inf farm too). Instead give merits based on the number of missions and the type of win condition and map used (a small map with just a "click to complete" win condition should give very low merits, for example).

 

4) Allow base owners to additionally "fund" the missions and give them bounty payouts. Basically you can set the mission to be run for free, or purchase a premium slot that gives whoever runs it the amount you purchased it for. This allows base owners to stock up a mission terminal for other players to come work for them. 

                 4a) Can use base progression currency to fund missions, these would have a conversion rate into influence once a player runs the mission. Balance this with a base owner running their own missions in terms of balance.
.....

And that's it!

Suddenly bases become player run mission hubs for unique story missions AND the people running the bases are able to throw money into the rewards and advertise as they try to get some unique base items to enhance what their base can do!!

It wouldn't require too much additional work, and just uses a lot of the same systems already in place. From there you could expand upon it in later updates.

 

...................................

Ideas for base items

1) Salvage Fabricators - Pick various types of common or uncommon salvage fabricators! They will create 1 salvage an hour of the specific salvage you picked! ((Uncommon more expensive, obviously)). Not game breaking, but allows a base to fabricate the type of salvage they might want for their empowerment stations!

2) Doctor NPC - Free inspirations!!!! Unlike a nurse which charges for them. A doctor will fix you up with a prescription for medium inspirations at no cost! Socialized inspirations!

 

3) R&D Lab - Use to create a range of temporary powers!!! Throw in some fun temp powers in here made with salvage. 

4) Mission Teleporter!!!! - Use to go straight to your active mission door! Wow, what service! ((Make it small so we can put it in planes or other things in our super base))

 

5) Enhancement Factory - No more needing to memorize pesky common IO recipes. Enhancement factory can remember them for you after using it to create X number of an enhancement! 

6) Training Simulator - Step right in and begin training, after 30 seconds you get a chunk of EXP!!! ((has a cooldown))

 

7) Medi-kits - Grants a single use revive other power!! ((Sure you can buy an inspiration, but this is more fun, have people grab one and they go "ooo aaa, so fancy base!"))

 

8.) Crisis Management Center - Shows a list of currently spawned giant monsters in the world or other world events!! 

9) Team Summons - A terminal to prompt your entire team to your superbase!!!! Never easier to get everyone on the same page quickly! ((this is useful for anyone else who launches TFs from bases, or just to help people get around easier outside of TT and ATT))

 

[Rudra]

46 minutes ago, PancakeGnome said:

2) Add a base progression currency for architects. If someone runs your mission you should get points to spend on base-unique items ((more on that)). The amount of points you get depends on the difficulty and the the length (so no point in making it super easy).

Given that the devs opened up free base building, I am opposed to putting base options behind another point buy system.

 

48 minutes ago, PancakeGnome said:

4) Allow base owners to additionally "fund" the missions and give them bounty payouts. Basically you can set the mission to be run for free, or purchase a premium slot that gives whoever runs it the amount you purchased it for. This allows base owners to stock up a mission terminal for other players to come work for them. 

                 4a) Can use base progression currency to fund missions, these would have a conversion rate into influence once a player runs the mission. Balance this with a base owner running their own missions in terms of balance.

This is a way more complicated approach to player made missions/arcs than AE currently uses.

 

Base Items:

49 minutes ago, PancakeGnome said:

2) Doctor NPC - Free inspirations!!!! Unlike a nurse which charges for them. A doctor will fix you up with a prescription for medium inspirations at no cost! Socialized inspirations!

Inspirations are already likely the cheapest things in the game. 50 inf' for all but 1 inspiration. (I believe it is the rez inspiration that costs more at 150 inf'.) I see no reason to make something for a base that gives free inspirations.

 

52 minutes ago, PancakeGnome said:

5) Enhancement Factory - No more needing to memorize pesky common IO recipes. Enhancement factory can remember them for you after using it to create X number of an enhancement! 

Your character is still going to be learning/memorizing those enhancements every time you craft one. I fail to see the point.

 

53 minutes ago, PancakeGnome said:

6) Training Simulator - Step right in and begin training, after 30 seconds you get a chunk of EXP!!! ((has a cooldown))

Hell no. Join a farm if you want to get XP without doing anything.

 

54 minutes ago, PancakeGnome said:

9) Team Summons - A terminal to prompt your entire team to your superbase!!!! Never easier to get everyone on the same page quickly! ((this is useful for anyone else who launches TFs from bases, or just to help people get around easier outside of TT and ATT))

I'm not understanding this one. If you just want them to go to your base, how is that any easier than Assemble the Team used at a SG portal? (Or just asking the team to meet in your base like some players already do.)

[Ghost]

Like what you’re going for.

Hate all the freebies.

[PancakeGnome]

25 minutes ago, Ghost said:

Like what you’re going for.

Hate all the freebies.

You gotta give some sort of reward. Or else people won't engage with it. 

Low hanging fruit that doesn't really effect much in the larger world is a good place to start. Stuff that's just "oh yea that's cool", but that doesn't have a huge impact on anything in reality.

Like, getting free insps.... it's neat, but anyone can afford 50 inf without it even being noticeable already.

Or a drop of uncommon / common salvage after farming up a while with points? Again, it's neat, but doesn't break anything. 

Later on add more substantial stuff, but at least this starts getting more neat things into bases to work towards.