The Cimmerian Conspiracy

[Terminal]

Quote

 An investigation into the true nature of the Nictus 'Shards' Science Lord Rixis is attempting to get FDA-approved escalates into something far darker and more sinister...

 

 

Arc ID: 60662

Author: @Kalachakra

Level 41-50

 

The Cimmerian Conspiracy is an arc cobbled together from numerous different instances of player RP that transpired over the course of several months. Made specifically for the Everlasting server, its premise assumes that the PC has already had some form of contact with either Science Lord Rixis or Nikalla Laurifer, or else has received a Nictus Shard as a plot hook. People venturing into the story blind may be lost on some of the initial context, but hopefully the overall story should be easy enough to discern past that initial stumbling block.

 

I have always been a big fan of immersive missions where roleplaying teams stop frequently to talk/argue with each other about enemies/clues they have seen - and so there are a *lot* of clues, unique enemy descriptions, and detailed mission introductions for players to read through (if you are into that sort of thing). There are no drastic instant-failure conditions however, meaning people can also blitz through the missions without issue.

 

The arc is notable for having numerous instances of optional, alignment-based objectives and decision-making, as well as for having two (kind of fake) badges awarded in the form of custom-image power tray macros, one for completing the arc and the second for completing an optional objective.

 

Mission 4 features a custom enemy group, The Cimmerian Path. Extensive balance and calibration testing has already been done with them, and the current consensus is that they are about on-par with Dark Astoria/Incarnate content in terms of difficulty to face, which is intended in their design. Feedback on them is welcome nonetheless.

 

Super Fake Not Real Badges Obtainment Guide (Spoilers!):

Spoiler

Badge 1: Bane of Cimmeria

• Simply complete the story arc! You will receive instructions on how to create the badge macro in the contact completion dialogue for the last mission.

 

Badge 2: Overwhelmed the Dark

• Defeat Science Lord Rixis in mission 4. This may be extremely difficult depending on team composition/available resources. Although Rixis is not precisely a threatening enemy, he has remarkably robust defenses - many players attempting to fight him solo as an Elite Boss may not be capable of meaningfully damaging him. Teams fighting him as an AV may not be able to overcome his regeneration. Utilizing sources of additional damage such as Shivan Shards, Signature Pets, Lore Pets, on top of substantial debuffs may be necessary.
• Assuming you manage to defeat him, he will drop a clue with instructions on how to create the badge macro.

 

Patch Notes:

Spoiler

Patch 1.1:

• Adjusted the number of hostile mobs that spawn between the first and final room of mission 3.
• Battles now correctly occur in the final room of mission 3 after the second objective is completed.
• Adjusted the second group of ambushers attached to Arakhn in mission 5.

 

Edited March 10 by Terminal
1.1 Patchnotes

[Kyksie]

This is a really well done arc, with an extremely intricate and involved plot. Apparently the Council have obtained some Nictus shards, but these are being mass produced, and when combined with Sharkhead Isle coral are used to make golems that are sort of like Devouring Earth but not really, and nictus essences squirt out at times. Also Arakhan and Requiem are involved, as is Malta, who are trying to get FDA to approve the shards as nutritional supplements to treat restless leg syndrome. I think that's it. The story is told partly through dialog, but mostly via a series of long and well written clues, which the player is reminded to read at the end of each and every mission.

 

In one mission we encounter Rixis The Science Guy as an EB. After pummeling him for two minutes I notice that he isn't attacking, so I glance up at the nav bar ans notice that he dosn't need to be defeated, so I stop whacking him. However, he continues to follow me around, and his debuff aura interrupts me as I click glowies, so I make with the clobbering. I was able to beat him with my fully incarnated Brute, but low-offense soloers will be unable to overcome his regen. The AV version is no doubt beatable only by a full team.

 

The final mission, taking place in the RWZ Vanguard base, offers you an amazing FOUR options as to how to complete the arc; kidnap Incandescent, expose Arakhan, plant porn on Dark Watcher's terminal, or do nothing and keep the shards for yourself to sell as super-powered weight loss aids. Something like that. However, Incandescent aggroed as soon as I turned the corner, thus making the choice for me. Still, giving the player four choices is a brilliant idea.

 

 

Edited March 11 by Kyksie

[Terminal]

31 minutes ago, Kyksie said:

In one mission we encounter Rixis The Science Guy as an EB. After pummeling him for two minutes I notice that he isn't attacking, so I glance up at the nav bar ans notice that he dosn't need to be defeated, so I stop whacking him. However, he continues to follow me around, and his debuff aura interrupts me as I click glowies, so I make with the clobbering. I was able to beat him with my fully incarnated Brute, but low-offense soloers will be unable to overcome his regen. The AV version is no doubt beatable only by a full team.

 

Science Lord Rixis is absolutely intended to be the sort of enemy who obnoxiously follows the player around and inconveniences them without actually being a combatant - as you noted, it is possible (albeit difficult) to defeat him. He also has flight and enhanced perception, making him difficult to shake off while trying to get objectives done - but a single player can usually manage it with a bit of finesse, and teams can always split the party to draw him away since he has no real attacks.

I hope you enjoy the macro badge he dropped as a reward for defeating him!

[cranebump]

Do each of the 4 choices chain to a single “End Mission” objective? Trying to figure out how an actual “Choice” can work in AE.

[Terminal]

15 minutes ago, cranebump said:

Do each of the 4 choices chain to a single “End Mission” objective? Trying to figure out how an actual “Choice” can work in AE.

 

All four objectives are, mechanically speaking, optional with a fifth 'core' objective of erasing evidence/security records of your presence and then fighting a boss by the entrance to escape after you have done everything you want to. They are there mostly for the opportunity to RP/agonize over the possible decisions in-mission and afterwards once it is all done.

 

The actual results/outcome of the PC choices during the arc are something that will be visited upon in the next installment of this series - limitations on character/word limits in mission return dialogue means I had to keep the actual results of the arc a little vague. The intent is to fully elaborate on and demonstrate the consequences of all possible player choices in the next series.