(Just For Fun) Maleficus: Baby's First Giant Monster

[Varkarrus]

Every few hours in Atlas Park, some Hellions may gather at one of a few preset points. Their ritual will begin, and from the ground will erupt… MALEFICUS. Of course, Hellions are not particularly intimidating, and while Maleficus may be large, veteran heroes could easily overlook him as a small time threat.

 

But when you’re just starting off as a hero, a big demon like Maleficus can easily help you get your feet wet! The memory of teaming up with a bunch of other newbies and taking down such a threatening beast is a good one to have when starting your hero journey!

 

If you participate in the battle against Maleficus, you will receive 5,000 XP. Heroes higher than level 7 will receive slowly decreasing XP amounts. By the time you’re level 15, it won’t provide much XP at all. But 5,000 XP is enough to quickly bring a level 1 hero to level 7: the fight against Maleficus is meant as an “alternative” to Death From Below. Not a replacement, but rather a separate option you can take if Maleficus is active. If you’re already high level, the lack of rewards means the only reason why you’d fight him is for the Badge: this is to discourage high level heroes fighting him and making it too easy for the newbies!

 

Maleficus would also be the only Giant Monster to con as grey if you’re high enough level :)

 

Powers

 

Call Hellions: Maleficus calls a small squad of Hellions. He’ll start the fight with this ability, then proceed to do this fairly often, meaning you will need to manage adds. (These Hellions are treated as Giant Monsters, but are low level with normal health totals. They do not grant XP.)

 

Foot Stomp: Maleficus stomps his hoof down, damaging and knocking back nearby heroes.

 

Fireball: Maleficus hurls a fireball that damages the target and heroes around them. Deals damage over time.

 

Hellgate: Maleficus will disappear. An area will be marked, and any heroes still within that area will take massive damage as Maleficus erupts from the ground in a fiery explosion. Maleficus will often use this on the most distant group of heroes in range: it keeps him moving around the battlefield!

 

Molten Armor: At lower health, Maleficus will periodically gain a fiery shield that greatly increases his Resistance against Ranged attacks, but also deals fire damage to enemies in melee range.

 

Demonic Regeneration: If Maleficus hasn’t been damaged in the past 15 seconds, he will despawn any Hellions, and begin regenerating large amounts of health, preparing for the next group of challengers.

 

See my other concepts here!

 

[justicebeliever]

The game has Giant Monsters and Monsters...

 

Monsters would be a better fit, because they still have a "rank" and would con grey to people after a certain point...

 

I like the idea, it really would be great if Atlas had a zone event...

 

You are really amazingly creative at coming up with these...another +1 inf

 

[Varkarrus]

Ah that makes sense!

 

Still, I think it makes more sense to list Maleficus as a Giant Monster. That way, even though a level 50 hero could probably solo it, they couldn't outright instagib it. (Unless I'm wrong about Monster scaling?)

[Sunsette]

This is a great idea, +1.

[Clave Dark 5]

I dunno about taking down a monster getting you to level 7, I mean, there should be a time factor to be considered in here, and although DfB sort of breaks that already, this would be I think a bit too far.

 

Otherwise, capital idea.

[Sunsette]

I dunno about taking down a monster getting you to level 7, I mean, there should be a time factor to be considered in here, and although DfB sort of breaks that already, this would be I think a bit too far.

 

Otherwise, capital idea.

 

While a fair concern, with an 'every few hours' timer, it won't be very farmable. You'll have the ultra-diligent efficient levelers keeping track of what's happening on a timer and pop over 5 minutes beforehand to deck a demon in the schnozz and the rest of us will be all 'oh, snap, that's up? I'll go!" 10s after we logged in on our new level 1s.

[Varkarrus]

Not to mention 5,000 XP isn't that much. If you're AT level 7, it's only enough to take you up 2 levels. Plus, the 5,000 XP will decrease past that level too.

[justicebeliever]

Ah that makes sense!

 

Still, I think it makes more sense to list Maleficus as a Giant Monster. That way, even though a level 50 hero could probably solo it, they couldn't outright instagib it. (Unless I'm wrong about Monster scaling?)

 

With Giant monster scaling anyone who is at or higher than the "hidden" level of the monster does damage to it at the level of the Giant Monster.  A level 50 would hit at level 7, and take damage at lvl 50.  But they would have a redunculous amount of powers and defenses for a "level 7" monster and could likely solo it with a halfway decent build.

 

Characters whose level are lower than the GM, do damage to the GM at +1 to his level, and again take damage at their level.  A level 5 hits at level 8, and takes damage at lvl 5.  But they have very few powers and it will require several to defeat him.

 

The problem in Atlas is there are so many higher level characters hanging out, that I fear it would just worsen the population problem further if it's a GM, as everyone will want a badge or accolade or merit or big xp as is typical for GM's.  If it's a Monster at level 7, I believe it will con white to lvl 12, and con grey at lvl  16.

[Varkarrus]

Yes, all of what you said is exactly as intended, except for maybe the overcrowding Atlast Park

 

But, there's two things that would mitigate that particular problem:

 

1) You only get the badge once, no reason to fight Maleficus twice if you're already high level

2) Maleficus spawn points would be in low-traffic areas; i.e the places where level 4-5 Hellions spawn. If a high level character is just kinda hanging out in AP, they wouldn't necessarily run into Maleficus by accident.

[justicebeliever]

Yes, all of what you said is exactly as intended, except for maybe the overcrowding Atlast Park

 

But, there's two things that would mitigate that particular problem:

 

1) You only get the badge once, no reason to fight Maleficus twice if you're already high level

2) Maleficus spawn points would be in low-traffic areas; i.e the places where level 4-5 Hellions spawn. If a high level character is just kinda hanging out in AP, they wouldn't necessarily run into Maleficus by accident.

 

  While I feel like a Monster would be better, ultimately I don't have any data on how it would play one way or the other.  I really like the idea, as a GM or a Monster...either way I am still sold...

[Zolgar]

Ah that makes sense!

 

Still, I think it makes more sense to list Maleficus as a Giant Monster. That way, even though a level 50 hero could probably solo it, they couldn't outright instagib it. (Unless I'm wrong about Monster scaling?)

 

With Giant monster scaling anyone who is at or higher than the "hidden" level of the monster does damage to it at the level of the Giant Monster.  A level 50 would hit at level 7, and take damage at lvl 50.  But they would have a redunculous amount of powers and defenses for a "level 7" monster and could likely solo it with a halfway decent build.

 

Not only could we solo it, but there is a segment of us who WOULD solo it, because soloing GMs is a hobby. :)

 

[Six-Six]

Or you can make it really really strong and have it spawn near Ms. Liberty to get rid of everyone lolly-gagging around her. =)

 

Sorry for the nuisance comment. =)

 

I'm not a high enough level yet to fully appreciate the discussion. I've only seen one giant monster so far -- the squid in Talos or Independence. Didn't know people can solo those. Dang!

 

Awesome idea, though.

[kelly Rocket]

Or you can make it really really strong and have it spawn near Ms. Liberty to get rid of everyone lolly-gagging around her. =)

Wouldn't work... Ms. Liberty is combat enabled, so having it spawn near her would just encourage people to hang out there because then when he spawns they get to fight it with help from a probably unkillable Hero grade NPC.

 

Also if the crowd around Ms. Liberty bugs you, just don't use her for training. Take the train to Talos, Luminary is literally *right* at the train stop there.