05-29-2017, 02:27 PM
Everybody loves DPS, but even more than that we love the ability to choose our own progression. With how important pets become over time and eventually end up being the majority of our DPS, the pet map system really needs some work. I know that is already on the table so I'll leave it at that.
Instead, I'd like to propose a new DPS source with some simple mechanics that could allow players to have a bit more freedom when it comes to affecting specific aspects of the game.
As far as the design aspect goes, this is really easy: Just add a thick, colorful outline to whatever is being affected by the aura, currently.
Let's pretend there could be an Aura for every type of core mechanic, so we have an idle mode aura, an active mode aura, a challenge aura, a pet aura, an expedition aura, stone aura, woodcutting aura, card aura, etc etc.
The benefits could be done in a few different ways: Each aura could have a 'skill tree' with branching paths. For example:
The stone aura would have a core ability of +1% stone gains per level, which then branches to three paths: Reduced time between energy recharging, critical digs that can dig 2, 3, ... up to an entire digging spot at once, and finally a third path that deals with enlarging the digging area, so if you click a spot you might do 2 damage to the spot you click, and 1 damage to all the surrounding spots, as an example. Go hog wild!!
So here's the thing: you can already see the big problem with this system, correct? It's a huge benefit, so everyone will quickly look for and choose the 'optimal' build and all that. That's fine! The issue comes with the balancing. What is the cost?
Well, we don't want to force diamonds to be needed, and requiring AP to reset/charge auras is essentially adding a paywall or forcing players to save AP that they could otherwise be spending on other things. So instead, let's go for FREE yes that's right FREE daily resets. You can reset once every day, choose a new aura, spend your aura points as you choose freely and enjoy! This would be a universal boon for everyone rather than something to dread as players are already concerned with what to spend their various currencies on.
In fact, you could have each aura be unique in that perhaps every day you get an aura point as part of the daily reward system, and you choose which aura to spend on it with a chance to reset THOSE points only once a week, or even only once a month! WOAH slow down salty sailors, it's just an idea. But imagine if your choices DID matter but didn't screw you out of something else forever just a week to a month. So you messed up or got something you ended up not liking? That's okay, you'll get a chance to fix your error! In the mean time you can keep spending your new daily aura points the way you want and then let your guildmates guide you if need help figuring out what to do when Reset Day arrives.
Anyway, this leaves a lot of things unexplained but you get the gist of it: CONTENT! STUFF! UPGRADES! ...COLORS?! enjoy.
-Nerd out
Instead, I'd like to propose a new DPS source with some simple mechanics that could allow players to have a bit more freedom when it comes to affecting specific aspects of the game.
As far as the design aspect goes, this is really easy: Just add a thick, colorful outline to whatever is being affected by the aura, currently.
Let's pretend there could be an Aura for every type of core mechanic, so we have an idle mode aura, an active mode aura, a challenge aura, a pet aura, an expedition aura, stone aura, woodcutting aura, card aura, etc etc.
The benefits could be done in a few different ways: Each aura could have a 'skill tree' with branching paths. For example:
The stone aura would have a core ability of +1% stone gains per level, which then branches to three paths: Reduced time between energy recharging, critical digs that can dig 2, 3, ... up to an entire digging spot at once, and finally a third path that deals with enlarging the digging area, so if you click a spot you might do 2 damage to the spot you click, and 1 damage to all the surrounding spots, as an example. Go hog wild!!
So here's the thing: you can already see the big problem with this system, correct? It's a huge benefit, so everyone will quickly look for and choose the 'optimal' build and all that. That's fine! The issue comes with the balancing. What is the cost?
Well, we don't want to force diamonds to be needed, and requiring AP to reset/charge auras is essentially adding a paywall or forcing players to save AP that they could otherwise be spending on other things. So instead, let's go for FREE yes that's right FREE daily resets. You can reset once every day, choose a new aura, spend your aura points as you choose freely and enjoy! This would be a universal boon for everyone rather than something to dread as players are already concerned with what to spend their various currencies on.
In fact, you could have each aura be unique in that perhaps every day you get an aura point as part of the daily reward system, and you choose which aura to spend on it with a chance to reset THOSE points only once a week, or even only once a month! WOAH slow down salty sailors, it's just an idea. But imagine if your choices DID matter but didn't screw you out of something else forever just a week to a month. So you messed up or got something you ended up not liking? That's okay, you'll get a chance to fix your error! In the mean time you can keep spending your new daily aura points the way you want and then let your guildmates guide you if need help figuring out what to do when Reset Day arrives.
Anyway, this leaves a lot of things unexplained but you get the gist of it: CONTENT! STUFF! UPGRADES! ...COLORS?! enjoy.
-Nerd out