Frieza_Prexus
01-30-2013, 02:21 AM
Introduction
Despite the staff’s best efforts, some classic elements have yet to be successfully reproduced in a way that can fit comfortably within this server’s unique environment. One of these elements is the Artifact and its attendant GM event. The following is a discussion of the viability of how these items and events might be implemented and whether or not the server would prosper from their addition.
Some of these suggestions will be undeniably unclassic. The goal is to obtain very classic artifacts in an appropriate manner which itself may not be classic. Please try to avoid the one-liner of “Not classic.” It’s not witty or fresh on any level, and it is irksome to the grownups.
Why? Benefits and Arguments for Artifacts and GM Events
Artifacts are rare, highly desirable, and flat out neat. Well-run GM events are simply highly enjoyable and they add much flavor to the game. Also, they’re both about as classic as you get. Artifacts & Events (A&E), allow the server to come together, they give members of lower end guilds a chance to compete and obtain powerful items, and it provides a massive impetus to play. Finally, it’s classic.
Also, depending on how A&E’s are implemented, it might allow players to flex their creative muscles in helping design the events. Depending on how complex the events are, the players can help design and write the storyline. Contests could be held for certain design aspects and titles (temporary or permanent) might be handed out to particularly prolific or skilled event writes/coders.
Problems
Events crash zones. 200+ people show up and no one has any fun,
Butthurt: There’s only one artifact. Who gets it, and why? Live was full of favoritism stories.
Not Classic.
More work for the devs.
Disrupts normal server operations and play
Solutions and Fair Methods of Implementation
There’s a number of ways we can deal with the unfairness aspect of artifacts. The problem is mostly “How does the item get from the GMs to the players without claims of bias or event rigging?” Here are a few solutions:
1. GM Broadcasts: Everyone to EC we’re gonna random on XYZ Item. This is probably something to be avoided, but it’s an option.
2. Put the item on a random mob, XP or Raid. Possible, but way too random and it makes no sense. Why does the Chardok King suddenly have the Butcher Block Hammer?
3. Run the classic events and the GMs hand out the item exactly as it was on live. I wouldn’t want to be a GM on that one. I can imagine the flood of petitions the next day claiming unfairness.
4. Custom events tailored to last a set amount of time, advance a classic (or classically flavored) story, and built to allow inclusion for many players beyond those in the top two or three guilds. This is my favored solution. Any number of well-constructed entirely automated events can be created and implemented. They can be individual quests, or they can be done as a guild and you allow the guild that wins to determine the fairest way to hand out the item amongst its members.
5. Simple events: Hide and seek, scavenger hunt, trivia. I’m not sure we want to hand out artifacts this way, but again, it’s an option.
Conclusion
Artifacts and Events are extremely classic. I believe that a fair method exists for their implementation and distribution, and that it can be done in an exciting and highly inclusive way. It is my hope that the community can begin a productive dialogue on this concept. Below is my example submission as to how an event might work.
EXAMPLE SCRIPTED ADVENTURE
Below is an example event that I have thrown together to illustrate how these principles might be executed. The event is built in such a way that ANY guild with a capable raid force should be able to properly execute the event. This will be a race, and so the actual steps and secrets of the event should, obviously, be a GM secret. The final reward will be given to whomever hands in a simple droppable token that will be given to/looted by the guild leader to award at the leadership’s discretion. Also, failure at various stages might result in a guild having to start all over.
NOTE: I am not a writer. I threw this together fairly quickly, and I suffer no delusions that I am some kind of master word-smith.
Preface: 24 hours before the event begins, the skies over Western Antonica and Odus turn red indicating something is amiss above. 24 hours later, all clients logged in experience the “earthquake” effect that Rogean has demonstrated from time to time. Several meteors have crashed with enough force to send out perceptible shockwaves.
24 hours prior to the crash, Boulder-Granite, Earth Elemental Champion of Brell (He uses a really nice looking model, possibly something from Plane of Earth), lead the armies of Underfoot into a series of battle with the armies of Veeshan. As the battle raged, both armies found themselves taking incalculable losses. Seeking a decisive end, Boulder-Granite charged headlong into the Veeshanite forces lead by the Fist of Veeshan (uses a giant efreeti model of some sort).
The outer planes rang with cacophonic fury as the titans mauled each other in elemental fury. But again, both sides stood locked in a seemingly eternal stalemate, that is until…Boulder-Granite saw the slightest of openings in his foe’s guard, and he channeled all of his might into a single resound blow that will each across the realities for eons.
However, the victory was not without cost. The furious blow sent Boulder-Granite crashing and careening through the heavens until he landed upon a small island. He was mortally wounded, but worse yet, his holy hammer had been sundered: shattered upon the countenance of Veeshan’s fist. Soon, the forces of Veeshan would rally, and enraged wyrms would pour from the sky with murderous fury to avenge the defeat of Veeshan’s fist.
Synopsis: After Boulder-Granite crashes to the ground, the Player Characters (PCs), stumble upon his dying form in the crater on Erud’s Crossing. Boulder-Granite only speaks elemental (is that a language? If not, dwarven or something). If hailed he simply groans. If hailed by a gnome or dwarf paladin or cleric of Brell, he responds with a brief version of the preface story. He states that enraged Veeshanite terrors will scour the land looking for him and that many mortals will perish if they are not stopped. This triggers ENCOUNTER 1.
ENCOUNTER 1 – Ring Style Event / Defend the NPC
A wounded Boulder-Granite tells the PCs of the impending invasion. Several wyverns then spawn and head directly for the wounded elemental. A group of 18-24 raiders should be sufficient to prevent the wyverns from reaching and killing Boulder-Granite. After several waves of Veeshanite forces are defeated (possibly culminating in a boss mob: Over Seer of Air maybe?), Boulder-Granite asks that he be taken to the High-Priest of Brell in Kaladim. Using a yet-to-be-defined mechanic, Boulder-Granite becomes an inventory item weighing 500 lbs. and he cannot be put into any bags. The trips to Kaladim leads to ENCOUNTER 2.
ENCOUNTER 2 – Ambush Event
As the PC carrying Boulder-Granite makes his way to Kaladim, he will be attacked along the way. Using another yet-to-be-defined mechanic, the PCs must carry Boulder-Granite’s wounded body to Kaladim without dying to any ambushes. (Teleporting with him in your inventory would be too “stressful” and kill him.)
Using this yet-to-be-fully-defined mechanic, the PCs are ambushed in several zones. Every time the player carrying Boulder-Granite enters a new zone, there is a % chance for a small army of NPCs to spawn across the zone. All spawned NPCs are given a certain amount of aggro on the carrying player, and head straight for him. If the carrying player dies, Boulder-Granite is killed and all players wearing that guild tag, must wait at least 3 hours before trying the event again. (This can be GM enforced if necessary. The point is to keep the lanes open like scheduling a round on a golf course so as to allow more people a shot at the event)
Once the PC’s reach Kaladim, they can hail the cleric guild master who, after being given Boulder-Granite, will heal him and have a brief conversation about the situation. Boulder-Granite will announce that if the mortal realm is to have any hope, that his hammer must be reforged. The hammer head fractured into four pieces, and the hilt was destroyed. He knows not where they landed, and the hilt must be remade by a team of master craftsmen blessed by Brell.
ENCOUNTER 3 – The Re-Forging of the Hammer
This part has five sections. The hammer head pieces must be found, and a new hilt must be forged.
Head Piece 1: The first shard of the hammer head has fallen to the ground in a random zone. I don’t know if a model other than a little bag can be used, but this will be a grand scavenger hunt. The hammer shard can randomly spawn in any zone, or it can be given a specific location or several locations with only one shard in existence at any time. This is a scavenger hunt pure and simple. (Note, I’m sure the staff is already on it, but this might be an opportunity to spawn some dummy items to catch the SEQ/MQ cheaters).
Head Piece 2: This piece has fallen to the earth and is now in possession of the queen of chardok whose powers have been greatly augmented by siphoning off the shard’s magic. In short, Queen Velazul Di`Zok gains several times more hit points, hits harder, and is even nastier. This is a full-blown raid event.
Head Piece 3: This is another kill/recovery. My first thought is to give the shard to Phinigel and give him the Queen Velazul treatment to buff him. However, we may want to move the shard to a mob with a faster respawn, say how about the guild leader of the wizards guild in Erudin who has gone mad with power from the shard and summons wizards during the fight to assist him. We could do a nice ring style event with a PoP style boss fight, and throw in some decent loot.
Head Piece 4: Quest! Not sure what I’d want for the quest, it can’t be too long or hard, and it has to remain accessible to all raid-capable guilds. I’m thinking a little kid has it and was augmented, and she won’t give it up without some kind of quest. It should be soloable, maybe a rare drop or two involved, the point is the quest requirements need to be structured to reward critical thinking.
The Hilt: The master craftsmen of Akanon have prayed to Brell for insight, and the Dwarven high priest sends the PCs to speak with the craftsmen. Long story short, the gnomes give the PCs the recipe and the hilt crafting should make use of numerous tradeskills with some hellishly difficult combines that are still easy enough to farm in mass quantity. Think Coldain Shawl #5 or 6 with all those damned biles and silks.
ENCOUNTER 4 – Advancing the Plot
After the PC’s have gathered the shards and crafted the hilt, Boulder-Granite (who again, now resides in Kaladim and is spawned by some yet-to-be-defined mechanic that gives players the “correct” version of the NPC) will speak. He tries to get up to wield the hammer, but he is dying. The recipe was followed, the hammer reforged the help of the master gnome smiths, but he just can’t make it go. Boulder-Granite tells the PCs that they are the last hope to stop the pillaging forces of Veeshan who want to avenge the defeat of the Fist of Veeshan. Boulder-Granite sacrifices himself and gives the PCs his heart which is a container that holds the hammer. He tells the PCs that only the essence of the Fist of Veeshan combined with his own essence will complete the enchantment, for it is the fist who took its power, so the power must be taken back from him and reunited to Boulder-Granite’s power. When Boulder-Granite sacrifices himself, another “earthquake” effect is triggered. The High-Priest of Brell shouts that he has had a vision and that the wyrms have arrived on the fields of West Karana.
ENCOUNTER 5 – Ring War in the Karanas
This one is for all the marbles. The High Priest of Brell gives the PCs an item that if clicked will summon him and trigger the event in West Karana. Much like the Coldain Ring War, there is a central defense point, in this case, the zone to Qeynos Hills. As the event begins, hundreds of Karana farmers and civilians pour into the QH zone line. The PCs must defeat the marauding Veeshan forces. If they reach the QH zone, just like in the Coldain war, the event ends. This may or may not cause the failing guild to start the quest over. It depends on the dev or writes it in and how evil he is feeling.
The fight consists of several waves. Several named mobs roam the karanas and kill the farmers, kind of like the Kromzek Spear Throwers in the coldain ring war. Killing the roaming mobs lessens the difficult of the future waves.
Wave 1: Wyverns, and drakes
Wave 2: Lots and lots of Wurms with a few named lieutenants (fearing/dispelling/AEing wurms and smaller dragons)
Wave 3: Severilious and Talendor both arrive having been summoned to aid the forces of Veeshan. Both mobs are linked and will stay within a certain distance of each other at all times. This means that the raiders will need PR, FR, and MR for a hell of a hard fight. The AE frequency can be reduced to control the difficulty, and the mobs can be given more HP to make the fight more difficult.
Wave 4: The Fist of Veeshan – This thing is on par with Derakor the Vindicator or maybe the statute or Rallos Zek. When killed it drops the “Essence of Veeshan” which is used to combine the unfinished hammer inside the heart/container Boulder-Granite gave the PC’s. The result is a droppable hammer, that the High Priest of Brell requests to inspect and pray over. The guild’s leadership then gives the hammer to a deserving recipient within the guild who hands it to the high priest. The high priests blesses it and hands it back.
The recipient now wields The Butcherblock Hammer and is forevermore known as the Champion of Brell.
Despite the staff’s best efforts, some classic elements have yet to be successfully reproduced in a way that can fit comfortably within this server’s unique environment. One of these elements is the Artifact and its attendant GM event. The following is a discussion of the viability of how these items and events might be implemented and whether or not the server would prosper from their addition.
Some of these suggestions will be undeniably unclassic. The goal is to obtain very classic artifacts in an appropriate manner which itself may not be classic. Please try to avoid the one-liner of “Not classic.” It’s not witty or fresh on any level, and it is irksome to the grownups.
Why? Benefits and Arguments for Artifacts and GM Events
Artifacts are rare, highly desirable, and flat out neat. Well-run GM events are simply highly enjoyable and they add much flavor to the game. Also, they’re both about as classic as you get. Artifacts & Events (A&E), allow the server to come together, they give members of lower end guilds a chance to compete and obtain powerful items, and it provides a massive impetus to play. Finally, it’s classic.
Also, depending on how A&E’s are implemented, it might allow players to flex their creative muscles in helping design the events. Depending on how complex the events are, the players can help design and write the storyline. Contests could be held for certain design aspects and titles (temporary or permanent) might be handed out to particularly prolific or skilled event writes/coders.
Problems
Events crash zones. 200+ people show up and no one has any fun,
Butthurt: There’s only one artifact. Who gets it, and why? Live was full of favoritism stories.
Not Classic.
More work for the devs.
Disrupts normal server operations and play
Solutions and Fair Methods of Implementation
There’s a number of ways we can deal with the unfairness aspect of artifacts. The problem is mostly “How does the item get from the GMs to the players without claims of bias or event rigging?” Here are a few solutions:
1. GM Broadcasts: Everyone to EC we’re gonna random on XYZ Item. This is probably something to be avoided, but it’s an option.
2. Put the item on a random mob, XP or Raid. Possible, but way too random and it makes no sense. Why does the Chardok King suddenly have the Butcher Block Hammer?
3. Run the classic events and the GMs hand out the item exactly as it was on live. I wouldn’t want to be a GM on that one. I can imagine the flood of petitions the next day claiming unfairness.
4. Custom events tailored to last a set amount of time, advance a classic (or classically flavored) story, and built to allow inclusion for many players beyond those in the top two or three guilds. This is my favored solution. Any number of well-constructed entirely automated events can be created and implemented. They can be individual quests, or they can be done as a guild and you allow the guild that wins to determine the fairest way to hand out the item amongst its members.
5. Simple events: Hide and seek, scavenger hunt, trivia. I’m not sure we want to hand out artifacts this way, but again, it’s an option.
Conclusion
Artifacts and Events are extremely classic. I believe that a fair method exists for their implementation and distribution, and that it can be done in an exciting and highly inclusive way. It is my hope that the community can begin a productive dialogue on this concept. Below is my example submission as to how an event might work.
EXAMPLE SCRIPTED ADVENTURE
Below is an example event that I have thrown together to illustrate how these principles might be executed. The event is built in such a way that ANY guild with a capable raid force should be able to properly execute the event. This will be a race, and so the actual steps and secrets of the event should, obviously, be a GM secret. The final reward will be given to whomever hands in a simple droppable token that will be given to/looted by the guild leader to award at the leadership’s discretion. Also, failure at various stages might result in a guild having to start all over.
NOTE: I am not a writer. I threw this together fairly quickly, and I suffer no delusions that I am some kind of master word-smith.
Preface: 24 hours before the event begins, the skies over Western Antonica and Odus turn red indicating something is amiss above. 24 hours later, all clients logged in experience the “earthquake” effect that Rogean has demonstrated from time to time. Several meteors have crashed with enough force to send out perceptible shockwaves.
24 hours prior to the crash, Boulder-Granite, Earth Elemental Champion of Brell (He uses a really nice looking model, possibly something from Plane of Earth), lead the armies of Underfoot into a series of battle with the armies of Veeshan. As the battle raged, both armies found themselves taking incalculable losses. Seeking a decisive end, Boulder-Granite charged headlong into the Veeshanite forces lead by the Fist of Veeshan (uses a giant efreeti model of some sort).
The outer planes rang with cacophonic fury as the titans mauled each other in elemental fury. But again, both sides stood locked in a seemingly eternal stalemate, that is until…Boulder-Granite saw the slightest of openings in his foe’s guard, and he channeled all of his might into a single resound blow that will each across the realities for eons.
However, the victory was not without cost. The furious blow sent Boulder-Granite crashing and careening through the heavens until he landed upon a small island. He was mortally wounded, but worse yet, his holy hammer had been sundered: shattered upon the countenance of Veeshan’s fist. Soon, the forces of Veeshan would rally, and enraged wyrms would pour from the sky with murderous fury to avenge the defeat of Veeshan’s fist.
Synopsis: After Boulder-Granite crashes to the ground, the Player Characters (PCs), stumble upon his dying form in the crater on Erud’s Crossing. Boulder-Granite only speaks elemental (is that a language? If not, dwarven or something). If hailed he simply groans. If hailed by a gnome or dwarf paladin or cleric of Brell, he responds with a brief version of the preface story. He states that enraged Veeshanite terrors will scour the land looking for him and that many mortals will perish if they are not stopped. This triggers ENCOUNTER 1.
ENCOUNTER 1 – Ring Style Event / Defend the NPC
A wounded Boulder-Granite tells the PCs of the impending invasion. Several wyverns then spawn and head directly for the wounded elemental. A group of 18-24 raiders should be sufficient to prevent the wyverns from reaching and killing Boulder-Granite. After several waves of Veeshanite forces are defeated (possibly culminating in a boss mob: Over Seer of Air maybe?), Boulder-Granite asks that he be taken to the High-Priest of Brell in Kaladim. Using a yet-to-be-defined mechanic, Boulder-Granite becomes an inventory item weighing 500 lbs. and he cannot be put into any bags. The trips to Kaladim leads to ENCOUNTER 2.
ENCOUNTER 2 – Ambush Event
As the PC carrying Boulder-Granite makes his way to Kaladim, he will be attacked along the way. Using another yet-to-be-defined mechanic, the PCs must carry Boulder-Granite’s wounded body to Kaladim without dying to any ambushes. (Teleporting with him in your inventory would be too “stressful” and kill him.)
Using this yet-to-be-fully-defined mechanic, the PCs are ambushed in several zones. Every time the player carrying Boulder-Granite enters a new zone, there is a % chance for a small army of NPCs to spawn across the zone. All spawned NPCs are given a certain amount of aggro on the carrying player, and head straight for him. If the carrying player dies, Boulder-Granite is killed and all players wearing that guild tag, must wait at least 3 hours before trying the event again. (This can be GM enforced if necessary. The point is to keep the lanes open like scheduling a round on a golf course so as to allow more people a shot at the event)
Once the PC’s reach Kaladim, they can hail the cleric guild master who, after being given Boulder-Granite, will heal him and have a brief conversation about the situation. Boulder-Granite will announce that if the mortal realm is to have any hope, that his hammer must be reforged. The hammer head fractured into four pieces, and the hilt was destroyed. He knows not where they landed, and the hilt must be remade by a team of master craftsmen blessed by Brell.
ENCOUNTER 3 – The Re-Forging of the Hammer
This part has five sections. The hammer head pieces must be found, and a new hilt must be forged.
Head Piece 1: The first shard of the hammer head has fallen to the ground in a random zone. I don’t know if a model other than a little bag can be used, but this will be a grand scavenger hunt. The hammer shard can randomly spawn in any zone, or it can be given a specific location or several locations with only one shard in existence at any time. This is a scavenger hunt pure and simple. (Note, I’m sure the staff is already on it, but this might be an opportunity to spawn some dummy items to catch the SEQ/MQ cheaters).
Head Piece 2: This piece has fallen to the earth and is now in possession of the queen of chardok whose powers have been greatly augmented by siphoning off the shard’s magic. In short, Queen Velazul Di`Zok gains several times more hit points, hits harder, and is even nastier. This is a full-blown raid event.
Head Piece 3: This is another kill/recovery. My first thought is to give the shard to Phinigel and give him the Queen Velazul treatment to buff him. However, we may want to move the shard to a mob with a faster respawn, say how about the guild leader of the wizards guild in Erudin who has gone mad with power from the shard and summons wizards during the fight to assist him. We could do a nice ring style event with a PoP style boss fight, and throw in some decent loot.
Head Piece 4: Quest! Not sure what I’d want for the quest, it can’t be too long or hard, and it has to remain accessible to all raid-capable guilds. I’m thinking a little kid has it and was augmented, and she won’t give it up without some kind of quest. It should be soloable, maybe a rare drop or two involved, the point is the quest requirements need to be structured to reward critical thinking.
The Hilt: The master craftsmen of Akanon have prayed to Brell for insight, and the Dwarven high priest sends the PCs to speak with the craftsmen. Long story short, the gnomes give the PCs the recipe and the hilt crafting should make use of numerous tradeskills with some hellishly difficult combines that are still easy enough to farm in mass quantity. Think Coldain Shawl #5 or 6 with all those damned biles and silks.
ENCOUNTER 4 – Advancing the Plot
After the PC’s have gathered the shards and crafted the hilt, Boulder-Granite (who again, now resides in Kaladim and is spawned by some yet-to-be-defined mechanic that gives players the “correct” version of the NPC) will speak. He tries to get up to wield the hammer, but he is dying. The recipe was followed, the hammer reforged the help of the master gnome smiths, but he just can’t make it go. Boulder-Granite tells the PCs that they are the last hope to stop the pillaging forces of Veeshan who want to avenge the defeat of the Fist of Veeshan. Boulder-Granite sacrifices himself and gives the PCs his heart which is a container that holds the hammer. He tells the PCs that only the essence of the Fist of Veeshan combined with his own essence will complete the enchantment, for it is the fist who took its power, so the power must be taken back from him and reunited to Boulder-Granite’s power. When Boulder-Granite sacrifices himself, another “earthquake” effect is triggered. The High-Priest of Brell shouts that he has had a vision and that the wyrms have arrived on the fields of West Karana.
ENCOUNTER 5 – Ring War in the Karanas
This one is for all the marbles. The High Priest of Brell gives the PCs an item that if clicked will summon him and trigger the event in West Karana. Much like the Coldain Ring War, there is a central defense point, in this case, the zone to Qeynos Hills. As the event begins, hundreds of Karana farmers and civilians pour into the QH zone line. The PCs must defeat the marauding Veeshan forces. If they reach the QH zone, just like in the Coldain war, the event ends. This may or may not cause the failing guild to start the quest over. It depends on the dev or writes it in and how evil he is feeling.
The fight consists of several waves. Several named mobs roam the karanas and kill the farmers, kind of like the Kromzek Spear Throwers in the coldain ring war. Killing the roaming mobs lessens the difficult of the future waves.
Wave 1: Wyverns, and drakes
Wave 2: Lots and lots of Wurms with a few named lieutenants (fearing/dispelling/AEing wurms and smaller dragons)
Wave 3: Severilious and Talendor both arrive having been summoned to aid the forces of Veeshan. Both mobs are linked and will stay within a certain distance of each other at all times. This means that the raiders will need PR, FR, and MR for a hell of a hard fight. The AE frequency can be reduced to control the difficulty, and the mobs can be given more HP to make the fight more difficult.
Wave 4: The Fist of Veeshan – This thing is on par with Derakor the Vindicator or maybe the statute or Rallos Zek. When killed it drops the “Essence of Veeshan” which is used to combine the unfinished hammer inside the heart/container Boulder-Granite gave the PC’s. The result is a droppable hammer, that the High Priest of Brell requests to inspect and pray over. The guild’s leadership then gives the hammer to a deserving recipient within the guild who hands it to the high priest. The high priests blesses it and hands it back.
The recipient now wields The Butcherblock Hammer and is forevermore known as the Champion of Brell.