Events discussion

iamrune

As you may read about in the new Dev Blog post here;

"One of the challenges faced in MMO Development today is finding new ways to spice up the journey a character takes from the time they first create their character, to the time they reach maximum level, and begin work on ?end game? content."

Well, two of several Events are featured in this Blog post, and both of them sound like things already in other Cryptic MMOs.

"Instanced Events are queued, instanced content which are only available for a short amount of time. Players can sign up for these events from anywhere within the zone the events are in, and will be teamed up with a group of 4 other players to attempt to conquer the challenge set before them. ... and when you?re done, you?ll earn some great loot, and then travel right back to where you were when you entered the event."

This is essentially an Alert in Champions Online, which I generally enjoy. They also fill a missing void for "Door missions" from City of heroes, and can allow for some great teaming zen.

"Contests allow us to introduce a competitive element to an adventure zone for a short time. Players can choose to participate in the event as it?s happening at a multitude of levels. You can choose to only participate should you happen across an objective, or actively compete throughout the duration of the event. Regardless, you?ll be rewarded according to your participation level, and rank at the end of the contest."

Open missions! ...Also fun, at least the first few times you do them, as long as you aren't completely over leveled.


So, anyone else have any thoughts about these 'events'?

aavarius

I'm glad to see them in from the start instead of added later. I feel like that will make them much more integrated, and as a whole I feel like the intention behind these is really great. I don't necessarily want to slog through the chain of story missions for alternative characters I play. A part of me really, really hopes this means Neverwinter won't have a specific, linear series of content that you have to play if you want to get anywhere because there's no alternative to progression. It would be really great if I can cherry pick what content we play to level, forging my own path (in addition to the main mission story arc).

bitterwinter

Hopefully we'll follow these:
Quoted from the Forgotten Realms Player Handbook

Midwinter: Although this holiday is generally known as Midwinter, it is often celebrated under different names. For example, the High Festival of Winter is a feast day used by nobles and monarchs to mark or renew alliances. For commoners in northern climes, Deadwinter Day is a somber day noted mainly as the halfway point of winter, with hard times still to come.

Greengrass: The start of spring is traditionally a day of peace and rejoicing marked by the display of
flowers (even if they need to be grown in a hothouse during the winter months) that are worn or given as
sacrifices to the gods who have brought life back to the world.

Midsummer: The midpoint of summer is a time of feasting and love, marked by dalliances, betrothals,
and (traditionally) good weather. Bad weather on this night is seen as a sign of ill fortune to come.
Shieldmeet: This quadrennial festival follows Midsummer night. It is traditionally a day of open
council between the ruled and their rulers, and the renewal of pacts. In addition to theatrical entertainment,
many tournaments are held on Shieldmeet, allowing the brave and the foolish to try to prove
themselves.

Highharvestide: The autumn harvest is marked by feasting and thanks. Many folk travel in the wake
of this festival before the worst of winter?s bite makes the roads and waterways impassable.

The Feast of the Moon: This holiday celebrates ancestors and the honored dead. During the festival,
ancestral tales are recounted, and the stories and myths that bind cultures are taught anew.

iamrune

Bitterwinter, those are all great, I used to own the 3rd edition D&D campaign book for the Forgotten Realms myself, but I don't think this is what Cryptic are referring too for "Events" in the MMO sense of the word.

In this MMO Game meaning, "Events" are things players can do aside from regular questing to break up the monotony of doing quest lines and story arcs over and over, especially in games that may be light on content and thus "forcing" players to do the same story arcs over and over on all their alternate characters.

bitterwinter

iamrune wrote: »

Bitterwinter, those are all great, I used to own the 3rd edition D&D campaign book for the Forgotten Realms myself, but I don't think this is what Cryptic are referring too for "Events" in the MMO sense of the word.

In this MMO Game meaning, "Events" are things players can do aside from regular questing to break up the monotony of doing quest lines and story arcs over and over, especially in games that may be light on content and thus "forcing" players to do the same story arcs over and over on all their alternate characters.

Oh I know I'm just hoping that by posting it they will go "heeeeeyyy we almost forgot those type of events":)

zebular

bitterwinter wrote: »

Oh I know I'm just hoping that by posting it they will go "heeeeeyyy we almost forgot those type of events":)

I am hoping this too or better yet, I hope they're reading it and thinking "We're so glad we put this in already, it's going to obviously give enjoyment to some players."

I hope the game celebrated festivals are not real world celebrations. No offense, but I seriously do not want to see Christmas, Halloween, St. Patrick's Day, Valentines Day, or any other "real world" holiday celebrated in NWO. Mind you, Samhain is my favourite time of the year - that doesn't mean it belongs as a named holiday in the Realms. Turbine's LotRO has done a great job at introducing "Tolkien" related holidays that happen to coincide with "real world" holidays and seasons. I hope Neverwinter does or has done the same or better with the established Torilian holidays and festivals.

aavarius

I'm all for trite, PC events like "winter holiday" getting reskinned into all those awesome lore-friendly holidays. Talk about a great body of material the draw inspiration from.

valas625

Is anyone else hoping they make it a "5 other people" instead of 4? When I think of D&D games, I usually think of a 6 man team. Not to say they always are, I usually play with like 3 other people but still. I was really hoping to keep that 6 people group up. Like in Icewind dale, you got 6 people in your team. Shadows over Riva, 6 people. Planscape Torment, 6 characters. I could keep going, but you get the point. I like the 6 man groups, and kinda hope they put this back in instead of the classic mmo 5 man groups. Comon' Cryptic, 6 man. I wanna change things up a little, and 6 people would be a good way to start.

iamtruthseeker

aavarius wrote: »

I'm all for trite, PC events like "winter holiday" getting reskinned into all those awesome lore-friendly holidays. Talk about a great body of material the draw inspiration from.

I like how STO does it and hope to see Neverwinter-themed holidays do the same.

jogoskanindragon

Mechanicaly what we can wait for?

In DDO events are all to collect ingredients and upgrade "event gear". I like this thing to get exclusive gear but i need something different.

iamtruthseeker

jogoskanindragon wrote: »

Mechanicaly what we can wait for?

In DDO events are all to collect ingredients and upgrade "event gear". I like this thing to get exclusive gear but i need something different.

As per the Neverwinter Blog on this,

Rewards

Rewards for completing these events are varied and powerful, from special currency which can be used to purchase new gear for your class, to temporary buffs and bonuses which will assist you in your adventures throughout the City of Neverwinter. Some events even feature special, unique enemies which can drop cool and unusual looking weapons and armor pieces. Of course, there is always the prestige of seeing your name at the top of an event's leaderboard as well.

Duhh! I need to note this on the FAQ. Guess it goes under gameplay...updated.

plamgar

bitterwinter wrote: »

Hopefully we'll follow these:
Quoted from the Forgotten Realms Player Handbook

Midwinter: Although this holiday is generally known as Midwinter, it is often celebrated under different names. For example, the High Festival of Winter is a feast day used by nobles and monarchs to mark or renew alliances. For commoners in northern climes, Deadwinter Day is a somber day noted mainly as the halfway point of winter, with hard times still to come.

Greengrass: The start of spring is traditionally a day of peace and rejoicing marked by the display of
flowers (even if they need to be grown in a hothouse during the winter months) that are worn or given as
sacrifices to the gods who have brought life back to the world.

Midsummer: The midpoint of summer is a time of feasting and love, marked by dalliances, betrothals,
and (traditionally) good weather. Bad weather on this night is seen as a sign of ill fortune to come.
Shieldmeet: This quadrennial festival follows Midsummer night. It is traditionally a day of open
council between the ruled and their rulers, and the renewal of pacts. In addition to theatrical entertainment,
many tournaments are held on Shieldmeet, allowing the brave and the foolish to try to prove
themselves.

Highharvestide: The autumn harvest is marked by feasting and thanks. Many folk travel in the wake
of this festival before the worst of winter?s bite makes the roads and waterways impassable.

The Feast of the Moon: This holiday celebrates ancestors and the honored dead. During the festival,
ancestral tales are recounted, and the stories and myths that bind cultures are taught anew.

I would like too see sutch sorts of events it would be fun to do related quests for those events.