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Possible way to integrate solo players into Strongholds: Mercenary Contracts?
vordayn
Member, NW M9 Playtest Posts: 1,283 Arc User
So I've been reading posts saying how Mod 7 is the downfall of the solo player. But how about if there was a way to integrate solo players into Strongholds?
An idea could be giving players the option to become "mercenaries" and ally with a Stronghold Guild for a set period, say 3-7 days (which could be agreed upon at the beginning of the contract).
There could be a marketboard in place in PE showing which Guilds are offering contracts, and what their requirements are.
There could be a separate board where players put up their services, from which Guilds can choose from, and perhaps even setting their price in Gold or AD.
Players matched into a Guild will allow them entry into that Stronghold and participate like a guildmember (with NO guild bank access), receiving rewards from heroic encounters and Stronghold PvP matches. They could even donate to the coffers if they wish to receive Guild Marks.
The advantages would be that predominantly solo players could still see what Strongholds is like, and also perhaps add an element of roleplay to wandering vagabond-type players. "Mercenaries" could move around different Strongholds to see what they are like. Perhaps even spy for other Guilds. >:)
The disadvantages would be that they are not a permanent member of the Guild. While their contract would allow them a certain time to be part of the Guild, it is not a stable home for them. Thus, once their contract ends, they are no longer allowed entry into that Stronghold, and will not receive the boon structure bonuses.
Of course, if the player proves to be a good addition to the Guild, then they can be offered a permanent place within that Stronghold.
Thoughts or comments?
An idea could be giving players the option to become "mercenaries" and ally with a Stronghold Guild for a set period, say 3-7 days (which could be agreed upon at the beginning of the contract).
There could be a marketboard in place in PE showing which Guilds are offering contracts, and what their requirements are.
There could be a separate board where players put up their services, from which Guilds can choose from, and perhaps even setting their price in Gold or AD.
Players matched into a Guild will allow them entry into that Stronghold and participate like a guildmember (with NO guild bank access), receiving rewards from heroic encounters and Stronghold PvP matches. They could even donate to the coffers if they wish to receive Guild Marks.
The advantages would be that predominantly solo players could still see what Strongholds is like, and also perhaps add an element of roleplay to wandering vagabond-type players. "Mercenaries" could move around different Strongholds to see what they are like. Perhaps even spy for other Guilds. >:)
The disadvantages would be that they are not a permanent member of the Guild. While their contract would allow them a certain time to be part of the Guild, it is not a stable home for them. Thus, once their contract ends, they are no longer allowed entry into that Stronghold, and will not receive the boon structure bonuses.
Of course, if the player proves to be a good addition to the Guild, then they can be offered a permanent place within that Stronghold.
Thoughts or comments?
Vordon CW ‡ Vordayn DC ‡ Axel Wolfric GWF ‡ Logain SW ‡ Gawyn GF ‡ Galad OP ‡ Aspen Darkfire HR ‡ Min TR
Post edited by vordayn on
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It may still be an avenue for people to join guilds, and I do not think it will destabilise the Strongholds concept, but would rather strengthen it. It'll allow people hesitant to join a guild to see what it's like before committing themselves. It will also shore up numbers in guilds who may not have the man-power initially.
Casual, solo-players and those who do not meet rigorous requirements of particular guilds would benefit. Having more people play the game, solo and guildies alike, increases the odds of the game doing better overall.
Anyway, a start could be to reduce all costs for the basic structures to some gold and some AD, giving small guilds the chance to build at least a "complete" Stronghold with small benefits from it.
The high-end benefits from Strongholds would still be only there for big guilds...
The disadvantage has the unfortunate long term consequence of more or less putting the mercenary solo player at the mercy of the guild he's contracted to. Since they can now force him or her to arbitrarily continue to pay gold, AD, GMOPs or whatever the heck they want or they'll cast him or her out and cripple his or her character.
In essence, your plan would have the solo players pay what will likely be huge sums of their character's resources to continue to have access to the power they need to actually stay relevant, and since history has shown that in these sorts of prisoner's dilemmas, the short sighted nature of people and organizations is that its in best interests to 'defect' and start adopting this practice, most will be doing something like this, and the handful that won't will quickly be packed to the maximum limit by people looking to not be mucked over, leaving everyone else up a certain creek without a certain implement.
In sum: sounds great on paper, like a good number of economic theories. But once you add in the nature of humans, the tendency of individuals in power to abuse that power (especially if IRL consequences are 'minimal' since it is just a game and all), and actually contemplate the long term consequences of it, you realize that it really just makes things worse for the would be solo or small guild player.
So... I guess it fits the theme!
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If memory serves, Serfs, while bound to the land, still had certain protections and rights afforded to them and some level of recourse if they were abused (though what constituted 'abuse' was a bit more loose back in those days). Under this, the solo player doesn't. So calling them Serfs is a bit misleading.
I have been doing 90% of the needed tasks in our SH, with my TR.
I do have 2 toons, one under-powered CW and one very low DPS GF, that need company while playing. For the under 70 toons they have level appropriate things to do... in level appropriate areas.
I suspect I have fixed that for you.
But I mean, if you're only friends with your guildies while they're your guildies, isn't that an issue of itself? small guilds should try merging together. Of course, that tends to bring on drama of its own.
You can also look into one of the casual-friendly guilds, or even check out nw_legit_community, who has a guild, (check my sig).
"Is it better to be feared or respected? I say, is it too much to ask for both?" -Tony Stark
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...has alrdy happened to my 'family'
the numbers are simply too high for casuals - STO all over again only faster
i rly wanted this game to succeed and had high hopes
but since the decision has been made for me - good luck to all of you...
No no, the Guild would pay the mercenary for their services. That's how it normally is for a mercenary type. The mercenary can put up their 'price', or can volunteer. I would never agree to a Guild charging its members to play. That would be horrible, as you explained.
Or you could just remove the payment structure, and allow a matching up system.
There is no real upsite to this.
The gear from Strongholds might be obsolete with Underdark at the end of the year, and boons only stick to guild members.
And a solid Leadership "army" will provide more gold and AD, then wasting time by doing the legwork for others.
I suspect I have fixed that for you.
Ah. That's a bit better on paper. The problem is that it still doesn't stop the guild from basically turning right around and demanding under the table payments or they'll cut the merc off and destroy all his or her progress. There would need to be massive safeguards and oversight in place to prevent abuse, and I just don't trust cryptic to be able to do it.
Yeah, I could see the potential for abuse unfortunately. It would require a lot of thought to implement, and with Mod8 coming (Underdark?), their attention could be on that instead.
I just think that Strongholds is a fun addition to the game, but see that solo players are probably not getting much enjoyment out of it, if at all. Splitting up smaller guilds is lamentable too. There should be something in place to avert this, hence my suggestion on the Mercenary type matching system. With smaller guilds, scaling on resources required could be a good option too.
But are there any other suggestions in involving solo or casual players in this mod? I didn't want to "force them to join a guild", but provide an option to test it and maybe run a few quests, that's all.
It wouldn't solve the solo play aspect, but for the smaller guilds, it seems to me that the thing to do would be to allow guilds to enter into open alliances with one another and pool resources. Properly implemented and planned out, this would enable the smaller guilds to actually compete while retaining their 'identity' so to speak.
Besides, big guilds will need more fresh blood at some point, and they will carve it out of medium guilds, those will try to replenish their loses through eating up small guilds, and small guilds... well, those will just vanish along with a lot of solo players.
Not every solo player will just join a guild, because they're told to do so.
And i think i also allready explained what happens to Devs, that try to force players to play the way they want to...