Where is their world? It should be in the region we can explore. It's absence provides an opportunity to develop something long neglected: Ground PvP.
I'm not a big Ground PvP player. Frankly, I suck at it. However, there are players who spend a lot of effort on tricking out their favorite toon with ground gear. They deserve a place to showcase their efforts other than in deserted, unrewarded, and pointless Arena queues.
The idea is to present the world as shown in TOS, but well on its way to achieving the polyglot culture envisioned by Kirk. In order to promote interstellar trade and cultural heritage, the gladiatorial combats once performed for the amusement of the masters are now open to any who accept the risks. Outworlders can work their way up the amateur brackets until they qualify for an annual tournament. Fighting in the amateur ranks earns prizes based on damage inflicted and healed, as well as a bonus for victory, so that longer, more entertaining fights earn a greater reward than instant ganks.
The idea allows for the creation of a new currency specifically for the purchase of Ground Gear. Earning Quatlues in the ring opens access to the Triskelion Ground Store where those shiny plastic coins can be exchanged for kits and kit powers, personal armors, personal shields, and melee weaponry of various sorts. In fact, this idea could allow for the phased introduction of new ground weapons and their animations.
The world itself need not be any more developed than the actual city on Kobali, excluding the adventure zone, with merchants, bank, mail, and exchange terminals, and some "native" NPCS wandering around ready to discuss the history and culture of their world. In one part of this map there should be an arena floor with the Triskelion symbol, around which the players can sit and stand to observe the action.
Melee weapons only! Guns are not allowed on Triskelion.
There should be a vendor who accepts bets, (Quatlues only,) for contestants and observers.
The Challenge:
When a player wishes to enter the ring, he speaks to the Games Thrall, who enters the player and then assigns him to combat the character closest to his level or, if level 60, the character with the closest number of Specialization Points. (Based on total EXP perhaps?) If no PC is close enough to similar levels, an NPC "native" is generated to allow the PC a chance to earn his reward for participating.
I would recommend that when a PC enters the zone he be segregated by experience into instances of similar levels, so that all 40 players in Instance 1 are near enough in experience to combat one another, so that players can meet the competition socially before and after the actual combat.
What a fantastic idea! It is so awesome sounding, I wonder why Cryptic didn't think of it themselves. It wold be an opportunity to sell more outfit options. I wager 1000 quatloos on the eventual appearance of such a feature. Also the music in the arena MUST be "The Ritual / Ancient Battle / Second Kroykah". Hum it with me now, we all knowit by heart:
Given the amazing and relentless effort put into the PvP side of things by Cryptic, not to mention their outstanding record on properly balancing the game.....sure thing.
And you can also wear the new Risa, Triskelion outfits there as well.
'But to be logical is not to be right', and 'nothing' on God's earth could ever 'make it' right!'
Judge Dan Haywood
'As l speak now, the words are forming in my head.
l don't know.
l really don't know what l'm about to say, except l have a feeling about it.
That l must repeat the words that come without my knowledge.'
Annual Event:
Every Spring a week or two long event could be created to focus the spotlight on the world. In addition to earning Quatlues for gear, a Special Event Reward could be done in a manner similar to the Winter and Summer events.
The Annual Event could be billed as a Tournament of Champions, in which those 8192 Player Characters who have earned the most Quatlues over the previous year are invited to participate in a bracketed tournament. Each player is contacted by mail and invited, being required to submit suitable playtime so the computer can match each participant with players who will be available during his normal gaming times. With each bracket eliminating half the players, it takes 13 rounds to complete the tourney. In a four week event, that allows multiple days per bracket for players to arrange a meeting with their assigned foe, the result of which determines who advances to the next bracket.
Failing to arrange a combat results in a forfiet, but a player who registers as present each day in which the challenge is open is not penalized, and may advance to the next round of the contest.
As an example I offer the following schedule for a two-week long tourney in which 8193 players are invited:
Round 1 = Day 1&2 (8192 players)
Round 2 = Day 3&4 (4096 players)
Round 3 = Day 5&6 (2048 players)
Round 4 = Day 7 (1024 players)
Round 5 = Day 8 (512 players)
Round 6 = Day 9 (256 players)
Round 7 = Day 10 (128 players)
Round 8 = Day 11 (64 players)
Round 9 = Day 12 (32 players)
Round 10 = Day 13 (16 players)
Round 11 = Day 14 (8 players)
Round 12 = Day 14 (4 players)
Final Round = Day 14 (2 players)
With the results of each tournament contest flashed as a global message, interest in what is going on on Triskelion will be piqued, and with suitable rewards for each round of advancement, players will be encouraged to participate in the tourney. When it becomes known that participation throughout the year which yields invitations to the tournament, it will pique player interest in the games. Good rewards and the ability to be a spectator as well as a participant will encourage players to visit.
And you can also wear the new Risa, Triskelion outfits there as well.
Oh absolutely. Thrall outfits, especially in metallic hues, would be a good option for your characters, available for Quatlues at the Triskelion Tailor. Risa wear would be acceptable, but the cool kids will wear harnesses. I'd leave it to you to decide if you want your character to "join a herd" and wear it's color. (Three-color collars are reserved for the Games Thrall.)
Comments
l don't know.
l really don't know what l'm about to say, except l have a feeling about it.
That l must repeat the words that come without my knowledge.'
Every Spring a week or two long event could be created to focus the spotlight on the world. In addition to earning Quatlues for gear, a Special Event Reward could be done in a manner similar to the Winter and Summer events.
The Annual Event could be billed as a Tournament of Champions, in which those 8192 Player Characters who have earned the most Quatlues over the previous year are invited to participate in a bracketed tournament. Each player is contacted by mail and invited, being required to submit suitable playtime so the computer can match each participant with players who will be available during his normal gaming times. With each bracket eliminating half the players, it takes 13 rounds to complete the tourney. In a four week event, that allows multiple days per bracket for players to arrange a meeting with their assigned foe, the result of which determines who advances to the next bracket.
Failing to arrange a combat results in a forfiet, but a player who registers as present each day in which the challenge is open is not penalized, and may advance to the next round of the contest.
As an example I offer the following schedule for a two-week long tourney in which 8193 players are invited:
Round 1 = Day 1&2 (8192 players)
Round 2 = Day 3&4 (4096 players)
Round 3 = Day 5&6 (2048 players)
Round 4 = Day 7 (1024 players)
Round 5 = Day 8 (512 players)
Round 6 = Day 9 (256 players)
Round 7 = Day 10 (128 players)
Round 8 = Day 11 (64 players)
Round 9 = Day 12 (32 players)
Round 10 = Day 13 (16 players)
Round 11 = Day 14 (8 players)
Round 12 = Day 14 (4 players)
Final Round = Day 14 (2 players)
With the results of each tournament contest flashed as a global message, interest in what is going on on Triskelion will be piqued, and with suitable rewards for each round of advancement, players will be encouraged to participate in the tourney. When it becomes known that participation throughout the year which yields invitations to the tournament, it will pique player interest in the games. Good rewards and the ability to be a spectator as well as a participant will encourage players to visit.
Oh absolutely. Thrall outfits, especially in metallic hues, would be a good option for your characters, available for Quatlues at the Triskelion Tailor. Risa wear would be acceptable, but the cool kids will wear harnesses. I'd leave it to you to decide if you want your character to "join a herd" and wear it's color. (Three-color collars are reserved for the Games Thrall.)