Dakofwar Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 (edited) Hello all, I have an idea for a new game mode in SWTOR and I thought this would be the most appropriate place to share it. If others feel the way I do maybe we can get this idea to gain traction. I have been a true believer in Bioware since the original Knights of the Old Republic and I’m a huge fan of SWTOR. I want to see this game thrive and become the most successful MMO in history. I think Bioware has established a fantastic foundation, a foundation that is capable of reaching the highest standards in the industry. For me SWTOR is the first MMO that made leveling fun, the first MMO that made me care about the story which in turn made me feel closer to my character than any game I’ve ever played. In my opinion it’s these are the new and refreshing experiences that Bioware brought to the MMO space. I believe that these types of new, signature experiences make the difference. So MMO communities are basically participating in either PVE, PVP, RP or all of the above. My thoughts are to include all of these elements into a new mode called “Arena”. It’s dueling done right. A Meta game. Imagine an arcade “esk” fighter, i.e. Teken, DOA, Mortal Kombat with your Legacy characters. This mode could be a player’s primary focus or just something fun to do if you only have 5-10 minutes to play. Arena Mode Features • Cross server, faction vs. faction combat or same faction (1v1 or 2v2) • Epic Star Wars series set piece stages built for these matches. Much, much smaller than WZs so pack in all the detail possible. • Specific rewards related to this new game type maybe purchased from an “Arena Commendations Vendor”. • Ranking and leader boards (win loss ratio, kills, damage done, damage taken, healing done) • If possible, spectator mode so that no-participating players can view the fights • Spectator betting with odds calculator based on leader boards rankings. • Buff HP, DPS for specific classes and levels so that encounters are longer and more strategic • Guild vs. guild tournaments or group vs group. Still 1v1 but with a bracket system based on single elimination (other guild members watch in spectator mode as they wait their turn). • A simple Meta game could be created for spectators. This game would be based on the spectator selecting a favorite combatant (guild member or stakes holder). The favored combatant could receive a small buff for having the most fans (Encouragement). If the fans base is entirely skewed i.e. 80% / 20% the non-favored combatant would receive an equivalent buff (Underdog or Determination) • Arena specific titles for achievements such as reaching a specific win/loss ratio, damage done, number of wins, stage specific titles i.e. “The Knight of Tatooine” for winning a percentage of matches on that stage. • Comical titles for poor performance. • Single player mode: Gladiator mode/survival: Progressively harder player vs. NPC matches resulting in possible scenarios where only a small percentage of players have ever downed the higher tier NPC (if a player progresses as far or further than anyone else on the server they receive an awesome title like “Arena Champion” for being the best.) How cool would it be if that title could be lost when the player is bested by a certain percentage of people? • For spectators use the combat log for real time fight statistics and or NPC commentary • New Arena hub area split into at least two sections. An area for combatants with combat dummies, commendation vendor, medic ect. Attached would be a sports bar like cantina area complete with espn ticker style leader boards, betting terminals, spectator holo screens, the works. • Solid foundation for future Meta games. Pod racing anyone? Concerns and Other Thoughts • Engine, dev kit, server and technology limitation. • Class balance issues (could be the best way to balance classes, idk. Thoughts?) • How well would this work for tanks and healers? Would there be buffs and debuffs to balance this or would it have to be pure class/role balance? • Would the fights be instances in order to have various stages and help to maintain performance? If yes would a spectator mode be possible with the developer’s tools? • Spectator mode could be an outstanding feature but how would it work. My vision would be that these fights are instances and the spectator can cycle through various views such as combatants view points and preset cinematic view points. A free moving spectator controlled camera would be the ultimate. • How about live arena holo cam terminals that stream matches in all the cantinas? • Special up close “action camera” just for this mode, would this break the combat mechanics? • Should Arena matches be 1v1 only? 2v2 comes to mind so that each player has a pocket healer. Please share thoughts, opinion and concerns. I’m I crazy? Do you think it would be fun? Would it even work? If Arena mode had to be rolled out over several patches little by little, what would be the top priority features for this mode? Thanks Dak Jones Edited May 11, 2012 by Dakofwar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svartalfimposter Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 What do you think? I think it's a bunch of ideas other people have already put forward. Well done compiling them into a list, though, and some of them are really good. And some of them are nonsense -spectator mode... really? REALLY? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakofwar Posted May 11, 2012 Author Share Posted May 11, 2012 I think it's a bunch of ideas other people have already put forward. Well done compiling them into a list, though, and some of them are really good. And some of them are nonsense -spectator mode... really? REALLY? I understand that spectator mode wouldn't be for everyone but I think it could add something for people that placed bets on the fights. I have always enjoyed spectator mode in fps and racing games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svartalfimposter Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 (edited) I understand that spectator mode wouldn't be for everyone but I think it could add something for people that placed bets on the fights. I have always enjoyed spectator mode in fps and racing games. If I saw some kind of community-based initiative in this game, then I'd believe that people would place bets, but thus far I've seen none. Even something as simple as racing around the space station - hasn't happened. It seems to me that people want the system for something like this to be implemented by developers instead of grasping the nettle themselves. Frankly, it's a lot of dev time to waste on something that MIGHT, but probably won't encourage some community-based initiative to occur. Edited May 11, 2012 by svartalfimposter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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