Idea: Temporary world changing events.

[CHIPS]

The idea is simple. Every once in a while, have certain NPC groups lead a mass invasion of a territory. For example, the Separatists might invade Blazeridge Steppes. The invasion force will consists of a few hundred NPCs and will battle across the whole map (similar to WvW, but against NPCs). Assuming they start from the south, the NPCs will slowly fight northward until they over take the whole area, if they can.

The NPCs can get really creative. For example while attacking Splintercrest Fort, they might also attack Soot Road to stop that Asura gate from operating. And with the players trapped inside Splintercrest Fort, they will go attack other areas unhindered.

30 minutes before such event takes place, there will be a notice to all players in the server. That gives the players plenty of time to get to the area to help out.

There are two possible outcomes:

1)If the NPCs were beaten back, then the area carry on as it did.

2)If the NPCs win the invasion, that territory would fall under their territory for the next 12 hours. None of the heart quests can be taken during this time. There would be temporary world changes. For example you might see Separatists keeping Charr prisoners in little cages and threatening to eat them, etc.

These NPCs doesn't necessary have to be red (hostile) to the players. They can be yellow, so the players had a choice to either fight them or just go explore the area. In the Separatists' case, they might be friendly to humans and Norns, yellow to Asura and Sylvari, but hostile to Charrs. If you are human, the Separatists might even chat with you and convince you to join their cause. (You can't actually join them obviously. But they will try to convince you.)

Either way, after 12 hours, the "good guys" will organize an attack to take back the territory. In Blazeridge Steppes, it would be the Charrs who gather a few hundred NPC allies and strike back. The players can join in the fight with the alongside the Charrs. Once the Charrs win, that sector goes back to how it used to be.

Any thoughts?

[raspberry jam]

Any thoughts?

My thought is that they should make a separate level 80 world where they can have cool stuff like this without it ruining the game for people who are trying to level.

[RD]

So, sort of like a longer-lasting, larger-scale Dynamic Event? I like it.

The title of the thread also made me think of larger-impacting events that change the game world, like the Lion's Arch Lion blowing up. So maybe there's an invasion or something and a part of the map completely changes for a month or two after a big event like you describe, then it can change back or even change to a third option.

[Lady Rhonwyn]

So, sort of like a longer-lasting, larger-scale Dynamic Event? I like it.

The title of the thread also made me think of larger-impacting events that change the game world, like the Lion's Arch Lion blowing up. So maybe there's an invasion or something and a part of the map completely changes for a month or two after a big event like you describe, then it can change back or even change to a third option.

I too like that that idea. And about people that want leveling, there is more than one area where you can level up. Besides, that DE can spawn multiple new DE's for the 12 hours that the area is "occupied". Plenty of opportunity to level if you insist on finishing that area.

The hearts shouldn't be turned "off" though, that would hinder exploration (map completion is part of exploration). Had there been no hearts (but you would have had a lot of complaints then by people who are used to quests and would have demanded quests, just like they demanded gear progression), it would have been even better...

[CHIPS]

My thought is that they should make a separate level 80 world where they can have cool stuff like this without it ruining the game for people who are trying to level.

This will be protective of the new players. But in that case the world didn't really change. There won't actually be an effect in the real world. But perhaps this new level 80 world can have mass invasions all over the map. So its sort of like a constant WvW against NPCs. Might work.

So, sort of like a longer-lasting, larger-scale Dynamic Event? I like it.

The title of the thread also made me think of larger-impacting events that change the game world, like the Lion's Arch Lion blowing up. So maybe there's an invasion or something and a part of the map completely changes for a month or two after a big event like you describe, then it can change back or even change to a third option.

What I am proposing is very temporary world changes. It shouldn't last more than a day at maximum. And the world only changes if the players let it (NPCs won against the players).

These events should happen randomly. Other than that 30 minutes warning the players won't know before hand. So these invasions are surprise events, bonus experience and loots for those that plays the game often enough to get into them. That's would help keep the players playing.

Due to the temporary nature of these events, they can happen fairly often. For example the Separatists would invade today. The next day the Kraits might invade another area. And the Inquests attack another location the day after. etc.

The invasion forces will scale to the level of the area. For example if an area is level 15-25, the invasion force will be at around level 17-27. This gives even newer players a chance to join into the fun.

I too like that that idea. And about people that want leveling, there is more than one area where you can level up. Besides, that DE can spawn multiple new DE's for the 12 hours that the area is "occupied". Plenty of opportunity to level if you insist on finishing that area.

The hearts shouldn't be turned "off" though, that would hinder exploration (map completion is part of exploration). Had there been no hearts (but you would have had a lot of complaints then by people who are used to quests and would have demanded quests, just like they demanded gear progression), it would have been even better...

I guess the hearts doesn't necessary need to be turned off. But if the Separatists took over a Charr area, it won't make sense for a Charr heart guy to still be there ordering the players around. The Charr would have ran away since its no longer safe for him.