[Suggestion] Alert Missions For Research (P2)

[rhoenix]

This is a continuation of this thread, for which I got many good responses.

With Update 8 now out, Research & Manufacturing capabilities are now available to Tenno - and for this reason, I wanted to revive this idea now. Changing the Alert system to make use of this sort of Research system could also be tied in seamlessly with the current Clan Research structure, with one providing synergy to the other.

To recap the discussion and idea so far:

The Alert system's random nature makes it difficult to acquire several rare items, as well as edging in the direction of asking players to play on the game's schedule, due to the random nature of Alert Mission generation.

Presented here is an idea for the Alert system to eliminate the random nature of the Alert system's chances, and replace the randomness with a Research point-based system. This research-based system could even include the spending of Platinum to help DE. This is meant to address and account for the great number of rare items possible within the Alert system, keeping them difficult to acquire while also giving players to play completely on their schedule, not worrying about the random nature of Alert mission presentation.

This would require a new area in the interface next to the Foundry, called Research. One can select a Research Project as being "active", which would mean that it would actively receive Research Points from Alerts. As an Alert is completed, that Research Project would receive a certain number of points toward completion. A player would also have the option to spend Platinum if they wish to reduce the number of points required by half.

As an in-game example, let's say someone selects the Vauban Helmet Schematic as a Research Project, which would require (arbitrarily) 100,000 Research Points to unlock. If an Alert mission gives 1/15th (again, arbitrarily) the number of research points that it does credits each time, then per Alert, you'd get about 150-750 Research Points toward unlocking the Vauban Helmet per Alert mission completed.

A player would also have the option to spend 20 Platinum to reduce the total number of Research Points needed for a given active project down to 50,000, making it easier if they're willing to devote the Platinum toward getting it.

This same system can be influenced by Raid missions (similar to the Fusion MOA mission a short time ago), giving players an increased amount of research points for missions completed for that Raid.

(edit: 1/15 ratio proposed by crazycanadian24; corrected from 1/20)

Additional details, developed through debate & discussion further in this & the previous threads:

- Only one Research Project could be "active" at a time in order to receive Research Points from a given Alert mission. (thanks to Meek.)

- Only one Research Project could be finished in a given 24-hour period; if another is completed before the 24 hours are up, then it will simply wait to activate until 24 hours pass. (thanks to Meek., and GratuitiousLurking)

- "Leftover" research points from finishing a given project can be immediately put into another project (including an inactive project), or donated to a clan-member, if the user is in a Clan. (thanks to Meek.)

- Alert missions would give a base ratio of 1/15, in terms of Research Points earned versus credits earned from a given Alert mission. A random value would be added to this, allowing for greater variation of Alert RP values. (thanks to xenapan)

- Which items appear as available for research would be based on player ranking - the higher an individual player's ranking, the more items would be available for research. (with thanks to nearly everyone who posted in the thread so far)

- This Research system could be used to add modularity to the upcoming Clan Research feature in the upcoming U8.

- Orokin Catalysts & Orokin Reactor blueprints will still be available from Alert missions, as there was no truly fair & equitable way found to limit the ability to research & acquire Orokin blueprints. Therefore, the Orokin Catalysts/Reactors will not be available for research. (thanks to discussions with Meek. & Socordia)

Edited May 24, 2013 by rhoenix

[timnz41]

Great ideas. Hope DE take notice.

[TraumaHunter]

How does this interact with the current research system in the dojo as it is?

[rhoenix]

How does this interact with the current research system in the dojo as it is?

To be perfectly honest, I'm still getting started with this in my Clan, so I'm going by reports of the research system in the Dojo currently until that's completed, which aren't all that much yet.

However, with that disclaimer said - to the best of my current understanding (and correct me if I'm wrong here), the Dojo research system essentially enables certain weapons for crafting. Essentially, all you get out of the Clan Research is unlocking an item for crafting - which is actually fine.

If this understanding is correct, then the Research System proposed above can tie into it pretty seamlessly. By doing so, essentially the playstyle of Alerts goes from "man, I hope I get that blueprint finally" to "ok, now I need a whole bunch more stuff to unlock this." And once a given item is unlocked and available for yourself, you could then send it to Clan Research so your fellow clan-members get a discount in terms of materials when crafting that specific item.

Of course, this isn't a bonus that should stack, for obvious reasons; essentially, how I'm envisioning this is if (for instance) you unlock the blueprint for the Dark Sword and craft it (thus destroying the blueprint), you can then go to the Dojo and upload the data for the Dark Sword, so other clan members who make a Dark Sword will receive a discount in terms of materials.

[GratuitousLurking]

This again! And for once I'm saying that as a good thing!

 

I'm sure those who have already rushed to Research sites will have more input for now. I've had more then my say the last thread :P

[rhoenix]

This again! And for once I'm saying that as a good thing!

 

I'm sure those who have already rushed to Research sites will have more input for now. I've had more then my say the last thread :P

Yeah, I really didn't want to let this idea die, especially now that u8 is out.

And as for ideas, I feel compelled to point out that you were one of the reasons I edited the OP with the idea of limits on Research projects, because you made good points. If you have other workable ideas, I'll give you credit for those as well.

[rhoenix]

(greeting), (pithy joke as introduction), (explanation for shamelessly self-bumping thread). (self-gratifying communal respect comment).

[wowdragonwow1111]

i what to know what the list is for the alerts thats all i need to know soo can ya'll tell me yes i say ya'll becuse am frecking texen that what we do yea  let me thank you never  seen a texen play vigeo games before

Edited May 27, 2013 by wowdragonwow1111