Dog Days, a good start for a new game mode, but lacks variety

[squirrel_killer-]

Here is what I say about Dog Days. The initial idea and first 2-10 runs (depending on person) are, in fact, quite fun and enjoyable. I do like the idea of this event, and if it was built upon and improved I would want to see it become a seasonal event that returned frequently as a fun, lighthearted thing to enjoy between the more serious and grim aspects of this game.

The problem is it lacks variety. Not the fact that the pearl costs are too high, that is a symptom of the lack of variety making it feel boring.

Every round is the same, the same HP values, same weapon stats, same map, same enemies, same everything, baring auras. Nothing changes. This is what makes earning 500 pearls feel like pulling teeth, and makes these high prices feel so high. It is what makes 5 minutes drag on for what feels to be 20 minutes. The fix isn't complicated, and honestly, the fix would make this an amazing game mode that embraces the nonsense that is this concept.

This event could honestly make a great new game mode baseline for future events if fleshed out. I mean that.

The "easiest" way to do that would be, in my opinion, giving it "power ups". Either as kill rewards or randomly spawning in points around the map that take a bit of work to grab, such as high on rocks, on the platforms in the water, or in trees. Things like a limited 500 ammo "archsoaker" to spice things up. Maybe a melee weapon for a limited time that 1-2 hits everything rather than just weakly squirting grineer with a gun. A water balloon cannon with AoE and massive damage but only 4 or 5 shots, or even a unique set of "abilities" to help spice combat raised by gaining energy from soaking grineer or picking up energy that slowly spawns. Adding a kill combo counter to make pearl collecting faster and more engaging than haphazardly throwing yourself into crowds of grineer trying to get as many kills as possible before you are downed by their numbers while maximising the likelihood you will hit something making it feel more rewarding.

On the flip side, embrace the silly justification of this and have Kela occasional unleash some new hazard against the Tenno, soaker rollers, a bombardment, maybe even grineer prepackaged with the power up weapons and increased life.

This mode, by its nature, is arcadey. Embrace that arcadey nature and take it to its logical endpoint. This event is clearly meant to be something fun, let it be that, don't leave it as a grind. The floofs are a fun and silly reward, the process of getting them should be so as well. It is a disservice to the concept to leave it so bare bones. Toss in some power ups and hazards, give us the power ups and event weapon as skins for pearls, and then reskin it every few months and rerelease it with a new map and new rewards for fall, winter, and spring.

[CuChulainnWD]

I would like to see a little more variety as well. Nodes that sort of resemble the coastal regions that they are shown on the map for one. A winter version with terrain that crosses Canada, Russia, the Scandinavian countries for some epic snow ball fights. Different enemies, say The Vent Kids, and or the Ostron Children vs our Operators.

Even a PVP mode of this would do better than the current Conclave, as everything is on a level playing field. Top it all off with some new beach toys, and Swim wear, and or Arctic Wear, and we are away to the races.

[squirrel_killer-]

Just now, CuChulainnWD said:

I would like to see a little more variety as well. Nodes that sort of resemble the coastal regions that they are shown on the map for one. A winter version with terrain that crosses Canada, Russia, the Scandinavian countries for some epic snow ball fights. Different enemies, say The Vent Kids, and or the Ostron Children vs our Operators.

Even a PVP mode of this would do better than the current Conclave, as everything is on a level playing field. Top it all off with some new beach toys, and Swim wear, and or Arctic Wear, and we are away to the races.

Once this mode is fixed up a bit, adding it as a Conclave mode would be great!