Event Concept - Slipstream [Wip]

[NeverEatTheLemonsAlone]

Tenno, we have a crisis on our hands.

 

The Corpus have developed prototype induction accelerators in secret, increasing the power and speed of their laser weapons exponentially. As it stands, they already do far more damage than they normally would. Fortunately, they are still in design phases, and as such, are far too large to be installed in any of their standard-issue equipment at the moment. On any given Corpus outpost, you may come across an enormous turret. You absolutely MUST destroy all of them before you extract. They track heat signatures and if you try to extract while they remain in operation, they will shoot you out of the sky. Unfortunately, destroying one by physical means would take hours with even a large unit of Tenno, let alone a small cell. Instead, find the access door and enter the turret. Inside, you should find a datamass inserted into the main console. This contains the operation data for the accelerator. Once you retrieve it, the turrets will fall out of operation until they can create a new piece of software. But be warned. The data is on a constant transfer stream, andf you don't reach the turret in time, the operation system will transfer and the turret will come online. If that happens, I'm sorry.

Alternatively, you could destroy the batteries. Every so often, the turret needs to cool off, and so they will be revealed on the side. However, they are small and hard to hit, and if you do this, we cannot retrieve and reverse-engineer their data.

 

Lotus

 

(A/N: Yes, I know that was long. I'll be streamlining it)

 

I had this idea after doing a little reminiscing on past events. After a little while, I realized that bar minor events, (Ties That Bind, Hunt For Alad V, etc.) the past four events have all had Wraith weapons as the reward. The Gravidus Dilemma could've gone both ways, but we ended up with another Wraith and another Grineer weapon. It's high time the Corpus get an event.

 

 

EVENT MECHANICS:

 

I find it kinda interesting that DE has created two entirely new game modes for the Tethra event instead of using the already existent and neglected ones. I decided to take my favorite of them, Spy, where you take pieces of datamass and bring them to extraction. Interestingly enough, though, we never find out exactly what they're for. They're just random datamasses.

 

This time, it's actually important. The Corpus have made prototype induction accelerators, which would increase the capabilities of their weapons dramatically, and they're creating massive turrets to safeguard their colonies. When you first enter a Corpus mission, it functions like any other, but at some point during it, there's a 30% chance that the Lotus will contact you and tell you that the operating systems are being installed. Think of it as a fusion between Spy and reverse Defense. Instead of you defending as waves of enemies try to break through, enemies are defending the turrets and you have to beat through them and get to the access door to the turret. To ensure that a Loki or Ash can't get in absurdly easily, the turrets also have a form of IR tracking field projected around them, meaning that once you step into the tower's area of effect, you'll come out of hiding. Once you hack it, you can go inside. Then you have to hack the terminal inside and extract the datamass. During this, a progress bar similar to the ones in Interception missions is filling up. Once it reaches 100%, you fail the mission. Alternatively, on the outside of the turret, every twenty or so seconds, a couple of small doors will open up and the battery powering the turret will stick out for a few precious seconds to cool, leaving itself open. Each turret will have eight large batteries to destroy (Suggested by DarknightK). There could be anywhere from 1-4 turrets in any given mission. As soon as you finish one, the next one starts, and you have to rush to it. Once you have all the datamasses (or have taken out all the heatsinks), extraction opens up. Event credit is counted by Points. (Taking the Spy route gets you two points, taking the heatsink route gives you 1 point, and doing all the turrets in any given mission with Spy gets you two extra points at the end, for a total of 10 points on a four-turret node, a total of eight on the three-turret node, etc. Since these turrets have to be positioned outside, maybe this could also open up an opportunity for a brand-new Corpus tileset, which we haven't gotten since the Gas Cities, as far as I can remember.

 

 

POSSIBLE HARD MODE:

 

With Hek's Escalation from Tethra, we might have more "Hard Modes" in events from now on. The hard mode for Slipstream could be something along the lines of: When you enter the mission, instead of just one turret at a time being initialized, they all start at once, and there's always four, making it so that sure, you get four per run guaranteed, but you have to take one all on your own. The enemies would also be a higher level, of course, and the turrets all have internalized liquid cooling, making it a necessity to use the Spy route.The issue is how to get this to work with the random distribution of the missions. If you have anything regarding that, tell me.

 

 

EVENT REWARDS:

 

1-19 Points: Badge (Of course): The badge would most likely resemble a simplified, stylized version of one of the large turrets.

 

20-49 Points: One of these mod series -

SERIES 1

Induction Coil - Rifle - Drain 4/5/6/7 - V Polarity: Increases flight speed by 20%/30%/40%/50% and increases fire rate by 10%/20%/30%/40%

Pulse Charge - Pistol - Drain 4/5/6/7 - V Polarity: Same as Induction Coil

Rail Shell - Shotgun - Drain 4/5/6/7 - V Polarity: Same as Induction Coil

(Melee might not work here, but I can give it a shot) - Melee - Drain 4/5/6/7 - V Polarity: Increases attack speed by 20%/30%/40%/50% and increases damage blocked by 10%/20%/30%/40%.

SERIES 2

Frost Shot - Rifle - Drain 4/5/6/7 - V Polarity: Cold Damage 15%/30%/45%/60% and increase flight speed by 10%/20%/30%/40%

Frigid Bullet - Pistol - Drain 4/5/6/7 - V Polarity: Same as Frost Shot

Supercooled Burst - Shotgun - Drain 4/5/6/7 - V Polarity: Same as Frost Shot

Ice Edge - Melee - Drain 4/5/6/7 - V Polarity: Cold Damage 15%/30%/45%/60% and increases attack speed by 10%/20%/30%/40%]

 

50+ points: Lanka Vandal: Yes, I know to make a Lanka Vandal, they'd have to change the Lanka model. Be that as it may, it's high time the Lanka gets some love. It's one of the most under-appreciated weapons in the game. It already does (more than) enough damage, so don't buff that. Instead, here's an idea: What if all those datamasses you collected allowed the Lotus to synthesize the program that the Corpus were developing and reverse-engineer it into the Lanka Vandals? Make them either have a much faster travel time, (2-4x) or hell, just make it hitscan, with a possible drop in damage from the extra space that the program would have to take up. It's a plasma induction rifle (more likely) or a railgun/coilgun, both of which have no reason to have travel time. It would also serve to breathe some life into the Corpus, because really, when was the last time you saw someone use a Supra? How about a Prova? Or a Lanka? The Dera is a little more popular, but even if the Grineer have less weapons in the labs, they're used much more often.

 

HARD MODE REWARD:

 

1-10: Special Badge

10-20: Corpus color pallete

20+: Possibly the second set of mods above, if the first one is already implemented, or vice versa.

 

So, like it? Despise it enough to murder me in my sleep? Tell me what you think and make some suggestions, because I like the idea.

Edited April 1, 2014 by NeverEatTheLemonsAlone

[Cyriann]

That's a good concept.

 

But maybe hard mode is a bit over-acting, I mean nightmare mode, for those who tried it solo, is seriously not hard, but almost impossible (never said it IS impossible) so forcing the team to part knowing that each of them will most likely end up cornered in a room with nowhere to run out of it... No, not a good point.

 

So to lift up presure, instead of the four activating immediately, each activates... 2 minutes after the precedent (random position) like this, good teams or good stealth players would have the time and opportunity to take them not one at a time but at least the team would have time to seek for the other turrets and go ahead of the countdown.

 

Example : complete team, and good team work, they part in 2 groups of 2 immediately after the begginning, the first team heading for the active turret, the second seeking the others and deactivating alarms as soon as possible to limit risks for the others...

 

What do you think of it ?

[NeverEatTheLemonsAlone]

That's a good concept.

 

But maybe hard mode is a bit over-acting, I mean nightmare mode, for those who tried it solo, is seriously not hard, but almost impossible (never said it IS impossible) so forcing the team to part knowing that each of them will most likely end up cornered in a room with nowhere to run out of it... No, not a good point.

 

So to lift up presure, instead of the four activating immediately, each activates... 2 minutes after the precedent (random position) like this, good teams or good stealth players would have the time and opportunity to take them not one at a time but at least the team would have time to seek for the other turrets and go ahead of the countdown.

 

Example : complete team, and good team work, they part in 2 groups of 2 immediately after the begginning, the first team heading for the active turret, the second seeking the others and deactivating alarms as soon as possible to limit risks for the others...

 

What do you think of it ?

Well, keep in mind that the amount of enemies guarding each turret is static and the bar doesn't proceed that quickly, maybe 1% every 2.5 seconds. That would leave 250 seconds to get to it and take the data core, and if you kill everything, they won't bother you on the inside. Even if you don't, they still have to come through a rather small access door, and a saryn or something could probably tank it no trouble. I want it to be hard for everyone, not just everyone that doesn't have a Rhino, Saryn, Frost or Zephyr.

 

Anyway, these missions aren't designed to be solo'd. I mean, if you're really good, then yeah, you just might be able to pull it off, if you have the most OP weapons ever, or lots of CC abilities (Rhino with Vanguard helmet comes to mind), but 250 seconds would leave a minute per turret, and considering they're spaced out, it would be almost impossible. But hey, you don't get any extra rewards for it. It's just for people who want a challenge.

Edited March 17, 2014 by NeverEatTheLemonsAlone

[Aka_Miso]

I stopped reading after the Corpus event part because wasn't Tethra doom made by the corpus to retake the map as said by Darvos father

[NeverEatTheLemonsAlone]

I stopped reading after the Corpus event part because wasn't Tethra doom made by the corpus to retake the map as said by Darvos father

Naah, Project Tethra was made by the Grineer, which is why you go into Grineer tilesets to take the cores. Frohd Bek was nervous that the Grineer had made such a powerful thing is all. Looking past that, even if it was initiated by Frohd Bek, (which it wasn't) it took place in a Grineer tileset, fighting Grineer enemies, and getting a Grineer weapon, so it's safe to say that yes, it was a Grineer event.

[NeverEatTheLemonsAlone]

Updated, added in the two possible mod sets for the mid reward.

[NeverEatTheLemonsAlone]

le Shameless Bump time!

[DangerDaddy]

Change "decrease flight time" to "increased flight speed" as it is what we can measure (100 meters per second for example).

 

I'd suggest Supra Vandal, We just got the Gorgon Wraith, but it didn't really feel like a reward as the current Supra is already more powerful except in attack speed, flight speed, and accuracy. Supra Vandal could receive the Supra finish we all want, increased flight speed. You could fit it into the event with a new type of energy core was placed in the turrets, and were transferred into the new Supra Vandal, these cores could be adapted into your mods, making their lore fit into the event.

 

As well, if there is a "Nightmare edition" of the event, like the Tethra (if they do it here, it'll become a staple of all new events) then instead of a badge like Tethra's reward, either a colour code, or a Corpus Sentinel. The colour code, based on the new tile-set with the logic that the lotus wants the Tenno to blend in with their attacks, or the Sentinel with the lore base that a Corpus Core was downsized and a sentinel was designed around it (Give it a Detron-like shotgun, and a freeze ability to keep it different from current ones)

 

The count for runs:rewards is fine, I'd suggest Cold though, as we currently have Electric and Toxic.

[NeverEatTheLemonsAlone]

Change "decrease flight time" to "increased flight speed" as it is what we can measure (100 meters per second for example).

 

I'd suggest Supra Vandal, We just got the Gorgon Wraith, but it didn't really feel like a reward as the current Supra is already more powerful except in attack speed, flight speed, and accuracy. Supra Vandal could receive the Supra finish we all want, increased flight speed. You could fit it into the event with a new type of energy core was placed in the turrets, and were transferred into the new Supra Vandal, these cores could be adapted into your mods, making their lore fit into the event.

 

As well, if there is a "Nightmare edition" of the event, like the Tethra (if they do it here, it'll become a staple of all new events) then instead of a badge like Tethra's reward, either a colour code, or a Corpus Sentinel. The colour code, based on the new tile-set with the logic that the lotus wants the Tenno to blend in with their attacks, or the Sentinel with the lore base that a Corpus Core was downsized and a sentinel was designed around it (Give it a Detron-like shotgun, and a freeze ability to keep it different from current ones)

 

The count for runs:rewards is fine, I'd suggest Cold though, as we currently have Electric and Toxic.

I like the thing with the color palette; we already have a Grineer and an Infested one, and have for some time, so why not Corpus? Anyway, with the whole Supra Vandal thing, I feel like the Lanka would be more fitting. The Supra, as you've said, is already quite powerful, and since it's automatic, it doesn't need the reduction in travel time quite as much as the Lanka would. Plus, the Supra is already more popular, or at least I've observed so, in PvE. You very rarely see people using the Lanka and I feel like it really needs some life breathed back into it. Hell, the whole Corpus faction as a whole needs new life, but the Lanka especially. About the Corpus sentinel, you know we've got one coming, right? Melee-based. I think we need a Grineer one before we have two Corpus ones.

 

Hmm. Cold damage might work. After all, it does fit with the whole Arctic Tundra thing that seems to be prevalent in outdoor Corpus missions. I'll definitely think about it, especially with the Freeze Ray coming out soon.

[DangerDaddy]

I like the thing with the color palette; we already have a Grineer and an Infested one, and have for some time, so why not Corpus? Anyway, with the whole Supra Vandal thing, I feel like the Lanka would be more fitting. The Supra, as you've said, is already quite powerful, and since it's automatic, it doesn't need the reduction in travel time quite as much as the Lanka would. Plus, the Supra is already more popular, or at least I've observed so, in PvE. You very rarely see people using the Lanka and I feel like it really needs some life breathed back into it. Hell, the whole Corpus faction as a whole needs new life, but the Lanka especially. About the Corpus sentinel, you know we've got one coming, right? Melee-based. I think we need a Grineer one before we have two Corpus ones.

 

Hmm. Cold damage might work. After all, it does fit with the whole Arctic Tundra thing that seems to be prevalent in outdoor Corpus missions. I'll definitely think about it, especially with the Freeze Ray coming out soon.

Yeah the Grineer/Infested colour palette, combined with wanting an original reward for the mission, is what influenced my thinking of the palette.

 

The thing about the Lanka is that it's a very niche weapon, buffing it will make it stronger in that niche, but it won't become the new soma unless you make it extremely-stupidly strong, which shouldn't happen.

 

fair enough for the Sentinel, I didn't really figure the Hyperion or what ever it's called was Corpus though, interesting. A colour pallet is good enough for sure.

 

It fits arctic, it fits as an anti-corpus (just like toxic is anti-grineer) and the blue matches the normal corpus colouring.

Edited March 19, 2014 by MagiTwister

[NeverEatTheLemonsAlone]

 

The thing about the Lanka is that it's a very niche weapon, buffing it will make it stronger in that niche, but it won't become the new soma unless you make it extremely-stupidly strong, which shouldn't happen.

Thing is, it really isn't intended to be the new Soma. Nor is the Vectis. We've had automatic or shotgun weapons the past four events, so why not make a weapon that doesn't fit in that category? Plus, if the Lanka were made hitscan or much faster, then the niche would be expanded as well, making it a little bit more popular. I just feel like DE should give us a rifle, a sniper or a bow as the next event weapon, because I'm sick of machine guns and I'm sick of shotguns.

[DangerDaddy]

fair enough

[Sacrosage]

Nice Work! My impression was that the turrets would appear at random in a corpus mission. Like how some missions change or add on a new objective, the turret would appear somewhere in the level and the Tenno operatives would be given a timer to achieve their goal. Done that way it allows the corpus to retain their air of secrecy around their efforts. And gives the Event some more class than "LF Induction Coil Event".

[NeverEatTheLemonsAlone]

Nice Work! My impression was that the turrets would appear at random in a corpus mission. Like how some missions change or add on a new objective, the turret would appear somewhere in the level and the Tenno operatives would be given a timer to achieve their goal. Done that way it allows the corpus to retain their air of secrecy around their efforts. And gives the Event some more class than "LF Induction Coil Event".

I think that's what I meant above, but I really didn't explain it well, did I? I personally hate it when people do that, I feel like it ruins the whole thing. I'll change the description to make it a bit clearer.

[NeverEatTheLemonsAlone]

Yet another shameless bump.

[DarknightK]

A response to the shameless bump:

 

How about making them actual Spy missions, instead of having a percentage to show up? I feel that it would make the dynamics much better and a lot less "ERMERGERD EFF U DE AND UR STOOPID FKIN RNG".

 

Because RNG sucks, so that's that.

 

But overall, I love the Spy/Sabotage/Reverse Defense concept. The only thing I would modify is for two ways to deactiate the cannons.

 

1) As you said, extracting the datamasses a la Spy style. This would nab you bonus points towards the mission

 

2) Destroy the Heat Sinks on the cannon. What if these Corpus cannons had electric/plasma batteries that would momentarily eject for them to cool down? During this time, player's would be able to shoot these cooling units as a Sabotage approach. In the case that a datamass is unable to be extracted, this method would have to be used instead. Note however, that there goes your bonus points from the datamass, and shooting down a cannon will very-totally-most likely alert any enemies. 

 

I think a point system for this event would be better, with destroying a Cannon equaling 1 point, and extracting a datamass equaling 2 points. A bonus 2 points are added if all datamasses are extracted.

 

 

In hardmode however, the Cannons would have internalized liquid cooling systems, removing the need for ejecting their batteries and thus, forcing players to complete the mission the quiet way (ideally, anyway).

[NeverEatTheLemonsAlone]

A response to the shameless bump:

 

How about making them actual Spy missions, instead of having a percentage to show up? I feel that it would make the dynamics much better and a lot less "ERMERGERD EFF U DE AND UR STOOPID FKIN RNG".

 

Because RNG sucks, so that's that.

 

But overall, I love the Spy/Sabotage/Reverse Defense concept. The only thing I would modify is for two ways to deactiate the cannons.

 

1) As you said, extracting the datamasses a la Spy style. This would nab you bonus points towards the mission

 

2) Destroy the Heat Sinks on the cannon. What if these Corpus cannons had electric/plasma batteries that would momentarily eject for them to cool down? During this time, player's would be able to shoot these cooling units as a Sabotage approach. In the case that a datamass is unable to be extracted, this method would have to be used instead. Note however, that there goes your bonus points from the datamass, and shooting down a cannon will very-totally-most likely alert any enemies. 

 

I think a point system for this event would be better, with destroying a Cannon equaling 1 point, and extracting a datamass equaling 2 points. A bonus 2 points are added if all datamasses are extracted.

 

 

In hardmode however, the Cannons would have internalized liquid cooling systems, removing the need for ejecting their batteries and thus, forcing players to complete the mission the quiet way (ideally, anyway).

I dunno about the Spy mission thing, because that just means chatspamming for "LF slipstream hardmode run", but I'll think about it. Your other idea. Oh my God. I love it. I'm going to add this, because it's fantastic. The heat-sink mechanism would work brilliantly for those of us who take the "run-and-gun" approach, but those people can't stink up the high-level missions. I have respect for you from this idea.

[DarknightK]

Well, there would probably be "LF Sleepstreem runz lel" in the chat anyways, as with all events.

 

I actually got the idea from Killzone 2's campaign. During the invasion of Helghan the good bois have to take down these huge-&#! Arc Cannons by shooting their power cores when they overheat. Very satisfying to see those things pop into a display of electrical fireworks.

 

But yeah, I felt that it would be a better way of doing these missions instead of strict Spy missions.

[NeverEatTheLemonsAlone]

Shameless bump and added a new way to take down the turrets, suggested by DarknightK!

[NeverEatTheLemonsAlone]

Bump

[Guest DefiantPotato]

Instead of having a door to enter the turret, why not have the turret come out of a big circle in the ground. So you have to run at the turret, dogging enemy fire and the projectiles the turret is firing. If a tenno is shot. He is screwed. There is no time to revive him. Success comes with a sacrifice. Then you drop down inside of the circle of the turret  and destroy it/do your fancy shizz. 

 

Even better. The fallen tenno killed it the sprint to the turret should be collected by a Harvester, and have to perform the Escape Mission.

[NeverEatTheLemonsAlone]

I like the idea, but in this case it wouldn't make sense. Since the turrets are primarily designed for anti-air fire, why would they be underground? The turret isn't programmed to hit a target as small as a Tenno. I like the Harvester idea, though. Ima try to work that in somehow.