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Idea: Bring AGONY to NA-OW...!


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Idea: Bringing “Agony” to [PvP Carribbean] & NA-OW

 

@admin @Ink @Hethwill

 

This is the second and final expansion idea from the original idea Norfolk nNoob goes Gank-ing...! Here we’ll discuss the PvP portion after Norfolk nNoob completes the Stage Level Break on PvE.

 

Part1

http://forum.game-labs.net/topic/25951-idea-norfolk-nnoob-goes-gank-ing/

Part2

http://forum.game-labs.net/topic/26076-idea-start-missions-and-storyline/

Part3

https://agony-unleashed.com/

https://forums.agony-unleashed.com/index.php?/forum/2-enrollment/

https://www.youtube.com/c/AgonyUnleashedPVP?reload=

 

You’ll need a beer...

 

Norfolk nNoob completed the 6 missions on PvE and has a PvE PC there which operates as a normal Character. He’s logged into [PvP Caribbean] using the same name under the GB Nation. He start’s in K/PR with 1x Brig 1x Trader Brig and 10,000 Currency. He has NO Rank or Craft Level.

He’ll need to use the BASIC Cutter to start with having not enough crew to manage the other two ships. This is to give him a nudge to do the exams. A Message appears in PORT.

 

Message_1

 

Welcome [Norfolk nNoob] to the GB Nation at Kingston/Port Royal. You may now take the sailing exams and the FINAL Exam. Passing the first 4 exams will grant you Rank 03 plus 3x “AGONY” Tour Papers.... Passing the final exam will grant two rare items. You may take them at any time. Practice on the PvE server with your PC there doing the tasks asked (they’re exactly the same).

We strongly advise you to do these exams next, but it’s not compulsory.

Good Luck and fair winds Captain...

 

 

Norfolk reaches a Standard Level of Competence...

 

Here Norfolk nNoob will be at a standard level of competence within the game after passing the four exams. A second message will appear for the EXAM PASS and The AGONY Tours Invite. This just explains what they are. So, you cannot get onto AGONY tour without successfully completing the exams.

 

 

Message_2

 

Well done [Norfolk nNoob] you’ve passed all four exams. You are promoted to Rank xx. You will find in your redeemable folder 3x AGONY Tour Papers. You can try to complete the final exam now. This will promote you to XX and you will receive 2 unique gifts only viable from passing the FINAL EXAM.

AGONY Tour Papers

Each paper when used is an application to take part in the AGONY PvP Tour. This is to get you started into PvP-ing. Its open to anybody but a $20,000 levy is applied to each application. This is returned once the tour is completed. If you fail to turn up the money is forfeit.

After using all 3 Papers, if you still want to continue on the Agony Tours, DLC Agony Papers can be purchased in the shop.

 

Good Luck and fair winds Captain...

 

 

What is an AGONY Tour...?

 

(Please read Part1 for agony background and website)

A Saturday Evening...

A GamesLab staff member [GLM] like @Ink or @Hethwill or even @admin will take a large battle group of players x15 in basic unrated ships for a sail. Purposefully seeking out any player or player fleets of any size. Then to attack them. If you are sunk, you’ll automatically respawn back at the starter PORT with a new ship.

The [GLM] will guide the group via in game group battle chat through the battles and also fighting himself. This is to get you into the mind set of fighting and getting sunk. Usual rules, first sunk drinks 3 shots of vodka, last man standing 2 lines of marching powder & a Disco Biscuit...

Plus, you get to see and play with the Dev’s at first hand. This is much better than the normal restrictive FORUM format.

 

 

How do I get on tour?

You need $20,000 and an Agony Paper. Open the Paper and agree terms and conditions. At which $20,000 deposit is taken from you and a locked AGONY PORT will appear in your Outposts tab. After triggering the Paper Tour, you will receive a mail with a UTC time and date in which to be present at your own PORT. Example Saturday night 7:30pm.

Nothing else is now required from you. In Norfolk nNoob’s OUTPOST tab the AGONY PORT on Saturday at 7:30pm will turn live. A mail reminder will also be sent. Norfolk nNoob just clicks the AGONY PORT.

 

 

Transfer and BASE PORT...

He will then be transferred to the BASE PORT. This could be anywhere the [GLM] chooses. Norfolk Noob for the Tour’s duration will be a Neutral Nation Player and NOT GB. At this point introductions will be made and you and Norfolk will be grouped up even if you are from different starting nations.

Each person making sure all in group chat is all understood. This should be straight forward having done the earlier Co-Op missions on PvE. The [GLM] will give a quick brief on PORT exit, group sailing rules etc and where we are going. Departure time 8pm.

 

My Ship...

In the BASE PORT you will find 1x BASIC Ship. This could be a Pickle or a Brig maybe a Le Requin Xebec that @admin wants testing who knows. All gunned out with medium cannons and in the Hold the right ratio of Hull, Rig and Rum repairs. No Permeant mods what so ever. Your ship knowledge skills and Perks though will work.

 

What type of Group PvP

https://wiki.agony-unleashed.com/index.php/PVP_Classes

If the AGONY tour becomes popular then different types of Tours could be offered. The above link shows the different types the original idea ran. For NA-OW we would start with the [PvP BASIC] covering Basic Fleet Maneuvering, PvP BASICs and Communications and recon procedure.

Take it from there through popular demand. Use players such as @rediii for maybe an advanced fleet group, to maybe others wanting to learn the small group advanced Ganking skills. All driven by demand and DLC Paper Purchases.

 

 

The First Roam, The First Contact, The First Gank…

The [GLM] will then lead the group in a roam around the area hunting for players. First Contact will be fun. If Norfolk nNoob is sunk he will just respawn back at the BASE PORT. There will be another ship waiting. He then needs to catch up to where ever the fleet is.

After first contact we may find some of us in the fleet are in need of repairs and such. With the FLEET having “Neutral” Status we can enter any PORT to recover.

The Roam will only be for a couple of hours, but I think will give the new players more confidence. Plus, a very addictive adrenalin rush...

 

Back to BASE...

At the end of the tour we all return to BASE. In the OUTPOST tab will be an Agony return PORT and when hit it will return you back to PORT. Status back to GB and $20,000 returned. The [GLM] will close with a speech like...

“Go home get your friends in a gang and go gank...”

“You don’t need me...”

 

 

The AGONY Tour Ends...

 

 

AGONY Mechanic...

Keep it simple and under lockdown. Use AGONY Papers to trigger the client link. All Players turning into Neutral Nation will make handling easier. Also, the Tour providing the Ship and content stops delays hassles and chancers. Re-spawning with a new ship should encourage some offensive maneuverers.  

 

 

 

The Junkie...?

This is a very simple basic and formulaic system to take a brand-new player finishing with worthwhile PvP content. Starting with the PvE Ladder ends with 2x PC on each server doing the exams and final exam. At a measured basic level of competence.

The Learning Curve and the Navel Action-Ego now allows our Rookie to develop dependence tendencies as he’s being allowed time to learn different skills like sailing and communication while not in fear to explore his open world. He’s more likely now to become a Junkie...

Using the PvE server at first is the Key. He is 100% safe. Negates all the safe zone bollocks and over complication. From the first four tutorials through capturing the AI thief “Too Fingers, Too light Tony” with the first mission. All this in open world that takes Norfolk nNoob into a Pirate storyline mission that threads the player through all the different skill sets needed like navigation, exploring, crafting and trading to the final Co-Op mission...

Norfolk nNoob plus mates must breakout of the PORT Siege held by the AI Pirates “The Black Seal Clubbers...”

Then the Tier break allowing the PvP entry. Here the exams and final EXAM Message gives a perfect bridge from the PvE to PvP world. He’s not left high and dry. Finally, 3x Agony Tours run by the Guys that built this world...

Norfolk nNoob is now at a measured level of competence after completing this short journey. He will still get sunk, he might never be [ELITE] but he is so much better prepared to take on [PvP Caribbean] with some real Naval Action...

 

 

In-Closing...

The [GML] input is vital as I stressed in the original post. In time yes, it can be farmed out but at first it must be them. These Saturday Night Romps I can see been an event drawing in both old and new players alike. The Old guys keep going on about the “Trafalgar...” play before my time but what if you heard @admin was running a fifteen strong Gank squad of Heavy Rattlers heading towards K/PR. You’d want to look...

This will help build back up the community spirit and moral in our noobs. A Clan head simply cannot achieve the same effect.

This idea born out of solving seal clubbing gives something much better to the whole game. Making a more formulaic starting structure helps give polish to the final product. And for a Junkie what's more appealing than a well-polished surface...

 

Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think...

 

 

Norfolk nChance [ELITE]

 

 

Edited by Norfolk nChance
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I agree new players need to be close to 100% safe in their own play area, that play area needs to be large enough to satisfy though, which devs should look at from pve server perspective. What use is it splitting up the player base for two different games essentially? I'm very in favor of keeping NA hardcore and sandbox-y but new players shouldn't be forced on the same frequency as the hardcore pvp crowd. E.V.E is a good example to look at, you start of at war with nobody besides pirate outlaws. By joining a faction you open yourself up to faction RVR and if you join a corp you allow yourself to be at war with other clans. 

Its the meta shift NA that needs to be a full complete game. For too long have the devs been tweaking with ship stats and tag circles. It's time to build the final product of what OW should mean to NA. For too long its been a backdrop to the great combat instance and a chore to sail and navigate, having people half afk for hours just to be on their way. Too much time is spent sailing to have OW be a shell.

What NA does right is that it attempts to protect by offering greenzones to players near their starting point which have some things going for them but they protect all players which makes them a big dark souls shield that yeah it blocks, but a big enough hit will break that. The only time that ever happens in E.V.E where a capital hub gets so bad its unsafe for any player to be there is Burn Jita, which is a player run event where ships are suicided by the thousands in order to lockdown the station defended by OP space police that can wipe you out in seconds. In that way NA is much less forgiving and sandbox-y to a detrimental level.

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@Slim McSauce

 

Thanks for the reply, its was getting lonely here...

“Burn Jita...” is a great if not the best player run event in any MMO, bound out of a damned protest at CCP (EvE Dev’s). I remember waiting for that year’s update with great anticipation. What we got? A DLC $90 eye monocle we can buy for your Avatar that nobody uses in the game. Leaving other more important features not updated...

It felt like the CCP had focused on the DLC money grab and micro transactions than the actual main game improvement. If this is true or not @adminand the Dev’s should study “Burn Jita” and avoid CCPs mistake. CCP now have turned it into an annual event quietly forgetting it was a protest to start with.

The Players assault on Jita a High-Sec PvE Hub like our K/PR safe zone was massive. The AI Police eventually won but it did test stress the servers somewhat...

 

 

NA-OW is a Lite Sandbox...

The Game we play is not a Sandbox. It’s a Lite version meaning there is heavy NPC overlays and restrictions needed in order for it to work. This causes much of the anguish by players because lite Sandboxes need RvR in order to work.

Look at the difference between [EvE] high-Sec and Null-Sec areas. High-Sec is a lite sandbox area resembles our PvE server yet Null-Sec is completely different from our [PvP Caribbean] which is as close to a Sandbox as you can get.

We play PvE and PvP Lite we need the RvR because of the NPC Overlays.

 

 

RvR Content or NPC Input...

Just for me to think, research and write the “Norfolk nNoob goes Gank-ing...!” plus the two expansions took a lot of time. In fact, if it was ever adopted by @admin, it would only take a player maybe a long weekend or week to complete. No time at all.

Yet it needed missions following a storyline thread, testing, spell check... Just look at how much work went into the first four tutorials. It’s a massive undertaking and that’s the problem. It needs human resources.

Whale Hunting, how long would that actually take to implement from start to finish? Hundreds of man hours before we the testers get to pull it apart. GamesLab is not CCP or Wargaming.net, NA-OW punches way above its weight and sometimes we forget that. I know I do...

The RvR content somehow needs to come from the likes of @Intrepido and @Kpt Lautenschlaeger and many others that give great ideas. Like in [ARMA III] the players build their own storyline and content take a look at it. It’s a brilliant solution using BASIC Code but no idea how it’s done. Darthmod we already know can do it...?

 

 

Rookie Lead-in Time rather than protection...

Rookie lead into the game via a PvE Ladder is a great formula to start and be 100% safe. Anybody can see what skill level they are at and an idea where they are going. This allows for the PvP content to become more Sandbox like, because Norfolk nNoob can handle the environment. We can open the game from this type of start.

 

Safe Zone start yes is ok but not the b-all and end all. "AGONY" gets the rookie or anyone wanting to learn PvP into the right mind set. It gets Noobs fighting...

 

We don’t need or want complicated overlays, just a straight path to walk. Then the world is our oyster...!

 

Norfolk.

 

 

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1 hour ago, Slim McSauce said:

It's time to build the final product of what OW should mean to NA. For too long its been a backdrop to the great combat instance and a chore to sail and navigate, having people half afk for hours just to be on their way. Too much time is spent sailing to have OW be a shell.

I really thought, reading the game's description, that the OW was what the game was all about. That it would be like Sailaway, but with 18th century brigs and frigates instead of modern cruisers and catamarans, and with the occasional naval battle to spice things up. There is no combat in Sailaway. Sailing the OW is the entirety of the game. Just like the OW is the entirety of MS Flight Simulator and XPlane. The OW is fun in those games because there is more to sailing a boat or flying a plane than just WASD around the map. 

Sailing in the open world would be fun if there were any actual sailing involved. 

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6 hours ago, Juan Navarre said:

I really thought, reading the game's description, that the OW was what the game was all about. That it would be like Sailaway, but with 18th century brigs and frigates instead of modern cruisers and catamarans, and with the occasional naval battle to spice things up. There is no combat in Sailaway. Sailing the OW is the entirety of the game. Just like the OW is the entirety of MS Flight Simulator and XPlane. The OW is fun in those games because there is more to sailing a boat or flying a plane than just WASD around the map. 

Sailing in the open world would be fun if there were any actual sailing involved. 

I wholeheartedly agree,  but I still like sailing in this game.  I suspect that if the Devs improved sailing, more people would play.   The improvements could have little or no impact on impatient PvPers.

Trading is also important.  It gives us a reason to craft and sail. 

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