User:GS4ALASTIR/Proposal:Ebon Gate 2023

I would like to propose a series of changes for Ebon Gate 2023 based upon feedback.

Flare Tokens

• Problem: Flare tokens had a scaling cost based upon gear, and basic gear increased in cost while high end gear lowered in cost to the cap of 15000 for common and 30000 for uncommon.
  • Suggestion: Return scaling based upon gear, with a minimum limit and a maximum cap.
  • Up to 5x gear could be offered for a discount. 5x flaring gear is common enough that a cost of 15000 is seen as unaffordable for many. 5x flaring gear can also be found during Duskruin anyway and is mostly pawned.
  • Allow accessories to cost 1/3rd of the cost of a weapon/shield/armor.

• Problem: Flare tokens do not currently work on gear with a Script flare. Example: Knockout flares with common/uncommon flares.
  • Suggestion: Update the auto-flarer to add an ability flare with compatible eligible script flares.
  • (May already be planned/in the works.)

Rare Flares

• Problem: Access to the "Rare" category of flares is/was limited to the Trove. Specifically Magma, Banshee, and Rotflares. (Blink is being removed from EG.)
  • Suggestion: Sell ALL tokens OTS for a flat fee.
  • Duskruin sells Polearm, Acuity, Dispel, Greater Dispel, Knockout and Stalwart(Bubble) flare certificates OTS.
  • You can even purchase Briar Flares OTS now. At the very least offer Magma and Banshee (+50/60s) OTS as the "high end" flare additions.

RotFlares

• • 2/18 Spin Night - 15 entries for 5 spots.
  • 2/20 Spin Night - 5 entries for 5 spots.
  • 8/22 Spin Night + HESS - 4 during Spin Night, 6 available on 8/21/22 in HESS.

Games

• Problem: Trick or Treat and Arena of the Abyss are combat-oriented and not all characters may be suitable for the challenge. There is Herb Hunt for the keys, but the cubes require combat to be used.
  • Suggestion: Bring back a version of digging, that uses the cubes as currency for a shovel.
  • The mechanics of the dig could be the same as the old digging, up to 30 seconds for a reward of 30 soul shards, with a chance to drop a reward equal to Arena of the Abyss.
  • Digging would reward experience, without the instant absorption.

Eve of Reunion Invitation

• Problem: Jackpots are being removed. The Eve of Reunion invitation is an RNG jackpot.
  • Suggestion: Move all prizes from the Eve of Reunion party to the Trove.
  • Allow the Eve of Reunion party to be just that, a party to celebrate at the end of the event. Award them once per character, per event.
  • All current jackpots (EoR invitation and Mandrake) become soul shard jackpots, the rates could match Duskruin Sewer caches.

Response: Wyrom: This will likely be the last year of EoR. There are no plans to replace it. We might do something different, but at this time, it dies this year.

Game Rewards

• Problem: There are too many trove tokens, so many that there is little to no player to player commerce for them and the odds of winning are heavily skewed.
  • Suggestion: Lower the odds to find a trove token considerably. An overall lower amount means there is more demand to trade between players, creating commerce between wealth factors. Lowering the amount of trove tokens found also provides incentive for a high roller to play more to increase their odds, which would offset any loss from moving EoR invite prizes to a trove-only system.
  • Offer 1 free trove token in a gift box.

• Problem: X event gives better rewards than Y event.
  • Suggestion: Standardize the event rewards so that each simucoin spent has an equal value.
  • The example used was Trick or Treat giving more soul shards than Herb Hunt.

Game Breakdown

• Trick or Treat: 300 soul shards per entry.
  • There are now 12 total knocks, 10 reward 30 soul shards each, 2 reward a piece of candy. For every 1000-2000 (pick a fixed amount) knocks, a trove token will be awarded.
  • Chance for a soul shard jackpot.
  • 25 instant absorption per run.

• Herb Hunt: 300 soul shards per entry.
  • Every forage/search result provides 300 soul shards and 2 pieces of candy. For every 100-200 (same fixed amount as ToT) searches, a trove token will be awarded.
  • Finding a toadstool would reward a unique title at X finds.
  • Chance for a soul shard jackpot.
  • The OBSERVE action inside HH will fill your experience bucket equal to killing a creature in ToT.
  • 25 instant absorption per run.

• Arena of the Abyss: 30 soul shards per entry.
  • Standard Prize: A bone ring, a shimmering green orb, gem.
  • Rare Prize: a trove token (same odds as ToT so 1 per 10000-20000 runs.)
  • Chance for a smaller 1/10th soul shard jackpot

• Digging: 30 soul shards per entry.
  • Standard Prize: A simucoin item, a shimmering green orb, gem.
  • Rare Prize: a trove token (same odds as ToT so 1 per 10000-20000 dig finds.)
  • Chance for a smaller 1/10th soul shard jackpot

• TLDR: Two big soul shard rewards, two small soul shard rewards, all with somewhat equal prizes, all rewarding experience with chances for a jackpot soul shard reward.
  • Soul shard jackpots are similar to a Duskruin sewer cache.

Pets

• I will never be able to afford X or Y, I want the jackpots to remain even though I will never win one!
  • Structure the pets in a way that allow for unlocks that add up to the large single purchase, fully unlocked version.
  • Offer a basic version OTS for a lower, more affordable fee.
  • Offer additional ability/ambient unlocks at a scaling price. (Think Voln Armor). So the auto-follow = X price, the ambients = Y price, etc.
  • Keep them available! This allows for a pay-as-you-go method over 2-3 years, or a single large purchase.
  • Have the unlock certificates available OTS for automated unlocking. Unlocking isn't a complaint when it's OTS, it's an issue when it requires a merchant(GM).