22 replies to this topic

[Volkon]

So, you're out in the midst of a dynamic event in, say, a level 35ish zone, when suddenly there's a great shaking which is felt by everyone and everything alive in the entire zone. People mobs, everyone is suddenly feared for a few seconds, apparently in the same direction. No explanation, nothing... it just happens. The next day, give or take a few hours, it happens again. And again the next day. Someone just happens to notice that everything is being feared in the same direction, so they set out in the opposite direction, just to see what may be there. They come across a small, black spire in the middle of a field that no one had noticed before. The next day, repeat of the same thing. Someone checks, the spire is now a little taller. The cycle repeats for nearly a month or so, with the spire eventually reaching considerable height and thickness. A day goes by without event now. Another. Suddenly the ground begins a low, sustained shaking, lasting a good half hour or so. Cracks appear in the regolith, then suddenly the sides burst out in all directions as out comes... well, something. Maybe a single massive creature on a rampage. Maybe masses of Dredge that out-level the zone by 5 to 10 levels, with veterans and champions mixed in. Maybe a handful of beings considerably stronger than the zone. Regardless, they need to be dealt with, and over time they are.

The now shattered structure remains as it is, permanently leaving it's massive chunks of rock in the area. Not only that, there's now an accessible hole into the ground leading to... what? A new dungeon? A new level 80-85 zone perhaps? Maybe an open world dungeon that's sickly difficult to get through?

What would you all think of these one-time events potentially happening in the world? It's an idea that's been simmering in the depths of my brain for awhile, and like the regolith has finally surfaced to release it's contents. One time events, permanent results that won't reset. Thoughts? Worthy of mentioning to our good friends at ANet?

[NeonArlecchino]

That sounds awesome! Awesome in a way I wouldn't want to miss it... so unless it spews a few times over one week before ending dormant, I'd rather one time things are left out.

[Mournblade]

It would be great fun - if you were there to participate. Not so fun if you weren't around. I'd rather see things that everybody had a chance to experience, even if it were just once per character.

[Volkon]

Mournblade, on 18 May 2012 - 04:34 PM, said:

It would be great fun - if you were there to participate. Not so fun if you weren't around. I'd rather see things that everybody had a chance to experience, even if it were just once per character.

I'm thinking the scope would be along the lines of the lead-up taking as long as a month, building the anticipation over time. The event itself, for example whatever pours forth in this case, should ideally be complex enough that it could take days to clear them all out. Maybe they keep spilling out, who knows, but enough time that people on the forums are like "Holy crap, I need to log in there and help!" Definitely not meant to be a quickie.

Edited by Naut, 18 May 2012 - 05:19 PM.

[Babylon]

A rare super dynamic event whose outcome is never reset. Great idea and even an awesome way to introduce future expansions or patches.

[saladin1]

Are you guys talking about that random earthquake we had in the last stress test in the black citadel and mist? cause i swear i heard a boom during the earthquake and my screen start jumping. Was i the only one who experienced it?

Edited by saladin1, 18 May 2012 - 04:58 PM.

[Zhahz]

Mournblade, on 18 May 2012 - 04:34 PM, said:

It would be great fun - if you were there to participate. Not so fun if you weren't around. I'd rather see things that everybody had a chance to experience

Yep.  Which is why this kind of thing isn't likely to ever happen unless it's an event that's hinted at well in advance or as someone else has said, is tied to a major transition like an xpac or something of that nature.

It's not that it's a terrible idea, it's just that it's not practical since we all play, we don't all play 24/7, and exclusive content isn't something people would like.

[Volkon]

Zhahz, on 18 May 2012 - 04:59 PM, said:

Yep.  Which is why this kind of thing isn't likely to ever happen unless it's an event that's hinted at well in advance or as someone else has said, is tied to a major transition like an xpac or something of that nature.

It's not that it's a terrible idea, it's just that it's not practical since we all play, we don't all play 24/7, and exclusive content isn't something people would like.

You saw the "happens over a month part, couple days to resolve the event happening" thing, yes? I'm attempting to address that issue as well with this idea. It would be a great way, for example, to add a new dungeon, and if it was completely unannounced it would be even better. Just lead-up lead-up lead-up BOOM! New dungeon.

[Ariakan]

Well written idea from the OP, with nice dramatic turns.

However, I do not agree with it, if it is not repetitive, so that only those who happen to be able to play the game just then can participate in it. It doesnät matter how long it takes to build, if it only happen once.

A rare dynamic event would be fine, if it was to be repeated once, say, every two weeks or once a month. And not at the same time of the month. Remember, this game is to make casual players happy too, who can only participate when they are able.

Edited by Ariakan, 18 May 2012 - 05:06 PM.

[Jaehan]

Just to point out, the infrastructure of Guild Wars 2 actually does allow this.

The Dynamic Events are tailored in such a way that they can alter them as existing templates - which means they can go in and change X event to Y event at Z part of the dynamic event chain.

So, this is actually....feasible, with the current implementation of Guild Wars 2.

There was an interview post where they mentioned all this, a few months back, that they could easily upscale or downscale Dynamic Events based on needs and population.

They also mentioned that they could, and would, diversify Dynamic Events after the game went live.

I hope some of the ArenaNet staff see the post, regardless.

Edited by Jaehan, 18 May 2012 - 05:05 PM.

[Kysin]

Cool idea Volkon (hey! a fellow Maguumite), I just had one question. You said it would permanently remain or at least the ruins of it correct? So what happens when they kind of start to pile up over a year or two(+)? Or would they be strategically placed in different zones, or in more hidden areas within the zone?

[Naut]

Moved to PV as this is a suggestion and deleted +1 posts.

[Volkon]

Kysin, on 18 May 2012 - 05:10 PM, said:

Cool idea Volkon (hey! a fellow Maguumite), I just had one question. You said it would permanently remain or at least the ruins of it correct? So what happens when they kind of start to pile up over a year or two(+)? Or would they be strategically placed in different zones, or in more hidden areas within the zone?

As the thoughts are currently, it would be a one time thing only, so there wouldn't be an annual piling up of debris for example.

Naut, on 18 May 2012 - 05:20 PM, said:

Moved to PV as this is a suggestion and deleted +1 posts.

Aw poo... does ArenaNet even visit over here? It always seem quiet.

[Cymb]

Def. a cool idea Volkon. It does have a few things to work out in order to be implemented as people have mentioned, so no point in repeating them especially since you address it already.

If this could get worked out to a monthly or say holiday event type of dynamic events, it would (in my eyes) add a little spark to the game for people who have explored quite a bit of content already.  Lets be honest they can't pump out expansions left and right, so throwing in a random dynamic event would give something for players to look forward to in the meantime.  If they were going to be rare events it would have to be purely for fun and amusement over an extended period of time so different players can participate.  I say purely fun because it would be unfair for loot drops on something that not everyone can participate in.


work in progess, but I think its a good one.

[Alaroxr]

I definitely agree with this. Like the OP said, it wouldn't be something on only a single server, or something that randomly happens instantly. It also wouldn't be something that ends quickly. People from every server would know, and the forums would light up, and podcasts would talk about it, and everyone would know something is happening. When the enemies finally start attacking, everyone will hear about it. It will last days, if not weeks, the fighting. You'll be able to experience the same thing. But you may not be there the moment it happens.

This talk of "fairness" annoys me. When my friends will tell me about epic battles in WvW that are once in a lifetime, I won't think "I won't ever have a chance to be in that battle, this is unfair. ArenaNet shouldn't use this system since it excludes me because I wasn't there". I think "Holy ----, that sounds incredible!" and "Tell me more about it" or "Want to go play some WvW?". I'm not jealous, and neither should you be.

It's like being jealous of someone because they won a lottery. Or being jealous of someone because they got tickets and witnessed a, soon to be, legendary football/hockey/basketball game. Or being jealous of someone because they were there to see an eclipse or comet that comes only every 30 years. If you were jealous of any of these and therefore didn't want them to exist, it's not because those amazing things do exist and you don't like them; it's because someone else got to experience them and you didn't. The mentality of "If I can't get it, nobody can".

It's the same with GW2. The only reason you don't want it into the game is because someone else might get to experience it, and you'll be jealous. (Or you're, for some reason, saying no to this for the people that will be jealous. Which I've never understood unless you're looking at it from a marketing/popularity perspective).

That kind of mentality is beyond the realm of what people call "selfishness". It's not even the idea of taking what other people have, or punishing others for the benefit of yourself. It's actually wanting to prevent other people's enjoyment for the sole reason of it not being yours.

--------------------

But overall, these kinds of things are what MMOs were meant to be: living, breathing, changing worlds that feel alive. If any game has a chance of making a true "world", it's GW2.

Edited by Alaroxr, 18 May 2012 - 07:57 PM.

[Soleil]

Wow that sounds pretty neat!  BTW, you wrote that very well.  I thought to myself that you must be a journalist or something.

[Mournblade]

Alaroxr, on 18 May 2012 - 07:51 PM, said:

I definitely agree with this. Like the OP said, it wouldn't be something on only a single server, or something that randomly happens instantly. It also wouldn't be something that ends quickly. People from every server would know, and the forums would light up, and podcasts would talk about it, and everyone would know something is happening. When the enemies finally start attacking, everyone will hear about it. It will last days, if not weeks, the fighting. You'll be able to experience the same thing. But you may not be there the moment it happens.

This talk of "fairness" annoys me. When my friends will tell me about epic battles in WvW that are once in a lifetime, I won't think "I won't ever have a chance to be in that battle, this is unfair. ArenaNet shouldn't use this system since it excludes me because I wasn't there". I think "Holy ----, that sounds incredible!" and "Tell me more about it" or "Want to go play some WvW?". I'm not jealous, and neither should you be.

It's like being jealous of someone because they won a lottery. Or being jealous of someone because they got tickets and witnessed a, soon to be, legendary football/hockey/basketball game. Or being jealous of someone because they were there to see an eclipse or comet that comes only every 30 years. If you were jealous of any of these and therefore didn't want them to exist, it's not because those amazing things do exist and you don't like them; it's because someone else got to experience them and you didn't. The mentality of "If I can't get it, nobody can".

It's the same with GW2. The only reason you don't want it into the game is because someone else might get to experience it, and you'll be jealous. (Or you're, for some reason, saying no to this for the people that will be jealous. Which I've never understood unless you're looking at it from a marketing/popularity perspective).

That kind of mentality is beyond the realm of what people call "selfishness". It's not even the idea of taking what other people have, or punishing others for the benefit of yourself. It's actually wanting to prevent other people's enjoyment for the sole reason of it not being yours.

--------------------

But overall, these kinds of things are what MMOs were meant to be: living, breathing, changing worlds that feel alive. If any game has a chance of making a true "world", it's GW2.

You're throwing several different instances together and making some extreme assumptions. WvWvW is dynamic - Compare that to your Superbowl if you like. You know somethings going to happen but you never know what. Thats the nature of the game - we accept it. But there's nothing wrong with wishing you were there for it.

As far as the rest goes - I don't see anybody saying that this should never be implemented in any form. So no need to talk about selfishness. I don't want to deny anybody any fun. I just want a chance to have fun as well. I think it's safe to say the goal will be to make the most number of people as happy as possible. And that means including as many people as possible. Why can't there be the big buildup over a week/month, and then have the event repeat itself a few times so that many people get a chance to participate? And if its the case, as the example given, where a new dungeon is introduced - after x events or x days, the feature becomes permanent.

I'm all for the living world as well, but we all want to be the hero - thats why we play games like this, for the most part. No reason that great ideas can't be improved upon to benefit as many as possible.

[Ristaine]

One of my favorite events in WoW was the opening of the Gates of Ahn'Qiraj.  Where it took months of gathering supplies, killing mobs, and doing various other activities eventually leading up to the opening.

Something of similar scope could be done for sure in Gw2.  Crafters needing to make things for the npc's to do battle with, resources gathered for siege equipment/camps, groups of enemies thinned out to make advances forward to where the source of evil is coming from.  All leading up to a huge and vicious battle resulting in a new dungeon/area/town/etc!

[RabidusIncendia]

Volkon, on 18 May 2012 - 07:28 PM, said:

Aw poo... does ArenaNet even visit over here? It always seem quiet.

I'd wager this is the most visited forum by Anet.  You get well thought out ideas based on observations of in game ideas you like/dislike, without having to weed through dozens of posts of garbage debating "zomg this is not a problem, screw you!" and "You just think that cause you play warrior.  l2play ele"

Silent != not here.

On topic, I think whether the devs do this is honestly up to them, and of course it's something they thought about.  I mainly see it as something they do in lull times during the year when they feel like having fun, just to screw with the players.  As a programmer myself, I can tell you spending countless hours on an event that .01% of the community sees is only going to happen for the sheer awesomeness of it.  If it were done repeatedly, it wouldn't be awesome.

Edited by RabidusIncendia, 19 May 2012 - 12:17 AM.

[Robotsnails]

Ooh i was thinking about something like this too as well ^^
Nice idea Op i would defenitely love to see theses one-time events occuring.

Of course it would be unfortunate for others and maybe me to miss theses one-time events but il get over it and watch a video of it so to see how it went.

With the elder dragons threatening the world, its very possible to see a world-scaled event with the dragon elders attacking zones and reshaping the worlds to fit in new expansions

[Volkon]

OK... it's time to, well...

I got one right. I'm rather giddy. (Not the exact event, that we know of yet, but one-time events.)

These guys rock...

[Sam]

Lol, they used your idea, that is really cool!

[Tyrantscreed]

Wow this is a fantastic idea, I really like it! The anticipating feeling of what's going to come is mind boggling !

Also, as someone said earlier, ANet should include "​dramatic effects when throwing out new update" which I think we'll see (or hope to see) more often, starting with Lost Shores!