Creating A Better System of Rewards - Incentivizing Builders and Raiders

I've been thinking about how to address the issue of materials in the game, and I came up with a random idea that could potentially solve this problem and add an interesting twist to the gameplay. Currently, we have five different categories for GenMat: suits, traps, guards, equipment, and weapons. What if one of these categories contained the cure for the Chimera, the legendary cure we've been seeking based on the game's lore?

Here's how it could work: For each player, the category that holds the cure is randomized, but it's universally set at level 40. The catch is that players don't know which category holds the cure. Once the cure is unlocked, it introduces a new material into the game. We can call this material something like "Chimera Essence" for now. This material could be the missing piece the game needs to address the scarcity of materials.

To obtain this new material when raiding, players would first need to collect the GenMat. After that, when they start destroying traps and guards, these enemies will start dropping the highly coveted Chimera Essence. This would encourage raiders to be strategic and not rush through destroying every trap and guard until they reach the GenMat treasure. Taking their time to meticulously dismantle traps would become crucial for acquiring the valuable material.

Now, how can this new material be utilized? I propose two different applications for it. Firstly, the material would be required to participate in tournaments. Secondly, it would also be needed to host tournaments. Builders who have enough Chimera Essence can initiate tournaments by selecting one of their mastered maps (prestige level 10) and categorizing it as "Explore" (artistic), "You Will Not Survive" (brutal), "Don't Get Lost" (ingenious), or Thrillseeker (Fun). The cost of starting a tournament would correspond to the rewards offered to the top 10 players who manage to conquer the map.

Here's the interesting part: The idea behind tournaments is that the Chimera is using the lure of the cure material to attract more raiders, as their genetic material is essential for creating the cure. In order to complete the cure for the specific GenMat type a player is working on, the gen in that category would need to reach level 100. Hosting tournaments allows builders to collect more GenMat for each raider death that occurs during the tournament.

By participating in tournaments, players can earn substantial rewards. The top-ranked players would receive a generous amount of GenMat, along with a blend of cells, parts, and synthite based on their ranking. For instance, being the first-place winner in a tournament would grant 20,000 GenMat, as well as 500 of each material. Second place would receive 15,000 Gen and 450 of each material, and so on.

Additionally, players would also collect any materials collected during the tournament run. This would further incentivize players to participate and perform well in these competitive events. No matter what, those who rank 10 or beyond all receive the same reward that is the same as a brutal level map + 50 of each resource.

This idea would not only address the scarcity of materials but also introduce a captivating gameplay element centered around the search for the Chimera cure. It would create a symbiotic relationship between raiders and builders, as raiders' participation in tournaments provides builders with more GenMat, while raiders can earn valuable rewards by conquering challenging tournament maps.

In addition to the rewards for participating in tournaments and earning GenMat, there would be additional incentives to encourage players to join and engage in tournaments. The Chimera would periodically announce changes in players' ranks, indicating that it's time to run the tournament again. This would create a sense of urgency and motivate players to participate in the tournaments regularly.

To ensure fairness and prevent last-minute pros from joining the tournament, players would need to sign up in advance by paying a registration fee with Chimera Essence. This would require players to plan and commit to the tournament, fostering a strategic element in their decision-making.

The tournaments would have a set duration, such as a week, during which players can attempt the designated tournament map multiple times. This allows players to refine their strategies, improve their performance, and aim for higher rankings. The time limit adds a sense of excitement and urgency to the tournaments.

The rewards for each category of tournament, such as Explore, Brutal, Ingenious, and Fun, would be tailored to fit the specific theme. These rewards would be exclusive and unique to each category, providing additional motivation for players to participate. For example, the Explore category could offer unique decorations, the Brutal category could provide special trap modifications, the Ingenious category could unlock new map building features, and the Fun category might offer exclusive raiding equipment, suits, or tools (such as a replacement for the grappling hook).

Participating in multiple tournaments would allow players to gradually unlock these exclusive rewards, even if they face challenges or frustrations along the way. The desire to obtain these rewards and test their skills against other players would drive them to give their best effort in the tournaments.

Furthermore, the overarching goal of the players would be to contribute to the progress of building the cure. While the specifics of this aspect are yet to be determined, it could involve accumulating certain resources or reaching specific milestones collectively as a player community. This would create a sense of collaboration and a shared purpose among players, adding depth to the game's storyline and lore.

In order to provide a more detailed explanation of the specific goals and constraints for each category in the tournament, we can introduce them as follows:

1. Thrillseeker (Fun):
   1. Objective: Defeat as many guards and navigate through traps throughout the level within the given time limit.
   2. Constraints: The timer starts as soon as the player begins the tournament. Participants can attempt the tournament multiple times to achieve faster completion times and higher scores. The focus is on showcasing agility, combat skills, and efficient traversal through guarded and trapped areas. The goal is to destroy as many guards and traps as possible within the time limit. If all traps and guards on the map are destroyed before the timer runs out, the timer stops. In case of a tie, the player who also acquired the GenMat and completed the objective in the shortest time wins.
2. Don't Get Lost (Fun):
   1. Objective: Complete the map in the shortest time possible without retries.
   2. Constraints: The "Don't Get Lost" maps do not contain traps. Players have the option to follow HRV for guidance, but doing so will result in a longer completion time. Navigating without HRV poses a risk of getting lost but offers the opportunity for a faster completion. The goal is to showcase strategic decision-making and efficient route planning.
3. You Will Not Survive:
   1. Objective: Complete the map with the fewest number of deaths.
   2. Constraints: Participants can attempt the "You Will Not Survive" category multiple times. The player with the fewest deaths will be in the lead. In case of a tie, the speed of completion will be considered, followed by the combined number of traps and guards destroyed. The emphasis is on strategic planning, evasion, and minimizing casualties while successfully completing the raid.
4. Explore:
   1. Objective: Discover and collect specific items listed by the builder throughout the map in the shortest time possible.
   2. Constraints: The "Explore" category does not feature traps. Players embark on a scavenger hunt, locating and collecting or destroying items specified by the builder. Each collected item checks off an item from the displayed list. Once all items are found and the list is complete, players must finish the designated route and successfully escape. The focus is on thorough exploration, attention to detail, and swift item collection.

By incorporating these additional ideas, the tournament system would not only address the issue of materials but also provide a competitive and rewarding gameplay experience, encourage player engagement, and contribute to the overarching narrative of the game.