Trade Caravans as an optional escort mission.

mrskinskull

Here's a suggestion for a possible game play addition.

I think creating the option of protecting a trade caravan across a pve zone would be kind of fun.
A simple slow moving wagon moving along the main road under players protection. The caravan would have a set amount of HP. Heal able with repair kits maybe. It would only move when you were within a certain radius.
There could be a few bandit attacks along the way.

There could also be a few optional challenges such as

A broken wagon wheel. Can you find a maple log and craft a new wheel before the bandits overwhelm your caravan?

Sick driver. The caravan driver has fallen deathly I'll and needs you to find a healing herb nearby before he dies. If he dies, it might take a while for the hub to dispatch a replacement.

Corrupt guards. Demanding a cut of your profits. Do you pay a minor fee or engage in risky combat against an entrenched foe?

A rival caravan. Can you race the other caravan to the other location before those crooks undercut your caravan?

Horrible weather. Rain storms are slowing progress, maybe praying at a nearby shrine and offering a divine a specific offering could calm the rains?

Etc.



I think tying this minigame to a guild store location could be immersive and fun. Bringing a load of supplies to your guilds shop might could offer a ten percent gold bonus on any sales made within 24 hrs or something to that effect.

There might be a temp discount for the player who drove the caravan to the guild shop. 10 percent off for 24 hours. The ten percent coming from game cash not guild bank sales of course.


What do you think?

What other road missions would be fun to play through?

Also using guild shop locations as the end points for caravan missions would drive traffic towards little used guild shops and infuse cash in outlying stores.

demendred

Sounds pretty cool.

mrskinskull

I was also thinking that trading caravans might include a merchant tied to the guild store. Moving across the map. Pausing as nearby players interact with it, driving up sales for the guild.


This is all hypothetical of course and prob hard to program .

Nestor

Your walking dangerous ground suggesting Escort Missions. lol

I do remember escorting the Caravan of Ex Slaves in Fallout 3. Only did that once.

But, it did make me think if an escort mission was done right, it could be a lot of fun. The problem is, if you make the NPCs too tough, then what is the point, if you make them too weak, then it is a pain to keep them alive. It's all in the balance.

Of course, where would escort them too and how far? That could have an impact on doing this or not.

mrskinskull

Or maybe for a larger risk reward, what about trade caravans moving across PvP land?

That could be intense.

demendred

mrskinskull wrote: »

I was also thinking that trading caravans might include a merchant tied to the guild store. Moving across the map. Pausing as nearby players interact with it, driving up sales for the guild.


This is all hypothetical of course and prob hard to program .

Still, its a good idea.

mrskinskull

Nestor wrote: »

Your walking dangerous ground suggesting Escort Missions. lol

I do remember escorting the Caravan of Ex Slaves in Fallout 3. Only did that once.

But, it did make me think if an escort mission was done right, it could be a lot of fun. The problem is, if you make the NPCs too tough, then what is the point, if you make them too weak, then it is a pain to keep them alive. It's all in the balance.

Of course, where would escort them too and how far? That could have an impact on doing this or not.

I think the parameters could be randomized similar to the crafting mission or the PvP bounties. Have a few available and players can choose or pass.

Help us travel from davons watch to ebon heart. The riders are spooked because of rumors that bandits might attack.

Maybe you could pay a 10 gold fee to hire a few NPC guards. Then you could self balance.

mrskinskull

Would you support a trade caravan based escort mission offering?

What would you need to see to make it worth your time?