Here's the idea:

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First Zone Becomes a Player Hub After Initial Maelstrom Completion (norm or vet)

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Prior to completing the Maelstrom arena (Norm or vet), the initial zone is instanced per player. Once the player has completed the Maelstrom arena (any difficulty), the next time that they enter the Maelstrom arena portal they're sent to a zone version of the Maelstrom arena, where it is not instanced per player. This way the Maelstrom feelsmore alive, and players can help one another by talking in zone chat, rather than solely through video and forum posts.

The arenas themselves are solo and the portal to reach them cannot be entered while in a group.

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Fa-Nuit-Hen's Favor

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Finishing the Maelstrom Arena For the first time grants the player 50 Favor for restoring the vision of Fa-Nuit-Hen's "Barons Who Move Like This". On Vet this is Quadrupled.

Successive runs through the Maelstrom Arena grant 20 Favor for testing the creations of his barons and showing them their failures, which is only modified by running Vet.

Vet runs grant 60 Favor per run, you gain 10 extra favor per life left, and gain an additional 50 for a flawless run. Completing the Arena in time grants the player an extra 50 Favor, for a maximum of 310 Favor and a minimum of 60.

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Using Fa-Nuit-Hen's Favor

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Once you've completed the initial run of the Maelstrom arena (norm or vet) Fa-Nuit-Hen restores the "Barons Who Move Like This" to the players instance. From this instance (and the open hub version) All 9 Barons are returned and gain a place in the Maelstrom Hub. The Barons are as follows:

1 - Baron who Moves like a Shivering Droplet
2 - Baron Who Moves Like a Dancer's Hips
3 - Baron who Moves like Wind in the Reeds
4 - Baron Who Moves Like Heat Lightning
5 - Baron Who Moves like Sunlight on Waves
6 - Baron Who Moves Like a Flickering Flame
7 - Baron Who Moves Like a Wary Moth
8 - Baron who moves like a Torrent in Spate
9 - Baron Who Moves like a Smoking Plume

These Barons would each sell weapons for favor that are loosely tied to their name and their arena.

Traitless versions can be purchased for 50 Favor (25 Favor for one handed items).

Trait Versions can be purchased randomly (lockbox) for 100 favor, and the player must have the "Maelstrom Arena - Conqueror" achievement.

Specific Trait Versions can be purchased for 1000 Favor (500 for 1 handed item), and the player must have "Maelstrom Arena: Perfect Run"

The Merchant would sell Set lockboxes. (Winterborn, Elemental Succession, Glorious Defender, Permafrost, Hunt Leader, ParaBellum) at a cost of 10 favor each.

There are no longer chests in the Maelstrom Arena.


Thoughts? Suggestions?