[crossfire] Game feature or ideas with random maps and preset monster populations

[Rick Tanner]

Enclosed is an idea that I am looking for feedback on and further 
discussion for in-game content that uses some of the Lore features, a 
slight modification to existing random map code, some game storylines, 
and a quest and reward system.


The email is quite long, so here's an outline:

1.) Random maps

2.) Map occupants' items have a themed name

3.) Shops throughout the world randomly reset to pay rewards for themed 
items

4.) Players plunder the random maps

5.) Lore features on themed items

6.) Turn in specified items for reward(s)



1.) Random maps (using the code that already exists) for goblins, 
trolls, giants, demons, angels, (and more?) generated with some sort of 
name related to the occupants. For instance, the Tribe of Red Foot 
Goblins or Clan of Silver Beard Dwarves, etc. The monsters are all 
normal or have slight stat mods, and have a name attached to them 
(again, i.e., Red Foot Goblin)


Some discussion on Discord/IRC is to make the random maps not completely 
random.


"For example, you would only find Red Foot goblins southeast of Navar, 
and near Scorn there's a different tribe of goblins." (I think that is 
certainly reasonable.)


"I think a random entrance location with one static dungeon level would 
work, random dungeon generation might be interesting if it could execute 
a Python script for example for placement or randomly equipping said 
unique items."


"Would it make sense for the locations to be randomly initialized at 
server start (if not already initialized), and then have those locations 
be reused for the duration of the server? I was thinking the 
saved-out-and-reloaded-at-relaunch method, tho I wasn't the clearest on 
that."


2.) Their items also have their unique name (i.e., Red Foot Goblin Short 
Sword). Items have some tweaks stats (+/- to damage, value, other stats, 
etc.) Items would also have some minor color changes in graphical faces 
such as Red Foot Goblin boots are a deep red, their bucklers have a red 
foot imprint, leather armor a red tinge, etc. Players plunder the maps 
and collect the loot - as is the Crossfire way.


3.) Shops throughout the world randomly reset to pay rewards for such 
items.


For instance, a new level on the Navar Museum of Arms on one reset would 
be paying out or collecting gear from the Red Foot Goblin tribe. After 
the map resets it now wants to collect gear from Black Tooth Troll 
Warband, or Clan of Silver Beard Dwarves, et al.


Other maps might be an antique collector looking for rare loot, a "shop" 
looking to purchase these items to keep them out of the hands of their 
enemies, or the shop wanting the loot returned to their ancestral 
homeland. Another shop wants the items for use to study to find a 
weakness in the item because of an ongoing faction war. Or, a shop is 
interested in the items to sell back to the original faction for a 
substantial profit. One suggestion on Discord/IRC was, "A good starting 
point is to make a vendor which asks for a specific item or item 
variation, on a rotating basis"


Other ideas or suggestions on how to deploy the rotating vendor?


4.) Players have the opportunity to visit these random maps, and maybe 
have to hold on to the loot if they want to complete the trade-in (quest?).


The turn-in map for this reset might want the Red Foot Goblin items, the 
next reset might want the Black Tooth Troll items. Or, is this loot 
management unpleasant? (assuming the plundered items are not kept and 
used by the player or just outright sold...)


5.) Also, this gives the players a chance to use more of the newly added 
Lore feature.


Introduced in 
https://sourceforge.net/p/crossfire/crossfire-server/ci/9a437214e63f959d8378281f67a00908a7fd9752/


When a player identifies and examines items they get more information on 
the item.


Lore examples:

  * This is a Red Foot Goblin Short Sword.
  * The Red Foot Goblins are terrible weapon smiths, and that reflects
    in the poor quality of the weapon.
  * The leather hilt used on the sword is derived from a rare
    subterranean eel creature, which makes their value higher than normal.


6.) Turn in specified items for reward(s)


A goal is for the players to get useful items, and not just acquire 
wealth. Nothing wrong with building wealth, I'm just trying to add 
something that does not impact the economy too much.


As far as rewards, and since this first experiment would be for 
low-level players fighting goblins:

  * Healing potions or balms
  * Potion of Life
  * Potion of magic power
  * Potion of cure poison
  * Arrows
  * Crossbow bolts
  * Keys (generic door keys)
  * Potions of word of recall
  * Scrolls of identify
  * Scrolls of detect curse
  * Scrolls of detect magic
  * Temporary stat boost potions
  * Light source (torch or lanterns)


The above list of items is what I have observed new and low-level 
players wish they had more of when starting.


Higher-level items could be arrows with plus enchantment, slaying 
properties, and/or additional attack types. Potions could be Major 
Potion of Life, and so on.


Ideally, I envision a tiered reward system that I think could use 
scripting help. Or else, there much a bunch of rows of conversion 
tables. (one table for 1 dagger for 1 potion of healing, one table for 2 
daggers for 3 potions of healing, et al.)


I would like the rewards for the turn-in to favor a higher number of 
items. For instance:


1 dagger = 1 potion of healing

2 daggers = 3 potions of healing

3 daggers = 5 potions of healing

5 daggers = 10 potions of healing

And so on or maybe it stops at 5? or 10?


Another converter would be daggers for Potions of magic power with a 
different reward scale system. This is a part that I think needs more 
discussion or ideas.


So, what are your thoughts?