Node deleveling instead of destruction

What do you think of instead of being totally destroyed (down to level 0), nodes just go to Expedition or Encampment showing that there are still a few people left, but the rest has been destroyed.
We don't want the zone to stay at level 3 or above as those levels still have lots of NPC services.

Or even have the zone drop to a special alternate Encampment which shows some ruins that indicate this was once a greater area. Instead of regular tents for the NPCs, have a small fortified area to protect what is left.
The quests that are given then are more geared towards rebuild than exploration. They could even turn some of the stone or wood that was destroyed into resources to harvest. Maybe metal deposits to indicate dropped weapons.

Any other good ideas on what could happen after a successful siege?

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Comments

Caeryl

Given it only takes a few hours, or a couple days to reach those levels (as per the info given on node progression a ways back), that wouldn’t be necessary. Plus the point of destroying a node is to give another node the chance to advance further than it was able to previously so those nodes need that bit of time to hop those last hurdles into final stages.

Being able to scavenge from the old node sounds alright though, at least whatever the sieging side didn’t already loot.

Azathoth

I like the thought of seeing ruined architecture from the previous city/whatever. Skinning it with node type and last majority racial type should be enough to make most look different.

Noaani

I personally think node destruction for a metropolis that loses a siege would be amazing.

Maybe have it so that if a metropolis loses a siege, they go in to a state where they are one node tier lower, but with the provision that if they lose another siege within the next 6 weeks (they should be immune for about 4 of those weeks), the node is destroyed, left as a ruin and unable to gain experience (and thus unable to be leveled up again) for a further 6 weeks.

Damokles

Destruction would add some real urgency for the defender in my opinion. No one cares if a node looses a few level, but destruction?
Lets think of a scenario here:
A strong military or religious node presses the advance and begins destroying nodes around them, forcing their way deeper and deeper into your own territory.
1. They would actually take atrition way easier through the destruction method, adding another layer of complexity.
Think about it, the respawned troops cant fast travel and even if they ride on mounts that could take some time, if they had to travel from their home node, while the defenders can instead spawn in their own metro or the nearest node.
2. People will band together way faster if they had to face destruction. Deleveling a node would not be really worrysome.... anoying? Yes. End of the world? No. But destruction? I can imagine different nodes band together to repell the invaders and retake the lost nodes.

Undead Canuck

Caeryl wrote: »

Given it only takes a few hours, or a couple days to reach those levels (as per the info given on node progression a ways back), that wouldn’t be necessary. Plus the point of destroying a node is to give another node the chance to advance further than it was able to previously so those nodes need that bit of time to hop those last hurdles into final stages.

Being able to scavenge from the old node sounds alright though, at least whatever the sieging side didn’t already loot.

Based on the fact that lower level nodes are vassals of level 3 and up, as soon as you delevel to 1, you would automatically become the vassal of another node (that was my point of not deleveling to 3 or higher). At which point you would not be able to outlevel the nodes nearest you.

The chances of there still being a level 0 node by the time a siege happens is very low. But maybe that is what IS is thinking of when they say destroy to level 0...

nefelia

The total destruction of a node is rather extreme. It is more in line with Genghis Khan's pointless brutality, or Rome's vengeful obliteration of Carthage, than with the more common sacking and looting of rival powers seen throughout most of human history.

Losing a node level is a pretty big deal when a node is a city or metropolis. Recovering that loss would take several weeks, which would be more than enough time for competent rivals to beat them to metropolis level (and thereby blocking further progress for the sacked city).

Of course, the siege/sacking mechanics could always be made a bit more complex, and allow for the further reduction of the nodes level if the attacking force accomplishes 'x' tasks in 'y' amount of time. Even a defeated defense would need to rally hard to mitigate their losses after a successful assault.

Nagash

if your node is better than mine you bet your soul im going to burn it to the ground and dance on the ashes

Undead Canuck

My node will always be better than yours.

But I won't say that to your face as I don't want it burned to the ground. The dancing on the ashes I wouldn't mind seeing though. I will wait and watch you dance on the node of someone else.

Nagash

UndeadCanadianGamer wrote: »

My node will always be better than yours.

But I won't say that to your face as I don't want it burned to the ground. The dancing on the ashes I wouldn't mind seeing though. I will wait and watch you dance on the node of someone else.

Dygz

Total destruction to Stage 0 makes it easier to change the racial make up of that Node. Also makes it easier for neighboring Nodes to take prominence.
The latter will cause greater change in the world and story - which is probably why the devs are wanting total destruction, rather than just deleveling.

Jahlon

Going to 0 makes the entire system work a lot easier, since you don't have to worry about the node dropping to a level where it would be locked out from existing.

Morashtak

Options are always good.

While it would be a feature added as the game matures it would be interesting to have the option to either overthrow the current government with mild/no destruction or to let loose the hound of war and have your army totally raze it to the ground. Or even some variable level in between based upon how well trained and disciplined the attacking troops are.

The first option would require some mechanic of spying and subterfuge that would sow discontent among the local population. This would be countered by a "Intelligence Service" mechanic that can be employed to root out spies and "tamp down" dissidents.

But for initial release will support node destruction until more options can be implemented.

Dygz

Overthrowing a Node keeps the world itself at too much of a status quo.
Destroying the Node allows other Nodes to grow in prominence and cause significant changes to mob populations across the world, which will also trigger new quests.

grisu

Deleveling was the initial proposal, they moved away from it. Now it's total destruction with ruins left behind for a successfull siege or a node that's left in shambles with npc services disabled depending on what got destroyed.
I think it's a good in between

Gimlog

And don't forget that a metropolis once destroyed will be in a place surround by lvl 4 and 5 nodes so can at least be back a stage 3 without trouble.

Nagash

Burn baby burn!

Undead Canuck

Feel the burn? But then you are cauterized down to the bones...

Atama

Yeah I like the idea of total destruction.

Otherwise you might end up with a constant, drawn-out series of conflicts where the node is repeatedly attacked until it goes down to 0. Forget that, just get it over with immediately.

nibiru97

I'd like to see ruins last for a lot longer than a few hours. The ruins don't need to be massive either, just enough to tell that there was once a civilization there.

As for total destruction, I think the alphas will help determine if it feels right. If they wanted to go back to a deleveling system, maybe they could have multiple objectives. If the siege completes 1 objective maybe it delevels to the node level that works within the system. If all objectives are met, the node is completely destroyed.

Nagash

Undead Canuck wrote: »

Feel the burn? But then you are cauterized down to the bones...

thats why I use fire to wipe out cities only the bones are left

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