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Nodes and guards in a world of magic (huge desire of mine)
Dryadez
Member
So one thing that bothers me in alot of mmorpgs is that you have magic in abundance yet when you go to a city, base, town, village whatever... you're made to feel safe with the npc guards that are there. Sort of a feeling of security and a symbol of power and influence for that particular area. Yet for some reason all the npc guards are melee users. Sword and shield in mail/plate armor or whatever they wear. I see this all the time and it bothers me because I think adding flavorful guards spices it up a ton for such a simple addition, it's not a daunting task for developers to add since the makings are all already there ( i only say that because it always baffles me why they rarely do it.) and you can go the extra mile.
As a node gains power and influence I think it would make sense that it attracts the attention of beings that the ruling race of the node would be familiar with that also seek protection and to aid in the battles to come. It could also be an addition to things that Mayors can buy with taxes. To show that this node is a prominent node with a strong backbone.
Heres my suggestion
Every race has it's own sort of elite guard npcs that spawn around node level 5 for example
Upon Node level 5 a couple ents patrol the streets of a py'rai node, stomping around you truly feel like you are in a node that is bonded and protected by nature itself. A sort of cool addition to show players that this node is truly a symbol of power in the area, rather than just some guards in shiny plate armor.
Kaelar- Knight Templars (large mounted Paladins that off heal and use a lance)
Vaelune- Scorpion Riders (Riders that use the scorpion to fight for them)
Py'rai- Ents (Massive ancients of the forest, bind enemies in roots and deal crushing blows)
Empyrean-Juggernauts (Gold plated arcane magic being crafted by the elves, do ranged damage and melee)
Dunir- Stone Golems patrol nodes (highly tanky units, draw aggro and dish out high damage)
Nikua- Mud Golems/ Water elementals (aoe ability to slow enemies movement/attack speed)
Vek- Cave trolls (Bulky but with moderate aoe damage)
Ren'kai- Berserkers (Massive ogre like orcs, High single target damage, low defenses)
Tulnar- Gorgons (the monster kind not the medusa kind maybe even do a tribute to the ones we see in Stranger Things)
and my ideas could go on but these are just examples I quickly thought up but this is the general idea I'm going for
ETC ETC all with their own flavorful and unique movesets. And don't get me wrong I think it's okay to have the guards in shiny plate but I don't think that should be all we see. This is a world rich in magic and many can harness that power, I'd love to see magic using guards and patrols aswell. I think things like this could add so much flavor and it wouldn't take to much manpower in the development area.
As a node gains power and influence I think it would make sense that it attracts the attention of beings that the ruling race of the node would be familiar with that also seek protection and to aid in the battles to come. It could also be an addition to things that Mayors can buy with taxes. To show that this node is a prominent node with a strong backbone.
Heres my suggestion
Every race has it's own sort of elite guard npcs that spawn around node level 5 for example
Upon Node level 5 a couple ents patrol the streets of a py'rai node, stomping around you truly feel like you are in a node that is bonded and protected by nature itself. A sort of cool addition to show players that this node is truly a symbol of power in the area, rather than just some guards in shiny plate armor.
Kaelar- Knight Templars (large mounted Paladins that off heal and use a lance)
Vaelune- Scorpion Riders (Riders that use the scorpion to fight for them)
Py'rai- Ents (Massive ancients of the forest, bind enemies in roots and deal crushing blows)
Empyrean-Juggernauts (Gold plated arcane magic being crafted by the elves, do ranged damage and melee)
Dunir- Stone Golems patrol nodes (highly tanky units, draw aggro and dish out high damage)
Nikua- Mud Golems/ Water elementals (aoe ability to slow enemies movement/attack speed)
Vek- Cave trolls (Bulky but with moderate aoe damage)
Ren'kai- Berserkers (Massive ogre like orcs, High single target damage, low defenses)
Tulnar- Gorgons (the monster kind not the medusa kind maybe even do a tribute to the ones we see in Stranger Things)
and my ideas could go on but these are just examples I quickly thought up but this is the general idea I'm going for
ETC ETC all with their own flavorful and unique movesets. And don't get me wrong I think it's okay to have the guards in shiny plate but I don't think that should be all we see. This is a world rich in magic and many can harness that power, I'd love to see magic using guards and patrols aswell. I think things like this could add so much flavor and it wouldn't take to much manpower in the development area.
15
Comments
The system could be built like this:
It obviously only starts with a Tier 3 Node, since before there is no mayor.
The Node related guards could be something like this:
The easiest way I could see to do it would be to give each of the NPCs, guards included, an Archetype. Just pump the guards up a little so that they give out more damage than normal.
Lackey - " Well, we created an invincible super force of elite guards, Sir."
Mayor - "Raise all taxes asap!"
The stranger's eyes lifted to the blood red cloud on the horizon.
'We have to move. It's not safe here.'
It feels like there's a limit to the classes but if you did go unlimited you could stylize your city with priests druids, paladins, to go with a thematic or to provide a healing component to your troops.
Cool thought.
I would love for them to add a tree for this area and like I said, these are units and abilities that are already in the game (except for possibly some of the racial elite guards i listed) so they can mix and match tons of variables
I do think depending on the race you should already automatically see a mix of guards-rangers-battlemages patrolling the node.
Py'rai/empyrean- druids
Dunir/nikua- geomancers
Vek/ren'kai- Shamans
humans- Mages
Tulnar- Sporemancer
but having the option to stylize your patrols and what types of units we see is definitely something I can see them adding and touching on in patches down the road because theres a ton of possibilities
It's different if its a world like LOTR where magic is rare and overpowered
but worlds like Guild wars, WoW, Ashes of Creation, Skyrim etc etc all kind of have no excuse for the npc militaries to be composed entirely of sword swingers. I actually went ahead and made my own mods where I added custom made units for towns and bases, i also beefed them up a bit with better functioning defenses like towers and walls.
I added Paladins (one handed swords with off heals), Vindicators (two handed weapons with a shout that creates a holy barrier around them) Vampire hunters (rangers with magicka draining crossbow bolts and magicka resistant armor) To the Dawnguard that randomly spawn and patrol for paranormal creatures.
I also added Imperial battlemages to imperial owned cities and towns and Frost mages to nord owned cities and towns which I incorporated into the guard routines and Guard Captains which I gave powerful stats and gear to.
Before that, the towns were just guards that swung around sharp or heavy objects. These small additions add a ton of spice to the city and even create more of a challenge for players who contest the area.
Right I mean how can you have tree elves and no ents! Can't be done! Bonding with nature and mastery over nature energy and magic surely has more benefits than just living in trees.
Same with dwarves and their close bond to earth and stone and humans and their abilities of domestication and will to dominate other things (hence the mounted elite guards i listed for humans) etc
What enfuriates me about guards in towns is that they are so stoic, always there, always ready, they are never drunk or taking bribes
They're usually good for directions lol
1 - Guard strength = over difficlty of guards
2 - Guard location = Guard stationary location inside and outside node (guardpost along road for example)
3- Guard patrols= Guard patrols mobile guard that patrol the roads out of the city to the node boarder aswell as inside the node
Military node could allow for muiltipul barracks as build options where other noes can only build 1, or the military node gets a unique barracks building that has more upgrade or better upgrade options for example a normal barrack upgrade might be 1 patrol where military node get 2 patrols or 1 patrol but more guards than a normal barracks
Could also have some policys that effects guards aswell for temporay buffs at the price of gold often used leading into wars i suspect
another idea for building is an armory, where the mayor (or maybe citizens) can slot in equipment sets which a guard wears so this would act as a equipment sink to a degree to boost guards powers
So... you want these elite guards to be drunk and bribable?
Stoic , present and ready is kind of the Guard job description.
The stranger's eyes lifted to the blood red cloud on the horizon.
'We have to move. It's not safe here.'
Thank you!
I think the more customization in this area the better but also on a very basic level I think nodes need to have more than just a few guards wearing tin.
But I agree that they could have thought of other defenses starts helping the guards and the city, like protective shields around the walls, gates, and important buildings, people, and guards.
There should be at least lower supporting magic users with each patrol.
A few wizards positioned at core positions in the Nodes feel disturbances and violence, ready to intervene.
Maybe a magic guild will help with the organization of all duties in the node.
I also like the idea of special racial summons or trained elites patrolling the high-end nodes for safety and support in the environment. It makes sense.
I would like to add to that:
We need NPCs to interact with each other more.
Does anyone know V Rising?
Their concept of the game world is like a giant RPG MOBA with an in-depth castle housing, gathering, and crafting system combined with pvp castle sieging, and POI raiding with boss fights.
The whole map is filled to the brim with lore about NPC factions, fighting you the vampires, and each other for reasons like bandits against soldiers, undead against the living, and any hostile creature against other NPCs.
They roam around in patrols fighting each other, even the bosses fight from time to time it is a blast to see what can happen sometimes when a holy archer meets with the undead reaper boss in the iron mines or the harpies who raid the vineyards attacking the patrolling guards there.
We need more small-spread chaos encounters in the world not just between the players.
The NPCs should be an example to us. :'D
I wouldn't mind seeing a mix of guard races since they said there will be a mix of buildings depending on racial contribution to the node.
I think people under estimate how much atmosphere guards and things of the like add to a town/city etc
Sorry for such a late reply! Usually I got a notification for the forums but it seems it completely ignored emailing me for like a week. lol!
I definitely like the idea of having racially themed specialty npcs. I also think the as mentioned in a few other comments that the type of node should also help add a bit more specialty.
For tulnar [no node specialty], gargoyles could be very cool, could even be more like gorgon type creatures. I do think it would be very nice to see not just melee guards. Thinking from a fantasy standpoint I would be more scared to get frozen to the ground from a mage or maybe like a quicksand spell instead of the typically melee charge or just knockdown.
Thinking of divine node type of guards, I think it would be interesting if they have a like sense or higher aggro reach for those that are corrupted.
On a slight side note, I also think that typical defensive options should be more flexible based on node type and racials if possible. Having like man eating plants, thorns, mushroom that have like paralyzing spores, as like stationary defensive options in the underrealm could be cool as well. Obviously I get that we can't get too crazy with everything, just some random ideas!
Also what a good mix of ideas in this forum, wish I would have seen this sooner!
Come check us out!
Are there any other 'Why is this always the case, and could it be done differently?' ideas yall can think of?
Not just melee's indeed.
BDO - Guards are definitely implied to be competent, their magical abilities mostly come down to where they live. You don't generally see them actually do anything though, it's not that kind of game.
Elite Dangerous - It's a game about ships. NPCs must have ships. There's very little distinction outside of 'factional stuff'. The best 'guards' and the best 'pirates' largely fly the same ships, with some limitation for AI simplification or something.
FFXI - The exact opposite of the OP's concern. Not only do all the 'guards' supposedly know magic if they come from one of the places where that's the main concept, there are entire batallions of NPC casters for certain things. Every combat NPC has the same 'classes' as players available. "Heroic" ones are even stronger.
Most other similar games I've played are closer to BDO where the NPCs don't actually engage in combat, but they're definitely implied to be similar to players in strength or capacity to do so, such as TL, Neverwinter, Onigiri, (and if you go further away from stricter definitions) Skyforge, The Division, etc.
Basically, to me, this is the norm, not the exception, so I just end up with the feeling of 'huh? Just do it how it's normally done'.
I'd love to see guard difficulty rise with the nodes level, and that they play a part in sieges aswell to give more home field advantages. I also try to stay within the realm of "not getting to crazy"
So the idea of guards difficulty rising with node level could be just increasing guard level by +10 every time it advances, but I love the idea of race specific benefits like mushroom spore mines and thorns (think to Middle Earth:shadow of war-- your fortress upgrades you could have poison mines or fire mines) maybe something to add down the road!
Aaa I never played any of those.
I played Gw1, Gw2, WoW, eso, other misc smaller mmos where the worlds had all this magic and powerful civilizations that for some reason could only have very basic military protection in their towns. I think seeing a battlemage or something of the sort in patrols or on guard every so often adds alot to a game.
I played RIFT alittle bit at release and to their defense their cities which were open for world pvp had a good mix of guards both magic, ranged and melee. It makes you feel safer and more secure in a world where you can be in your cities but it doesn't necessarily mean you're completely safe from harm.
WoW is arguably the worse with this, very lazy design here. All cities and hubs spawn the same guards, just different levels with no racial flavor added except a small bias to horde where orc/tauren guards have 2 abilities but they barely make a difference and ironforge guards have 2 abilities that they rarely use.
Other then that, all guards have the same stats and are equally as useless when it comes to actually protecting anything. The games I'm use to unfortunately never put much thought or effort into this area
kind of responding to this as a way to bump, thanks!