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The Problems
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1) Basil is clogged with GunnerUpdate recipes. This is fine yet awful for various economic and personal reasons. It could be a lot better.

2) It's a collector's nightmare in the face of RNG and time. And good luck finding those recipes on AH - players know investing in most of these recipes is not a lucrative choice, so they are not on the AH very often.

3) GunnerUpdate stuff bodes ill for the future, too. What if OOO pulls the same gig, with bomb and sword armor/helm sets? Basil's back would break hauling even part of that hoard around, even with recipe quantity limits per terminal. We don't want Basil to hurt that badly.

4) Currently, players speedrunning Basil just choose the easiest gate...and I find that sad. The obvious choice, but still sad.

I have solutions for these problems. They could be simple, or a bit more involved so they also enrich the lore of the game. More involved means we can deal with the future's possibilities too.

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The Troubled Triplets and Stratum Influence
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Let's have the Troubled Triplets - Woodruff, Hyssop, and Shiso

These three new NPCs compose a young vendor knight trio who, similar to HoH denizens, specialize in certain things and sell recipe sets. They are in cahoots with Strangers and chose their own spicy names to go with their personalities and wares. Despite being a trio, they are still individuals! Instead of in the HoH, one is always found in Clockwork Terminals next to Basil and Kozma. They stand next to a special console-toughbox-rucksack thing, similar to the ones HoH vendors have (but a backpack for traveling), and always seem to be inspecting something (it is a comlink feed between Brinks, Daxen, the two other Triplets, and many Strangers. They are discussing Gremlin philosophies, if you were curious).

Each Triplet has a gunslingin specialty (Woodruff = pathfinder, Hyssop = sentinel, Shiso = shade) and special appearance depending on the terminal they are encountered in, as well as the stratum theme(s) of the depth immediately after the terminal. These themes determine which triplet shows up as well as their stock - thus encouraging player exploration, paying attention to gate maps, and diminishing RNG. I feel that the GunnerUpdate items are numerous enough, but not overpowered enough, to warrant this RNG manipulation. The game should be fun, not frustrating. And it's still very dependent on whatever levels the current gates have available.

Some basics (refer to the Alchemy Path of these things for easier understanding/refreshing):

- A Beast or Slime stratum means Woodruff will be in the terminal, selling Pathfinder stuff.

- A Gremlin or Construct stratum means Hyssop will be in the terminal, selling Sentinel stuff.

- A Fiend or Undead stratum means Shiso will be in the terminal, selling Shade stuff.

- A fire stratum means Firefly recipes will be offered.

- A freeze stratum means Grizzly recipes will be offered.

- A poison stratum means Snakebite recipes will be offered.

- A shock stratum means Falcon recipes will be offered.

- In depth 4, a triplet sells two 2* recipe sets, their own and a random Triplet's. Not much variety, very easy to collect instead of fishing around in the Bazaar. (4 recipes total)

- In depth 13, a triplet sells two 3* and two 4* recipe sets. Per star rating, one matches status stratum or is random if there's no status, and the other a random set from a different triplet following the same stratum influence. (8 recipes total)

- In depth 23, a triplet will sell four 5* recipe sets: 3 for status stratum, 1 random (8 recipes total)

A status-less stratum means sets are randomly chosen from Firefly/Grizzly/Snakebite/Falcon. This happens for areas such as Dark City, "normal" tunnels, etc. The game will always default to the status option if there happens to be a status+normal level in the depth. Just recall Gate Construction and how that worked with stratum manifestation. As you can imagine, this is a relatively uncommon phenomenon resulting in interesting vendor behavior. This next part only matters for depth 23: instead of the 4th set being a random one from a different triplet, it is always all four Firefly/Grizzly/Snakebite/Falcon pure handgun dmg variants for that Triplet.

??? depths count the non-TV, non-GY level in the rotation of course. Boss Stratum result in a random Triplet with totally random status variants, just to keep things interesting. Like you'd always see Shiso with Sacred Firefly BLAH stuff in the FSC gate etc. That's not super duper, and it alleviates some "RNG pressure" from the current gate availability... with more RNG! Who woulda thunk!

Basil will never sell GunnerUpdate Helmet or Armor recipes. GunnerUpdate Handgun recipes remain with Basil. Many of these handguns are either special and/or associated with BossToken items from Brinks and don't really fit into my story in my head. That being said, I wouldn't mind Basil being influenced by stratum the way I've outlined it for the Triplets to encourage more player exploration of the arcade.

We can of course make things more RNG dependent, if each Triplet only sells 2 sets each time, determined by the stratum of the next level, instead of the broader variety I have suggested here. For example, a D24 Blast Furnace: Haunted Passage would result in Shiso selling only Sacred Firefly Ghost and a random set from another triplet, but then the pure handgun dmg variants (Shade, in this case) could get extra complicated and we return to more RNG frustration. Difficulty could be involved too, but I don't like that at all. I would just say higher difficulty = more recipes in stock, I guess.

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HoH, Daxen, and Troubled Triplet unlocks
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This entire section is optional, but I feel it would involve players a lot more, and reward them for being interested in lore at best. At worst, veteran players will return to the HoH missions for a few moments and then move on with their grinding.

You can interact with the Triplet for dialogue or the toughbox-com to immediately see wares, just like in the HoH. Their recipes are acquired unbound, just like Basil. But the Triplets are a stingy bunch... you'll have to gain some good rep before they will sell you their recipes. How do you do this?

Each recipe-HoH has a special dialogue via Daxen, and each must be listened to at least once to unlock the possibility of the player being able to buy recipes from a Troubled Triplet in a clockwork terminal. The TT's inventory will be empty unless:

- The player has joined at least 2 depths prior (same rules as Basil)

- The player has spoken with Daxen (this opens up Remi and Echo for future use if SK ever has a BomberUpdate or SwordUpdate).

Word travels fast in the gunner world...and with Spiral quality comlinks. If the player is both interested in stories and exploration, Daxen mentions this to the TT, and the TT will appreciate you and share their stuff because you have bothered to "explore" down to a Clockwork Terminal. The TT are allowed to be quite stingy because they are Troubled and a bit dangerous. Honestly, Spiral HQ gives them leeway (instead of demanding they provide recipes all the time "for the good of all knights") because they view such individual expression as necessary for everyone's general progress.

Daxen will have different dialogue in each recipe-HoH that the player has been certified for (the mission card will be completed with a badge in the interface, or after talking with Baro, turn around and go back to talk with Daxen instead of loading the mission again - this might be better for first-time completion, actually...let's make it so the gate won't go down just yet, and Barrus mentions talking with HoH vendors before you leave). Another dialogue option appears under "Ok, let's see what you have to offer." Each individual player must unlock the Gunner recipes in this manner for each knight. It is not account-wide, because it ties into the Star vs. Rank unlocks a bit as well. This allows veteran knights to start each HoH mission and read the lore to get this system going, and fuses seamlessly into new player progression.

4-1 HoH Unlocks:

Strangers start selling 2* Padded path items and recipes in the Bazaar. Troubled Triplets are willing to sell 2* gunnerupdate recipes in Depth 4 Clockwork Terminals. No changes to depth 13 or 23 terminal possibilities.

5-2 HoH Unlocks:

Strangers start selling 3* Padded path items in the Bazaar. Troubled Triplets are willing to sell 3* recipes in Depth 13 Clockwork Terminals (no 2*, no 4*). No changes to depth 4 or 23 terminal possibilities.

6-2 HoH Unlocks:

Troubled Triplets are willing to sell relevant star level recipes in Depth 13 Clockwork Terminals (3* and 4* only). No changes to depth 4 or 23 terminal possibilities.

8-2 HoH Unlocks:

Troubled Triplets are willing to sell relevant star level recipes in Depth 23 Clockwork Terminals (5* only due to huge variety). No changes to depth 4 or 13 terminal possibilities.

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Fanfiction/lore
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Below is a bunch of storystuff I threw together. It doesn't really have much bearing on the idea, so, read it as fanfic if you want. I have always viewed HoHvendors as teachers as well as experienced knights, so I view them as older, but still learning of course. They always wear their personal best for every occasion. That comes into play here. Remember, the TT are very friendly with Strangers, so good reputation with the TT = good reputation with Strangers, thus the Bazaar unlocks.

4-1 HoH:

Dialogue Option: "Do you know any other Knights as passionate about gunning as you, Daxen?"

"There's always room in this town for more gunners! That's what I always say. But none are as passionate as I am. Well, actually...definitely the Troubled Triplets, a young knight trio. You might find 'em in your travels, they're more friendly to Strangers than Knights. They're overly fond of niche situations, though. I prefer a more generalized approach. But nothin wrong with helping a fellow Knight with introductions, right? Especially when we all seem to like the same stuff."

5-2 HoH:

Dialogue Option: "I'd like to know more about the amazing Troubled Triplets."

"Nobody knows if the Troubled Triplets are truly triplets, but they have a bond unlike any other. Despite their differences, they are an amazing trio who act as one when in combat. They made a name for themselves - seriously! they chose their names due to some Stranger ritual or right of passage or something or other...Monsters tremble in fear at their very mention. For who can surpass such skill, such devastation from a distance? By the time you manage to get to them, they're already gone. I tip my hat to 'em. I'll let them know you do as well."

6-2 HoH:

Dialogue Option: "How do the Troubled Triplets get around so well? I'd like to be able to do that."

"When we arrived on Cradle, they immediately went into field research. Off like a shot, haha! Almost as fast as the Alpha Squad, but not lost. They returned recently to HQ with a hoard of knowledge about the Clockworks. As a result they developed a variety of niche equipment for the many places they studied. Of course, they could not study every possible situation, even though they were gone for so long. Not everything is covered by their defenses. But I'm sure you can find something to your likin, and you can make it even more suitable with unique variants. I'll let them know you're interested in branching out a bit."

8-2 HoH:

Dialogue Option: "Why are the triplets so... 'Troubled'?"

"They have within them great skill that can only be expressed through projectile combat. They have always been that way, and no matter how Spiral HQ tried to get them to pass standard tests. They always failed the Teamwork score whenever working with knights who were not part of their Trio. Nobody could keep up with them, and by the time the Triplet's frenzy calmed down and they stood in the smoking shrapnel of a hundred slaughtered shufflebots, their teammate would be mostly destroyed by the obstacle course far behind them. Feeling rejected by the Spiral Order's system, they harbor some resentment and stay away from most knights. I always gave them high marks for their gunslingin, because hey, they never missed their targets. Ever. That is skill I understand and it deserves appreciation. I guess that might be why they talk with me, I mean, other than our shared passion for shootin! But honor and unity are part of our knightly Spiral Souls, so they never mean any harm, and HQ does their best to let them roam freely and help the rest of us in ways nobody else can. I'll let them know you understand where they're coming from, and where they're trying to go."

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Suggestions for the appearance of the Trio:
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They all have the same crimson personal color (same as Daxen) and shifty eyes. They are all extra short. They are triplets, so they look the same. But are they ACTUALLY triplets? This is not known. Knights can easily change their eyes, personal color, and height. Hmm Hmmm indeed. Or they could just look like this.

They always ware (that's a pun...they wear...yeah nevermind) the pure handgun dmg variant of their respective items, but will wear lower star examples in lower terminals, just like HoH vendors and mission ranks. For example, Shiso will wear the shade set in Depth 4 terminals, a status plated shade set in Depth 13 (unless we do Daxen's unlocks to show the best, then woven...then plated as they are unlocked), and a status sacred shade set in Depth 24. Of course, the status variant worn reflects their wares.

Talking to a triplet before talking to Daxen or if joining the party too late will result in something like "Woodruff is too busy talking to Daxen about Gremlin philosophies to notice you" and their toughbox-com-rucksack interface will be empty. After talking to Daxen, the triplet will say "Oh hello PLAYERNAME. I think I have something that will help down the road, since I've been informed you enjoy...target practice." Or you can go straight to their wares.

Why did I choose these names...I figure that they are most similar to Basil, and whatever cultural influence they have from hanging with strangers would have rubbed off on them, thus the spice names.

Woodruff = master of the woods, thus master of the wilds and beasts and slimes. It also sounds like a cool name.

Hyssop = a rather medicinal herb, and medicine is often a form of protection and beekeepers plant it so their bees make awesome honey, thus "keeper" and sentinel. It also sounds like a cool name.

Shiso = a mysterious leaf that can be purple. I associate purple with shadow. It is surprising and dynamic, just like a ninja (lol, I guess this makes me racist, because this is a rather Asian herb, and there's loooots of ninja in Asia and the shade stuff certainly looks ninja to me). It also sounds nice and similar to "shade."

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TL;DR:
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Three new NPCs sell gunnerupdate armor and helms in clockwork terminals instead of Basil. Which NPC shows up and their wares are determined by the next depth's stratum. Alternatively, do not do this whole complicated new NPC thing, and just make it so Basil has 3/4 of his recipes based on stratum, and the other 1/4 random.