Sk idea- add more Special Monster Levels, and small suggestions for elevator symbols.
I figure now is a great time to suggest this, with that Arcade Redux talk.
Apologies if this has already been suggested elsewhere. I always do a decent search. We all make mistakes.
I love running the arcade, usually. But sometimes have trouble reading elevators. Is that a deconstruction zone, or tunnels? I have to spare few moments to look at the gate map…and in those seconds, the gates could rotate into an unfavorable orientation… But this suggestion is for Special Monster Levels. On the side, I will also suggest different elevator icons (using the same coloration system of course. I love that).
Zombies, Slimes, Wolvers, Gremlins, Devilites…they all have their super special levels: graveyards, lichen lairs, wolver dens, decon zones, and Devilish Drudgery, respectively. And of course spookats with Candlestick Keeps. A few monsters may spawn in these that are not directly that monster type, of course. But it’s obviously that monster species' home-habitat place. These all show up in the arcade pretty frequently, and I like the variety they provide. If you consider a few rank/prestige missions, chromalisks have a special level (In Cold Blood - Lizard Lounge), Silent Legion for Trojans… constructs share a machine-space in Ghosts in the Machine. But I would like to see some elaborate, special levels for Greavers, Chromalisks, scuttles, mechaknights and so on in the arcade-style clockworks.
Jiggsaw valley is very construct-homey, but has too many gremlins in it to be an obvious construct habitat (lol, construct habitat...) – partially because many constructs are managed by gremlins, of course. But then you consider Ghosts in the Machine…and start thinking differently about constructs. This makes Jiggsaw Valleys feel more like…Scarlett Fortress or Concrete Jungle, levels that dominantly feature two monster types.
Having more levels opens up more content - at least in a small way- for players to enjoy, as well as more lore opportunities, enriching the game. It’s something I would certainly enjoy – everything has a story, and a place they come from, and a place that they now live. It would make the game feel more…full.
These could also feature in new, two-depth minor prestige missions.
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Elevator Symbol Suggestions:
Lichen Lairs/Devilish Drudgery/Wolver Dens:
These really aren’t that confusing if you pay attention to colors, but the symbol is the same for entirely different types of monsters, which doesn’t help with the Atmosphere of things, imo. I mean they all go >: ( at knights I suppose.
-For Lichen Lairs, have the three lumpy monsters have spikes/spines around the top
curves of their heads and around their bodies.
-For Devilish Drudgery, just two curved horns on top of each of the three monster faces.
-For wolver dens, make them look furry, sort of like Lisa or Bart Simpson hair (minus
color limitation of course).
This way, the symbol keeps its basic shape, but is specialized to special levels.
Imo, this symbol is fine as it is, but it’s worth suggesting anyway. Would help with quick glances.
For Deconstruction Zones: gremlin symbol instead of the clockworks tunnels gear. Something I've seen suggested many times in-game.
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A brief summary of my personal ideas about what each special level could look like:
-Monster: Fiend: Greaver
-Special Monster Level: Gusty Greavings (a play on the word “grieving”)
-Symbol: A greaver. Basically a horned, sideways oval with an X (for the wings) behind it.
-Characteristics: the level mostly consists of bridges, and bridge-like walkways of stone, surrounded by tall spires of rock, similar to certain areas in wolver dens, but there’s lots of floaty, swaying bits of rock and things that make it feel very lofty and home to flying species. Maybe a few gust animations…not too windy…nothing with wings likes huge, violent gusts of air. Hanging from the bottom of some walkable pathways, stalactites (not dripping) can be seen, giving is a high-mountain crevice/cave feel, walking in and out of floating caves stuck in the clockworks, super fun. Treasure boxes occur in rocky, cave-like alcoves. With stalagmites/stalactites! Greaver battles are special here – they will appear to fly out from under bridges when you walk over the top, for some minor battles, or dislodge themselves from hidden crevices/caves for party button areas. Background: night sky.
-Preceding Status-words for levels:
Fire: Ruby Rage/Road
Freeze: Pearly Plight/Path (a scenario room could feature a Winterfest Greaver? :O)
Poison: Jade Joust/Jaunt
Shock: Beryl Booms/Bridges
“Normal” (stun): Good Grief
-Other Monsters that spawn in the minority: Silkwings, gorgos, spookats (cause they kind of float…). Howlitzers? Need fiend turrets…or no turrets.
Note: This tileset could be used with Daytime background for future flying monsters, that may or may not be fiends. Minus the stalactites for a more open feel.
-Monster: Beast: Chromalisk
-Special Monster Level: Lizard Lounge
-Elevator Symbol: A curled tail
-Characteristics: wide, flat spaces great for sunbathing on. Background: daytime clouds. Lots of rocks, tall swaying grass, and so on for these areas. It would feel, basically, like a less-populated “In Cold Blood-Lizard Lounge”, but with more rocks. For the sunbathing. And maybe for the throwing. (This level could feature rocks knights can pick up and throw, vs. jugs).
-Preceding Status-words for levels:
Fire: Sala Salon
Freeze: Tundra Tranquility
Poison: Virile Virtues
Shock: Electric Eccentrics
“Normal” (stun): Lounging Lizards
-Other Monsters that spawn in the minority:
Silkwings, lumbers.
You get the idea. Please suggest your own thoughts for habitats/battle patterns/fun names for other special levels in comments below.
Predictable Problems: people tend to avoid levels they don't like. I imagine that a level packed with greavers would make many players cringe. Groups I run with will wait for a long time for a compound to clear out. It's all a matter of opinion, really. Other groups I play with love compounds. As long as there's shinies to be had, I think someone will enjoy it.
Devilite levels should have a magic symbol like one on the ground, lich lair should be a group of cores, wolver den can stay the same.