Well, I am right now waiting at Moorcraft for an Arena to show and hanging around. While roaming around I passed along the train station and, well, came out with this idea. I don't know if I would come out with something similar for the Gremlins working at Emberlight behind a door, but for them I think it would be something like the new actual content (coughgoingtogreatcolonycough). But this is about the Spectral Express, soooo:
Spectral Train would be a PvE based content colosseum. The idea comes from FF6's Phantom Train, a haunted train which carries souls to the afterlife. In Moorcraft it seems that it also brings another beings there, but why not being able to pick it up? Why this idea could work:
1. It gives people without energy something to do without being able to outright abuse.
2. It is a crown sink, so everyone can get a chance to do it anytime and CE may lower even a bit more.
3. It is the "battle arena/colosseum" idea materialized and not just a "what if we put this", nothing wrong with telling ideas, but I thought here could work all this which people asked in other similar threads.
4. The community decides how levels would be!
And now for the idea itself:
Moorcraft Manor would get a broadcast message every 5 minutes from the station, one that would let players know about when the Spectral Express would pass, which would be every half hour in the server. Only players in Moorcraft Manor would get, as said before, this broadcast. Once the arrival time comes, the Spectral Express will come and people will be able to ride it for 5 minutes. Entry free would be 500 Crowns, a separate price of the 200 Crowns of going to Tier 2 directly without passing through Tier 1 first (which make it a bit more expensive if you weren't to do said thing).
After an onimous message, you would get attacked by a series of spawn enemies divided in 3 waves each in different rooms, similar to a Danger Room. After five spawn series, there will be a big one of 5 waves, with one or two... or three or more tier 3 mobs mixed in there! Sometimes tier 3 mobs may spawn in the other waves, but rarely. Of course, doing all this even if it wouldn't give you any crowns you would get other prizes, such as its own line of tokens, or even things such as small energy tanks, materials (which may drop from the enemies inside), lockboxes and maybe more! These prizes would be given to you at the last room, where the engine would be (and whoever may drive the Spectral Express!) and you would get teleported afterwards to Haven (to safety!).
One last thing... you should equip yourselves before riding it! Once inside it, you won't be able to change equipment, there aren't any chests inside. This would also give it a bit more of a challenge as well a bit of use to that existant Normal equipment.
Now for the community aspect of the idea:
As much as Gate Construction determines which levels you get each strata, it would affect which enemies you get to go against in the Spectral Express as well as the prizes themselves (but prizes only slightly, most likely small differences in drop rates). What would determine it would be the Strata 3 setup. So, if Strata 3 were to be a Construct one, you would get most likely against Retrodes, Mechaknights and Gun Puppies. This means that if people would like to have a chance to get more likely some prizes or practice against a race of monsters.
And why I put it in Tier 2? Because I feel there must be some sort of "progression" in which contents are unlocked for everyone, also tier 2 with some tier 3 monsters I think it is an enjoyable challenge.
I also am tainted to put one last condition on how you fight in the Spectral Express: UVs may not be allowed there but I am a bit doubtful on that.
And, well, this is the idea that I came out with today. If you like it, have any more ideas, don't like things, etc, feel free to say; suggestions are for everyone to make an opinion of them anyway!
inb4whynotjustsuplextheexpress
