To balance out FSC farming, I suggested in Zeddy’s equipment balancing thread (node/81980) (don’t ask why it’s there. I barely know myself) that there could be a boss mission, perhaps replacing FSC (probably not a good idea) which rotated through various statuses (stati?) and monster types. For example, there could be a Freezestorm Citadel with Gremlin Coolers running around. Of course, the replacement would be accurate, with turrets replacing turrets (polyps for slime levels) and elite monsters replacing elite monsters. The payout would be the highest of all, which would create a new farming zone (farm?).
The goal of this level would be to
1. Encourage diverse equipment crafts instead of all blitz needles (check out Fehzor’s On Equipment and Class Design node/80053),
2. Create a much-needed challenge (but not too hard for the average cobalt knight. Not SL hard.), and
3. Lore? Probably not. But it’s a nice thought.
Implementation Methods
A) Just a plain ole mission: Just add a new mission after FSC. I think that’s fairly self-explanatory, and simple enough. Not likely seeing how difficult the lore could be, and how it defies the current mission system with precursory missions.
B) Replace FSC: Switch out a few words here and there, replace water balls with whatever balls could be used. Probably the most difficult for the devs, seeing how it’s more like a gate than a set mission.
C) Prestige Mission: Could work, but then people could farm FSC until the right one rotates in and go do that instead.
D) Core: Overrated concept, probably not good enough, but workable with lore and some ideas.
E) Permanent Gate: Like a new mission, but different. I think that’s fairly self-explanatory.
F) Entire Stratum: Like a gate stratum that’s arcade-exclusive. Simple.
I think I’m done here. Can't think of anything else. Any suggestions or fine-tuning of details? Feel free to shoot this whole thing down if it's all that bad.
You're omitting the most important detail of this boss mission.