Original Subject: Open the Core.... it really doesn't have to do anything special!!!

Hello there,

As a player that has hundreds of hours in this game and who regularly donates money to keep it going I have a suggestion for keeping the end players happy that would require almost no new development. What I'd like to see is either you activate the core elevator or put another one on the side (or perhaps if you're feeling lazy just give the existing elevator that already is there and works a down option. It really doesn't matter where it's placed but I feel as though it could be good to have to traverse the third tier to get there.

How would the level progression work? I'm thinking that the gate map would just have five or six different levels for each depth, all masked with ???. Rather than be completely random every trip down the floors could be generated per gate. This will add an exploration aspect to the game. An example of how this could play out with players could be like "Whoa there is an arena in the 4th position at depth 30 something!" or "Look out for slot 1 in depth 35 it's shock fiends!!!", etc etc. A good story tie in could be like we've opened the core but have gotten lost! The alpha team couldn't make it back etc etc. In a later patch when you want to add actual core content you could actually say something like mapping knights have mapped the core! now there is new content at depth 40 or something!

What would the levels look like? Personally I think if you just had a grab bag of *ALL* existing levels randomized with a higher percentage chance of getting common levels and a lower chance of getting special levels. When I said all existing levels I mean all. It would be awesome to get Snarbolax at depth 40 or something (an example of a special level) even though the pay out for the trouble would be terrible. It is required that you add a few more entries to your scaling tables. Things don't even have to scale well, as long as the loot and the monster buffs are about on the same page. This would give the clockworks a real clock worky... workish? feel.

When you say "ALL" do you mean that? like Grinchlin assault for example? Sure! But I understand that you would *NOT* get special event materials in this mode. I'll take those as a later patch if work is needed to change out the prize boxes based on context of how the level is got too. The main idea is that you get random content at deeper and deeper levels... It would be pretty cool to even hit Apocrea levels... I mean you'd just want to run through then because you don't get the seals, but that would be a pleasant surprise, and you can goof off there if you wanted to. If you want to make people get more gear you could put like fire levels at depth 40 for awhile (or poison or enter damage combination here). This would give people a reason to get more obscure armors

What would the game experience be like? Well it would be random, entertaining, and weird! A good place to test your mettle. Bragging rights for those who make it down so far. Since boss levels don't have arsenal stations you'll have to be careful too! It would be pretty brutal to go from URJP level to say a UFSC level as you wouldn't be able to requip twice! That is part of the exploration and fun there!

The main thing this is meant to address is the grinding in the game.... Personally I don't want to play FSC for the 200th time. As a multi year player though there isn't anything left to do other than merchant -- and if I wanted to do that I'd open a business (in the real world). Also I'm tired of hearing people whine about the purchase content. If you play this game enough to post on the forums you should either be able to play enough to buy the stuff from the players / AH, or you should probably put down some cash to keep the game you like going. The problem with that statement is that I do understand the whining as there is no good way for people to grind to make the in game currency though!

EDIT: thanks to CCat for multiple points of clarification, Clarified Subject based on feedback.