Spiral Knights - The Dark Merchant

The Dark Merchant

29 replies [Last post]

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 09:26

Khamsin

So, I recently was set off on a nostalgia trip, and long story short, thought that an element from another game would be great for this game.

Basically, we already have a friendly traveling merchant who sells recipes, and that's great and all, but he's kind of obsolete to a degree with the Hall of Heroes. Wouldn't it be nice if there was merchant who sold you really nice pre-baked stuff? And what if you could steal from him?

Basically, this dude could pop in random Clockworks levels and setups shop. He'd have stuff like rarities, materials, accessories/costume items, and even crafted items. However, you have the option of taking his stuff and not paying for it, but if you do, he puts a hex on you. His hex seals your self-revive, prevents you from escaping to Haven unless you're dead, and hounds you with MANY Grimalkin and Phantoms. If you escape to the elevator, you get your loot. If you die, you forfeit the loot and have to go back to Haven.

Thoughts?

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 09:44

Pipipipipi

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 09:52

Khamsin

Dat adrenaline rush when you

Dat adrenaline rush when you shoplift and you're rushing to escape.

What might make it more fun is that the rarer the item you attempt to steal, the slower you move. It would add a further level of risk vs reward that would be insanely fun and intense.

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 10:04

Skyguarder

No.

This is unnecessary. We don't need more ways into getting more free stuff.

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 10:05

Mad-Wolver

Sounds Cool

I definitely love the thought of it, but will the items be kept under control? Like surely you shouldn't be ableto steala pair of wings right?

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 10:10

Writhes

Basil is not obsolete

Basil (the traveling merchant) is the only way to get upgrades for token gear. He still has valuable purpose.

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 10:11

Little-Juances

All sprites have at least one ultimate that lets us escape unharmed and survive whatever he throws at us.

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 10:20

Pipipipipi

Sky is right, we don't need

Sky is right, we don't need anouther way to get free stuff

probally almost everyone is going to steal everything from him

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 10:20

Khamsin

"I definitely love the thought of it, but will the items be kept under control? Like surely you shouldn't be ableto steala pair of wings right?"

Obviously I'm not saying the guy should let you steal assets worth 100k CR or more, however the rewards should be comparable to the risk. Random chance of showing up, random chance of having anything you really want, and you have to be skilled enough and get lucky enough to make it out alive after stealing.

The way the game is setup now, you don't have to pay any real money to get items now, so that point is moot. Ultimately everything can be free if you farm enough for it.

However, I'm totally willing to say maybe accessories is a bad idea. Perhaps limit it to rarities and items only.

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 10:31

Khamsin

And as for people saying

And as for people saying "everyone will always steal"... if you had a 25% chance of making it out alive in your current state, are you really saying you would refuse to pay 7.5k CR for an elite orb?

I think plenty of people would hand over the CR in order to ensure they get an item they want, rather than run the risk of failing and not getting it.

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 10:37

#10

Skyguarder

This is unnecessary because this is related to a Pokemon game that I've played ever since I was young. You go to a dungeon, find somebody selling items and either pay or steal. If you steal an item, a bunch of pokemon will attack you.

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 10:45

#11

Khamsin

@ Skyguarder

Mystery Dungeon games existed more than a decade before the first Pokemon Mystery Dungeon. Lol.

But yes, that's where I got the concept from, the Mystery Dungeon type game. Just because a game with the Pokemon IP did it doesn't mean the mechanics are flawed.

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 10:50

#12

Pipipipipi

who WOULD pay 7.5 cr for a

who WOULD pay 7.5 cr for a elite orb, that is a fortune

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 10:59

#13

Khamsin

Plenty of people. I would.

Plenty of people. I would. Elite orbs go for 12k CR on the AH. They cost 400 Energy for a pack of 3. While eternal orbs are easy to get, elite orbs are not.

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 11:00

#14

Buzz-Bomb

-1

This idea sucks, Khamsin.

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 11:05

#15

Pipipipipi

if I came upon a elite orb

if I came upon a elite orb that was 7.5 k cr, I would steal it, no one would choose to buy it

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 11:08

#16

Khamsin

Not if you couldn't get away

Not if you couldn't get away with it. What don't you understand about that? If your self-rez is turned off, and you don't have any pills or a vitapod, you're in big trouble against a pack of grimalkin hounding you for the rest of a level. One or two bites and that's GG.

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 11:10

#17

Pipipipipi

isn't it obvious,

use sparks of life

most people get more then you need

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 11:14

#18

Khamsin

No. Your self rez is

No. Your self rez is completely disabled. No sparks, no emergency rez.

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 11:23

#19

Pipipipipi

then use your sparks on

then use your sparks on someone else, it's not self reviving

I'm tired of argueing and just basicly, no

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 11:25

#20

Khamsin

No resurrection. What doesn't

No resurrection. What doesn't make sense about that?

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 11:40

#21

Demonicsothe

The thing with grimalkins is

The thing with grimalkins is that they're in an area that suits them. Plenty turns for them to fly across, buildings and obstacles that restrict knight movement but allows the grims to pass through. Unless you plan on decreasing ms down to as slow or even slower than the grimalkins, I dont see the danger in this. Not to mention you can shield bump and Polaris them to slow them down even more.

Carry on.

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 11:50

#22

Khamsin

@Demonic

First fair criticism. I agree, Grimalkin in Clockwork Tunnels or other places with wide hallways and fewer obstacles makes them less deadly. Additionally, if you cleared ahead before ripping off the Merchant, you could make the sprint to the exit substantially easier, potentially clearing half the level before needing to fight through anything with Grimalkin on your tail. As I said, you move slower depending on what you take, but it might not offset enough.

However, that's simply a balancing issue. Additionally, it doesn't have to be just Grimalkin/Phantoms. Perhaps a different type of immortal pursuing enemy could be used?

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 12:15

#23

Little-Juances

To be remotely challenging, it should only spawn in elite T3 and be as rare as a mewkat.

Playing on normal or farming T1 it's impossible to die and you're indeed giving very valuable stuff for free.

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 12:32

#24

Khamsin

@ Juances

I was thinking only Tier 3, MAYBE Tier 2. Loot in the shop could be determined by difficulty. Also, it isn't really "free" if you have to work for it. Again, the idea is stealing is dangerous. You wouldn't want to steal unless you were prepared for it, with MSI gear, pills, etc, and there was something worth stealing.

As far as rarity, as rare as a Mewkat would be way too rare. The idea is that if you went into the clockworks with the intent to find shops and steal from them with the proper gear, that'd be viable alternative to farming FSC, but otherwise they'd be a fun treat to pick up some rarities for a good deal while running for recipes.

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 12:33

#25

Inferno-Forum

Derpuraptor Strikes Back

Agreed with Juances but this will be solo to prevent multiboxing with alts.

For some reason I think the shop owner should be a holy-looking, peaceful and cute knight in a weird looking mask that when ripped off would enrage and would become some weird, supermegaop1hit monster.

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 12:39

#26

Khamsin

@ Inferno-Forum

"For some reason I think the shop owner should be a holy-looking, peaceful and cute knight in a weird looking mask that when ripped off would enrage and would become some weird, supermegaop1hit monster."

I love it.

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 13:46

#27

Imtn

@Inferno-Forum

I think that you are referring to the Scarfy monster from Kirby games, right? Something like that?

Sun, 09/15/2013 - 14:52

#28

Mickmane

Nostalgia, and what comes to mind reading your post.

Are we now going to chuck treats to our Sprites when they drop stuff from the shop at the entrance?

And get hunted by Keystone Kops too? With pie and rubber hose?

For some reason I was talking about just them on a run with a friend the other day. We thought it would be funny if some humorous monster came chasing after us, and the Keystone Kops came to my mind at least.

/me hopes for the diswasher.

Tou Kni Mal Cha Mickmane,killed by invisible Mr. Basil, the shopkeeper, while helpless

Tue, 09/17/2013 - 03:43

#29

Inferno-Forum

Derpuraptor Strikes Back

@Imtn Actually I got that from Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, from the children in the moon.

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