PvP Missions - A detailed concept for a new level of PvP engagements.

[Salvick]

Hello Lurler and ai_enabled.

I've been working on a mission design I'd like to bring here for you to consider.

This might not be the most professional presentation of a game mode design and I might be missing some details but I think is enough to illustrate the idea and, if something such like this is ever considered, I'm quite confident you guys will make it just as perfect as possible with your expertise.


CryoFall PvP Missions



Concept:

The players will have an option to toggle their state to ΓÇ£readyΓÇ¥ or ΓÇ£not readyΓÇ¥ in order to be able to get into a mission.

The server will trigger different missions in any moment that could occur in any area of the map and even several missions can be running at the same time.

When a mission is triggered the server will search for players that are ready on a queue and according to their distance with the mission area two groups will be arranged, either if they are on a team or playing solo, everyone could be randomly picked.

In order to avoid solo and low tier players matched against large pre-made groups there should be an option to check if you are open for team alliances, if it is unchecked then youΓÇÖll have reduced chances of getting matched against a team conformed of players from the same party.

The players on the mission cannot be damaged by players outside the mission and neither can they do any damage to others.

If a raid starts at the base of any player that is on a mission theyΓÇÖll be prompted to abandon the mission which if they accept will trigger a timer to be removed from the team. The mission could then start to search for another player to join the team.


Functionalities:

The ΓÇ£ready for missionΓÇ¥ status will come along with a few messages to explain the player that he is now available for missions and that they should remain close to their base in order to drop their loot if they are deployed into action.

Once the mission starts the player will access an additional menu window, like the Diplomacy or Social ones, where theyΓÇÖll be able to check the names of the participants, the title of the mission, the scores, k/d ratios, stage and time remaining.

Each stage briefing will be also displayed for the participants.

Players on a mission have a dedicated #team chat channel for the team members.

The player respawn zones during a mission are automatically assigned as a ring surrounding the mission area for fast deploying when respawning.

Players respawn with full health and ΓÇ£tiredΓÇ¥ debuff is also disabled during the mission.

When a player on mission dies they keep their guns, ammo and consumables such as medicine, food and water but the rest of the loot is dropped for other players to pick it up. This is to ensure that the playerΓÇÖs interactions are focused on the PvP engagement and the mission tasks.


Rewards:

Each mission itself would have a chance of dropping a special loot, similar to the Space Debris event, when finished. Also during the mission thereΓÇÖll be tasks assigned that could request a team to hack, force or find a crate or such which would have along with the mission items some looting that the players will keep at the end.

The scoreboard will list the total amount of LP the players are earning during the mission and their k/d ratios. The top 3 k/d will earn an additional amount of LP.

The winning team will earn a special reward such as full armor sets, weapons and such.

There will also be some random resources and the top scores will have increased chances of getting more valuable stuff.


Scoreboard:

Along with the scoreboard that each player can access during the match each player gets a ΓÇ£mission endingΓÇ¥ pop-up window at the end of the mission to show a resumed detail of the total score and prizes they earned.

The regular scoreboard will be updated in real time to reflect the mission progress.






Let's move to the next post to see how a mission would be:

[Salvick]

Space Commander Rescue.

Mission type: Versus
Stages: 5
Final Stage:  Capture the area
Main Rewards: Plasma Weapons + Assault Armor (for each member of the team)
Secondary/Optional Rewards: T3 Weapons, Ammo, Large Power Banks, Empty Reactors, Electronic/Hi-Tech/Optical comps, Explosives.



Stage 1


Briefing:

Team A ΓÇô Reporting to human faction.
It was reported that a spaceship crash occurred and the scanners detected life signals. Hurry up and arrive the site to search for survivors. They might still have valuable information about the alien technologies they discovered during their mission. Locate the Commander of the spaceship and rescue him to recover the data logs he might have.

Team B: Reporting to alien faction.
A team has been deployed to rescue the Commander of the ship we just destroyed, we were unable to recover the data logs he stole from us. Go there and stop the deployed team from gathering any info until we arrive.


Objectives:

Team A: Search the area and locate the crash site, once you find the Commander attempt any CPR if needed and follow his instructions. You have 5 minutes from the moment you arrive the mission zone before the aliens arrive the area and destroy the remaining of the Spaceship.


Team B: Arrives to the crash site and stop anyone from finding any survivors. You have 5 minutes from the moment the other team arrives the mission zone till the aliens arrive the area and pay you with the promised reward.


Triggers:

A crash site spawns and the area is marked on map for both teams. There is a crashed spaceship and 2 or 3 bodies of the spaceship crew and the commander are spread in the surroundings.

The timer starts when someone from the Team A reaches the mission area, though they have a limited time to reach the zone before they lose.

No information about the participating teams is given until the stage 1 starts.


If Team A: Identifies the Commander among the survivors he will tell them where the data logs are and the map area marker will be updated with the exact location of three items, he will also provide a portable device that the Team A must keep with them as it will be used to hack the encrypted data . Stage 1 will be completed and the timer and briefing will be updated for the next stage. If time is over Team A will lose the mission.

If Team B: Stops the rescue team from reaching the commander the mission is over and the Team B wins.



Stage 2


Briefing:

Team A: The Commander provided the exact location of three data logs stolen from the aliens and gave you a special device to hack the encrypted data. Hurry up and hack the digital notepads to retrieve the data, we managed to disrupt the radars of the aliens and gained some extra time before they find you. Do not lose the decryption device, youΓÇÖre going to need it!


Team B: The humans have found that bastard Commander and he might have gave them the hacking device he was using to access the data in the stolen digital notepads. Our radars are failing and we are unable to trace the path to the location until we fix it. Use the decryption protocols we are providing you to gather all the information from the data logs before the humans does at any cost! If they lose the decrypting device you could gain some time, keep an eye out.


Objectives:

Team A: reach the marked positions on the map and hack the data logs, it takes 1 minute each one so you can split up or remain together to defend from the opposite team. You have 6 minutes till the aliens arrives the area and destroy everything. Someone on the team must have the decryption device provided by the commander so the team is able to hack the devices.

Team B: reach the marked positions on the map and decrypt the data logs, it takes 1 minute each one so you can split up or remain together to defend from the opposite team. You have 6 minutes before the aliens arrive and finish the job themselves, leaving you with no payment for an unaccomplished task.


Triggers:

Within the current area now the big marked zone disappears and 3 new small spots are marked on map indicating where the mission items are located.

A new mission item, ΓÇ£decryption deviceΓÇ¥ is provided to the inventory of the player from the Team A that reached the commander. If the player dies the decryption device is dropped but only the members from the Team A can take it back. Team B could spot it on the floor and attempt to stop the Team A from recovering it.

The 3 data logs are static objects that the players must hack similar to how the Space Debris works, standing close to it for the time it takes to finish the task.

The timer is now set for the current stage.


If Team A: completes the data retrieval from the 3 data logs the obtained information will prompt the team to the next stage, updating the mission briefing and timer. The data logs will also provide the Team A with 4 locations of hidden crates with ammo and guns that the aliens were holding for a special mission they were preparing. If the time is over both teams will lose the mission.

If Team B: completes the data retrieval from the 3 data logs the obtained information will prompt the team to the next stage, updating the mission briefing and timer. The data logs will also provide the Team B with 4 locations of hidden crates with ammo and guns that the aliens were holding for a special mission they were preparing. If the time is over both teams will lose the mission.



Stage 3


Briefing:

Team A: The retrieved info from the data logs revealed a plan of the aliens to sabotage a humanΓÇÖs base on this planet. They had a special loot with guns and ammo prepared for a squad assigned to this mission that you can get for yourself now. The locations are marked in your map, sadly there is a fourth data log missing which contained the exact location of the explosives, but you still have valuable information on the area where the explosives might be. Hurry up and search the area before the aliens find you, they are getting closer and could arrive in 6 minutes!

Team B: The retrieved info from the data logs showed up that the humans revealed a plan to sabotage a base on this planet. The special loot with guns and ammo prepared for a squad assigned to this mission is now available for you and marks were added in your map. They also got enough info about the explosives and are now heading to the new location updated in your map to find these. Hurry up and stop them from getting the explosives until the aliens arrive the area. ETA is 6 minutes. Over.


Objectives:

Team A: Search in the marked area for a crate with explosives, there might be other crates that if you find them youΓÇÖre allowed to keep whatever you find there but if you canΓÇÖt find the explosives in 6 minutes weΓÇÖll be unable to hold back the aliens anymore and theyΓÇÖll destroy your team and any evidence of their plans. Expect hostile opposition.

Team B: Search the team deployed by the humans in the marked area, they are searching for a crate with explosives but if you look around there might be other crates with valuable loot that you can keep for yourself. The location of the explosives is still unknown because only the leader of the squad knew it and he is missing or probably dead. Eliminate any hostiles on sight, will take 6 minutes for the aliens to arrive the area and pay you with the promised reward.


Triggers:

4 crates will spawn and their location will be marked in the map on a secondary color as these are optional items the players can earn if they choose to search for these. Ammo and T3 weapons might be inside along with some small amount of resources such as electronic components, high tech comps, optical comps, etc.

The new area of the mission is also marked on the map now, it is a new location nearby the first stage zone.

A 5th crate along the other four is also spawned which contains the mission objective explosives, this crate remains locked for the Team B while it also looks exactly the same as the other four crates.

The timer is set for the current stage now.


If team A: finds the explosives the mission stage is over and and the mission briefing will be updated with the next objective. All the loot and explosives taken will be held by the players unless they die and drop it, the mission crates will remain available in case the players choose to put their loot inside a crate as a tactical choice. If the time is over the Team A will lose the mission.

If TeamB: stops the opposite team from retrieving the explosives until the time is over Team B will win the mission.  If anyone from the Team B finds the additional crates with guns and ammo they can also take them but the crate with explosives remains locked as it is meant for the Team A to find it. If the time is over the Team B will win the mission.


...continues...

[Salvick]

Stage 4


Briefing:

Team A: The crate with the explosives had a special device that triggered a signal with the location of the antenna they were using to communicate with the alien base. LetΓÇÖs find the antenna and install a virus into their network to ensure no more evil plans from the aliens will be made on this planet, youΓÇÖre going to need the decryption device to install the virus on a terminal which would take up to 1 minute.
Go to the marked spot in your map and be careful, this provided the coordinates to both teams so hurry up before the opposition contacts with the alien base themselves. You have 5 minutes before the hardware of the antenna triggers the self-destruction protocols and the virus will never reach their network.

Team B: The rescue team found the explosives and now are heading to the secret antenna we use to communicate with our allies. Your map is updated with the location of the antenna so go there and use the decryption protocols provided to establish contact with our alien base and soon weΓÇÖll have new plans to assign a new mission someday. It takes a while to setup the codified frequencies so be aware of any incoming attacks from the opposite team while you get it done. We are leaving this planet now but you have 5 minutes before the hardware activates the self-destruction protocols, if that happens youΓÇÖll be unable to contact with us and thereΓÇÖll be no way to give you the promised payment.


Triggers:

The last stage location is marked on map as a small area to search for the mission objective.

A small tower antenna or radar spawned with a two-colored bar that the players must fill up by standing close to the antenna to install the virus or decrypt the communication protocols according to the assigned task.

The timer is set for the current stage.


If Team A: installs the virus on the antenna Team A wins the mission and receive a reward. Mission is over for both teams if the time is over.

If Team B: establish contact with the alien base the next stage will start updating the objectives and mission briefing. Mission is over for both teams if the time is over.



Stage 5 ΓÇô Final Stage


Briefing:

Team A: The opposite team managed to contact with the aliens and now they are waiting for instructions and a reward drop. We couldnΓÇÖt accomplish the secondary mission but at least we are able to stop them from getting their reward and keep it for ourselves. Hold the area and capture the rewards.

Team B: Now that we are in contact weΓÇÖll be able to arrange new plans soon. But these stubborn humans insist on get in our way and now they are planning to take your payment out of your hands. Hold the area and capture your reward before the opposite teams does.


Triggers:

A small circle on a neutral color will spawn along with two progression bars on top of the screen representing the capturing points for each team.

When a player remains inside the circle it takes 10 seconds to convert the neutral state of the circle to the color of the team capturing it.

Once captured the progression bar will start accumulating points for the current team holding the area.

The first team to full fill the capturing points bar wins.

The timer will be set for the current stage and the team with the highest capturing points scored when the time is over will win.



Additional notes:

This idea is based on different games I played and particularly one where different players on a open world environment are assigned to teamed missions in the way I'm describing here.

There are several alternatives for the final stage such as: Death-Match - Teamed Death-Match - VIP survival - VIP extraction - Capture the Area - Item Hold - Bomb Defuse, and a few others.

The stage briefings are just to provide some immersion to the given tasks.

The proposed rewards, stage timers, and everything stated here are just suggested ideas and I want to state that I'm not expecting any feedback but just wanted to drop this in case it might be considered a feasible and good idea that could some day be implemented in a way that fits with the game design as Lurler conceived it.

Thanks for reading,
regards!