10-20-2021, 12:45 AM
(10-20-2021, 12:34 AM)Folian Wrote: ...
There are absolutely merits in the current journal system and the determining influence the admins have to be able to alleviate stand out development, but I also consider it somewhat detrimental and archaic in the current approach. We'd be able to do better things if we didn't need to review 50 requests for a stance/aura a week.
For the average player, this is how the journal process goes:
Request a stance - ~3 day wait time, 90% approval rate
Either swap the stance for a strong spell or acquire a second hidden / aura upgrade - ~4-7 day wait time, 50% approval rate; 75%+ on re-try
Rinse and repeat. Do big things, make a splash. Gradually coax the team into awarding you Thunderlord so you can enact your world domination plan.
Step 1 and 2 (the smaller hiddens) can be skipped over completely and awarded through combative activity, or stand out leadership within factions (either nominated in some kind of community form w the various groups), in events/requested, or applied directly by attentive admins that should be focused on storytelling & guiding. For the most part, this system would take a great deal of weight off of the team's back and allow them to have the energy to do more of these good things.
For very special abilities, the 'legendary' stuff like Rift, Necromancy, Sins, Virtues, whatever the new standard of Mythics is considered, or entirely new magic/projects, we're likely going to have some kind of application process unless the ability suits an in-game reward. These will still cost HT, which can be earned with said application or refunding an existing hidden. But ultimately you can reach the 'end game' most aspire to without ever having to make a journal and keep your focus entirely ingame, and maybe this gives you more free time to do cooler stuff than request Muscle Aura or Primordial Flame to earn second hidden status. You could focus on tailoring an application entirely around your legendary goal (much like you do with your item apps) and free up creative energy & time.
But I really don't think we need or want the admin team gate keeping 90% of the current hiddens. And it's not a good carrot-stick method either, because wait times + denials + everything else associated with it is eh.