So, we've know a couple things since the beginning - first, that commanders will be a thing eventually, as the Mastermind was a much beloved character archetype in City of Villains (and later, City of Heroes), and that there was no way we wouldn't be having them in this game as well, or at least something like them by another name. It's something I've been looking forward to quite a lot, as mastermind was my favorite archetype in the old game by far.
I've been thinking about it, and I'd really like there to be an option to place your minions inside your personal or group base. For instance, the dragon-tamer's pet wyvern could be curled up in the corner. The soldiers under your command could be lounging on the furniture or cooking or something. Robots could be in workstations having repairs and upgrades done. Stuff like that.
Not everybody would want it for their character, obviously, and it wouldn't have to be there for those who don't want it. But for the people that want a place for their minions to hang out inside the building, it'd be really useful.
Really, adding the ability to place NPCs in general would be excellent, but I'm giving special note to minions because they will be the NPCs that players of a certain archetype will interact with literally constantly.
An infinite number of tries doesn't mean that any one of those tries will succeed. I could flip an infinite number of pennies an infinite number of times and, barring genuine randomness, they will never come up "Waffles".
I can see this not bring a high priority at all, beat yeah, this would be amazing. My mastermind used robots, would be fun to have them doing tasks (Or just placed at a table so it looks like it's doing a task) while I went about my business.
I really like this idea. It may not be practical, but it might be something we could buy from the store.
animations could be picked by the player.
minions playing poker with wads of cash
singing karaoke, dancing
doing household chores, like dusting vacuuming, etc.
sleeping in bunks, snoring
laughing maniacally in a circle.
Watching TV, snacking
running with scissors
Talking on cell phones
Guard duty
[img]https://s15.postimg.cc/z9bk1znkb/Black_Falcon_Sig_in_Progess.jpg[/img]
People have been wanting to load "decorative NPCs" into their bases pretty much since 2004. ;)
I've mentioned an idea for non-combative "sidekick pets" for years that would actually also be perfect for creating a bunch of non-combative NPCs for bases. In quick summary my "sidekick pet" idea would allow for people to have a specialized vanity non-combat pet that would follow them around in the game. The key feature of this special vanity pet would be that it would have its own costume slot that could be fully designed with all the same costume items available to the given PC. In a nutshell this would let you fully design your "sidekick" to look any way you want but otherwise it would still be nothing more than a non-combat vanity pet.
If we could have "sidekick pets" as I've just described it would only require a tiny extra leap to get to point were you could design multiple versions of these "pets" that would remain inside your base. The base version of these pets might allow you to assign them a generic set of emotes so that they either stand/sit still or maybe have them randomly walk around your base like they are a guard on guard duty.
None of what I'm talking about would be incredibly difficult to implement - the Devs would just have to decide to make time for them.
CoH player from April 25, 2004 to November 30, 2012
[IMG=400x225]https://i.imgur.com/NHUthWM.jpeg[/IMG]
Yes. It is a quality of life issue. I think people would definitely pay some cash for it. Making COT float and grow is really the goal here.
[img]https://s15.postimg.cc/z9bk1znkb/Black_Falcon_Sig_in_Progess.jpg[/img]
I could definitely see this being a thing. Here's how I would do it after thinking about it for about 10 seconds:
You place a base prop, like a repair station, or a couch, an office desk+chair, or a hearth. That base prop allows you to add an NPC to it, and it comes with dedicated NPC animations associated with that prop. If your character is a Commander archetype then your minions are eligible NPCs for use with that prop. If your character is not an Operator archetype, then you only get the normal selection of NPCs. If you have the same NPC assigned to more than one location, then its location is randomized among the assigned locations every time you enter your lair.
A more advanced version would be to have your NPC animated to move from location to location, wander, idle and etc.
Some NPCs would/could be unlocked through gameplay or purchased in the cash shop. Other characters in your account could also be selectable NPCs for this purpose, should you desire it.
[hr]I like to take your ideas and supersize them. This isn't criticism, it is flattery. I come with nothing but good will and a spirit of team-building. If you take what I write any other way, that is probably just because I wasn't very clear.
Something like this is as good as any. Again it'll just depend on whether the Devs could ever get around to it.
P.S. Weirdly enough as soon as I read "Some NPCs would/could be unlocked through gameplay" I suddenly wanted to play a Mad Max character and earn myself a "Feral Kid" as a NPC for this. He could bounce around your base like a little happy monkey whenever you returned. ;)
[img=600x600]https://i.makeagif.com/media/1-26-2018/nNqPvZ.gif[/img]
CoH player from April 25, 2004 to November 30, 2012
[IMG=400x225]https://i.imgur.com/NHUthWM.jpeg[/IMG]
This doesn't have to be limited to masterminds, anyone could have pets, staff, minions, etc working in their base.
It would be pretty cool to have some of your other characters lounging around your base as well.
It doesn't even have to be limited to purely cosmetic NPCs either, you could have your base dwellers offer a variety of services similar to npcs or interactive stations in the world.
How cool would it be to have your journalist contact friend in your base giving you scoops on new missions? Or a smith/engineer/doctor/wizard to help with crafting or buffs?
Sure, such functions and others (like teleporters) can be linked to inanimate objects but having animated NPCs as an option would definitely be cool. Even more so if they could be customized with speech responses.
computer operators, phone operators, mechanics working on a partly constructed mech.
a lounge area with waitresses, singers. in a villain's lair there could be a stage with...MIMES (cause you know they are evil)
[img]https://s15.postimg.cc/z9bk1znkb/Black_Falcon_Sig_in_Progess.jpg[/img]
[youtube=550x300]dwea0LZQe9k[/youtube]
CoH player from April 25, 2004 to November 30, 2012
[IMG=400x225]https://i.imgur.com/NHUthWM.jpeg[/IMG]
Every time I enter my superhero base, I want to be greeted by this scene...
[img]http://historieprzyszlosci.hihnt.net/files/2012/04/Danger-5-007.jpg[/img]