True PVE Elite Missions

With the raging discussion going on about the "Elite Missions" and how access to those is controlled, I thought of what, IMO anyway, would be a more accurate "elite" PVE mission.

These Elite Missions would be similar to FoW/UW in that the mobs would be high level with correspondingly high level drops. I think there should be a good selection of them, say 3-5 different areas. However, access is not controlled by Favor, nor do you have to pay 1k to enter. No, the only way to get into these Elite Missions is if you have completed every mission in that world with the highest possible reward - the 3 swords in Cantha, or mission + bonus in Tyria. Another option I think would be neat would be the ability for someone with these missions unlocked to bring 1 person with them that hasn't unlocked them - they would still have to be ascended or whatever it is in Factions. Since the spirit of PVE IS cooperation, I think this makes sense.

Thoughts, flames, comments?

It has potential, though the current sword-system in Factions isn't all that great, considering it encourages rushing through missions. And it could turn into a grind if someone is having a problem getting that last sword or bonus despite repeated attempts at it.

As far as bringing someone along, people will start charging a hefty fee for that.

Why do we even need "elite" missions where access is controlled? If someone has shelled out their $50, they should be able to play all missions without grinding in any way. The current system that charges 1K and requires that a character be ascended isn't bad (favor is a different issue)--players can attain the entrance requirements without grinding.

/notsigned

farming will ceasde in existing places should your proposal of accurate elite missions come about. Once the condition of completing all quests is done, then its free farming.

/notsigned Mainly because I still think time-based missions are a problem in themselves.

I think it would be good.

Have it so that all who enter the mission must have the title Protector of Tyria, or Protector of Cantha (not sure if there is one - haven't seen it yet).

I'll post some ideas on what I think the endstate would be for these missions when I have some more time.

1. Each player will have a Progress Counter to keep track of event advancement.
2. Each player will have a separate Death Counter to keep track of deaths during event. The deaths during the event will increase your regular death counter.
3. Each player will have separate Experience Counter to keep track of experience earned during event. The experience earned during the event will increase your regular experience progression.

Format

1. Access the Ship Travel from Tyria or Cantha to travel to the island City where the event will take place. Then form a party.
2. Form a party and party travel via the Ship Travel.

All members of the party must have 0 Progress Counter to Access the First Mission.

Mission Procedure

* On entering the mission all members of the party have their Progress Counter incremented by one at the beginning.
* The Party will be told in a cutscene or Mission popup what they will be required to do to successfully accomplish the mission. They will also be told of what the bonus for the mission will be.
* The party will have no access to a User Map. Similar to the Catacombs/UW/FoW.
* If all members of the party die, the party will return to the City they entered the mission from.
* If the party is successful in accomplishing the mission they will proceed to the next city, and prepare for the following mission.
* Experience and deaths will be recorded for each party.

There would be a total of 10 Missions tied together into a storyline. These missions will get progressively more difficult. The maps would not be linear - therefore increasing the probability of parties taking the wrong path because they did not heed the Mission instructions at the beginning. The instances would have the same spawns for each party. The exact same amount of potential experience. The standard experience values for Mission/Bonus completion would apply. Each mission would have a two hour window and should take around 45 to 60 minutes to complete.
At the end of the event:

1. The most Missions completed would be the winner.
2. If any ties then Bonuses completed would decide.
3. If still any ties then least party Deaths incurred would decide.
4. If still any ties then total party experience gained would decide.
5. If still any ties then least amount of total time spent in Missions would decide.


Result

The winning team would have a coloured crown (or something similar) awarded to each player. Like the Wintersday Hats. That they could wear in Towns as a measure of their stature and prowess. Have the team results posted in the town on a bulletin board.

Say what you want about the mechanics of aquiring three swords in missions, this system you propose at least makes a lot more sense than the current one.

so...you're saying that its going to be used for farming? well it won't be. Why? Because anet learnt their lesson.

I think its a good idea because it gives you something to aim for. All this 'well i paid 50 bucks so i shouldn't have to grind' is utter crap - otherwise you'd just get through it all quickly and that would be that. IT GIVES YOU SOMETHING TO AIM FOR. thats why we still play prophecies, right?

Still, anet doesn't want people playing as it uses less bandwidth.

If there could be Elite Missions that were available to everyone that required a journey or quest to access the area.

Say there was a door/portal that required a key along the lines of the Dragon's Lair mission but each character had to use a key to open the portal that was dropped from the Seer (as an example) just in front of the door once you talked to the Seer.

Then you could enter this Elite Mission area.

They could make the mission entrance at Lyssa's Muse in Mineral Springs at one of the two portals. You would get your key from the Seer at the end of the tunnel. To get the quest to grant you the key, you would have to talk to Vision of Glint in Droknar's Forge. Thus ensuring you are Ascended, and can't be run or Farm the Elite Misson as each player needs to gain a key and there are very few players that would have a Farming build for Ice Imps that would also be sufficient for the Elite Mission.

Instead of going along the lines of a Mission make it like an explorable area that the key gets you access to a starting town that can't be travelled to from the map.