Homecoming Apocalypse Discussion

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Homecoming Apocalypse

Many lives were spent during the war erasing Him from memory; desecrating His name and burning the remnants.

Stories from the time before Guthix speak of an Age of Darkness and that a matrix that was constructed to conceal the shadows; to imprison them and the filth that dwelt within. Though the matrix has remained sealed since, the feuding lords would not risk otherwise. And so efforts were made to conceal the matrix and prevent the empty rising. Keys scattered. Locks disguised. The shadows would forever be His prison.

But more than the likes of the light dwell within the unblinking darkness.

Each guardian within the quest is to be treated as a miniquest in itself, not merely a task within a quest. Storylines and such may be miniquest specific. Such as Malak, the creature you fight my not actually be the Guardian; combat isn't even necessary, as with Raunton.

Jaldraocht, the Desert Beacon
• Blood, guarded by Malak the Vampire. || Leaches health.
• Shadow, guarded by Damis the Shade. || Zaps attack skill.
• Ice, guarded by Kamil the Knight. || Freezes target.
• Smoke, guarded by Fareed the Warrior. || Poisons target.
• Illusory, guarded by Adyna the Harlequin. || Conjures false targets.

• Ash, guarded by Dherok the UNDECIDED. || Wilderness || Zaps defence skill.
• Moss, guarded by Raunton the Snake-tongue. || Draynor || Decays food.
• Occlusive, guarded by Adyna the Harlequin. || UNDECIDED || Disorientates target.
• Bark, guarded by Colossus the Ent. || Unknown || Splinters target.
• Gust, guarded by Ragnos the Dragon. || Crandor || Conjures projectile shield.

• Bone, guarded by Xercus the Lycan. || UNDECIDED || Leaches run-energy.
• Venom, guarded by Weaver the Cryptspider. || Wilderness || Diseases target.
• Tar, guarded by Ramesh the Tarbeast. || Dorgesh'kaan || Slows target.
• Magma, guarded by Zenerka the Sorceress. || Karamja || Burns target.
• Facade, guarded by Adyna the Harlequin. || UNDECIDED || Conjures a proximity shield.

• Miasmic, guarded by Zuriel the Warlock. || UNDECIDED || Zaps attack speed.
• Mud, guarded by Arandar. || Arandar || Zaps strength skill.
• Fog, guarded by Thrip the Banshee. || Mort Myre || Blinds target.
• Thorn, guarded by Eirwyn the Songstress. || Tirannwn || Entangles target.
• Static, guarded by Thorg the Giant. || Taverly || Conjures a conductor/statics the target.

• Flesh, guarded by Neurosha the Fleshling. || Varrock || Zaps constitution.
• Soul, guarded by UNDECIDED. || UNDECIDED || Leaches prayer points.
• Sand, guarded by Yantos the Strykewurm. || Kharidian Desert || Stalls target.
• Mind, guarded by Adyna the Harlequin. || UNDECIDED || Aggravates target.
• Stone, guarded by Drystan the Fallen King. || UNDECIDED || Conjures melee shield.

Colour key:
Jagex, 3mptylord, Blaze FF8, Dark Avorian, Dragon78114, Handeath, Ruy112 and Tatorz.

Status effects (all would have a screen border to graphically represent it):

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Rambling;

Spoiler:

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Some of the planning on Adyna the Harlequin

Spoiler:

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Ancient Spellbook

Spoiler:

I also like that idea, but I thought we were going to have her drop the Mind Diamond last, as it's enslaving her. Then again, she doesn't necessarily drop the diamond of that beacon.

Anyway, what are we doing for the Adyna fights? She uses a super version of each 5th Diamond right.

3mptylord wrote:It works. I don't mind creating linearity elements... but wasn't it you who took the time to write a huge post about how you didn't want that only a few pages back, how you liked the lack of control of the first Desert Treasure?

What are you talking about? I was the one with the lack of control, and I want it here. I want the player on their feet; make it interesting. Because no matter how great the rewards, this quest will get tiresome.

Adding Adnya(sp?) as a random boss will help this. What I don't like about thins is how much we're focusing too much on story rather than combat. Desert Treasure was a more combat oriented quest, while this one is both plot and combat heavy. I do not think that we should get too wrapped up in plot, since the main impetus of the player would be to expand their choice of ancient magic spells.

Honestly, no one will want to this sequentially unless they are REALLY determined. But that is only a few, which brings me to another argument, should the beacons be completed sequentially as well? It will allow the player to have more choice to complete this daunting task, as I posted earlier. I know I suggested to complete the beacons sequentially, but I've started to think conversely.

Or perhaps a blend; you have can choose to complete any beacon, but once you choose it, you have to complete it.

Handeath wrote:I also like that idea, but I thought we were going to have her drop the Mind Diamond last, as it's enslaving her. Then again, she doesn't necessarily drop the diamond of that beacon.

Anyway, what are we doing for the Adyna fights? She uses a super version of each 5th Diamond right.

She could perhaps beat you to the diamond. She needs to be challenging, but not to draining because she is a reoccurring character. Take for instance Gielinor's Fiyre; there are MANY reoccurring bosses, but they aren't too much of a hassle to defeat, however, they are very challenging and have abilities that appear at random for each boss to keep the battles interesting.

All I am saying is, is that for a quest this grand, there NEEDS to be VARIETY and not as many things and pesky details for the person to handle; it is just simply overload.

All right, on to the topic, I think Adyna(sp?) should be no more powerful than level 300. In fact, with each successive appearance (after you win each battle).

Spoiler:

Happy medium is fine. Ode to old games where you had bosses as milestones... just so happens the rest of the quest is also a series of bosses.

I was under the impression up 'til this point that all 20 (well... 16 given Adyna is appears 5 times). The only linearity there needs to be is the order we fight Adyna in... well, the only control their needs to be is that Mind is last.

Controlling the beacons is possible, sub-rewards are only awarded after each beacon... so a player might do 15 diamonds and still not done a single beacon. Although, if Atlas enchants the mirrors to show the new diamonds... he will only show one set. Perhaps that can be the control? Although Atlas can shift through the beacons, and players who use a guide will be able to find other guardians without even using the mirrors.

"But your suggestion directly conflicts that opinion... you're forcing the player to complete something in order to continue. Just checking that's what you meant..."

That was for the random boss situation. That really has nothing to do with the story, other than a simple subplot as a race against her to find the diamonds.

"I was under the impression up 'til this point that all 20 (well... 16 given Adyna is appears 5 times). The only linearity there needs to be is the order we fight Adyna in... well, the only control their needs to be is that Mind is last."

I never said Adyna should never be fought in a controlled, linear fashion.

I also never meant for complete nonlinearity. I was wanting to break the mold of an incredibly hard quest to reduce the burden. I agree that the control should be the mind diamond. There needs to be some control, but not none.

"Controlling the beacons is possible, sub-rewards are only awarded after each beacon... so a player might do 15 diamonds and still not done a single beacon. Although, if Atlas enchants the mirrors to show the new diamonds... he will only show one set. Perhaps that can be the control? Although Atlas can shift through the beacons, and players who use a guide will be able to find other guardians without even using the mirrors. "

YES! Exactly! It would be much greater if that were the case! Well, in DT, you had to at least peer through the mirrors to find a hint for the locations/boss.

You didn't have to look through the mirrors at all, I'm guilty for not even realizing their existence until long-post the quest.

Als "It would be much greater if that were the case!" to which was that in response to? 'cause I prosed two options. That's like when someone asks "Strawberry or Chocolate?" and they just say "Yes"...

From what I understand, Dragon wants to keep Adyna's final drop (the Mind Diamond) while still keeping the quest's lack of direction. The proposal is that Adyna interrupts you while on a certain beacon. Although Atlas can show you the mirrors for a beacon (by possessing Eblis? ), players won't necessarily go beacon-by-beacon.

My idea is that Adyna appears on route to a guardian every 4 times. If the player doesn't defeat her, she will reappear 4 more diamonds later. Although she isn't as random as you, Dragon, would like, it allows the player skip around without compromising the bosses.

On a side-note, 3mpty, the sub-rewards are given as a drop or part of the quest. See the Necromancer Armor, Voidlight, or the Elctraxe.

Drops are drops. Listing something you've had for a while as a reward isn't unknown of.

I don't think Atlas needs to possess Eblis... Eblis could, perhaps, eff off. Although, that would solve players who accidentally forget their ghostspeak amulet to have Atlas possessing Eblis...

Possessed Eblis: [Surprise] Oooh, this one's head is full of goodies... want some spoilers?
Hero: Hey! That's private!
Possessed Eblis: [Eager] Oh go on! [Sly] You know you want to...
Hero: ...maybe, but I have principles!
Possessed Eblis: [Sarcasm] Your a barrel of laughter. [Helpful] Anyway, need me to rescry the mirrors?
Hero: Yes please!
Possessed Eblis: [Normal] Coming right up...

Anyway. So the beacons can be fought in any order, most of the guardians too. The main exception is Adyna, whose forms must be fought in a specific order. Her forms are fought/discovered differently. Her first form will attack you after acquiring your first diamond; her second form appears in the Drystan chapter, and is required to progress further in it; her third form must be defeated in order to begin the Ramesh chapter, and thus his chapter won't be available until you defeat Adyna's second form; her fourth form will compete you for the mud diamond; and her fifth form will attack you after activating the fourth beacon.

How 'bout that?

I like it, but will Dragon?

No, onto the fights themselves! I think we should be taken to her own arenas. Also, what did we decide as back-story? My soap-operaesque rivalry with Enenkra, or just the Diamond's influence?

Handeath wrote:I like it, but will Dragon?

No, onto the fights themselves! I think we should be taken to her own arenas. Also, what did we decide as back-story? My soap-operaesque rivalry with Enenkra, or just the Diamond's influence?

Oh, yeah. Make me the annoying troll.

My suggestions didn't compromise the bosses. The player has all the time in the world to restock, and the player will only encounter her once per beacon. The ambushes will not occur after the boss, and will appear as you, Handeath, suggested in her own arena.

However, I like your idea to to fail a battle with her. Maybe will make one appearance, and you fail will arrive later in the same beacon, or if it is the last diamond in the beacon to find, will have 2 appearances there. I don't care about her forms. It can change with every ambush.

3mpty, I'm alright with the beacons to be done in any order the person chooses, I think that can work a bit smoother. Thinking about it, I have come to the conclusion that it might get rather chaotic for the person to deal with. I concede.

Her arenas could be the areas that she's found in. For example, if we go with her being required before Ramesh, then her arena could be the Lumbridge mines (that dark tunnel maze thing) just outside the entrance to Dorgesh'kaan. If she kills you, or you flea, you can simply try again... but Ramesh requires her completion to begin.

*shrugs*

I only dislike the idea of her being totally random because I think it limits the depth she can be. Her dialogue cannot age/get mature... wiser to you, or more scared of you, or more insane. If she just teleports you to an arena at random intervals than it makes returning there hard to lore-in if you fail or flea... what, go and talk to her and ask to teleport you back? But if these quarrels can be resolved, I'm not against it.

I didn't mean to offend you, Dragon. Hugz?

I think this can be resolved by going back to Dragon's idea, she can be at the enterance of the Guardian's lair, trying to get in. However, this leads to the problem of how can we make her develop over a random series of events? Screw it, let's just make 6 versions of the dialogue, it shouldn't take too long. Her interruptions:

Zuriel (always first)
Dyrstan
Ramesh
Mountain
Final Beacon (always last)

If there's a middle and an end, it doesn't really matter about the dialogue in the middle.

Also, Zuriel isn't first presently. Adyna kills Zuriel when we meet Zuriel, but at this point we aren't on the quest and she fleas. So whilst this is when we first meet her, it's not one of her forms.

ok here's one solution to your quarrel: keep the randomized bit. That does not mean that you can't progress her character every time you meet her.

EDIT: This can work even if you choose a random beacon. You will each have a successive meet with her ONCE at each beacon.

I think some of her forms should be involved in other guardians. Her motivation to kill us is in part that she's trying to collect all the diamonds, so it adds to the atmosphere if she's found fighting other guardians (similar to Zuriel at the beginning, whom she defeats).

Drystan is a good example just because I can imagine us turning up at the arena looking down onto the floor below where he and Adyna are fighting. She's using the Illusory Diamond to create false copies who are tormenting Drystan, you hear him cry "Just leave me alone!", to which she taunts "Not until I've got what I came for!" her will then smash through the wall beneath you in an attempt to flea and as you come collapsing down, she spots you "Ah, the little trouble maker..."

So, what should her fights be? They each involve a souped-up verison of the Diamond so:

Zuriel - Facade

Drystan - Illusory

Ramesh - Miasmic

Mountain - Occulsive

Final - Mind

Do you mean the Zuriel section, or when she fights Zuriel?

When the player fights Zuriel. By my guess, he would be in the Forinthry Dungeon.

The player doesn't fight Zuriel. Adyna kills him and takes his diamond in the opening sequence of the quest.

...that is, assuming we're still using the minigame rouge for releasing this quest and getting the player's attention to it without adding it to the list/publicly announcing it.

You're right: it was a typo.

Now onto the fights themselves.

Facade - Since this fight would take place in the Forthinry Dungeon, I think Adyna would run around casting Facade spells to cut off your path. Simply catch up and hit her enough. (Ice Spells are super effective!)

Not that I object to it, but what draws Adyna to the Forthinry Dungeon?

The Revenants, so I presume Zuriel would be hiding there.

Illusory - Since she just tormented Drystan by creating many copies of herself, I'd imagine should would switching places with her copies (similar to that Ball and Cup game).

We need to plan the fake minigame. At the moment I thought it'd be in the Graveyard, so the Forinthry Dungeon doesn't make sense. But I guess it could be in the Forinthry Dungeon. That'd be interesting actually... having the ancient warriors as recognizable revenants.

What does Forinthry mean?

Haha, I've just noticed that lmgtfy clicks on "I'm Feeling Lucky" but then takes you to the result page. If you're creating a cocky webpage, at least be accurate.

Also, I only asked because last time I checked it didn't have a definition... I didn't realize it has since been defined.

Anyway, here's Miasma!

Due to the nature of the environment and Miasma, this could be the chance to use the "mirror" idea, in a sense. Adyna could slow down the player (both Movement and Attack Speed - Pace? -) and teleport around the chamber.

I have thoughts for the final fight, let's say that I drew inspiration from Dream Mentor...