Hi!
I'll start off by saying I don't actively participate in forums or discord servers when it comes to games. I've played all kinds and this form of communication just isn't something I actively think about or consider. That said, this is my first post here. I've been dwelling on some thoughts about what I feel is missing from CP2077 currently when it comes to game-play and the depth of that game-play. Primarily, I feel that the game needs more depth and content surrounding factions.
The game features numerous factions (Tyger Claws, Valentinos, Mox, Maelstrom, etc). They are everywhere, but at times feel as if they are just part of the background. In a city where you're trying to be a legend, where you're a mercenary, I feel as if there could be a lot more depth to these factions. I recall a gig in Watson where you're trying to save a doctor, who is operating on a Maelstrom patient. If you want, you can shoot that Maelstrom patient, they die, and the doctor will start to leave the facility with you. After this gig was closed, I was ambushed by Maelstrom. There's a couple cars chasing me, and eventually I run into a road block organized by Maelstrom. There's not many scenario's of this except for after a gig, maybe after a mission. Additionally, you don't get too familiar with members of any factions except for Aldecaldos.
I have some thoughts to make factions more engaging as a player, and expand on their involvement in the world.
1. Sauron's Army Faction Structure / Nemesis - This may sound odd to you. Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor and Middle-Earth: Shadow of War had a feature referred to as Sauron's Army. You could see that the army had their major leaders, and they had underlings. This army mechanic partly worked because of a mechanic where you could "dominate" enemies and set them up to be double-agents within the army. I'm not suggesting this double agent feature. I'm suggesting though that factions (particularly ones you'd likely fight), receive quirky leaders with their notable underlings. Perhaps they have unique traits, or unique cyberware. Something that makes them more durable than regular members of the faction. I've seen how CP2077 has a name for nearly every NPC in the game. I think if you did enough harm to Scavengers for example, they could replace some of their leaders over time.
I also want to mention that ME: Shadow of War, and Mordor, had what is called the Nemesis system. I won't get super into that, but I mention it because I think a similar concept would work nicely. Again, you're trying to be a legend and you're one of Night City's mercenaries. There's bound to be some rivals / competition, or people you cross paths with that keep getting back up to fight you. (Unless you completely blew them up)
2. Reputation System - I think at first, this will be disliked. World of Warcraft has a reputation system that lets you increase how friendly you are with a faction, or how hated you are with a faction. This concept may also conflict with the Army Structure pitch, but that's really a bridge to cross if it were seriously being considered for CP2077 or CP2. I'm not strictly suggesting we just measure how much I've bullied Maelstrom and see how much they don't like me. I think the more disliked you are by a faction, how often they attempt to interfere with you could increase. More ambushes on the road, perhaps this increases chances that a faction leader seeks you out.
On the flip side, perhaps special gigs open up if a faction really likes you. It's a tricky thing to balance.
3. What about corporations? - Corporations are also a faction but I think they'd have to work differently than what I'm suggesting for the smaller groups of Night City. With that said, there's still only so much involvement in the game by Corporations. Arasaka is seen as the big one. I admit that before I knew the story that I expected a lot more grand schemes involving fighting these corporations. I still think there's room for more.
This more or less covers the thoughts I've had recently. At least with the game's factions. I acknowledge that what I may want from this game, this franchise, may be different than what other players want from it. In general, I want the city to feel more alive, and for there to be more going on. I'm very checked out of the story after the first playthrough, but again the game-play is just a lot of fun that I come back every year just for that.
I'll end it there. Thank you.
I'll start off by saying I don't actively participate in forums or discord servers when it comes to games. I've played all kinds and this form of communication just isn't something I actively think about or consider. That said, this is my first post here. I've been dwelling on some thoughts about what I feel is missing from CP2077 currently when it comes to game-play and the depth of that game-play. Primarily, I feel that the game needs more depth and content surrounding factions.
The game features numerous factions (Tyger Claws, Valentinos, Mox, Maelstrom, etc). They are everywhere, but at times feel as if they are just part of the background. In a city where you're trying to be a legend, where you're a mercenary, I feel as if there could be a lot more depth to these factions. I recall a gig in Watson where you're trying to save a doctor, who is operating on a Maelstrom patient. If you want, you can shoot that Maelstrom patient, they die, and the doctor will start to leave the facility with you. After this gig was closed, I was ambushed by Maelstrom. There's a couple cars chasing me, and eventually I run into a road block organized by Maelstrom. There's not many scenario's of this except for after a gig, maybe after a mission. Additionally, you don't get too familiar with members of any factions except for Aldecaldos.
I have some thoughts to make factions more engaging as a player, and expand on their involvement in the world.
1. Sauron's Army Faction Structure / Nemesis - This may sound odd to you. Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor and Middle-Earth: Shadow of War had a feature referred to as Sauron's Army. You could see that the army had their major leaders, and they had underlings. This army mechanic partly worked because of a mechanic where you could "dominate" enemies and set them up to be double-agents within the army. I'm not suggesting this double agent feature. I'm suggesting though that factions (particularly ones you'd likely fight), receive quirky leaders with their notable underlings. Perhaps they have unique traits, or unique cyberware. Something that makes them more durable than regular members of the faction. I've seen how CP2077 has a name for nearly every NPC in the game. I think if you did enough harm to Scavengers for example, they could replace some of their leaders over time.
I also want to mention that ME: Shadow of War, and Mordor, had what is called the Nemesis system. I won't get super into that, but I mention it because I think a similar concept would work nicely. Again, you're trying to be a legend and you're one of Night City's mercenaries. There's bound to be some rivals / competition, or people you cross paths with that keep getting back up to fight you. (Unless you completely blew them up)
2. Reputation System - I think at first, this will be disliked. World of Warcraft has a reputation system that lets you increase how friendly you are with a faction, or how hated you are with a faction. This concept may also conflict with the Army Structure pitch, but that's really a bridge to cross if it were seriously being considered for CP2077 or CP2. I'm not strictly suggesting we just measure how much I've bullied Maelstrom and see how much they don't like me. I think the more disliked you are by a faction, how often they attempt to interfere with you could increase. More ambushes on the road, perhaps this increases chances that a faction leader seeks you out.
On the flip side, perhaps special gigs open up if a faction really likes you. It's a tricky thing to balance.
3. What about corporations? - Corporations are also a faction but I think they'd have to work differently than what I'm suggesting for the smaller groups of Night City. With that said, there's still only so much involvement in the game by Corporations. Arasaka is seen as the big one. I admit that before I knew the story that I expected a lot more grand schemes involving fighting these corporations. I still think there's room for more.
This more or less covers the thoughts I've had recently. At least with the game's factions. I acknowledge that what I may want from this game, this franchise, may be different than what other players want from it. In general, I want the city to feel more alive, and for there to be more going on. I'm very checked out of the story after the first playthrough, but again the game-play is just a lot of fun that I come back every year just for that.
I'll end it there. Thank you.
