While the Covenant is a cool faction, the benefits in it compared to every other DM faction is incredibly underwhelming. I think there's a number of things that could be added to spice up the faction and also draw players to it more.
- Ooze armor. Every other faction gets armor, except covenant. This should really be a thing.
-Faction store. Earn points once a day, and extra for dissolving EC implants in an ooze placeable.
-Appable promotions. Like the EC, have cells that you can app into to have more sway in the faction and the like. There are already subgroups, and you could have the apps be for a higher position in them or something.
-Move the storage out into a room in the cave of many colors that's opened with a faction key. It's in a really awkward place atm.
-Recruitable ooze companion for slime rangers.
I have spent some time thinking about what to say. Efu is not a perfect game and sometimes balancing is as much a matter social as mechanical.
Let us start by adressing each of the faction's mechanical boosts (non spoiler).
Watchers and Warders
- City control and authority (Not much so post rebellion)
- Robotic implants ans powersuits
- Appable positions with large benefits and authority
Collective
-Parasitic implants to improve wearer (at risk of death)
-Special parasitic armors
-Appable positions/transformations with huge benefits and authority
Covenant
-Easier to approve drow and ooze app
-Hideouts that allow criminals/monsters easier level up
-Ooze transport systems
By listing this out we can see that the Covenant lacks a promotion system like the Collective and Spellguard. It is this way because the Covenants holds anarchy and only respect the strong/wise. It does not have a favor system and instead uses feeding the ooze to gain gifts. The bonuses provided to the Covenant are front ended, allowing them to survive earlier on. However, although it is not as easy to app for a subrace in the Exiles, it is still remotely achievable, giving the Exiles the same bonuses that the Covenant are supposed to have from apping. On top of getting more in the later game via parasites and armors.
What I suggest is that the Covenant follow the Exile's style of pc/npc cells. I believe that this would help flesh out the faction by allowing power beyond apping for drow/ooze or getting the errant ooze ioun stone. The three main cells are already in place with the Lowersmen, Primitivist, and drow. Each subfaction would hold their own bonuses, armors, etc.
Here is.a list of benefits and a way to get favor in the sub faction.
Lowersman
Favor method: Animatron parts, Spellguard keys, and Machine Flood
HQ: Winston's Broken Beacon or the higher floors of the Crone
-Explosives, high powered throwables can be purchased from shop. Tools useful for hunting lawbringers and causing chaos.
-Access to hidden alleys/chutes in the In-Between, Lower Ruin, Canals, and Machine.
-Lowersman henchman that can buff himself and fight beside you.
Drow
Favor method: Patrolling Traensyr, donating drow thrall corpses to The King, Machine Flood
HQ: Six Finger's Domain (Entered by a portal locked in the fortress) or just Lower Fortress.
- Boons of the sorcere. A variety of magic goods provided to the player via favor
- A wage of eight coin to show off elitism.
- Revenant ooze power that increases and decreases stats.
Primitives
Favor method: Druid rituals/defiling Steward groves, feeding to the ooze implants and Steward rings, Machine Flood
HQ: Extra room in the Cave of Many Colors
-Ooze that enters the body permanently, allowing for special acidic powers per day depending on ooze. (ex. Quicksilver permanently increasing player's speed)
-Given their own ooze consume tool, allowing then to consume objects for power. This power can then be spent applying unique buffs on the player.
-A druid hunting shop to encourage battle against the Stewards similar to Rotplot.
If doing so would compromise the intended design of the Covenant, I suggest just adding the ooze consume player tool for each player and the ability to absorb an ooze. Maybe add some armors anyone in the faction can have.
These are some ideas that popped into my head so far, with the Primitives definitely getting the higher end of the stick. I would love to hear everyone's opinions on this and see what positive changes we can make to one of my favorite EFU factions.
I think all of these things would increase the health and vitality of the Covenant.
I would give some access to flat acid DR, such as 5/-, to every 'cell'. I do not count the ooze-portation as a viable faction perk, rather as a bonus for certain pc's. Even with immunity bonuses, you take insane damage trying to travel even the shortest distance.
I don't really think that the problem of the Covenant is a lack of perks. I think it is more a problem of player interest and lack of a presence that never allows for what is possible in the Covenant to fully be realized.
Quote from: Decimate_The_Weak;n678263I don't really think that the problem of the Covenant is a lack of perks. I think it is more a problem of player interest and lack of a presence that never allows for what is possible in the Covenant to fully be realized.
And part of the lack of player interest is the fact they don't get anything much, compared to the oodles of stuff you get in any of the other factions.
I wouldn't mind seeing a favor system added to the faction to reward players who stick with their characters over long periods like those in the EC and WaW.
However the Covenant has a lot of perks unique to the faction the other factions don't get. I don't think the lack of interest has to do with the equipment offered to faction members.
thank you for your diligent work SC!
Thanks for the time on it, I look forward to seeing the changes!
Thanks!
Adding storage to each hideout and maybe some unique perks to each would make the world of difference in drawing people into the faction. Additionally, I think it's worth reducing the damage and movement penalty while in a certain area to some degree.
Covenant amulets should have a use of ooze crust once per day. Ooze crust should give immunity to slow.
Ooze fountain purges you of curse, level drain, and other malluses.
Calawyn's Steele's hideaway is too difficult to access with a 20 DC tumble check.
Consider revamping "Lower" altogether to merge the Canal, the back alleyways, and the ruins of Lower. As is, there's a lot of open, extremely unnecessary stuff that is no longer relevant.
Rename 'Lower' to 'Ruins of Lower'. Many people seem to still believe Lower is still around and is separate from Upper, when Sanctuary is one united city.
Increase the drop rate of potions from the ooze turn in. Consider making it so you gain exp until level 8.
Quote from: Anprim;n679261Calawyn's Steele's hideaway is too difficult to access with a 20 DC tumble check.
Howlando changed this to a DC 10 check for one of the alley walls. This was several months ago and in response to a similar suggestion threat.
Quote from: Anprim;n679261Consider revamping "Lower" altogether to merge the Canal, the back alleyways, and the ruins of Lower. As is, there's a lot of open, extremely unnecessary stuff that is no longer relevant.
I think that Lower would be well-served by a cheap, fast boating service under its current design. There's already a named figure in the faction dedicated to the idea.
Quote from: Anprim;n679261Rename 'Lower' to 'Ruins of Lower'. Many people seem to still believe Lower is still around and is separate from Upper, when Sanctuary is one united city.
Lower Sanctuary is a faction zone, much like the Public Housing Vault or Final Sanctuary. It won't see much use outside of the specific group meant to use it and those they bring there.
Quote from: Anprim;n679261Increase the drop rate of potions from the ooze turn in. Consider making it so you gain exp until level 8.
Come on. I thought we were supposed to discourage unsocial, crazy ooze cultists, not make their signature pastime even more rewarding.