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Revitalize mid-range content #1: Alchemy upgrades
Problem: Castle Age now has a ton of content that any knowledgeable player would ignore. No one is going to spend months making the alchemies from Vorak, Poseidon, Fenix, Magmos, Alexandra, etc. when rare drops from Vargulis, Samael, Fire Phantoms, Chromus, etc. outclass them and can be done in a couple weeks.
Constraint: Developer time is limited; a complete re-invention would take extensive game knowledge and coding resources. We want something relatively simple.
Solution #1: Upgrade the alchemy products with the worst difficulty-to-reward ratios, such as:
I'm omitting a number of somewhat accessible alchemy products that are bad, but come with reasonable Item Archives rewards so there's still an incentive there.
Upgrades should fit the theme of the item where possible, and might include:
Some example products:
Constraint: Developer time is limited; a complete re-invention would take extensive game knowledge and coding resources. We want something relatively simple.
Solution #1: Upgrade the alchemy products with the worst difficulty-to-reward ratios, such as:
- Last Rites
- Nethervoid Plate
- Windgrasp Gauntlet
- Whirlpool
- Mask of Urmek
- Aegis from Ashes
- Krakenhide Armor
- Helm of the Deep
- Flamewalker Greaves
- Molten Core
- Hammer of Storms
- Aegis of Stone
- Glacial Plate
- Pyromaniac Plate
- Aegis of Kings
- Force of Nature
- Soul Crusher
- Shalazar's Mantle
- Gorgon Protector
I'm omitting a number of somewhat accessible alchemy products that are bad, but come with reasonable Item Archives rewards so there's still an incentive there.
Upgrades should fit the theme of the item where possible, and might include:
- Attack/Defense changes
- Adding a slot or two
- Adding inherent physical or elemental piercing/resistance
- Making them equipment for Generals that don't have any
- Creating second-tier alchemies where these objects can be used to upgrade other popular items.
- Add some of the other bonuses that Chaos Gems add.
- Bonuses like the Leviathans, where they make it easier to fight later monsters.
- Inserting them into Item Archives
Some example products:
- Nethervoid Plate: 2 slots, 20 Earth Resist, 20 Water Resist, and +5% Evade. Counts as equipment (+15 Defense) for Saya the Undying.
- Molten Core: +5 Fire Resist, and it counts as equipment (+10 Attack) for Alloken the Fallen. (Keeps existing Divine Power.)
- Helm of the Deep: +60 Water Resist, +20 Physical Resist, 1 slot, +2% to Defensive Generals. (Keeps existing Divine Power.)
- New Alchemy: 5 Pyromaniac Plates and 5 Flamebound Armors makes Magmabound Armor, which is identical to Flamebound Armor but adds +25 Fire Pierce.
- Aegis from Ashes: 1 slot, +1% to Enrage, +50 Fire Resist. Owning 2 or more adds 5% damage when fighting Phantom of Fire or Vargulis.
- Aegis of Kings: 1 slot, +30 Physical Resist, Counts as equipment (+2% Critical) to Straticus. (Keeps existing Divine Power.)