Champions Online: Random Build Challenge
Ever hear of challenges for single-player games? These are unique ways that players try and think of ways in which they can spice up boring replays of their favorites, or just plain up the difficulty. Some are simple (no items, or no magic), some are deep and truly masochistic (no special characters, and no bought items, and no cards, and no boosts, and no deaths, etc.).
I have noticed that not too many online games have these, but I was thinking back on someone (NSFW) who decided to level all the way until level 60 in World of Warcraft without equipping any armor or weapons at all. I cannot presently find the link for this, but you can find several blogs with less than stellar results.
This got me thinking: “What about other online games?”
This brings me to my idea for a challenge in Champions Online. I’ll call it the Random Build Challenge, but that may not stick. The premise is really rather simple: every single action that can affect character design and progression is determined by a roll of the dice. From starting builds and appearance, to professions and zones.
Interested? Let’s delve into the details:
It all starts with character creation. Custom Framework must be chosen, and then comes the fun. Until Oct. 27th, feel free to reroll any time you get an option that is unavailable, such a from the Celestial power set.
1. ENERGY BUILDER (1d20)
Starting top-left (Electric Bolt), the left column is for even results, and the right is for odd. For example, 2 would be Electic Bolt, and 3 would be Throw Fire.
2. BASIC POWER (2d10)
Same as the Energy Builder, and again, feel free to reroll on a 17 if you don’t have Celestial yet.
3 . INNATE CHARACTERISTIC (1d20)
Same rules as the previous two, and reroll on anything 17~20.
4. GENDER (optional)
Since it doesn’t affect the stats in any way, choose what you would like, or just flip a coin. The real fun part is next.
5. APPEARANCE (optional; and most amusing)
This can be done one of two ways. The first is a simple roll of 1d20, and the result is how many times you can click “Randomize All” before you accept the appearance the game provides.
Repeat for the face, body, and color, if desired; otherwise just roll 1d8 and choose one of the pre-selected options.
The second choice is customizing every single aspect individually, but since there are just so many options, I am not going to make up rules for this right now. Again, this is optional.
6. NAME (1d20)
Visit the Seventh Sanctum’s Name Generator page, and choose a type that matches the character’s appearance. Elf, Kaiju, Evil, etc. Then use the first result you get, or roll twice for first and last names (for those of you that like that sort of thing.
Now you’re in the game, and have completed the tutorial. On your first visit to the Powerhouse, you’ll probably be level 5 or 6, so there will be some fresh choices for you.
TRAVEL POWER (2d8)
As there are only 13 powers, reroll anything that is 15 or higher.
CHARACTERISTIC FOCUS (1d8)
Eight stats, eight results. This will happen twice as you level, so reroll anything that you already have from a previous selection.
POWERS
This is perhaps the trickiest aspect. Right now, there are six categories of powers, and some break down anywhere from two to seven specialties, with some overlap in powers. Not to mention that some powers will be unavailable as you have no prerequisite powers of sufficient quantity to go along with the set you roll for. I think the simplest solution is a multi-step approach.
- First, roll 1d6. This chooses the category, going from left to right as numbered in the screenshot above.
- Click the top bar to expand that category, and count the number of available powers. If there is only one (such as Might) choose that one. Otherwise, roll the appropriate dice for the leftovers, or flip a coin. (e.g.: in the above screenshot, 7 powers are available, but only 2 can be trained. I would roll 1d6 and reroll on a 1 or 6 - your call)
UPGRADES AND OTHER ADVANTAGES
This is pretty simple, as you will only be able to upgrade items you have purchased, and you can skip anything you have already selected. So, once the upgrade option rolls around, count up the number of items you can purchase, and roll away!
I can already hear someone asking: “But what about upgrade points?” Well, in this case, only roll once when you have less than 5 upgrade points, roll twice when you have more than 5, and roll as many times as needed when it is the last Advantage points come in at level 40. This should ensure not having more than a few leftover after each visit to the trainer.
NEMESIS
I have no actual experience with creating a Nemesis, so I will leave this open for now; but it will probably not take me too long to get to 25 and try this feature out. Expect to see it added later!
Here is a sample character I rolled up. Each step will show my exact results, and the outcome (keep in mind this is on the Public Test, thus includes Celestial powers):
- Power Builder - 12 - Reaper’s Touch
- Basic Power - 18 - Lash
- Innate Characteristic - 18 (reroll), 4 - Electric Potential
- Gender - Heads - Female
- Appearance - 7 - (see image below)
- Name - Just Warped Tsar
Behold! Isn’t she just lovely? Not a bad combination. Let’s hope the she gets lucky with abilities while leveling!
LEVEL 5
- Travel Power - 7 - Ice Slide (I hate this power. Too much drift!)
- Characteristic Focus - 3 - Super Constitution
- Power (category) - 6 - Mystic
- Power (selection) - 8 - Ebon Void
And there we have it! Everything else about the character is up to the player’s choice, as I want these to be fun experiences, and not completely unplayable. For example, I won’t have you roll for a crafting profession, or which style of build to use, or even if you can or cannot use certain gear that drops.
