Figurines and Mah Jong - Add the Complete Set

[Algaron [BTL]]

I would like to see more collectibles and related content added to the game. There is an opportunity here to think outside the box, and develop an activity that doesn't include raiding, mining, or building. Many who play EnB, have at some point, collected sports cards or coins, or some other item belonging to a set. For those of us who share a fascination with collecting and trading things, there is a certain satisfaction when one is able to obtain all there is to get, or to find that rare or unique item and be able to display it for everyone to see.

 

I can think of two items in game that could be considered collectibles, the figurines and the Mah Jong tiles. The porcelain and the jade figurines dropping from the Red Dragon are based on the Chinese zodiac, but sadly this collection can not be completed as 3 porcelain - rat, goat, and pig, and 9 of the jade figurines are not in game.

 

The Mah Jong tiles are in an even worse state. The tiles that are dropping are based on the Taiwanese variation of the game. In Taiwanese Mah Jong, a complete set  consists of 144 tiles of which 136 are regular playing tiles and 8 are bonus tiles. The regular tiles are split into two main groups of Suits and Honors.

 

There are three Suits: Bamboos(Tiao), Characters(Wan), and Dots(Tung). Each suit consists of 36 tiles: four 1’s, four 2’s, and so on up to 9. There are a total of 108 regular tiles or 9(3) suits for 27 unique Suit tiles.Honors consist of Dragons and Winds. There are three Dragons four of each: Green Dragon, Red Dragon and White Dragon, and four Winds, four of each: East, South, West and North. There are a total of 28 Honor tiles - 16 Dragon and 12 Winds or (3+4) =7 unique Honor tiles.

 

 There are only 8 suits and 1 honor tile that are dropping in game, and they are:-Tiao Bird Tile (or One Tiao), Two Tiao, Three Tiao, Seven Tiao, and Eight Tiao.

-Two Wan

-Two Tung and Six Tung

-White Dragon

 

In addition to the regular tiles, there are 8 bonus tiles; 4 Flowers and 4 Seasons. Each bonus tiles is associated with a wind as follows:

 

Flowers: Plum (East), Orchid (South), Chrysanthemum (West) and Bamboo (North).

Seasons: Spring (East), Summer (South), Autumn (West) and Winter (North).

 

In total there are 34 unique tiles but only 9 exist in game, as well the 8 bonus tiles could also be added to this collection.

 

I would like see the missing figurines and tiles added back into the game, so that it would be possible for everyone to collect a full set if they wished. A twist on this particular collection, would be to make a full set of tiles, including the bonus tiles, for a total of 144 Mah Jong tiles available to be turned in at the Red Dragon base in Aragoth Prime, for a repeatable mission for 1 Skill Point. There should be no Experience or credits associated with this, and the drop rate on the Suits and Honors should be rare and the bonus Flowers and Seasons should be set to scarce.  So a complete set would be: 

 

One Tiao - Nine Tiao (x4), One Wan - Nine Wan (x4), One Tung - Nine Tung (x4),

Green Dragon (4), Red Dragon (x4), White Dragon (x4)

Plum (East)(x1), Orchid (South)(x1), Chrysanthemum (West)(x1), Bamboo (North)(x1)

Spring (East)(x1), Summer (South)(x1), Autumn (West) (x1), Winter (North)(x1)

 

As well the Porcelain and Jade figurines could be turned in either separately or together with other figurines of differing materials like Ivory or Gold, for substantial Red Dragon faction.

 

The purpose is to encourage many others to also save, collect, and trade collectible sets.  A market source would then be created for those true collectors.

 

[Spa[IS]]

Wow you must have been bored :)

 

I like the idea of collectables, but very hard to read black on grey, had to highlight it to read

[Algaron [BTL]]

Sorry Spa - I had switched themes and not realized the effect. It has been edited.

[Elrick[IS]]

I like the idea - and it is not overly complex to add the 150 or so items that would be needed. 

Perhaps you could do the work and create a spreadsheet with the item details including the name, description, etc. From that to a working set of items in game would be a bit of work to load them into the system. 

 

Easy to fix and adds depth and character to the game. 

[rkgrau]

Sounds like that could rather quickly become a storage nightmare for the player base! Ive plenty of shiny things to hold on to as is.

[Algaron [BTL]]

That wouldn't be a problem, and really for the Mah Jong tiles, there would only need to be 42 unique tiles. Just as there are 13 unique playing cards, only there are 4 of each.  The Suits would need 27, (9 times 3 Suits), the Honors need 7 ( 3 Dragons and 4 Winds), and the bonus set need 8 (4 Flowers and 4 Seasons). I am not sure how much work it would it would be to change the icons to show the actual tile as that would be sweet. I do know where to source some graphics for them. Coloured hexagons don't do it for me.  :huh:

[Algaron [BTL]]

Sadly Nic you just missed my post above. A TT could store them in his cargo hold almost, and there are 45 toons available to each account. Mind you, not everyone likes to collect shiny things.  :lol:

[Mattsacre]

Not being the type to hold on to "shiny things" (since they are just things aka knicknacks), I wonder, actually holding the said items is what you need to feed your collecting crave? Or could there be a title/award/certificate that would represent you having had the said "shiny things" at one time or another? The question being does a single item give as much soul warming effect if it represents all of another item, like having a $100 bill represents having 100x $1.

 

If that would suffice, then it sure would save on hold/vault space and be able to give title/certificate/award items instead....like as you collected tile x, y and z it accumilated towards a collection award, once every tile of the collection had passed your ownership you got a item that represented you having done so. That seems more doable.

 

Like I said I'm not a collector, only a collectoor could answer the question, does a title/award/certificate mean enough to you to replace actually having a vault full of it, and if it does, that opens a whole other factor, you could then fill your vault of certificates from other collections instead.

[Pakkrat [N7LA]]

Having such a complete collection could then be made into a key to a mission line or impressing an NPC, thus giving the collection an end-game Content goal. Jus' sayin'.

Via satellite, this is the Pakkrat.

[Algaron [BTL]]

No, a certificate/title means jack compared to the actual items. As a numismatist, I can assure you an old or rare $100 has more value that 100 x 1$. I would much rather create a storage toon to dedicate 42 slots for my collection (I would hope they would be stackable), than to have one item indicating I once had a collection. However, having a certificate as well as my collection, would be a bonus as I can show people that I do own a collection instead of having them take my word for it. Part of the enjoyment of a collection is not only having it, but showing it off.

[Terrell [BT]]

Having such a complete collection could then be made into a key to a mission line or impressing an NPC, thus giving the collection an end-game Content goal. Jus' sayin'.

Via satellite, this is the Pakkrat.

 

This might be a nice idea for a mission, or various other missions in the future using different items than the ones discussed here.

[Algaron [BTL]]

The figurines would be a simple collection to put together. Based on the Chinese zodiac, there would be only 12 of each to complete a set. However, the figurines in game are currently made of porcelain and jade, with jade being more valuable. A complete collection would or could include both materials. I have suggested that figurines be made of ivory and gold as well, each more valuable than the last. Collectors could go for one set or all four. The only caveat would be that, for collectors, the icons should be more distinguishable. Perhaps an actual figurine, or at least colourized where porcelain is white, jade is green, ivory is gray, and gold is yellow. 

[Spa[IS]]

Can go two or more ways with this

 

collect them all, get a certificate, keep

 

collect them all, exchange for a certificate, present to RD Faction NPC for xp and faction

 

collect them all, trade different sets for a 'special' item, collect all items

 

collect them all, trade different sets for a 'special' item, collect all items, assemble for a device, weapon, shield or reactor, show to a NPC, be rewarded by making 200% or exchanged for a "special" item

[Mimir[IS]]

How about collect them all... then trade them in for a title you can fly on your ship? Collectors could collect titles (changeable at will to show their collecting prowess)

[jrichards]

I know I def wouldn't care about such content.  The only way i could see any large number of players get involved in this is if you had a final turn in that did something to your ship.  Maybe have a device that changes your shield color, model, or adds some type of glow effect.  Or maybe adds a small mob that circles your ship (like a baby voltoi) and does a nifty effect?

[rhobix]

Making a mission to turn in something that doesn't even fit in your cargo might be a challenge. It could probably be solved though, either by making it into a multistep mission or a mission where you manufacture or 'refine' single tiles or figurines into sets.

[Algaron [BTL]]

Crichton, you could care less about this content, and yet you feel the need to give me your opinion on what the rewards should be? Why even bother posting in this thread at all in the first place?

 

I have already made my thoughts clear on the matter. I would collect these tiles because I like to collect things, and I do it for fun. Not for any XP, or credits or fancy 'baby voltoi' whatever the heck that is supposed to be. Sounds like a pet in WoW. (Of which I had fair collection - note the irony). 

 

Part of the tile set exists in game already, and at some point existed in it's entirety. I am only asking that the complete set be added back in game as there are people who do enjoy collecting. Some like to do all the missions, some like to only do mining, some do nothing but combat. This would be a completely different activity, and as Elrick previously stated, would add more depth to the game. The only 'reward' I have suggested would be 1 Skill Point, and that was only to perhaps interest people to save them and to trade with others to fill out their collection. The collection activity would be unique for this game, as should the reward, but I would collect and save them regardless. Even without a repeatable mission for a skill point. I do like the idea of talking to an NPC to obtain a certificate upon completion of the collection tho, even if you decide to forgo the mission for the skill point.

 

Yes Knix, if there was a turn in mission as I suggested, it would have to be multistep one, where you would turn in the Suits (27 cargo slots), or could even be broken down further to just 9 cargo spaces for each one of the 3 suits (Tiao, Tung, and Wan), then Honors (7 slots), and the bonus tiles (8 slots). I am not so sure about adding yet another step to manufacture or refining them down, and there have been other suggestions as to rewards like creating new items. I am trying to avoid adding even more layers and workload for the CDevs if possible, even the 'certificate' could be adapted from say an Arduinne Security Pass or an Assembler Process Pass without much effort.

 

If the Cdevs want to run with the idea, and add everything previously suggested as a reward - including 'baby voltoi'   :lol: that is up to them. I just want the rest of the tiles in game as originally intended. 

[Terrell [BT]]

Nice points Algaron.  One of the flaws of this game is it's quite an emphsis on combat, and while warriors do need support from TTs and JEs, it wouldn't hurt for there to be means to get good content based on being a JE, JT, Scout, or TT.  The MCP, was an example, after they improved the rewards, of good content for JE and PE.  When that comes along, don't forget that the Terran Explorer will want to do it too, and include apropriate rewards.   IMO over the long term, the MCP should be one among several potential mining projects.   The Terrans and Jenquai could have things that they want in this fashion, but with different rewards, based on what those races are good at.   

[Stanig[IS]]

I do agree with the basic sentiment that there is way too much combat emphasis on content currently.  While for me personally thats a good thing "most of the time", there is a dearth of activities for achievers/crafters/non-combatants in this current stage of the game.

 

While its unfortunately going to be a low priority going forward (as I was explaining to Algaron in TS a few minutes ago), it is something I want to try to get an emphasis on.  Most of my toons are traders and explorers currently.  Combat is combat, and gets hella boring after doing it every day all day.

 

I get what you mean, its all about time and resource allocation at this point.  Hopefully something we can incorporate in the nearish future.

[Mattsacre]

The day they put pets of any type in, tiny voltoi or not, is the day I'm out of here. NO PETS! NO  EFFECT OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS! and most of all NO CONTENT ADDED FOR SILLY FORCED BUFF ON OTHER PLAYERS! (like sprinkle crap on other players or buff them with snugs-n-hugs etc.)

 

If you want pets, empty achievements or be able to force content on other crap ou are on the wrong MMO...you need to head that a way--------------->

[Algaron [BTL]]

Agreed. Cept for the hugs. - that was a Valentines device and it will probably be in next year. So I guess you have about a year left of Live hmm Matts?

[Pakkrat [N7LA]]

Everybody hug Captain Matts Grumpypants with Valentine's Day hug-o-matic device. He needs an entire server's worth. I like emote devices though pets and other satellites would bottleneck the processors a bit.


But hugs. He needs 'em. Let him know you care.

From the PR Department of NET-7 SOL, this is the Pakkrat. Edited March 12, 2013 by Pakkrat

[Terrell [BT]]

Had one of those snugs & hugs devices from roidfest/hulkfest in ST4, never actually used it, what did the effect look like?

[Stanig[IS]]

I dont even know what the effect looked like, but its actually a useful device iirc, isnt it activated HDC, 1 percent per level of device?  Like Snugs level 9 = activated 9% HDC

 

Thats not really anything to sneeze at.

[Terrell [BT]]

It is activated HDC, so I can see how it would be quite useful to any player, moreso if they have an equipped HDC buff, and even better on a PW or TW.

 

I do like the general idea of having these types of things, where there's an in game reward for collecting them all.   Rewards could be one or more of the following, XP, credits, faction, piece of equipment, or print for piece of equipment.   Which reward could be based on the difficulty inherent in completing the task.  Doesn't have to be something out of the box, merely worthwhile for the effort.