The Energon Pub

[Psychout]

OK guys, we've got 14 of you that have done the work and gained your licenses, but we've not got much traffic coming in contract-wise.

In HMW2 the bounty hunting will be added into the game itself (although probably not on initial release) and will be fully integrated so will be much easier and far more obvious for those who don't use the forums much.

But how do you guys think we should be treating it now whilst were still in V1.x?
We've tried to make it as obvious as possible to everyone how to take out a contract (it was a bit over complicated to start), but its still a bit slow for you guys who made the effort, and we're not exactly sure why.
(Payments have temporarily hit a bit of a snag that's true, but I'm working that out with OS)

But has anyone got any ideas on how to make this a bit more exciting/rewarding?

Should we put instructions up in the faction forums as well?
FP&C News all new hunter contracts?
Remove the time limits on them?
Set lots of smaller contracts instead of a handful of big ones?

Any ideas welcomed, especially from those who have already earned their licences.

[Chaoslock]

Do the mods still have the weaponmaker ability? I was thinking about it would be beneficial for the hunt that a bounty hunter after collecting a bounty could also name a new weapon -within PG level of names, of course- and a range of damage to it (certain damage->low range->wide range->chaotic (the laters damage from 1 to the maximum of the Fp/Sk combination or close to it)).
(no, I'm not implying to the fact that there are still more holes in the weapon table than in a swiss cheese )

EDIT: The above idea is for the bigger (team) bounties; a handful of smaller bounties wouldn't hurt either for energon only.

[Absolute Zero]

Newsing is good, but sometimes news is only up for about 10 minutes, thats the only downside.
Chaoslock's weapon idea is great.
Time limits are ok, but they need to be more realistic. Hunting a full team of a guy who's rarely on is a hassle if there's a time limit.

Raising the spawns of beast vs Gen 1 missions would help, since most bounties are for G1ers, there's not a lot for the Preds to hunt, and the maximal's lone hunter only has Jeep. Which honestly is fine by me, since most of the Pred hunters are higher teams then almost all of the maximals.

Having hunters sign the contract that they're going to hunt someone I think would be interesting too. And also leads into another idea I previously had.

Gambling/Betting. I was thinking of trying to run one before, basically put your energon where you mouth is type thing. "I can scalp him before you do, and to prove it, I'll bet you 50k energon." All hunters in on the bet have to declare they're in before hand, and scalps before they declare don't count (so the huntmaster would have to wait between posting the bounty and declaring it open). If someone initially bets 20k, and someone else raise them to 50k, then the first bettors who only bet 20k have to decide if they're still in or not. Ultimate winner gets the bounty money, plus all the money in the pot from the bet.

[Redimus]

Short of balancing the misions better (and im f*cked if I know how you can do that), Im not really sure what you can do in this release. It is a great idea, but it is just too hampered by a game that is well past it's sell by date and very different to it's origanal intended design.

I have one other idea, but I'll PM you it, inorder to avoid spoiling things.

[Psychout]

Chaos' weapon idea is reserved for something else unfortunately, but ill take it into account for V2.

IF I can get OS to agree, would a sub-forum just for the licensed hunters work and get you guys working together a bit more? A neutral area like a hunters lodge?

Signing up for a contract is a good idea, but difficult to implement. It may be that we have to remove the non-licensed from being able to collect them to enforce this, as I cant see how else to do it.

Gambling/Betting. I was thinking of trying to run one before, basically put your energon where you mouth is type thing.

That's an interesting idea. Ill have a think and see if we can use this.
Would you be willing to trial it in a week or so's time?


My other suggestion was to limit the huntable characters in a bounty to 6, then it stops being about team and moves to individual performers, making it more about the individual chase than just collecting a team as you all did that to qualify in the first place.
(It will also be more like this is V2, certainly to start with until every has got a bunch of creation keys.)

Id also like to get more bots to sign up, as we only have neliz so far. Any of the bots have any suggestions?

[The Chronic]

I have a few ideas, in no particular order

A Deaths Head hunter-faction type symbol thing to add to your sig and getting a star to put next to it for every bounty completed I like, maybe have them graded, gold, silver or bronze depending on difficulty

Make it harder to get a Hunters licence, at the moment it's easier to get the licence than an actual bounty
so after killing a full team how about you can apply for a licence at which point the Huntmasters would appoint you some kind of initiation test

Have the hunters ranked, every one wants to be top dog so creating a league can only encourage participation

More G1 vs Beast missions would be greatly beneficial to the hunt but I am aware there are bigger problems with them, same goes for special weapons and alt modes but they would be would be great

[Psychout]

The hunters star symbol has hit a snag, my photoshopper has gone on leave and I only have MSPain. I had planned the death head icon from here on a chaos star, just haven't had the chance to neaten it up yet.

I like the idea of hunter rankings, but what to rank them on? Energon gained?, number of kills?, completed bounties?

More G1 vs Beast missions would be greatly beneficial to the hunt but I am aware there are bigger problems with them, same goes for special weapons and alt modes but they would be would be great

yeah, sadly the misisons thing is stuck as it is now, but Original Sin and Name_Violation have both proved the arena is still a good place to look on occasion.

Special weapons and altmodes are an interesting idea. What about if they were earned further down the line; once a hunter has earned (e.g.) 500,000 or completed 10 bounties they could win an 'specialist' altmode/weapon?

Make it harder to get a Hunters licence, at the moment it's easier to get the licence than an actual bounty

This related to what I suggested above

My other suggestion was to limit the huntable characters in a bounty to 6...

as that would make the bounties themselves easier, and more about the actual hunt than just waiting for a player to drop the ball. It would also get people to pay more attention to the per-head prices.
Think that would be an improvement?

[Electron]

i feel wht chronics saying makes sense:

- hunters should be ranked on ability etc (maybe there's like a premier league table of hunters, and there ranks based on the bounty's they bring in, but they can only apply for a couple of bountys at a time to keep it fair)

- should be a special insignia attached to hunters sigs, help them stand out and ranks as well ( if point one happens)

- after taking out a team there should be some sort of initiation test ( to seperate the hunters from the normal players)

saying this i feel that i'm pretty capable of acquiring a liscence (sorry if i sound cocky don't mean to) esp during the scalp hunt i pretty much had gs's team pegged, but i feel apart from a title the task of hunting is abit of a chore (thats just me)

if there was more of an edge or a reason / challenge to getting a hunt license atm its jus take out a team, no biggy only if there was something more to it, not saying after u've taken out a team , you have to take out a bounty hunters team, because that would be task one but again and that would be boring, but something like take out the lead player from 5 of the current lisence holders team (of your choosing)

ne who's

you asked for a bot opinion

enjoy

[Psychout]

you asked for a bot opinion

enjoy

Thanks Electron.

The league tables will definitely happen in some form, but we've only got 3 bounties filled so far.

- should be a special insignia attached to hunters sigs, help them stand out and ranks as well ( if point one happens)

I'm sensing a theme here... You guys got any ideas for a badge/emblem? Im limited in what I can doodle currently, but if you guys would like to make a suggestion, please feel free...

An additional thought though - The sig rules fine-print says that you are allowed to wear additional images in your sigs as long as they are hosted on seibertron (max of 3 IIRC). As the Deaths Head icon is hosted here, you can add it as an additional image, or chose another pic between you from here to add in as your hunter image if wanted?

I MAY even be able to get OS to host a symbol here for us if you can agree on one (and it can be put to a vote if you want), but don't expect it to be done quickly, he's a busy man.

but something like take out the lead player from 5 of the current lisence holders team (of your choosing)

Thats an interesting thought that I think AZ may have brought it up in the original thread too.

It was originally set up to take advantage of Tam's scalphunt, but when that went tits-up it was too late to change it. How would graduated hunters feel about modifying how new hunters are selected?

I think ill send a round of PM's out to the graduates to get all their input on this as well, you all worked hard to earn your titles and I don't want to just move the goalposts on you again.

[The Chronic]

The hunters star symbol has hit a snag, my photoshopper has gone on leave and I only have MSPain. I had planned the death head icon from here on a chaos star, just haven't had the chance to neaten it up yet.

I gotta a feeling they're gonna be busy when they get back

I like the idea of hunter rankings, but what to rank them on? Energon gained?, number of kills?, completed bounties?

Say we make a point system, 5 points/gold star for a full team/hard bounty- level 3+ target.
3 points for partial team/medium target and 1 point/bronze star for a single head or easy bounty

or something along those lines

Special weapons and altmodes are an interesting idea. What about if they were earned further down the line; once a hunter has earned (e.g.) 500,000 or completed 10 bounties they could win an 'specialist' altmode/weapon?

they would be awesome whenever they're introduced

My other suggestion was to limit the huntable characters in a bounty to 6...

as that would make the bounties themselves easier, and more about the actual hunt than just waiting for a player to drop the ball. It would also get people to pay more attention to the per-head prices.
Think that would be an improvement?

Maybe just charge a much larger amount for a full team and encourage smaller bountys

i feel wht chronics saying makes sense:

A rare occation indeed

[neliz]

I'd say, Trophy Alt modes or weapons. "Custom Hunter Rifle' things like that, to replace something like the Null Ray.

Also.. ehr

brain fart.

[Psychout]

My other suggestion was to limit the huntable characters in a bounty to 6 [...] as that would make the bounties themselves easier, and more about the actual hunt than just waiting for a player to drop the ball. It would also get people to pay more attention to the per-head prices.
Think that would be an improvement?

Maybe just charge a much larger amount for a full team and encourage smaller bountys

That could work. If we set it at 10K per head, per level, (0's counting as 1's) then a full team of 3's (360,000!) would be too expensive for all but the heaviest hitters to afford?
Is that too much/not enough?

I'd say, Trophy Alt modes or weapons. "Custom Hunter Rifle' things like that, to replace something like the Null Ray.

Another vote for custom kit eh?

To summarise so far:
Bounties need to me made more simple to place/collect
Needs more flexibility in the times/payments/requirements
More incentive/rewards for the hunters to actually hunting targets

Have I missed anything?

[neliz]

how about *ACTUAL* payments

Yeah.. and a hunters Lodge.. ah bountiful Macadam sort of speak.

[The Chronic]

Im happy with the Deaths Head head with additional ranked stars, weather they are outside the sig or part of it Im not so bothered

but something like take out the lead player from 5 of the current lisence holders team (of your choosing)

Thats an interesting thought that I think AZ may have brought it up in the original thread too.

It was originally set up to take advantage of Tam's scalphunt, but when that went tits-up it was too late to change it. How would graduated hunters feel about modifying how new hunters are selected?

I'd be fine with something like this, I wouldn't mind too much if we had to re-do some kind of test, to get an elite Hunters Licence or something
I have a few more thoughts about that but they are a bit jumbled up so I won't bother you's with them for now

By best brainwave of the day though-
you have to send the tasty coconut treat also known as a bounty to anyone who completes a bounty you set

also why not use the main index page (Decepticon Command Bulletin) to announce bountys and such, it hasn’t been used since the reset and before that was only used rarely for major tournaments

[Psychout]

also why not use the main index page (Decepticon Command Bulletin) to announce bountys and such, it hasn’t been used since the reset and before that was only used rarely for major tournaments

It was the first thing I asked for when I got on the staff, but its broken.

Ill investigate the idea of a private forum for you guys properly - but again as OS is incredibly busy, it may take a while to get set up as your permissions will need messing with - but you'll all get funky 'Heavy Metal Hunters' user titles though.

[neliz]

And matching leather and lace outfits!

[The Chronic]

how about *ACTUAL* payments

That would be a bonus

My other suggestion was to limit the huntable characters in a bounty to 6 [...] as that would make the bounties themselves easier, and more about the actual hunt than just waiting for a player to drop the ball. It would also get people to pay more attention to the per-head prices.
Think that would be an improvement?

Maybe just charge a much larger amount for a full team and encourage smaller bountys

That could work. If we set it at 10K per head, per level, (0's counting as 1's) then a full team of 3's (360,000!) would be too expensive for all but the heaviest hitters to afford?
Is that too much/not enough?

seems a fair price to me

I'd say, Trophy Alt modes or weapons. "Custom Hunter Rifle' things like that, to replace something like the Null Ray.

Another vote for custom kit eh?

To summarise so far:
Bounties need to me made more simple to place/collect
Needs more flexibility in the times/payments/requirements
More incentive/rewards for the hunters to actually hunting targets

Have I missed anything?

you missed a B instead of M
but other than that seems like a good list of improvements

you'll all get funky 'Heavy Metal Hunters' user titles though.

I like it a lot

And matching leather and lace outfits!

this Im not so keen on, maybe spandex?

[Psychout]

how about *ACTUAL* payments

That would be a bonus

Chased OS up on that about 20 mins ago, so i'm on it.

My other suggestion was to limit the huntable characters in a bounty to 6 [...] as that would make the bounties themselves easier, and more about the actual hunt than just waiting for a player to drop the ball. It would also get people to pay more attention to the per-head prices.
Think that would be an improvement?

Maybe just charge a much larger amount for a full team and encourage smaller bountys

That could work. If we set it at 10K per head, per level, (0's counting as 1's) then a full team of 3's (360,000!) would be too expensive for all but the heaviest hitters to afford?
Is that too much/not enough?

seems a fair price to me

How about the rest of you? Is 10k a head worth your time as hunters?

And matching leather and lace outfits!

this Im not so keen on, maybe spandex?

Only if its leopard print.

And please take the spam to GD where it belongs...

[Halo]

I'm in college, so I'm really busy, and lots of times I just do a dump n' run. Something that I would like (and know isn't going to happen, but whatever) is in missions/areas that have a target in it, I would like some kind of indicator so I know there there, because half the time I forget who's a target, in my crazy rush. If I would see like a little symbol or something, I would remember that "Hey, I need to check this" and would.

[Psychout]

Thats an interesting point, there will always be those who cant track their kills all the time.

OS may be able to add something like that into HMW2 though, Ill certainly investigate. Ill add it to the list of touney specific stuff that I need to ask him about.

Nice idea!


edit: This is what I had sketched out for the hunters star in paint. what do you guys think?

[The Chronic]

I'm in college, so I'm really busy, and lots of times I just do a dump n' run. Something that I would like (and know isn't going to happen, but whatever) is in missions/areas that have a target in it, I would like some kind of indicator so I know there there, because half the time I forget who's a target, in my crazy rush. If I would see like a little symbol or something, I would remember that "Hey, I need to check this" and would.

I thoght something like this was pretty much confermed for V2 - no?

Thats an interesting point, there will always be those who cant track their kills all the time.

OS may be able to add something like that into HMW2 though, Ill certainly investigate. Ill add it to the list of touney specific stuff that I need to ask him about.

Nice idea!


edit: This is what I had sketched out for the hunters star in paint. what do you guys think?

I like it Psych, but is that the star you plan to hand out for each completed bounty -might be a bit big for that and too detailed to shrink- or your going to add a mini star to it each time~?

now that I have seen that, it gives me an idea -not sure if its good or not- the red bits could be the awarded stars and once you complete the cirle you are then dubbed an elite hunter where the Deaths Head head changes colour and you have to go after harder bountys

[Psychout]

If I would see like a little symbol or something, I would remember that "Hey, I need to check this" and would.

I thoght something like this was pretty much confermed for V2 - no?

Yes and no. We know what we want, and have a list of stuff to add in, but nothing is certain til its coded, and chances are it wont all make the initial release and will probably be added in after the warmap module a few months after the go live date.

Its why we need to get it sorted on the forums before its taken into the game, as there are important things to add first and this is classed as an ongoing tournament.

edit: This is what I had sketched out for the hunters star in paint. what do you guys think?

I like it Psych, but is that the star you plan to hand out for each completed bounty

Nah, Its just an idea to get you guys thinking. Just the DH logo and a star might work, or different colour DH's for number of bounties filled?

Either way I like the idea of using it as a grade.

[neliz]

I'm cool with the star, looks like a proper medal!

[Name_Violation]

the only broblem with the weapon idea is weapons aren't effective any more. any char with 5 or higher str doesnt use weapons, punch/kick is better damage.

special alts sound good.

i liked the idea of ranking the hunters. we could even add up the levels of the targets to give a rank, ie if you take out a team with 3,3,3,3,2,2,2,2,1,1,1,1 your score is 24

[Absolute Zero]

AZ's got an oppinion on everything time.

Hunter Ranking should be based on the hunters threat/skill. How quickly you can turn a bounty in once you accept it. This essentially means GS gets the top rank because unless it's a beast faction, odds are he's going to kill them before everyone else. Taking down hard bounties (IE people higher ranked then you) should also add to your rank.

I fully support making it harder to get the Hunters License. Currently it's way to easy to make it really special. I have a team of level 3s and I can earn my license by scalping the entire team of someone lower then me. I can scalp a team of level 0s to get it. I don't specifically remember if it was my idea to scalp the other hunters or the team hunter to get the license, but I remember it was agreed that it was a good idea. With 13-14 hunters now, It'd probably be a good time to start doing that.

Personally, I'm not a big fan of the death's head image. It looks like a conehead. I'm sure there's some creative people here who can make something really awesome.

As Neliz resuggest, a Hunters Lodge forum would be nice.

On the Death's Head star thing. Eh... Not bad for something in paint. If there's going to be a rank for hunters, shouldn't there be a way to show it on the badge thing?