Random NPC Bounties

[Ranek]

Nothing wrong with having PCs with bounties (actually it's great fun for them and for those who plan to seek them). The point here is not to discuss wether we should have PCs with bounties on their heads or not, not even if it's easy or hard to catch them, regardless their levels. The point is to have NPCs with bounties -IN ADDITION- to the PCs. It's a suggestion (a very good one in my opinion) that has the intention to ADD to the server. Saying there are already two PCs with bounties is not nearly an argument against it. I rather go with the other excuse of not being a priority, and such...

[derfo]

i think some words of those who have already spoken trumps your own no matter how productive you are meaning to be. we should icly make our own bounties for NPCS though

[ScruffyMcSmirkalot]

Suggestions Forum Public Service Announcement:
 
1.) The suggestion falls within the parameters of the Suggestion Guidelines.
 
2.) We would all enjoy more systems that provide balanced challenges and rewards.
 
3.) Just because there's something that takes higher priority doesn't make things that are lower priority nullified. Otherwise, there'd be no real need for a suggestion forum.

With all that said, let's pretend for a moment that the Staff has unlimited development resources and that they plan to implement it.
 
Elaborate on the greater design details of this suggestion, assuming it's been thought out further than "scripted bounties would be cool". I might be breaking SG Rule 3 with this, but eh, I'll continue anyway...
 
I agree with the general sentiment, however I think it would also be awesome if this was a more universal system. You could have a "Bounty Administrator" that you'd speak to for current bounties, and also have a scripted system to submit gold to have a PC-submitted bounty added to the system. Thus, there would be ICly a "Government-Approved Bounty Collection System", where the gold is simply sitting in the vaults (or a database OOCly) until the posted bounty is collected. ICly and OOCly, this provides a legitimate and protected (except in cases of revolution) bounty collection system.
 
As for NPC bounties, I'd imagine them generated randomly, much akin to the "random areas" in the wilderness. Bounties could be
randomly generated for:
 
1.) Named NPCs (of variable levels)
2.) Normal enemies (i.e. "Orcs", "Ogres", "Werewolves", etc),
3.) ...and also even objects of special interest (i.e. Negative Energy Rods, Gems, Shadowstone, Longswords, Tanglefoot Bags, etc.)
 
Much like current systems, it would track people's continued actions in relation to the Bounty System, especially in regards to factions.
 
Bounty Type #1: Pretty straight forward, mostly... ICly, this would be related to some "semi-infamous" criminal that's made a name for themselves. A description of the criminal and crimes, as well as "areas where he might be" would follow. OOCly, it would generate some random quest for a scaleable criminal and his/her/its goons. It would have to be decided if one would have to "take" the bounty job first, and then once found, by having this marked in their journal, they would be able to enter the "quest", or to simply have it be a random area/encounter that can be found, and have the opportunity to claim the bounty afterward. Obviously such an NPC would drop some special item that would be used to claim the bounty.
 
Bounty Type #2: ICly, this would be a government's efforts to reduce the population of a certain enemy, and since they don't wish to expend the military resources themselves, instead they put out gold for every of said enemy brought in. OOCly, this would cause specific enemies to drop an appopriate body part (an ear in most cases, likely) on death. This would mostly apply to Quest Areas, but also to non-quest areas where needed. Effect wise, this would make certain areas of the server and certain quests "hotbeds" so to speak if people wanted to get extra gold for ridding Ymph of this menace. Naturally, such body parts should be removed from inventory on reset, so that they can't be hoarded, and further such announcements of "General Bounties" would likely have a limitation of how many kills they'd pay for.
 
Bounty Type #3: ICly, the government might issue a bounty for items for various reasons. Perhaps there's been an increase in criminal necromantic cults, and as such, they wish to remove certain items that would aid them, such as Negative Energy Rods, so as to reduce the availability for them (Alternatively, and probably secrelty, it might be to amass the power source for a government sponsored necromancy projects). Perhaps there's a lacking of equipment recently, and the government needs to expand its military, so they require some specific piece of equipment to do so, and economically it would be cheaper for them to collect and repair used equipment rather than craft new ones. Things like weapons and armor would be treated by "type" instead of "specific item", so if a call for longswords was made, one could turn in either the standard "longsword", or perhaps some magical variant found on a quest, but would each would recieve the same bounty. Everything else could easily be classified as a need for "Trade Goods" by The Colony for trade with its partners, which in the current administration would be Old Port. OOCly, this would allow people who often toss or throw away various loot to perhaps cash in on this temporary bounty. Much like the previous Bounty Type, there would be a total limit to how many could be turned in.
 
Further, all bounties would have a time limit most likely.
 
Assuming such a system would be easily manipulated by DMs, this could be used to slide in their own bounties. They could, for example, set a bounty on orcs, and this would subtlely lead players into their spiced orc quest. Alternatively, maybe they would put in thier own custom bounty, and of course, since the system tracks who takes what bounties, they'd have an idea of who would be interested in their quest that they might be brewing, rather than simply depending on chance that players be around at the right time.
 
For such a system, there's a lot of opportunity, and game mechanics wise, there's a lot of possible benefits, and further, a lot of "tools" (though I prefer "Levers and Buttons") that DMs could use to subtlely influence players for a cohesive game environment.
 
That's my take on the suggestion >,>

[Elytherin Dragonius]

thanks scruffy, i most agree and found that rather more enjoyable and enlightened argument for something that i dont have a problem with ^^) i think it would be a great idea ^^)

[lovethesuit]

Monster PCs have been pretty open lately. I recall an Assimar (ha!), a tiefling or something else like it, and two werecreatures. The DMs put bounties on these creatures because they get it pretty easy, what with PCs all crying over "racism" (bullshit). So, that's an option for hunters as well.

[lovethesuit]

That assimar was really an assimar.

[Drakill Tannan]

I agree with scruffy, except in bounty No. 3.

However, this is a complex system. While i'd like to encourage DMs to work on it, if they can, it would be easier to place a simpler sistem in place, that could gradually evolve to what scruffy said, much like the animal pelt thing evolved.

Simply add random encounters, like thouse we already have, that consist of a small "hideout" area with several enemies. This enemies can be a named NPC, or a criminal gang. When killed, this NPCs drop body parts (head, ears...) wich can be given to a "bounty officer" in a scripted dialogue in exchange for a bit of experience and gold, much like it is done with the pelts.

To give it the feeling though, i'd suggest making the bounty board outside the stygian citadel a merchant like the bookshelves of the library are, that sells notes on the bounties avilable during that reset.

This sistem would be fairly easy to implement, and would get the job done for now, although i agree we should aim to what scruffy proposed.

[Daemonic Daz]

Skimmed over this thread so forgive if I'm repeating some points.

The way I see it, it will be pointless to add NPC bounty's to the list because your given another avenue to avoid conflict/PvP/involvement with other PC's. As DM's, we are here to promote a interesting story that involves players to work together or work against each other. We don't expect everyone to get involved in PvP, but we do expect people to RP their character properly.

When I speak of conflict, I am not talking about PvP. I am talking about disagreements, subtle (non-lethal) moves against another, political strife, backstabbing, blackmail, intimidation etc etc etc.

If you all you want to do is to hunt NPC's then go do quests and avoid plot hooks any DM's might throw at you to hunt a PC if they are so "epic", but you will be missing out on a great deal.

Some of the greatest moments I have had on this server is coming up with a plan to fight against other PC's (that were better equipped and more powerful than myself) and seeing the fruits of your labor come to life.

[Talir]

Although I agree with my fellow peers about the bounties, I've nothing against running a bounty against a NPC from time to time. Depends on how interested you guys are. But I will emphasize that going against PCs can be more rewarding and interesting, and having a bounty placed upon you shows that you've been proactive in some way (or merely annoyed those in power). Doubt we will script it.

And going against any monster PC is likely to be rewarded from those who despise such creatures (orc-dwarf, kobold-gnome, etc...).

[Letsplayforfun]

Bounties against PCs are more interesting than on NPCs because there's actually some research, plannin, real opposition, etc.

As far as NPCs is concerned, who cares if the bounty is on M. joe the criminal or on harpies or trolls or whatever. There's already plenty of targets out there, on which bounty hunter can rp.

A quest doesnt have to be brought u by 'hey, there's a humanoid camp nearbye, let's loot it'. it can be brought up as 'there's a bounty on each gnoll head, let's go for it' or something along those lines.

[Tankerman]

While Daz does raise many valid points, I am still of the opinion that most operations against PCs, clandestine or otherwise, do not have the Bounty gold as primary incentive anyhow - at best, it's icing on the cake for the daring few who actually have the supplies and/or PVP skills to do the relatively dangerous procedure of taking someone out and getting the needed things to prove the deed. This is still just my opinion, mind you, and I am well aware many of the "old timers" around here do not agree (as has been avidly demonstrated). I'm not saying PCs don't go against PC's, or that PVP is bad, or any of that other hogwash (there does seem to have been more than a slight case of misunderstanding about this), but when it does happen, as I say above, it doesn't in my experience happen a whole lot because of the bounty. We can probably rant about the reasons or minutiae of this ad nauseam. If anyone is interested in continuing a more specific "bounty discussion" with me, we can take it via PM, since then we'll have left the "suggestion" part.
 
It was just an idea, and if the DMs don't think it will add anything worth the trouble, then that's the way it is.

[Paha]

Yes, while it'd be nice to perhaps have NPC bounties, they can't be random for few reasons.

1.) They have to be fairly dangerous to avoid excess gold farming. This on other hand leads into whiny deaths, which was seen in underdark. Don't even try to deny that. Those NPC hostile bounty thugs were deadly and free to rampage you down.

2.) To avoid rampaging NPC monster bounty man, it needs a DM controlling it, which is just fine at times. Not every big bad joe has bounty on him, and the bounty is often there for a reason. (Read: they are not some thugs every lvl 3-5 can go and beat. Bounty hunting isn't kids sport.) At times DM posessed NPC has a bounty listed on them. Go for it chaps.

3.) PC bounties are there for a reason. They also are living up to their bounties, and hell, of course it's dangerous. But that's also why even so more glorious bounty hunter is, if he succeeds to get few bounties on his pocket.

[athousandyearsofpain]

lol.. So bounty hunter concepts get special bounty NPCs to kill. Great how about we add Nature defilers as NPCs too and when a druid kills them they get loads of coins. Great idea if you play a druid isn't it?
And oh yeah, NPCs who loan gold from you and pay back the double a week after, perfect NPC if you play a bankman-kinda character. And the best thing is that you don't have to interact with other PCs to do this.

The best step would be if everyone got the module sent to them so we could play singleplayer offline. Right Tankerman?

[Tankerman]

Nature defilers as NPCs too and when a druid kills them they get loads of coins. Great idea if you play a druid isn't it?

Now, I might be mistaken, but there's a few of those in there as far as I know. I'm not sure what you're getting at with the rest of your insinuations, but once you can more clearly state why ambience, customization and more options for styles of play - especially ones which require cooperation (online) are bad, feel free to make a post about it in the general discussion page.
 
Obviously, the DMs can't cater for everybody, but this would be a nice thing that wouldn't just cater to some (but would probably be more appealing to some).
 
But I guess it's much more fun to ridicule other people's ideas than come up with your own, right? I don't get why you keep kicking the dead horse, though, since the DMs already said it probably wouldn't happen. That said, I'm done with this thread. Hope someone locks it.

[Egon the Monkey]

lol.. So bounty hunter concepts get special bounty NPCs to kill. Great how about we add Nature defilers as NPCs too and when a druid kills them they get loads of coins.

I have three words for you:
Sharboneth Lumberjack Camp XD.

Thats' designed for druid or bandit PCs. I don't see why bandit encounters with bosses with a bounty on would be a bad idea.