For posterity, I’m going to post a quick dream list of what I’d do with the game:
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Fix current bugs + issues (obviously). Sound, music during ambushes, etc.
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Add new crafting options to mitigate RNG (as proposed in the OP). Doesn’t require totally throwing away the entire item model to just add options. This could include a prestige point system for leveling up beyond 30 that expands your crafting powers.
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Add the ability to trade items + resources with other players in the Morningstar
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Add a bar to the morningstar with some games/events/announcements/etc. to have some ways to further interact
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Add the ability to add/remove/change weapon attachments to guns (ala the Weapon Customization mod). Flashlights, laser pointers, scopes, bayonets, etc. should all be configurable. Purchase unlocks for these on a per weapon type basis using dockets and/or melk coins.
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Separate weapon cosmetic textures from the models. Allow you to apply textures without having to change the models. Can expand this to work, again, like the Weapon Customization Mod.
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Add in a story challenge mode. Arrange all the missions into a sequential story line (add extra intro voice lines as appropriate to set the stage and make the narrative clearer). Playing through the story line missions in order gives you a nice extra bonus at the end (and is an alternative to only doing what’s on the mission board).
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Add in a "hardcore" storyline mode building on the above. When your team fails a run it wipes your progress and you lose the storyline bonus. So you gotta play through all the missions, in order, without failing a single mission. Reward is getting a much bigger bonus if you make it all the way through! Image the awesome picture frames from that on damnation+ !!
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Establish a “seasonal” cycle for the game - this will cascade into a number of features. Seasons can be 3-months (quarterly), or 4 months (3-times a year).
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Each season opens up a new set of penances to earn cosmetics (including trinkets, backpacks, stances, etc. in addition to clothing, weapon skins, etc.) during that season. Presitge points can be spent after a season ends to buy those cosmetics and/or you can keep a prior season “locked in” until you want to jump to the new season.
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Add new secondary objectives tied to the new penances. Ideally add a secondary objective type thematically associated with each season, tying back to the penances.
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New maps at each season, and an expansion to the storyline challenge mode accordingly. New penance rewards for re-completing the whole storyline each season with the new maps
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New weapons and marks per season. Maybe get 1 new weapon type per class 1-2 per year, and a few mark variants in between.
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Open up the entire premium store at once so players can see everything. Each season will introduce a new premium cosmetic set for the classes - which will be on sale during that season.
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Separate cosmetic “models” from “textures.” When you earn a new cosmetic (premium or otherwise), you get its model and associated texture. Build in a “cosmetic painter” (this is freaking warhammer we’re talking about!!!) so you can paint a base model with whatever textures you have in your inventory (ala the For the Drip! mo). Would encourage players to buy premium cosmetics for awesome textures that they could then apply to other armor pieces as desired. Win-win for everyone.
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Add in a “chaos waste” like mode. Here’s the twist/idea: Use a combination of fixed mission set pieces for objectives, add procedurally generated areas in between. Start mission with no gear and left 4 dead style can pick up items along the way, upgrade items within mission (like chaos wastes), etc… If you finish the mission, the reward is that you get to keep the weapons you ended the run with. Boom. Mic drop.