STEEMPUNKNET - Suggestions and improvements for longevity

I'm loving STEEMPUNKNET a lot and if you don't know about it, go check it out here. It's a fun Steemit-based browser game which you run on top of Steemit and which lets you gain experience, find loot and duel other players. The game is in open beta and anyone can join, but it is still fully in development.

In this post I would like to write down some of my suggestions which I think could really improve the game and give it a long playtime and keep it interesting in the long run.

The ideal & variety

The ideal situation would be one where unique items can exist, be created and/or found. CryptoKitties on Ethereum does this by creating unique cats. Unfortunately, this is a special feature of the ERC223 token and I do not believe that the Steemit SMT's have this feature.

However I still believe it is possible to generate almost unique items, although they may be more difficult to trade (not on public market places as SMTs anyway). Just like how currently STEEMPUNKNET stores the experience and stats, it could very well store the stats of the items that you carry with you.

Even with a few variables a lot of combinations can be made in terms of abilities of course. But you can also use this method to create more or less unique graphics. It's not that hard: Just split up the graphics into pieces and randomly assemble them together.

For example, one could create 5 types of sword-handles, 5 types of different blades and 5 types of hand-guards. Then add some kind of color-layer on top with 10 different random colors, to make for a total of 1250 different type of swords. And that is just the graphics of course.. the stats could have their own variety. Somebody might find a Scary Pink Shortsword of Vanquishing +5 and it would be really difficult to try and find an exact replica of that.

Especially when this system is used for all kinds of weapons, one could quickly end up with a large range of possibilities that can emerge.

For storing it on the blockchain, all that would be required is to store a string of variables on a player's profile, which tells the game what item graphics and stats apply.

I think this is possibly the next best solution, other than having truly unique items.

If you want an example, the game Neverwinter Nights used a system like this to create a large variety of weapons:

Notice how the same handles, blades, etc. re-appear and how one alteration can create a completely different look.

It does require all the graphics to be created with this in mind, however.

Pets

@Ravenruis just made a great post on pets which I fully support. I would like to add to this that I think some basic features would enable pets to stay relevant:

• Sustenance/feeding of the pet, or else it does not add any bonuses. This creates an economy of some type
• A large variety of possible bonuses - force people to choose between one pet or another to create diversity in player abilities. This, as well as a variety in weapons, create more diversity between players
• A large variety of pets, some serious and boring but others wild and imaginative. The crazier the better, generally. People like customization and diversity and finding something weird

Other 'moneysinks'

Finding loot is great, but not if it's not useful! How about these things to spend our loot on:

• A steampunk alchemical device to create potions
• A garden or potted plant that requires water, but gives harvest
• A 'home pet'. Other than a pet that joins you in combat, this would be more like a fish bowl or bird cage. Maybe it generates resources somehow?
• A crafting station - Let players disassemble and re-assemble items and weapons (basically re-rolling the item) after spending some loot on it and a base item to sacrifice/upgrade

A /duelbot

I think it would be great if there was a /duelbot like there are tippingbots also. Instead of issueing a normal challenge through STEEMPUNKNET, one could write in somebody's comments section:

"/duel @pandorasbox"

And as a result it would perform an attack action as normal. The difference being that after this attack is resolved, the /duelbot shows up in the comments to paste the combat log and results of the fight.
This would be a way for somebody to publicly challenge another, and all could see the results in the post comments. Maybe there is a humiliating defeat? Or a crushing victory? It will be clear for all to see. Also, this is a great way to market the game as people seeing the results will surely wonder what this steempunks thing is.

It could also be used for small RPG games where the DM running it tells one player to fight the other and let the game mechanics deal with the combat itself.

Large random story generator for battles

I would suggest to split each duel up into three phases and let each player perform three attacks/defenses. This creates a lot of variables, which can then be used to pull random sentences from a database to create an exciting and thrilling story that tells what happened in the fight. Instead of being completely random, it will choose appropriate stories based on the outcome of the battle.

It would of course also be amazing if inside the generated story, you would read things about the weapons you are using and carrying.

I think something like this is currently in place already, but I think it could be expanded greatly. The stories generated could very well be the main attraction of Steempunksnet, especially with the /duelbot addition where these exciting (and strange, probably!) battles get posted publicly for all to see in an exciting format (perhaps a cool graphic addition, even).

Players could create 'Fight Arena' posts, where the intention is to duel eachother in the comments. Perhaps even attach a prize pool and champions list.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

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⚙️Level 6 Steempunk Adventurer ⚙️
Come battle me through @STEEMPUNKNET!