Add a PvE LZ
See what I did there?
Anyways, I think the environmental artists and 3D modelers have done an excellent job with the game overall. Even with my 1300 hours, I'm sure there are a couple of buildings and streets I haven't been in/on. Last week, I was farming some LZ bosses, when suddenly I discover Belzer for the first time, no lie. Never even knew he was down there until I just started walking. I then proceeded to walk down that same street from end to end. That's when I my curiosity came peaking his head about what could be beyond the actual game borders, or at least parts on the map that have road indicators, but aren't accessible. If you're not sure what I mean, open the game map and look North. Compare the area around De Witt Park versus the areas east and west of Central Park.
I think a map expansion is overdue, as we're coming up on the game being one year old, but given the scope and atmosphere I think the LZ could be a bit more alive. Here are a couple of things that I think would be nice for the LZ to get people to explore it more. I'll try my best to be practical.
Faction Wars
Now, this wasn't my idea, as I've seen this mentioned somewhere else on the forums., but i'd like to add to it.
Factions have wondered into parts of the city they aren't normally found, for the purpose of expanding their territory. One faction is trying to take over, the other is defending. Both factions have Named, maybe two Named and assorted foot solders of different rankings. Maybe mix it up between Elite and Veteran or maybe all Elite. Should these wars happen randomly? Yes, in my opinion, but we'll have to be notified that they are happening, whether it be as a message in the feed, chat box, if new ISAC voice overs haven't been recorded.
In terms of engagement, you shouldn't just sit there and watch. Now if I'm not mistaken, if you don't shoot a Named NPC in the LZ and they die, you won't get any drops from them. Much like in the DZ, unlike in actual missions. I would apply the former to Faction Wars Though, you shouldn't go unnoticed, but you also shouldn't be swarmed by each member of the factions. I think some changes to AI is in order, because right now, you can be spotted from quite a distance, as well as being a target when you're not even the closest to an NPC.
They can appear in each district, but much like how HVTs work, they'd only appear after completing every mission in that district. Exclusive loot (weapon skins, vanity, etc.) and named items would be nice for drops from the Named. Maybe each Named share the same loot table.
More roaming Bosses
There are currently 16 roaming bosses, and a ton of underground / subway space. Heh, you know that white dot on the map that has been there since day one? There's a subway spot directly under it, why not throw a named Boss there? Other than named Bosses, I don't think there are ANY roaming elites in the LZ, so I'd remove the trash mobs and replace them with elites, that hang out with the named Bosses, that is.
You know the school on the south east portion of the map where you had to do the virus contamination? Imagine if it became a "Cleaner Fort", where each floor had elites you had to get through, and at the top of the school, the Named. Throw in a loot crate somewhere in there, too.
Tons of underground space, parks, enter-able buildings, etc., unused! Though, if you add Faction Wars, you'd have to make sure they don't overlap with roaming bosses, though, that itself could be even more interesting. Keep the respawn timer, current loot table as well as adding to it, all that good stuff.
High End / Gear Set Crates
Now this one is kind of iffy, and will probably be much better in the DZ. Crates in the LZ would essentially be drops without putting up a fight. Even in the DZ, you have to extract items found in crates and have the possibility of fighting other players and even NPCs. If they don't happen, then bullet dodged. Now, what you can do is add veterans and elites to guard these crates, to give you something to fight. Of course, you'd have to find where these crates are located. I wouldn't put that much loot in the crates, maybe just a 1 weapon and 1 high end or gear piece, or two weapons, whatever the combination may be.
Drones
Imagine LMB drones hovering and roaming parts of the city, shooting civilians, acting as cameras, etc.. I'm not sure how their flight coding work, but LZ drones would make the skies a bit more refreshing. They could even drop some sort of intel or currency for things like HVTs, or tools and weapon parts, or some third new material. Maybe something like follow the drone. It's taking pictures and filming an area for intel for the LMB. You hide from it while also tailing it as it moves from location to location until it reaches a stop, with LMB waiting. If you destroy it before it reaches its destination, more drones will spawn. I don't know, just spit balling.
Random events involving civilians
Maybe some sort of escort mission where they need to be escorted to a different part of town, but on the way,you'd have to fight off NPCs, kind of like how you protect the JTF in some missions. You can take any path and they follow you (You'd have to make them run and hide behind cover when needed though). I seen someone post about random apartment events. How about saving civilians barricaded in apartments after running from NPCs? That would be kinda cool.
I don't know about you, but I kinda want to fight another helicopter.
The Bliss fight is epic, in my opinion. Maybe not the size of Bliss', but small LMB attack helicopters that fly above the city, but then eventually moves onto an open area where there aren't many buildings or confined spaces, so that that they have some mobility. You'd be notified of their location, much like Supply Drops landing on the map. That'd be cool to fight.
The last thing I want to talk about covers pretty much everything else in the LZ:
Exclusivity and dedicated farming
I think this is will be the ultimate reason to play any mission.
I remember seeing someone say they haven't had a single DeadEye drop in over two weeks. Now, it's all RNG, because you probably get DeadEye every drop, but still. Survival is a great example of dedicated farming, al beit not an exact piece. Survival caches are tailored more towards 1.5 items (This is being changed in 1.6 now), so I propose to bring back gear weighting to Incursions to way heavy in the gear (or patch) they were originally given, if that makes sense.
Sentry, Striker, Tac - They'll drop higher in Falcon Lost
Reclaimer, Hunter's, Lonestar in Clear Sky
So on and so forth.
You have to bring back dedicated farming spots. Here me out: HVTs, Dark Zone, roaming Bosses or just NPCs in general, proficiency caches, and even with Faction Wars, plus with the new Legendary difficulty, I'm sure you'll have green drops in that, so you still have the activities to get anything anywhere, as what people were once crying for, but if you're looking for a specific set piece, It'd be best to play a mission that'll guarantee you a piece of the set, or at least a higher chance of it. In Destiny, you can't get Crota gear in Vault of Glass, unless they changed that since I last played.
As for exclusivity. I truly believe locking certain items behind certain activities are the only way to get people to play those activities, but at the same time, you'd have to make those items worth it. For instance, with civilians at end game currently: they only drop Specialized and Superior items, if you don't have all the clothing items from them, and they only give you 436 xp or something like that. If you add escort missions to them and the payout is still the same, people are not gonna do them.
Disclaimer: Obviously, these things won't be added tomorrow, plus this would be a lot of "free" stuff, because I know people will complain about activities being locked behind the season pass, so if this list or any list on the forums with suggestions to improving the LZ is even considered, no one can really be upset at the new in-game store or season pass, in my opinion.
8 people found this helpful