Time Trials (not a "Season" event)
Time trials would be offered on a rotating basis, changing every two or three weeks. Two mission time trials would be offered at hard, challenging, and heroic difficulties - for World Tier 5/level 30 agents and WoNY DLC owners. Leaderboards would be kept for solo and group trials (a group is 2 or more and solo is, well, solo), as well as for each difficulty setting and each platform (e.g. PC solo leaderboard/hard, Xbox group leaderboard/hard, PS4 group leaderboard challenging, ect.). The variations in fps and latency between platforms and servers, plus the difference in keyboard/mouse versus controller warrants platform specific leaderboards. Plus, I am curious if there are significant differences for time trials. I also think solo players should have their own leaderboards to showcase their skill.
The time trial missions should include missions that either do not contain a timegate or cutscene for conclusion (Coney Island Ballpark - release the prisoner, plus Keaner cutscene), or are modified such that the mission is ended upon clearing all enemies (Lincoln Memorial - which has two loading screens between clearing the area and completion).
All loot drops would be dropped upon completion, so no need to collect on the run - loot boxes would be locked as they could be collected during any regular mission. Ammo, grenade, and armor kit boxes would still need to be opened manually. Target loot would apply as normal, there is no reward track for running any of the trials. While there would be specific times to beat, which would vary depending on difficulty, the real time trial is against the leaderboards. Run the trials to beat your own times, other's times, or test your skill/new builds. This would be highly replayable content in the sense that players, at multiple difficulties, can test themselves and their builds against the clock.
Thoughts, ideas?
Excellent suggestions I'm totally up for it.
Regarding cutscenes, another way to go about it would be to simply pause the timer during any cutscene and transitions that gives you a loading screen during a mission since these loading times vary between players depending on their hardware.
It'd be nice to be able to do trials on every difficulty. I'm getting tired of speedrunning on hard as it's not my favourite difficulty, but that doesn't mean others can't enjoy it.
I also agree with having categories for the leaderboards depending on difficulty, platform and party. I'd even go as far as having duos, trios and full squads separated but I'm nitpicking.
So yeah, I really like all those ideas but I REALLY don't see that happening, ever.
I'm not certain the timer could be paused because of the disparity in loading times. For instance, Lincoln Memorial has two loading screens after finishing all enemies - one to leave the lower floors of the memorial and another exiting the elevator above. I very often get fast traveled out of that elevator because while everyone else has exited my game is still loading. At what point would the timer continue, when the first player steps out of the elevator, or when my agent finally lands on the surface?
I agree that running the time trials on hard isn't that much fun, currently. Seeing purple loot drop is a bit frustrating
It would be ideal for solos. For groups, the timer could start back whenever the first person is able to move. The other way around could give an unfair advantage to anyone that has one player with very lengthy loading times. That way, even if one or two players are a bit late, it will barely make any difference since it wouldn't prevent the others from starting the next engagement, opening a door with a digicode etc.Originally Posted by BrokenFire319 Go to original post
Or you could rework certain maps to make it so that no one can exit the elevator/room before everyone is able to move and start the timer when the door opens. Or if we take Lincoln Memorial, you could pause the timer when everyone gets inside the elevator, start it back whenever the first person leaves and end the mission when the first person gets outside. There are definitely solutions to think of, even if a few might have to be tailored to a specific mission.
But given the fact that to this day, they still don't do actual testing on missions to figure out the times and stages, I think it's safe to assume that this is the last of their concerns. Pretty sure they have bigger fish to fry.
Another reason why the leaderboards would be separated by platform and difficulty. Leaderboards would be reset with each rotation.Originally Posted by SuspiciousPixel Go to original post
Chicagolongball, like most other content, one can choose to participate, or not. There are no rewards associated, no commendations, nothing locked behind completion. This would alleviate any "need" some feel to participate. Agents that participate in the trials would do so purely for the challenge and the competition
LightKola, I like your ideas for the timer pause once the elevator loading screen starts. The time still requires all agents be aware and enter the elevator for completion, but isn't dependant upon internet speed or server connection.