If the next DLC is going to focus, at least partially, on life and death, then I think it's high time (perhaps even last chance) to improve plots. Especially murder plots (the rest should be completely overhauled).
Some random ideas in no particular order on how murder plots could be improved:
- limit the number of plotters involved - it's stupid to have a "plot" of 40 people as at least one of them will always turn out to be a drunkard - 10 seems to be a reasonable upper limit, yes, this would impact plot power, so I would suggest increasing plot power overall by about 1/4, as well as things that will follow;
- add ways to convince people to join plots - blackmail and favours in particular - it should not be a simple case of if I have a favour on someone they will always join a plot, but there should be an option to ask them to join, in exchange for fulfilling favour, blackmail would have the added bonus of making "spying on" more useful;
- add ways to increase plot power outside of plot membership, specifically events that e.g. ofer you a chance to include a target's servant in a plot, giving a temporary boost to plot power or hiring the Hashashins if they like you enough, for the same effect if the target is somewhere in the Middle East and the Hashashins exist;
- make murder events more interactive - at least some of them should have some choices, which could increase plot power at the cost of risk of discovery;
- make prestige and piety a factor in plotting - specifically, make loss of prestige/piety a possible side effect of failing and use it as currency in some events - more uses for resources overall would be a good idea.
Overall, there should be more strategic choice involved in plotting. That being said remember one thing:
MAKE PLOTTING GUI USEFULL
The current one is clunky and pointless. When I choose whom I want to ask to join the plot, I should only see data that is actually relevant to plotting. Don't show me their learning or martial skill, unless you add ways in which those are usefull. What should be shown is:
- what plot power they provide;
- will they join (with a check box to filter out those who never will) and if not, how can I convince them - bribe, favour, blackmail, seduction, others;
- what new stuff can they bring to the table - e.g. "enables poisoning plot" for the cupbearer, "can spill the word of plot" for drunkards or some such.
Some random ideas in no particular order on how murder plots could be improved:
- limit the number of plotters involved - it's stupid to have a "plot" of 40 people as at least one of them will always turn out to be a drunkard - 10 seems to be a reasonable upper limit, yes, this would impact plot power, so I would suggest increasing plot power overall by about 1/4, as well as things that will follow;
- add ways to convince people to join plots - blackmail and favours in particular - it should not be a simple case of if I have a favour on someone they will always join a plot, but there should be an option to ask them to join, in exchange for fulfilling favour, blackmail would have the added bonus of making "spying on" more useful;
- add ways to increase plot power outside of plot membership, specifically events that e.g. ofer you a chance to include a target's servant in a plot, giving a temporary boost to plot power or hiring the Hashashins if they like you enough, for the same effect if the target is somewhere in the Middle East and the Hashashins exist;
- make murder events more interactive - at least some of them should have some choices, which could increase plot power at the cost of risk of discovery;
- make prestige and piety a factor in plotting - specifically, make loss of prestige/piety a possible side effect of failing and use it as currency in some events - more uses for resources overall would be a good idea.
Overall, there should be more strategic choice involved in plotting. That being said remember one thing:
MAKE PLOTTING GUI USEFULL
The current one is clunky and pointless. When I choose whom I want to ask to join the plot, I should only see data that is actually relevant to plotting. Don't show me their learning or martial skill, unless you add ways in which those are usefull. What should be shown is:
- what plot power they provide;
- will they join (with a check box to filter out those who never will) and if not, how can I convince them - bribe, favour, blackmail, seduction, others;
- what new stuff can they bring to the table - e.g. "enables poisoning plot" for the cupbearer, "can spill the word of plot" for drunkards or some such.
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