Hoblin PQ, Bosshunting, & alchemical catalysts

howdy freaks!
this will be a feedback thread on some possible content with supplemental HP concepts entwined. as with all my threads, the concepts and suggestions, especially on HP supplements, are just that, and up for any expansion/contraction in their interpolation

the hoblin pq was a pre-BB pq that had you escort shammos, protecting him through treacherous terrain in El nath, with a boss fight against the hoblin king rex, providing, originally, unique rewards like earrings that buffed your HP by like 20%, and a hyena mount. it also brought with it a decent amount of related quests and pre-quests, and monster cards. the pq is pretty straightforward, so why bring it in? well, it could potentially be rewarding in any way the server likes, and it is original, Grade-BBB content, so here's some ideas to make it worth some fun


Proposed updates for the pq:

-No HP% earrings, obviously this is super broken. Instead I think the idea of HP quest catalyst items (such as rex's green essence etc item that he drops), that can be handed on top of your ruel quest to add additional HP to your potion. +2, +3, +5, +10? This catalyst concept could be injected virtually anywhere in the game, but I think this is a good pq to give it distinction, and it's reminiscent of its original earring rewards.

[edit]
>>With the new v72 HP Quest update, perhaps the catalyst items could be used for the daily issue quests after 175/9500 threshold (or simply either since grinding hp quest and hoblin for catalysts would be pretty time consuming). So perhaps this pq could see a wide player base from 120-175+ (which would make the cold/slippery elements universal handicaps to the wide level ranges until you're able to overcome them, making the pq itself more of a challenge, rather than just getting to the end and letting pros take out rex)

-Snowshoes, cape of warmness, and warmness buffs won't work in the pq, making it more dangerous and difficult, so it can reintroduce the warmness scrolls, and spike shoe scrolls. making scrolled spike shoes (reg snowshoes won't work!) and warmness effects needed will make the slippery platforms in the pq and boss room more difficult, and the hp loss from the cold more dangerous/pot burn, until it's been completed enough times that you have some equips scrolled for traction/warmth. keeping them 10% or lower (and possibly untradeable), but not consuming a slot would be nice, too, and would give your progression into repeated hob pqing some development by adding these progression mechanics, so you can't just jump in and run it with no challenge if you're a higher level just because you're strong, or bring your mule team for a walk in the park.

[edit]
>>Or perhaps they are available after turning in X amount rex essence items (25?), first for the scroll of warmness, then the spike shoe scrolls, after 50?
Again, slowing progression of the pq initially with the convenience of these scroll effects bears repeated pqs to master the elements of it to make it even easier to grind later, but prevents you initially to sweep through it yourself (or with mules)

-making it a 120+ (but no ultis/aoe skills, killing mobs off screen is pretty op here specifically, plus shammos has knowledge of the ultis, so it goes to say rex may too, and binds them, idk, "lore") pq would be fun, and that's where the HP quest first becomes available (the hoblin pq and hp quest shorthand being the same is purely coincidental I swear lol). having mobs hit shammos harder/do fixed % to him, and heavy % based damage to players, as well as dangerous, continuous damage from the weather, rex more tanky and hit much harder, cast 1/1s, always casts total cancel when he's at 1% then spams map dispels with each attack, & more pesky status effects would make it a lot more fun (he does already have blackout, zombify effect, & can push you. A few tanky summons would add good challenge too), even though the escort part of the pq would last the same amount of time (when you aren't slipping).
...there's some reskinned, goblin-hat-wearing hectors in there... can you imagine reskinned green yetis, or even a green bigfoot summon with a goblin hat lmao IJS... or even... him, the best regional boss of all, snowman? bonus points to anyone that drops some edits of all that

-Alternate Rewards
besides the catalyst item(s), rex could possibly still drop his

• hyena saddle and mount (the mount was rewarded after 300 pq completions originally. a goblin hector mount would be great too :3)
• less common skill books (rush30, blind30, ninja storm, air raid, blizzard, big bang, enrage, frostprey, ice demon, elquines, bullseye)
• tokens of teamwork (which should also probably reward some kind of hp supplement, as many have suggested)
• warmness/spike scrolls
• Bosshunter Stimulators (see below!)
• components to an element neutral staff, such as the zakum tree branch wand (this is a concept that later mage classes implemented, an element neutralizer temporary self buff skill. it could be combined with any other items, such as a rubian shard from GPQ, etc etc, and a fat sum of mesos to create).
• the beautiful Blizzard armor set as NX covers, a super good looking equipment set from some aran event that could be repurposed as NX equip covers (check them all out here in the nx request thread)
• or the often requested invisible medal label NX, invisible guild label NX, or invisible pet NX items!
• possibly a recipe for a Bosshunter shoulder pad, or the server's first shoulder pad equip
• wrath of el nath cape, or shroud of el nath cape, and release Adonis and the El Nath ITCG items (hopefully all equips buffed a lil bit, let's get some ITCG items love)
• unique rex card buff (increases gold tooth drop rate slightly? gives you an extra visual cue which rocks to break in the dead mine pq?)
• hoblin kingslayer medal (high defense, magic defense, +3 INT?),
• etc etc etc

-Extra
The pq would offer a new area, quests, monster cards, and interesting and dynamic rewards, and all could be expanded on. Maybe there's an alternate path inside you can enter if you're wearing the goblin mask nx to find an npc that makes/sells (or a mob that drops) the warmness/spike scrolls, or wearing them makes rex more difficult (but more rewarding) lol. possible new quests, and alternative paths/mobs/spawnrate or RNG inside the PQ
~~~

Anyway about the Bosshunter stimulators (and set):
Each piece of BH armor gives +100 HP, a great buff, +400 total The armor has to be forged from gached or merched items, so it's a mini quest to create them, and they're beautiful looking armor set. I think if they had their own unique stims to buff them to be godly affected like any other eq, and maybe stims also boost their hp like +25~50, they'd be even more desirable to everyone, especially if the whole set provided a set effect of like an extra +100 hp. The only problem is the helms don't compare to zhelms/scargas, and of course the gloves/footwear have no attack. The stims could potentially:

• Perhaps only a x4 stimulated piece lvl 135 set could have the +100 hp effect (for +500 total: helm/hood, overall, glove, footwear, effect)
• Buff the helmet/headwear primary stats to be like +10 to be comparable to zhelms/scargas. The BH helmet and hood don't buff all stats, just two of the four primary stats. Thieves/mages typically wear the hoods (only +INT/LUK), while wars/archers/pirates typically wear the helms (only +STR/DEX), so they are not as universal as zak/auf/scargas/pirate helms, but would still function similarly. they would also largely exist in a market outside the washing meta, a cheaper, more customizable style
• Stims would have a 20% chance to destroy the item when trying to forge it
• Stimulated gear increases the equipment level requirements to be 135 (or higher, tbd)
• Give +1 att to the shoe/glove. I know this is a bit of a stretch but if the glove also landed to have like 120 hp each plus the set effect, it could be worth it to try scrolling for attack?
• Alternatively the stims could give BH items a level system, awarding bonus HP over on level ups
• Basically the helmet kind of makes or breaks the set effect concept, but it's not that wild, and the helmet stim could be its own item, promotes runs and value (if tradeable). But the set effect isn't a necessary bonus, the +400 hp is great as is, the issue is the gloves replacing/comparable att gloves/fs, and the helm having comparable primary stats. If the stims could supplement this possibility, then the BH items would be very desirable to folks in the unwashed market, and blowing up the prices and creating new markets of already existing equips, ITCG items, and the new stims, and scrolling them
• Or perhaps BH gear can absorb +max HP per major boss kill, up to a cap?
• Offhand, a Bosshunter medal to be gained, after vanquishing all major server bosses x amount of times while wearing the bh set. This could buff additional HP, or buff the helmet to be on par with similar helms. Make it a thang!
• or, only the bosshunter stimulated helms become lvl 135, the normal str/dex or luk/int stats, and a 1/5 chance of 1 w.att/1/m.att if stimulated (chance to boom ofc). BH helm stims would be a hot market item. perhaps they could also be obtained as tolen rewards for a decent amt of tokens, or even untradeable

Bosshunter Stimulators could provide a nice hp potential and godly-potential
to existing equips that are unfortunately not affected by the server's godly system, via a little pqing, while making the ITCG items needed to craft them boom in price, generating a big boom in demand for them, and gach. The Bosshunter set is a beautiful and perfectly fitting set to give the option to help players where bonus most needed, bossing. Also buffing all the ITCG items is a good idea in general (and letting their components be somewhat more available somehow), they are largely all totally worthless items, just browse at them, but they have a lot of potential to be worth the gach/effort to reward players in unique ways, which all the equips deserve, they mostly all look pretty rad, and the stims dropping or being randomly rewarded from the hoblin pq would invite players to run it together.

Catalysts
Catalysts would be optional items you could turn in to Ruel when handing in your normal hpq items, for a chance to boost the hp potion's stats. To give some extra intrigue to run the hoblin pq, rex could drop these special alchemical catalysts if you want to help boost your hp potion gains.
I think the catalyst concept in synergy with Ruel is a good vehicle to buff HP gains along with rewarding active pq participation from possibly other content as well. Rex may not always drop a catalyst (depending on development), but the pq should always take roughly the same amount of time if everyone is prepped (improved shoes and warmth) and familiar with it. But, maybe pap drops a catalyst, or zak, or margana, or mimics, or crimson hearts are catalysts, or the dojo panda, or dunas, or maybe different days of the week change the catalyst drop, so pqs are on rotation somewhat (Alishar Mondays, crystal balrog Fridays, Poison Golem Thursdays, papa pixie Sundays)


~so, watcha think about hoblin, catalysts, and the bosshunting gear?
...ok see ya later!

 

Oh oof, I remember playing it around the BB days, and hiddenstreetBBB had lots of info on it, I appreciate the clarification

 

+1 on the dragonrider pq. would love if drpq was a good way to get more dragon scales/spirits, tokens of teamwork, or transformation potions

 

I hate this pq, had over 200 runs, was aiming for mount, and they removed it (or couldn’t find players anymore). Sorry but personal grudge haha

 

@Staff please send wonderstruck their hyena through duey delivery prime kthx

 

two small edits added, one reflecting the new v72 hp quest updates and catalysts, and another clarifying the hob pq terrain handicaps

 

+1 for improving the bosshunter sets

 

bosshunter, hp quest, hoblin & hyena bump?

 

keep % HP, remove durability

 

Aqua road pq too please but remove kenta goggles so spectrum goggles still has a market albeit a dead one atm and ludi pq sustains its 5 player base per week

Regarding drpq, would love to see it brought back and the dragon scale reward after each pq could be used to exchange for eqs like.. idk crimson arcglaive? crimson arclancer? (All average without chance of godroll) as this would completely reduce the incentive to craft them

 

+1 for the BossHunter idea, with the super rare etc needed just to craft the equips, and the fact that they just look so epic, its kind of dissapointing that they're useless in game, other than its +HP gain. I've crafted them myself just for the looks and novelty of it, but a buff on them would be so nice

 

I remember the "Crusader Codex" (a horribly broken post-BB version of the monster book) had a bunch of Hoblin PQ mob entries. I would love to collect those in my MapleRoyals monster book.

And I always wondered what the "Transforming Snail of the Maze" was in the Pre-BB monster book; it turned out to be Rex himself.

 

I think it's a great idea I'm just very worried that the PQ will be an absolute snore-fest like Elin PQ and Dojo. They're so bad...

 

Add ghost ship pq too pls

 

my suggestions tried to make it dynamic/warranting reruns and x factors to change up the monotony, and rewards based on those decisions, easy hotfixes to ammend the pq before it's rolled out. any and all suggestions welcome. i think all pqs have some element of this, but some are much more subdued and just ignored for the fastrack completion route. i think these aspects should be a bit more entwined into all pqs to keep them fresh (such as reversed maps, stages out of order, etc)

 

appreciate all the likes and feedback. more importantly than simply injecting new content into the game, i think it should always integrate and repurpose and reinforce existing systems/rewards as well as its own niche ones, so content isnt simply there for the sake of flatly being there for one or two novel rewards otherwise it becomes dead content, which is why i make so many small suggestions and ideas to consider to integrate this pq with newer, more modern rewards and systems on the server, while still being true to its own lore and nature. keeping it integrated and purposed, as well as challenging, gives it constant replayability, and that's possibly the biggest factor for newer content, since it has to compete with all available existing content. working the pq backwards this way to incentivize replayability with newer and existing material is usually the better route than simply 1:1 nostalgia

another fun reward would be a way to introduce this amazing set of armor+effect, in the form of NX to wear over your normal gear, the blizzard hero set:

perhaps as rare drops from rex, itcg rewards from adonis, or a hoblin exchange quest with pq specific items to collect and turn in

 

bumping this solely for the bosshunter stimulators suggestions

BH gear comes with excellent natural HP. a full set grants a very large amount of HP. stimulators would let players have godly affected stats, potentially high dex/str/int/luk rolls, and even more HP.

like i mentioned in the thread, stimulated BH could also increase the BH gear base level to be 135 or higher. the only piece of eq that would fall behind is the helm because of the zhelm/scar/targa, but the helm stim could have better potential godly rolls.
reminder that there are two bh helmets, one for dex/str, the other for int/luk. they're imperfect to zhelms/scar/targa, bit could offer specific stats to people, as well as a great hp boost, so some folks could get more value from this helm. if it had its base lvl raised due to a stim, i think this could fit right into all current metas without throwing any other markets around, since zhelms can be plopped on as early as level 50

this would give the BH helmet stims a great value, as well as stim stabilizers

BH stims coming from VL, some often ignored NT bosses, ellin bosses, or future content, would be great ways to circle the current itcg items into a refreshed market, going from virtually no market value for the crafting items or finished gear, to a much higher immediate market value, the stims and stimulated gear as well.

still think this idea has a lot of merit and value to unwashed/washing chars or folks that need an extra boost they couldn't otherwise obtain for HP if they need an additional option.
they're also very good looking in game items, and are bosshunter gear, afterall. perhaps they should have a bit more attention. i dont see these proposals hurting any current markets, only creating new ones and options, as well as obvious sinks