Enhancing Free Roam: Mission Areas (Hardcore Mode?)

[IceD34ler]

Hey fellow RDO players, (*update* with map of New Austin to show how it could look like)

 

so maybe I'm not alone here but I'm really shocked on how Rockstar manages to create such a big game with just so little interesting things to do in free roam. Yes, it is still Beta but after countless hours spent in multiplayer mods like Arma 2 DayZ Epoch and Arma 3 Exiles (open world map of 225km²) I really find it kinda hard to understand how Rockstar just doesn't understand the very basics of making the world interesting from the start. The two mods I mentioned do an excellent job at filling the huge map with stuff to do.

 

Don't get me wrong: The Singleplayer Mode of RDR2 is crazy good, it's gorgeous both from a gameplay and graphical standpoint. Insane love to detail and yea, the story, you know what I mean. The MP part though...they already did a "not so good" job in GTAO and I hoped they wouldn't just copy that MP mode with a reskin of RDR. The problem is that RDR's realism just gets in the way when trying to use the GTAO approach.

 

Anyways, here is the thing. For all the readers who don't know Arma 2 DayZ Epoch/Arma 3 Exiles: Both are multiplayer mods to the corresponding Arma game. One of the key features of these mods are random Missions that pop up on the map. Visible to every single player they are marked with a radius on your map.

 

Here are some example missions from the Epoch mod: (If you already know them you can skip the following bulletpoints)

 

• a group of soldiers defend a Helicopter or a Special Vehicle that you can hijack to take for yourself or sell. (If you found the key for it which is mostly held by one of the soldiers)
• a supply drop is somewhere in the region (either medical, ammo or survival items)
• a group of soldiers has captured a building and guards a supply crate with random reward items inside
• a safe in a player base sets to 0000 for everyone to open since that safe hasn't been opened for a long time and the owning player prbly hasn't logged in for a while
• and much more...

 

There is also a Humanity value for each player (similar to the good guy/bad guy system of RDO). Bandit missions give you humanity (since you kill bandits), Hero missions lose you humanity. Both extremes give special rewards at vendors.

 

Now lets say we would adapt those missions to the free roam of RDO (some examples) :

 

• Dead or Alive: A region pops up on the map. Much like in the Singleplayer you need to get there, kill or catch the boss of a bandit group and bring him to the sheriff's office. First come first serve.
• Whiskey Delivery: A carriage of whiskey travels from A to B. Hijack the carriage and bring it to place X. Some of these may have an additional safe that can be opened.
• On the Hunt: A legendary animal has been sighted in the northern parts of West Elizabeth. Bring the skin to a Trapper at place X for a remarkable reward.
• Short Negotiations: Kill everyone in the camp and loot their belongings.
• Camp Under Attack: A player camp spawned a crate with valuables. The crate can be stolen by rival gangs.
• WANTED: Wanted Player in this region has been seen by the NPC law just recently.

 

*UPDATE* I added a map of New Austin to show how it could look like in-game:

 

 

 

The list could go on. Be creative. The important thing is these missions can be done by everyone and will force players to meet at certain key points on the map, making the radar blips of players redundant. Regarding player location markings: they need to be removed.

It's fine to have gang members shown on the map, but not other players...seriously. To me that's lazy game design. Also the Auto-aim needs to go.

 

But yea, adding those missions would greatly improve the Free Roam mode imho.

It could all be packed with a Hardcore mode with the following additions to make the missions way better:

- Remove AA

- Remove Players' locations on the map

- Increase the spawn range or only spawn players at their camp

- storage at the camp: all gang members should be able to store items there

 

What do you think ? Would you love to see those random missions pop up on the map ? Or do you think it's a bad idea ?

 

Thanks for reading and sorry for the long post. I apologize for any spelling and grammar mistakes, I'm german.

Have a great day!

 

(you can also vote for these missions to be added to the game)

Edited January 10, 2019 by IceD34ler

[CrimsonFolo]

3 minutes ago, IceD34ler said:

Hey fellow RDO players,

 

so maybe I'm not alone here but I'm really shocked on how Rockstar manages to create such a big game with just so little interesting things to do in free roam. Yes, it is still Beta but after countless hours spent in multiplayer mods like Arma 2 DayZ Epoch and Arma 3 Exiles (open world map of 225km²) I really find it kinda hard to understand how Rockstar just doesn't understand the very basics of making the world interesting from the start. The two mods I mentioned do an excellent job at filling the huge map with stuff to do.

 

Don't get me wrong: The Singleplayer Mode of RDR2 is crazy good, it's gorgeous both from a gameplay and graphical standpoint. Insane love to detail and yea, the story, you know what I mean. The MP part though...they already did a "not so good" job in GTAO and I hoped they wouldn't just copy that MP mode with a reskin of RDR. The problem is that RDR's realism just gets in the way when trying to use the GTAO approach.

 

Anyways, here is the thing. For all the readers who don't know Arma 2 DayZ Epoch/Arma 3 Exiles: Both are multiplayer mods to the corresponding Arma game. One of the key features of these mods are random Missions that pop up on the map. Visible to every single player they are marked with a radius on your map.

 

Here are some example missions from the Epoch mod: (If you already know them you can skip the following bulletpoints)

 

• a group of soldiers defend a Helicopter or a Special Vehicle that you can hijack to take for yourself or sell. (If you found the key for it which is mostly held by one of the soldiers)
• a supply drop is somewhere in the region (either medical, ammo or survival items)
• a group of soldiers has captured a building and guards a supply crate with random reward items inside
• a safe in a player base sets to 0000 for everyone to open since that safe hasn't been opened for a long time and the owning player prbly hasn't logged in for a while
• and much more...

 

There is also a Humanity value for each player (similar to the good guy/bad guy system of RDO). Bandit missions give you humanity (since you kill bandits), Hero missions lose you humanity. Both extremes give special rewards at vendors.

 

Now lets say we would adapt those missions to the free roam of RDO (some examples) :

 

• Dead or Alive: A region pops up on the map. Much like in the Singleplayer you need to get there, kill or catch the boss of a bandit group and bring him to the sheriff's office. First come first serve.
• Whiskey Delivery: A carriage of whiskey travels from A to B. Hijack the carriage and bring it to place X. Some of these may have an additional safe that can be opened.
• Hunting Season: A legendary animal has been sighted in the northern parts of West Elizabeth. Bring the skin to a Trapper at place X for a remarkable reward.
• Camp Under Attack: A player camp spawned a crate with valuables. The crate can be stolen by rival gangs.
• etc.etc.

 

The list could go on. Be creative. The important thing is these missions can be done by everyone and will force players to meet at certain key points on the map, making the radar blips of players redundant. Regarding player location markings: they need to be removed.

It's fine to have gang members shown on the map, but not other players...seriously. To me that's lazy game design. Also the Auto-aim needs to go.

 

But yea, adding those missions would greatly improve the Free Roam mode imho.

It could all be packed with a Hardcore mode with the following additions to make the missions way better:

- Remove AA

- Remove Players' locations on the map

- Add more fast travel places

- Increase the spawn range or only spawn players at their camp

- storage at the camp: all gang members should be able to store items there

 

What do you think ? Would you love to see those random missions pop up on the map ? Or do you think it's a bad idea ?

 

Thanks for reading and sorry for the long post. I apologize for any spelling and grammar mistakes, I'm german.

Have a great day!

 

(you can also vote for these missions to be added to the game)

Love it, i used to watch plenty of DayZ and arma videos back in the day and this would be really fun in RDR2 if they ever decided to implement something similar to this. I was thinking an event where a massive gang rolls through towns and causes mayhem would be fun as well.

 

The current free mode events are pretty boring and standard and don't really offer anything new. 

[Callahan44]

I hate the existing freeroam events. Pure chaos,no one ptfos,you get killed in seconds all the time.

I dont get why we dont have stuff like kill/skin most rabbids,catch the most fish,travel the longest distance etc. Relaxing stuff everyone can take place in no matter where he is on the map. Gta had a lot of these.  every single freeroam event is a tiny area with loads of players and 1 objective everyone atacks. Its one of the biggest mysteries for me,how could anyone think this is fine.

[IceD34ler]

5 minutes ago, Callahan44 said:

I hate the existing freeroam events. Pure chaos,no one ptfos,you get killed in seconds all the time.

I dont get why we dont have stuff like kill/skin most rabbids,catch the most fish,travel the longest distance etc. Relaxing stuff everyone can take place in no matter where he is on the map. Gta had a lot of these.  every single freeroam event is a tiny area with loads of players and 1 objective everyone atacks. Its one of the biggest mysteries for me,how could anyone think this is fine.

Seriously, the current freeroam events are the worst. You spawn, you get killed by a player who spawned earlier. If you happen to kill the other player you get killed by the player who spawned behind you. It's horrible horrible game design. The Auto-Aim and visible player blips make that even worse.

[Callahan44]

1 minute ago, IceD34ler said:

Seriously, the current freeroam events are the worst. You spawn, you get killed by a player who spawned earlier. If you happen to kill the other player you get killed by the player who spawned behind you. It's horrible horrible game design. The Auto-Aim and visible player blips make that even worse.

It is not thaaat bad if its about getting most headshots,at leas everyone can do it. But if you have to grab a bag,get on a horse,defend 1 area on the map in  30men ffa...holy sh*t thi is bad. It doesnt matter if youre nxt to the bag or 100m away,everyone will killyou. Its honestly 80% luck who wins. And its 100% not fun.

[IceD34ler]

3 minutes ago, Callahan44 said:

It is not thaaat bad if its about getting most headshots,at leas everyone can do it. But if you have to grab a bag,get on a horse,defend 1 area on the map in  30men ffa...holy sh*t thi is bad. It doesnt matter if youre nxt to the bag or 100m away,everyone will killyou. Its honestly 80% luck who wins. And its 100% not fun.

True. I joined one free roam event yesterday and got that money bag game mode thingy. Never again. I ended up clearing NPC bandit hideouts, hunting and fishing which was more fun. In MultiPlayer. Which is kinda ironic.

[Stretch188]

3 of the 4 mission ideas you had are already in the game - go do the stranger missions.

 

Dead or Alive = Coach Kidnapping

 

Whiskey Delivery = Bushwhack

 

Hunting Season = On the Hunt

 

I hunted a legendary white skin alligator with glowing eyes last night - got paid out 20$ and a fifth of a gold bar.

 

I made about 500$ yesterday just farming stranger missions.

 

Theres also the free roam events (dispatch rider, cold dead hands, master archer, sidearm kills etc.)

 

The problem with those currently, like the rest of the game, is that everyone has magical guns with homing bullets. Once free aim lobbies are installed, all of the game modes will instantly improve.

 

Theyve already changed races - and theyre so much more fun! You cant lock during races as of the latest update, had a blast, and since there is actual skill involved now I was finally able to win a few (ahem...7) races in a row.

[IceD34ler]

1 minute ago, Stretch188 said:

3 of the 4 mission ideas you had are already in the game - go do the stranger missions.

 

Dead or Alive = Coach Kidnapping

 

Whiskey Delivery = Bushwhack

 

Hunting Season = On the Hunt

 

I hunted a legendary white skin alligator with glowing eyes last night - got paid out 20$ and a fifth of a gold bar.

 

I made about 500$ yesterday just farming stranger missions.

 

Theres also the free roam events (dispatch rider, cold dead hands, master archer, sidearm kills etc.)

 

The problem with those currently, like the rest of the game, is that everyone has magical guns with homing bullets. Once free aim lobbies are installed, all of the game modes will instantly improve.

 

Theyve already changed races - and theyre so much more fun! You cant lock during races as of the latest update, had a blast, and since there is actual skill involved now I was finally able to win a few (ahem...7) races in a row.

Why would I ride to someone else to the other side of the map and try to interfere when there are like 40 other stranger missions around that I could do asap ? And the big problem here is that due to the players always visible on the map I wouldn't start such a stranger mission if there are any other players nearby. Furthermore some of these missions are way too short to really be able to interfere. The lack of fast travel and the low payment do not really motivate me to ride to a guy who will be done with the mission in like 2 mins. There are way too many stranger missions in total.

 

If there where big mission areas, no blips, no auto aim, things would be different. 5 missions active max.

I could try to do it alone or with gang members. I could camp the mission area or try to kill the one with the valuables when he tries to secure the stuff at his camp.

 

Also why can't I loot other players for valuables ? This is another missed opportunity. I should be able to at least loot 1 valuable item off a player.

 

Do these stranger missions always pay the same amount ?

[Stretch188]

Im not talking about interfering with other peoples missions im talking about starting your own.

 

How many have you actually tried? There are plenty that take longer - they give you 20 minutes to do the hunting mission, as you need to investigate clues to locate the animal.

 

Generally depending on performance they range from about 9-20$ and .04-.2 gold bars in my experience.

 

I agree that players shouldnt be visible on the map the entire time -there was nothing funner in rdr 1 than pretending to be an npc and then ambushing someone.

 

Go activate a stranger mission in a high density city if you want people to chase you - go further away if you want a pve experience.

 

Ive found doing a player assasination assignment is a good way to get a person (and their entire posse) chasing you across the map as you try and complete missions.

[afriendlyreddot]

I catch myself wishing they'd add hardcore servers back and update the radar to not allow constant visibility of players but instead use the fog mechanic they implemented for enemies, if a player is in your immediate area. Then I remember the typical consumer of R* products and am immediately brought to the reality that this will more than likely not go the way we hardcore enthusiasts wish.

 

Great points still kudos!

[IceD34ler]

7 minutes ago, Stretch188 said:

Im not talking about interfering with other peoples missions im talking about starting your own.

 

How many have you actually tried? There are plenty that take longer - they give you 20 minutes to do the hunting mission, as you need to investigate clues to locate the animal.

 

Generally depending on performance they range from about 9-20$ and .04-.2 gold bars in my experience.

 

I agree that players shouldnt be visible on the map the entire time -there was nothing funner in rdr 1 than pretending to be an npc and then ambushing someone.

 

Go activate a stranger mission in a high density city if you want people to chase you - go further away if you want a pve experience.

 

Ive found doing a player assasination assignment is a good way to get a person (and their entire posse) chasing you across the map as you try and complete missions.

I've tried 3 missions so far and sadly they were pretty boring. One was taking a carriage from A to B, the second was getting two sacs of money to their owner. The third was chasing some bandits through the snow.

 

Maybe I should do more of these. But I still feel that making those missions randomly pop up/removing blips and AA would feel way more natural. 

 

When could players interfere in that Alligator mission ? Was the area where that Alligator was hiding visible to everyone or was it shown to all players once you got its skin ?

[Stretch188]

I cant remember when they could interfere - if i had to guess it opened up after i had the skin on my horse, but it could of been before that or not at all tbh - i was especially panicked during this one as the swamps just creep me out and my first bullet just glanced of its head (so close to unlocking express ammo lol) and it charged me and it was genuinely terrifying.

 

Yes some of them are pretty boring,but they upped the payouts, and a few of them are pretty cool - i did a solo coach robbery by just lobbing dynamite under the carriage and grabbing the loot out of the wreckage after.

 

I generally stick with the bad honor missions, as they are a little funner. Also, once you have completed a mission for someone, their blip becomes dynamic, and they show up in different locations.

 

I hope they add more missions/strangers soon! I dont see them going away from the blips - its been their signature since gta 3.

[IceD34ler]

3 minutes ago, Stretch188 said:

I cant remember when they could interfere - if i had to guess it opened up after i had the skin on my horse, but it could of been before that or not at all tbh - i was especially panicked during this one as the swamps just creep me out and my first bullet just glanced of its head (so close to unlocking express ammo lol) and it charged me and it was genuinely terrifying.

 

Yes some of them are pretty boring,but they upped the payouts, and a few of them are pretty cool - i did a solo coach robbery by just lobbing dynamite under the carriage and grabbing the loot out of the wreckage after.

 

I generally stick with the bad honor missions, as they are a little funner. Also, once you have completed a mission for someone, their blip becomes dynamic, and they show up in different locations.

 

I hope they add more missions/strangers soon! I dont see them going away from the blips - its been their signature since gta 3.

Ok. Well I guess they really should go for a hardcore mode then. You cannot really setup ambushes with everyone shown on the map, and in these missions you are often only vulnerable at certain mission stages. Also the

fact that you can't really loot other players just goes against my idea of playing an outlaw. But I will definitely try the other stranger missions just to see if it gets better.

 

There were multiple different ways of handling blips in GTA4 Online mode though. You could disable them, only make them appear when enemies are nearby etc.

[IceD34ler]

I updated the first post here with a map of New Austin to show how it could look like in-game. The main difference to the Stranger Missions is the better accessibility of Missions. You have more time to interfere and its more concentrated in one region.

[DentureDynamite]

Two key things affecting free roam:

 

1) Rockstar is obsessed with control and micromanagement (see also "microtransactions"), and has no long-term plans to enhance pure free roam game play with variables directly in the control of players.

2) Someone high up at Rockstar thinks Adversary Modes (or their RDO euphemistic equivalent) = creative, fun game play. In part, because when you play those modes, the money you make is tightly monitored and controlled.

 

But I also strongly suspect that the amount of development personnel and resources put into RDR2--after its release--is then diverted to the next R* game, leaving a much smaller "team" trying to cope with RDO's buggy mess and high content demands designed solely to generate revenue; not game play.

 

In reality, creative players are the ones who come up with fun things for others to enjoy. R*'s "ideas" for structured game play is rarely as popular.

Edited December 19, 2018 by DentureDynamite

[IceD34ler]

2 hours ago, DentureDynamite said:

Two key things affecting free roam:

 

1) Rockstar is obsessed with control and micromanagement (see also "microtransactions"), and has no long-term plans to enhance pure free roam game play with variables directly in the control of players.

2) Someone high up at Rockstar thinks Adversary Modes (or their RDO euphemistic equivalent) = creative, fun game play. In part, because when you play those modes, the money you make is tightly monitored and controlled.

 

But I also strongly suspect that the amount of development personnel and resources put into RDR2--after its release--is then diverted to the next R* game, leaving a much smaller "team" trying to cope with RDO's buggy mess and high content demands designed solely to generate revenue; not game play.

 

In reality, creative players are the ones who come up with fun things for others to enjoy. R*'s "ideas" for structured game play is rarely as popular.

True. Chances are they will not touch the gameplay and only balance their monetization. The only thing that could make them change their mind is prbly once players realize that there is actually no real progress in the game other than farming boring game modes for new cosmetic items and slightly better weapons/horses.

 

And I believe this will happen earlier than R* thinks. They will probably try to "enhance" RDO by adding more content in forms of new weapon mods/horses/items but I doubt this will work the way they want.