Rebuilding the Crystal Scar
http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/leagueoflegends/images/4/45/Crystal_Scar_Map_Preview.jpg
There have been rumblings of an upcoming Shurima event and files that reference the Crystal Scar on the PBE. Now would be as good a time as any to give the Scar a much needed visual update, likely with a Shurima theme given that the Scar's old location was retconed out of existence.
In addition to the visual update, I think the map could really use a few gameplay updates as well. When asking why people don't enjoy the Scar, the reasons I typically get are as follows.
- It feels less like winning and more like not losing (point countdown).
- The objectives are too same-y (capture points are the only true objectives, quests are poorly designed, storm shield is meh).
- The map feels like pointless running around (no clear progression of objectives).
- Why should I invest effort in this map if Riot doesn't? (Riot needs to step up their game).
So how about we address each of these problems?
Solving problem 1 The first can be fixed by changing point loss into point gain. Champion kills and capturing nodes no longer reduce your score from 500 toward zero. Nor do you lose points by having fewer nodes than the enemy team. Instead, you gain points at a rate of one per six seconds for every node you control. Since point gain is linear it would nicely solve the problem of a team getting locked into their base after a five-cap.
Solving problem 2 The second can be changed up by adding a few new objectives to the map while altering those we already have. First of all, Quests would now only spawn on the two bottom points. Windmill will never get pinged as a Quest. In addition, add a Capture Relic at each Speed Shrine ala Ascension. Capturing a Relic would award your team a small bounty of points in addition to granting your champion a mini-Storm Shield. The regularly respawning Relics would help make it abundantly clear to players just how important Jungle control is. If you're spending all your time trying to push to Windmill, you're probably losing out on Relics.
Then we add a new type of quest to the map. In place of the Storm Shield in the middle of the map a large feral Braken will spawn to begin the quest. The team that finishes off the epic monster will cause a sixth node to form in the middle of the map for their team, a node that can be neutralized but not captured. And unlike most nodes, this quest node will continue to fire even while being neutralized.
To prevent the Quest from snowballing into a 5-cap, all nodes are frozen as soon as the Quest starts and for 15 seconds after the Braken is defeated. Unlike most nodes, the quest node would gradually lose health rather than regaining it. Once it reaches zero it will neutralize and await the respawn of the feral Braken. In effect, this Quest spawning triggers a 5v5 team fight phase each time it pops up.
Solving problem 3 This issue can be resolved by altering how the game is won. Currently, the first team to drop to zero points loses. Now, reaching the certain point thresholds alters the map. Reaching 1/3rd of the goal causes the Feral Braken to being spawning. Reaching 2/3rds causes your team to gain bonus points when taking the Capture Relic near the enemy Jungle entrance. Upon reaching the goal your Nexus fires a blast of magic at the enemy Nexus, destroying the wall in front of it and exposing it to attack. Then your team needs to mount one final offensive, destroy the enemy Nexus, and win the match.
As you can see, each benchmark encourages a team to move the action closer and closer to the enemy spawn, placing themselves at greater risk to win. And providing the map with a clear progression of objectives in addition to the ever-present 'control more nodes'.
Solving problem 4 If Riot were actually working on the Scar, this problem would already be solved.
Thoughts on the concepts?
