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based on the fact that the cities were controlled by bandits at the launch (if it is used that way) there could be events in the upper branches that are related to the bandits. much like the kitin invasions on the surface there would be events related to bandit attacks in the upper branches. there would be waves of bandits that would attack the cities in a similar fashion as the kitins attack the surface cities. these events could also have rewards for participation like the kitin events do, thus meaning titles. like the kitins drop tokens for titles on the surface, the bandits would also drop tokens (low level bandits would be at least level 150 to match the regions's lowest level, and highest would be 250 likewise to match the top region level) these tokens would be collected the same as KoTD tokens are collected, and could be turned in to an npc located in the "capital" city (the largest city) for the titles (this npc could be called "bandit observer of the jungle/lakes/forest/desert).

the token drops would be:
5 tokens for a level 150 bandit
9 tokens for a level 200 bandit
15 tokens for a level 250 bandit

these may seam like high numbers but read on, you'll find that this is not so high a number at all once you see just how many tokens you need to get the highest title possible. it should also be noted that the tokens are not restricted to any one ecosystem, meaning that tokens collected in say the jungle can be spent in any ecosystem of the upper branches. (see bottom of post for exact number of needed kills for the "advanced" titles)

the titles would cost:
100 tokens for "novice jungle/lakes/forest/desert defender"
200 tokens for "apprentice jungle/lakes/forest/desert defender"
400 tokens for "jungle/lakes/forest/desert defender"
800 tokens for "grand jungle/lakes/forest/desert defender"
1000 tokens for "extreme jungle/lakes/forest/desert defender"
2000 tokens for "master jungle/lakes/forest/desert defender"

the land the title was "purchased" in would dictate the ecosystem title awarded (keep reading there's a good reason to do this) like the kitin titles these are progressive, meaning you would have to "buy" them each in order, which would require 4500 tokens to get all 6 titles for a single land, however there would also be titles for homins that have each title in all 4 lands (each would have to be purchased separately in their respective land).

the advanced titles would be:
"novice atys defender" (would require 400 tokens to get, spending 100 tokens in each land)
"apprentice atys defender" (would require the novice title and 800 tokens, spending 200 tokens in each land)
"atys defender" (would require the apprentice title and 1600 tokens, spending 400 tokens in each land)
"grand atys defender" (would require the atys title and 3200 tokens, spending 800 tokens in each land)
"extreme atys defender" (would require the grand title and 4000 tokens, spending 1000 tokens in each land)
"master atys defender" (would require the extreme title and 8000 tokens, spending 2000 tokens in each land)

so to collect all these advanced titles one would have to collect 18,000 tokens total, spending 4500 tokens in each land, and if all these titles are collected they would trigger a special title of "supreme atys defender".

you would have to kill these numbers of each level bandit (if you killed only that level) to get all the titles in a single region:
if only killing level 150 bandits you would have to kill 900 bandits to get all titles in a single region
if only killing level 200 bandits you would have to kill 500 bandits to get all titles in a single region
if only killing level 250 bandits you would have to kill 300 bandits to get all titles in a single region

in order to get the highest title possible you would have to kill this many of each level bandits (again if only killing the given level block):
level 150 would need 3,600 bandits killed
level 200 would need 2,000 bandits killed
level 250 would need 1,200 bandits killed

so as you can see, these bandit attacks would become regular events on the upper branches and could provide a new aspect to the game play story line. keep in mind that this would be an upper branches exclusive event, and that they would be a good option between kitin invasions on the surface, this would add more reason for players to not loose interest in the game quickly.

while the numbers used in these bandit invasions would have to be developed by trial and error (much like the kitin invasions are) once a general number is found to provide a few hours of intense game play that could then be used as a template. there's no reason that once this basic number is found the scripts could be used over and over to run the events as often as they like with little change needed.

as for a "boss" (like the exterminators) these could be much like the marauder bosses are currently.
these bosses when killed could drop:
option one: 5000 bandit tokens. (can be shared with all players involved, more fairly)

option two: two full set's of Q270 light armor with stat's that are equal to supreme crafted armor with boosts of +100 in each hp/stam/sap/focus and 500 bandit tokens.

option three: (most difficult for dev's to code, but also most fair option for the player base) 200 excellent gen mat's, 100 supreme gen mat's, and 75 bandit tokens placed in every player within 100m of the bandit boss's location upon his (or her) death.

Talk -- I voted -1 for this (and would vote -100 if I could) for one main reason:
That just ain't gonna happen. it would be truly unbalancing. Not to mention needing new skins for the armor, etc.

There are also roleplay problems with this. Where are the "bandits" coming from? Why are they attacking? It's not as if they were marauders...

If the devs are to go to the effort of making new armor skins, clearing up and repopulating the old starter islands etc. It would be easier to make a new land using the Ring and populate it. That way they wouldn't have to keep undoing triggers that were build into the old islands.

My opinion.

I am also firmly against armour of that quality. Just like Q250 NPC HA, which I hope will never be introduced, it would completely unbalance the game. I understand people would have to put in effort for the reward, but the reward should not be the best LA in the game.

was just one of the options, it would be up to the dev's to pick one that they feel is best.

poke the bear with ideas i wrote ages ago