I spent the weekend in the Kitin Lair for the first time, and I have to say this is EXACTLY the kind of place I was thinking of, though quite a bit larger scale than I was asking for. There are very few non-mission materials to forage, the creatures appear to be social (I admit that I didn't do extensive testing there *cough*), and there are hostile patrols running around that visitors need to actively avoid.
The Cattle room, in particular, is nearly identical to my vision of the "Kitin Farm" encounter, though implemented much better than I was proposing. The Prime Eggs room is similar to my vision of the Kitin Metamorphosis encounter, though it seems to be aimed at an earlier stage of growth. Perhaps when the lair is expanded in the future, there will be another, nutrient-rich room where the larvae can feed, grow, and then morph.
What I wanted to touch on primarily are the breaches in the valley, surrounded by Kizaraks and aggressive Kipees. Watching the "cowboy" Kincher and the Terminator Kipucka appear and disappear into the one breach, and then seeing the others in that valley, provides the answer to the "portal" implementation question: the breaches are the means for kitin transportation. Right-click one, and choose to enter that tunnel. After a loading screen transition, you are in an underground tunnel.
These breaches could also be a way into unknown lands, though highly dangerous. The breaches in the Lair would appear to be well-used and well-maintained, so they should be exceptionally dangerous. But other breaches could appear randomly throughout the world, with a few guards around them. Take out the guards, enter the breach, and prepare for a wild ride!
The Kitin Lair is easily now my favourite location in the game, provides a perfect example of what I wanted to see expanded upon.
The Cattle room, in particular, is nearly identical to my vision of the "Kitin Farm" encounter, though implemented much better than I was proposing. The Prime Eggs room is similar to my vision of the Kitin Metamorphosis encounter, though it seems to be aimed at an earlier stage of growth. Perhaps when the lair is expanded in the future, there will be another, nutrient-rich room where the larvae can feed, grow, and then morph.
What I wanted to touch on primarily are the breaches in the valley, surrounded by Kizaraks and aggressive Kipees. Watching the "cowboy" Kincher and the Terminator Kipucka appear and disappear into the one breach, and then seeing the others in that valley, provides the answer to the "portal" implementation question: the breaches are the means for kitin transportation. Right-click one, and choose to enter that tunnel. After a loading screen transition, you are in an underground tunnel.
These breaches could also be a way into unknown lands, though highly dangerous. The breaches in the Lair would appear to be well-used and well-maintained, so they should be exceptionally dangerous. But other breaches could appear randomly throughout the world, with a few guards around them. Take out the guards, enter the breach, and prepare for a wild ride!
The Kitin Lair is easily now my favourite location in the game, provides a perfect example of what I wanted to see expanded upon.