Chapter 4.7 Monster Grinders
Monster Grinders
Monster grinders are grinding tools that convert monster organs into pods. When used, players will throw them on the ground. If the location is valid, it will spread an affected radius to start the combat grinding mechanic. The affected radius will cause a rift in the world, allowing players to fight their own set of mobs linked to themselves and their party. If the location is invalid, it will fail and shatter (for example, trying to do it at a land claim you don't own.)
Monster Grinder Features
Allows players to fight their own monsters
Helps players avoid grinding in contested areas
Players can continue grinding to increase base stats and value of harvested resources
Using a grinder, players can create more base challenge rifts,
Allows players to farm falsemana
Choosing a Base Challenge and Next Challenge
Players can stack more resources into one grinder pod to increase challenges and increase base stats of collected resources. However, there is a maximum mixture limit. Players can mix and match challenge increases, because the next challenge will raise slightly, or more, based on the pod mixture. Players can also create different loot or monster buffing pods. These change the type of challenge or rewards for the next challenge. At max challenges, players have a chance of gaining falsemana resources.
Grinder Visuals
Within the radius, players who are not affected can see a ghostly form of the affected player(s) and the monster(s). Players can opt to turn this view off in their core menu. Outside of the radius, affected players turn to normal, and the figure of the ghost is now shapeless instead of the shape of the monster, and unseen by other players. Players appear as if they walked through a burst of fire when they exit. When the activating player exists the radius, ghosts, and the radius, will fade over time. Players will still be able to see the open world while in the rift, but the open world cannot interact with them. (Players cannot build structures in these temporary locations.)
Clearing Monster Grinder Threats
After players kill a monster, or group of monsters in a threat, players can activate another pod in the same rift for a new set of stronger monsters, or activate one in a new location to reset the difficulty.
Looting Mechanics in Grinding Zones
Players can harvest materials from this zone, without worry of other players taking their loot. Often times, players may want to leave their wagon or cart nearby to collect large amounts of loot. Or do it close to home. If players activate a new pod in the same zone before collecting all the loot, they will burn away and a new challenge will begin. If players activate a new pod in a new area, the old zone disappears along with the loot. If players allow the rift to time out, the loot will disappears too.
Exiting the Rift with Aggro
Players can re-enter a rift as long as the rift is active. Players are challenged to clear all the monsters in a rift. By leaving a rift zone, if monsters are aggroed, they turn into ghosts, chase the player, and will continue to hit the player with damage. Ghosts can go through structures and furniture. After enough inactivity at the rift site, the rift site and the ghosts will disappear, or if the player is defeated.
Churches' Protection from Ghosts
Players can enter a church or sanctuary. These ghosts will not enter. A player that have faith based skills with the required proficiency, can dispel them. Or they can time out over time. If the ghosts time out, the radius and the challenge will reset.
Monsters Summoning through Grinder Pods
When activating grinder pods in allowed zones these monsters are tied to the player that summoned it. However, allowed players in properties and settlements can also summon monsters using grinder pods, allowing any member to participate. However, these monsters are able to attack the property and anyone residing in these locations. It would be a good idea to create specific arenas for grinding. These monster grinders don't reset normal threats cycles, so players should juggle open world threats and grinding strategically.
No Waste
Bones, meat, and hide can also go into a monster grinder, and will contribute a small amount of value to pod challenges. Or you can always give your meat to a cook, the bones to a church, and hide to a tailor or leather maker.
Other Limitations and Challenges
A player or party can open one rift at a time
When a player joins a party existing rifts will persist, but the party cannot open a new rift until they clear
Existing rifts will start to time out when a player leaves the radius
Items can be crafted and zones can be constructed to allow rifts to last longer
Only works away in unclaimed land, or in allowed arenas and districts on land claims
Stronger challenge rifts will pursue fleeing player(s) longer