A Reason to Update Bases

I want to start off by saying I love bases. They're functional, they're fashionable, and they're an excellent creative outlet that rivals the character's costume creator. But why should we update them? Like it or not, the base editor does it's job well.

But it could be better. There are almost weekly threads asking for it to be better, suggesting ideas and proposing fixes. But it still isn't quite needed, which pushes those suggestions down the pile in developer time. After all, even the largest SGs only have an extremely small percentage of players see their base, so why spend time and money upgrading a tool that's currently functioning? So to raise improving the bases in the develoment queue, I suggest givong it the "AE treatment". What does that mean? It means we request the developers replace the current base editor with a watered down version of a mission tile set creator.

The reason for asking this is three fold: First, with a new tool for the developers to create mission tile sets the developers would be able to create more mission maps faster and easier for Task Forces and story arcs, which goes hand in hand of creating new content. Second, being able to "fill in the blank" for mission tile sets would help to combat the feeling of repetitiveness of instanced missions. And finally, with a watered down version of the tool, players could create mission maps for the AE itself as well as have a new and upgraded tool to create bases with.

The general idea is to essentially give us more control over base building as a secondary effect. But there are also secondary effects for players that I would like seen thrown in.

The assumption I'm making, is that the full tool the developers would have would including being able to load up current mission maps, and add / subtract decorative objects similar to how our current base editor works (add pile of rubble here, remove burning rubble there, add Hellion wall decal, etc). A watered down version of this kind of thing would be excellent. In my little mind, I'm hoping for a more "mission like" base, where we're able to take a room from a mission, load it up at the cost of some prestige, and then add or remove certain items from the room to make it more base like, as well as functional. This alone, would give players many of the things they have been requesting, such as second floors, rooms with actual walls, etc.

Going along further with this train of thought, would be the ability to purchase "elevator plots", which would allow us to have a room with an elevator (or other doorway) that, like inside missions, would take us to another "floor" in the base. Say, going from a sewer tile set to the "secret tech lab" portion where the teleporters are. Taking that idea even further, I would like the ability to replace the blue portal with an actual doorway, such as in missions, that take you outside. This would of course only replace the portal within the base, and you would still exit to the blue portal in the zone, but it would go a long way to helping suspend belief that your base is a secret base with a hidden sewer entrance, or within an office building, or a cave.

So really, I feel that having the developers create a new mission tile set editor, something that gives them a large amount of control over what and where goes in a mission but works in the same style as the Architect Entertainment's "fill in the blank", would be an excellent reason to update the base editing process.

I've wanted to get major updates to bases for years.
There are countless different ways that kind of thing could benefit the game.

But I think the general failure of the core PvP base raiding concept left a "bad taste" in the Devs' mouths for wanting to do anything with bases. I almost get the feeling at times that the Devs might not even mind if bases somehow went away completely just so they wouldn't have to be reminded of what was arguably one of the greatest fumbles of this game.

I'm still hopeful something new will be done with SG bases at some point.
But based on the last few years I sadly wouldn't be surprised to see nothing change in this area.

I love bases too! I am all for any ideas that improve them in aesthetics or function.

Second floors and basements would be great, so would windows and perhaps a door in a specific location, perhaps your base is "located" in Atlas Park with a permanent door on that zone map. NPCs like Trainers, Analysts & Maintenance Staff (Maybe robots wandering around cleaning) would all add great atmosphere. Market access from your base would rock! Being able to set teleporter beacons for both Red and Blue sides to allow Rogues & Vigilantes access in either direction from their own base.

As a disappointed author and player, I really don't think you want the same kind of treatment that the Devs gave AE.
In fact, it could be argued that's pretty much what bases have right now.

Shadestorm started up an excellent thread in the Base Forums for "pie in the sky" ideas and brainstorms on how to make bases more "content worthy", and therefore more appealing to the larger game community.

You might want to take a look

I don't think we need a copycat version of another game feature for bases.
I'd like to see bases come into their own... again.

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I would love some base updates. New walls, ceilings, and floors. More items to place in them. Maybe even some usable items like the pool table. More items like homey stuff. For example the Hellfire Club of X-men was well known for its lavish party's and such but in the basement were supercomputers and dungeons. Thats what i would like of a SG base. Reduce prices on items or make rewards for items to be placed in base would be great to. Wizard 101 was nice when doing task you could earn items to place in your hide away. Thats just my opinion and I know this isnt at the top of there list

You know. I can do some really damn creative things with how the base editor is even now, and I worked on my base for about 3 hours tonight making a motorcycle, a waterfall, and sprucing up my hot-tub with a mini fountain.

But if there's one thing I could change... it would be placing things by blocks. I wish to god that there was no such thing as red boxes. If it didn't fit inside the wall, let it clip outside the wall. It's impossible to center a number of things because of the automatic jumping from one "placing hook" to the next. So if there was one thing I would change it would be the total annihilation of placing hooks in favor of a fully free placement system. I can only pray to god this would also eliminate the god awful lag spikes that hit me when I get a red box because the placing system is so crude. Throw in the ability to rotate anything and everything on a -360- degree circle and I'd be perfectly happy with the base options we have today for at least another 6 months, and that's without asking for all the items already in missions like the happy hour sign.