Gladiators - Fallout style

[xan713]

Hi all,

Quick Disclaimer: So I've been playing Fallout 4 for about 50 hours now, and I've been pondering on many mod ideas I have. I'd like to pass one on to you all, which I believe would be feasible for both PC and later console approval since it shouldn't require optimization changes from any of the systems (PC/PS4/Xbox One). This isn't entirely original, but it'd be entertaining in the Fallout universe if it's done as explained. All criticism from all forum users and all suggestions are welcome. I'd like to open this to the community to get some great minds to improve what I'm starting with (Credit will be given).

 

'Gladiators'

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

 

i) Introduction

ii a) Gladiator mini-campaign explained further

ii b) Gladiator Mini-Campaign Quest line possibilities

iii) Placing Bets should have a greater purpose, as a reward beyond just caps

iv) Different types of possible arenas

v) Power Armour Rewards

vi) Building Layout

 

 

i) Introduction

 

You stumble across an arena (That name is up to you, suggest below if you want), where the fiercest opponents of melee combat duel it out to the death in Power Armor (using Melee weapons and weapons such as Grenades/Molotovs/Mines).

 

When you arrive, it's all shiny and pristine, and it seems rather odd that a place like this would look so well kept. You walk up to a Security checkpoint and at the window, an NPC (A manager/boss, or something like that) approaches you and engages in conversation, s/he asks if you're here to either......

 

A) Compete as a Gladiator - You face (named) Gladiators in a Free For All Deathmatch in basic arenas, or arenas with pitfalls/hazards and traps. Competing as a Gladiator as you partake in combat and complete the quest line earns you renown, new custom Power Armor rewards (Paint jobs/custom models that are faithful to the games canon), Power Armor mods, unique melee weapons, caps, Arena-Fusion cores, and other potential rewards. (Continued..).. Oh, how could I forget to mention... SPOILS OF WAR - Loot corpses for special items.

~or~

B) Place Bets - Placing bets let's you watch and bet on non-storied Gladiators as they kill each other in an arena. If your chosen Gladiator wins, you earn caps. The more accurate and successful you are with your bets, the more you'll unlock new elements that are tied in with the core game. (Continued..)

 

There would also be another reward that ties with the Settlement building part of the game, if you reach the end of this mini-campaign, you unlock some rewards that tie in with gameplay elements of the existing game. Read the 'Continued..' sections below for more detail on that.

 

Once you've explained your reasons, you're let in past the security, and have access to certain areas, depending on which option you gave. As you look around, you notice several areas are falling apart and require maintenance, much like a Settlement in the Commonwealth would. There's more to this place than it seems.......... And this is something that'll open up to you during this mini-campaign (of sorts).

 

ii a) Gladiator mini-campaign explained further:

 

When you compete as a Gladiator, you enter the usual 'Climb to the top of the ladder' type of scenario, with a questline to go with it. With each tier containing opponents that scale in difficulty, as well as being more decorated (Honor, their personality, how cool their armour looks). The Gladiators you face in arena combat may be from different factions in the game, such as:

• Gunners
• Super Mutants
• The Institute
• Brotherhood of Steel
• Raiders
• Triggerman
• Atom Cats

Or, for story reasons that may conflict with elements of lore/storyof factions in Fallout4, these Gladiators might have either left their factions to compete (Gone rogue), or have reasons of their own: (For example) be undercover to draw out an enemy of their faction that is within the Gladiator ranks (for their own purposes). These combatants may give you quests asking you to rig their matches somehow in their favour. This is just character development stuff I'm passing on as suggestions.

 

Risks of participating:

 

• Sometimes, Gladiators may conceal deadly high damage non-melee weapons (Guns of sorts) to gain an advantage, and use them against opponents (Including you). This is looked down upon, but security measures can't stop everything. This can be changed though (Explained later....). Moral of the story: You can't trust anyone.
• Some Gladiators may use Stealth Boys, yes - You too.
• Not sleeping between fights may have some drawbacks and penalties that build up, so it's a good idea to get rest. (Think Fallout: New Vegas Survival Mode, but a Lite edition).

 

You gain Renown, and have influence upon others outside of the Gladiator arena depending on how high you climb in the Tiers:

(Certain Perks or SPECIAL stats could be influential, e.g Charisma and/or Intimidate)

If you reach the highest 3 tiers of competition, you can recruit fresh blood to participate in the Gladiator Arena. Go around the Commonwealth and either recruit new fighters to participate, or challenge them to face you.

 

ii b) Gladiator Mini-Campaign Quest line possibilities:

• Choosing to providing an NPC with an illegal item for an unfair advantage, or not. (Consequential choices)
• Build an Arena Power Armour suit.
• Customize that Arena Power Armour suit with mods you've earned from climbing the ranks, or looting off dead Gladiators.
• Poisoning a rather difficult NPC so that he's weakened, for a particular fight.
• Gaining a follower (or two) who can be useful outside the arena. (Choice of one or the other, think of the Mass Effect 1 choice between Kaiden and Ashley)
• An NPC fist fight breaks out in the Mess Hall over something stupid, which turns into a testosterone wild free for all brawl. (Nobody dies, but it paints a picture that this place is rather dangerous).
• Having your Power Armour tampered with prior to a match at a certain point (When you must sleep, for Rested bonuses), and you must find out who caused it (If you live).
• Become the "Deadliest Gladiator" - Survive right until the end, the last Gladiator standing.
• Figure out who is a murderous Synth agent posing as a Gladiator.
• Assist in an Undercover quest for an NPC.

 

 

iii) Placing Bets should have a greater purpose, as a reward beyond just caps:

(Certain Perks or SPECIAL stats could be influential, e.g Intelligence and/or Robotics Expert)

Here's how that should work... If you bet successfully enough, the Manager/Boss NPC that you first met starts taking notice of your prowess in gambling. S/He approaches you. S/He further notes that you have a great mind and tact for 'doing the right thing' and wants you to become a business partner, of sorts... You must make a caps investment for him/her to trust you (which allows you to modify arenas in certain ways). Once you've done that, this happens:

 

• 55% Success rate: Build Turrets which react to and defend against opponents who conceal and use deadly high damage weapons that aren't melee weapons, or Grenades/Mines/Molotovs. Sometimes, people are assholes. The Commonwealth is no different.
• 65% Success rate: Recruit Robots to participate, you gain access to a Terminal that lets you change Behaviours.
• 75% Success rate: A ruined arena is unlocked (With a Workshop in it), and you can build within it, to make your own combat arena.
• 80% Success rate: A second ruined arena is unlocked (With a Workshop in it), and you can build within it, to make your own combat arena.

(^ Above can be fine tuned, or there may be a base requirement of number of bets placed before you can get that)

 

iv) Different types of possible arenas:

 

(Each Arena would have a couple of announcers that are entertaining, morbid, and funny. And there'd also be a crowd surrounding the outside of the arena, containing betters, and fans. Plus ambient crowd cheering, and general crowd noises when it comes to sports.)

 

When you enter these arenas, they should have layouts that provide a survivability/obstacle challenge to the player and the AI you face against. For example:

 

• Contain placed traps - Tesla, Radiation, Fire. This isn't a place to be fair.
• Platform arena above a deathly pitfall. If you fall off, instant death.
• This may be done at random - Gates containing enemies may be opened against the Gladiators.. Containing things like: Feral Ghouls, Packs of aggressive animals, Deathclaws etc. Some may be Legendary, other's just may be Elites, or normal enemies depending on what tier you fight in.
• Maze layout, this could prove to be really difficult and regretful.

 

v) Power Armour Rewards:

 

Where there's risk, there's reward. There are a few types of Power Armour in the game right now, so a few more special ones would be nice. They may contain:

 

• Super intimidating paintjobs, e.g ones that show off severed heads/skulls etc. Or visual references to similar famous NPCs in Fallout lore.
• Mods that specifically relate to improving melee weapons, becoming deadlier in melee combat, speed up the movement of the Power Armour (Perhaps just within the Arenas?).
• Arena-Fusion Core's. These are tweaked to give maximum output, and take much longer to drain within the arenas.
• A Short-Boosting Jetpack, which goes as high as a double jump? This would be handy outside in the Commonwealth.
• Interface enemy markers, much like a Recon scope. Let's you keep track of enemies easily.
• A little Speaker attachment you can activate (Like the Power Armour spotlight) that vocally taunts enemies (Think of the one in Brutal Doom).

 

vi) Building Layout:

 

In regards to the building itself, I think a combination of above ground/underground room entities would be useful, and would keep FPS and engine performance sorted out. Where could this Arena building be located in the game world? I honestly have no idea (at this stage). Once again, it's open to suggestions from you. Leave a comment!

 

Above ground building (accessible from the open world) would have:

• A grandiose foyer entrance with a security checkpoint that can't be hacked or picklocked (NPC engaged). This leads to a door entity that contains the rest of the building. This is the entry and exit to the building.

The rest of the building (Not accessible to the outside the world), above and below ground:

• A hallway that has 5 or 6 entry points - 3 of those being arena spectator viewing/Betting areas, 2 others being for Gladiator combatant entry areas (Where the Gladiators sleep, eat, and get ready to fight), and a Managers Office.

Within the Gladiator Combatant Areas:

• Sleeping Quarters
• Vendor/Weapons/Armour area
• Mess hall (Food)
• Doors to 6 different arenas (2 being locked/blocked until you unlock them later - via Your success at betting - info above, section iii)

 

Extra notes:

 

I am going to continue adding to this post , but I'm posting it now for some early suggestions/opinions. Yes, all opinions are welcome - Have your say! Thanks in advance for that, and thanks for reading!

Edited November 21, 2015 by xan713

[LibraryDevil]

Great idea, and very excellently posted! I hope someone takes interest for sure, sounds like it could be quite the fun experience. Here's hoping for an early-early 2k16 release of the CK.

[dronus123]

Loving this idea! I for one really want to see melee-only arena battles in Fallout. However, unlike the original idea, I wouldn't want explosives and grenades to be usable, and I don't want to battle with power armor. Other than that, amazing idea!

[wakeboy3]

I absolutely love this idea, as I've shared it myself for quite a while! Though, I've gotta say, I'm incredibly surprised no-one has made mention of the combat zone! It always disappointed me that after you're finished with this area, nothing more can be done with it. As it turns out, the Combat Zone originally was intended to be an arena the player could join. I'd love to see it converted into a full-fledged arena, with optional aesthetics and decisions for the player to make in it's up-bringing.

[dem0nbreather]

This is exactly the kind of thing I was hoping for when I first set out for the Combat Zone, but I was sorely disappointed. One combat, one conversation, succeeded on the first try at level 6 on Survival (second character, exploring locations I hadn't seen with my first). Blah. Underwhelming, and definitely not the Thunderdome/Moxxi's Underdome that I was hoping for.

 

Very well-written proposal though. I'd love to see this added to the game.

[Knighthawk151]

just looking at this and the date realized no one made this awesome mod yet I really want a Fight Club Style mod