Competition RPG Codex Contest: Wasteland 2 Shrine, Artifact, and NPC/Weapon

[Kosmonaut]

What a stupid and lame draw, just like the poster. Anyways, congratulations to Alexandros and the two runner-ups.

 

[RK47]

Pity post for hiver.

 

[Ulminati]

You know, I don't get the putting stuff in Latin. Putting things in Latin is so fucking lame. It's like "Look at me, putting shit in Latin because like, that's cool".

But DU, Quidquid latine dictum, altum videtur*.

Spoiler

*That which is said in latin, seems profound

 

[treave]

Evidently the only right answer is to get Andhaira to give us something in Urdu.

 

[ghostdog]

The Management™ would like to advise that all entries have been reviewed and a winner will be announced shortly. However, while Crooked Bee will take care of that, the Management™ would like to submit the following variation for consideration as our "Final Submission" to InXile.

1. Description of the Shrine​

An old, abandoned military bunker located in the side of a mountain, a few miles outside of a pre-war city. The party learns of this bunker by talking to some NPCs in the region. The NPCs tell them the folk story of a group of traditionalists preaching about the "Great Decline", their version of the end of days about to come due to the general populace's disregard for the old ways. Apparently, at some point they grew tired of preaching and they willingly chose to seclude themselves in that bunker, their very own "shelter from modernity" as they used to call it. No-one dares approach the old bunker, even after all these years, in fear of the defences set in place by a member of the group, a mad man with a genius-level intellect.​

The entrance to the bunker is a large, sealed door with a computer terminal nearby. When accessed the terminal displays a key panel and the text "Please enter unlock code:". Clearly there is still some power in the facility. The digits on the keypad have letters on them, much like the numbers on a mobile phone. The user can hack the terminal (with sufficient skill) or enter the numbers 3283 (FATE) to open the door.​

Once inside, we can see that the bunker is destroyed, with several corpses strewn around. The bunker is clearly part of a much larger facility that goes many levels deep but walls have collapsed, elevators are non-functional or missing with only empty shafts remaining and only a small portion of the facility is actually accessible. Upon examination the corpses reveal that "A great struggle took place here." and "It appears as if the inhabitants of this place fought each other to death".​

2. Description for the Statue​

The statue stands - or perhaps is carved into the wall - by the entrance of the bunker. It's a large statue (perhaps twice the height of a man) of some sort of apparently angry devil / troll-like creature. If the party examines the statue, they get the following description: "It's as though the figure is looking down on the city in the distance, with an obvious air of superiority. An inscription on the bottom reads: Odds are, something you like very much sucks."​

3. The type of in-game artifact + backstory​

Only two levels of the bunker are actually accessible and despite the fear, there are no defense mechanisms operational. The first level is sparse with mostly collapsed walls. Everything has long since malfunctioned, fallen into disrepair or been destroyed. With sufficient relevant skill (and perhaps an item such as replacing a broken fuse), the PC can re-activate one of the elevators - an old service lift that descends to a lower level of the bunker.​

This lower level is no better than the first, in fact it's worse. Where doors don't function, there are large gaping holes in the walls - where walls have seemingly fallen down or been blown away. Again, bodies lie strewn about the area as if a great fight took place here and the inhabitants turned on each other.​

In this lower level though is a locked room. With sufficient lockpicking skill, the PC is able to re-work the mechanism and open the door. Inside is the only room still in almost pristine condition. A series of monitors - long since dead - adorn the walls, making this some kind of central control room. A computer terminal is active, perhaps one of several but only this one is still blinking and operational. A long dead corpse sits in a chair in front of it. A second corpse lies dead on the floor nearby.​

Accessing this computer terminal requires a much higher hacking skill than the one necessary to gain entrance to the bunker in the first place. Once hacked, it brings up a list of options with the following results:​

Please input command:​

1. Defense System​

-> 1. Activate Defense Network -> [ Critical System Failure ]​

-> 2. System Diagnostic -> [ Critical System Failure ]​

2. Security Monitoring​

-> [ Access Denied ]​

3. User Programs​

-> 1. Solitaire -> [ init: fatal signal: Segmentation fault. Error at Memory Address (0x12DF) ]​

-> 2. Journals -> Please Select Journal:​

1. Calis -> Listing... (see below)​

2. D*%))-d!#?@&d -> [ This file is corrupt. ]​

3. Proverbius -> Listing... (see below)​

4. Taluntain -> [ Error 504: The server did not respond in time. ]​

5. Weller -> [ Status 503: User not found. This account has been deleted. ]​

-> 3. Mail -> [ Mail server not found. ]

4. System Information -> rpgcodex.net v2002.6.16​

I actually want to write out the actual text that appears in the two available journals. Falling in line with Alexandros description below, explaining how Calis set it up so they'd work even if the server was offline and other things that explain this place. Maybe 8 or 10 entries available in total spread out over a period of time which cover everything from its establishment to its ultimate demise.​

"The Codex is a fascinating read. Various journal entries describe the day to day activities of the group and their plans to reforge society according to their ideals after the coming of the Decline, with the basic principles of the plan entailed in a seperate section of the Codex called "Rebirth Program Guidelines" or RPG. However, the later pages reveal the possible cause of their own destruction, as The Codex describes numerous heated discussions and wildly different opinions on the exact nature of the RPG. The last chapter of the unfinished book suggests that the conflict turned violent at some point. It seems probable that infighting was the cause for the eventual demise of the group. [Full credit to Felipepepe for his idea on that last bit]."​

"I've sealed the doors. I am activating the defense mechanisms and turning them against those inside. This place must be destroyed."​

4. Name an NPC OR weapon​

Examination of the corpse on the chair reveals: "This long-dead corpse is wearing a blue jumpsuit of some sort. You can just make out the name [Proverbius] on the name tag." On the floor by the corpse is a large sledgehammer. Its description reveals "This heavy sledgehammer is covered in blood-stains. It looks like it's been well-used. There's a cable running from it which appears like it must connect to some sort of power source." The sledgehammer is called "Consequence". The sledgehammer by default, is a fairly standard weapon.​

Nearby is another skeleton which looking at reveals: "The name [Calis] appears on the blue jumpsuit of this corpse." Upon examination we find the corpse has a suit of armour, called "Choice" with the description: "This strange suit of armour has been severely damaged and is beyond repair. It seems as if it has an internal power source though, which is still active." The armour is UTTERLY WORTHLESS for defense (thus the armour becomes our "item"). It's long since passed it's usefulness and has been far too heavily damaged.​

However, if the armour is equipped along with the sledgehammer (thus providing the weapon with a power source), the sledgehammer becomes THE best melee weapon in the game. However the armour is - and always will be - crap, no matter what you do to it. Thus the player is presented with a choice: Do they want a great melee attack at the expense of their defense?​

The intent is to combine the best of the ideas presented, while doing some things in a much subtler way - and being as specific as possible so InXile doesn't have to do much thinking.

Feel free to comment / brofist / review as appropriate.

It would be nice if you also managed to squeeze in an NPC. I liked treave's idea :

treave's entry: "Old man"
An old man in rags. He is at the maximum level. He sneers "I do not scale to your level." when talking to him with any character that has not hit the level cap. Further conversation prompts him into spouting random, contradictory gibberish cobbled together from real Codex posts. A mixture of all the prestigious posters and certifiably insane.
Talking to him with a character that has hit the level cap will cause him to flip out in anger because he hates you for "scaling to his level" and attack, starting an extremely tough fight worthy of max-level characters. If Fargo et al. are kind enough to make this the toughest, most challenging, most strategic fight in the game, that'd be even better.

 

[hiver]

since you went for that re-translation of my post, which is annoying, im going to return the favor in reverse:

That's even lamer.

If that was actually true i would agree.

On point 2, it's over-used so much now that it immediately says "we're lame"

No it is not. People expect inscriptions in Latin on statues. The first gut reaction isnt "its lame" but "ok, statue - inscription in latin - i wonder what it says".
Since they cant translate it and therefore do not know what it says they cannot figure out it is saying "we are lame".
Which it doesnt in the way i suggested it. Or rather... it uses the perceived lameness to achieve something not so blatantly simple and a bit more funny.
Seeing a simple statement like that in english, removed from its context and just plastered over a statue with which it is not connected in any way - is lame.

- which also negates point 4.

Which then does not negate anything. Except in that streamlined next gen re-imagining of what im saying you came up with.

People will google it anyway, no matter what language it's in because it might be an in-game easter egg or some sort of clue or just because they're curious.

They wont google it if it is in english, and writing it in polish is nonsensical in the context of the whole thing.

Point 6 just rams it home.

No, it provides a bit of tongue in cheeck humor, on several levels each complimenting the others in a humorous way - on the statue of a troll.
Because implemented in that way (which i dont expect it will be at all) it actually trolls people?
And does that in a funny way.

What you're basically saying is...

please... i expect better retorts from you... ffs...

..we have a lame saying, in a lame language that people will think is lame, which they will google purely out of curiosity before saying "that was really lame".

for your information Du, you dont have a lame saying - saying is good on itself.
Presenting it like that, on the statue, shortened and taken out of context, makes it a lame inert one liner.
In the wasteland game.
-because it is not connected with anything in that shrine or statue itself.

Its not even a reference to the forums, really, except to those that know it, which isnt a problem by itself.
For others its just a one liner stating something obvious.
Its the equivalent of saying - sky is blue, duh.

It could be alright - if it was in some other place, like say, written above the entrance to the bunker or a shrine.
Referencing and mimicking the "Abandon hope all ye who enter here" from Divine Comedy itself.


But yeah, since my suggestions SUCK, youre not allowed to use it even if you wanted to suddenly.

Why not just have a bright pink unicorn with a troll face fucking a preying mantiis, that's at least lameness with style - and incidentally would also be more relevant.

GO FOR IT! DO IT!

At least Polish sounds better. That's some-what relevant to the Codex.

To whom? Wasnt there some point in not making it obvious...or something?

 

[DarkUnderlord]

..we have a lame saying, in a lame language that people will think is lame, which they will google purely out of curiosity before saying "that was really lame".

for your information Du, you dont have a lame saying - saying is good on itself.

First we have this.

Its not even a reference to the forums, really, except to those that know it, which isnt a problem by itself.
For others its just a one liner stating something obvious.
Its the equivalent of saying - sky is blue, duh.

Then we have this.

hiver is confused.

 

[Infinitron]

DU:
Is "witty Latin proverb" really that much of a worn cliche? You seem unusually hostile to the idea.

 

[DwarvenFood]

You know, I don't get the putting stuff in Latin. Putting things in Latin is so fucking lame. It's like "Look at me, putting shit in Latin because like, that's cool".

Instead of putting it in Latin, we should put it in BROLBERTCAPS

Also, I suggest the following change to:

3. User Programs
-> 1. Stones of Arnhem -> [ init: fatal signal: Segmentation fault. Error at Memory Address (0x12DF) ]

 

[Clockwork Knight]

DU:
Is "witty Latin proverb" really that much of a worn cliche? You seem unusually hostile to the idea.

It reminds him of how he'll never be with SMA.

Spoiler

or because it seems like a random idea à la Todd, as in "hey wouldn't it be cool if the inscription was in latin" "sure why not".

 

[hiver]

DarkUnderlord

First is referencing the saying in its original entirety and context, second your streamlined next gen version.

 

[kaizoku]

...
The intent is to combine the best of the ideas presented, while doing some things in a much subtler way - and being as specific as possible so InXile doesn't have to do much thinking.

Feel free to comment / brofist / review as appropriate.

My comment is that, I still consider that this Alexandros-KickAss hybrid version is better.
It combines the best of both and makes it fun in a codexian way, but also interesting to play for people who are not familiar with the codex.

And as for subtlety, in the sense that the codex reference passes unnoticed to other players, that will only happen to said player if he has never visited the front page, because the codex statue makes everything obvious.

 

[DarkUnderlord]

We are not doing a statue that's FIRING MAH LAZER which has NEVER been a Codex meme. I'd call you a newfag but clearly your low post count indicates you know nothing.

Nothing.

hiver: I don't know what happened to you but somehow or another you became a complete dolt lately. To on one-hand, say that the saying "is good on itself" and then turn around and say that "its just a one liner stating something obvious. Its the equivalent of saying - sky is blue, duh" because it's in English... To be honest, I wrote you off as trolling for lulz with your stupid ideas on about page 2. Now I'm pretty sure that you actually are a complete idiot.

 

[kaizoku]

The laser firing aspect was simply to make the statue act as the front line of defense to the bunker. Not as a reference to that meme, which I'm aware has nothing to do with the codex (I guess I shouldn't have made that reference in the curly brackets, which just raised confusion).
But that was a detail, having the statue as a front line defense wasn't really the focus of the suggestion. The focus being the relation between the troll hide, its story, and the access to the bunker.

 

[hiver]

i just explained that to you... even if the sentence was clear on what is the difference, which was additionally explained in detail...and now you just repeat the same thing again?
and resorting to cheap insults and ad hominems too?

:shapeshifts into Vault Dweller:

"because it's in English"

Is that so? care to quote me on that?

I wrote you off as trolling for lulz

of course you did. what else could you do?

your stupid ideas

simple statements dont make evidence, or arguments.

Feel free to comment / brofist / review as appropriate.

indeed.

besides... am i twisting your arm to accept my suggestion ?

 

[Jasede]

No Polish or Latin or anything like that.
I'm not even happy about the troll and I'd bend over for MCA any day. It just feels like it became our mascot because... MCA drew it. Not because it really reflects the Codex. I liked it better when it was just that shit-looking D20. I miss my shit D20. Where is the D20 in this?

I'd rather the callbacks were more old-school. Where's the ring? There's *got* to be a ring in there somewhere. That is so obscure that it won't feel out of place or obnoxious in the least- unlike, I daresay, some out-of-place "devil" or monocle shenanigans.

Don't hate too hard; it's just how I feel. I guess the suggested approach is... good for what it is.


I regret now not submitting my ideas - I thought they were too tepid. The statue would have been an unmarked icosahedron, looming in the wasteland. Who put it there? What was its purpose? Who knows? The item would, of course, have been a ring that you naturally have to equip to get to the shrine itself which, of course, would have been a cesspool filled with the echoes of old Codex voices, complaining and moaning, now dust and forgotten.

 

[hiver]

Its the new, streamlined for mass audiences action emotional engagement roleplaying codex, Jasede.

 

[Jasede]

 

[hiver]

 

[Jasede]

"We are sorry, this content is not available for your country."

What potatomancy is this?

 

[hiver]

Its the invisible sun.

 

[Metro]

 

[Gregz]

Troll statue firing a laser beam?



Thank god the people at the top around here have veto power.

 

[DarkUnderlord]

I'd rather the callbacks were more old-school. Where's the ring? There's *got* to be a ring in there somewhere. That is so obscure that it won't feel out of place or obnoxious in the least- unlike, I daresay, some out-of-place "devil" or monocle shenanigans.

I did think of "Choice" being a ring instead of a suit of armour but I couldn't plausibly think of it working as a power source and having "negative" effects that didn't seem silly and out of place like magic.

 

[EG]

Troll statue firing a laser beam?



Thank god the people at the top around here have veto power.

The Codexian version of Liberty Prime . . .