Auto Bounty System: Explination and Feedback Thread

[Sakes]

All Feedback/Bug reports on the new Auto Bounty system go here.

The Auto Bounty System - Introduction

You will notice the bounty board in camp has changed somewhat from the old system.  While the module does retain functionality on the old bounty system, the new one is enabled by default unless a DM spawns the old bounty and manually makes bounties.

The new system automatically generates 25 bounties at the time, replacing claimed bounties with new ones when the heads are turned in.   Bounties are still turned in to the Mercenaries' guild in Neverwinter using the existing system, although an additional bounty officer can now be found in Mirabar.

Using The New System


By checking the bounty boards located in Camp, The Mercenaries' Guild, or Mirabar, you will be given a list of 5 Ranks of bounties.  The ranks are as follows:

Rank 1: 2-5 Petty Criminals
Rank 2: 6-10 Minor Criminals
Rank 3: 11-15 Wanted Criminals
Rank 4: 16-20 Dangerous Criminals
Rank 5: 21-25 Most Wanted Criminals.

It is recommended you hunt bounties of your own rank, however you can also hunt 1 rank above or below, which will reward more xp for ranks above you or less for ranks below.  Examples:

Bob is a level 7, therefore he is considered rank 2.  If he completes Rank 1 bounties he will recieve less exp.  If he completes Rank 2 bounties he will recieve normal xp.  If he completes Rank 3 he will recieve more exp.  He will get no credit for rank 4 or 5.

The exp gained is given to all members of the group, based on their own personal level.

Bob is a level 7.  Jane is a level 12.   They complete a rank 3 bounty  (Levels 11-15).  Because Bob is Rank 2 and the bounty is rank 3, he gains extra xp.  Because Jane is Rank 3 and the bounty is rank 3, she gains normal xp.

Gold rewards are based on the rank of the bounty only.  You always gain the same amount of gold for the same rank regardless of your level.  The bounty officials don't know what level you are and really wouldn't care if they did, but exp is subjective to each character and how challenged they were by the encounter.

Bob is a level 23, while wandering through the woods he finds a level 5 bounty.  He kills it, and turns it in the next time he is in Neverwinter and is awarded gold but no xp.  

Severed Heads are prone to decay and will eventually become unrecognizable.  For this reason, it is recommended that you turn in bounties immediately, as the heads will be destroyed at reset.  (This both prevents a possible break down in the system as well as numerous exploits)

Please ensure all party members are in the same zone when turning in bounties, as you will not get exp rewards if you are in a different zone.

Spawn Locations
 
Bounties can be found in many different areas, although the rank of the bounty will determine its possible spawn locations.  For example, a level 2-5 bounty will generally spawn in Neverwinter Wood, whereas a level 21-25 bounty will may Lake Stillness Ruins or the Druegar mines.  High level bounties will never spawn in low level areas, both to give a challenge to high level players and prevent low level ones from facing an impossible encounter.

The location given is a hint as to the location of the Bounty.  In some cases it will tell you a specific zone, (Northeast Neverwinter wood) others only a certain area that encompasses many zones (Blackford road).

Also remember that Bounties are wanted criminals and for the most part do not wish to be found.  Be sure to check the little nooks and hidden corners, as bounties are more likely to spawn there then the beaten path.

Difficulty

Bounties are fairly difficult, so it is recommended you group up to tackle them, although it is entirely possible to solo a rank below or even the same rank depending on your character's abilities.  Bounties are considered bosses and as such are immune from instant death or abilities that render them completely helpless for more then a few rounds.   However, they are not immune to abilities that weaken them.   Therefore, while you cannot cast Hold Person on a bounty, you could cast Slow.  Harm, Flesh to Stone, and Drown are also ineffective as they trivialize encounters.

While the ranks are guidelines, some bounties may be more or less difficult to kill.  A half-orc with a greataxe will be more difficult then a halfling with a shortsword of the same rank.  

Rewards

Currently, you are awarded 150 xp per bounty 1 rank below you, 300 xp per bounty of the same rank, and 450 xp per bounty 1 rank above you.   These are subject to change as we test and balance the system.  

Gold rewards are static regardless of your levels and as follows:

Rank 1: 500g
Rank 2: 1000g
Rank 3: 2000g
Rank 4: 3000g
Rank 5: 5000g

As with exp gains, these are subject to change.

Feedback and Bug Reports

Please post all feedback and bug reports to this thread.  We are interested in how you feel about the new system and what can be done to improve it.

[Whitefeather50]

 Tested it on the test server. It'll be nice to have something to do.
 Good job.

[Kattze]

The gold reward for higher levels seems a bit... high.  We already have trouble with people having too much gold at that level.

[Sakes]

Tails commented on that as well.  I will tweak them.

Edit: New gold reward amounts:


Rank 1: 500g    Same
Rank 2: 1000g   Same
Rank 3: 2000g   -500
Rank 4: 3000g   -2000
Rank 5: 5000g   -5000

[Tails1879_]

The bounties being placed in the Tower of Doom don't match the creature levels well. At the time of posting, there's three bounties reported being in the Tower of Doom (Rank 3: 11 - 15). Scanning the first floor came up with none. The second floor: Two. I didn't find the third one, so it must be somewhere on level three...

Considering that it's an epic dungeon, I don't think the bounties are worth it at all down there, if they're only 11 - 15. Maybe for Epic 21 - 25...

[Sakes]

The tower of doom shouldn't be an epic level dungeon, I plan to redo the zone though, because the first level is about right at 11-15.  I can see the lower ones being too hard, though.  I think its more an issue with the zone, since the module properties and loot there are set to 12-16ish I think?

In any case, I think the zone needs to be redone if anything.

[Kattze]

Level 3 is epic for some reason.  I believe they are the hardest monsters in our server too.

[tsunami282]

Yes. It was built (not by me!) as uber-hard at the last level.

I'll be a little sad to see it go. I worked pretty hard on some of those custom scripts.   (EDIT: Including the one that's now missing, darn it.)

Ah well. I'm sure they can be recycled elsewhere.

[Sakes]

I'm pretty sure I only put bounties in the first 2 levels, even the 2nd level is hard to get to though because of the "F*** you." spawn at the end of level 1.

[Eighties Burnout]

The bounty system is epic. good stuff.

[Blackarrow]

Where do you turn in the heads?  Back at the bounty board signs?

[Jocularity]

Either the Merc's Guild of Neverwinter, or the officer near the Board in Mirabar