Rogue Exiles: "Neutral-Hostile"

As the title crudely summarizes, I think it would be fantastic flavor if the Rogue Exiles that we can possibly encounter were hostile to both us and the monsters in the game world.

It would give the game a real "Enemy of my enemy" feel, if the player chose to.

You could either work with the Exile who most likely will already be under attack by the time you find him/her to defeat the monsters, and then after the temporary alliance has served its purpose come to blows once more!

Inversely, a player could attempt to assassinate the Exile with the assistance of monsters. Inevitably the player would also be attacked by some of those monsters, but that's the risk of taking the easier option.

Possible problems:
1. Over-nerf of Rogue Exile Difficulty (In the form of assistance from environment)
Solution:Significant increase to defensive capability of the Exile, and possibly a minor increase to damage or nothing to damage at all (Don't want them full-clearing the zone)

2. The Exile clearing too much of the area for the player before even meeting the player.
Possible Solution: The Exile is immobile, invulnerable, and does not act until the player enters the range of their longest range ability (or the same screen, whichever happens first), at which point the Exile acts as normal and becomes hostile with the monsters and the player.

Anyone have any thoughts on this suggestion, or other possible problems?

To add to the idea, I'd like exiles that didn't necessarily want to fight. Maybe they wanted to trade or give a side quest/challenge.

I'd actually like to see this implemented on a broader scale, where you essentially have two teams of monsters and the possibility for battle. For example, it's always bugged me that, if you're in the Battlefront and you are fighting ribbons and blackguards simultaneously, for some reason they team up against you, when story-wise they should be fighting each other. Similarly, it seems the Alira would resent the blackguard encroachment on her territory and direct her bandits to fight the blackguards, if they would ever come out from their barricade.

In order to keep things somewhat simple, I wouldn't recommend more than two enemy teams, which means that in the case of ribbons + blackguards + rogue exile, I'd imagine the rogue would be on the side of the blackguards, representing some kind of paid assassin in league with Dominus. This would sometimes lead to situations where the monsters fight the rogue exile (Solaris Temple), and sometimes to situations where they do not (Lunaris Temple).

What I don't think makes sense is pacifist rogues, who don't want to fight. Screw that. They are there to kill you.

Would love to see random Exiles with random Behavior (some (the really evil ones) would always be hostile though).

But let's say Encounter 1 with Exile X one day is Friendly (Offer Random Quest!)

Encounter 2 the day after with same Exile, Exile X, is now Neutral (He/She is now a Vendor smack dab in the Wilderness, offering some interesting Goods!).

And Encounter 3 at another time, he/she is now Hostile, attacking you on sight. :D

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ScrotieMcB wrote:

What I don't think makes sense is pacifist rogues, who don't want to fight. Screw that. They are there to kill you.

NPC, exile, call it what you want. Encounters that add variety to the game are good. Other examples that come to mind are TL2 phase portals and D3 treasure goblins.

I do like the idea of mobs being appropriately hostile against each other. The cries for a MOBA PVP mode would get pretty loud if that ever happens though.

I like this idea.

Something similar was implemented in Grim Dawn and I've always enjoyed it... two opposing factions (even within the hordes of enemies) fighting each other. I find it adds an immerse quality to the game and shows that not everything in the game is automatically going to be friends bend on killing just you.

Friendly exiles would also be nice to see. Think of the Act 5 barbs in diablo 2... they didn't do much, and could die but there was that quality of fighting along side someone.

yeah, totally in :)

phase portals and treasure goblins would be pretty cool to see... I don't like the idea of exiles who don't want to fight but mobs that are hostile to each other is good for immersion... makes the world feel more alive.


I +1 the idea of having phase portals and treasure goblin temporary leagues at the end of these 4-month leagues!