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#### Rook Attack variation

I was discussing the Rook attacks with Kristen Marie (when I replied to Pinky Death's status update) and the term 'clinical' came up with regards to the current state of Rook attack affairs. During the height of the Rook attacks, when I was one of the major coordinators for defense, we used to have after-attack revelries of one sort or another, but this is no longer the status quo.
I believe some variation in Rook attacks is long overdue. A couple of ideas off the top of my head was a) occasionally have a stronger Rook attack -- with the Rook being more difficult to stun and drive away, and b) having multiple waves come in.
I am pretty sure there are a lot of other ideas that can be implemented, but the important thing is to remove the clinical nature of the current Rook attacks and bring back the excitement of participating in one.

Posted 6 months ago by Mal'akh | Permalink

### Replies

- I couldn't agree more. Rook attacks were boring to me long ago, even the lure of earning XP/iMG as a reward for participating didn't bring me back.
  I remember the days we used to patrol Aranna, waiting for the rook to strike, and bring loads of RK, food and drinks to recover.
  Now it's very, ok, this is what we do, everyone throw all your extra music blocks and diamonds in the shrine, and four minutes later, attack over.
  So yes... I say give it some diversity - make it harder, give each rook a different strength level, maybe more than one rook attacks at the same time. I mean, it's about time they started organizing.
  Also, more rook lore... why do they hate the giants, anyway?
  Posted 6 months ago by Kristen Marie | Permalink
- "Also, more rook lore... why do they hate the giants, anyway?"
  I can fill pages worth of speculation on that one, but here is my favorite (I'll try to make it short and sweet). I play this tabletop RPG called Exalted where the forces of chaos (The Wyld) always seek to erode Creation (with a capital 'C') because it's painful for them and they want a return to the way things were, to chaos.
  Imagine building a sand castle on the beach, the tides of chaos will come and erode it or someone will come and kick it down, but you can always rebuild it and improve on it. Nothing is truly permanent, everything is in flux. Then come the Primordials and build things that are permanent, a castle made of stone instead of sand, artificial sand bars to weaken the waves that wash ashore, dikes and locks to control the level of the water, et al. If you were one of the creatures of The Wyld, wouldn't you want to destroy something so foreign to your frame of existense?
  Of course, this is all speculation on my part. For all we know the Rook just want Bacon...
  Posted 6 months ago by Mal'akh | Permalink
- Yes to all of those things. And YESSSS to more lore! I want some more mythology, darn it.
  Posted 6 months ago by Everybody | Permalink
- +1 I used to be a Rook regular as well and miss people sharing afterwards, the piles of food and drink by the shrine, the mass radiation, RKs. Now people toss stuff in and poof /home. Especially when they are so infrequent, when we had chain attacks, it was even more fun...teleporting people and their followers going to the next as soon as one was over. The celebration that 'we did it!'.
  BTW I love your speculation, Mal'akh ♥
  Posted 6 months ago by Bunnykins | Permalink
- Here's a really off the wall idea for variations: Agents.
  Some rook attacks will occasionally involve Rook Agents. It would be really freaky if they looked like Glitchen, but they could also be animals, like perhaps black versions of pigs, butterflies and chickens. I'm not exactly sure what they would do, but it should be something tricky, such as steal things Juju style, or maybe they could exact "revenge" by squeezing, nibbling and milking Glitchen: "You've been milked by a Rook Agent Butterlfy! That was WEIRD! Loose 10 mood."
  Rook Agents could appear independently or in advance of rook attacks. That way, if you see one, you might or might not be warned of an impending attack!
  Another thought, a Glitchen Rook Agent might appear after the third or fourth Glitch enters the street, it might appear as a black version of someone, and it would make its way to the nearest Glitch and then teleport them to a seam street. This would only happen once per attack. Don't want it to be TOO annoying.
  Of course, there would have to be some way of fighting the agents, too. Not just avoid them.
  Posted 6 months ago by Carl Projectorinski | Permalink
- As it stands, I no longer head to rook attacks because after it's doe, everyone scatters and not many stick behind to revive animals or trees. I had initially unlearned the skills for fighting rooks but relearned them later. I'd like to see more rook attacks and variations of rook attacks, heck, even make some minigame for a group of glitchen to take on the Rook head on like some kind of RPG group.
  Posted 6 months ago by Ayasta | Permalink
- Ooh! There could be a redo-able quest. There could be, on occasion, a string of rook attacks that keep happening until someone launches some sort of counter attack!
  Posted 6 months ago by Carl Projectorinski | Permalink
- There should be a way for the rook to make you die, so he's more scary :)
  Posted 6 months ago by Finley Linker | Permalink
- I agree that rook attacks are getting boring, but I strongly disagree that making rooks "stronger" or adding "more waves" would make fighting them more fun. The cure for a boring activity is not to do MORE of it!
  No, we need to make rooks more INTERESTING. One way I can think of off the top of my head is to require certain specific shrine donations to cause damage: this rook can only be fought with music blocks, this one with food, this one with gems. Any other donation will have vastly reduced damage. The result might be similar to street projects of old, with people mailing stuff to friends and teleporting home to dig through their stashes.
  That's just one idea -- I'm sure there are many possibilities. Someone on the forums came up with the idea of having rooks cause damage to the street itself, meaning that people can't travel through it until it's fixed (they can enter the street, but only go back the way they came). Fixing it would also be like a street project, requiring contributions of labour and materials. That wasn't my idea but I think it's pretty ace!
  Anyway, the point is not ADD MORE BORING. The point is MAKE INTERESTING.
  Posted 6 months ago by Pale Queen | Permalink
- I can agree with that! I kind of thought that was the bent of my ideas, too, but I really like your suggestions!
  Posted 6 months ago by Carl Projectorinski | Permalink
- Pale Queen
  I like those ideas!
  Posted 6 months ago by Mal'akh | Permalink
- more interesting sounds good, plus 1 to pale queen ;)
  i miss attacks all together.
  (have there been some lately? --i'm out of the loop.. )
  Posted 6 months ago by serenitycat | Permalink
- I'd like to see the Rook move streets and need to be chased down or perhaps leave clues about where he's about to head next.
  I absolutely agree with the sentiment that longer attacks that utilize the same dynamic aren't going to be more interesting.
  Posted 6 months ago by ThursdayNext | Permalink
- Agree with Pale Queen too, "more interesting" ≠ "more grindy." Unfortunately, the latter is a lot easier than the former to implement. :(
  Also to Carl, I think we already have enemy agents: those "Glitchen" who consistently take the orbs to 9.
  Posted 6 months ago by Janitch | Permalink
- Love PQ's suggestion of more specific requirements. Would definitely enjoy a way of making an attack more challenging. One of my favourite things is seeing the Rook scratching up my screen, but nowadays the defenders' level of organisation and speed is such that we rarely get to see a full attack anymore. If I get to an attack before it's posted in alerts, I'll start a futile defense purely for the delight of seeing this amazing, creepy, 4th-wall breach (...or is that 3rd wall?). Either way, adding to the adventure of an attack, introducing more of a random element to how we fight, that would be marvellous.
  Posted 6 months ago by Voluptua Sneezelips | Permalink
- +1 To Pale Queen's suggestions, that does sound more fun! I would love if either of those points made it to rook attacks (targeted donations, repairing the street).
  I love the actual attacks, too VS. That was one reason I started being a Rook regular ^^
  Posted 6 months ago by Bunnykins | Permalink
- I suddenly had an idea last night...
  What if one region, new or old doesn't matter, get's taken over by the Rook and in order to repel them there has to be a concerted effort, i.e. groups of Glitchen in each street repelling the Rook at the same time.
  Yeah... that's going to be difficult...
  Posted 6 months ago by Mal'akh | Permalink
- Haven't encountered a rook attack yet, but maybe it would be more interesting if the environment did change some what to reflect that something destructive had passed by. And changing the environment back to how it used to be would take more effort than just clicking rooked animals.
  I like the idea of having rooked animals turn into dark versions of themeselves (dark piggy, dark butterfly or dark chicken) and instead of them giving mood or iMG, interacting with them decreases mood and iMG. Restoring them back may require radiating "healing" using an orb, or just by plainly fixing the street itself.
  As for fixing the street, probably have eleven separate glitchen contribute something valuable to the affected street's shrine. Or have them 'sacrifice' iMG points to restore the street to its former glory. Or give a quest to travel around Ur to retrieve ingredients from other shrines.
  Posted 6 months ago by roderick ordonez | Permalink
- All of these ideas so far are great. Personally though, besides having just increased negative effects from the rook attacks, I'd like to see a system that allows a large band of miscreants to summon a rook. Perhaps by pouring Wine of the Dead on an icon or emblem. This alone could make the conflict more engaging, as you have 2 definite sides opposing each other, instead of just a bunch of random birds flying around.
  Posted 6 months ago by Swagger Dragon | Permalink
- Have any of you decided to actually just let the rook run amok? God you people. Gosh.
  Man.
  I told you guys months and months ago that staving off the rook was stupid and you should just let him be... if only to see what will happen.
  Posted 6 months ago by Mr. Dawgg | Permalink