And now for something different.
As I was mapping Hoelbrak on a sylvari engineer with a cuddly low level asura thief, part of me wished I could hug her and cuddle her and put her in a pocket on my Huntsman Backpack, so she could travel with me at Infinite Swiftness speeds!
So, I have thought of a utility suggestion for asuras, or other small characters: They can use this utility to request to mount themselves on the shoulder/back of a larger character in a party with them. If the other player is willing, they can ride on them while the other player runs around. This would benefit slower professions as they can then ride on top of faster professions. (ex: Mesmer riding on top of Engineer with Speedy Kits, or a Warrior with Warrior’s Sprint and/or the mobile skills)
The mounting player would not be moving, but still be able to turn around on the mount’s back, so they can either help hack and slash the same thing the mounted character’s attacking, or face their flanks or rear to cover those spots. Also, since they are technically stationary while mounted, they would be able to use skills that require them to be stationary while the “mount” player keeps moving for them. (Ex: Warrior using Hundred blades to hit flanking enemies while the mount strafes away or with those enemies to help the riding player hit them easier).
I believe this would be an awesome and game-changing improvement, to break all the previous metas! Now stacking is much easier, as newbie players will be able to mount experienced ones so they don’t have to worry about them doing it wrong! Now PvP will be faster paced, as faster players with Infinite Swiftness/speedbuffs can carry the slower ones to the fight!
This will also solve the request for mounts: Now every bigger character is a potential mount!
The enemies could do this too, leading to exciting new encounters! Risen Skritt riding on Risen Karka riding on Risen Giant Crabs! And so much more!
Of course, there would be some downsides:
- Any attacks that hit the mount player hit the riding player as well.
-If the mount gets downed, you get knocked off. Also, if any attacks with knockdowns, knockbacks, launches, or fears hit the mount player, the riding one will also be knocked off. Momentum is a thing, after all!
- You can’t mount other players underwater.
Also, there is a potential upgrade to this utility: The Hypno-Mount device! Don’t have any players who are willing to let you ride them? Well, you can always beat up an NPC/mob, and force them to be your mount! Have you ever wanted to mosey into town on top of a Champion Troll/Spider/Grawl/Ettin/Whatever, showing that you beat it’s posterior and made it yours? Well with this nifty upgrade, you can! Now you can make them use all those overpowered skills of theirs on other mobs as you see fit! Now you can “persuade” 3 Toed-Tootsie or a Siege Devourer to give you a lift through the harsh terrain!
Skill point and gold costs pending, but we are excited about these ideas and more!
Discuss.