The content that might ignite HPWU: dedicated raids

FunkyGaaroth

Hi wizards and witches!

I was discussing in several other threads on the HPWU reddit on the possible new content we might receive in HPWU. The general idea is, given that we just had our brand new SOS skill trees, no substantial content might come this year.

While I can see the reasoning behind that, I fear this is not feasible for the long term health and growth of the app.

After the stunning launch (even tho very poor on the features side), PoGO faced a sharp declined that was stopped and overturned after the first meaningful content was added to the game: raids.

It was a way to release legendary Pokemon, a change for IV catches, and could be kept fresh by simply rotate the raid table.

Brilliant, and it worked, also because the tickets, after 1 free daily, were to be paid for. And you know why was successful? Even if you didn't need the specific Pokemon, you'd raid for the rewards (exp, rare candies, Technical Machines, etc).

HPWU needs a similar feature, and we have already most of the components already in place and ready to be expanded upon:

• we all know the last 2 pages of the Challenges Registry, with the "Wanted" posters
• we need a way to use excessive Scrolls and Spell Books
• we want harder Fortresses

So how could "raids" work in HPWU? Let's see:

1. we should battle 1 single foe (the "wanted" foe), a kind of "buffed" elite (maybe introduce a new tier over Elites, "Legendary", I don't know). It should have at minimum a very high level of HP (similar to PoGO raids: Attack and Defense untouched, major boost in HP) but I think it should have also boosted Attack and Defense (we'd need more lessons for that, more on this later). Of course we should see some progression in difficulty, from 1-star to 5-star
2. multiple wizards should be able to fight it simultaneously: we can keep the 5 man group idea of fortresses, or expand it to 10 maybe?
3. if everyone in the group is defeated simultaneously the challenge is over, you don't auto-recover: if you are dead, you need a Magi. Also the challenge should be time based.
4. since we have 1 single foe, the focus should be released based on damage dealt (like 1 focus for all every 5% HP removed): in this scenario the right combination of support/healing and damage will be fundamental. But this is just an idea, the simpler that came to mind (you might do something time-based, or other mini-games)
5. linked to point 1, we should receive the second profession skill tree to improve on your professions: for example more consistent crits/damage for Aurors, more defensive support / buffs for Magis, more offensive support for Profs
6. rewards should be small amounts of rare currencies (1-2 DADA books and Restricted Section Books) and decent chunk or "normal" currencies (10-20 Scrolls, Field guides and 5-10 Ministry manuals, Spell Books). This should incentivize people to do them (since we need a massive amounts of all these currencies to open up all the SOS trees and the new profession trees) creating a link in all other game features
7. the final step, accessibility. Honestly HPWU has been terribly monetized, meaning it has monetization but in a way where you are not that much incentivized to spend. This is clear in the ration of download/revenue of PoGO vs HPWU, look on Sensor Tower if you are curious).
8. The only meaningful path you'll want to take is some spell energy storage, a bit of potions/ingredients ones and maybe some rental cauldrons if you are in a hurry. So, let's make the entry to these raids limited in price and quantity (to avoid excessive farm of rare currencies). An idea might be 1 free daily access and and 1 extra paid daily access (50-100 coins): we retain the "freemium" status of the app, which is important, but giving a way to monetize the feature.
9. VERY IMPORTANT: it might be a very good idea to not limit the entry even after the max number of "rewards" is reached (1 free 1 paid in my example): let players join for more if they want, simply cut the rewards (remove rare currencies altogether, and tone down hard the common ones) so that there's always people around to tackle on these raids
10. and, of course, it should accessible through the Knight Bus. On that side, I feel we also need a "looking for group" feature: instead of dropping in a random fortress hoping to find the missing pieces of the team (basically 1Auror, 1Prof, 1Magi, 2randoms is the minimum you'd want) let us be able to "post" a request for party, indicating the roles you need to fill and the chamber you are going to tackle. Whoever joins the Night Bus could browse the currently open "posts" and join if he meets the criteria, or create one himself

This is just a raw idea, there is much to balance there so don't look at it too harshly, just feel the general idea.

I've started this post discussing timelines, tho. Why? Because I feel and hope that something similar might come later this year. I feel it, because the SOS tree feels like a preparation (and the overall cost of it is so stupidly high that it cannot sustain himself like now). I hope for it, because without a strong meaningful content I don't see a bright future for our beloved game.

If you came this far, thank you for your attention!

Cheers!

Niff1erTick1er

I think if you took something like this, but used various Departments from the Ministry of Magic, something you visit via a portkey type mechanic, it would add far more immersion to the game than just a spin on a tower room.

Department of Magical Law Enforcement could offer bounties for rouge Dark Wizards, Azkaban escapees etc. Some either specific to Aurors, or giving them an advantage over Magis and Profs.

Accept a bounty and there is a chance of that trace dropping on your map (maybe some, like an Oddity, only appear at dusk or night). Out with a friend who has also started it, you can both battle it. Tiered difficulty and rewards. Some tasks are simply not possible to complete if you're not very powerful and/or with friend(s).

The Dept of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes could have Professor specific/advantaged tasks, and the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures obviously would cater to Magizoology.

You could create more paths, advantages and disadvantages for all three classes.

I think the Ministry of Magic approach would be more fitting with the theme or narrative of Harry Potter versus the battle theme of Pokemon Go.

I agree though that if the game remains so shallow as to only be a sticker collecting game, it will die a slow death.

FunkyGaaroth

@t1593541166241 WOA I like the Ministry Bounty idea! This would fit nicely with the theme while still be able to give out the perks I've highlighted for raids. I'd still give the possibility to allow remote people to join, maybe even throught the Knight Bus since it's a feature we have. But the spin you gave... I'm down for it!