Loka and its player base have consistently adapted to a shifting meta over the years. Nearly every aspect of conquest has evolved whether through changes we've implemented or natural player adaptation. We've overhauled attacking and defending modules, modified PvP mechanics beyond vanilla, and introduced various updates that have reshaped the way conquest plays out. However policies remain the one exception. Since their inception they have remained largely unchanged aside from adjustments to tax percentages when town upkeep was increased. Beyond that I can't recall the last significant update to policies. This lack of updates has resulted in certain policies remaining dominant for years with little variation in what continent capitals choose.
Policies also feel somewhat underwhelming in their current state. The benefits they provide often don’t justify the countless hours of grinding required to secure continent capital each month. While they can offer strategic advantages the overall return on investment is extremely low, making them feel more like minor perks rather than game changing rewards. At the moment there’s essentially no real reimbursement for the effort put into winning capital. That being said policies shouldn’t be overly rewarding to the point where they create an unfair advantage or make capital feel mandatory to compete. However they should still provide enough value to make the grind feel worthwhile. Whether that means stronger policy effects, additional perks, or other incentives, there needs to be a better balance between effort and reward. Becoming capital has been insignificant for a while now to the point where players no longer care who holds it. The fact that capitals are frequently transferred just to help friends earn the associated achievement proves this.
I have been coming up with new policy suggestions but have reached a standstill and I am now turning to the community for insight. I ask that you come up with every idea you possibly have, unburdened by limitation. If you come up with a policy but at the end do not feel like posting it because it feels too weak or strong, please post it anyways as it allows for further theorycrafting by other members of the community.
Example Policies
The following link will take you to our wiki where current policies are listed:
https://loka.fandom.com/wiki/Capital_Policies
Shadow Markets(continent policy)
Remember policies do NOT need to have the 3 variants of Benevolent, Neutral, and Oppressive.
For example like this:
Firesale (continent policy)
Policies also feel somewhat underwhelming in their current state. The benefits they provide often don’t justify the countless hours of grinding required to secure continent capital each month. While they can offer strategic advantages the overall return on investment is extremely low, making them feel more like minor perks rather than game changing rewards. At the moment there’s essentially no real reimbursement for the effort put into winning capital. That being said policies shouldn’t be overly rewarding to the point where they create an unfair advantage or make capital feel mandatory to compete. However they should still provide enough value to make the grind feel worthwhile. Whether that means stronger policy effects, additional perks, or other incentives, there needs to be a better balance between effort and reward. Becoming capital has been insignificant for a while now to the point where players no longer care who holds it. The fact that capitals are frequently transferred just to help friends earn the associated achievement proves this.
I have been coming up with new policy suggestions but have reached a standstill and I am now turning to the community for insight. I ask that you come up with every idea you possibly have, unburdened by limitation. If you come up with a policy but at the end do not feel like posting it because it feels too weak or strong, please post it anyways as it allows for further theorycrafting by other members of the community.
Example Policies
The following link will take you to our wiki where current policies are listed:
https://loka.fandom.com/wiki/Capital_Policies
Shadow Markets(continent policy)
- Benevolent: Every town on the continent can buy items at a 5% discount from server-run vendors
- Neutral: Your alliance gets a 5% discount from server-run vendors
- Oppressive: Non-alliance players must pay 5% more at server-run vendors
Remember policies do NOT need to have the 3 variants of Benevolent, Neutral, and Oppressive.
For example like this:
Firesale (continent policy)
- Modding discount for every TGen on the continent. Applies to the entire continent so there is no conquest advantage. Can NOT apply to balak TGens.