Rework level progression and NPC missions

[Orochii]

Problems with the current system:
Currently, level progression in Dino Storm is highly repetitive and not engaging from a narrative perspective.
At the moment, each NPC usually has:

• 3 to 4 group missions
• 2 to 3 solo missions

The main issue is that group missions are practically the only meaningful source of XP.

For example:

• A level 45 group mission gives around 8,100 XP
• A solo mission gives around 1,200 XP

With Plus + Supercharged XP Gel, a player receives about 24,300 XP per group mission, however:

• To level up from 45 to 50, around 4.5 million XP is required
• This forces players to repeat the same missions dozens or even hundreds of times

The problem is even worse with NPCs that unlock important content such as dinosaurs, weapons, techs, or implants, because:

• Players need to complete around 50–80 repeated missions to reach 100% with that NPC

As a result the game’s story is ignored

Proposal: Story-driven mission lines for each NPC:
The core idea is to completely redesign progression, focusing on story, variety, and linear progress, removing excessive repetition.
Each NPC would have their own storyline, made up of a fixed number of missions that tell their personal story and build trust with the ranger.

Example:
Level 45 NPC – Arni

• Total of 10 missions
• Mixed structure of solo and group missions:
  • Missions 1 and 2: solo
  • Mission 3: group
  • Missions 4 and 5: solo
  • Missions 6 and 7: group
  • And so on

Each mission would be unique, expanding the NPC’s background and strengthening the relationship with the player.
After completing 100% of an NPC’s story, the final reward is unlocked.
Example:

• Completing all of Arni’s missions unlocks the Yager weapon for purchase.

This system would apply to every NPC in the game.

New XP distribution model:
The XP system would be completely redistributed so that all missions matter.
Example:

• From level 45 to 50, 4.5 million XP is required
• This amount would be divided among the 5 NPCs in that level range
• Each NPC would provide 900,000 XP total, distributed across their missions

With this system:

• Solo and group missions would grant similar amounts of XP
• Players would level up by completing storylines, not by repeating missions

Group missions as real group content:
Group missions would truly deserve their name:

• Higher difficulty
• Designed to require at least two players

**** Note: This could be problematic on low-population servers, so balancing or alternatives would be needed for those cases. ****

Rewards for high-level players:
For players level 55 or who have already completed the storylines:

• Replaying story missions would grant 5% of the total XP converted into Dino Dollars
• This encourages high-level players to help lower-level players, especially in group missions

Changes to the Plus system:
Since base missions would already provide all the XP needed to level up, the Plus system could be reworked as follows:
Suggestions:

• Increase the amount of Dino Dollars earned when replaying missions
• Or allow Plus players to unlock equipment by completing the storyline only once

Players without Plus:

• Would need to replay the NPC’s storyline to unlock the final item or reward

This keeps Plus valuable without making it mandatory for basic progression.

Overall, this proposal aims to redesign the level progression system to reduce excessive repetition, give real value to NPC stories, and create a more engaging, rewarding, and cooperative experience for players of all levels.