Anyway my little idea is similar, but different, to Aeonaxx in that we need to ride the rare mob as it takes us on a merry dance around the zone. My idea of the mount at current is a horse, but could be applied to anything. However as this is based on a silly Zelda-related dream I had which I will not discuss here I will be using “Epona” to demonstrate. Obviously it wouldn't really be Epona for copywrite reasons
Appearance
A reddish-brown horse with white mane/tail and black socks and muzzle similar to Epona from Ocarina of Time. Same size as a basic horse. No armor; only a saddle.
Location
I chose Twilight Highlands because it reminds me most of Hyrule Field. Also for the slight reference (Twilight Princess, Twilight Highlands). Other open, grassy areas like Hilsbrad Foothills or Grizzly Hills might work too. “Epona” could spawn anywhere in the marked area. When running she'll take a set path around part of the zone. This includes jumping down (survivable) cliffs.
Mechanics
“Epona” is a friendly NPC and can be mounted as a vehicle much like Aeonaxx. However she can only be mounted when she isn't moving. Once mounted the player will receive a timer debuff depicting how long they need to stay on the horse: Horse Wrangling: Attempting to subdue a panicked horse.
Now this isn't a test of patience as you watch your character get taken on a tour of the zone. This is the interesting part: much like the seahorse quest in Vashj'ir you will receive an ingame warning: “The horse panics and prepares to bolt. Hold on!” While she is running you will receive a new action bar like the seahorse quest in which you need to press, and sometimes hold for a certain amount of time, the correct keys: “Lean left” when she turns left, “Lean right” when she turns right, “Hold on!” when she charges and “Tighten grip” when she rears up.
Her actions come fast and are random for the most part but can sometimes be guessed. For instance she will always turn at a cliff or wall and will either charge or rear if there is not enough space to turn. She will sometimes double back on herself or veer off course but attempts to return to the set path quickly. The player cannot be attacked and will not aggro any aggressive mobs while riding.
If the player fails to hit and/or hold the correct key, or dismounts, “Epona” will reset and the player will receive a 10-minute debuff: Exausted: Failed to subdue a panicked horse. Too tired for another attempt.
The player will also get a 5-second stun: Trampled: Trampled by a panicked horse.
This would prevent griefing by continuously mounting and dismounting.
Should the player succeed to remain on “Epona” until the end of the timer she will stop running and an NPC (Linken?) will spawn and run up to her. He will say a few lines, something like:
“There you are! I've been looking everywhere for you.”
“Thank you for finding “Epona”, stranger.”
The player receives a different 10-minute debuff: Success!: Successfully subdued the panicked horse. They will then be able to talk to then NPC. Everyone can talk to him and see a dialogue box which could explain how they were seperated and his relief that “Epona” is safe. But only the player that has the Success! debuff can select a chat option;
“You look like you have something more to say.”
This will net that player the reins for the horse. Again this would prevent griefing by following the player on the horse and speaking to the NPC for the mount themselves. The player is not automatically dismounted from “Epona” and so can safely loot the reins without fear of being attacked. The reins are BoP. Both “Epona” and the NPC will remain for 5 minutes before despawning. 6-hour respawn.
Players that already have the mount can still mount “Epona” but even if they are able to stay on for the full timer they will simply dismount and receive the Exausted debuff, and “Epona” will reset.
I expect there are plenty of flaws in here, and my biggest worry is that, since her actions can be sudden and erratic, “Epona” could get herself stuck by turning towards an obstical-heavy area and cause confusion by ending up in the opposite faction's towns. I have also been thinking that this would make more sense in a lower-level zone, since it is a ground mount and most players may be more interested in flying mounts at high-level.
Thoughts/comments/critiques?
EDIT: Spelling and respawn timer tweakings
)
6 hours seemed too soon. 12 hours feels better.
). In that respect a low spawn rate would make more sense otherwise people would be in for an even longer wait since they'd be more inclined to camp only one zone.
