Courier Concept: Rail Drops

[Rodgort]

Been thinking of a way to implement a courier system, like dota has, in this game and here's my take on what might work. Of course I don't say this with everything being set-in-stone, but I think this is a good way to add an element of contest to it.

Rail Drop - Appearance - Either a Parcel, or special 'courier' unit flies it out.
You can order items to be delivered to a point of your choosing along a rail on any lane, it travels at the same speed as all the troopers do. Upon delivery the Rail Drop falls from the rail and can be picked up by the hero that ordered it by standing within radius for 3 seconds (similar to soul urn pickup).

Ideally a Quick-Buy system would be implemented, and a 'Deliver' hot-key (and some game specific buffs to the Rail Drop?)

Interception
Enemies can steal or intercept the Rail Drop (Except they don't actually steal the items). Upon doing this they receive a buff for 60 seconds, during which time the hero who ordered it is unable to access their items, they gain bonus stamina, ammo and a little 40 soul bonus for each friendly hero on their team.

The Rail Drop can be shot off of the rails for the interception, time to steal the rail drop is double the duration that the intended recipient requires.

I think it could be a good fun way to be able to pre-order items, have an element of risk of them being delivered to you, and gain reward from stealing other's deliveries.

 

[pakshin55]

You have shops everywhere on the map, neutral shops included. If you locked in a base and lost your shops, sad for you then.

If you wanted to get those deliveries via you siege enemy base, that's now allowed, its gonna tilt balance heavily.

 

[Rodgort]

You have shops everywhere on the map, neutral shops included. If you locked in a base and lost your shops, sad for you then.

If you wanted to get those deliveries via you siege enemy base, that's now allowed, its gonna tilt balance heavily.

I don't think you've fully conceptualised the risk v reward of this delivery system.

It means that players have to stay in an area until their package arrives, or risk losing it - it also means they have to be confident that no enemies are behind them in lane.

If you've played dota you'd be familiar with the courier system and how a dead courier can mess with your item timings if you don't place enough care in its pathing, or get distracted during a teamfight.

Also bear in mind this is a new game, in beta testing phase, and it's likely that this concept will be toyed with or tested at some point anyway.