4 Dumb Ways We Could Make The Conclave More Accessible
The Conclave is weird. On the surface, it just seems like a standard PvP area with different game modes. However, it’s very under-populated. In fact, the only thing keeping it going is a small group of hardcore players, and the curious newbies that occasionally get stomped on.
But what could we do to make Conclave more popular? Well, I have some ideas.
More Events
A few years ago, there was a Conclave-only event, where you could only use Bows. It was a Valentines Day event, and the idea was to have some silly fun. There was also a snowball fight event that went similarly. But when Dog Days came around, a PvP version was nowhere to be seen. I always found that very strange, since the Dog Days water fight seemed perfect for PvP. Everyone had the same health and the same weapons, so the chances of getting stomped weren’t so bad. However most of these events have been one against all, rather than team-based, which is a bit more off-putting. Making these events team-based (ideally 4v4, but 2v2 works as well) means that even the worst players have a chance at a win.
Either way, events would very much level the playing field, allowing people of all skill levels to have some temporary fun.
Stupid Game Modes
League of Legends has rotating game modes. These are all completely not serious game modes, meant for a relaxing change from Summoners Rift. Two of the more popular modes are One for All and Ultra Rapid Fire (URF) mode. In One For All, everyone on your team has the same Champion, and you fight an otherwise standard 5v5 match. URF mode however gives you ludicrous buffs. Everyone has extra health and mana restoration and all cooldowns are reduced by 90%. It’s a stupidly chaotic mode with lots of death.
Something similar could be done in Warframe. The Conclave is often considered too serious and intense. But a stupid, team-based game mode might be the sort of push to make the mode more appealing to the masses. After all, Warframe is very much a power fantasy, but Conclave does kinda take that feeling away.
A Conclave that doesn’t have Warframes in it
I’ve seen this idea floated around a lot, and I’ve always loved it. Why not make a PvP game mode where you play as Corpus and Grineer, instead of Tenno? A big thing that puts people off is the insane power and mobility of Warframes. This makes actually hitting someone almost impossible unless you’re already a skilled player. However, the Grineer and Corpus lack all those amazing powers, as well as our insane mobility. Everyone in these game modes would have identical weapons, reskinned to match each faction, and combat would be far more cover-based. Adding classes is also an option (like being able to play as a Corpus Tech or Grineer Heavy Gunner), making it more akin to the more popular team shooters around today.
You could also add a horror factor into this, by including an AI-controlled Warframe that attacks both sides. Then we’d know exactly how it feels to be a poor Corpus Prodman during an Exterminate mission.
Make Destiny 2’s Gambit but in the Conclave
The Gambit in Destiny 2 is a PvPvE game mode. You’re basically racing another team, seeing who can be the first to kill a giant boss. While the bosses are mostly restricted to one side, the teams can influence each other. Both teams can cause havoc by sending a player through a portal to attack and distract the other team. Something similar could work quite nicely in Warframe, which mostly is PvE, but a PvP influence would be interesting. This would also be a good place to introduce the Play-as-the-Stalker mode too.
Although, to be fair, I do very much dislike the Gambit. But that’s more because Destiny 2 often forces you to do PvP content for weapons and quests, even if it doesn’t make sense for them to do so. It also has many long, grindy quests tied to PvP, which quickly drain people. Warframe lacks any real interference between the two, so maybe it would be better accepted here.
Okay, sure, these ideas do kinda take away the aspects of current Conclave. But the current iteration of the Conclave just isn’t particularly appealing for most players. Having some alternate, team-based silly options might at least get a few more players.