On the test server of WildStar, players can currently try out an initial version of the upcoming patch “INVASION: Nexus”. Alongside a new raid, a new adventure, and the companion system, there will be especially new content for casual players with little time. This content will be called “Contracts“!
Diversity in PvP and PvE
Every day there will be 10 different missions – 5 in PvE and 5 for PvP, with a maximum of 3 per category being accepted at the same time. The objectives could hardly be more different: Kill 50 Moodies, achieve 20 multi-kills, complete 3 challenges, or defeat 10 enemy players. The contracts come in three different difficulty levels. Level 1 can be completed relatively easily and in a very short time, while the harder variants require a bit of skill or even a small group to master.
Completing a task rewards you with a bit of gold and a loot bag, which usually contains glory, prestige, or a piece of equipment. Since that alone is not enough motivation, there are also “contract reward points”.
More work, more loot
There are definitely certain parallels to the daily missions of “Guild Wars 2″. Those who diligently complete contracts will gradually accumulate contract reward points, filling an initially empty bar. Once enough points have been collected, a special reward is received. You can either choose a “safe” upgrade for your armor or rely on luck and select the additional reward chest, which may contain mounts, companions, or rare housing items.
The more you fill the reward bar, the higher the chance of receiving some truly rare items. Once you have snagged a reward from the best category, the bar is emptied again, and completing contracts starts anew.
The aim of this system is obviously to provide incentives for players with little time to regularly check into WildStar. In Guild Wars 2, this has been deemed a success – it remains to be seen whether Carbine will be as happy with it as ArenaNet.
