Borderlands 3 - Story EP1 and More

Honestly, Episodic format seems to work out for the future of a long term series if Borderlands 3 is the last entry in the series, you can't just leave the game ending on a cliffhanger. This is exactly why the story should have more worlds to explore and much more loot to be found - because it makes sense since the map at the end of Borderlands 2 is filled with vaults. This leaves room for open environments and play areas that heavily situate the situation...

Today's Borderlands 3 post is about:

• How the Story should be formatted
• And some of the side mission concepts

The story from Borderlands 1 & 2 was great, however when playing it over and over just getting a specific loot, it then becomes stale because you are doing the same thing every so often. With the Story, it should have the following:

• When playing main story missions, it should have multiple paths.
• When playing challenge missions, it is rated because on your performance.

Main Story missions

• Main story missions have multiple paths on some missions.

An example of this is, on an assault mission against Hyperion / Atlas, etc. you can take two approaches (kind of like GTA V Heists), one approach is stealth (killing or taking them out stealthly, or crippling them in the main battle) or go loud (going in and dealing with many badasses and stuff but doesn't require you to do anything)

• After beating the episode, you unlock the ability to replay that mission in either Standard Mode or Challenge Mode.

Challenge Mode is rated Bronze/Silver/Gold, like GTA V in a way. But, the goals are different, such as "kill enemies with Critical Hits" or "Score Critical Hits in mission", or "beat the mission in a specific time", or "complete without a destroyed vehicle".

Each mission gets different goals, it should try to have diversity in what you must do in order to take a new approach in it.

Episode 1

• Does each episode take place on one world, or multiple worlds?

What I probably think about this idea is that some episodes take place on sections of one world, while others take place on other locations. This allows you to experience new content and old content.

• Let me guess, because it is Borderlands, it must take place on Pandora.

Pandora is the first episode primarily. Once you beat Episode 1, you move onto other worlds, but you can choose to return to Bandit-infested Pandora if you wish via your capital ship.

• What do you think is the best cost for an Episode?

Episodes contain a 10 level increase, and also cost $14.99, includes new zones, missions, side missions, continues the story, and new worlds to explore. You start with Episodes 1-3, and there is room for many expansion. The level cap is 200, but you can endlessly add more to the story, if you want.

• Episodes? 

Episode 1 takes place on Pandora.

Episode 2 takes place on Natura World.

Episode 3 takes place on the Virtual Reality Climax (South).

Episodes 4+ takes place on many different worlds. Each world is fully expansive.

• Do you revisit worlds in previous episodes?

Yes, it is a good idea to revisit worlds during the story. This allows you to see a different light, while you are in a world, you fight onward to stop Hyperion and other evil rule.

Types of Missions

1. Point 2 Point - Get from one area to another
2. Kill - Kill a specific amount of enemies or kill a specific target
3. Escape - Escape from a location
4. Defend - Defend yourself or an artifact to get loot
5. and more types

Normal, TVHM or UVHM?

• What is the difference between the three?

Other then scaling of health, damage, shields, or certain gameplay mechanics, they are more difficult. 

In Challenge Modes, on top of their modifiers, enemies get more difficult...

Challenge Missions

• Enemies have 25% more health.
• Enemies have 25% more shields.
• Enemies deal 25% more damage.
• Enemies take 10% less damage.
• Enemy levels can scale up to 3 levels above the player's level.
• Co-Op challenge missions have higher goals then single player challenge missions.
• If a gold rating is achieved on Co-Op, all players get the gold rating.
• Earning bronze ratings earns Badass Rank
• Earning silver ratings earns Badass Rank and Character Customizations
• Earning gold ratings earns Badass Rank and Capital Ship Customizations

Anything Else?

• Since the actual Episode One was never written, Borderlands 3's story cannot really be posted right now. All we know is that it takes place on Flying Sanctuary, and there is always room for many new regions and zones to explore. Plus, we can't leave Borderlands 2 on a cliffhanger, due to how many vaults were found in the galaxy. Worlds 2 & 5 (Natura World & Virtual Reality Climax) are completely new worlds not referenced in any Borderlands game to date.

Watch for more Borderlands 3 posts in the future! Stay frosty.

- Warden