Custom Scenario Finder - a new way to play custom scenarios

Custom scenarios currently have two major problems:

1. You have to download a file to play it
2. You get no loot for a win

Unless these two problems are fixed, custom scenarios will never be popular outside the 10-12 active scenario builders.

Mauve Manticore is a step in the right direction because it fixes both of the problems, but I feel that custom scenarios should be given a bigger role than just something little extra you get each month.

User-generated content is a win-win situation for everyone because the developers get free content for their game, players get to play that content, and scenario designers can have fun while designing them. I personally think that they are more important than new official adventures that you finish in a few minutes, after which you start whining for more.

So here's my idea:

Custom Scenario Finder
Custom Scenario Finder would be a way for users to find custom scenarios among a list of hundreds.

How it works

1. You click an icon that is visible in both MP and SP screens (like shops etc.)
2. Custom Scenario Finder -window opens
3. All current custom scenarios are listed in the window in "spreadsheet" format, so that each scenario is in one row with multiple columns
4. Columns represent all kinds of scenario related information like Name, MP team or no, Time limit, Difficulty, Rating, Date Added, etc.
5. Users could sort the list any way they want, for example you could list only ones with Time limit, or list only ones that you MP party.
6. Users could also rate scenarios, and of course also sort based on ratings
7. List would also have a "Launch Scenario" -button, which surprise surprise launches the scenario

Adding Scenarios to the Custom Scenario Finder
Anyone can add their scenarios to the list. But in order to keep the quality high, all scenarios would be listed as either:

• Approved or
• Pending approval

This would mean that after multiple people have tested a scenario, and tweaks have been made, someone from the development team would then approve that scenario. And after it has been approved, only then you would get loot for it. This way we would avoid exploiting by adding easy scenarios and collecting loot for it. It would also help manage the overall quality.

Why this idea is the most awesome idea ever
The advantage of this system would of course be that we would easily get daily new content. It would also be easy for developers because they could simply play a scenario, press "Approve" -button, and BOOM, the game has more content!

Why this idea will never happen
Now I understand that something like this would be a nightmare to code. I also understand that it's probably not the direction BM wants to go, especially since it's so spreadsheety and not lore friendly at all. Nevertheless I decided to post it because I think it would be a great way to find and play custom scenarios.

I would also like to add that this is just a brainstorming idea. I haven't really thought about all potential problems with it, although I'm pretty sure that for any problem there would be a solution. I might add some more detail later.

Thank you for reading.

 

Sounds great, if BM doesn't want to build this tool we could at least put together a database site (or perhaps a wiki page) with a bunch of custom scenarios aggregated, rated, sorted, etc., for players to easily browse & download.

 

One easy fix would be to allow one gold chest a day from a custom pvp map. Some people obviously would abuse it and just let someone get an easy win. But a lot of players would take it serious. You would have players asking in chat if someone could challenge them with a custom more often. It would also entice players not involved to make their own.