In the past, heroes have been known to go on Missions
for BADGE, but now they can be found on active Patrols for our communities.If you go under the Missions Tab, you will find a new option listed beyond Missions and Bosses. If you select the new Patrols tab feature, you have the opportunity to explore a new level of game play.
Currently, only certain options are unlocked, but there are still several that can be engaged to test the waters. Testing is the correct wording as there are a variety of encounters and options that can be found and the in-game text can vary based on activity by other players. Patrols use some aspects of the Missions that are familiar. What is currently offered has tapped into the already present artwork that pops up while completing missions. Potentially, Patrols don't incur as much experience as Missions did but that doesn't mean there aren't opportunities or encounters that might award higher XP rewards.
Some of the events triggered on the Patrols pay out Bux. Some Bux and a small amount of experience. Some offer Morphons. I've encountered one that rewarded me with a billiards ball. A few offer options to choose your action during the encounter, similar to old school choose-your-own-adventure stories. There is a Black Market that offers options for purchasing consumables with Morphon Points. There also seem to be triggered options that open up new patrols when discovered.
With Missions, you spent the energy and the action happened. Fast and predictable. Patrols are timed and the outcomes of the patrols are unpredictable. The initial patrol in A Tour of B.A.D.G.E. lasts 4 minutes. All in a Day's Work lasts for an hour. At any point during these time periods, an event may trigger, and in some cases, multiple events.
It is not necessary to stay actively on the mission page. You can depart the screen and the Patrol will continue, showing Events available to activate with a large red text box that appears in the lower right-hand corner.
So far, I have encountered two Key items on Patrols. A Golf Club and a Golf Ball, and perhaps a Billiards Ball. Nothing has triggered with the Billiards Ball yet, but finding the Golf Club seems to have triggered a special Super Golf Event. In the top right-hand corner, you will see a count on Golf Balls.
On one Event during the Super Golf event, I had an engagement that caused me to lose one golf ball. In a different Patrol, I found another one.
With Super Golf added to my Patrols, I have discovered that currently there is a 3 active patrol maximum.
The Golf Balls seem to be a necessary key to unlock further progress on the Super Golf Mission. Without a ball, a new special encounter (signified by the ? in a box) will not trigger.
The Patrols feature seems to me to offer some affordable variety to the game with new options to introduce and discover. I have enjoyed some of the curious little dialog messages that appear as my character patrols. I like the fact that other players active during a Patrol might be name-dropped in your feed. Nothing game changing, but a nice community acknowledgement.
I don't want to spell out everything I've found in Patrols for you readers, as I think it will be more fun to explore them. If you do find anything of unique interest, share it on the players page. And remember, we are very close to Heroes Rising's second birthday next month. There are likely events and gifts planned for the occasion, but think on this. Gifts are usually given to the person celebrating the day. This might be a good time to share on the Players Page a positive thought with the developers on your experience with the game.
Everyone knows they hear more than enough complaints.