My Proposal: Integrating League Mechanics as a "Mercenary System" in Path of Exile's Core!

Hey Exiles,

I've been thinking about how we can robustly and meaningfully integrate popular League Mechanics into Path of Exile's core game.

My idea isn't just to drop them in, but to weave them into a strategic "Mercenary System." This would add significant depth to the endgame without fundamentally altering core combat.

The Core Idea: Kingsmarch as Your League Mechanic Operations Hub
Imagine Kingsmarch (as a new or expanded hub area) becoming your central command for these "mercenary operations."

Unlocking "Mercenary Units": Instead of recruiting individual mercenary NPCs, you'd unlock and manage access to various League Mechanics as if they were your specialized "Mercenary Units." For instance, a contact from the Rogue Harbour could handle Heist operations, and a Delve Cart Operator would manage Delve expeditions.

Engaging with the Mechanic: You'd still directly engage with these League Mechanics (you'd run Heists, you'd delve). The key, however, is that your activities within these mechanics would serve to improve your "mercenaries" – meaning the mechanic itself.

How You'd Develop Your "League Mercenaries":
Here's how your idea of "guarding ships" and "supporting map runners" translates to these league mechanics:

"Guarding Ships" (e.g., Heist Contracts):

When you successfully complete Heist contracts and blueprints, you'd improve your "Heist Mercenaries."

This could mean unlocking new, more powerful Rogues, leveling up your existing Rogues, or gaining permanent bonuses for future Heist runs (e.g., a higher chance for blueprint drops, improved rewards, lower alert levels).

Heist thus becomes a self-contained "mercenary operation" that you strategically manage, investing resources (contracts, Rogue tools) into it.

"Supporting Map Runners" (e.g., Delve Expeditions):

By actively delving and gathering Sulphite, you'd strengthen your "Delve Mercenaries."

Progressing deeper into Delve or defeating Delve bosses could grant you lasting improvements for the Azurite Mine (e.g., more efficient cart upgrades, new biomes, increased Sulphite capacity or find rate in maps).

Delve transforms into a continuous "support operation" that complements your mapping experience through better resources or passive bonuses.

Gear and Enchantments for Your League Mechanics:
Instead of equipping an NPC, you'd be upgrading the mechanics themselves:

"Gear" (Permanent Upgrades):

For Heist, this could be permanent improvements to the Rogue Harbour's facilities (e.g., a Blacksmith who crafts better Rogue tools, a vendor offering rarer contracts).

For Delve, it would be new Azurite Mine upgrades or lasting bonuses unlocked through Niko (e.g., increased Azurite income per depth, passive darkness resistance).

These upgrades would be managed by a Blacksmith in Kingsmarch, consuming special resources gathered from the respective league mechanics.

"Enchantments" (Temporary or Specific Bonuses):

These could be rare consumables or aura-like effects you apply to a specific League Mechanic to enhance it for a certain duration or number of runs.

A Heist Enchantment might, for example, drastically increase the chance of unique rewards in the next blueprint.

A Delve Enchantment could grant you unlimited darkness resistance for a specific depth.

These enchantments would be extremely rare drops from endgame content or rewards for mastering the respective league mechanics.

The Major Benefits of This System:
Leverages Existing Content: We're utilizing beloved mechanics like Heist and Delve, which are already in the game, and giving them a permanent, exciting place in the core. GGG wouldn't need to develop entirely new combat NPCs.

Enhanced Endgame Variety: It provides players with new, strategic goals beyond just running maps. You can deliberately "level up" and specialize your favorite League Mechanic.

Deeper Progression: Beyond your character, you'd have another layer of progression where you can invest time and resources.

Long-Term Motivation: This system could be continually expanded, with GGG integrating future or past League Mechanics as new "Mercenary Units."

This proposal would add an exciting new layer to Path of Exile, giving popular content a permanent and meaningful role in the game. What are your thoughts on this?