The idea is expand on the reading/learning/multiplier system currently only provided by reading profession skill books. Note this is NOT the same idea as the current Life and Living TV station giving raw skill XP; this is for the multiplier towards skills, although raw XP points could be done as well with the right balancing.
EXISTING CD's + CD Player (battery) + Ear Buds:
Educational CD's for jobs (carpentry, cooking, etc) need to be found
When equipped, your character "hears" the lesson the same way they currently do through the TV "Life and Learning" channel:
Text of the "audio" appears above your head (may be 'annoying' over your head but that is part of the balance)
Hearing/perception greatly reduced (similar to Hard of Hearing trait) because you have ear buds in and are trying to learn
Balance considerations:
Main benefit should be that you are MOBILE while learning
Craft, manage base inventory while listening
Extra combat debuff from the 'distraction' - a flat learning rate needs to be established for CD's, so an appropriate combat debuff may be needed for balance reasons
Learning speed vs reading a book
Battery consumption of CD Player
CD's could possibly be an entire SERIES of books (Cooking CD = Beginners through Master)
Spawn rate and location (profession house and place of work almost exclusively?) if an entire series is on a single CD?
CD Players in cars for those long drives (no CD player + battery req)? Or just wear the ear buds while driving
NEW VCR Cassettes that work with current TV's - Possibly needing a VCR Player as well (more work to implement but ideal)
could go with DVD/DVD players instead of VCR... this takes place in the 90's right?
Educational cassettes for jobs (carpentry, cooking, etc) need to be found
Works with TV's even after stations go dark as long as generator is running
Same learning/educational process as "Life and Learning" TV station:
Area of effect learning buff depending on volume
Balance considerations:
Main benefit is that you can do other things in the area while receiving the multiplier for what is playing
Learning speed vs reading a book
Requires generator and gasoline
Produces noise that could attract zombies - Future NPC/bandit considerations as well?
Amount of content per cassettes - should not be as much as CD (Beginner + Intermediate = 1 Cassette to find?)
In multiplayer, everyone in the area of effect receives the buff
Should the TV/VCR only provide the buff to line of sight + audio?
Seems the TV/VCR should require visual to be a big part of learning, not only "hearing it"
I think this would add some variety to skill multiplier system while giving the player some risk/reward options while performing the more 'mundane' tasks. Thoughts?
Cheers,