20 October 2016 – 27 October 2016
Operation
On Thursday (20 October), the event began with the release of Update: The Index Preview and was set to run for a week. Upon logging in, the Tenno received an inbox message from Darvo containing a video message from Nef Anyo.
Inbox message:
THE INDEX: Nef's "Investment Opportunity"Nef Anyo (video message): "Has the Void been good to you? Has it taken your seed and turned it into a tree of wealth? Well, what if I told you the Void could turn that wealth into a fortune? It can, but only if you have faith. Ask yourself, 'Do I trust in the Void? Am I willing to put my investment into its glorious hands? Is my belief strong enough to reap its massive rewards?' Believer, if you're crying out 'YES!', then The Index is for you. The Index: it's where investors of faith seek fortune."
Friends,
Have you seen this crap? Nef Anyo just created another scheme to milk suckers out of their credits. He calls it The Index, but really, it's just wagering and bloodsport. Thing is, Tenno, I like wagering, and bloodsports are sort of your deal.
You get what I'm getting at? You go to this Index and fight against Nef's brokers. You'll win credits. I'll win credits. We'll all win credits. Except for Nef. He's going to lose a lot of credits. Just thinking about that makes me happy.
Your friend,
Darvo
Closing this message immediately transitioned the Tenno to the tutorial for The Index. The tutorial consisted of dioramas narrated by Nef Anyo.
Nef Anyo: "So, Tenno, you think you have what it takes to be a broker on The Index? Allow me to educate you."
Nef Anyo: "When you kill a Broker, they will drop an Index point. Scramble! It's your job to pick it up before the other team does."
Nef Anyo: "You may hold any number of Index points, but know that they're worthless until you've deposited them in the Bank. We call this Capitalisation."
Nef Anyo: "But if you die on the way to the Bank, you'll drop all your points, leaving them vulnerable to all."
Nef Anyo: "You see, The Index is a game of risk and reward. Hold too many points and you risk rewarding the other team. Tenno, you best make peace with the Void. The Index is about to begin."
On Neptune, there was a new node called The Index, where the event took place.
Mechanics and Missions
The Index was an Arena-style game similar to Rathuum (introduced earlier in the year), but with slightly different rules. Upon selecting the mission, the Tenno first had to indicate their level of investment: Low Risk, Medium Risk, or High Risk. Low Risk required the Tenno to invest 1.500 credits up front, and would pay out double (3.000 credits, a 100% profit) as long as the Tenno won the match and personally scored at least 2 points. Medium Risk required a 3.000-credit investment, and would pay out with 100% profit if the Tenno scored at least 5 points. In addition, Medium Risk included a random Nightmare mode modifier on the Tenno (eg half shields, energy drain, etc). High Risk featured a 6.000-credit investment, required the Tenno to score 10 points for full profit, and included two Nightmare modifiers. If the Tenno won their match without scoring the minimum number of points, they would receive their initial investment back, with no profit.
The Index took place on Corpus-themed Conclave maps, such as Outpost and Gas Works. The Tenno were always in a team of four; if fewer Tenno started the match, the remaining slots would be filled by Spectres. The Tenno were opposed by one of three teams of Brokers, also a team of four (the Investor Relations team was added after the event). The goal of the Index was to kill enemy brokers and collect the green Index points they dropped on death. Index points could be turned in at the Bank, whereupon they were added to the team's score. If a broker carrying points died, their points were scattered on the floor (along with the single point from that broker's death), and anyone from either team could arrive and take them all.
Carrying and depositing Index points in large quantities (starting at 5) resulted in bonus points being added to the score, incentivising brokers to store up points before banking them (although this bonus was capped when holding 20 Index points, and more would not increase the bonus). However, at Medium and High Risk levels, Index points would inflict Financial Stress debuffs on brokers carrying them, reducing their health and shields and draining their energy, with the severity of the effects dependent on the number of Index points being carried.
The mission was not timed. Once one team scored at least 60 Index points (scores could be higher if a large number of points were turned in at once), the game ended. If the Tenno team won, the Tenno received their initial investment back. If an individual Tenno personally scored the required number of Index points (2/5/10 points depending on Risk level), they received their investment back with 100% profit (double their investment); if not, they received no profit but lost no money. If the Anyo Corp team won, then no Tenno received any credits back and their investment was forfeited. (Prior to Hotfix #3 on 21 October, the Index point requirements for earning profit were 5/10/20 instead of 2/5/10, and the Index point goal for each match was 50 instead of 60).
The Index matches were directed by Cephalon Sark (previously seen only in the Conclave), who served as the announcer, projecting from medium-sized screens positioned all over the arena.
(upon entering arena, variant) Cephalon Sark: "This is The Index! I'm Cephalon Sark, your unbiased host!"
(upon entering arena, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Capitalists, are you ready for The Index?"
(upon entering arena, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Who rules The Index? Find out when the bell rings!"
(upon entering arena, variant) Cephalon Sark: "(Excited mood!) The Index begins soon!"
(upon entering arena, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Investors, ready your brokers. The Index is about to open!"
(upon entering arena, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Investors, nervous. Brokers, in position. The bell, about to ring. This is The Index!"
(upon match start, variant) Cephalon Sark: "And the brokers are off!"
(upon match start, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Let the trading begin! (Exciting!)"
(upon match start, variant) Cephalon Sark: "The Index opens for Capitalisation!"
(upon match start, variant) Cephalon Sark: "And the brokers start trading bullets!"
(upon match start, variant) Cephalon Sark: "An eruption of chaos on the trading floor!"
(upon match start, variant) Cephalon Sark: "The bell! Start killing, fishes! …er, brokers."
(throughout match, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Cephalon Sark's been resequenced as an announcer! (Surprised look!)"
(throughout match, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Sark has no idea what happened to previous announcer! (Shifty eyes.)"
(throughout match, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Cephalon Sark likes his new boss, Nef Anyo. Praise the Void!"
(throughout match, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Sark, straining to sound authoritative."
(throughout match, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Cephalon Sark is faking it 'til he makes it!"
(throughout match, variant) Cephalon Sark: "This is why Sark wakes up in the morning, folks!"
(throughout match, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Who will swim to the top of The Index first?"
(throughout match, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Capitalise, capitalise, capitalise! This is The Index!"
(throughout match, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Can the Tenno fend off Nef's brokers to rise to the top of The Index?"
(throughout match, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Lots of investors on the floor today!"
(throughout match, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Nef Anyo would like to welcome Padovan Colony to The Index!"
(if a broker is carrying many Index points, variant) Cephalon Sark: "That broker's carrying a lot of points! This is a risky transaction!"
(if a broker is carrying many Index points, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Watch this broker with a bucketload of Index points! Will they make it to the vault?"
(if a broker is carrying many Index points, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Eyes on broker with many points! Risky move."
(if a broker is carrying many Index points, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Brokers holding many points look like shiny bait!"
(if a broker is carrying many Index points, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Holding lots of points is dangerous… and thrilling!"
(if a broker is carrying many Index points, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Points in the bank mean credits in the pocket!"
(if a broker is carrying many Index points, variant) Cephalon Sark: "More points in the vault!"
(if the Tenno are winning, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Tenno rally on The Index! Dramatic."
(if the Tenno are winning, variant) Cephalon Sark: "The Tenno are swimming up The Index!"
(if the Tenno are winning, variant) Cephalon Sark: "I smell a rally!"
(if the Tenno are winning, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Tenno rally drives Anyo Corp confidence down, down, down!"
(if Anyo Corp are winning, variant) Cephalon Sark: "The Tenno are losing! (Biased excitement!)"
(if Anyo Corp are winning, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Look at this! Nef's brokers are rallying and the Tenno are desperate!"
(if Anyo Corp are winning, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Nef's investors have to be smiling today!"
(if the match is tied, variant) Cephalon Sark: "It's too close to call!"
(if the match is tied, variant) Cephalon Sark: "This is either team's match."
(if the match is tied, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Either side could take the The Index today."
(if the match is tied, variant) Cephalon Sark: "The analysts are at a loss to predict this outcome."
(when a broker dies, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Broker down!"
(when a broker dies, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Points in the open!"
(when a broker dies, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Index points up for grabs!"
(when a broker dies, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Investors are eyeing those dropped points!"
(when a broker dies while carrying many Index points, variant) Cephalon Sark: "All eyes on that market upset."
(when a broker dies while carrying many Index points, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Got 'em! Right in the finances!"
(when a broker dies while carrying many Index points, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Carnage! Points everywhere! (Wonderful!)"
(when a broker dies while carrying many Index points, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Shocking turn of events! (Appropriate expression!)"
(when a broker turns in Index points, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Capitalisation!"
(when a broker turns in Index points, variant) Cephalon Sark: "The Index is up!"
(when a broker turns in Index points, variant) Cephalon Sark: "What a transaction!"
(when a broker turns in Index points, variant) Cephalon Sark: "That broker wants a bonus!"
(when a broker turns in Index points, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Capitalisations trending up!"
(when a broker turns in Index points, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Investors smiling on that Capitalisation!"
(when a broker turns in Index points, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Shares soar on that brutal Capitalisation!"
(when a broker turns in Index points, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Restrained enthusiasm for that Capitalisation."
(when a Tenno turns in Index points while winning, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Nef's brokers, in the red!"
(when a Tenno turns in Index points while winning, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Nef, taking big hits on The Index!"
(when a Tenno turns in Index points while winning, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Bad day for Anyo, and his investors!"
(when a Tenno turns in Index points while winning, variant) Cephalon Sark: "It's a hostile market for Anyo Corp!"
(when a Tenno turns in Index points while winning, variant) Cephalon Sark: "The Tenno score! Investors get jittery."
(when a Tenno turns in Index points while winning, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Not a good day on The Index for Nef and his brokers."
(when a Tenno turns in Index points while losing, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Tenno, clawing back gains!"
(when a Tenno turns in Index points while losing, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Tenno, one step closer to financial freedom!"
(when a Tenno turns in Index points while losing, variant) Cephalon Sark: "The Tenno desperately trying to become the market leader!"
(when a Tenno turns in Index points while losing, variant) Cephalon Sark: "A cap for Team Tenno. Investors asking, 'Will it be enough to stop Anyo Corp?'"
(when an Anyo Corp broker turns in Index points while winning, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Anyo Corp pulls ahead! (Delightful!)"
(when an Anyo Corp broker turns in Index points while winning, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Tough break for Tenno. Investors upset."
(when an Anyo Corp broker turns in Index points while winning, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Can Tenno turn this one around? Let's watch."
(when an Anyo Corp broker turns in Index points while winning, variant) Cephalon Sark: "The Tenno are feeling the pain, financially!"
(when an Anyo Corp broker turns in Index points while winning, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Capitalisation, Anyo! A dark day for the Tenno!"
(when an Anyo Corp broker turns in Index points while winning, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Nef's rising on the Index with that Capitalisation!"
(when an Anyo Corp broker turns in Index points while losing, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Big Capitalisation for Anyo Corp!"
(when an Anyo Corp broker turns in Index points while losing, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Anyo Corp on the comeback!"
(when an Anyo Corp broker turns in Index points while losing, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Anyo Corp is working its way out of debt!"
(when the match is over, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Trading over!"
(when the match is over, variant) Cephalon Sark: "And there's the bell!"
(when the match is over, variant) Cephalon Sark: "And the Index closes!"
(when the match is over, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Brokers, trading is complete!"
(if the Tenno win, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Tenno reel in the win!"
(if the Tenno win, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Tenno win! (Disappointed expression.)"
(if the Tenno win, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Market upset! Tenno win! (Sark hides from boss….)"
(if Anyo Corp win, variant) Cephalon Sark: "The boss wins! (Sark is pleased!)"
(if Anyo Corp win, variant) Cephalon Sark: "Anyo Corp comes out on top! Go, boss!"
(if Anyo Corp win, variant) Cephalon Sark: "A win for Anyo Corp! Sark, barely able to restrain joy!"
In addition, Nef Anyo would comment on match conditions using the same screens.
(general) Nef Anyo: "Investors, welcome to The Index. May the Void bless your precious credits."
(general) Nef Anyo: "Investors, are you down on The Index? There's only one answer: invest more credits! The Void rewards faith."
(when the Tenno are leading, variant) Nef Anyo: "Come on, Brokers, how long are you going to let them do this to you?"
(when the Tenno are leading, variant) Nef Anyo: "Brokers, you need to turn this around. Your livelihood – and life! – depend on it."
(when Anyo Corp are leading, variant) Nef Anyo: "By the Void, keep it up!"
(when Anyo Corp are leading, variant) Nef Anyo: "There's a bonus for each one of you at the end of this match."
(when Anyo Corp are leading, variant) Nef Anyo: "Do you see, investors? This is why you choose Anyo Corp."
(when the Tenno win, variant) Nef Anyo: "So be it. The Void giveth, and the Void taketh away."
(when the Tenno win, variant) Nef Anyo: "Congratulations, Tenno. Just remember: on The Index, nothing stays up forever."
(when Anyo Corp win, variant) Nef Anyo: "The Void was not good to you today, Tenno. But keep investing. Perhaps it will smile on you next time."
(when Anyo Corp win, variant) Nef Anyo: "Thank you for the credits, Tenno."
(when Anyo Corp win, variant) Nef Anyo: "Don't worry, Tenno, I'll put these credits to excellent use."
(when Anyo Corp win, variant) Nef Anyo: "To be quite honest, Tenno, I don't think you have what it takes to be a broker."
After playing five matches of The Index, the Tenno received an inbox message from Darvo containing an event emblem.
Inbox message:
THE INDEX: On a roll!Oh, Tenno, I tell you, this is getting good. We're on a roll and I don't want it to stop.
Here, take this. Consider it a good luck charm from your old pal Darvo.
—Darvo
After this, a new mission, called The Index – Mission 2, was available on Neptune. This mission had higher enemy levels and required investments of 15.000, 25.000, or 35.000 credits, for Low, Medium, and High Risk, respectively. The personal Index point goals were 0/5/10 points. All other mechanics were the same (100% profit payout on reaching goals, Nightmare debuffs, Financial Stress, etc). After completing five more matches on Mission 2, the Tenno received an inbox message from Darvo containing an Exilus Adaptor.
Inbox message:
THE INDEX: JackpotWe did it, Tenno, we hit the big time. I'm going to cash out now, but if you want to keep "investing", go ahead. You can never have too many credits, that's what I always say.
I'm giving you a little token of my appreciation. After all the credits you've earned me, it's the least I can do.
—Darvo
This unlocked a final Endurance mission, with slightly different mechanics. The investment tiers were 45.000/60.000/75.000 credits for Low/Medium/High Risk, and the point requirements were 25/50/100 points. However, the Index point requirements applied to the Tenno as a team, not individually. There was no point goal for the match; instead, the match started with a timer of 120 seconds and counted down. Index point Capitalisations by the Tenno caused the time to increase; Capitalisations by Anyo Corp caused the time to decrease. The enemy level started out at 50 and increased exponentially over the course of the match. In addition, additional members would occasionally joint the Anyo Corp team, increasing the number of enemies the Tenno had to face. The match ended when the time reached 0 and the team with the most points was the winner. Profit payout was dependent on the team scoring the requisite number of Index points. If the Tenno completed the Endurance mission with a score of at least 100 points, they received an inbox message from Darvo containing a sigil for The Index.
Inbox message:
THE INDEX: BonusYou don't stop, do you, Tenno. I like that. And just seeing you take all those credits from Nef, it warms my heart.
Here, I have one last gift for you.
Enjoy,
Darvo
Rewards
Other than the event rewards from Darvo, this event also introduced a new collection of unique mods that dropped from the Index Brokers during arena matches: Thermagnetic Shells, Kinetic Ricochet, Static Discharge, Shield Charger, Medi-Pet Kit, and Pain Threshold. At the time, these mods dropped from specific teams of brokers; not all brokers dropped specific mods. It should be noted that The Index Preview was advertised as a "preview" for an upcoming, full event that would serve to introduce The Index more completely, which explains the general lack of rewards for this operation.
Aftermath
The Index was introduced back into the game in Update 19.5, along with The Glast Gambit quest, in which The Index features heavily. Contrary to expectations, this reintroduction did not feature a new, bigger event, so The Index Preview is the only event based around The Index. Update 19.5 also introduced the fourth team of Anyo Corp brokers, the Investor Relations team, as well as two additional mod drops: Tether Grenades and Flux Overdrive.
In Update 20, the non-Endurance missions were removed from the Index, leaving only the endless, timed mode. In addition, the mod drops were standardised so that all brokers could drop all mods. Update 22.12 added wave functionality to the Endurance mode so that Tenno could extract at certain point intervals or choose to stay and increase their profits without increasing their investment. It also made changes to the required investment levels, point thresholds, and enemy level scaling rate. This is the current state of The Index today – much different than when it was first released during this event.
The release of Fortuna in Update 24 also made the broker mods from The Index drop from Coildrives hijacked during Bounties on the Orb Vallis, giving another acquisition method for these unique mods.
[Navigation: Hub → Events → Operation: The Index Preview]
3 Replies to “Operation: The Index Preview”