Presently, portals and dimensional tears are simply hazards. Simply by loitering near one is quite risky given the numerous awful things that can emerge from them.
I propose giving players a reason to venture near them, instead of simply avoiding or sealing them off somehow. Something useful enough that it is worth the risk for a well equipped player to go on an expedition to one. While there have been discussions in the past about making portals traversable, giving players the ability to travel to other dimensions or locations on earth, I am talking about valuable and useful materials that would be available around the Earth side of the portal regardless of whether the player had the means to travel through it, though the other side might be a much richer source.
Some potential origins for these elements could be:
- Matter that came through from the other side and collected on the ground near the portal. (Could be renewable over time or non-renewable).
- Ordinary elements that were transmuted when the portal opened due to bombardment by exotic particles/radiation. Nonrenewable.
- Ordinary elements that were transmuted due to long term exposure to exotic particles/radiation being emitted by the portal. Renewable, as more will be transmuted over time.
These exotic elements could be given to the Old Guard to either earn their favor or in exchange for supplies or equipment. Players might also be able to use them as a power source, or to craft improved versions of regular items.
Superior ammunition and armor would be good examples of easy adaptations of an exotic material for practical purposes once their properties are known.
With a bit of research, some might be used as a high density power source or weaponized, though they might be hideously dangerous to use them.
