An "unbeatable" DEI inspired rival character that is also a clear allegory for P2Win whales as zir is an unskilled, lazy asshole, but has ridiculous financial backing and still succeeds so most of the other NPCs love them.
Take the inn idea and expand on it by creating a clear, if mostly inaccessible, way for the player to P2win their way out of everything, like a special currency that can be "purchased" and/or earned from miserably grindy tasks, but that arbitrarily expires or depreciates in value.
An "unbeatable" DEI inspired rival character that is also a clear allegory for P2Win whales as zir is an unskilled, lazy asshole, but has ridiculous financial backing and still succeeds so most of the other NPCs love them.
Take the inn idea and expand on it by creating a clear, if mostly inaccessible, way for the player to P2win their way out of everything, like a special currency that can be "purchased" and/or earned from miserably grindy tasks, but that arbitrarily expires or depreciates in value.