This sounds amazing. Team-based events can be frustrating if you lose and don't get the grand prize, but hopefully the idea of it just affecting the course of the story and not rewards will still make it fun to participate as a losing team. I'm thrilled we're getting a new little town with a new NPC that's separate from the main story progression. It's not clear to me but I hope this NPC has a daily quest or something ala Agnes/Officiator, and isn't just a shop, but either way it's exciting news.