One problem I foresee is the current eq player base may decide which 1-3 are "best" and then only want those - like gribble in cotf. Not sure why that wasnt an issue in ldon.
The "problem" in CotF was that Gribbles was so much more XP/hour, since you could complete them quite quickly, and the harder ones didn't compensate by offering (enough) extra XP. It's a simple problem to solve. But the only people who "decided" anything were the designers. The players didn't decide. They just reacted to what was obvious.
I like re-using the LDoN concept (mission-focused expansion), but not using the same LDoN system. Even as someone who doesn't have a leveled puller/CC character I like seeing good ones put to use... or having to burn a "too large" pull as DPS-CC. The only thing I don't like is the cramped quarters and the likelihood for AE effects and proximity aggro to clip through walls and doors. Still, here's what I would like: Limited scaling (lvls 105-120) if any Variable Missions (changing dungeon shape, bosses, objectives) Include indoor/outdoor zones Loot and currency rewards T1 Gear = Attuneable (Req. 105, Rec. 120.) Sell dropped loot for 20% of purchase value New levels of Merc gear on vendor Same currency throughout all locations, but more completions = more faction = access to more loot. Higher difficulty = more currency Limit spell runes to specific camps according to level/difficulty Chase Items (Class Specific and general) Container drops in "end of group progression" mission Components are sold at max price/max faction. One component from each "camp" vendor is required. Achievements Raw completions Do 20 missions without dumping them to get a different type (ie No skipping the 'escort' missions) Time/Survival/etc. for each general type Collections Drop in the various missions. Easy travel between mission givers Story: Replaying important events in the expansion past and driving the expansion's story. Automatic illusions according to archetype on zoning in, but illusion can be clicked off Tank, Caster DPS, Melee DPS, Healer, CC Note: The Discord baddies had many class-equivalent models NOT MONSTER MISSIONS New mechanic: Market-based experience/currency bonus. The less a dungeon is visited, the bigger the bonus. Rescale hourly. Less popular dungeons get big bonuses.
Let's be honest. Most boxers are using software that shall not be named which auto follows better than the game ever has. DP should just buy the software and build it into the game at this point.
LDoN I don't want to see ever again. CotF on the other hand? I don't know why they ever went away from Heroic Adventures. I rather enjoyed them.
I love your ideas. I would prefer that Mercs not be unusable in the instances though. Just to encourage the same type of grouping that we saw in the LDON days. I think I would prefer they scale 85-115. This would allow just about anyone to jump into the expansion.
I'm fine with mercs being used but I like the idea of 2 different rankings tables. One with mercs one with out mercs
One of the things I remember in LDON, was all the times we never left pok, because the group had no healer... Mercs does have their place in EQ.
The difference is that now days, Druids and Shamans can handle the healing just fine. Therefore you not just waiting around for a Cleric like the LDON days. At least that would be ideal for the group content. Shouldn't be hard to find a healer if the rewards are good. Make the exp amazing and the loot very desirable.
/sigh - Let me guess, druids and shamans cant heal, therefore how could I make such a ridiculous suggestion?
No, it’s the fact that you think pick up healers are so readily available that it would accommodate the player demand for missions.
I guess my hope is that more people might level up healers and CC and what not if there was an incentive to do so. With that said, you could be right. I love the cleric class as an example, but there just isn't a lot of reasons to bother with one if your primary focused on group content. I would like to see that changed.
I’m 100% right. There’s not enough healers or tanks to go around for every guild group, not even counting pickup groups. It’s a fact that is true across every MMO tanks and healers are the least played. A lot of people already box a group using healer mercs, and some of those people will add another box for a healer. Those people still aren’t going to play with others. Blocking mercs is just going to tank the population.
A mission based expansion would be nice for change. Just make sure each theme is different and no towers! Also no snow and Ice! With DoN points reward system, ie lesser run missions giving higher rewards.
