Diknak

There is a long discussion about what people think the next expansion will be on the official forums, but it got way off topic and those forums are kind of dead now a days. The most popular thoughts are Velious, an Underground expansion, and my personal favorite, a LDoN themed one.

I find it interesting that they started pushing files in the /exp05 subfolder of the EQ2 directory and we are seeing some interesting file names. Two of them are the zones Veksar and Mirigal. Since Veksar is in Kunark and Mirigal is in Everfrost, I am thinking that SoO will be a dungeon based expansion with zones in the current world. That would be amazing, as those old world zones will actually get some population again. I would love to see what they can do to randomize instances and using a faction based system. What are your thoughts on this?

Banditman

I always liked the LDoN expansion, though I thought there were a lot of untapped possibilities with it. Different "victory" conditions based on group size, difficulty selected, and mission chosen for instance.

It does sound like they are going to give us a dungeon based expansion, which I'm fine with so long as it is done well.

Clearly, the biggest brass ring they could reach for is dungeons that are randomly generated, both in layout and population.

Xalmat

I'm expecting a LDoN type expansion myself.

Which means it's gonna be instance-heavy, which will be bad for the game. Catering to the lowest common denominator (ie: the lazy casuals who can't be bothered with a contested dungeon) for the lose.

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Elvbryn

yes because the contested dungeons get so much use in this xpac

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Pinski

That's because of how poorly designed they were this expansion. In KoS, the contested dungeons got A LOT of usage. In DoF, same. In EoF, they did as well Mistmoore Catacombs had a group or 2 in it all the time, Castle Mistmoore had a group in it occasinally. It seems they have failed to create good contested dungeons basically since KoS.

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SageGaspar

That is because the contested dungeons were so incredibly mishandled.

KC: Could've been a perfect SoS for Kunark but it's deficient on quests, relatively small and it eats low 70's groups. Oh and the EXP after all the increases was still abysmal compared to solo questing. Oh and the loot aside from masters is abysmal too compared to easy solo quests. SoS is probably better for EXP at 70 than KC. It's a zone that exists for brawlers to farm and the occasional Xalgoz run. Up the EXP, make the mobs hit a smidge lighter and improve the loots on the named and you'd have a perfect intro dungeon.

Chardok: Personally I think it is one of the best looking and designed zones in the game. Unfortunately it's a quest dungeon built around one long questline that maybe half of the level 80's in the game even know exists. Don't hide long heroic questlines behind tedious secret solo faction grinds. If this was the line that gave out Anaphylaxis or Thuuga or maybe some nice legendary pants or earring or something people would be using this dungeon. Throw in some extra EXP while you're at it to make it worthwhile for the mid 70s that should be using it.

Sebilis: I honestly dunno because I've only used it for epic updates, as I'd imagine with most people. This should've been a high 70's dungeon that saw heavy use for EXP and loots at the end along with the Chardok palace.

Xalmat

Sebilis isn't bad if you have a high DPS group, and some form of crowd control. But there's only a couple worthwhile drops in the whole zone besides masters.

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runningwild

Ya the problem with the contested zones in rok was not the problem. The problem was a matter of a few things. EXP being in the shitter is probably the main one for the mobs vs difficulty in there. Not many quests in there is another. (SoS had a bunch of quests you shouldve been doing so it was being used more often over this reason alone and plus the exp was good for those lvls) Then comes the items you get out of them. The drop rate is pretty bad i would almost venture to guess that 80% wood (i know its more now that those craft items drop but take them away and you would see 80% wood or even more)


Hopefully with the new expansion they concentrate on lvl 70-80 heroic content and raid zones. As for the other lvls why bother we have a TON of content for those lvls there really is not a need to have even more that will make other zones obsolete. Adding more lvl 20 or so zones will do is generate more outcry over the older zones not being used. Instead of the constant adding of new zones for the lower lvls they should redo the old ones. If they focused heavy on lvls 70-80 we would get more to actually hold us over and then they can somewhat concentrate on redoing the older zones.

Arlen Bouldersmi

Contested zones in RoK just blows. period. SoS in KoS was an awsome zone, filled with quests, decent loot, great xp. there were always 3-4 grps running around in there, but joe casual whined about how long it took to do the claymore series. Bring back the questlines that make you go through all of the content to get updates.


I am not an elitist, but, 2-3hour solo quest run or 1 hour heroic instance run should not equate a fabled reward. If a questline does give a fabled reward at the end, make it a bit more time/effort consuming. Heroic instances should never ever ever give a fabed drop other than a master or two.



SOE wants more players, then dont give in so easily to the instant gratification crowds, make them log in everyday to further a questline to get that reward, sure - some top end players will recieve the reward faster than others, but if joe casual gets everything he wants with minimal playing time, then they will just move to another game anyway.

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firamas

Contested dungeons were always the highlight of EQ1 and EQ2 for me. It should be the foundation of content around which everything else is designed. A small population of the playerbase will be raiders, some will be crafters, some will be soloists, but the majority wants to do challening small group and group content.

ROK failed miserably at this. When I think back to the well designed, heavily used Sebilis of EQ1, and then look at EQ2's version.... /shudder/

Maybe next year. =/

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