Suggestion: Far Seas Trading Company Adventure Pack

[Meirril]

<p>I'd like to suggest for the next adventure pack that you create an island for the Far Seas Trading company (you could just take east freeport or qeynos harbor and rework it into a base for the Far Seas by adding a few buildings and alot of decorations, plus a ship or two in the harbor).</p><p>Have several NPCs that offer to hire "crews" of adventurers (solo quest, single group, 12 person crew, or 24 person raid) to handle various tasks that the NPC needs doing for the company. Cleaning out monster lairs, recovering lost treasures, finding kidnaped crewmen, helping to salvage wrecked ships. Each of these should happen in an instance which can be reached via bell near the NPC that gives the quests. Reward for the instance is status with that NPC. Each NPC gives quests for a single tier. They offer to sell for coin+status equipment and possibly spells offered from the Far Seas Trading Company. This would be very similar to the Lost Dungeons of Norrath from EQ1. It might be considered to have two NPCs per tier: one for group and solo missions, and a second for 2 group and 4 group raids. Typically you would have to do 5 missions to earn enough status to purchase 1 peice of armor/jewelery. Other items should drop from individual instances to keep things interesting but loot could be a little light considering that doing the missions themselves will allow the adventurers to earn the equipment they want (would be nice to have master 1 spells drop semi-frequently.)</p><p>Lockouts on the instances of 18-36 hours would seem appropriate. This would encourage adventurers to try different instances or explore other portions of the game.  If someone was zoning into an instance and didn't have the quest that rewards status I would suggest it is auto-offered when zoning into the instance. This would make forming groups much easier. Instances should be geared for the most part into 1-2 hours worth of adventuring. This shouldn't be day long marathons. Even the 24 person raid instances shouldn't take more than 2 hours. Small in this case is beautiful. </p><p>As for the equipment itself, I would suggest creating a new version of the class set armors especially for the Far Seas Trading Company. Create a highly styalized armor with a sea going flair for each class. Use the same armor appearance for all tiers of the armor. Don't even change the color scheme. The naming scheme for the armor should be something like <class><tier><name>. For example Harmonic Scintillating Vest could describe the chest armor assigned to Bards for tier 7. (borrowing the same tier naming system from crafting.) Armor set bonuses would be attached to the class portion of the name. So it would be possible to get a set bonus from wearing mixed tiers of the Far Seas armor. Depending on what special abilities each peice gives it could lead to people wearing 1 or 2 peices from several tiers prior for a specially desirable effect. If the maximum number of peices needed to use set bonuses was say 9 this would leave enough room for players to experiment with items that come from more traditional adventuring while still enjoying the benifits from the set bonuses. This is assuming that you make set jewelery available as well. </p><p>Also the island that the Far Seas Trading Company is based on could become a new travel hub. Charge people to travel to the island, and then charge them again to go to any of the bells in Norrath. Create new destinations to allow ease of travel (for a small price). Heck, even have NPCs that offer to cast teleport spells to any of the combine towers or druid rings. </p><p>As for PvP servers, you could create "good" and "evil" versions of the zone. Or you could have good and evil guards posted in the town, with a small no-mans land of neutral guards. </p><p> If done correctly this would probably be the most used "expansion" done in the game yet. Also it would be easily expandable to any following expansion by adding on new NPCs and borrowing a few maps for new instances. </p><p>Anyways, while I don't expect this to be taken seriously by anybody but I feel it is a beautiful idea and I wanted to share.</p>

[Hardain]

Too bad adventure packs are no longer made.

[ke'la]

<cite>Hardain wrote:</cite><blockquote>Too bad adventure packs are no longer made. </blockquote>Accually thats a good thing for this Idea. Why? because instead of having just the FSTC island being the only place to vist, they could add LOTS of small Islands we can vist... while sailing OUR OWN SHIP. Players can sign up to learn how to sail from a FSTC rep in their home docks and once they have proven they have the ablity to learn to be fine sailors they are taken to the FSTC secret head courters and trained in the Finer points of Sailing... in otherwords a Notical Based Expaintion pack, this would allow for an Horizontal expaintion without ANY  of the Modflation Issues that usually accopany it as your Sword of Uberness really can't help you in a Ship to Ship fight, and I seriously doupt a mage can keep focused long enough on a Rolling ship to cast a spell. This will also give new means of getting from zone to zone and once and forall end the feeling that the world is too small(especally the old world) as now you can either charter a boat to the zones(Bells) or take your own.

[Devilsbane]

<cite>Hardain wrote:</cite><blockquote>Too bad adventure packs are no longer made. </blockquote> True, they can just give it to us for free like Neriak. <img src="/smilies/b2eb59423fbf5fa39342041237025880.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[KennyG]

Here's hoping for a LDoNeque expansanion for EQ2.  By far my favorite EQ1 expansion.

[Leatherneck]

<cite>KennyG wrote:</cite><blockquote>Here's hoping for a LDoNeque expansanion for EQ2.  By far my favorite EQ1 expansion. </blockquote> +1

[BarrowBott]

<cite>Leatherneck wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>KennyG wrote:</cite><blockquote>Here's hoping for a LDoNeque expansanion for EQ2.  By far my favorite EQ1 expansion. </blockquote> +1</blockquote> I was just talking to a friend today, hoping that they will someday implement a LDoN like expansion for EQ2, with solo, heroic and epic content.  I would pay for something like that in a snap.  I think it might bring back a lot of business, too.

[Cusashorn]

It would be nice for them to bring back Highkeep, which is the FSTC's headquarters, but it's not likely to happen for a long time.

[Leatherneck]

<cite>Cusashorn wrote:</cite><blockquote>It would be nice for them to bring back Highkeep, which is the FSTC's headquarters, but it's not likely to happen for a long time.</blockquote><p> That could be an awesome storyline to play through, though, and could easily be done LDoN style.</p><p>No cities, no new races, just adventuring areas and storyline.</p>

[Skullsmasher]

<p>Man...I loved LDoN...but I don't think an idea like that would fit into one of the old "Adventure" pack things would work...</p><p> It would be wwwwaaaaayyyyy!!!! too much content, it would have to be a [Removed for Content]' huge Expansion. It would be really cool though. =P</p>

[Rahatmattata]

<cite>BarrowBottum wrote:</cite><blockquote>I was just talking to a friend today, hoping that they will someday implement a LDoN like expansion for EQ2, with <strike>solo,</strike> heroic and epic content.  I would pay for something like that in a snap.  I think it might bring back a lot of business, too.</blockquote> Yea, that would be kinda cool.

[Leatherneck]

Skullsmasher@Oasis wrote: <blockquote><p>Man...I loved LDoN...but I don't think an idea like that would fit into one of the old "Adventure" pack things would work...</p><p> It would be wwwwaaaaayyyyy!!!! too much content, it would have to be a [Removed for Content]' huge Expansion. It would be really cool though. =P</p></blockquote><p> Maybe yes, maybe no.  They could do it in an Expansion pack and that would work well.</p><p>Otherwise, they could put out the "base" LDoN system and a couple of dungeons and put more dungeons out every couple of months...ad infinitum, really.  With no new back-story to write up, no new "lore" that must be created, no new NPCs that have to be created, no new artwork needed (though certainly welcome), Pretty much, just the dungeon and most of the heavy lifting is already done.</p>

[Zelle]

I place my vote on something in the style of LDoN as well. I also like some aspects of the op's idea as well. I liked some of the larger water zones from eq1 and would love to see a return of zones similar to Ocean of Tears and Timorous Deep.

[DataOutlaw]

Too big for an avdventure pack. Supposedly the lore says that Highhold Keep is now an island and the home of the FSTC. This would be GREAT for a full blown Ocean based expansion. High Hold Pass / High Hold Keep would be the largest island in the Ocean between Thundering Steppes and Nektulos forest and there is room to have severl zones just on this island which you get to in the usual manner by ringing a bell. From there the rest of the expansion would be accessible by using player owned boats to sail to other islands that have some overland content and some dungeon zones. The possibilities are endless.

[Meirril]

<p>I'm glad to see so much interest in the idea. Thank you all for your contributions and/or support!</p><p>I was under the impression that High Hold Keep had been destroyed and was underwater.</p><p>If it isn't, then I'd certainly like to see a gambling hall included. Also a gnoll brewery would make quite a bit of sense. Some of the instanced missions could involve clearing out the mines under High Keep from Runnyeye goblins, and other terrors from the depths. Having a few spies from Mistmoor would almost go without saying...</p><p>Not to mention that the Queen and the Overlord would probably have their own agents in attendance. Maybe even some thexian agents squaring off against agents of the Indigo order? Throw in a few dignitaries from Maj'Dul, Kelethin, Rivervale, and Kaladim (kobolt dignitaries) and you would have a particularly nasty nest of vipers to navigate through.</p><p>There is more than enough material to justify a whole expansion pack. However, I wouldn't want to delay work on something that would require more art assets (like say, velious). This could be done entirely with art assets that exist in the game already. Heck, while player controlled ships would be grand the whole thing could be done with nothing truely new and unique being added into game. Well, hopefully some new drops and perhaps unique armor looks but that isn't even necessary. </p>

[Zabjade]

<cite>Rahatmattata wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>BarrowBottum wrote:</cite><blockquote>I was just talking to a friend today, hoping that they will someday implement a LDoN like expansion for EQ2, with <strike>solo,</strike> heroic and epic content.  I would pay for something like that in a snap.  I think it might bring back a lot of business, too.</blockquote> Yea, that would be kinda cool.</blockquote> <span style="color: #00cc00">Not everyone can get a group <i>(Odd hours not enough time to be fair to it)</i> or raid up, some solo questlines is not too much to ask for. Not everything has to be a raid or bring 5 friends. </span>

[BarrowBott]

<cite>Rahatmattata wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>BarrowBottum wrote:</cite><blockquote>I was just talking to a friend today, hoping that they will someday implement a LDoN like expansion for EQ2, with <strike>solo,</strike> heroic and epic content.  I would pay for something like that in a snap.  I think it might bring back a lot of business, too.</blockquote> Yea, that would be kinda cool.</blockquote> I'm just glad Sony is using metrics when designing their content now, rather than listening to posts like yours <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Illmarr]

<p>I'd love to see Highpass/Highkeep return also. I'd also want to see a way to get there via tunnel from Runnyeye or Enchanted Lands. Maybe if it's done as a full blown expansion, re-visit a couple of the zones created for the Dragons of Norrath (LDoN v2.0) expansion which would be geographically in the vast stretch of ocean to the north of Highpass (It was between Lavastorm and Everfrost on the EQ1 map)</p><p>So much LDoN love. What was the breakthrough selling point of LDoN? Personal single group dungeons. What do we have all over Norrath 500 years later? Personal single group dungeons! LDoN never left. The only thing that left is the Wayfarers Brotherhood and the mechanic of buying gear with points you grind doing the same dungeon over and over. LDoN was a huge breakthrough in Sony's MMO universe obviously. You see it's impact today. But doing it today just would not be anything new or special like it was then.</p>

[DataOutlaw]

Ilmaaaaah@Lucan DLere wrote: <blockquote><p>I'd love to see Highpass/Highkeep return also. I'd also want to see a way to get there via tunnel from Runnyeye or Enchanted Lands. </p></blockquote> Ooooh they could have an *all underwater* tunnel that goes from the bottom of runneyeye and / or the bottom of Chompers pond and them comes up underwater near the beach at Highpass island and / or a dungeon under the keep (depending on which exit you take from the tunnel)

[Leatherneck]

Ilmaaaaah@Lucan DLere wrote: <blockquote><p>What was the breakthrough selling point of LDoN? Personal single group dungeons. What do we have all over Norrath 500 years later? Personal single group dungeons! LDoN never left. The only thing that left is the Wayfarers Brotherhood and the mechanic of buying gear with points you grind doing the same dungeon over and over. LDoN was a huge breakthrough in Sony's MMO universe obviously. You see it's impact today. But doing it today just would not be anything new or special like it was then.</p></blockquote><p> I was in a high end raiding guild at the time and people still did LDoN's.  It was fun, it was relaxing.  It could get amusing having non-traditional tanks handling mobs (Rogues, BL's, Monks, Zerkers), but that was really only possible because of the gear disparity.  Socket 8 items were great for filling out Time+ gear.</p><p>It was nice having a continuous source of on-tap content.</p><p>But really, what I liked most about LDoN's was how great it was building your own gear.  It allowed non-raiders (or non-raiding alts) to get near raid quality gear, it just took a good deal more time.  A fair trade-off, IMO.</p>

[ke'la]

I sugjested this to one of the devs at Fan Fair and he liked the Idea too, for a future Expaintion. I think there is a HUGE amount of untaped content out there if they can do Sea Based Expaintion including Player owned ships, Heck they could even have an alternate Lvling path for ship captancy, or maybe even more then one class of captain. This would add a class or even classes withouth accually adding classes adventure classes. It could work kinda like the Space Classes in SWG.

[roces9]

I *really* want to go back to High Keep. Plus player owned ships would be cool too.

[Zabjade]

<span style="color: #00cc00">Hmm I seem to remember that just before Highpass, East Karana (The connecting zoneline) you passed through a canyon a <b>DEEP</b> canyon one that when submerged would make a safe harbor with a Deep underwater trench.</span>

[TaleraRis]

Leatherneck wrote:<blockquote><p>But really, what I liked most about LDoN's was how great it was building your own gear.  It allowed non-raiders (or non-raiding alts) to get near raid quality gear, it just took a good deal more time.  A fair trade-off, IMO.</p></blockquote> That was a huge draw for me. I was able to get a piece of equipment that was going to be suitable for my needs and my needs alone, so I could concentrate on those areas where I was lacking (like resists) and not get yet another enchanter item that had Int on it. The drawback, of course, was tying certain class items to certain camps, because no one ever wanted to do Guk which was a favorite of mine for all the beautiful adds, and everyone always wanted to do Northern Ro since all the plate armor was there. The single camp version in DoN improved this, as did being able to trade the crystals that you received. Another drawback was the number requirement. If we did see this in EQ2, since soloing, grouping and raiding are all viable playstyles, then I would want to see solo, group and raid-oriented instances. Points received for a win would scale up, lowest for solo instances, highest for getting through a raid instance. I would want to see the same base items available, though. They can start at an affordable amount and then get into the lofty numbers for very very good gear. This would let those who don't really need the lofty gear have an option for good upgrades in their range, but the person who scrimps and saves and does instance after instance after instance at lower point levels could aspire to that one fantastic piece of gear if they so desired.  I'd also want to see a buyback option that would let you a partial amount of your spent points back, as LDoN had, so if you get something just to tide yourself over, you could trade it back in later along with more acquired points for a better piece of gear.

[Methriln]

<cite>BarrowBottum wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Rahatmattata wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>BarrowBottum wrote:</cite><blockquote>I was just talking to a friend today, hoping that they will someday implement a LDoN like expansion for EQ2, with <strike>solo,</strike> heroic and epic content.  I would pay for something like that in a snap.  I think it might bring back a lot of business, too.</blockquote> Yea, that would be kinda cool.</blockquote> I'm just glad Sony is using metrics when designing their content now, rather than listening to posts like yours <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></blockquote>Id rather have more heroic/epic content theres enough solo stuff out there already.But anyways yea i think it would be kool to see and expac visiting highkeep

[Wildmage]

<cite>Methriln wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>BarrowBottum wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Rahatmattata wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>BarrowBottum wrote:</cite><blockquote>I was just talking to a friend today, hoping that they will someday implement a LDoN like expansion for EQ2, with <strike>solo,</strike> heroic and epic content.  I would pay for something like that in a snap.  I think it might bring back a lot of business, too.</blockquote> Yea, that would be kinda cool.</blockquote> I'm just glad Sony is using metrics when designing their content now, rather than listening to posts like yours <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></blockquote>Id rather have more heroic/epic content theres enough solo stuff out there already.But anyways yea i think it would be kool to see and expac visiting highkeep </blockquote>untrue it wasn't true when people said it before DoF, KoS or EoF...and its still not true stop beating the dead horse man.

[Illmarr]

<cite>Wildmage wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Methriln wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>BarrowBottum wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Rahatmattata wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>BarrowBottum wrote:</cite><blockquote>I was just talking to a friend today, hoping that they will someday implement a LDoN like expansion for EQ2, with <strike>solo,</strike> heroic and epic content.  I would pay for something like that in a snap.  I think it might bring back a lot of business, too.</blockquote> Yea, that would be kinda cool.</blockquote> I'm just glad Sony is using metrics when designing their content now, rather than listening to posts like yours <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></blockquote><b><u>Id rather</u></b> have more heroic/epic content theres enough solo stuff out there already.But anyways yea i think it would be kool to see and expac visiting highkeep </blockquote>untrue it wasn't true when people said it before DoF, KoS or EoF...and its still not true stop beating the dead horse man. </blockquote>How is this person's <u><b>opinion</b></u> of what they would prefer untrue? What they wish for has nothing to do with what Sony puts out. You know that secretly they wish exactly the opposite of what they wrote?

[Illmarr]

<p>OK, where does all this purchased gear fit into the gamewide itemization? Origionally, in LDoN and LDoN 2.0 (DoN) the gear you bought (Gear, not the aggro proc augments that were a must have for any tank) WHEN FULLY AUGMENTED with three augment slots was almost equal to mid level raid gear. LDoN stuff was on a par with stuff from T2 bosses like MM or Agnarr from PoP, but available a year later, DoN stuff was about the same as stuff from T3 in Time, but you got it a year and a half later. So in EQ2 where does this bought gear land? </p><p>Is it better than treasured? I'm sure it is, if not why are you even bothering. </p><p>Better than Mastercrafted? Now you start getting into tricky ground. Mastercrafted is already borderline in it's usefulness in the minds of many players. Are we just going to marginalize it further? </p><p>Is the gear better than Legendary? I guess this would unfortunately be the way it would happen. The Crafting community likely and rightly has a fit. Loot you got inside a LDoN (On hard setting) was about equal to the augmented piece you'd buy with points.</p><p>Is the gear as good as Fabled? In the immortal words of Ozzie Guillen, "Psssssh...please" /rolleyes</p>

[Meirril]

Ilmaaaaah@Lucan DLere wrote: <blockquote><p>OK, where does all this purchased gear fit into the gamewide itemization? Origionally, in LDoN and LDoN 2.0 (DoN) the gear you bought (Gear, not the aggro proc augments that were a must have for any tank) WHEN FULLY AUGMENTED with three augment slots was almost equal to mid level raid gear. LDoN stuff was on a par with stuff from T2 bosses like MM or Agnarr from PoP, but available a year later, DoN stuff was about the same as stuff from T3 in Time, but you got it a year and a half later. So in EQ2 where does this bought gear land? </p><p>Is it better than treasured? I'm sure it is, if not why are you even bothering. </p><p>Better than Mastercrafted? Now you start getting into tricky ground. Mastercrafted is already borderline in it's usefulness in the minds of many players. Are we just going to marginalize it further? </p><p>Is the gear better than Legendary? I guess this would unfortunately be the way it would happen. The Crafting community likely and rightly has a fit. Loot you got inside a LDoN (On hard setting) was about equal to the augmented piece you'd buy with points.</p><p>Is the gear as good as Fabled? In the immortal words of Ozzie Guillen, "Psssssh...please" /rolleyes</p></blockquote><p>First thing first. Lets face it we're not the actual developers here. All this thread is talking about is a suggestion that hopefully catches a developer's eye and someone champions a similar idea. Nobody in their right mind is going to lift this entire thread and try to do it the way I or anyone else here wants it to be done. The developer will do what he/she feels is right. I'd be incredibly flattered if someone from sony apporached me and asked a few questions for my opinion but it wouldn't really matter. In the end, its going to be someone else's project or it won't happen at all. </p><p>But if the developer followed my origional suggestion of having different NPCs for each tier of gear, a different status for each NPC, and split each tier between 2 NPCs where one was a solo/group content guy and another raid (x2/x4) content girl that would resolve alot of the questions right there. I'd push for the gear to be stated similar to Legendary x7 gear (where x is the 10s level of the tier in question) for the group missions and fabled x5 for the raid missions. I'd like the actual equippable level to be x4 or x5. I'd also like to see a focus on presenting at least 2 peices of equipment with interesting set bonuses that could reasonably be desirable in later tiers. Reasoning behind this is that the equipment should take at bare minimum 3 or 4 runs in that tier to obtain 1 peice. If the xp is reasonable, your talking about enough experience to gain a level for ever 2 peices of equipment. If you did armor and jewelery that's 16 slots if I'm not mistaken. Not all of the slots needs to be represented in every tier, but each slot should be visited at least once ever 2 tiers. Following that general logic, you'd probably be done with a tier before you obtained all the available equipment from this NPC. </p><p>Crafters should be ok with this set up. Its not like you can start a tier with any status to purchase Far Seas equipment. The mastercrafted armor should be more powerful than stuff stated for 5 levels and a tier below it. The main reason not to upgrade would be to retain unique set bonuses from previous tiers. That and for appearnces. Which if this logic was followed, would apply more to EoF sets of armor which are stated for x9 and which may be more powerful than mastercrafted items intended for characters 3 levels higher. </p><p>As far as the set abilities, I'd like to see some very powerful set abilities introduced in low level equipment. Things like a chest peice for healers that procs a hate reduction by 2 positions. Something that 30 levels later you'd be tempted to equip even though you'd loose a massive amount of other bonuses. As level grows, I'd like the abilties to taper off to more reasonable power levels. It would make people think when choosing what equipment to use for a really difficult encounter. As long as the set bonus was tied to being from the Far Seas Trading Company and not just from a single tier this would work out. </p><p>Alternatively, you could introduce a set of augments offered by the NPCs that would only work on crafted items that would generally add bonuses that would boost the crafted item into the legendary (or fabled) range. I'm not really in favor of this, but it is a second possibility. If this was done, I think it shouldn't use the existing augment slot. It should allow for one of the existing augments to also be placed in the item. If crafting quests were introduced, I'd suggest having crafting quests to get recipes to make the double augmentable items suggested here. This would allow the possibility of skipping class specific items and instead doing augments that would favor certain playstyles and leave the ultimate choice to the individual. If these augments were limited to being placed on the mastercrafted items they could be extremely powerful. Also it might be suggestable to allow them to be recovered by destroying the item they are attached to. This would allow for higher tier equipment being augmented earlier. </p><p>And for the truely sadistic, you could force players to purchase with status the primary component of the crafted armor. If this was done, a single run should allow you to buy multiple components. Augments should take multiple runs according to how powerful the effect is. Augments of variable power would be sugested. And yes, you should be able to sell back the augments to the NPC you purchased it from to recover say 4/5th of the status used to purchase it. </p><p>I'm more in favor of actual armor instead of crafted+augments. However, both ideas have their own merits. If you wanted crafters to feel they have a central role in this expansion, the augment idea is probably the way to go. </p>

[Maergoth]

Level-scaling group content is a BIG no-no.. it only promotes tunnelvision for people who dont feel like doing normal dungeons. I think the Dungeon crawl feel is one of the best things about the game, I don't want it to be replaced by the LDoN-style stuff.. Maybe it's just me, but I think we should avoid that <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Leatherneck]

<cite>Maergoth wrote:</cite><blockquote>Level-scaling group content is a BIG no-no.. it only promotes tunnelvision for people who dont feel like doing normal dungeons. I think the Dungeon crawl feel is one of the best things about the game, I don't want it to be replaced by the LDoN-style stuff.. Maybe it's just me, but I think we should avoid that <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </blockquote> So....what, people who don't like normal dungeons should be forced to?

[Meirril]

<cite>Maergoth wrote:</cite><blockquote>Level-scaling group content is a BIG no-no.. it only promotes tunnelvision for people who dont feel like doing normal dungeons. I think the Dungeon crawl feel is one of the best things about the game, I don't want it to be replaced by the LDoN-style stuff.. Maybe it's just me, but I think we should avoid that <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </blockquote><p> Not entirely sure what you mean by level scaling group content, or why you feel that applies to this idea. If your refering to instances that match the level of the group, there is no reason why these instances should do that. I'm just a tad annoyed with splitpaw instances, in that they never got properly itemized on drops because they did scale with level. </p><p>On the other hand, if your opposed to instances within a tier then I suppose your opposed to most of the actually used content in EQ2. </p><p>And in the third possibility I can think of, if you just want more travel time between instances (having to delve a dungeon to reach your instance, or cross several zones to reach it) I'd disagree. No reason to add complicated time consuming travel just to prolong the "fun". </p>

[WeatherMan]

<cite>TaleraRis wrote:</cite><blockquote>Leatherneck wrote:<blockquote><p>But really, what I liked most about LDoN's was how great it was building your own gear.  It allowed non-raiders (or non-raiding alts) to get near raid quality gear, it just took a good deal more time.  A fair trade-off, IMO.</p></blockquote> That was a huge draw for me. I was able to get a piece of equipment that was going to be suitable for my needs and my needs alone, so I could concentrate on those areas where I was lacking (like resists) and not get yet another enchanter item that had Int on it. The drawback, of course, was tying certain class items to certain camps, because no one ever wanted to do Guk which was a favorite of mine for all the beautiful adds, and everyone always wanted to do Northern Ro since all the plate armor was there. The single camp version in DoN improved this, as did being able to trade the crystals that you received. Another drawback was the number requirement. If we did see this in EQ2, since soloing, grouping and raiding are all viable playstyles, then I would want to see solo, group and raid-oriented instances. Points received for a win would scale up, lowest for solo instances, highest for getting through a raid instance. I would want to see the same base items available, though. They can start at an affordable amount and then get into the lofty numbers for very very good gear. This would let those who don't really need the lofty gear have an option for good upgrades in their range, but the person who scrimps and saves and does instance after instance after instance at lower point levels could aspire to that one fantastic piece of gear if they so desired.  I'd also want to see a buyback option that would let you a partial amount of your spent points back, as LDoN had, so if you get something just to tide yourself over, you could trade it back in later along with more acquired points for a better piece of gear. </blockquote> Not sure about the trade-back option, but otherwise, I like your idea.  This lets people acquire good gear solely through the virtues of patience, frugality, and hard work.  Sure, it may take them ten times the amount of 'dungeon plunge' that a larger number of people would need, but without the worry about certain classes of people screaming that the 'drops are unfair because you aren't doing something X style'.  It isn't a drop system, therefore, the argument is moot.  Accumulation of points for 'gear purchase'...excellent idea.

[Meirril]

<cite>WeatherMan wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>TaleraRis wrote:</cite><blockquote>Leatherneck wrote: <blockquote><p>But really, what I liked most about LDoN's was how great it was building your own gear.  It allowed non-raiders (or non-raiding alts) to get near raid quality gear, it just took a good deal more time.  A fair trade-off, IMO.</p></blockquote>That was a huge draw for me. I was able to get a piece of equipment that was going to be suitable for my needs and my needs alone, so I could concentrate on those areas where I was lacking (like resists) and not get yet another enchanter item that had Int on it. The drawback, of course, was tying certain class items to certain camps, because no one ever wanted to do Guk which was a favorite of mine for all the beautiful adds, and everyone always wanted to do Northern Ro since all the plate armor was there. The single camp version in DoN improved this, as did being able to trade the crystals that you received. Another drawback was the number requirement. If we did see this in EQ2, since soloing, grouping and raiding are all viable playstyles, then I would want to see solo, group and raid-oriented instances. Points received for a win would scale up, lowest for solo instances, highest for getting through a raid instance. I would want to see the same base items available, though. They can start at an affordable amount and then get into the lofty numbers for very very good gear. This would let those who don't really need the lofty gear have an option for good upgrades in their range, but the person who scrimps and saves and does instance after instance after instance at lower point levels could aspire to that one fantastic piece of gear if they so desired.  I'd also want to see a buyback option that would let you a partial amount of your spent points back, as LDoN had, so if you get something just to tide yourself over, you could trade it back in later along with more acquired points for a better piece of gear. </blockquote>Not sure about the trade-back option, but otherwise, I like your idea.  This lets people acquire good gear solely through the virtues of patience, frugality, and hard work.  Sure, it may take them ten times the amount of 'dungeon plunge' that a larger number of people would need, but without the worry about certain classes of people screaming that the 'drops are unfair because you aren't doing something X style'.  It isn't a drop system, therefore, the argument is moot.  Accumulation of points for 'gear purchase'...excellent idea.</blockquote><p>I've been thinking a little about points for purchasing items. While I like the idea of a solo-based character being able to purchase some really nice gear given enough effort it just doesn't seem reasonable. If you turn it around, its not fair to the raiding community to allow a single player to earn fabled gear. The hardest part of taking on raid encounters isn't the encounter itself. The hardest part is getting enough people in the right classes to coordinate to take on the encounters. The single most important part of raiding is the organization. That is something that solo players don't have to deal with. </p><p>Also in general, solo encounters don't require raid equipment. Yes, they are trivial when you are raid equipped. If you look at it the other way, I don't want to give raiders a free pass to solo in their spare time and show up all the soloers at doing their game better. By not giving them the major incentive (raid quality solo gear) your discouraging this. </p><p>As far as point break downs for instances: I'd actually like to see solo instances give as many points as group instances. However, solo instances should be the same length as group instances (i.e. same number of mobs, but not heroic). What this would do is effectivly make the soloer take much longer to complete their one instance for the same reward that a group would receive in probably half to 1/3rd the time. Also the drops from heroic mobs should be potentially much more desirable than the drops from solo mobs. It would be really nice if the boss mobs in the group instances had a significant chance of dropping a master 1 book.</p><p>I feel that the raidx2 encounters should be worth 1/4th the points as a raidx4 encounter. The reasoning is fairly simple: It is much easier to get 7-12 people than 18-24 people together. Most small guilds would be able to gather a x2 force on a regular basis. This would encourage raiding on the small side. I could see the x2 raids being the most popular. Thus, encouraging the x4 with a much higher point reward as well as better drops than the x2 raids seems very appropriate. It would also probably be appropriate to limit fabled drops to the x4 raid with only the x2 raid bosses having a possibility of dropping anything fabled (other than master 1 spells).</p><p>If you wanted to go with a single NPC and faction system I'd suggest:</p><p>solo 1 point = group 1 point = raid x2 = 3 point = raidx4 = 10 point. Most armor rewards would be 20 points.</p><p>You might be able to earn an extra point from either side quests or some kind of dropped item you could turn in.</p>

[NANEEJE]

Back to the original post idea.... its a great idea, I think you are on to a great idea, and as i read the post and look at all the comments, not everything is LDoN. This is EQ2, and we deal with street vendor attitudes here sometimes.. one comment was "why does everything have to be about raid, or bring 5 friends?"... uh.... duh!!!!, this is EQ2, we raid, we group, we duo, we trio, we do it all. So why not make this expansion pack so cool that in order to get to a final group instance, you have to complete an instance with solo, duo, trio, quad, quin, and full group, it gives great training on class associations, and so forth. IF you had 6 people start it and complete it together, you could finish quick, especially if it was solo, duo, trio, then full group... that would be the best scenario. The concept is a great one though, such as splitpaw is designed around... splitpaws, your idea would be surrounded by pirates, sea creatures of awessome graphics, and so forth. Also, I didnt see a developers post anywhere, so I hope it reaches them for the idea... not bad my friend... not bad.

[Zabjade]

<span style="color: #00cc00;">I could see High Keep Bay the new Neutral City well Company City. the Old High Hold Pass is either a Casino the real home of the Gigglegibbers (Replacing the old goblins in the basement) or a Warehouse tended by the old goblins. I would see the various races having being conquered but instead of being wiped out they are put to work and taxed like any other citizen.BTW there HAS to be a measure of Solo content otherwise what would people do while waiting for the oh so special groups especially when you might have a class that has problems getting into groups I see certain classes being not asked to go on certain Kunark instances all of the time.</span>

[LordPazuzu]

<p>Yeah, this could be fun.  You could implement Highkeep as the main quest hub with boats to all major ports for easy access.  Then you could take additional boats out to smaller islands for quests and instances, battle pirates, sea monsters, etc.</p><p>The idea certainly has alot of merit.  They could make a whole expansion out of it where they reintroduce all those missing islands and areas in the Shattered Lands such as Highkeep, Kithicor, Highborne, Straights of Twelve, the Isle of Ykesha...  They could bring back Guk, the most super, evil, deadly, trainiest, froakiest, and bestest dungeon ever made for an MMORPG. Ever. Period.</p><p>This could be a great level 1-80 expansion...  After which they could bring back Velious!  Woot! :p</p>

[Zabjade]

<span style="color: #00cc00;">Either that or have the Undead Frogloks going into business, where do you think all the vendors get that junk they sell <i>(Admits to buying the throwing knives but not much beyond appearance stuff)</i></span>