Why to run dungeon? [Archive] - EQ2 Forum Archive @ EQ2Wire

Keran77

12-24-2011, 06:59 AM

We all know why to run dungeons at all - it's for DM and (if we are lucky) for a bit of fun. But why I should to choose some specific dungeon, instead of all others? Which criterias do we have?Popularity (in new system) or rating (in old system) - it's almost all the same and it really works only for some already hyped-up dungeons. Let's say - top 10, maybe top 20. That's always worked that way, new system changed nothing here.But what about newly published dungeons?Yes, we have a "newly published" tab. I've just checked it on my server, and in top-10 the oldest dungeon is published 14 hours ago. If I haven't logged more than a day, I've already missed some. Yea, I'm too lazy to click "next page" button. And I'm sure - I'm not the only one.All dungeons on the first page has 0 likes. But even if they has 1-2 likes, did it means anything? You all know, how it works - "Hey, mate, I've just published my new dungeon, can you vote for it, please?"Also all these dungeons has names, which are mosly says nothing to me (something like "Misty mayhem" or "Masters pursuits"), and are accompanied with mostly useless petty screenshot, usually showing some impersonal piece of common dungeon layout with 1 or 2 mobs in focus.Maybe they are cool, maybe not. I can't run them all, I have to choose. But what makes one of them better then others? I don't know. I have no criteria.I could try my luck several times, but most probably, it wouldn't be what I like. So, after a couple of dissappointments I'll choose to not waste my time.On the other hand, some people published info about their's dungeons here, and it seems realy interesting for me, too bad they all are from other servers. What makes a difference? An amount of available information. Posted here dungeons were presented with a bunch of full-size screenshots (well, not really full-size, but much bigger then the ones we have in dungeons leaderboard) and some description about author's idea.So, I think, just adding an option to have more than 1 zoomable screenshot and some descriptive text will be the great improvement anyway.Some more ideas of further improvements: <ul><li>Filtering leaderboards by last visited, so I can exclude from my leaderboard lists already visited and not updated since that dungeons. </li><li>Portals to dungeons, which can be placed in houses and guildhalls.</li><li>Some social functions, like info about dungeons liked by your in-game friends.</li><li>"Visit random dungeon" button for some russian roulette lovers <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />.</li><li>"Those who like it, also likes..." service.</li><li>Dungeons blacklist, so I can exclude from my leaderboard lists any dungeons of annoying autors.</li><li>An option to quicklink all dungeons/houses of creator of selected dungeon/house.<li>Leaderboard of creators.</li></li></ul>

Kuulei

12-25-2011, 01:03 PM

Okay, your post was not easy to readBut you do have a couple points that seem like a good idea:Leaderboard of creators"Visit random dungeon" button for some russian roulette loversNow there is a filter at the bottom of the Leaderboard that allows you to filter. Default is set at "All" but you can change that to "Guild" so only your guild members' are listed and last category is "My Houses".This is where I would like to see two (2) additonal filters:"Creator", so we can see how many dungeons someone has published and it would be nice if a field to type in a name was available so we can find a dungeon of someone we know or meet."Friends" on the filter, so we can filter by those that we have added to our friends list.

GrunEQ

12-25-2011, 07:11 PM

I would like a way to keep track of the ones I've visited and how I liked or dislike them; especially the ones I want never to visit again.I would also like a way to be more discriptive as "easy", "hard", "duo", or "group". Sometinmes you just want it easy and others you want a challange. Also, a way show if one has been revised.One big question I have is when or how often do they post the Leaderboards?

Sapperlight

12-25-2011, 08:54 PM

I like the idea of having a description box for every dungeon. That would allow the discrimination between token grind and themed, solo or group, etc. I also like the idea of having an icon identifying the dungeons you have rated and what those ratings were.Another possibility might be to have a category selection when you publish the dungeon where you select themed or token grind. That may be the only way to have a legitimate rating system that actually means something.

CatamanderEQ2

12-26-2011, 01:22 PM

Descriptions are an absolute must. Trying to pack info into a short title means titling dungeons by their marks and characteristics, rather than content or storyline.