Crushbone Dungeon Reviews

[Seidhkona]

Since the SC Marketplace came out with some fairly nice 92 helms and charms for non-raiders (raid gear is better) buyable with Dungeon Marks, I decided to check out the new ability to run the player-made dungeons. I figured I only need 7500 marks, how long could that take me? (insert maniacal laughter here). I really wish that there was more information allowed in the end-of-dungeon rating other than "Like the Action" "Like the Design". Some checkboxes I'd like to fill out include:

• Good for grinding?
• Dungeon has a storyline?
• Dungeon has a theme that links the monsters and the decor?
• Is this dungeon soloable?
• How many Dungeon Marks does this dungeon REALLY award? (Don't believe the dungeon titles AT ALL)

So, after running a couple, I went back and started over and am writing up short user reviews for player-made dungeons on Crushbone. I am not ranking these, but I am conveying my impressions.

• The Lovely Bones (Dungeonwinners): ♥ My favorite thus far! ♥ Built on a Poet's Palace map, the decor and monsters are a perfect match and you would scarcely know this IS a Poet's Palace foundation under the decor. There is a definite theme, monster names fit their locations and cohorts. I had to pay attention to some combat mechanics (good monster choices!) and I had some puzzle-solving/thinking to do to get all the way through. I ran it with a mercenary, but it should be easily soloed, or pull more at a time for more challenge. Excellent job! 53 Dungeon Marks, 15161 XP

• Area 51 (Dungeonwinners): This dungeon is built on the Poet's Palace map. All I can say is WOW! Fabulous theme, decor, and use of monsters. The names and the decor really made this all fit together. Excellent and fast to run. 48 Dungeon Marks.

• sunken city (Dena): Built on the Chardok map and uses the waterfall area to good effect. Some rooms are tropical havens, but water cascades down the walls of the corridors, setting the "Sunken City" theme. Every monster had a unique name, there was pathing, and groups made sense. This should be soloable, but the solo adventurer will need to pay attention when pulling. I was puling 4-5 individual monsters at a time and had a blast. 54 Dungeon Marks, 19060 XP.

• 300 tokens Solo friendly (Purrinity): Based on the Crushbone Keep map. Heads up when you zone in! The first monsters are very close to the entry. Groups are made of three identical stacked mobs and so is good for grinding. Caution is definitely recommended when entering rooms. The entrance and exit are smack in the center of what should be a linear dungeon. 200 Dungeon Marks, 94771 XP.

• Fast Easty solo 400 Tokens (Wiline): Built on a lair of Scale map. Although the population of this dungeon is really set up as a grind (groups of three stacked identical mobs, for the most part), there's a theme of a small dungeon in which half is occupied by ravasects and the other half by a tribe of orcs. 106 Dungeon Marks, 40962 XP.

• 100 Marks 1 Room Use Orc to Solo (Corydonn): Built in a Chardok Map, as advertised this is one huge room, filled with stacks of identical mobs spaced far enough apart to pull just one pile. If all you want is grinding, this is for you. Running this with my paladin and a wizard merc, I found pulling three groups at a time provided about the right amount of challenge, which means this is probably easy to solo. 108 Dungeon Marks, 25812 XP.

• Massive Token Farm/with exit (Aaddil): Built on a Crushbone Keep map, as you'd guess from the name, this is a dungeon set up for grinding, with stacks of 3 identical mobs. The groups are set far enough apart that they can be pulled one stack at a time. I was encountering a lot of arcane stun/stifle DOTs, and an almost unplayable amount of lag (I had 40-50 FPS, but huge spell/CA lag, so hard to say whether it's the dungeon or server). Although the dungeon is linear, the exit is by the entrance, so bring an evac totem. 184 Dungeon Marks, 76708 XP.

As I continue trying new dungeons, I'll add my comments in this thread. Please feel free to offer reviews here of dungeons you have played.

[Brienae]

These are some dungeons I have run or in some cases my husband ran. Thought I'd give my take on them.  I like to run dungeons on my lowbies for the xp and for the marks (charms look nice and I'd like to make my own dungeon) I decided to stick to Sigdrifa's format for consistency.  Personally I wish we could leave comments at the end:

Collection of Recollections (Dungeonwinners): This is personally my favorite. It was one of the Poet's Palace winners. There is actually a story that is seen through both the books scattered throughout (be sure to read them) Also the dungeon leads you to think and figure out the story. It is easy to solo but much easier with a healer merc (I ran it last time with my 37 Beastlord and her Warden Merc This is definitly one I would not mind running again and again ..xp 22252 (with xp potion) Marks 60

Norrathian Historical Museum (Valrose) Very interesting idea. Be sure to read the plaques. I find it a pity that my kitten has no respect for history as you destroy every exhibit granted they come to life and attack you. This was easily moloed with my Beastlord and her Merc. Probably could solo it. Xp 35836 Marks 84

Undead Apocalypse 630Tokens,Solo (Togush) This uses the Mistmoore Layout. I would suggest a Merc. I got rather bored running it on my Beastlord. So I decided to try it with my  Warlock I did not complete the zone. I did get farther though but after an amount of time that I'm too embarrassed to type my conclusion is it soloable provided you are well geared and really don't care about the xp (my husband was very mean and ran it in 20 minutes on his Monk) I would suggest if trying this in the low levels bring a friend, bring a high level friend. There is no way you are soloing this at low level. My Beastlord For the first 2 rooms I received 21569 xp and 88 marks. My Warlock got to the last hallway leading to the last big room and could not get past the rats: 67265 xp and 190 Marks

8 Mob Stack Duo Grindfest (Rahzuul) Based on Crushbone. My husband runs this one Frequently with his max Level/AA Monk and has no problems soloing it. He tried it on his 30's Beastlord and did not complete it but for the first room he received 33642 xp and 60 shards. For the whole zone he normally gets 360 marks. He says it is very difficult to solo at low levels. He says doable with a merc but slow going.

I will also post more of my reviews as I run more.  But I have had it for today.

[intoXILE]

Thanks for the compliment! (The Lovely Bones)

I'm glad you liked it.

[griffon_lady]

I have a few Dungeons on Crushbone I'd love some feedback on. ^_^ 

Mysterious Missing Moonlight Grotto was one of the top 13 for the Poet's Palace, but they said my mob placement needed a boost. I'm still not sure what that means and it's been driving me buggy. XD I was trying to place them in a more natural way rather than bunches of 3 or 4, and I left some areas fairly empty, and one area had a mass of tadpoles, but a weakening item so I survived them on every test run, but on every test run I was worried I just was too used to my dungeon and what mobs were where. :

Was I too random? were there not enough? were they too close in places? I'm hoping to get it right before the next competition. XD Playing as your own character has totaly thrown a monkey wrench in things. I can waltcz through 20 mobs on my guardian with a merc, no problem. On an original avatar, 3 or 4 mobs were good. On a new avatar with the mana regening attacks, i can do 5 or 6 with no trouble.

Advice on mob placement would be muchly appreciated. ^_^

I also have Candyland and Jurasic Park. ^_^ (Would love feedback on them too.)

[Afista]

The Mysterious Missing Moonlight Grotto (Hipnotoad): Ran as a Myconid Templar avatar. Beautifully decorated solo dungeon with a story/theme to it. Received 28,462xp and 41 marks. Takes a bit to load in some areas, but well worth the brief pause for some beautiful scenery (and one awesome sunken ship!).

- I ran this in response to the post request above and so glad I did because I had a wonderful visit and it's definately one of my favorite dungeons now. In reguards to the "mob placement needed a boost" comment, my only theories are that maybe it's in reference to the low mob #s in the first room? I thought the dungeon was perfect for a solo adventurer the rest of the way through (again, I ran as avatar. Not sure what it's like as character). I really think the 'judges' might have run dungeons in groups and made comments based on that experience. Hence, there were lots of comments made about needing 'more mobs' in dungeons I struggled to or couldn't run solo. Anyways, loved it! I'll be sure to check out your others too when I get some more free time.

[griffon_lady]

Thank you! I'll add a few more mischief makers to the front room then. ^_^