I'm a pretty tough person to impress but I have to say that I have always been impressed with the Dark Ruins instance in Adonis. I really feel that Funcom needs to use that instance as a model (some adjustments need to be made) if they decide to revamp Shadowlands.
Solo Instance-- What I like:
- I can do it solo
- I have to do it solo. No bringing in an outside alt to plow through the content. I have to beat the challenge on my own.
- It challenges me to use my professional toolkit to beat the encounter. The first char I did it on.. I got creamed 2 or 3 times before I figured out that I better change my approach. On the second char.. I PL'd in 2 or 3 days to the range of Dark Ruins and had a lot to learn about what the profession could do and how to best approach the quests. On both characters I walked out of Dark Ruins a much better player (of that profession) than when I initially walked in.
- The mobs in the instance.. heck the entire instance itself is appropriate for the level range(150-200).
- Once you get past a certain part.. if you die.. the mobs are still cleared when you return.
Solo Instance-- What I don't like:
- I can only do the solo instance once.
- The cultist robe you get is fairly decent, but it would be nice if there was something profession specific that you got as a reward for completing the instance.
Solo Instance- Suggestions
- It would be nice to have a solo version that can be repeated every 18hrs. If the xp potential is too overpowered.. use one lockout to cover both the repeatable solo instance or the repeatable team instance.
- A solo version that gives you some sort of 'token' as a reward that can be turned in for some profession specific armor or weapon. You don't even have to reinvent the wheel here. The token description can reference the Jobe professional and add in a dialogue where you can talk to your professional, show them the token you found and exchange it for a tier 2 glyph. If this doesn't fit in with the storyline behind Dark Ruins then have the spirit drop something that you turn in to the NPC at the front (can't remember his name) and HE gives you the token for your Jobe professional.
- Make the solo version (the first one you complete) drop something that you turn in to ergo in exchange for the ring to get into the next zone. Make this (and the pre-existing quests) the only way you can get that ring. One exception being Penumbra.. take that Ice Golem nonsense out altogether as it is not a challenge. The quest to get to Inferno from Penumbra should be changed altogether.I know this part of the suggestion isn't going to go too well.. but if we're going to have a game where people just PL their way up the line.. at least have some stopping points to insure that they know what they're doing and have earned the right to move on to tougher content.
- Add a solo and team version instance to every SL zone.. starting with Elysium and moving up to Scheol, Adonis, Penumbra and Inferno. Since you already have team instances in Penumbra and Inferno.. make some solo versions of those (or create new ones that somehow tie in with the storyline).
To any effect, I know this suggestion might not be that popular but wanted to post it for 'someone' to see. When Funcom does things I do not like I post.. so when they have something that works I'd like to let them know my thoughts there as well.