Asherons Call: Ibn's proposal for Darktide-only content

Ibn has posted a thread seeking your feedback, you can read it here: A proposal for Darktide-only content

For a while now I've been running over an idea in my head that in theory would provide:

[li] A way to get to high levels
[li] A way to do this without macroing
[li] Something to fight over

I've talked with meanbeard about it and we think now is a good time to ask for your feedback.

The idea is simple -- a series of dungeons, 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80, 81-100, 101-125, and possibly 126+. Inside each dungeon is a maze, some hallways, and an NPC that can be used once every five minutes.

When you use that NPC, you get a chunk of XP. Maybe it's a flat amount, maybe it's proportional to what you need to get to the next level. Either way, standing here and tagging this NPC once every five minutes gets you XP *much much faster* than macroing.

That's it. That's the idea. The theory is that controlling this is so beneficial that everyone will kill each other trying to hold it. And when you do hold it, you and the other folks in your monarchy power-level like mad.

Obviously there are complicating factors. Some ideas:

[li] What about 126? Getting to 126 really isn't the issue in being competitive on DT, it's getting from 126 to 200 or 220 or 240 so you can compete with the folks who chained back in the day. Once the expansion pack is released, we can add in level-restricted versions of these dungeons for 150-175 or 120-200 or whatever works. Until then the idea sort of breaks down at 126. Prior to AC:TD we could put in the dungeons leading up to 126 as a show of faith or proof of concept.

[li] What about camping? First off each one would need to have multiple entrances so you couldn't just guard the one entrance. But it couldn't have so many entrances that it's indefensible.

Also, they'd all be no-log. And you can't get in if you're waiting to go PK again. If you use the NPC and you're higher than the max level of the dungeon, or for some reason you're NPK, he dispells you, bludgeon vulns you, and teleports you high over the center of the Caul. Or something like that.

[li] What if my enemy's monarchy controls it and there's no way we can break their blockade? Well, it might be worthwhile to have multiple iterations of the dungeon even within level breaks. But not TOO many otherwise there's no reason to attack one, you can just go find an empty one.

[li] What about macroing the NPC? Well, that's not combat, so it's not UCM.

This is the basic idea. This isn't the be-all end-all solution to all DT issues, I mean for example this doesn't fix jumpspin, but it's an idea. Like I said, the goal is to provide a means of powerleveling that's more effective than macroing while simultaneously providing spots to fight over. I remember Al-Arqas on free level day. That was awesome.

These dungeons would only be for Darktide, they would not exist on any other server. On the other servers, you advance through hunting and questing, playing the game. No one is on Darktide to hunt or quest.

Feedback on this greatly appreciated. If we can get a good consensus on this and get some more details hammered out, it's possible we could have them implemented for February.

Submit your suggestions and feedback on Turbine's Asheron's Call Forums