Everyone likes to solo an instance.
Some of us like to plough through a low level instance purely for the joy of decorating the floor with corpses, one-shotting Van Cleef or racing to the end of an instance in 10 minutes that used to take hours.
Others like the challenge of taking on an instance that requires more toons. Maybe a full party, maybe 3-4 toons. It’s the challenge that makes it worthwhile.
The reality of these runs is the only reward (apart from low level enchanting mats) is the joy of knowing you can do it… Not a small reward admittedly.
What if Blizzard introduced some instances that were intended to be completed solo?
Edit: I started this draft post a while ago in response to a post about class only quests. Since then Larisa has asked about skill improvement and I have mooted boot camps, so on with the slightly modified post.
- Class skill training
- Player skill development
- Class quest
My Vision
I envision an instanced space, specific for each character class eg:
- Mage: a multi-dimensional Mage tower
- Rogue: sewer complex
- Paladin: cathedral training grounds
- Warrior: arena training ground
- Warlock: the many layers of hell.
These instances will unfold, additional areas will be unlocked as your character levels and your skills improve.
Think of them as levels in an arcade game. You need to score the points (levels) to progress to the next map level, but you also need to be skilled enough to make it through the screen.
Class Skill Training
In future you wouldn’t just visit the trainer, hand over you 50 silver and receive training in your new skills.
No, in the world I envision, you would need to earn them.
At level 2 you would clear a room with skill specific challenges. On completion of the challenge you receive your new skills.
At level 4, you once again tackle the level 2 room, then have to complete the level 4 challenges. The level 2 room has scaled to test your level 4 abilities.
This process continues on through level 80… 85.
Player Skill Development
Already your ability to play your class is being challenged, but these instances aren’t just about class skill acquisition, they are also about player skill development.
Can you nuke the boss while remaining below a threat meter… Can you do it fast enough by using your class aggro drops to pass the level?
Can your hunter control your pet well enough to make it through an obstacle course.?
Can you maintain the polymorph, counterspell the caster, avoid the void zone and DPS the boss while doing the safety dance?
The bosses you encounter in each room have mechanics similar to instance and raid bosses, so while improving your skills, you are also perfecting the tactics required to down a boss.
This is your boot camp.
Each room, each encounter, reinforces the class and player skills required to excel in both solo and group play.
All you need now is to be rewarded for your efforts…
Class Quests
Class quests have fallen out of favor, but were once bread and butter of the early levels and occasionally made appearances at higher levels.
Shamans have to earn their totems.
Mages had to earn their Polymorph: Pig.
Then there was the epic level 60 Hunter’s quest which would have guilds turn out to protect the hunter and his kill, while cheering him on.
Now there are no class quests of note. So what I propose is that in addition to gaining your skills every 10 levels, you are also presented with a greater challenge, a trial of your skills which rewards you with an appropriate benefit. Whether it unlocks another skill (or option of skills) or whether it is some level appropriate loot.
Whatever the case, reward the player for achieving the level and beating the trial.
I would suggest that a part of the reward is a title. I know, another bloody title… but I have always been envious when checking in with the NPCs and discover they have different ranks.
Why can’t I be an Adept, or a Master, or a Grand Master…or…
Arch Mage Gnomeaggedon of Gnomeragan, quaker of worlds, stoker of volcanoes, bringer of the Cataclysm.
Gnomer and Out!
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http://gnomeaggedon.net/2009/09/08/solo-class-instances/
I miss class quests. They really were a nice way to say “You aren’t a generic character, you are a shaman! No one else can get totems or call on the elemental spirits.”
I must say the Shaman totem quests sh$t all over the Mage quests… do mage quests, get something you could have used 5 levels ago if you could have completed the quest.
Do shaman quests, get something you can use forever.
Then do the warlock quests and get a M-Fing SCYTHE! Stick fiery on that thing, get on the dreadsteed, and damn it looks impressive. Oh that’s another awesome chain: the warlock 60 mount quest. Warlock quests in general are pretty awesome, so good for creating a class feel.
I agree, I miss the class quests. Although the lvl 50 mage quest was a cake walk, hehe.
I could be happy with “Archmage Arii” in my title collection.
Cake walk yes…
But tell me you weren’t cracking up while you blew those itty bitty sheep to oblivion…
If you were like me, you failed the quest multiple times just so you could repeat it…
I’m afraid I would have to dual you for the title…
Ohh different server… OK, you can keep it as long as you stay away from Aman’Thul 😉
Great idea ! Definatly would make the game more interesting at lower lvls rather than just a race to 80 then raid your ass off. I loved the story of wow but missed a ton of it because it was made to seem that it’s all about lvl cap and anything under 80 is just noob . I would love this “fleshing out” of a class and a boot camp ish area to learn skills rather than , pay get and figure it on your own or ….research it and do it like all the othe r people of your class do … Style of now.
I think if we had to use our various shields, spell steals, decurses, counterspells etc on a regular basis we would get trained to use them…
Hell, even if it was like that stupid torch throwing quests, where you had to counterspell and spellsteal 10 times… at least people would pull the spells out of their spell books
I really would appreciate if you coultn’t reach the level cap withou accomplishing the Heigan dance 🙂
Though it wouldn’t be class specific, but if I think of a boot camp I think of Heigan. Or Vashj.
Great Idea…Class specific instances. I would like them to implement player housing in WoW too.
[…] Is it time for Player Housing? Gnomer had a lovely post about solo […]
I am all about working your way up the mage ranks and getting appropriate titles for it. I would have totally loved being “Initiate Sprink” up to level 20 or something, then ‘graduate’ to something like “Adept Sprink.” Then, at the level cap, get something like “Sprink, Archmage of the Kirin Tor” or something. And when the level cap goes up, readjust so you have to work back to being an Archmage again.
Awesome idea. Ideally they could work the instance into some sort of epic class story line that spans every 10 levels from 1 to 60, giving you an opportunity to try out new abilities in a kind of tutorial. Plus it could be repeatable to let you keep going back if you wanted.
Blizzard need to hire me! 😀