A Short Dig

caustic8

A Short Dig by @caustic8

Short Code: NW-DA8O42CFF
Mission Type: Lots of action with some (mostly optional) story and lore. 4 different ending messages. based on actions.
Average Duration: 25 minutes
Amount of Combat: High
Starts at: Protector's Enclave
Mission Summary: While investigating missing ore shipments from a Dwarven mine site in the Sword Mountains you uncover a dark force that threatens the region.


Author tips/hints: Initial feedback has been that this is too difficult at high levels (level 60). I'd like some confirmation of that and welcome any ideas on how to keep it challenging for both low and high level characters. I've considered adding an optional NPC guard that would fight alongside.


Screenshots/attachments:
Explore the ruins of a Dwarven hall:

Meet interesting Drow in a custom Drow city... and kill them:


Changelog:

v.1.01 - 6/10/13
Updated dialog
Moved respawn point for Dwarven ruins to prevent falls into chasm
Added invisible walls in Dwarven ruins boss cave to prevent falling deaths.
Added additional quest object and final portal mechanism

zylaxx

It was too easy if you ask me. But then again I felt the quest was pretty meh overall. wasn't a fan of slapping Drow kit over the default architecture.

IMO the diff needs to be ratched up a lot. Stackign encounters is the best way to increase difficulty.

demonweaver

no text here

caustic8

zylaxx wrote: »

It was too easy if you ask me. But then again I felt the quest was pretty meh overall. wasn't a fan of slapping Drow kit over the default architecture.

IMO the diff needs to be ratched up a lot. Stackign encounters is the best way to increase difficulty.

Thanks for the feedback. I've had one comment that it was too easy and one that it was unplayably difficult. I guess I'll wait for more comments to determine whether I should tweak.

ananvilhurtz

zylaxx wrote: »

Stackign encounters is the best way to increase difficulty.

Stacking encounters can make content impossible to solo at 50+.

I haven't had a chance to run this yet, but I'll chime in later after I have.

caustic8

ananvilhurtz wrote: »

Stacking encounters can make content impossible to solo at 50+.

I haven't had a chance to run this yet, but I'll chime in later after I have.

Thanks ananvilhurtz. I did go through and thin out some of the encounters. Hopefully that makes it more playable for high levels. I stopped short of thinning in all parts of the quest until I get more feedback. I appreciate you taking the time.

oortexplorer

After running through so many dungeons and crypts, it was fun to wander around a mine for a change. Although it did eventually lead me to a crypt . Enjoyed the quest, the writing is good and the story interesting.

Some traps still functioned after being "disabled". I found combat pretty easy. Which is not a bad thing because the quest is already pretty long, could consider a slight reduction in the # of combatants along with a slight increase in the difficulty of some of the remaining ones. A bigger issue is that the final battle was way too easy, and therefore anti-climactic.

I enjoyed the way you used a few decisions the player makes to determine a part of the ending, very good idea. Only issue there is that the player is not given any information to base those decisions on (that I found, anyway). Could think about adding some "clues".

caustic8

oortexplorer wrote: »

After running through so many dungeons and crypts, it was fun to wander around a mine for a change. Although it did eventually lead me to a crypt . Enjoyed the quest, the writing is good and the story interesting.

Some traps still functioned after being "disabled". I found combat pretty easy. Which is not a bad thing because the quest is already pretty long, could consider a slight reduction in the # of combatants along with a slight increase in the difficulty of some of the remaining ones. A bigger issue is that the final battle was way too easy, and therefore anti-climactic.

I enjoyed the way you used a few decisions the player makes to determine a part of the ending, very good idea. Only issue there is that the player is not given any information to base those decisions on (that I found, anyway). Could think about adding some "clues".

Thanks for the feedback, oortexplorer. I'm grateful that you took the time to run through it.

I've wrestled with the difficulty. Some saying that it was too easy and others saying that it was too hard. From my own experience it seems to depend on level. Difficulty scales pretty poorly. Something that is cake for my level 15 is darn near impossible for my level 53. I blame cryptic. I do like the idea of fewer combatants and harder one or two mob encounters. That could work out well.

For the ending, there are 4 books. Each one depends on whether you found the explosives and whether you chose to use the explosives. It was kind of an after thought. Like a little bonus for completing an optional objective that played into the story. Clues are an excellent idea! I think I'll add that along the way.

Thanks again for playing and for the great suggestions.

h3x1d3

Just ran through the quest and have to say I enjoyed it. Although after a while I was hoping I could ctrl + space some of the encounters lol. You can't please everyone so don't worry about that. Only thing I would add is to put a invisible wall behind the Feral Trolls at the beginning. I was running all around back there in the rocks . I don't think it was too easy, or too hard. I had to use a potion once and awhile but nothing major. Good job my friend.

caustic8

h3x1d3 wrote: »

Just ran through the quest and have to say I enjoyed it. Although after a while I was hoping I could ctrl + space some of the encounters lol. You can't please everyone so don't worry about that. Only thing I would add is to put a invisible wall behind the Feral Trolls at the beginning. I was running all around back there in the rocks . I don't think it was too easy, or too hard. I had to use a potion once and awhile but nothing major. Good job my friend.

Thanks for playing through. I was wondering if anyone found the trolls. They're one of a few easter-egg-type back story components. I'll check into making the area behind them less accessible... whenever I can back into the foundry .