I thought this post was going to address an important issue, but I was disappointed. This game isn't about combat, but rather story and the story is the most important and significant aspect of the game. The story is the very reason you're tasked with the dragon slaying the game offers and if you forget that and are not immersed you'll start feeling like this game matters less and less. That being said this game has an excellent story.

To be more relevant with the OP I'll add this: That the way encounters are, are perfectly acceptable to me, instead of the encounters, we should add dynamic activities and puzzles. By dynamic, I mean to say that with each clear the dungeon puzzles will shift in such a way to make it impossible to look up the answers online or in a guide book. Maybe a maze mechanic, or more dungeon traps. That sort of thing would add much needed excitement into any mmorpg.