Variant & Criterion Dungeons

[Absimiliard]

Also I had a blind run at the Criterion version and it definitely feels like a step too far up from the basic version. I think we could have had a medium difficulty level with a few more attacks and faster-paced versions of the variant mechanics. Interestingly I seem to have seen more mechanics than some of the other players in the group, whether it's because I was running solo or I'm just a slower DPS than some. (Someone else said that the normal version only uses the blue tail, and they didn't recognise the green.)

Have to agree here. The jump from Variant to Criterion is nuts. While Criterion is meant to be challenging, it's not something the average player is going to be able to complete until they outgear it. Their aim, I believe, was for Criterion to be Extreme-adjacent, but it is in fact much closer to Savage difficulty. Criterion Savage, on the other hand, isn't a big step up from Criterion at all.

I believe Criterion should've utilized the same mechanics as Variant, but probably without markers and with higher numbers across the board. Maybe have the attacks come out a bit faster. You know, roughly on par with an EX trial. Something the average player can do with a bit of practice. Criterion Savage should've been what Criterion is currently but maybe with the numbers tuned a bit higher, or maybe not.

On the subject of rewards: As the content poses zero challenge, Variant level rewards don't need to be anything other than cosmetics. Criterion as it is presently really ought to be giving us upgrade material for the tomestone gear at the very least, with Criterion Savage providing the same and perhaps some special emotes, minions, mounts, whatever on top of that. As for why I feel upgrade materials shouldn't be limited to Criterion Savage? Like I said before, it's not that different from Criterion. Besides, having two opportunities to get an upgrade material (one from Criterion, one from Criterion Savage) would maintain whatever advantage SE feels non-casuals should have over casuals while simultaneously giving casuals a worthwhile reward. This would also get around the issue of SE needing to design (or more likely reuse) additional equipment.