With what I'm imagining you get savage mechanics that if you screw up you probably wipe, but only half as many as a full savage fight. And perhaps less overlapping mechs but still some. And maybe longer between mechanics too. Do you remember Ultima Unreal? Something like that would be a good place to start. Normal mode content like alli raids, dungeons, trials and so on - you are guaranteed to clear with maybe a few wipes and it doesn't require prog as such. Maybe you find it hard to imagine that anyone would find half-savage hard, but it would be enough for me. A fight that was just learning Fundamental Synergy from O12S would almost be enough!