Darkhold, could it be better?

[Rokien]

I enjoy the two bosses on Darkhold, it's fun, however I don't enjoy you just run through everything(no real strategy or adventure). As most of you people know, Darkhold has multiple levels to it. You can look down and see other platforms going places, other bridges and what not. So don't you guys think it would be cool to see other adventures fighting through the depths of the dark? Having multiple instanced nms, along with normal nms? Secret areas?

[DoctorMog]

The real question is:

Could it be worse?

[NefarioCall]

I'm cool with it, but only as long as not every future 'dungeon' of this type is exactly the same time limit.
If they are all one hour max, that would be a real shame.
Vary it up a bit. have 60 minute ones, 90 minute ones, 120 minute ones, 30 minute ones, and heck, have some 10 hour one or two for the hardcores.

[Xatsh]

It could be much better.

Remove the mechanic where mobs run back to their spawn points... make it if you run through the mobs never stop chasing you down. (Stop the stupid run through everything tactic)

Make the drops worthwhile.

Fix those 2 things, and the dungeon is not bad.

Make it really good add multiple paths which make you choose which one you do, similar to salvage in XI. (STOP BEING LINEAR)

The idea of more optional nms/bosses and such I also support.

[SnickleWhiskers]

I support them removing a time limit and making what feels like a real themed instance instead of what it has right now which is > run > run > stop > run > teleport > run.

[Lyndis]

Darkhold is fine as long as they don't make every dungeon like it. I would also prefer if they stopped making the entire area instanced. I like the idea of going into a dungeon and maybe having different branches instanced or maybe just the fights instanced. Maybe NMs that unlock instanced fights all inside the dungeon. Something unique, not these simple linear instanced dungeon runs.

Also, definitely fix the return to territory AI. It's not just annoying in dungeons, it's annoying everywhere else and nearly broken in some places like wolf camp in Natalan.

[Roaran]

The only thing I dislike about Darkhold, is how the trash mobs were handled. It's weird, silly, and counter intuitive.

If you are going to put trash mobs into a dungeon, do two things: 1) Make it so you have to fight them; 2) Have currency/rare drops from the trash themselves.

Dynamis was always fun even when fighting the trash monsters because, first the trash mobs were somewhat more interesting than most monsters, and, they tended to drop cool things from time to time.

Otherwise, just avoid random/pointless monsters that are just filler.

[Jennestia]

Darkhold was the perfect opportunity for a Nyzul/Einherjer like dungeon setup, especially because of all the trash mobs littered throughout.

I swear Yoshi-P..Crystal Tower better be at minimum FFIII amazing and not Darkhold like :|

[Mikita]

Would Dzemael have been better if there was no time limit? -- But after beating the monsters they respawn very slowly or not at all, so you do need to continue deeper instead of just farming for items or EXP.

The time limit and need to do a speed run in order to get the 5th chest is what causes the current "run to the chests and bosses" method.

Whenever we have someone who is doing Dzamael for the first time, we will always fighting our way through at least once so they can at least experience it.
It's really fun to fight your way through, but of course getting to Batraal or even the Ogre seldom happens when doing it that way because we just run out of time.

If it's an experienced group then we just run to the chests and bosses because there is no benefit in fighting the monsters along the way.

[Rokien]

Hopefully the crystal tower isn't instanced ; ;, but I have a feeling it's going to be.