Resource for those who dislike puzzle missions and "Guard the NPC or fail" missions

[EnjoyTheJourney]

I'd like to create a resource for those who enjoy a lot of what DDO has to offer, but who dislike missions that require solving a puzzle to complete and/or missions that require successfully guarding an NPC to complete.

I have a self interest in this, as I thoroughly dislike both of these kinds of missions. Some others in the community would probably also appreciate a resource that helps them avoid missions they find predictably less than fun.

Here's a suggested format for putting that information together, for any who would like to contribute a "full" entry:

Mission Name:
AP or F2P: (AP name, if AP, otherwise F2P)
Level:
Required for Flagging later missions? (Yes / No)
Guard NPC or fail? (Yes / No)
Solve puzzle or fail? (Yes / No)

I'll dig up the details if others only post mission names, though, and thank you in advance for any contributions; I'll reserve the second and third posts for a "master list" of each of these two kinds of missions.


Here are a couple of sample entries:

Rackam's Trial
Three Barrels Cove
Level 5
Not required for flagging other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - No
Solve puzzle or fail? - Yes

Hold for Reinforcements
Ruins of Threnal
Level 10
Required for flagging other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - Yes (Coyle)
Solve puzzle or fail? - No

[EnjoyTheJourney]

Here is a list of "Guard the NPC or fail" missions, organized by level: (Pointing out errors and omissions is welcome and appreciated!)

Redemption
F2P (Korthos)
Level 1
Required to open up "Misery's Peak"
Guard NPC or fail? - Yes (Lars Heyton)
Solve puzzle or fail? - No
Note: A simple way to successfully complete is to purchase the Korthos cleric hireling and set him to protect Lars, and to always target enemies through Lars, as well.


The Kobolds Den - Rescuing Arlos
F2P (Stormreach Harbor)
Level 3
Required for flagging other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - Yes (Arlos)
Solve puzzle or fail? - No
Note: As long as you clear out all mobs first, Arlos will survive


Bookbinder's Rescue
Sharn Syndicate (Stormreach Marketplace)
Level 4
Required for flagging other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - Yes - All family members must survive
Solve puzzle or fail? - No
Note: Be cautious of traps, as family members are vulnerable to trap damage.

A Small Problem
Phiarlan Carnival (Phiarlan Enclave)
Level 5 (plus epic)
Required for flagging other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - Yes (Brawnpits)
Solve puzzle or fail? - No
Note: Must escort main NPC safely out, at the end of the mission


Guard Duty
Three Barrels Cove
Level 5
Not required for flagging other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - Yes - Must not allow more than 4 crew members to die, or mission fails
Solve puzzle or fail? - No


Gladewatch Outpost Defense
F2P (Stormreach Marketplace)
Level 6
Not required for flagging other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - Yes (Commander Tesara)
Solve puzzle or fail? - No
Note: You can use bluff, intimidate, or diplomacy to try to keep the commander closer to your character.


Faithful Departed
F2P (Phiarlan Enclave)
Level 8
Not required for flagging other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - Yes (2 or more out of 4 "Venerated" must survive)
Solve puzzle or fail? - No
Note: Venerated flag as hostile when first encountered, but you still must save 2 of them from their attackers or the mission fails. Summons and hirelings will attack the venerated and AOE damage will also damage them, so caution is indicated.


The Rescue
Ruins of Threnal
Level 8
Required for flagging other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - Yes (Chief Engineer Derward)
Solve puzzle or fail? - NoNote: Derward survives a lot better with resist energy buffs and healing after each battle.


The Last Stand
The Red Fens
Level 9 (plus epic)
Required for flagging another mission
Guard NPC or fail? - Yes (Viercha Ettervs)
Solve puzzle or fail? - No
Note: This NPC can heal himself, but he can still get overwhelmed if he attracts a large amount of aggro


Escort the Expedition
Ruins of Threnal
Level 10
Required for flagging other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - Yes (Coyle)
Solve puzzle or fail? - No
Note: If you leave Coyle at the entrance, then he will be killed.


Hold for Reinforcements
Ruins of Threnal
Level 10
Required for flagging other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - Yes (Coyle)
Solve puzzle or fail? - No
Note: Because one mission guarding Coyle apparently wasn't enough


Desert Caravan
Demon Sands
Level 11
Required for flagging other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - Must guard at least 2 out of 6 caravans (No NPCs)
Solve puzzle or fail? - No
Note: A 10 minute timed mission. AOE damage + crowd CC is very helpful.


Ritual Sacrifice
Vale of Twilight
Level 16
Required for flagging other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - Yes (Paetus)
Solve puzzle or fail? - No
Note: It seems that even though the mission fails if Paetus dies, you can still get the item needed to flag for the Shroud raid, after you've completed this mission once.


The Shipwrecked Spy
Path of Inspiration
Level 18
Not required to flag for other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - Yes (Captain Carthy Cave)
Solve puzzle or fail? - No
Note: Put deathward on Carthy (credit: Nibel)


The Weapons Shipment
The Devils of Shavarath
Level 19
Not certain if required to flag for other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - Yes (Liella)
Solve puzzle or fail? - No

The Lost Thread
Menace of the Underdark
Level 21
Required to flag for Battle of Eveningstar and Caught in the Web
Guard NPC or fail? - Yes (Ana Brabener)
Solve puzzle or fail? - No


Caught in the Web
Menace of the Underdark
Level 24
Raid - Not required to flag for other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - Yes (Ana Brabener)
Solve puzzle or fail? - No


"Guard the NPC" missions for which failure to guard the NPC does not mean mission failure

Tomb of the Tormented (Level 11, Necropolis 3) - You escort rats through a maze, and they respawn when you fail to guard them
Madstone Crater (Level 14, Ruins of Gianthold) - You guard an unkillable NPC, and must restart a ritual when you fail to guard the NPC
Acute Delerium (Level 17, Reign of Madness) - You guard beds and bookshelves, and you escort them once again if they die
Power Play (level 19, Secrets of the Artificers) - Kylea must be guarded, but she is unkillable

[EnjoyTheJourney]

Here is a list of "Solve the puzzle or fail" missions, organized by level: (Work in progress, pointing out errors and omissions is welcome and appreciated!)


The Storehouse's Secret
F2P (Korthos)
Level 1
Required for flagging other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - No
Solve puzzle or fail? - Yes
Puzzle Difficulty: Very easy (Lights puzzle)
Note: As simple as it gets, and not at all dangerous


Stopping the Sahuagin
F2P (Korthos)
Level 1
Required for flagging other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - No
Solve puzzle or fail? - Yes (Lights puzzle)
Puzzle Difficulty: Very easy
Note: Look at the sides of the raised-up puzzle dias, and not just at the top surface.


The Cloven-jaw Scourge: Blockade
Seal of Shan-To-Kor
Level 3
Required for flagging other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - No
Solve puzzle or fail? - Yes (Light up a terminal point to continue to progress)
Puzzle Difficulty: Very easy
Note: Move a few tiles initially so the "trapped" terminal points won't light up, and you'll be fine.


Rest for the Restless
F2P (Phiarlan Enclave)
Level 4
Not required for flagging other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - No
Solve puzzle or fail? - Yes (Light up symbols to continue to progress)
Puzzle Difficulty: Easy
Note: This is only a matter of patience and paying attention, while not letting ground spikes hit you


Prove Your Worth
Three Barrels Cove
Level 5
Not required for flagging other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - No
Solve puzzle or fail? - Yes
Puzzle Difficulty: Difficult to solve without help
Note: The wiki page steps you through the solution: http://ddowiki.com/page/Prove_Your_Worth


Haunted Library
F2P (House Jorasco)
Level 8
Required for opening up one more mission
Guard NPC or fail? - No
Solve puzzle or fail? - Yes (Lights puzzle)
Puzzle Difficulty: Not difficult, but watch for interruptions from wraiths


Shadow Crypt
Necropolis 2
Level 9
Not required to flag for other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - No
Solve puzzle or fail? - Yes
Puzzle Difficulty: Must navigate a random maze to complete mission objectives
Note: See wiki page for details - http://ddowiki.com/page/The_Shadow_Crypt_instance_paths


Tomb of the Tormented
Necropolis 3
Level 11
Required to flag for The Cursed Crypt
Guard NPC or fail? - No
Solve puzzle or fail? - Yes
Puzzle Difficulty: Must guide mice through 3 mazes to be able to complete mission. Yes, really.
Note: See compendium page for details - http://compendium.ddo.com/wiki/Quest:Tomb_of_the_Tormented


Against the Demon Queen
Demon Sands
Level 12 (22 on epic)
Required to flag for "Zawabi's Revenge" raid
Guard NPC or fail? - No
Solve puzzle or fail? - Yes
Puzzle Difficulty: Not sure
Note: Difficult to solve on one's own. Here is the riddle's wiki page: http://ddowiki.com/page/Against_the_Demon_Queen_riddle


The Maze of Madness
Ruins of Gianthold
Level 13
Required to flag for "Reaver's Fate" raid
Guard NPC or fail? - No
Solve puzzle or fail? - Yes
Puzzle Difficulty: Not sure
Note: Use randomly placed levers to advance through a fixed maze. Need teammates / pet / hireling to complete.


The Crucible
Ruins of Gianthold
Level 14
Required to flag for "Reaver's Fate" raid
Guard NPC or fail? - No
Solve puzzle or fail? - Yes
Puzzle Difficulty: Not sure
Note: Puzzle wheels, plus fixed maze to navigate


Inferno of the Damned
Necropolis 4
Level 14
Required to flag for "Litany of the Dead", a pre-raid mission
Guard NPC or fail? - No
Solve puzzle or fail? - Yes
Puzzle Difficulty: Not sure
Note: Must navigate in a timely way between two dimensions. Wiki page is here: http://ddowiki.com/page/Inferno_of_the_Damned


Litany of the Dead
Necropolis 4
Level 15
Required to flag for the "Black Abbot" raid
Guard NPC or fail? - No
Solve puzzle or fail? - Yes - Must answer riddles correctly
Puzzle Difficulty: Not sure
Note: Riddle answers are given on the wiki: http://ddowiki.com/page/Litany_of_the_Dead_riddle


Ascension Chamber
Necropolis 4
Level 17
Black Abbot raid, not required to flag for other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - No
Solve puzzle or fail? - Yes
Puzzle Difficulty: Not sure


The Thirteenth Eclipse (aka The Shroud)
Vale of Twilight
Level 17
The Shroud raid, not required to flag for other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - No
Solve puzzle or fail? - Yes
Puzzle Difficulty: Not sure
Note: This is a "Lights" puzzle, and the Shroud's wiki page has links to solvers: http://ddowiki.com/page/The_Shroud


Monastery of the Scorpion
Reaver's Reach
Level 17
Not sure if this is needed to flag for another mission or not
Guard NPC or fail? - No
Solve puzzle or fail? - Yes
Puzzle Difficulty: Not sure
Note: A tile puzzle and a lights puzzle are both mandatory

[Brennie]

"Solve the puzzle" missions can often be solved by simply alt-tabbing and googling the answer. Very few are timed (Shroud and Reavers Fate are the only ones that come to mind), and even those can usually alt-tab to use a solver and come away with time to spare. Of course, if your machine doesn't like alt-tabbing, or if you are a purist who refuses to look up answers, then that becomes more difficult.

"Protect the NPC" quests are universally hated by every gamer in the history of games, ever. Without exception. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying. Google "Escort Mission" if you don't believe me :P Frankly, I think all escort missions need to replaced with either invincible NPCs, or turned into "a random NPC who is an amazing amazing fighter (Or CC, or healer, or debuffer or something else that would be useful to the quest) has joined you as you travel from point A to point B" quests.

I personally love having combat capable NPCs join me when i don't need to babysit them or constantly check their health bars or feel compelled to have certain character types in my party just to keep them alive (typically healers, sometimes also players with access to specific defensive buffs). I find Last Stand a fun quest for this reason.

Edit: Some Protection/escort missions -

The Last Stand,
Gladewatch Outpost Defense,
Redemption,
Detour (Though i think the NPC might be invincible),
Power Play (Though i think the NPC might be invincible here also),
A Small Problem (just at the end),
the BookBinder Rescue,
The Kobolds Den - Rescuing Arlos (WW #2 of 4. note that usually all enemies are dead by the time you start escorting this guy, so this is more of an "honorary mention" than anything else),
Madstone Crater,
Home Sweet Sewer (unique in that the NPC dogs will attack you, but your objective is to escort them without killing them),
Guard Duty,
Acute Delerium (just the beds/bookcases part - It doesn't autofail when these things die, but does force you to escort them again),
Tomb of the Tormented (again, no autofail, but your main objective is to guide NPC rats without letting them die),
Escort the Expedition,


I'm sure there's more. I hear that Caught in the Web has a escort part, but i have yet to run that particular raid, so I have no details on it. Also, Stealthy Reposession, Let Sleeping Dust Lie and Slavers of the Shrieking Mines may or may not make your list - there is an autofail for letting NPCs die, however the NPCs are hostile and can only die through player actions/attacks, as they will not be attacked by other enemies.

[Hawkston]

I think Ritual Sacrifice has a part where you have to keep the NPC alive during the boss battle.

[bigolbear]

heres some solve puzzel or fail ones - For what its worth I love those kind of quests but i guess it takes all sorts.


These are the top 5 you will want to aviod if you dont like these kind of quests.

crucible.(giant hold lvl 14)
tomb of the tormented (necro 3 lvl 11)
maze of madness (giant hold lvl 13)
inferno of the damned (necro 4 lvl 14)
reavers fate (giant hold lvl 14 - raid)

If you do decide to have a crack at them check out the ddo wiki for solutions if you get stuck. If you need tips on how to do them PM me on forums, I dont mind answering.

[EnjoyTheJourney]

Thank you for the replies; it's a lot easier with some help in identifying missions to summarize. The offer of help for puzzles is also appreciated, but for now I'll probably see how deeply I can get into the game while avoiding missions that have a puzzle as a critical mission objective.

I've put some entries together, as of this evening and I'll keep chipping away at putting this together, as spare time allows.

[dterror]

For people with an ios or android tablet, iphone, etc (even Nook color now!), there is a great puzzle solver app for a lot of the various puzzles in the game. Check JJFlanigan's thread out:
http://forums.ddo.com/showthread.php?t=390639

Shroud, Reaver's, ADQ, Monastery (and any other Lights Out style puzzle), the Shadow Crypt maze, Litany. Maybe more.

[EnjoyTheJourney]

Mission-level information is now done in draft form. I have no personal experience with several of the later missions and so I set the difficulty rating for those missions to "not sure"; I'll leave them "as is" until I get feedback that allows for a more accurate difficulty assessment.

I'll ponder a better way of summarizing resources for puzzles, so that this can be converted into a guide that can go into the guides section.

My thanks to everybody for their feedback thus far, and any corrections and suggestions for improvements are appreciated.

[Vellrad]

Weapon shipment, but NPC is not that bad, you just need to be with her, and mobs will agro on you.

[brian14]

Edit: Some Protection/escort missions -

The Last Stand,
Gladewatch Outpost Defense,
Redemption,
Detour (Though i think the NPC might be invincible),
Power Play (Though i think the NPC might be invincible here also),
A Small Problem (just at the end),
the BookBinder Rescue,
The Kobolds Den - Rescuing Arlos (WW #2 of 4. note that usually all enemies are dead by the time you start escorting this guy, so this is more of an "honorary mention" than anything else),
Madstone Crater,
Home Sweet Sewer (unique in that the NPC dogs will attack you, but your objective is to escort them without killing them),
Guard Duty,
Acute Delerium (just the beds/bookcases part - It doesn't autofail when these things die, but does force you to escort them again),
Tomb of the Tormented (again, no autofail, but your main objective is to guide NPC rats without letting them die),
Escort the Expedition,


I'm sure there's more. I hear that Caught in the Web has a escort part, but i have yet to run that particular raid, so I have no details on it. Also, Stealthy Reposession, Let Sleeping Dust Lie and Slavers of the Shrieking Mines may or may not make your list - there is an autofail for letting NPCs die, however the NPCs are hostile and can only die through player actions/attacks, as they will not be attacked by other enemies.


Ritual Sacrifice
Weapons Shipment
The Lost Thread

These are missing from your list, and all three are what escort mission should be, IMO -- NPC's who can take care of themselves, and really contribute to party's DPS as long as you toss them an occasional heal. I lost Paetus only once (first time I ran Ritual Sacrifice), and never heard of anyone losing Ana in Lost Thread.


Radnik Odeen, rare encounter in the Orchard. He does not fight or even move, and protecting him is not easy.

One or two of King's Forest "rares" are escort missions. I have no experience with them, but heard they are as bad as Coyle.

[rimble]

Ritual Sacrifice[/B]
Vale of Twilight
Level 16
Required for flagging other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - Yes (Paetus)
Solve puzzle or fail? - No
Note: It seems that mission failure can only happen the first time through this mission, if Paetus dies (Source: DDO Wiki)

IIRC, this is just saying that you have to successfully complete that quest once without Paetus dying so that you can flag for Shroud. If you run it again after that, chances are you're just doing it for the Shavarath Stone of Might, and even if he dies, and you fail the mission, you can still go loot that Stone (but no xp, because you failed). If you are re-running and actually want xp, you still need to keep him alive.

[tfangel]

Faithful Departed
F2P (Phiarlan Enclave)
Level 8
Not required for flagging other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - Yes (2 or more out of 4 "Venerated" must survive)
Solve puzzle or fail? - No
Note: Venerated flag as hostile when first encountered, but you still must save 2 of them, or the mission fails

I hate this quest so much. So many times i forget and summon a monster, or hireling, and they end up killing the venerated. So. ****. Annoying. I wish summons and hirelings would leave alone objectives to not kill. Sometimes annoying enough if a stray lag causes the death, but watching helplessly as something else kills them is the worst. :P

Escort quests, ugh. Why are people still putting them in games? Honestly, they have gotten better over the years but still. Anyone remember the hell Coyle was when cap was still 10? No one ever wanted to do it past normal, then they lowered the spawns and it's not quite as bad, but still. Also the dwarf in Threnal, too often a melee would attack too close to him and kill him, not sure you can still kill him by accident with glances. I get that escorting adds a bit of danger, but the stupid is strong in them, attacking random mobs that they shouldn't, not moving with the group, etc.

My hate is finding quests i can't do solo (even with hirelings, or need several and they don't want to do what i want them to do). Those kinds of puzzles should only be in raids in my opinion. I also hate puzzles that have you step on things, but hirelings, summons and enemies trigger them too, causing having to figure them out again (i'm looking at you quest in Lordsmarch, forget the name). Optional objectives, not a problem, i think those should be more a challenge to get to and do, like getting past a locked door without a picker, but to even finish, no.

[Semual]

To make this an actual resource, perhaps including advice would be helpful? I know that I can't be the only one who hates "Hold for Reinforcements" with a seething rage. I once tried it on Elite with half a dozen over-levelled guildies, and we still had to try more than once.

[SirValentine]

Here is a list of "Guard the NPC or fail" missions, organized by level: (Pointing out errors and omissions is welcome and appreciated!)


Thanks for the work putting this together.



Home Sweet Sewer
F2P (Stormreach Harbor)
Level 2
Not required for flagging other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - Yes (All dogs must survive)
Solve puzzle or fail? - No
Note: Lead all the dogs out of the sewer, and don't attack the dogs while doing it or the mission will fail.


I'm not sure this one really belongs here. You don't have to guard the dogs at all. There's nothing trying to kill them.

[SirValentine]

Inferno of the Damned
Necropolis 4
Level 14
Required to flag for "Litany of the Dead", a pre-raid mission
Guard NPC or fail? - No
Solve puzzle or fail? - Yes
Puzzle Difficulty: Not sure
Note: Must navigate in a timely way between two dimensions. Wiki page is here: http://ddowiki.com/page/Inferno_of_the_Damned


There's no puzzle in Inferno. It's no different than any other quest with a confusing layout. If a confusing layout is the standard, you'd better add The Restless Isles wilderness area. Also, what's with the "timely" comment? There is no time limit on Inferno.



Litany of the Dead
Necropolis 4
Level 15
Required to flag for the "Shroud" raid
Guard NPC or fail? - No
Solve puzzle or fail? - Yes
Puzzle Difficulty: Not sure
Note: Must put sigils in correct order and solve a riddle


Correction, it's to flag for the Abbot raid, not the Shroud raid.

There is definitely a series of questions to answer correctly (I guess you could call it a riddle) or fail.

But...what is this about putting sigils in correct order? I've run Litany many, many times, and don't recall this in there at all.

There's a sigil, not in the quest, needed to flag, but there's no puzzle or putting things in order for it. You just need to collect all the pieces, order irrelevant.

[gphysalis]

Ascension Chamber (ie: Shroud)
Necropolis 4
Level 17
Black Abbot Raid, not required to flag for other missions
Guard NPC or fail? - No
Solve puzzle or fail? - Yes
Puzzle Difficulty: Not sure

I'm not quite sure what you meant by this,
Nobody calls the Abbot Shroud

However, the Thirteenth Eclipse Raid (Shroud) does have a puzzle. (Lights out puzzle)