New Difficulty Feedback: Casual

[Tolero]

A new difficulty has been added to the game: casual! This difficulty is available for most quests in the game now - excellent for smaller parties or players who are struggling with the challenges of a Normal difficulty dungeon!

Tell us about your experiences with the casual setting! Things to note about this difficulty:

• Casual difficulty features scaled-down monsters and lower CR than a normal dungeon, but provides less experience, lesser quality treasure, and less favor for completing it.
• Casual difficulty can be played by up to 6 players and can also be played with Hirelings.
• There is no casual difficulty available for raids nor quests that are specifically "solo-only".

[Lorien_the_First_One]

/scratches head

I thought "normal" was "casual".

We needed an "easier than easy" mode?

[Kaervas]

But it's not April 1st yet!

[Memnir]

So - is this a "Group-Solo" setting?

[BlackSteel]

this is silly

but hey, atleast its one more setting to grab a first time bonus on for those big exp milking quests

[Borror0]

/scratches head

I thought "normal" was "casual".

We needed an "easier than easy" mode?

It allows better coverage of all possible variance of player skills and gear quality, which is quite large.

Hopefully, this will allow them to make Hard and Elite harder. That's what I had in my when I made the suggestion to revamp solo a few minutes ago.

[Tolero]

Basically we were having major issues with brand new players to the game mistaking that quests that didn't have a "solo" box on them couldn't be played alone. We also changed it so that what used to be "solo-only" (with some exceptions) is now able to be played with more people. Granted you get less rewards/favor/xp because it's not as tough, but the important part is - play the quests with however many (or few) people you feel like.

[Zenako]

Are you serious...come on are those new players really having that much trouble?

And if they are, will they actually be willing to run something that comes off as being a slap in their face...you are so weak a player you cannot even handle normal scaled down to the east setting. We have to create a care bear setting...

sorry...find it hard to support this...it will only further fragment things...

[Ash]

It allows better coverage of all possible variance of player skills and gear quality, which is quite large.

Hopefully, this will allow them to make Hard and Elite harder.

I want more solo quests/settings

My schedule and daddy duties make it extremely hard to group with others and have no toon above 12th as those almost all require groups or LONG QUESTS that i am unable to sit through without interruptions.

[Varr]

Anyone know the xp hit? Could be a nice addition to the xp farm.....n, n, n, n, n, h, e, casual! Nice way to finish a loop up and one last crack at shadow crypts and the like!!

[Quanefel]

...........................................

[Memnir]

Basically we were having major issues with brand new players to the game mistaking that quests that didn't have a "solo" box on them couldn't be played alone. We also changed it so that what used to be "solo-only" (with some exceptions) is now able to be played with more people. Granted you get less rewards/favor/xp because it's not as tough, but the important part is - play the quests with however many (or few) people you feel like.

My confusion continues...

Does this replace the Solo option on certain quests that cannot be Soloed, like ones that need levers pulled in sequence? Or, is this now a 4th (5th, if you include Epic) difficulty setting applied to all quests?


I don't see this as helping alleviate any confusion - rather adding to it by gobs. Perhaps I just need to see it in action... but I'm beyond puzzled by this.

[Phidius]

Oh good - I've been wanting to run Against the Demon Queen on my level 6 cleric.

[Tolero]

My confusion continues...

Does this replace the Solo option on certain quests that cannot be Soloed, like ones that need levers pulled in sequence? Or, is this now a 4th (5th, if you include Epic) difficulty setting applied to all quests?


I don't see this as helping alleviate any confusion - rather adding to it by gobs. Perhaps I just need to see it in action... but I'm beyond puzzled by this.

Okay so basically remember how we used to have "solo" on things like the Depths quests in House D? Yeah those all became "casual" instead of solo now. Any place that it used to say "solo" now will say "casual" and won't force you to only have 1 person. Also...remember how that "solo" check box only went up to like level 8 or 10 or something (if that)...now casual goes ALL the way up. The exceptions are raids (pretty straight forward) or quests that are "solo-only" (like the grotto, haverdasher, or the new solo-only in the inspired quarter).

[Borror0]

I am curious of the term choice.

Easy, Normal, Hard and Elite feels more natural and intuitive Casual, Normal, Hard and Elite, so why "Casual"?

[rimble]

Okay so basically remember how we used to have "solo" on things like the Depths quests in House D? Yeah those all became "casual" instead of solo now. Any place that it used to say "solo" now will say "casual" and won't force you to only have 1 person. Also...remember how that "solo" check box only went up to like level 8 or 10 or something (if that)...now casual goes ALL the way up. The exceptions are raids (pretty straight forward) or quests that are "solo-only" (like the grotto, haverdasher, or the new solo-only in the inspired quarter).

What affect does 'lesser quality treasure' have on named items dropping?

[Memnir]

So, now non-Solo quests like Water Works can now be run on Casual, Normal, Hard, and Elite? This in no way indicates that a quest should not be tackled alone - as some have requested... it's basically a re-branding/re-naming of Solo, with a higher quest-level range and allowing for more people to join?

I just want to be sure I'm fully understanding this before I offer feedback of any kind, so I appreciate every answer to my blatherings.

[Kaervas]

I have questions:

1. Regarding "lesser quality treasure", does this lock out the chance of named items entirely, or merely lower it, and how does this apply towards 'keying' items like Abbot Sigil pieces?

2. Is there scaling between having 1 player and 6 players in a casual-setting dungeon?

3. Will casual dungeons have easy-button features which stretch beyond simple scaling down of mob CR? For example, the 2 shrines in Tear of Dhakaan would no longer have locks on the doors. Or the 5 runes at the air elemental room in Fleshmaker's Laboratory would reset in 1 minute rather than in 10 seconds. Stuff like that.


For the record I have no need or desire to use casual setting, just wondering how easy "casual" can get.

[Memnir]

I am curious of the term choice.

Easy, Normal, Hard and Elite feels more natural and intuitive Casual, Normal, Hard and Elite, so why "Casual"?

Probably trying to capitalize on the increased number of players in general who consider themselves "casual", as has been on the rise since the Wii crashed the party. Cashing in on term-recognition, would be my guess...

[cardmj1]

Please tell me that flagging quests do NOT have casual mode. I would hate to have people in my raid group who could not complete the flagging quests on normal in the raid.