[Questing] Less solo-istances, more istances you can run as a couple

[YageerSilverscale]

Both group and quests recently feature a LOT of solo istances. I use to level up a character with a friend and keep the same pace and we found out that most of those istance cannot be run in 2ppl. That starts feeling bad having so often to disband and w8 each other to be done before regroup (sometimes could also happen one fails and so we need to wait more). In the past istances like those could be run solo OR duo, why did this change?

[Lord.Funk]

While I do really enjot that they added soloable instances (for when I can't get on other than odd hours and no one around) I have to say that the duo versions of them are so badly scaled that they are not worth it. basically they become as hard as 3-man except that You are only two in it. You are more or less forced to run solo, or try get a group for 3-man (so duo setting is useless).

Another thing I find annoying is that if You do the solo versions in Ered Mithrin and loot the chests, then they are totally locked until daily reset. Even if You then run 3-man or 6-man, You will not be able to get any loot at all. You have a complete lock and favoured loot does not even work. I did bug this 6 months to a year (or so) ago but nothing has been done to fix that. I guess it's working as intended. I don't understand why, as all You get from solo versions are like 2 Marks of The Longbeard and some useless Grarik Tokens (from most chests an I think 4-5 marks of the longbeards from last boss chest) and for that You lock Yourself out of looting the chest the rest of that entire day on all versions.

[Nosdracir]

I'm reading the OP as asking for solo only landscape quests to be opened up to permit duos so that the OP and friend can maintain their fellowship instead of having to break it and run the quests separately.

[Sucamarto]

As a player who due to his geographical location does mostly Solo play/instances I'd like to see more Solo instances have their degree of difficulty increased and reward similar to 6 min instances.

So inc. level 2 and 3 Solo instances that reward similar to group runs at the same level please.

I am also for Duo runs but don't compromise Solo for more Duo, why not have both.

[Pewpewmidget]

I agree with the OP.
Solo quests are annoying, especially the one at Ost Forod and the one at Aughaire.
I would love a duo version of these quests as well as others.
Another thing that I find annoying are quests that once you complete, you cannot enter the same area when you're trying to help a friend.
Main examples for the above comment are those 3 tombs southeast of High King's Crossing in Evendim.

[scorrp10]

If we are talking about storyline instances, there is a minor snag. Often enough, characters in those talk specifically to the player, using their name etc, or progress depends on player performing a certain action.
I could go for a 'sidekick' mode where extra player is there as just an extra to help with combat parts of an instance. But if both players need to complete the same story quest, it would be weird.

[djheydt]

If we are talking about storyline instances, there is a minor snag. Often enough, characters in those talk specifically to the player, using their name etc, or progress depends on player performing a certain action.
I could go for a 'sidekick' mode where extra player is there as just an extra to help with combat parts of an instance. But if both players need to complete the same story quest, it would be weird.

My husband and I duo a lot, and my impression is that each of us "hears" the NPC addressing us by name. Has anyone noticed the same or a different phenomenon?

[Laurelinarien]

My husband and I duo a lot, and my impression is that each of us "hears" the NPC addressing us by name. Has anyone noticed the same or a different phenomenon?

Yes, that's correct. Same happens for me & my bf, NPC dialogue bubbles & chat always address each of us when duo'ing those instances.
The storyline instances don't need scaling for 2 ppl compared to soloing them (the instance content like Lord.Funk described is another issue)...

I'd love for this to happen, we always auto-fellow on all our toons and having to break & reform while questing gets kinda old...

[scorrp10]

I don't think you get my point. Yes, instances that presently CAN be duo'ed, work appropriately. I mean, you ARE doing them together, in a fellowship.

But there are a lot of instances along various questlines, which specifically state "this is a Solo-only instance, and it can't be done in fellowship". I beleive OP means those. (After all why make a post about allowing duos in instances that already allow them)

[Laurelinarien]

I don't think you get my point. Yes, instances that presently CAN be duo'ed, work appropriately. I mean, you ARE doing them together, in a fellowship.

But there are a lot of instances along various questlines, which specifically state "this is a Solo-only instance, and it can't be done in fellowship". I beleive OP means those. (After all why make a post about allowing duos in instances that already allow them)

Yes, we understand that. But you brought up the point of:

If we are talking about storyline instances, there is a minor snag. Often enough, characters in those talk specifically to the player, using their name etc, or progress depends on player performing a certain action.

Hence, our comment: names & actions you mention wouldnt be a problem if they allow for 2 players inside a solo instance coz it already works for some quests (without having to be a 3 man or full fellow mode). It's just about lifting a solo restriction to allow a duo.

[OldMadeOfLions]

...names & actions you mention wouldnt be a problem if they allow for 2 players inside a solo instance coz it already works for some quests...

This generally happens on a case-by-case basis. Just displaying the name of the character whose client is looking at the NPC is very easy, and doesn't disqualify the quest from being open to more than one person. What really makes us enforce the 'solo only' restriction in an instance depends on how easy it is for more than one player to break the flow of the instance, getting it into a broken state. If a player runs too far ahead or stays too far behind, getting stuck behind invisible walls in one direction or another, or manages to activate triggers that need to be activated at certain known times instead of too soon or too late; players drawing enemies into the wrong places at the wrong times, etc.

The other thing that tends to make us enforce a Solo restriction is mostly a Me Problem that pops up in the Epic Story or in BBoM: when I need to have tailor-made dialogue or drama based on past quest completions, what class you are, or what choices you've made, having more than one person in the space complicates it into impossibility: the status of the first person to trigger it would control, which is fine if that's you, but for your buddy it would break the illusion. Now, maybe your buddy doesn't care, but it's still a bad experience and I don't recommend it.

I've been trying to relax these restrictions somewhat, but it still happens sometimes.

MoL

[Laurelinarien]

Thanks for your kind (and very informative) reply, MoL!

Cheers & looking forward to reading what you have in store for us in Minas Morgul

[Echoweaver]

Yeah, thanks for the insight into the design process!

[DavidmeetHal]

This generally happens on a case-by-case basis. Just displaying the name of the character whose client is looking at the NPC is very easy, and doesn't disqualify the quest from being open to more than one person. What really makes us enforce the 'solo only' restriction in an instance depends on how easy it is for more than one player to break the flow of the instance, getting it into a broken state. If a player runs too far ahead or stays too far behind, getting stuck behind invisible walls in one direction or another, or manages to activate triggers that need to be activated at certain known times instead of too soon or too late; players drawing enemies into the wrong places at the wrong times, etc.

The other thing that tends to make us enforce a Solo restriction is mostly a Me Problem that pops up in the Epic Story or in BBoM: when I need to have tailor-made dialogue or drama based on past quest completions, what class you are, or what choices you've made, having more than one person in the space complicates it into impossibility: the status of the first person to trigger it would control, which is fine if that's you, but for your buddy it would break the illusion. Now, maybe your buddy doesn't care, but it's still a bad experience and I don't recommend it.

I've been trying to relax these restrictions somewhat, but it still happens sometimes.

MoL

Dang, that's actually a really good point.

[gildhur]

[ComicRelief]

This generally happens on a case-by-case basis. Just displaying the name of the character whose client is looking at the NPC is very easy, and doesn't disqualify the quest from being open to more than one person. What really makes us enforce the 'solo only' restriction in an instance depends on how easy it is for more than one player to break the flow of the instance, getting it into a broken state. If a player runs too far ahead or stays too far behind, getting stuck behind invisible walls in one direction or another, or manages to activate triggers that need to be activated at certain known times instead of too soon or too late; players drawing enemies into the wrong places at the wrong times, etc.

The other thing that tends to make us enforce a Solo restriction is mostly a Me Problem that pops up in the Epic Story or in BBoM: when I need to have tailor-made dialogue or drama based on past quest completions, what class you are, or what choices you've made, having more than one person in the space complicates it into impossibility: the status of the first person to trigger it would control, which is fine if that's you, but for your buddy it would break the illusion. Now, maybe your buddy doesn't care, but it's still a bad experience and I don't recommend it.

I've been trying to relax these restrictions somewhat, but it still happens sometimes.

MoL

Not sure it would be possible, but anyway to make it so the solo instances (Epic Story, at least) don't make you leave a fellowship? 'Cuz I'm OK with the solo instances where it makes sense, I just don't like having to leave and then re-form the fellowship afterwards. (If I had to guess, I'd think it's probably not possible, but hey - never hurts to ask, right?)