Scholomance? More like Solomance
by Mike Schramm 
Mar 21st 2007 at 1:32PM
I've been speculating a lot on what Blizzard is going to do with the old instances, just because I'm always ready for a challenge, and currently, at level 70, the old raids don't offer a full group much of a challenge at all. But as some of our wise commenters have said, you don't have to wait for Blizzard to change the old instances to have fun with them-- just go in solo.NSDragon on LJ asks what instances (Mara and up) can be soloed at 70. You don't have to wait until 70 to solo Mara-- I know folks who were soloing that one back at 60. Sunken Temple might have been tough at 60, but a well-geared 70 should be able to take that place down.
I know for a fact that a guildie of mine has repeatedly soloed BRD all the way to Emperor for farming, and a hunter in the guild was farming Stratholme for Righteous Orbs a while back. So I'd guess that most of the 5mans can be soloed pretty easily. Has anyone tried to beat UBRS solo? That seems much harder, but a duo seems pretty easy, and I'm sure a trio of the right classes would probably take down Drakk before he even knew what hit him. Someone on the LJ thread says MC has been 5manned, and I've heard that Ony has been three manned. Anyone know about BWL? Or Naxx? It's really hard to believe that Naxx doesn't still require at least 15-20 well-geared 70s, but I guess anything's possible. ZG and AQ20 are probably easy with ten 70s, but I could definitely see those getting 5manned as well as more people head into the new endgame.
When a five man group downs Kel'Thuzad, you know it'll be time for Blizzard to worry about the old instances. But until then, I guess unguilded 70s can just enjoy all the new solo content!
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, Instances, Expansions, The Burning Crusade, Leveling
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Crooth Mar 21st 2007 1:44PM
We took a resto druid, feral druid (20k armor, 11k health), and a rogue into UBRS and could not handle Drakk. We only had blue gear (quested, drops) and while we made short work of everything else in there (The Beast was a blast - long battle of attrition) Drakk and his guards were too difficult to handle that way. Between his fear (which we did not resist) and the guards pounding we couldn't do enough DPS fast enough. We thought sleeping the guards would work, however they resisted often and broke very early.
I have to wonder if a mage (rather than a rogue) might have been better. Some CC for the guards is a must, even at 70.
Renasar Mar 21st 2007 5:47PM
My girlfriend (mage) and I (priest) can Duo all of Stratholme in under 2 hours, which usually nets us between 150 and 200g each. We can also duo Scholo as well, but I don't think that's as profitable. We've 5 maned Onyxia and tried 10 manning ZG, but we didn't have any rogues for kick and warriors for pummel for the bat-priest, so we kinda quit that. I've not tried to solo much, but I'm sure that as a Disc/Holy priest I doubt I'd be able to solo much.
Todd Mar 21st 2007 1:49PM
I mainly play a 70 Mage and soloing the old instances can be pretty difficult. I am still squishy, afterall. Would love to hear if any other Mages have had decent luck in attempting to solo, or two man, the old instances.
Steel Mar 21st 2007 1:55PM
Two locks in my guild headed straight into MC after we finished a LBRS run the other weekend. I think they got bored before finishing the first batches of trash mobs, but the running commentary in guildchat was pretty amusing.
Hellbena Mar 21st 2007 1:57PM
There's one slight problem with wanting to solo UBRS: Blizzard put in a mechanic that requires you to take at least 2 people with you. The Alter that is draining Emberseer's power cannot have it's event triggered unless 3 players are touching it.
The same is true for Uldaman. You need 3 people for both the alter surrounded by 4 Stone Guardians and the one to awaken Archaedas.
Malakii Mar 21st 2007 4:17PM
70 mage, couple epics, mostly blue quest/heroic gear. I've been able to solo most of stratholme, live and dead. Cleared all the trash in LBRS, didnt try any of the bosses yet. havent tried ST, but I imagine I'd be able to do most of that place as well. it all depends on spec. Having ice barrier would definitely be beneficial.
Delilah Mar 21st 2007 2:11PM
I play a 70 frost mage, I got bored about a week ago and decided to see how far I could get in Strat live. Made it through most of the courtyard before a sheep broke early, brought three adds, and ate my face. Then my Mech group started up, so I didn't get to keep trying. Maybe I'll get bored again this weekend. A priest friend offered to go shadow and see how much we could duo (I think we could clear quite a bit in the pre-BC 60 instances), but our tank starts whining every time she threatens to respec, so that's been put on hold for now.
Karim Mar 21st 2007 2:22PM
Ony was 3-manned by Affenjungs back in the days...
Shat Mar 21st 2007 2:24PM
ST tough at 60? It was tough at 53. Tricky at 55. Cake at 60.
Zuuler Mar 21st 2007 2:43PM
I didn't solo ST, but at lvl 55 I tanked ST until we found a proper tank.
I'm a warlock, I tanked with my Voidwalker. We managed to clear most of the dragons on the lower level. And we killed 1 of the named trolls on the upper level before we lost a member, who we replaced with an arms warrior.
We of course, wiped many times, as a VW is not a replacement for a real tank. He only has 2 taunts, and doesn't hold aggro very well at all.
Zuuler Mar 21st 2007 2:44PM
Oh and I was destro specced, not demo specced, so my VW was standard issue.
Bad Mojo Mar 21st 2007 2:50PM
You know what Blizzard will do with the old instances? Nothing. It's like asking what Blizzard is planning to do with those old starter zones. It's content and it's designed for a level you aren't anymore. That's all.
Granted, few people at 60 are going to go hit Onyxia, but they might try it with 20 people at 65. It's still content and it's still fun to experience. Just because it's not the uber challenge it was when you were 60 does not make it worthless.
I don't seem to recall anyone at level 60 bemoaning how easy it was to solo Dead Mines.
Pritchard Mar 21st 2007 2:55PM
The bosses in Scholomance cannot be frost novaed, so impossible to do any proper kiting.
I can't see how a mage would be able to complete something like Scholomance. Your instants have cooldowns and are no replacement for your powerful nukes. And Arcane Missles? I don't see how they can down a boss, even if they are uninterruptible, while you are getting hit. I dunno. Maybe with the right gear and all your trinkets at the ready.
mark Mar 22nd 2007 11:16AM
The big problem with this is that no one ever does these instances at a level where it could be a challenge - there is always a higher level character around to run the instance for you. Meanwhile, the level-appropiate characters just sit around and collect loot.
I would love to see Blizzard bring in some form of instance level balancing (not a level cap, but lowering of player's abilities based on the instance design level)
Mr. Pink Mar 21st 2007 3:57PM
Even though the people were insanely skilled at 60 i've seen 5 man Onyxia and 2 man UBRS so yah if you actually get good players instances shouldn't take more then a "buddie" or two to do.
NH2 Mar 21st 2007 4:09PM
Just a tip if you plan to solo Scholo, don't use Seed of Corruption in the bone room. I managed to pull everything from Jandice's room with it. Many, many skeletons decided to show me with way out.
Felnor Mar 21st 2007 4:29PM
As a level 70 Mage on Scilla, I have gone back to the old instances. I use SM for my piggy bank and make about 40G an hour in there. Scholomance I was able to get all the way to Rattlegore's area. Pulled one of his buddies and got the crap beat out of me. I think if I went in there now with my improved gear, I could do much better. In BRD, I went to Incindious and made short work of him. Still need to try a few more bosses I guess.
Jim Mar 21st 2007 5:50PM
My girlfriend (mage) and I (priest) can Duo all of Stratholme in under 2 hours, which usually nets us between 150 and 200g each.
There are so many lies in that sentence that I don't even know where to begin.
a.s. Mar 21st 2007 8:30PM
So does this mean that I'll be able to duo my dreadsteed quest (and the Scholo Imp in a Jar part) with my Feral Druid b.f.? I'm lvl 68 at the moment...
Rranzok Mar 21st 2007 6:24PM
UBRS has been trio'd pre-BC. www.ropetown.com