The least visited instance... and why
by Mike Schramm 
Jul 26th 2007 at 2:08PM
Overpowered on the forums wonders what the least popular instance is, and I'd say his guess of Blackfathom Deeps is probably pretty close-- it's a long run away for pretty much everyone but Night Elves, and at 25-30, there's so many more quests and things to do that BFD usually gets passed up. The other good guesses, I'd say, are the "old" late game instances like Naxx and LBRS. Unfortunately, while Blizzard tells us all about the most popular stuff in the game, they are pretty mum on what players don't like, for obvious reasons.So how do you make an instance that makes players want to visit? Relmstein walks us through his idea of what makes a perfect instance ambiance: music, visuals, interactive features (the Chess Event is one of my favorite dungeon features, although almost all the dungeon dialogue "cut scenes" are fun for me), and memorable boss encounters.
But then again, BFD seems to have all of them-- it's a very pretty dungeon (I especially like the temple at the end), and while it might be a little short on interactive features, I really like the lore and the unleashing of the monster at the end. The last ingredient, I think, to a good dungeon, is just a storyline that drives you there. I'm sure Scarlet Monastery (except the Graveyard), and Deadmines are definitely among the most popular instances, and both of those have huge amounts of lore and mystery to make them interesting. Maybe if more players realized that Aku'mai was actually a pet of the Old Gods (or, you know, if there was a quest to kill him that explained that), BFD would see more traffic.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, Instances, Quests, Lore
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Forest Jul 26th 2007 2:19PM
I'd have to say Dire Maul is the least popular for anyone but warlocks and palidans
Naaruminded Jul 26th 2007 2:25PM
Try as Alliance to get someone to run Razorfen Kraul. Mauradon is fairly painful as well with it's long, multi-wing configuration requiring completion to create an item to gain access to the final wing / boss. Plus, it's smack in the middle of Desolace. I know on my server, Alliance tend to skip over that zone completely.
Erica Olson Jul 26th 2007 2:26PM
I also frequently hear - "Plaguelands, Where is that? Never been there." from toons in Outlands. So I'm assuming that Scholo and Strat aren't visited that much any more either.
Todd Jul 26th 2007 2:28PM
I always thought Maraudon was rather pretty, long, with nice encounters. Stratholme remains one of my favorites, even though it is a pain sometimes. I never had a problem with Sunken Temple, I enjoyed the atmosphere.
Least favorite? AQ always annoyed me, but maybe it was just from the bugs.
Jellodyne Jul 26th 2007 2:39PM
Is it possible to get together 20 people who want to run Zul Gurub? Maybe it's my lower-pop server, but that one seems fairly useless.
Doomkin Jul 26th 2007 2:31PM
I personally love BFD, and this is probably cause it was my first instance ever. Back two and half years ago when I was a wee Nelf Drood Nooblet my guild was ready to conquer the unknown! Well I distinctly remember after about 5000 wipes hating the place, but I look back on it know with fond memories...
Tenjou-CenarionCircle Jul 26th 2007 2:32PM
I love BFD. Some of the best caster loot that lvl range, ever.
Stockades is crap. And I've never been to the one in Ogr either.
SFK is my fav, next to Deadmines.
Arxidi Jul 26th 2007 2:35PM
Gnomer. Went there for the first and last time ever this week.
tripp Jul 26th 2007 4:05PM
Gnomer, no doubt
Valenvaryon Jul 26th 2007 2:40PM
I haven't bothered to get or finish the staff of Celebras for Maraudon, but I've been lucky enough to run it with a guy that has the last few times. I remember going through purple was boring, tedious, and not nearly as fun as Inner Maraudon, which is one of the most beautiful parts of WoW (especially Earth Song Falls).
With my main, I've gone from level 1-52 in just over two months, but I don't think I'll ever see the inside of DM, Scholo, Strat, LBRS, UBRS, BWL, ZG, MC, or Naxx. Nobody does them at all anymore.
Andrew Martin Jul 26th 2007 2:41PM
I visited BFD quite a few times on hordeside as Ashenvale is a pretty decent leveling zone while in that range. I've only been to Gnomergan once, and I never really wanted to go back to Uldaman after i got it done the first time.
Tridus Jul 26th 2007 2:42PM
If you mean least visited since BC came out, I'd imagine Naxx would win, followed by AQ, ZG, BWL, MC, Scholo, Strat, and UBRS (in no particular order). There's simply no reason to do any of those now except on a "hey lets go run X" whim. Of the ones listed, Naxx has the steepest attunement requirements acting as an additional barrier (most characters made since BC came out aren't even Honored with Argent Dawn, forget about spending Orbs and Nexus Crystals).
Among lower stuff, RFK definitely wins for Alliance, and that was true even before BC. Aside from Warriors, there is only one quest in the place, and its in a spot very few people go until they're higher level then the instance anyway. RFD, BFD, and SFK would also be up there.
Maraudon is out of the way, but it has good quest XP and some great loot for its level, so a lot of people find a way to do it. Its also in a level range where you really need quests due to how spread out things are, so its more worth doing then something like SFK.
Franky Jul 26th 2007 2:49PM
With one 70 and 2 60+s (horde), I've never visited BFD. I would think the cap city instances would qualify as most lame and least important however.
Probably top on my crap instances list: Ulda and WC
Paw Jul 26th 2007 2:53PM
I'm going to have to second the nomination for Gnomer. It's just boring as hell, and the loot sucks. Only a few people I know have done it more than once, despite numerous alts. The only ones who have did so to help other players on their maiden trip through.
Attapooch Jul 26th 2007 2:53PM
Of those that I've visted Gnomer, Uldaman, and Wailing Caverns are the most boring.
Deadmines is my second to best instance, second only to the awesomeness of SFK.
Tom Jul 26th 2007 2:58PM
The only thing I bother with in Gnomer is to pick up a Hydrocane (http://www.thottbot.com/?i=Hydrocane). Other than that I hate it. Ulda is annoying too, if the enchanting trainer wasn't in there I doubt anyone would visit it ever.
I agree with the SFK comments, I love that instance!
Warrior_Tess Jul 26th 2007 3:00PM
Razorfen Downs is the one that comes to mind for me, for both horde and alliance. It's big brother, Razorfen Krawl, is much more well attended (by horde at least), but RFD usually gets passed up by eveyone but the odd person looking for gear. Though Gnomer is probably a good bet too...
This is pre BC mind you. These days even Scarlet Monestary has seen a drop in attendance.
Dan Jul 26th 2007 3:07PM
There was no shortage of people in SM on monday night. I'd say BFD is the least visited according to my experience. I don't think I've ever been there after 3 60's and working up another.
Ichigo Jul 26th 2007 3:11PM
Uldaman for me. Ive never liked that instance, and as a Horde player, its a bit out of the way of where I am leveling at that stage anyhow.
Warlamb Jul 26th 2007 3:35PM
BFD is definatley the least visited pre BC. But I liked it because it felt like you were at the end of the world. Were no one dared to travel. Post BC. Bliz needs to do something about all those forgotten raids. Turn them into 5 or 10 man with nice drops. Is that so hard to do. Maybe have a heroic mode with a tier drop in each one.