Why aren't solo instances coming to WoW?
by Dan O'Halloran 
Aug 23rd 2007 at 4:30PM
Eldiron of the Silvermane server thought he heard a rumor that the dev team was considering implementing solo instances. Many players chimed in with their wish list for what could be accomplished in that: traps for rogues to detect and disarm; loot tailored to your class; making the instances accessible once daily. Other players pointed out that many classes can already solo old world instances like Blackrock Depths.
Finally, Community Manager Nathaera chimed in that there were no current plans for implementing solo instances in Warcraft. They consider instances as they place for group content and leave the solo content for the outdoor areas. Another blue explained in an earlier thread why designing this kind of content isn't a good use of developer time.
But what if they did consider this idea? What would you like to see in a solo instance?
Filed under: News items, Instances
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Baluki Aug 23rd 2007 4:34PM
The whole game is a solo instance.
What are you going to do in a solo instance? Kill trash mobs, kill a non-elite named boss, and repeat? We're already doing that everywhere.
No point.
masterless Aug 23rd 2007 4:35PM
I would love to see a soloable instance. Pugs are frequently annoying.
Rob Aug 23rd 2007 6:19PM
You can already solo stuff, lvl 60s can solo SM or similiar, lvl 40 can solo DM. You just get very little reward from doing so (other than helping the guild if you have a low level guildie tagging along). I think solo content belongs inthe world, not instances. Instances are for groups, i think. I actually agree with blizzard here (rare).
The Cannabis Connoisseur Aug 23rd 2007 4:41PM
I agree with #1 -- it's pointless.
kpurdy_ Aug 23rd 2007 4:42PM
instances are cool cause you actually have to work together with other real people and i think that there's far more than enough solo content in the "world".
NerdblurbSteve Aug 23rd 2007 4:56PM
If you want to do a solo instance, just do an elite mob quest chain.
Freehugz Aug 23rd 2007 4:56PM
solo instance + dk = win?
Drew Aug 23rd 2007 4:57PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons_%26_Dragons_Online#Difficulty_levels
"On the other hand, Solo offers very little loot, and few, if any special items. Generally, the Solo difficulty section has been added recently to the game (June 2006) in order to make it more accessible to lower-level characters who do not have a group"
It would be cool to have to run it as a low level (Solo instances). It was a bit fun in DDO. Problem is yes sometimes it is hard to get a group in WoW but along side that it would take to much time for the Devs to make or even consider. It in theory is a good idea, if just to show a small portion of what to come first hand and ideally easy.
But to get to the other matter at hand I liked the fact that DDO technically has the ability to choose difficulty for "instances" even early ones. That I would've liked to have seen in WoW. Old instances were just... more fun than TBC.
Milktub Aug 23rd 2007 5:01PM
I really don't understand the desire for solo instances. *Yawn*
However, I'd love to see instances designed for three players, and more forgiving of "off specs".
rick gregory Aug 23rd 2007 5:05PM
Because designing a good solo instance that accounts for the various capabilities of all of the classes and class/spec combos, loading up class specific loot tables and dealing with the overhead of instantiating an entire dungeon for one person is a dumb idea. That's why
dekulink Aug 23rd 2007 4:59PM
Or... a new zone? Like 1 said, the WORLD is a solo instance.
Regyr Aug 23rd 2007 5:01PM
I agree that this would never happen, it would be a total waste of developer resources. That said, wouldn't it be awesome if...
Each class had their own solo instance, with encounters specifically designed to test that player's skill at their class. Think of something like the Rhok'delar (Hunter) quest - you had to fight four demons, each with a weakness to certain of your abilities. Each fight was tough, but doable.
Maybe other parts of these 1-player instances could be more "puzzle" oriented, like a dungeon in the Zelda games or something. BC showed a lot more originality in quest/content design, and this would be a sort of next step.
One thing WoW lacks is really difficult single-player content. I know WoW is a social game, but still - doing this kind of solo stuff would make you a better player as a group.
rick gregory Aug 23rd 2007 5:08PM
"One thing WoW lacks is really difficult single-player content. I know WoW is a social game, but still - doing this kind of solo stuff would make you a better player as a group."
No, it wouldn't Playing in a group makes you a better group player. If anything, instances tailored to a classes skills would make you WORSE since it allows you focus on what works best one on one.
noparty Aug 23rd 2007 5:10PM
Looking for groups sucks. Particularly during off times. You can spend hours looking for a group and never find it. Then if you find a group, someone leaves and you have to waste more time looking for a replacement. There are not many solo quests at 70. You'll run out of them fast. When I log on, I'd like to know that there would be something for me to do besides begging for groups and mindless repetitive farming.
Nails Aug 23rd 2007 5:11PM
let's add a solo dungeon, and then make it a little too hard so you have to bring 2 friends with you to heal you, and keep some aggro away from you. maybe a couple more to throw some extra damage in there, too.
that'd be SWEET
Mindrinne Aug 23rd 2007 5:59PM
Tell me how, if the whole world is a solo instance, I can be doing a quest only to have to compete with members of the other faction (and of my own at times too) to complete the quest.
The whole world is NOT a solo instance, if it was then you wouldn't see any other player characters at all (a la Guild Wars where the only time you see other players is in towns)
Tim Aug 23rd 2007 5:19PM
A lot of the commenters aren't grasping the idea that a solo instance would be a self-contained, themed experience, separate from other players. Think of it like an amusement park ride, say Indiana Jones at Disneyland. Players could go through an environment full of trigger events and timed challenges, maybe even using instance-only items to advance to the end.
Truth is, I think there's a real opportunity to do something creative here, and also throw a bone to the many players who are uninterested in or don't have time for raiding and PUGs. (When I get home from work, I want to unwind alone, but I don't want to level another alt.) If WoW is to have a real future, this element of the game will need to be addressed.
Urthona Aug 23rd 2007 5:25PM
A Solo Instance: Idea #1
Remove Elite status from all mobs in BRD. Add Thorium Brotherhood NPCs throughout the instance, allowing them to repair gear. Allow Blackrock Brew(Heath) and Blackrock Ale(Mana) to drop frequently from all mobs in the instance, consumables that can only be used inside the dungeon. Expand the role of Lothos Riftwaker to allow him to teleport you to various Thorium Brotherhood agents throughout the dungeon. Expand the role of Lokhtos Darkbargainer to allow a daily quest to turn in 20 Black Diamonds(from mobs), or 5 Marks of Ragnaros(from bosses).
Zor Aug 23rd 2007 5:36PM
how about a 2 man instance....
that would be pretty cool
Horixon Aug 23rd 2007 5:32PM
One thing I wouldn't mind seeing is class-specific rewards for regular quest chains. This would be more realistic to me than solo instances.
What I mean by that is this:
Lets say you are a rogue. When you pick up a quest the rewards are rogue-only rewards. Or they are just money. If you are a shaman, the only rewards are shaman gear or money. That way you aren't a rogue having to pick between hunter/warrior/priest gear, only to vendor it two seconds later.
It would still be all the same quests, you just wouldn't see anything your class can't use. Think that would be nice. That way, for really tough chains, you would have a choice between 3 or 4 pieces of gear that are specific to your class. That would give some nice variety for different specs as well. Just my 2cents.