Are cross-realm dungeons necessary?
by Matthew Rossi 
Oct 9th 2007 at 2:00PM
Prolific MMO commentator Tobold writes about a possible problem with Blizzard's plan to speed up the level grind in 2.3: it could make getting a dungeon group together even harder. His solution would be to institute cross-realm dungeons that would resemble the current cross-realm battleground system. He also mentions some improvements to the LFG system (setting aside slots for dedicated roles, so that if you need a tank you don't end up in a group with three mages and two priests, for example) and the commenters come up with some good points, including worrying about how to deal with cross-realm ninjaloots.Generally, the cross realm BG's worked out and I'm a fan of the much reduced waiting times for an AV run. Even with the anti-AFK measures it still only takes a few minutes as opposed to the upwards of an hour it could take before. But I do see some logistical problems in setting up a similar system for instance runs: no more summoning stones since everyone is on a different server, for example. Everyone would have to make their way to the dungeon themselves like they used to in the dim, barbaric past when cavemen first played WoW.
What do you think? Would we need 'Instance Groups' similar to Battlegroups, or would you just extend the Battlegroup to also be the pool your cross-realm LFG pulled from? Is this even an issue or are folks overestimating how much faster level will effect instancing?
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Instances, Leveling
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Buckshot Oct 9th 2007 2:11PM
I feel it's a waste, since the only instance you do while leveling (Alliance side) is Uldaman, and most people have friends or can get someone locally if they wanted to run an instance.
Arnold Oct 9th 2007 2:12PM
I think that cross realm instances is a great idea--but make it for Raids also!
People are always complaining that AV is really PVE--why not turn all old lvl 60 raids into instanced -PUG-cross-realm-raids with allotted tank slots, healer slots and dps slots.
The bosses wouldn't have to drop loot, but could either drop tokens or you could be awarded "Raid Points" which you can then turn in at the "Raid Point Vendor" to buy yourself your raid armor.
You could keep the level 70 and level 80 raids for the uber guilds who are tearing through them, but this would give the rest of us non-raiders the chance to still see the rest of the content and there would still be enough incentive to do it because there would be some loot reward similar to the BGs.
Autumnbear Oct 9th 2007 2:17PM
For some servers where the majority of players are high-level and unwilling to redo lower level instances, yes, a cross-realm instanced dungeon feature would be a great help.
I don't know how Blizz would make it work though. Would you join a player from another realm only after entering the instance? How would we contact and whisper a player from another realm to see if they want to join a dungeon run?
Would there be abuse on cross realm trading, if players from different servers could simply 'meet up'in a dungeon to complete a trade?
I would love to see a cross-realm queue for instanced dungeons.
The cross-realm battlegrounds turned out nice. But joining a battle anonomously is different from joining a party. A dungeon run needs people to organize before going into the dungeon. That means players will need a way to communicate with other servers simply to prepare for the dungeon. This would be a great time to try out a new cross realm faction lfg chat.
Taverns have been the 'traditional' place of meeting other heroes. Perhaps limiting such a powerful cross realm lfg chat by keeping it zoned in certain buildings would help limit it's abuse and spamming, and at the same time makes old taverns and inns the next cool hangout for kids everywhere.
native Oct 9th 2007 2:17PM
cross realm dungeons might cause more ninja looting.
DavidC Oct 9th 2007 2:20PM
Basically, then need to allow a "person" to setup a group with "spot preference".
Apply this to a karazhan raid.
Tank -> Warrior or Paladin
Tank 2 -> Druid
Healer 1 -> Shaman
Healer 2 -> Pally
DPS 1 -> Mage
DPS 2 -> Warlock
DPS 3 -> Hunter
DPS 3 -> Priest
DPS 4 -> Any
DPS 5 -> Any
DPS 6 -> Any
Leader declares a setup, people join, leader puts them into a slot, raid/group fills up, profit.
On the flip side, there needs to a be a "group lockout" scneario where if a leader kicks a player from a group, the LFG system doesn't put them right back into the same group.
The combination of those 2 things would make LFG a really useful tool.
Richard Oct 9th 2007 2:24PM
@3 You can't cross-realm trade, period.
I found this out one AV when I ran out of Flash Powder and another Rogue was going to give me a stack.
Blizz doesn't allow it.
As far as the OP:
"He also mentions some improvements to the LFG system (setting aside slots for dedicated roles, so that if you need a tank you don't end up in a group with three mages and two priests, for example)..."
That's not an "improvement". That's a dangerous tool that should NEVER happen. You will begin to see classes that will NEVER get spots in an instance because "no one wants to run with ". Sure, every instance needs the following: Tank, Healer, DPS; but to segregate spots is just ASKING for trouble.
Tridus Oct 9th 2007 2:33PM
This would effectively require a cross-realm LFG channel, since the auto-join part of the tool is inherently unreliable and pretty well impossible to fix. If you set aside a "tank" slot, how does it know what a tank is? Is it going to check specs? Does it know to warn your team that you only have 350 defense and thus will need a much stronger healer? Can it tell the difference between tanking Ferals and "Cat iz for fite" Druids?
Auto join has never worked out for me. Usually it results in something like an Arms Warrior who thinks he can 2h tank in zerker stance and DPS gear.
Justin Oct 9th 2007 2:26PM
Cross-realm BGs only did one thing positive in my mind, lower wait times.
In my opinion, cross-realm BGs were the beginning of the downfall of PvP. Sure you got more games in but they took the personality out of them. Now instead of going up against people from the opposite faction you see all the time you fight people you don't even know.
Byron Oct 9th 2007 2:27PM
Why even bother instancing after 2.3 anyway? Any gear you get is just going to be vendored/sharded that much quicker since the overall leveling speed will be so much faster. Just quest/grind race to 60, equip drops/quest rewards/AH gear, then do your instancing in Outlands, and later Northrend.
Alenthor Oct 9th 2007 2:28PM
Well here's a simple solution to dungeoning, all blizzard has to do is that the trash mobs actually give a nice amount of xp (as seen in outlands). In other words if you can get a lot of xp from those lower level dungeons, more people will want to do them while leveling.
p3ngu11 Oct 9th 2007 2:30PM
You don't ever need to set foot in an instance to level from 1 to 70. If you can't get a group, skip it...it's not worth the time.
jpn Oct 9th 2007 2:33PM
i'd like to see this implemented NOW...i always have trouble finding a group. i've missed out on a bunch of content that i'm trying to catch via alts and it's not happening. not a big deal...i wonder how complicated the technology would be to do that. and the whole "trading items across realms" thing. i can see how the loot tables could impact realms adversely though? dunno.
Buuty Oct 9th 2007 2:37PM
Cross-realm instances = Ninja loot every time.
Doc X Oct 9th 2007 2:43PM
I would love to be able to run an Instance with friends of mine who are on other servers from me. I am pretty sure the only way this would happen is within a Battlegroup, so I'd still be limited in who I could group with, but it'd make it more likely to be able to get together an AQ, Onyxia, UBRS/LBRS or Naxx raid (and right now, there's really no way to get a group together in a reasonable amount of time for that level of instance).
fLUx Oct 9th 2007 2:48PM
I for one love the idea, would welcome it with open arms!
I don't know about US servers, but here in the EU, 80% of players only speak basic english, and would always prefer to join a group of their own language, as I would, english.
But that just makes it harder to find people...
Bring it on blizzard!!
crushingbelial Oct 9th 2007 2:50PM
I think it is a hell of an idea.
You still run the same risk of ninja-looters when you pug on your own realm anyways. *shrug*
What'll happen? You'll report them... maybe QQ about it on their realm forum. Not much difference. *shrug*
Candina@WH Oct 9th 2007 2:58PM
The major problem would be loot. As @3 pointed out, you can't trade non-created items across realms. I.e, a mage can trade mage water, but you can't trade heal pots.
This seems to be to probably relate to how certain objects are instantiated on the character. Health Stones, Mage Water, etc are created on the char and expire, whereas healing pots and other 'permenant' items exist on a database server somewhere. I would guess that cross realm itemization would be a programmtic nightmare.
Couple that with the summoning stone, LFG chat, and coordination problems in general, I don't think this is feasible.
kristoffer belau Oct 9th 2007 3:12PM
It's a great idea.
In fact, i'd love to see an entire game based around this idea. However, just like instances themselves were a nail in the coffin for Everquest, game changing/next gen ideas like this should be avoided in WoW.
Metaphyzxx Oct 9th 2007 3:25PM
Sounds good in theory, but I don't like it overall. Though, if there WERE a way to have like a cross realm "lfg bulletin board" in area/level appropriate towns, it might work out better.
And yeah, loot would pretty much have to become token based...
Warcloud Oct 9th 2007 3:36PM
Byron, p3ngu11, it doesn't matter that you don't NEED to run instances when you're leveling. There are plenty of players who WANT to do so.