Naxxramas

[Jarulf]

1) You'd need a separate design for each class going in, but even then, it would be tough to balance for spec.

So? That is why I said it doesn't have to be perfect in balance. In addition, one can respec after all as well.

The approach Cleoboltra would take in solo content (slowly whittling down enemies while using uber healing to mitigate incoming damage) is so vastly different from a shadow priest (melt face), that the balance would be rough.

And exactly how is that any different from any other content in the game (not talking instances here)? There are easy quests, there are tough quests. Some quests are hard for some character type but dead easy for others. Have some veriety in the one man instance so that different part requires different skills then, just one solution.

Meanwhile, how I'd approach solo content challenges would be very, very different for a rogue.  What's easy for one class can be brutal for another.

Exactly, but what is the problem? We are talking an instance here, not a single monster or group of monsters. Make various parts be difficulty for different character types, specs, items and so on. if one want perfect equality and exactly the same challenge for everyone at every time, the only solution is that everyone play the exact same character. In part you get that in instances and raids since you toss together a bit of everyone and can then design based on "they have it all and nothing should be missing".

2) Blizzard would spend months designing and tweaking these, and the solo player would blow through them in a day or two.  If they're hard, a week or two.  Without the interesting factor of group dynamics, I think it would get boring awfully fast.

So make them more interesting. People "blew through" dungoens in Diablo and Diablo 2 in seconds, yet came back to play more (disregarding the random layout). Have interesting but a bit rare drops and so on.

On a Sunday Morning with Miss Cleo (Stormrage Lurkers Sunday morning events) 2 weeks ago, we ran Dire Maul West and Scholomance with a resto-spec'ed Druid as main tank.  That was fun, because it's quite a change of tactics compared to having a Warrior along.  In solo content, your tactics would be the same each time, and there are no variables like the play of other players to keep it fresh.

So add the variable in the instance then, just as one example. Besides, if you look at the whole game except final dungeon, it is one big "run through it once" with a character as well and it is hardly less design or time going into all that. heck, many parts of the world are completely skiped by most players, making them even less played. I really don't agree with you here or see the problem.

3) Balance.  The effect of gear post level cap is simply astounding.  Blizzard cannot balance *anything* anymore, really, since the gap between epiced-out raiders and non-raiding 60's is so immense.

So, because they screwed up on items, lets not add any type of new content since the item problem makes it hard/impossible. Is that the stance they should take?

Besides, I don't really see the main problem. Just as a level 50 char can go back and cruise thorugh the newbie areas, should we remove the newbie areas? If not, what is the problem? Those that are decked out in the best items in the world perhaps are a bit "too late" for the challeneg of these instacnes, just as they are for all other instances except the last few raid dungeons. Yet, all the others still exists. If you really want to add and mess with the game, have the instance automatically adjust to what items or character you bring in, make it tougher or easier. heck, one could even add a "naked mode" if one want to have some fun. The possibilities are endless and the point is not to make it still hard for the "epiced-out raiders" as well as level 55 chars all at once. No idea where you got that strange idea from.

Cleoboltra still has two blue items on her, a ring and an amulet, but the rest are purples.  Net effect?  On a duel the other day with a standard greens-and-blues recently-capped Warrior, she stood still, cast Shadow Word Pain on the Warrior and Renew on herself repeatedly, and beat the Warrior to a pulp with her staff.  Nothing else was cast.  No skill involved whatsoever; the Warrior simply couldn't outpace her Renew damage-wise, despite everything he tried.  I know this sounds like an "my e-peen is bigger than yours" thing, but that's what a difference gear makes.

And exactly what does this have to do with solo instance?

  If you balanced a solo instance for a capped level 60 Priest, either it'll be a challenge for Cleoboltra (and impossible for a non-raiding Priest), or a challenge to a non-raiding Priest and a complete joke to Cleoboltra.  Blizzard can't win.

And? Why must out of all the game, the solo instance be the ONLY thing that should be equally challenging to a level 1 (or, heck a level 60 in green if you prefer) as well as to your Cleoboltra? Guess what, I entered the newbie area near Durator the other day finnishing a quest I had missed when I first started out my char. I could also stay there not even needing to cast renew and I could kill monsters in one hit with my dagger (just to level it up some). So, by your argumentation, newbie areas suck and should be removed since they are not properly balanced?