Dern

So, due to the recent theory crafting about its creation, I was wondering what everybody's expectations are for Dern. After all, there are very many ways that the devs could take this province. Personally, I only have two things that I'd really like to happen.

One of them is that it's a province that's corrupted or decayed or full of darkness. You know, like a province that has succumbed to evil, in whichever shape the devs choose. I think it would make a powerful change of scenery, in that most of the areas are for the most part pleasant to be in.

The next thing. The thing that above all else would make this province one of the best I've ever seen, would be an endgame area that doesn't make me feel safe. A place where regardless of OP build, you have to constantly pay attention, you have to play well, and you have to not make mistakes, on pain of death. You guys remember that feeling when you're first leveling a character, and you're making your way through the province? But since you don't have the perfect gear, you don't have that security that you can always escape any situation?
A better way to phrase that would be to say that you're not sure if you'll survive each adventure if it's possible to make it through each quest or exploration. For example, a while ago I moved my level 81 archer to Ahmsord, even though it was a bank class. It was wearing nothing but champion armor with a bob's mythic bow. The entire time, almost every mob in the area could kill me, and I had to constantly take routes that were away from monsters, and look out for anything that spawned. It was aggravating to do, but it was also the closest I've had to pay attention in a long time.
Another example would be using an assassin through a higher level area. Its restricted mobility and vanish ability make it a class that in a higher area has to sneak around constantly, and pay attention to mana so that you have enough for vanish if need be.
Plus, this is Dern! It's supposed to be the endgame province, the final battle! Shouldn't it also be the hardest province?

I just, I like the idea of a province where we have to be vigilant in order to survive, rather than just blowing through areas on our max level classes. Of course, this will be extremely difficult to do, but if the devs can ever accomplish it I know I'll at least be playing a lot more of Wynn.

Now personally, I feel that the biggest things that allow people to simply blow through areas so easily include A: mobility, B: damage, and C: defense
A: The mobility of a character, for example spell spam builds or horses allows people to teleport, escape, etc through otherwise difficult areas. This has already been restricted in the nether, by removing the mana reduction of intel and the ability to use horses. I feel that Dern should be a difficult area, where somebody should actually work to complete it.
B: Damage. The next big thing that allows people to move around so easily is when they can one-shot the mobs of that area. For example, alot of the top-tier builds, if not oneshotting can rapidly cut down anything around them, even in endgame areas. Although this provides a real feeling of god-like abilities, which is fun for a while, I feel like it'll get boring faster than a difficult province.
c: Defense. When builds can take little to no damage, or heal it away with the spell or regen or lifesteal, it also makes it extremely difficult to die. Again, this makes people feel alot safer regardless of where they are, but Dern should be different.

I feel like the best way to do Dern, at least mob-wise for random areas, would be to restrict mobility in some way, make the mobs extremely difficult to kill and make them deal large amounts to players. Essentially, what if all mobs in Dern were on the same scale as mini-bosses? Of course, to make up for this, it would be nice to have these mobs also have a lower sight range, not follow as long, and not move too quickly. That way, they'll be difficult to kill and it'll be alot easier to die, however if need be it will still be possible to escape.

 

Why 'Season of analyzing Dern' is back

 

So is that giant portal in Molten Heights not going to be used for Dern? I thought I heard a GM or builder say that it was originally planned for a scraped quest, though no there's no purpose for it yet.

 

Actually, I get that Dern isn't that far along. I was putting this down as what I hope the province to be, once finished. Obviously it's not going to be for a while, but it's better to put something like this down before it gets too far along.

 

It's speculated to be a part of the Molten Heights mini storyline.

 

I'm hoping for massive worldbosses to spawn all over the place (not too common but often enough to make them a serious threat to look out for unlike Mama Zomble) that drop great loot

 

corruption is wynn only and decay is gavel only, dern has the darkness