Rebuilding Answers

[*rapsam2003]

Because the server's goal isn't to punish soloing (in 95% of areas) or make certain party compositions mandatory?

There's no real reason why the two have such a massive gap between them, given the CR difference.

I actually agree, but very few builds - short of ridiculous powerbuilds - can solo CR20+ content. The difference in AB is an issue, and it needs to be addressed. I'm merely speculating on the why of things.

[*Strawberry Jam]

You know those erinyes general and horned devils are really out of pace with the rest of the critters in that area. They also both can chew up and spit out high end summons.

But if you compare to Forgotten Plateau then everything there is pretty dangerous given the chance. Sometimes the automated CR scaling in the engine doesn't always spit out the right numbers I feel like.

It's not just epic areas tho, I feel like a few areas, Plane of Frost, maybe the Dao Mines, and some of Mercuria, and a few other planes I forgot are all probably a little too hard to be considered mid level. If an epic character doesn't pay attention they could still die in some non epic areas.

So definitely think some of the custom CR calculations are a bit off.

[*Neutral Zone]

Yeah, I recall getting mauled by a frost giant with +38 AB the first time I went to the Plane of Ice (And it wasn't even a boss). That's an epic level AB. It should not have that much...

There are plenty of other examples to be given, really.

[*rapsam2003]

You know those erinyes general and horned devils are really out of pace with the rest of the critters in that area. They also both can chew up and spit out high end summons.

Honestly, I view those two are 'mini-bosses' more than standard monsters. But, on GC, they are standard spawns.

[*Mr_Otyugh]

Cambions, Babaus, Barlguras (sp) and abishais are just fill up spawns. They don't even drop loot or give you gold. They're there only to artificially fill up the area to make blood war seem a little more active. Cambions are in a bit of special position since they used to be part of the cool crowd, but were demoted into just average tosh. And no, it's not a good idea to make all of them drop loot, infact it's a terrible idea, we had that in the beginning and that was way too much loot. Which is why the current assortment of weak tosh that do little, in the mix of strong stuff that rewards you.

[*cryptc]

The point with areas like Carceri are to give very marginal benefits above somewhere like Abyss (especially considering mob density, respawn rate, availability of rest and so on). It was originally added more to provide players who wanted it more challenge, not to make it the next mandatory step to level up.

[*zethrenx99]

cant solo the abyss without 50 ac, equally hard to attain. Grand abyss 55 minimum, both of which require over 35 AB. People refer to Carceri because its the only 30 CR zone to my knowledge and hence obviously what people are going to aspire towards for their lvl 30 characters. the other listed at CR 18+ people have trouble with at lvls 18-22 with normal regular cookie cutter builds. Not to mention the maze, 65 ac there and at least 300 hp or immune to crits. this is what? CR 22 zone?

Like i said, there is no middle ground to gain, people with average builds are going to struggle, or people with power builds are going to get bored, or both in all honesty.

As for carceri and balanced groups, Went there three or four times in groups of an assassin/dps, monk/tank, the save us please cleric, and a spell slinger. No one could touch the ascended sorc except for the cleric, one of the times in such a group we actually made it past him but got melted at the last boss. the other two times we gave up on the sorc because our cleric ran out of divine powers and could no longer hurt it.

And I know, that you know, that i know how you got past the sorc and it wasn't with counter spell
-_0.

Come to think of it I believe the only time i made it through Carceri was with a supper lucky fluke of the bosses rolling a 1 vs death tyrants.

[*Mick64]

cant solo the abyss without 50 ac

Turn off Gatecrasher and you don't need 50 AC, not nearly. Or have alternate defensive options, or be ranged, or etc etc.

the other listed at CR 18+ people have trouble with at lvls 18-22 with normal regular cookie cutter builds.

Most of the time when people have trouble there is because they rushed up to 20 and that's around the point where their serious lack of items starts to weight them down.

Not to mention the maze, 65 ac there and at least 300 hp or immune to crits. this is what? CR 22 zone?

I'll agree that the maze is a little on the hard side (Though again, turn off Gatecrasher and the mobs lose a good 5 AB). It's definitely harder then CR 22... more like CR 25. But the loot and xp is also appropriate for CR 25, so it's more an indicator problem. And if you don't have around 300 HP by level 22 on anything but a wizard type, you're in the above mentioned under-equipped category.

As for carceri and balanced groups, Went there three or four times in groups of an assassin/dps, monk/tank, the save us please cleric, and a spell slinger. No one could touch the ascended sorc except for the cleric,

That sounds about like our experience with that boss. Here's the thing though, when I go again next time, I'll try a different approach. That's what Carceri is about, learning what doesn't work and what works.

And I know, that you know, that i know how you got past the sorc and it wasn't with counter spell
-_0.

I'm not sure what you're trying to imply. We got through him after a very, very long fight of all the melees (Though mostly Altair. He seemed to love him in a bad way) eating all his spells while the warlock and caster very slowly wittled him down with their spells. Like I said, it was very inefficient. Next time we would do better.

[*cryptc]

cant solo the abyss without 50 ac, equally hard to attain.

I've also failed to solo abyss with around 65 AC, so it's a function of damage dealing too, not just your AC.

[*cryptc]

Not to mention the maze, 65 ac there and at least 300 hp or immune to crits. this is what? CR 22 zone?

I'll agree that the maze is a little on the hard side (Though again, turn off Gatecrasher and the mobs lose a good 5 AB). It's definitely harder then CR 22... more like CR 25. But the loot and xp is also appropriate for CR 25, so it's more an indicator problem. And if you don't have around 300 HP by level 22 on anything but a wizard type, you're in the above mentioned under-equipped category.

And the point of the hardest zones as I mentioned isn't to give (much) better xp or rewards, but provide a higher challenge and different playstyle.