As it is right now I dont like Torghast. But it feels so close to being amazing. Like being an amazing game innovation is just past its reach.
I had an idea that is largely influenced by Everquest’s Lost Dungeons of Norath. These were instanced dungeons. They were randomly generated layouts, as were the mobs placement in them. They awarded a currency that could buy gear and item enhancements from the Dungeon vendor. Additionally there could be 1 or 2 rare mobs that spawned in them, that would drop a piece of gear. These were endlessly replayable. Largely due to the Alternate Advancement point system, also in place.
Now this got me thinking about Torghast. Right now its very linear. There is no sense of exploration or adventure to it. The floor system, is kind of dull. It takes away any sense of depth to them.
What if Instead there was an adventure mode. Where all 6 or 18 floors of the layer were instanced at once and together. The end of floor mobs place throughout. The mob difficulty can change from area to area. We would need an item , call it and anima lense, that would let us see the strength of the mob. 1-6 or 1-18 would be the number they are assigned. That would correspond to the floor power from the standard runs. There would be a map system, where as you progressed through the adventure, it would self populate, so you could guide yourself back. Mounting inside would be allowed, but getting into combat drops you off the mount. Anima powers would be scattered throughout as they are currently. The run ends when you find and defeat the main boss.
Add loot to this version, if you want to keep the original runs the way they are. Add some rare mobs that have the chance to spawn in each run. Add in some cells where you can free a prisoner to give you a buff, or even fight with you. Or have some other interaction. Like one prisoner that can spawn, who after you free, it stealths and runs around the instance mapping it for you. While you continue to adventure, the helper maps the entire place for you.
Have the Tarragrue wander the entire instance like a Minotaur after you reach a certain number of anima powers or something like that. It doesnt chase you, It just wanders around. Add in some puzzles to activate a trap for it, taking it out of the equasion. Like where you aggro it to chase you into a cell, you escape the cell through a small opening, and when it enters a group member triggers the gate to trap it.
There are so many options to have each run be a grand adventure. Also you can dictate how you progress the run. You can attempt to take out the end boss, whenever you find it. Maybe you got some fantastic anima powers and think you can take him, or you need to adventure more and get more powers before you try.
I realize this type of thing would not be easy to implement. And there is no way to do so during the life of this expansion, unless they already had it in the works. But I just think it would be a way to add a interesting, fun and new element to the game. There would be no Optimal route to memorize. There would be no mob skips to memorize. The layer system would give it multiple difficulties. It could add an interesting and new path to gearing and improving your character.
What do you think?