Purple Crystal Mine QA Suggestion

[Nikolaz]

The first time I ever did this quest, five of us went in, and a dm spiced it so that there were far more enemies than normal, five or six times the amount, or so. This was awesome, and I had thought normal at the time. Though I could see why it doesn't happen all the time, that made the quest much more enjoyable, if difficult.
 
 Though, I won't complain about extra healing, I end up using it fighting stuff much more difficult, and I'm horrible at hoarding.

We were -so- close to dying.. Like all of us. Shit was scary.

[Disco]

I dont know about this. I often find myself in a situation where I have spent ALL MY HEALING. and the only (easy) way out of the hole, is by doing this quest. I see quests like this as a good way to "kickstart" a pc who struggles with the healing supplies.

[Cat]

I dont know about this. I often find myself in a situation where I have spent ALL MY HEALING. and the only (easy) way out of the hole, is by doing this quest. I see quests like this as a good way to "kickstart" a pc who struggles with the healing supplies.

Yeah, I find that I often end up using just about all the crystals I find when I am out and about. It's very nice to have, and it helps me be able to keep the front liners alive which in turn keeps me alive.

[Nikolaz]

Personally I don't usually bother with the quest on my character since.. I'm basically set for supplies. But there are a lot who aren't and to those the quest is good as it is!

Honestly wouldn't want it changed unless there was a viable alternative.

[Witchcraft]

I don't think this quest should be changed simply because it's disrupting the immersion of characters who don't actually need what it's offering. If you find that your groups are splitting off into 2-3 man groups to do the quest, then that seems like a pretty good indication that your group should be doing a different quest.

This quest is for people who get stuck because of a lack of healing. It sort of defeats the purpose of having it at all if you're just going to ask the DMs to turn it into a powergamer obstacle course. All that will accomplish is putting it out of reach of the very players it is intended to serve.

[John Doe]

I am perfectly fine with the way it is now.

If it has to be changed for the supposed better however, why not remove the QA drops or diminish them by a bit, and instead place a Dubious Dwarf Without Strong Opinions Towards Other Races Of Any Kind (or something more clever) outside,  who hands out 1 medium crystal as a reward for every single quest participant?

[Agent Egg]

I don't understand why it's such a big deal to split groups to do it.  If anything the roleplay it encourages (people to 'guard' the dubious looking entrance, or the Cliffs, which are pretty much the best place for an ambush ever?) surely make it worth allowing anyway - even if it is a bit of a metagame and purists will dislike it being done.

It's a necessary evil as so many have said.  The high level quests require a LOT of healing even if you are simply unlucky - and relying on luck in DnD is never a good thing.  So having a simple, 2 minute quest like this just to stock up on healing to do the much more fun harder quests is worth it.  And this is what it was intended for, right?

It would be nice if it scaled up the amount of healing with the number of people doing the quest.  But otherwise I don't get the problem.

You will always have people complaining that there is not enough of this, or too much of that.

[goate]

The purple crystal mine is not enjoyable, but it's made other parts of the game much more enjoyable for me.  I used to avoid difficult quests and DM events like the plague because I would either run out of healing resources and die, or spend all of my healing resources keeping everyone alive.  Since the introduction of the mine, I've been much more willing to stick my neck out.

[granny]

If we are more in the mood of discussing this idea, I suggest that this thread should be placed in a discussion forum instead?

Regarding the crystals around the server, I think they actually were an improvement. Even if they were not ever mined by one of my PCs, they've brought to myself at least one big meaningful interaction. There is one in the Moldmire and because of that it had draw a necromancer to it with two undead minions, which forced my PC to act against it with Stinger.

So, I suggest more crystals like this to be placed around the groves of the server. Wildlings will probably try to protect them against defilers and they will attract people from the Sanctuary to the Groves.

[Ebok]

I get and keep far more healing crystals from the other quests then this one. Whenever you're entirely out of healing, you're pretty much done. Climbing becomes lethal, and crit is the end of that session. You cant leave sanctuary, even being in a group is considerably less fun due to massive spike in risk.

I have never seen this quest give out broke amounts of healing, but really, if spamming it is a problem, make the randomization of the crystals count in a factor of the number of people that go into the mine.

Healing is a resource that isnt so much dictated by the relative challenge of an event, but more so dictating the length during which you can be active. So if you play for two hours a day, you might have extra, but if you get on that extended event that lasts 4-6 hours, that's game over if there isn't a supply on someone.

[Dangotgam]

As others have said, it's a necessary evil.  I wouldn't be against altering the location.

[NecronomiconV]

I honestly think the server is improved by its presence, even doing this quest I often find myself with less healing than when I went into the mine after exploring places I wouldn't have dared go to without that extra healing. Its a stepping stone for long adventures or tough quests that makes them more doable, and helps people feel more adventerous! Now without it would make a more hardcore feel, but we'd also see a lot less exploring imo.
I to, dislike the three man crystal squads, but the amount of healing gained from that quest is neither immense, nor lasting, and in some cases, very pathetic, it makes up for this with its easy opponent and easy access area. I'm a fan of the old duergar purple crystal mines quest, but- I am too a fan of this current quest as it opens a gate to many other adventures.

[Vlaid]

I guess I don't really see how this quest is a necessary evil.

All through EFU, EFUA, EFUM and most of EFUR we did not have a free healing "Get 'em while it's hot" quest. Sometimes you struggled, sometimes you died because you ran out of supplies.

Maybe I would feel different if the purple crystal mine *only* gave you dissipating crystals and not anything larger and sustainable that makes hitting the quest over and over while doing minimal risky things end up in piles and piles of crystals.

I do agree that there was probably too few ways to get healing trinkets prior to this quest so people could actually help and support each other; but maybe this is too far in the other direction.

[Witchcraft]

Maybe I would feel different if the purple crystal mine *only* gave you dissipating crystals and not anything larger and sustainable that makes hitting the quest over and over while doing minimal risky things end up in piles and piles of crystals.

I personally have no objection to this suggestion at all. Judging from what others have said, I'd guess a lot of people would feel the same way. It's supposed to be a kickstart, and that's what it should be used for.

I just get tired of nice things being nerfed / taken away because a minority of people are abusing them.

[TheCityOfDreadfulNight]

I agree