proposal: replace labyrinth with hungry portal

[some12fat2move]

This is strangely a stressful activity for me. I got wound up and I apologize. Dpeg is probably right...I feel I'm not cut out for this anymore. As they say: if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen.

[pivotal]

I just wanted add my support for dpeg's suggestion of ensuring the minotaur vault doesn't touch the border of the map. It seems to take 2-4x longer to solve these labyrinths.

[Moose]

Regarding ensuring that the center vault is not attached to an outside wall, that would be a fantastic change!

Has any consideration been given to possibly making the mazes smaller? This might be a step in the right direction. It would let the mazeophiles keep enjoying their mini-game, and let folks like OP and crate (and myself) get their loot and move on just a little bit faster.

[lordhamshire]

"Dumb" is an emotional appeal that leads nowhere.

Okee, I get'cha. But I cast my vote for the removal of labyrinth.

[yogaFLAME]

I very much enjoy labs as a mini-game. Not everything needs to be pared down with the Scalpel of Reductionism.

I'd be all for adding vaults and such to improve the experience for people who don't enjoy mazes. Though I think at best it's a losing battle there, since it's still going to be a maze and some people are still going to (vehemently) dislike mazes.

[crate]

and let folks like OP and crate (and myself) get their loot and move on just a little bit faster.

well I think labs have too much loot for their danger level too (but then several other portal vaults have this problem also)

[adozu]

if you really dislike labyrinths anyway there's always the possibility to use a dig wand. once you figure out how the place works the wand can cut the time needed to clear it a lot.

[EvilAshe]

I just hate how every character is forced into a Labyrinth and can't win without the special winning thingie you get there.

Oh, right. It's optional. And honestly once you've done a few of them, they're pretty trivial too. I don't think I've ever died of starvation in a Lab. I have died to the minotaur at the end though.

To be fair just because somethings optional doesn't mean it should remain if it sucks. That said, I never had much issue with Labyrinth (aside from the occasional dickish generation), don't remember ever starving in one, and it's a welcome break from the main game. Also talk of it just being an exchange of food for loot is overly reductionistic, there is some skill to finding your way through the maze relatively quickly (along with some luck, sure) that alters the cost for players who are good at it versus those that arn't and therefore the decision to enter or not.

[rebthor]

I just hate how every character is forced into a Labyrinth and can't win without the special winning thingie you get there.

Oh, right. It's optional. And honestly once you've done a few of them, they're pretty trivial too. I don't think I've ever died of starvation in a Lab. I have died to the minotaur at the end though.

To be fair just because somethings optional doesn't mean it should remain if it sucks. That said, I never had much issue with Labyrinth (aside from the occasional dickish generation), don't remember ever starving in one, and it's a welcome break from the main game. Also talk of it just being an exchange of food for loot is overly reductionistic, there is some skill to finding your way through the maze relatively quickly (along with some luck, sure) that alters the cost for players who are good at it versus those that arn't and therefore the decision to enter or not.

The only difference between a Lab and all other timed portal vaults is that you can't leave immediately afterwards. I don't remember if it prompts you before you go in; if it doesn't, perhaps it should, just like Pan and the Abyss portals do. And a player always needs to use judgment. Just like you shouldn't go into a volcano with a Mu that hasn't found rF+, don't go into the Lab with your Troll if you don't have significant food or if you are no good at mazes.

[njvack]

other timed portal vaults is that you can't leave immediately afterwards. I don't remember if it prompts you before you go in

It does.