While I enjoy making fun of Elminster as much as the next adventurer, *sets Elminster's beard on fire*, varied quest encounters definitely make the game more fun. Usually.
Quest encounters Sophie do not want:
1) Doing it wrong results in instant death - No way. Nu uh. Not doin it. Goin home.
2) Even after looking up the encounter, it still makes no sense - Okay. I tried. Leaving. I'll try again in 5 years.
3) Jumping courses with lag and no alternate route - Hey! Darn it! What the? QUIT LAGGING ME!
4) Really difficult puzzles - That didn't work. That didn't work. That didn't work. *one hour later* That didn't work. Okay. Leaving. This one is a skip.
5) Requires a hire to do pretty much anything - Mr. Gladwin, I told you to stand HERE and pull THIS LEVER but you keep running back to me which is exactly WHAT I TOLD YOU NOT TO DO. Why? Why are you doing this to me? For the 37th time?
Good Quest Encounters
01) Attacking a main enemy causes minions to appear at certain damage thresholds (Subversion; end fight)
02) Enemy becomes invulnerable and calls out a major attack (Eternity; Eternity)
03) Enemy cannot be damaged unless a dohicky is recovered and used to turn off invulnerability (Stormcleave Outpost, end fight)
04) Enemy cannot be damaged until a puzzle is solved (Tempest's Spine, end fight)
05) Enemy cannot be damaged until someone is killed (Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords; end fight)
06) Enemy does a lot of damage but triggering an explosion stuns him (Swim at Your Own Risk; Thousand Teeth)
07) Enemy has increased defense and offense unless fought in a specific place (Temple of Elemental Part II; end fight)
08) One member of a pack substantially heals all the rest
09) One member of a pack substantially protects all the rest
10) Solving complex puzzle bypasses major enemy (Ghost of a Chance; heroic jail room)
I am getting bored.
How about making a thread suggesting fun, new quest encounters that do not yet appear in DDO? Instead of making another complainy thread, make a helpfuly thread. Start with a list of good quest encounters like the one above, then add new ones. Then, when it gets ignored, Elminster can make another compainy thread!
Sophie the Cat Burglar: *sets Elminster's beard on fire again* This never gets old.
Vexa the Dagger: He smells like ale and old ale and burnt ale and wet cardboard.
Elminster: I must insist that you two ladies stop setting my beard on fire.
Sophie the Cat Burglar: Okay. *sets Elminster's beard on fire*
Elminster: *sighs and throws some coins on the ground*
Sophie the Cat Burglar: SHINIES!