Dire Maul [Archive] - Unofficial World of Warcraft Forums

View Full Version : Dire Maul

Morollan

07-09-2006, 12:54 PM

uesugi

07-09-2006, 01:28 PM

yeah its the same on my realm, always seems strange to me. I think maybe DM runs are quite often guild runs, when i do get a group most of the guys are from the same guild. Great instance though, good fun and some pretty good items

swaldman

07-09-2006, 01:46 PM

Not sure how it is on other realms but on Turalyon (EU) Dire Maul appears to have been completely forgotten. Nobody seems to want to go there except for epic mounts quests. Which is a shame as I think the format of the instance with three distinct wings is excellent, allowing for completion of one wing quickly and the option to carry on to another if time allows.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Same on Shadowsong EU. It's a pity. It's a great instance; well-designed, and (for those whose main interest is such things) interesting loot.

I'd be interested to hear whether this is just for Alliance, or Horde as well - one factor may be that people are lazy and don't want to travel over to Feralas.

Also, I guess the lack of Tier 0 pieces may put some people off.

Spiona

07-09-2006, 02:15 PM

It's pre-raid Priest heaven imo lots of Mp/5 and other good priest stuff.

WingedNazgul

07-09-2006, 02:20 PM

Also, I guess the lack of Tier 0 pieces may put some people off.

It's even more of a shame if this is indeed the case. Some pieces in there are far superior to their tier 0 equivalents.

Oatmealsmurf

07-09-2006, 03:19 PM

I think that is what it is... no tier 0... people have a fascination with set pieces but you come out ahead if you're mixing and matching and Dire Maul really has some of the best pre-raiding loot. I see LFGs more often for it these days but other than that it's usually guild runs. I don't particularly enjoy DM East... but I love Tribute runs and West is a nice challenge for a 5 man.

Morollan

07-09-2006, 03:30 PM

Dynatos

07-09-2006, 04:19 PM

Bearing in mind that each class has 3 tier 0 pieces that are currently BOE and drop off random mobs, why not change this so that they are BOP and one drops off a boss in each wing of DM? That would pick traffic up significantly in these instances.

Of course, it's still a pain in the arse getting there.

I think that has a large thing to do with it Alliance-side. With the major cities being Ironforge and Stormrage (no one goes to Darnassus), Dire Maul is a huge distance to travel to for a small instance.

Scholo, Strat, and LBRS/UBRS are all just a short flight away. DM is across the world...

Oatmealsmurf

07-09-2006, 04:48 PM

Even from Darnassus it's quite a trip given that it's an island off the coast of Kalimdor. But still you guys do have a FP in Feralas... it's not like RFD or something.

And then on top of that it's not ever a problem getting a group for ZF like it is for DM. That doesn't make much sense.

swaldman

07-09-2006, 04:51 PM

Even from Darnassus it's quite a trip given that it's an island off the coast of Kalimdor. But still you guys do have a FP in Feralas... it's not like RFD or something.

Ironically, it's probably actually quicker to get there from IF than Darnassus. From Darnassus the fastest route woudl probably to get the ship, change in Menethil and then fly from Theramore... crazy :-)

And then on top of that it's not ever a problem getting a group for ZF like it is for DM. That doesn't make much sense.

True, but there are usually lots of people in Tanaris anyway, whether to visit Gadget or for other reasons.

Arkane Dark

07-09-2006, 04:57 PM

I love this instance, one of the most fun ones I think. Although I do admit I only went there in the first place for Rank 7 water, but now I have seen some of the drops I want to go more ^^

Seeo

07-09-2006, 05:02 PM

Well, I'm trying to get the Huntsmans Harpoon from DM off Isalen (or something like that, can't check allakhazam from work. Lots of good loot too, many experienced players will tell you that it's superior to Tier 0... although the loot is a ***** to get... and DM is a ***** to get to...

Thats really probably the only reason why people don't go... location.

Dynatos

07-09-2006, 05:28 PM

True, but there are usually lots of people in Tanaris anyway, whether to visit Gadget or for other reasons.

There are a lot of 45-ish folks hanging around Tanaris. There aren't a lot of 60's hanging out in Feralas.

RFD isn't much different to get to for Alliance than DM, if you have the flight points. Thalamar is just a short walk through Thousand Needles. DM is about the same distance in the other direction from Thalamar (which is usually a quicker run than taking the Feathermoon FP, since you don't have to cross water and thus can ride the whole way).

On another note, Scholo and Strat both increase AD rep, so they have added incentive over DM. LBRS/UBRS don't, but still...

Aerath

07-09-2006, 06:39 PM

And then on top of that it's not ever a problem getting a group for ZF like it is for DM. That doesn't make much sense.

At that level range, you only have ZF to visit, pretty much.

At level 60, there's a range of instances to visit.

Oatmealsmurf

07-09-2006, 06:53 PM

Yeah I considered that after I posted... which is also why you never have trouble getting a group for BRD or ST. I mean really who goes to Swamp of Sorrows for anything other than ST or the horde Onyxia Key quest?

But it still irks me because DM is great fun especially when the arena bosses spawn and you have several groups jockeying to take him down.

Shellar

08-09-2006, 02:56 AM

An additional factor in decreasing popularity is that DM Librams are no longer required for ZG enchantments.

Aerath

08-09-2006, 10:49 AM

I expect that horde side the popularity will pick up shortly after BC, seeing how the Paladin Epic Mount quest takes them there.

Loriel

08-09-2006, 12:03 PM

The PUGs / guilds doing the epic mount runs won't really account for that much traffic, and once they get the quest done they might not head back. Which is too bad, as DiM is one of the best designed instances in the game - if not the best. Winged design, fantastic scenery, 5-man only and loot to die for (especially if you're a Priest or any other caster).

I'll agree that geography is one of the main reasons, as it's a pretty long commute for Alliance players to get to Feralas - which is a zone that no 60s hang out in anyway, nor in any of the neighboring zones (with the possible exception of Silithus). I also think that Dire Maul is not very well known among many players, especially those on their fresh 60s, as no major quest line breadcrumbs to DiM. People charge through BRD every day to get their MC/Ony quests done, possibly hating every second of it, while DiM remains empty..

The look & feel of DiM as well as the loot within should be a powerful motivation for many players, but it seems this is not the case. It's probably too late for Blizz to introduce some new faction associated with DiM, and the loot is already powerful enough (given the challenge). What they could do, though, is maybe introduce a quest which gave an item with the power to teleport the party to Feralas, or possibly to just outside the DiM entrance. That would cut down on the travel time (in a big big way), and hopefully help boost the popularity of the instance.

I suspect this will get even worse when the Burning Crusade ships, as most 60s will head into Outland and take on the new 5-man instances there. Players will still want their AD rep, the MC attunement and the Ony chain - thus keeping BRD, Strat, Scholo and LBRS/UBRS somewhat populated - but I fear Dire Maul will be a ghost town. Which is a shame, really, for such a well designed and challenging instance.

Wasabee

08-09-2006, 05:53 PM

I only want DM West, and even then for the Mindtap Talisman that is located about 5-10 minutes into the instance.

That's all I know of the place. (Oh, I did do a tribute run...yawn!).

Err...and as a Priest I did the book turn in at the library.

bhroam

09-09-2006, 12:57 AM

I personally think DM is one of the best instances in the game. I love the scenary, the winged format, the loot, the bosses... I mean where else is there a boss which picks you up, throws you on a table and sacrifices you?

So a lot of poeple are sheep... "The way to do it" is you get Teir 0, then you go into MC and get your Teir 1 etc. I was kind of forced out of the mold (not that I'm a sheep at all) being a feral druid. The Teir 0 druid set is caster all the way. So I started doing the research into whats the way to go.... and when I came to DM I started droooooling at the phat lewt.

Right now I'm in 1 cenarion and 1ZG epic.... I use 1 wildheart piece (head)... the rest are mostly from DM. As a feral druid, I have a druid talent to increase my int thus my mana. Cenarion is meant for a resto druid (huge amount of int, less +healing).... I'm considering leaving some DM blues on rather than teir 1 epics!

In any case, I recently did a DM Tribute run... Just never got around to do it. I think thats my favorate 5man instance ever. It's just not a bully on through pull pull kill boss pull pull kill boss kill end boss end. It's sneak sneak sneak trap boss, sneak up and steal key... pick lock, sneak sneak, finally kill king and win. I think a 5druid/rogue party could sneak through that instance and hardly have to kill anything.. sneak up, kill king, get lewt.

I love DM...

Not to mention the arena with phat BoE blues which sell for 100g a pop on the AH.

I guess they had to do SOMETHING to convince people to fly out there... man it takes forever.

DrOsmius

19-09-2006, 06:29 PM

I guess they had to do SOMETHING to convince people to fly out there... man it takes forever.

I had some friends that were doing over-and-over Tribute runs. So it would often happen that as soon as I logged on in IronForge, i'd be asked to join.

Average time to arrive at door? <20min.

Now I realize (no offense bhroam) that for many people, this is indeed forever...must be the same people who can't wait 10sec for me (priest) to drink up some mana before pulling.

:tongue:

Cerberus

29-09-2006, 04:41 AM

The difficulty and preperation might also be a factor. I never do pugs anymore, but DM west or a tribute are places I really don't want to go with people I don't know. The general difficulty of DM west/tribute such as dmg output and hp on mobs is higher than any other of the 5 mans.

Bigairbrucey

29-09-2006, 04:59 AM

bump for DM awareness

Leonavice

29-09-2006, 05:24 AM

RFD and RFK are as easily accessible to Alliance now with the FP at Ratchet. Just that you have to brave your way through STV :D

At any rate, the obsession with Tier 0 which IMO, are quite crappy considering what you can mix and match from Dire Maul, kills any interest in the general Alliance populace.

Golug

29-09-2006, 08:09 AM

I also love Dire Maul East boss runs. Approx 20 mins for a "good" group and killing 5 bosses and mining 3 rich thorium veins. Excellent for getting shards and fun trying to beat your time. It is doable quicker.

Cerberus

29-09-2006, 04:59 PM