The monster missions are nice because you don't have to rely on certain classes etc, and as picky as players are anymore that is a very nice feature (IE I hate putting DON's together clerics and tanks are a pain!! Everybody thigns they should be the 6th member to a perfect group of all level 70's UGG!!!)
Anyways as far as shrouds go they are handy for grouping with lower players, however I think the lvl 60+ shrouds are really quite useless. The cleric shrouds heals are underpowered to be used in a grouping or raid situation, and the tanks/melee just don't have the dps to match your normal lvl 60 to 70 players.
As far as the new zones they are 100% crap. Much like Gates, OOW, etc as a melee class you gotta have a group to even walk through them cause of the way they are made. Seems to me, as with almost every expansion made now, the new zones are made for the people with 1000aa's time/oow/gates gear, etc. Mobs that quad hit for 1400dd, difficult to explore zones, yuck. The zoens are dull, mazey and boreing to look at. Yes Yes Im sure there is super uber loot to be seen. OF course I will probably never see it, but Im sure its to be seen none of the less.
I know there is plenty of high end players in the game, but that doesn't mean 90% of every expansion released should cater to them. Be nice to see another expansino where ALL classes can explore them. Ever since Gates almost every new zone is a tightly enclosed dungeon with mobs hitting for 400 to 1400 damage wandering everywhere. Makes it very hard to get any type of group going, and it makes it hard to replace members when a member of a gorup wants to leave. That is probably why so few of the new expansions have really added much to casual grouping.
Anyways thats my 2 cents. I don't regret buying it mainly for the monster missions. I have probably just about used this expansion more then DON, OOW, and Gates combined.
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Hi