Shifting Labyrinth A New Dungeon

[Kashyk]

--Used Gemini to help with the english

Core Vision: To create a dungeon experience where exploration, social politics, and grouping are more and less zerging or speed-running.

1. Discovery & The "Scout" Phase​

• Rotating Entrances: Several entrances exist, but only 1 or 2 are active at any time.
• The Key-Bearer: Active entrances are guarded by elite mobs. Defeating them drops a Dungeon Key.
• The Scouting Window: Once looted, the entrance stays open for X minutes. This allows a solo scout to find the door, clear the guards, and call their team across the map.
• The Collapse: To prevent massive clans from dominating, each entrance collapses and closes once 5 players pass through it.
  
  
  

  2. Navigation: The "Slow Crawl"​

  • Reduced Movement: Players are forced into a walk or a heavily reduced sprint. This prevents "skipping" mobs and forces players to clear the path.
  • The Echo (Audio Scouting): Because movement is slow and the atmosphere is heavy, sound is amplified.
    • Large groups (4-5 players) clank and stomp loudly, audible through walls.
    • Solo players or duos can move more quietly, allowing them to hide or ambush larger groups.
      
      
      

      3. The Descent: Social Dynamics​

      The dungeon is split into two layers. While you enter as a 5-man squad, you may finish as part of a 10-man raid.
      • The Neutral Haven (The Bonfire): Between Floor 1 and Floor 2 lies a small safe zone.
        It features a campfire.
        PvP is discouraged here, a Non aggressive mob is present that attacks criminals
        creating a "truce" or grouping zone. but still a possibility to fight is there
      • Expanding Capacity: The gate to Floor 2 allows up to 10 players to pass before it seals.
      • Forced Diplomacy: Floor 2 is balanced for 8-10 players. Two rival 5-man groups that met at the campfire must decide: Do we fight and likely die to the Floor 2 boss, or do we form an uneasy alliance to share the loot?
        
        

        4. The Extraction: Risk & Reward​

        Getting the loot is only half the battle. You still have to get it out of the dungeon and back to a town.
        Similar to walking with a relic to reliquary some loot would have to be Carried by a player to a town / camp for reward
        • Cursed & Heavy Loot: The best treasures are "Cursed." Carrying them may further reduce your speed, disable certain abilities , making you a target for other players.
        • Randomized Exits: To prevent "Exit Camping," there are multiple exits scattered around the dungeon.
        • Exit Keys: You must find specific keys (dropped by mobs or found in chests) to unlock an exit. You won't know which exit you will leave from untill you find a key to open one of the exists, ensuring that every "escape" is a gamble.
          
          
          

          Summary of the Experience​

          Stage		Primary Mechanic	The Goal
          The Surface		Scouting / Travel	Find the active door and get the key.
          Floor 1		The Echo	Navigate the slow-walk zone beat the first boss and see if you can group up at the fire.
          The Haven		The Bonfire	Possibility to meet players to group up with
          Floor 2		Heavy Combat	Defeat the boss and secure "Cursed Loot." (Similar to carrying a Relic)
          Extraction		Random Exits	Find a key and escape without being intercepted.

Solo player dungeon

Entry: The "Ghost" Entrance
Instant Collapse: The moment 1 player enters, the entrance Locks for X time
The Key: A guard at the door is a clue that there is an open entrance Killing it gives you the key.

The Mirror Gate: Two separate solo paths merge at the entrance to Floor 2.

The Duel or the Deal: You enter a campfire room where one could wait for a chance to group up for a boss or duel someone else who is in the dungeon.Floor 2 is balanced for 2 players.

There is no "Bonfire" safety here

Similar exit system as the big dungeon

Few different exists to choose from (Maybe also needing Key)