After playing around on beta and thinking about the new design of instances, I have decided that I do not like the way rewards are set up, at least as we currently know them. Dev Diary 2 on Instances explains it well. Basically, we will be able to run instances through the Skirmish interface (now called Instance Join) and we will acquire a similar kind of Mark from each instance. Unique drops will be available from a vendor instead of from bosses, and only a “Legendary Item jackpot” will exist on the end boss, aside from the Marks, of course.

It sounds simple and lovely in concept, but I am really going to miss the pursuit of pieces from a specific boss. Although the gear available from places like Annuminas and Helegrod is beautiful, it is all available through the Classic skirmish vendor. No longer will I be trying again and again for a specific piece and awarded eventually with not only the armor itself, but also a host of memories associated with its acquisition. Instead, I will run whatever instance I run over and over, all of them coalescing into a single grind in my mind, and the gear I acquire at the end of it will be devoid of a connection to individual experiences.

Please click here to read the entire article including my full defense of the boss loot table.