Ants Nest

Zolm

Module version 220726 Puffy 7645
Quest name Ants Nest
Quests giver Dorian the Myrmecologist
ZQA:
Level range 4-9
Party requirements 1-10

Doing this quest I realized that it's missing some exploration elements, like maybe a few hidden areas or secrets to find down here. I'm always a fan of exploration :)

Zolm

It’s also just too long. The ants on the quest are spawning in too high numbers resulting in a slog which takes too long and grants little to no exp for your trouble. The ants are thorax to thorax in the hallways and about four rows deep.

Zap

Seconded on this, Either Lower ant spawns or Lower Health and/Or AC if you want to retain the feeling of a massive swarm. Current setup turns what is in theory a very simple quest into a overlong unfun slog where by the time you reach the boss you're buffs have all run out and you use just enough supplies to rebuff for the last fight that you feel like you've not made enough profit to cover it.

Unless you're a sorcerer, but nobody cares about sorcerers.

O-louth

The issue is that the enemies give no exp of note. And the relative High HP on Them and their Numbers makes the quest a waste of time. Below level 8, if you are alone, most classes get one attack Per round making it even longer. And the ants easily see through stealth so that is not an option either.
I suggest making the ants worth the kill with much higher exp, or much easier to kill.

sharkinajar

Can confirm. This is a quest that I hate with a passion. It's about 2x too long, the enemies are incredibly chunky and some with high AC (mainly the guards), and just takes forever to do. When it was split into two halves, that was perfect.

Hellgate Kreep

Isn't the second half of this optional? Or was that removed and it just became one big long quest. I could swear you were able to turn in completed after clearing the top floor, before going down the hole.

There's definitely one hidden area and a language node.

Agree it can be a bit of a slog, depending on the composition of the group. But it can also be solo'd fairly easily by a summoner or a warrior class.

sharkinajar

@hellgate-kreep it was turned into one big long one.

Puffy

7709 Ants tweaked to be less of a sludge, minor edit, please report if you see any positive or negative change.

Ants takes less hits to die, some offer better exp reward but bite harder
2nd level is optional again, and you can complete the quest after the first area if you so choose

Puffy

@swifty-willownall said in Quest feedback: Ants:

Ants Quest:
I noticed new holes in the quest. My adventurer brain has been trained to think that something is always going to come out of holes, so it was a nice addition. The red eyes descriptor was good too. I ran into an Ankheg later in the quest which was cool. Could even use more of them to add an additional damage type to compliment the quests only physical damage.

I noticed the gargoyle statues were removed. Makes sense. Why were they ever there?

The spawns were reduced. I was able to complete the quest in 6 hours, resting and buffing from the surface level. I'm a level 7 cleric, so my buffs had another hour left.

The first level of the quest feels very quick and fast. It's probably not even 5 minutes worth for a buffed party. I would suggest moving the queen down to the second level. This point goes into the following point..

Personal thoughts: I think more can be done with this quest. Have the queen be on the second level, and have the third level be optional. 3rd level has a tomb and mad made structures. Instead of ants, you can put undead or other creatures here. It makes a lot of sense.

Animals usually avoid the undead.
A dead ant gives off a scent to other ants to tell them "Stay away from here!"
It explains why the ants have tunneled down but avoid going further below into the man made spaces.
There's a bunch of tombs and graves there, and a cool looking alter-ish piece in the last room.

Putting this here for sanity