Catacombs/Instancing
From GaherisWiki
Instancing... huh?
From the Camelot Herald: Catacombs implements a unique form of dungeon "instancing" where players and groups can adventure in their own Private Adventuring™ areas - an entire adventure spawned specifically for you or your group alone. Includes private tasks, private dungeons, and more!
For those play sessions where you don't have much time, you'll have your own content. Private Adventuring™ is available to all levels and dynamically scales in difficulty depending on the makeup of your group!
What??
Basically, there are several types of dungeons that are instances. 15 groups might all be doing the same dungeon, but they are all in separate instances, and never see one another. Dozens of people might all be doing tasks in a particular task dungeon, but to each of them, they seem (and are) alone. This means no competition from other people for mobs and loot.
IDs and TDs
Instanced Dungeons, or IDs, are special dungeons available through each of the old-world classic Dungeons. Each of those classic dungeons has two adventure wings, or IDs. One is usually near the "top" or entrance to the Dungeon, and one is near the "bottom" or end of the dungeon (the lower one being harder). Mobs in IDs drop aurulite, which can be traded for some pretty nice gear. Boss mobs in IDs drop decent gear, especially for lowbie characters and new alts.
Task Dungeons, or TDs, are special areas that you enter only after being given a task from the Taskmaster. There are different Taskmasters for different level ranges (one for levels 1-10, one for 11-20, etc.) in different old-world locations. When you interact with them, they will offer you a task. These tasks are to enter the TD and either kill the boss mob, kill a certain number of mobs of a specific type, or to kill all the mobs in the dungeons. TDs take about 15 minutes to an hour to solo, depending on your level and class. You have two hours (in game time) to complete the task or it expires. The TD mobs grant you normal levelling exp, but you also get a very nice bonus for completing the task. At lower levels, 2-3 TD completions can get you an entire level. Even at higher levels, the exp is still very nice, especially if you have limited playtime and just want to get exp for a while.
Just to note - There were also new non-dungeon instanced areas introduced in the Darkness Rising expansion.
