should spawns have greater variation in difficulty?

Someone commented on the new dark powerset that the power cannot be used every fight and if you don't need it every fight than you won't need it in any fight. While that is not strictly true, the variation of difficulty among spawns is pretty small. Basically +1 level or having spawns close together so you get 2 of them.

Would it be more fun to have spawns vary a bit more? Maybe 1/4 of spawns be +2 levels or be 50% larger?

Something that adds a bit more variety when grinding through a warehouse?

I think I heard in the blaster thread that it was intended that certain enemy spawns be too tough to just steamroll through them. It is still a good idea, so I wouldn't mind having randomly larger spawns and higher level spawns.

I recall the First Ward arc having Elite Bosses as casual enemies in the mobs for the bird/reptile ladies. I think DA does the wide variation in level scaling too but I haven't gotten far enough to confirm that.

Nope. I hate the idea. Depending on build, the random +1 variation already in the system can grind my mission to an end.

But I wont complain if there is an "unpredictable tedium" option added to the difficulty options, so long as I can leave it unchecked. Heck, I would use an option that flattened out maps to be only the level I requested, tho. Call it "sunday drive" and by all means, leave it unchecked if you dont like it.

Lewis

I prefer more consistency, not less. I don't think mobs need to be vanilla, however. Tsoo, for example, can have a lot of variety in the effects they wield against you, even in their low-level versions. That tends to make each spawn a bit different from the previous. If your powers don't work uniformly against these various foes, this can introduce variability in difficulty that's specific to your character. I like that, to a point. Something like random EBs in spawns, not so much.

That's not so much variation as much as cranking the difficulty a bit.

See, i'm not a "hardcore" gamer, and tend to play the squisher types, or the ones that don't deal much damage. A random +1 spawn can make or break them. However, when I get a +0 mission with only even conning mobs at the front and at the very very back (So everything else is +1), I start frothing at the mouth and pick up a new mission.

My suggestion would be: Two options, a) I want this setting here and nothing else or b) Gimme everything you have! Because everytime the above scenario happens, It only serves to infuriate my relaxation time (My relaxation not consisting of frantically eating inspirations on a single spawn)

In terms of enemies having varied powers? Yes. If you want a challenge, that is. I'm in the habit of making challenging enemies that aren't simply cranked to the max on steroids (I.e. minions with EXTREME powers, all of them, basically)

Example:

A mob with Trick Arrow using Oil Slick. Another mob with lots of fire AoE's ..

A minion that buffs it's teammates with force fields.

And so on.

This stems from Malta, Tsoo, Freakshow and so on, in that you have specific enemies that require defeating first (or last) due to various reasons. Enemies that prevent 'steamrolling' by doing something to seriously hinder heroes, or buff their own allies, such as popping in to 02 Boost a Boss, then popping out again.

So, with my AE groups, I try to make power combinations that compliment each other to make a challenge, like Lieutenants with -ToHit debuffs, and lots of minions with Defense sets.

All of this, as opposed to "Laser Guns, Energy Fists, Sword Arms" basically, something other than just raw damage.

TL;DR Mobs need more imaginative powers, not just "Stabby Sword"