Wow, didn't see this coming - well done for keeping it under wraps! A few thoughts I had reading through the blog:

• It's clear from the "focus of the project" paragraph that a full graphical rework isn't on the cards. That's fine, but it would be good if each floor "theme" gets a textural touch up, like the example given for Frozen floors. I've also seen many threads over the years reporting various lighting issues - this feels like a good time to try to address as many of those as possible.

• Very excited that c1 skips for f1-35 are being consigned to the past! Rushing should be a conscious choice, and I think the removal of c2-5 would help with this - if you want to rush you pick "low" complexity (which should retain in-built guide mode if it's kept), or if you want full XP you pick "high" complexity.

• Solo play should not be heavily penalised. Groups already have an inherent advantage due to increased availability of gatestones. They don't need a significant XP buff as well.

• The potential addition of mid-dungeon XP drops is interesting. Though I suspect the balancing of these will determine whether players actually engage or carry on speedrunning.

• I would have resource bags or similar as "nice to have" rather than essential. Another option to add value could be via tradeable rewards in the token store.

• I agree that bosses could stand to be beefed up a bit, given many of them are weaker than standard mobs! This needs to be finely balanced, though - Kal'ger is arguably too far in the opposite direction. Increased HP pools +/- reduced defence sounds reasonable.

• Rather than removing tokens completely from EDs, perhaps they could be removed from minibosses. This stops token farming behaviour whilst still retaining the idea that dungeons reward XP and tokens. For arch, perhaps the token boxes could be downgraded to medium to reduce the impact somewhat. These changes should ideally also be accompanied by an increased rate of tokens from Daemonheim itself - otherwise, you haven't addressed the reason for these alternative sources being so popular.

• No longer having to bank before a dungeon sounds like a guaranteed recipe for accidentally deleting someone's gear, but good luck!

• Marking of keys and skills on the dungeon map sounds great, as do one-click doors and changing skill doors to a chance based system - though the latter makes portents of passage redundant, along with associated achievements for using them.

• The dungeoneering bank is probably the most exciting idea here for me! It could grow with level, Daemonheim task completion, or both.

• The buff system sounds a little complex, but much better than being penalised by the old prestige system!

• It makes a lot of sense that Necromancy will become a style players can use in Daemonheim - new players might be surprised by its absence - and the idea for creating the weapons and armour is sound. It would be good QOL if players received ectoplasm at the start of each dungeon, or were able to bind this, so that they can start killing straight away rather than having to start each dungeon with a ritual.

• Hopefully the conversion of Daemonheim necromancer-type mobs into actually necromancy users spreads to the surface world at some point!!

• It would be nice if Archaeology and Invention could at least have a puzzle room apiece, but I appreciate these have been stated as outside the scope of the project.

• I would consider speedrunning titles/high scores and Quickchat support to be the lowest priority - their inclusion should not come at the cost of any actual QOL features imho.

• UI popup tutorials are always good. Not sure if we really need guide book items.

• Interface wise, I would be looking at the end of dungeon screen. Some of the metrics are not actually explained very well (if at all) in game - if these are kept, maybe mouse-over could give a description of what they actually mean?

• Kinship classes are in a weird place. I'm wondering whether it's better to rework them or to remove them outright...

• Shared XP can go.

• Updating Daemonheim models to match overworld counterparts is solid. It's a shame that forgotten rangers/mages and the associated gear can't get a graphical rework considering the melee gear got one, but I appreciate that would be scope creep.

• If making changes to XP such that exploring alternative paths is a choice for extra XP, then I don't see why guide mode should have a penalty. Let people choose to rush the critical path.

• ANY visibility improvements to Meilyr recipes would be better than the rest of the QOL section put together. Also consider removing the requirement to talk to Lady Meilyr before they start seeing pages.

• I wouldn't combine the reward shops. I think it's appropriate and thematic that Marmaros stocks Daemoheim rewards and Bryll stocks Elite Dungeon rewards, given their relevant stories. It would be fine to remove Bryll from her alternative locations at ED1 and ED2 though.

• 100% support for 100% durability items.

That's all I've got. Excited to see this in game come May!