My god.
Can’t read every page. (got to page 2 and gave up!).
My 2c:
First up (Where I am coming from): I did complete MKCT, but it took me 3hours+ actually “get” it. I did fail several times due to my Australian ping and lag with respect to the lightning-smashed window. (after that I did it several times on my main and on 3 other characters really easily) I really liked MKCT after I finished it, I really felt like I achieved something, AND the loot at the end (I felt as a level 30) was a piece of armor to really aspire to be able to wear! (now I am 80 I do wear my boots!)
Second: This puzzle was good, but I 100% understand where many others are coming from. I also know the solution! Anet are 90% of the way there (I personally think they were thinking of this as a solution, but ran out of time to implement).
Third: I was a little disappointed by the reward. The unique level 80 exotic boots from MKCT (while they may not have had the best stats) were really appropriate I felt as a low-level character I liked having the item to look forward to! I was a little disappointed (but due to the easier puzzle understanding) of the lesser reward.
This will solve the waiting time, the difficulty problem AND my loot sadness!
Solution: 3 difficulties (like others have said). This is how you do it:
The 3 paths are assigned to each difficulty, chosen in the communal area via 3 teleports to the start-platforms.
The Easy [Lets call it ‘Left’] path has VERY little or no health drain.
The snowflakes are permanent, or on VERY long timer. (see after difficulty regarding how to solve the having to wait to restart problem)
The Medium [lets call it ‘middle’] path has perhaps 50% of the current health drain (meant to be easier than current puzzle, but not super easy). Snowflakes on a very similar or slightly longer delay than current.
The Hard [lets call it ‘right’] path has the current health drain. (it really is quite unforgiving currently). Snowflakes should last less time than they do currently. (I never got hit by snowflake slowness except during a poorly timed first load-in)
Now, the above sets a baseline to solve the difficulty issues. Check one.
[All difficulties] The snowflakes should reappear after they disappear. Allowing someone that fails, to be teleported back to the start of the puzzle and retry as soon as the snowflakes are available.
[Medium/Hard] Heal everyone waiting for the snowflakes to re-appear. Easy doesn’t need this if they don’t have health drain.
[All difficulties] The exploding present-steps should explode on a rotation, and reappear. (I personally imagine the pattern to be somewhat like Frogger, presents explode and re-appear in a pattern like cars and logs in Frogger). This allows the exploding presents to be a challenge regardless of how long you spend doing the puzzle (easy moders), and also means the exploding presents don’t need to “reset”, allowing for the instant restart to work.
[Hard difficulty] Exploding presents have an area effect. You have to avoid the step right next to an exploding present in addition to knowing not to stand on it.
Final section: I have no comment, I felt it was appropriate.
Rewards: based on the path you took. (hard with maybe unique armor piece[s]!)
Easy [Achievement] Medium [Achievement+gifts] hard [Achievement+gifts+title?]
or just add 3 achievements, have small gifts on easy, medium on medium, giant on hard.
Solves difficulty [check] (3 timing-related varied paths)
Solves between attempt wait-times [check] (constant rotation)
Solves loot sadness [check] (due to difficulty, special loot won’t be too easy to obtain).
Constant rotation should alleviate some of the crowding issues my idea may re-introduce.
shrug hope this feedback is useful to someone.
, but we just DPS him and ignore the crystals 100%. (maybe damage him if you destroy a crystal near him?) Honestly; since we just DPS him I’m not even sure what the direct relationship is between his heals and the crystal.