I recently watched the Youtube video by
@Elloa giving a look at what Orsinium was like on the PTS. She had a lot of interesting comments, but one that stayed with me was that there is effectively a "DPS wall" in the solo trials, making it impossible for some builds, and unlikely for certain classes to be able to get through.
Yes, I know that "more hit points" is one way of measuring things and making bosses harder. So is time. It seems that often what the current system of trials, combat and leaderboards measure is how much damage can we do how fast.
What if we could measure something else?
What if instead of just massing DPS, with backup healing and backup tanking that really don't get much credit in terms of how the in-game mechanics seem to calculate things, what if we had more options?
What if "damage mitigated" was measured? Blocking, dodging and the like could count.
Positioning ... what if you had to maneuver the opponent into a particular space and then someone across the room had to throw a switch to open a pit that would trap them?
Weaknesses ... what if instead of "all your fancy special abilities won't work
because it's a Boss" (I hate that) - what if the boss did have a weakness to something like petrify, fire clench or bleeding damage - and it was a matter of figuring it out?
What if you had to hit something high up in the room to drop a cage, free an ally (maybe a flying titan in a suspended cage). What if it took X damage or an X Y Z sequence, and you had to snipe, or crystal shard, or obsidian shard or throw a dagger?
What would you like to see the Dev's play with?
Tenesi Faryon of Telvanni - Dunmer Sorceress who deliberately sought sacrifice into Cold Harbor to rescue her beloved.
Hisa Ni Caemaire - Altmer Sorceress, member of the Order Draconis and Adept of the House of Dibella.
Broken Branch Toothmaul - goblin (for my goblin characters, I use either orsimer or bosmer templates) Templar, member of the Order Draconis and persistently unskilled pickpocket
Mol gro Durga - Orsimer Socerer/Battlemage who died the first time when the Nibenay Valley chapterhouse of the Order Draconis was destroyed, then went back to Cold Harbor to rescue his second/partner who was still captive. He overestimated his resistance to the hopelessness of Oblivion, about to give up, and looked up to see the golden glow of atherius surrounding a beautiful young woman who extended her hand to him and said "I can help you". He carried Fianna Kingsley out of Cold Harbor on his shoulder. He carried Alvard Stower under one arm. He also irritated the Prophet who had intended the portal for only Mol and Lyris.
***
Order Draconis - well c'mon there has to be some explanation for all those dragon tattoos.
House of Dibella - If you have ever seen or read "Memoirs of a Geisha" that's just the beginning...
Nibenay Valley Chapterhouse - Where now stands only desolate ground and a dolmen there once was a thriving community supporting one of the major chapterhouses of the Order Draconis