I’d be a lil concerned about mission board space when leveling the first team, but that aside, many dungeons are sort of ambiguous on level and progress.
As for level (especially Xel’s suggestion):
(Note: when i talk about “experience” i’m not talking about exp for levels, but rather time spent in game/doing a given dungeon)
Example: Tanren Mines, experience in game.
When not in a party…
An experienced player can do this dungeon to rock climb at level 40 easily.
A lucky player who’s new to the dungeon can do the same.
The average player i see cannot complete it for the first time until level 50, give or take 3 levels.
Then the final part, post rock climb, thats significantly harder than the pre rock climb part - level 50s who know what they’re doing can succeed with a bit of skill and specific items…but even for a high 50s it can be near impossible especially if you didn’t prepare for the traps, poison and EQ which become more vicious (more likely from an inexperienced player).
Nevermind, some pokemon due to typing ad/disadvantages will also change the gap - a flying type is going to need a significantly higher first time completion level than a water type.
So what level range would be suggested?
Example: Dragon’s Decent, partying up.
Talking specifically in the context of grouping up for this one.
Alone, one needs a level 70-95 (depending on experience, preperation, luck, and the potential of indivdual pokemon - e.g. kingdra is basically the most efficient pokemon to beat this dungeon with) to complete this dungeon…
In a party, one needs a level 60-70 (depending on experience and typing). That is a pretty significant gap i see there, so what level range gets suggested?
These two issues - ESPECIALLY experience gaps for first time completion - are issues that occur with every dungeon, the higher the level of the dungeon the larger the gap for both factors shown.
While, you could suggest the level range for an average player, someone who’s inexperienced is going to get frustrated they may be unable to complete a dungeon at the suggested level.
As for progression (especially Whimsy’s suggestion):
Okay, so, there are some dungeon progressions i agree with. Some are…a lot more ambiguous.
So, picture this. It’s your first pokemon team, these are your highest levels, and it’s your first run through the game.
You are level 40, and wish somewhere to train.
You just came out of Skylift, and now want a better place to go so you look at your mission board…
On it, it says Snowveil Den, Southern Sea and Rustic Savannah to explore.
You find SS is tough, but doable. SD is incredibly tough alone, while you can do it, you could do it in a group more efficiently. RS is impossible for you to do alone unless you avoid most of the enemies, though that kinda misses the point, as your main is OHKOd by arcanine’s flamethrower.
Frustrated, you put a suggestion on the PMU Forum…no i’m kidding there.
In the above scenario, all 3 dungeons are applicable to a level 40 - SS basically IS the 40s training place (for applicable types). SD is very tough (or even impossible) alone for those inexperienced but in a group becomes a 40s dungeon (for the inexperienced, the experienced will be able to to it at 40s with relative ease). RS is higher “skill” than both of these with even tougher enemies, and even in a group 40s will struggle, but it’s doable depending on luck and weather.
So…what would be suggested for a 40s range first time? Would you put only SS up then SD/RS once that is complete? Or…do you put all 3 up?
Additionally, this WILL take up a large amount of board space at some levels, but that matters little as long as they are ranked missions.
Then, there is the issue of what if someone doesn’t want to do that dungeon right away? It may be just taking up space on a characters own mission thingy, as they’re e.g waiting for a higher level due to type disadvantages.
I kinda like freedom in MMOs and not a “GO HERE” tone but a “there is something you could do here” tone from the game…granted, with so few dungeons in PMU, it’s more of “Go here it’s the only thing you’ve yet to do”, so not sure what my opinion is on that part but i can forsee it bothering some people.