Exploration

I suggested something similar a while ago, but since then some new ideas popped up.

To sum up last idea, it was about adding new or modifying maps to be possible to simultaneously run a few of them to make them longer and needing more commitment. It would make mapping more interesting especially while partying.

Now to refine this idea is to rather than create maps, add location where you go explore the wilderness, or simply areas normally not available while playing through quest.

To specify more a location would start at certain level which would go up as you progress, as does the rarity/quantity and difficulty, where difficulty could be possibly map mods. To top it all, a location would have some number of entrances to further areas, some of which can be dead ends, here is good time to add that not being able to go back an instance would go well with whole thing, this also creates possibilities of unique, which actually exist in maps, but here you will be able to explore some ground to find an enternance to good locations.

This exploring concept also opens door to new possible mechanics. What I mean by that is normally all locations are well known by what they include, but with this kind of exploration one could find structures or landmarks that are new and unique, which can also contain new content, such as allowing to spawn a guardian or to actually hold an waypoint with defensive forces against the player, I believe that with some thought it's possible to create whole new end game content that would please many since it open theoretically infinite universe.

PS.

I suggested something similar:

http://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/1194943/page/1

As I did before you, link for reference http://www.pathofexile.com/forum/view-thread/1184305

Since old topic was long forgotten, and it is quite big change to original idea, I made a new, improved one. I do agree with your idea, but I believe that this one is simply better, please do read throughly if you didn't already.