TLDR;
1. Optional queue system for legacy content that is scaled in difficulty such that one player + AI bodyguards (2+) can handle.
2. Increased drop rate on vanity items, with hard modes (triggered inside instance) further increasing drop rate.
3. Current gear doesn’t work, starting set provided, special gear drops that has no item level but has abilities on it. Allowing you to synergize all kinds of abilities to get stronger. Can equip bodyguards with same gear.
4. You can choose to go with only your AI bodyguards, and play as them, switching between when you want. Eliminates class imbalances.
5. Your character level doesn’t matter, so you’re able to level through every instance you’ve cleared on your main.
6. Separate talent and skill systems for bodyguards and can customize bodyguard race/gender/look and transmogs.
7. For a truly social experience, invite friends to play as your bodyguards, just a slight increase in rewards, since it's easier.
Think about all the dungeons and raids that people like to go to that are now practically obsolete, stuff that you can solo with ease.
You literally plough through countless monsters and bosses without even thinking about it, all in the pursuit of vanity items.
It is now possible to join a group that is level adjusted, in order to tackle the raids/dungeons together at an appropriate difficulty, but if you’re only after the vanity items, it’s not the best use of your time.
What if you could enter that same instance, but modified to be difficult for a solo player? That difficulty could translate into increased drop rates on vanity items. In addition to this, having a completely separate progression system for these types of instances would be a good idea. Your normal gear would be disabled inside these instances, and you would only be able to use this special gear. At first you would be given a full set of starting gear, in order to make things a little smoother in the beginning. This special gear could be structured in a completely different way, with all kinds of imbalanced buffs and effects, because it wouldn’t be usable in the outside world. No threat of misuse on other players. Instead of just increasing the power of your items, you would mix and match gear based on the perks/buffs/special abilities it would give you. With each item, your roster of powerful moves to defeat bosses would be increased, and enabling you to dynamically think about each encounter, not just the numbers involved.
I know what you’re thinking, but what about healers and tanks? Well, just like the awesome Proving Grounds, your role would determine how you would tackle these instances. With healers actually having to heal, tanks having to tank, and dps having to dps.
Instead of having 4 difficulty levels, the increase in difficulty would only come from your choices inside the instances. Hard modes that are triggered by a specific set of steps you have to take, that also reward the same vanity items you’re after, with each progressive difficulty level increasing the drop rate.
The hard modes would have different triggers, depending on your specified role (Tank, Healer, Damage).
No hard mode - Drops gear that can only be used inside these instances and increased drop chance on vanity items.
Hard mode type 1 - Drops everything from the previous tier, with an even greater increase in drop rates.
Hard mode type 2 - Drops everything from the previous tier, with an even greater increase in drop rates etc.
There could be a debate on how many tiers are necessary, but personally, I think 3 are more than enough, and 2 could also be a possibility.
Joining groups and adjusting level to content is a step in the right direction, but this would give those that like to have something to do solo a respite from group activities while at the same time giving vanity hunters a better way of grinding those juicy mounts, toys and transmogs.
Instead of mindlessly repeating the same dungeons/raids over and over in the hopes of drops, you are now also progressing through a separate system, while getting increased drop rates on vanity items. The increased drop rates on vanity items would have to be significant in order to justify the time investment, but in the end, people will feel like they have accomplished more, rather than just a mindless grind.
This would be a massive undertaking, but ultimately worth it, just because of the massive number of players Blizzard would entice to join again. Some people just don’t have the time to join raids at a set time each night, but they still like a challenge.
Edit: For those interested in this, having a pool of AI bodyguards to choose from, with DPS/Healer/Tank roles, that you can also equip with items, would help smooth out the imbalances in class differences. How many bodyguards? Well, that all depends on how complicated this system could be. I would think at least 2, such then you could always have a healer a dps and a tank in your group.
Edit 2: To clarify, this would be optional, a separate queue system.
If you’re new, going in normally would yield more vanity items per hour, but if you spend enough time in the system and gather enough special items, you’ll be able to increase your yield such that it is more efficient than just going in normally. That yield increase would have to be tempered, but it would still be there for the dedicated.
Edit 3: There is also another way to structure this, an even crazier way. Instead of controlling your character, you can select to step into the shoes of one of your bodyguards. This would completely eliminate class imbalances. Being able to customize these bodyguards to your liking, appearance, separate talent system, separate skill system etc. Would be your own little army, and you can personally control each and every one. Being able to switch to another bodyguard mid fight would be cool as well.
Separate skill and talent system for bodyguards would be implemented, along with being able to cuztomize their race/gender/look and transmogs.
Edit 4: To be able to level with this system, your level inside would not be a factor, and you could essentially level in all instances cleared on your main, even as a level 15. Experience would be scaled accordingly, and rewards such as gold and AP would also be scaled accordingly.
Edit 5: For those truly social butterflies out there, a possibility to invite your friends to step into the shoes of your other bodyguards would be possible. You could essentially roleplay as forgotten heroes, clearing Molten Core.