"Low Level Soloing": an oxymoron? - Guild Wars Forums

leirbag · Apr 16, 2008, 05:34 PM // 17:34

I want to know to which extent this game allows soloing for characters under lvl 20. I have a lvl 16 Ranger/Mesmer, and I see absolutely no possibility at all of soloing outside a few places, such as Lion's Arch. It feels as if the game was made with large parties in mind. Before Yak's Bend, my MM used to be my best character and I had a blast slaughtering Charr on my own before the first time I encountered a Stone Summit patrol and was easily dispatched by them. The same happened to my Elementalist/Mesmer, and it's very, very frustrating.

Recently, I tried to go alone with my Ranger/Mesmer from Beacon's Perch to Lion's Arch, and the Snow Ettins in Griffon's Mouth killed me incredibly easily. I had to try it a few times, some of them with henchmen, some of them with other players, and it took a higher level party including a lvl 20 dervish to finally get me through. Now, after I got to Lion's Arch, I can't leave town without being slaughtered by the Caromi Tengu. Is it supposed to be this ridiculously hard for a lvl 16 to play alone, or am I doing something wrong? I really wanted to solo, for the greater item, money and experience gain, and I'm not very fond of hanging around a city for more than ten minutes just asking for team mates, only to find that they are, quite often, ridiculously incompetent and stupid. Just not as horrible as the henchmen.

Should I wait until I'm lvl 20 to play alone? Do I need all the skills from Factions and Nightfall, or can I stick with Prophecies? Do I need elites THAT much for such relatively low-level areas?

Thanks in advance!

Tushi · Apr 16, 2008, 05:37 PM // 17:37

GUILD wars, yep you saw GUILD. No you cant solo gw except for few places. Its team play.

Painbringer · Apr 16, 2008, 05:37 PM // 17:37

it was designed on 8 so yes it is hard, and Farming spots are the only place to go solo IMO You can however get max armor/skills/ and gear at a low level all will help. A 55 monk/necro does not have to be at level 20 to work (but it is alot easier)

Alicendre · Apr 16, 2008, 05:42 PM // 17:42

If you really want to play alone, you have to use henchmen. You do not gain more money or experience from being alone, the only gain being rare items and you probably won't find any before lvl 20.
"Real" soloing is only farming.

Zhoul · Apr 16, 2008, 05:44 PM // 17:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by leirbag

Is it supposed to be this ridiculously hard for a lvl 16 to play alone, or am I doing something wrong?

Well yes, I can say it is. Guild Wars is supposed to be a game where you go through most of the story with a full party of different professions, in most cases.

Quote:

Originally Posted by leirbag

Should I wait until I'm lvl 20 to play alone? Do I need all the skills from Factions and Nightfall, or can I stick with Prophecies? Do I need elites THAT much for such relatively low-level areas?

Soloing requires specific builds and equipment, and is certainly more efficient when you're level 20. You can even solo in hard mode, but it's not easy with a non-maxed character. Most of the builds available aren't designed for soloing. They are made to help a party achieve their goals.

So yeah, it's supposed to be difficult soloing and you should (not strictly necessary though) be level 20 and have all the campaigns to gain access to all the skills.

That's how the game works.

By the way, check out this site for farming builds.

leirbag · Apr 16, 2008, 05:47 PM // 17:47

Alright, thanks for the help.

Kattar · Apr 16, 2008, 05:48 PM // 17:48

Yeah, this definitely isn't WoW, so you'll have to party with people or go H/H.

Soloing is not for the faint of heart. And definitely not for those under level 20.

Stark Dynasty · Apr 16, 2008, 05:49 PM // 17:49

The majority of areas in the game world were designed and balanced for full parties. Going solo before lvl20 for the "greater item, money and experience gain" will most likely only hinder you - the loot dropped by foes where you have reached are inexpensive, money drops will be small amounts, and experience gained is indeed greater in smaller parties per foe killed but will be offset on your killing speed (and from your post it sounds like you're finding it very difficult).

Adventuring with a full balanced party will allow you to progress through the game quicker onto the next areas with more valuable drops and more experience to be gained. Try to enjoy playing alongside the henchmen during Missions and Quests to progress through the storyline and before you'll know it you'll be level20.

izzywish · Apr 16, 2008, 06:56 PM // 18:56

For the record an 'oxy moron' is a direct contradiction of 2 parts of a phrase so soloing with hench is in fact an oxy moron

Indeed though get yourself to level 20 and learn the games fundamentals before trying any solo builds

Alex the Great · Apr 16, 2008, 07:05 PM // 19:05

dude, no one bast pre should be soloing unless you are farming

wilderness · Apr 16, 2008, 07:10 PM // 19:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katsumi

Soloing is not for the faint of heart.

Soloing is mostly a matter of cut and past builds and a fixed combination and timing of skills. It's (mostly) hardly difficult

GWs story is designed to get you to 20 and show you the ropes, than the game really begins. Solo is pretty much solidly meta-game.

jimmywho · Apr 16, 2008, 07:24 PM // 19:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alicendre

You do not gain more money or experience from being alone,

yes you do.

12 char

Kattar · Apr 16, 2008, 07:29 PM // 19:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilderness

Soloing is mostly a matter of cut and past builds and a fixed combination and timing of skills. It's (mostly) hardly difficult

Yeah it is, but it's a little more complicated than running Ursan in low end PvE. A little more hectic as well.

That's mainly what I meant.

wilderness · Apr 16, 2008, 07:31 PM // 19:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katsumi

Yeah it is, but it's a little more complicated than running Ursan in low end PvE. A little more hectic as well.

Tbh, anything is a little more complicated than running Ursan in low end PvE

Kattar · Apr 16, 2008, 07:34 PM // 19:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilderness

Tbh, anything is a little more complicated than running Ursan in low end PvE

u c wut i did thar?

Hyperbole, that is.

wilderness · Apr 16, 2008, 07:54 PM // 19:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by weetsie

you can't solo anymore...

There are still many viable solo areas. LS reduced the rewards, but they're still equal to roughly x2 what you'd potentially receive in a full party.

Apr 16, 2008, 05:34 PM // 17:34	#1
leirbag Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Apr 2008 Profession: R/Me	"Low Level Soloing": an oxymoron? I want to know to which extent this game allows soloing for characters under lvl 20. I have a lvl 16 Ranger/Mesmer, and I see absolutely no possibility at all of soloing outside a few places, such as Lion's Arch. It feels as if the game was made with large parties in mind. Before Yak's Bend, my MM used to be my best character and I had a blast slaughtering Charr on my own before the first time I encountered a Stone Summit patrol and was easily dispatched by them. The same happened to my Elementalist/Mesmer, and it's very, very frustrating. Recently, I tried to go alone with my Ranger/Mesmer from Beacon's Perch to Lion's Arch, and the Snow Ettins in Griffon's Mouth killed me incredibly easily. I had to try it a few times, some of them with henchmen, some of them with other players, and it took a higher level party including a lvl 20 dervish to finally get me through. Now, after I got to Lion's Arch, I can't leave town without being slaughtered by the Caromi Tengu. Is it supposed to be this ridiculously hard for a lvl 16 to play alone, or am I doing something wrong? I really wanted to solo, for the greater item, money and experience gain, and I'm not very fond of hanging around a city for more than ten minutes just asking for team mates, only to find that they are, quite often, ridiculously incompetent and stupid. Just not as horrible as the henchmen. Should I wait until I'm lvl 20 to play alone? Do I need all the skills from Factions and Nightfall, or can I stick with Prophecies? Do I need elites THAT much for such relatively low-level areas? Thanks in advance!

Apr 16, 2008, 05:37 PM // 17:37	#2
Tushi Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Nov 2007 Profession: W/	GUILD wars, yep you saw GUILD. No you cant solo gw except for few places. Its team play.

Apr 16, 2008, 05:37 PM // 17:37	#3
Painbringer Furnace Stoker Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Minnesota Guild: Black Widows of Death Profession: W/Mo	it was designed on 8 so yes it is hard, and Farming spots are the only place to go solo IMO You can however get max armor/skills/ and gear at a low level all will help. A 55 monk/necro does not have to be at level 20 to work (but it is alot easier)

Apr 16, 2008, 05:42 PM // 17:42	#4
Alicendre Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Apr 2006	If you really want to play alone, you have to use henchmen. You do not gain more money or experience from being alone, the only gain being rare items and you probably won't find any before lvl 20. "Real" soloing is only farming.

Apr 16, 2008, 05:47 PM // 17:47	#6
leirbag Pre-Searing Cadet Join Date: Apr 2008 Profession: R/Me	Alright, thanks for the help.

Apr 16, 2008, 05:48 PM // 17:48	#7
Kattar EXCESSIVE FLUTTERCUSSING Join Date: Mar 2007 Guild: SMS (lolgw2placeholder) Profession: Me/	Yeah, this definitely isn't WoW, so you'll have to party with people or go H/H. Soloing is not for the faint of heart. And definitely not for those under level 20.

Apr 16, 2008, 05:49 PM // 17:49	#8
Stark Dynasty Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: UK Guild: Hard Mode Legion [HML] Profession: R/	The majority of areas in the game world were designed and balanced for full parties. Going solo before lvl20 for the "greater item, money and experience gain" will most likely only hinder you - the loot dropped by foes where you have reached are inexpensive, money drops will be small amounts, and experience gained is indeed greater in smaller parties per foe killed but will be offset on your killing speed (and from your post it sounds like you're finding it very difficult). Adventuring with a full balanced party will allow you to progress through the game quicker onto the next areas with more valuable drops and more experience to be gained. Try to enjoy playing alongside the henchmen during Missions and Quests to progress through the storyline and before you'll know it you'll be level20.

Apr 16, 2008, 06:56 PM // 18:56	#9
izzywish Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Manchester, UK Guild: Carpe Nocte [StN] Profession: R/	For the record an 'oxy moron' is a direct contradiction of 2 parts of a phrase so soloing with hench is in fact an oxy moron Indeed though get yourself to level 20 and learn the games fundamentals before trying any solo builds

Apr 16, 2008, 07:05 PM // 19:05	#10
Alex the Great Jungle Guide Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: America.....got a problem with that? Guild: [Lite] Profession: W/	dude, no one bast pre should be soloing unless you are farming