Question concerning solo play - Guild Wars Forums

healthrisk · Apr 17, 2007, 02:14 AM // 02:14

Hey guys,

Sorry if this has already been answered. I am thinking of purchasing Guild wars for Solo play. The reason for this is I used to play WOW and after getting into a great guild it was simply taking up too much of my time. I was looking for a game like an improved form of diablo (more quests, better graphics etc) where characters are able to solo kill final bosses. I am just curious as to whether or not characters are able to defeat the end bosses in the game single player? Or if characters playing single player are able to even get by in the game without teaming at all.

Thanks in advance, and again, apologies if this has already been asked previously.

Cheers

Kynareth Adeus · Apr 17, 2007, 02:22 AM // 02:22

While there are some people who are crazy enough to figure out how to solo just about any area of the game, it's so unbelievably hard that it may as well be considered impossible.

So, technically, no.

Then again, they have a nice henchman system, such that you don't need live players to work with, but if you really want to get into that, you should try for Nightfall for the Hero system(Customized henchmen)

MoMan · Apr 17, 2007, 02:23 AM // 02:23

Guild Wars isn't intended to be a completely solo game. With that being said, yes you can do most of the game by yourself. This does not mean you will be in an empty party (where you get all the loot), but rather you will fill your companion slots with AI controlled henchmen and heroes. There are some missions though where the henchmen are not good/smart enough and you will need human companions to complete the quest/mission (unless you are really really good). These tend to be towards the end of the campains, in the harder areas in the game (thunderhead keep, realm of torrent comes to mind).

In essence, I would say you can play 80-90% of the game alone and 10-20% with other people (once again, depending on how good you are). Now the question is, why would you. You don't need to do missions/quests with your guild, and at any outpost there are tons of friendly people doing whatever mission/quest starts there (yea there are some jerks as well, but just ignore them). Playing with people you know is fun, playing with random people is fun, and playing solo is fun too (albiet not as fun imo). In anycase I say give it a whirl, you can buy Prohpecies/Factions for a one time fee of $30 and play/not play as much as you want after that.

HawkofStorms · Apr 17, 2007, 02:35 AM // 02:35

What Kynareth is refering to is that you won't be able to "solo" as in be the only "player" in your party. You can play the game by yourself with CPU henchmen though, no problem.

Coloneh · Apr 17, 2007, 02:38 AM // 02:38

no, this is a team game. try oblivion

healthrisk · Apr 17, 2007, 02:38 AM // 02:38

Cheers for the replies guys...I do understand that the game is not completely intended for solo play thus the name being "guild wars". I may try the nightfall expansion, sounds like a good idea. I just want a game I can play for an hour or so whenever I have time and not be fixed into a schedule of being on at a certain time for a certain length of time a couple of days a week every week.

Edit: Oh and using Henchmen that are AI controlled sounds fine. I may try looking at Oblivian also thanks Coloneh

Loviatar · Apr 17, 2007, 02:58 AM // 02:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by healthrisk

Cheers for the replies guys...I do understand that the game is not completely intended for solo play thus the name being "guild wars". I may try the nightfall expansion, sounds like a good idea. I just want a game I can play for an hour or so whenever I have time and not be fixed into a schedule of being on at a certain time for a certain length of time a couple of days a week every week.

get Nightfall for the heroes which are customizable henchies.

i have been playing since early beta and have all 3 chapters.

i hero/hench EXCLUSIVELY as i may want to quit and do something else at a moments notice.

you can play for 15 minutes or several hours and still get something done.

you can take a day/week/month break and jump back in without worrying about paying monthly fee for nothing.

i play for the fun of it and only play IF/WHEN/AS i feel like it.

the game box states you can solo with henchies if that is the way you want to play the game.

healthrisk · Apr 17, 2007, 03:10 AM // 03:10

Thanks Loviatar. I am exactly the same as you when it comes to how I would like to play this game...

strcpy · Apr 17, 2007, 06:36 AM // 06:36

I play the game with pretty much 100% AI - there is not a mission I can not simply complete and there are only two missions in prophecies I've never gotten the bonus/masters, a handful in factions, and none in nightfall on at least one character - I have not actively pursued a protector title (bonus/masters on *all* missions) yet so I do not know if I can get masters/bonus on the few I have never gotten it on.

I do not think I am a very good player when it comes down to it, I just understand the AI. So far, the only places I have not been able to complete with henchman do not allow them (Elite missions and some other post-end-game content) and a very small handful of "master" level - non-required - missions in the very last part of Nightfall. I do not say they are impossible with hench/hero, but I can not do them - there are people that are *really* good with the AI that I am sure can do it.

I play at odd hours and anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours a time, I think I average about 1.5-2 hours a day over the course of my time in game (1200 or so hours in a little over 20 months). If you want AI then Nightfall is the only way to go, the heroes make the game MUCH more fun and give you the ability to play with many team builds.

sabutai · Apr 17, 2007, 10:12 AM // 10:12

i have problems soloing with heroes etc, say my mesmer wants to cast imagine burden on mob whacking the crap out of me so i can get away for a breather, seems no matter if i have good ol koss on focus target he still breaks off the mob and follows me like a puppy dog

maybe there is something i'm not doing right, but some of these quests are down right gnarly using these heroes and henchmen...at least for a newb like me

*Darcy* · Apr 17, 2007, 11:50 AM // 11:50

@OP - the game does NOT require that you join a guild. There are no guild-only missions/quests in PvE.

If you do join a guild, just pick one that is more casual. Usually the only ones that need strict schedules are the PvP guilds due to practice and match requirements.

Due to the non-p2p nature of GW, it is the perfect game for the casual player. You get to go through the game at your own pace with no penalties for non-login.

A good explanation of the hero system and how they are controlled
http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Hero

Apr 17, 2007, 02:14 AM // 02:14	#1
healthrisk Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Apr 2007	Question concerning solo play Hey guys, Sorry if this has already been answered. I am thinking of purchasing Guild wars for Solo play. The reason for this is I used to play WOW and after getting into a great guild it was simply taking up too much of my time. I was looking for a game like an improved form of diablo (more quests, better graphics etc) where characters are able to solo kill final bosses. I am just curious as to whether or not characters are able to defeat the end bosses in the game single player? Or if characters playing single player are able to even get by in the game without teaming at all. Thanks in advance, and again, apologies if this has already been asked previously. Cheers

Apr 17, 2007, 02:38 AM // 02:38	#6
healthrisk Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Apr 2007	Cheers for the replies guys...I do understand that the game is not completely intended for solo play thus the name being "guild wars". I may try the nightfall expansion, sounds like a good idea. I just want a game I can play for an hour or so whenever I have time and not be fixed into a schedule of being on at a certain time for a certain length of time a couple of days a week every week. Edit: Oh and using Henchmen that are AI controlled sounds fine. I may try looking at Oblivian also thanks Coloneh Last edited by healthrisk; Apr 17, 2007 at 02:49 AM // 02:49..

Apr 17, 2007, 02:22 AM // 02:22	#2
Kynareth Adeus Academy Page Join Date: Jan 2007 Profession: D/Mo	While there are some people who are crazy enough to figure out how to solo just about any area of the game, it's so unbelievably hard that it may as well be considered impossible. So, technically, no. Then again, they have a nice henchman system, such that you don't need live players to work with, but if you really want to get into that, you should try for Nightfall for the Hero system(Customized henchmen)

Apr 17, 2007, 02:23 AM // 02:23	#3
MoMan Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Apr 2005	Guild Wars isn't intended to be a completely solo game. With that being said, yes you can do most of the game by yourself. This does not mean you will be in an empty party (where you get all the loot), but rather you will fill your companion slots with AI controlled henchmen and heroes. There are some missions though where the henchmen are not good/smart enough and you will need human companions to complete the quest/mission (unless you are really really good). These tend to be towards the end of the campains, in the harder areas in the game (thunderhead keep, realm of torrent comes to mind). In essence, I would say you can play 80-90% of the game alone and 10-20% with other people (once again, depending on how good you are). Now the question is, why would you. You don't need to do missions/quests with your guild, and at any outpost there are tons of friendly people doing whatever mission/quest starts there (yea there are some jerks as well, but just ignore them). Playing with people you know is fun, playing with random people is fun, and playing solo is fun too (albiet not as fun imo). In anycase I say give it a whirl, you can buy Prohpecies/Factions for a one time fee of $30 and play/not play as much as you want after that.

Apr 17, 2007, 02:35 AM // 02:35	#4
HawkofStorms Hall Hero Join Date: Aug 2005 Profession: E/	What Kynareth is refering to is that you won't be able to "solo" as in be the only "player" in your party. You can play the game by yourself with CPU henchmen though, no problem.

Apr 17, 2007, 02:38 AM // 02:38	#5
Coloneh Furnace Stoker Join Date: Nov 2006 Profession: D/W	no, this is a team game. try oblivion

Apr 17, 2007, 03:10 AM // 03:10	#8
healthrisk Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Apr 2007	Thanks Loviatar. I am exactly the same as you when it comes to how I would like to play this game...

Apr 17, 2007, 06:36 AM // 06:36	#9
strcpy Desert Nomad Join Date: Jul 2005 Guild: One of Many [ONE]	I play the game with pretty much 100% AI - there is not a mission I can not simply complete and there are only two missions in prophecies I've never gotten the bonus/masters, a handful in factions, and none in nightfall on at least one character - I have not actively pursued a protector title (bonus/masters on all missions) yet so I do not know if I can get masters/bonus on the few I have never gotten it on. I do not think I am a very good player when it comes down to it, I just understand the AI. So far, the only places I have not been able to complete with henchman do not allow them (Elite missions and some other post-end-game content) and a very small handful of "master" level - non-required - missions in the very last part of Nightfall. I do not say they are impossible with hench/hero, but I can not do them - there are people that are really good with the AI that I am sure can do it. I play at odd hours and anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours a time, I think I average about 1.5-2 hours a day over the course of my time in game (1200 or so hours in a little over 20 months). If you want AI then Nightfall is the only way to go, the heroes make the game MUCH more fun and give you the ability to play with many team builds.

Apr 17, 2007, 10:12 AM // 10:12	#10
sabutai Academy Page Join Date: Apr 2007 Profession: W/	i have problems soloing with heroes etc, say my mesmer wants to cast imagine burden on mob whacking the crap out of me so i can get away for a breather, seems no matter if i have good ol koss on focus target he still breaks off the mob and follows me like a puppy dog maybe there is something i'm not doing right, but some of these quests are down right gnarly using these heroes and henchmen...at least for a newb like me

Apr 17, 2007, 11:50 AM // 11:50	#11
Darcy Never Too Old Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rhode Island where there are no GW contests Guild: Order of First Profession: W/R	@OP - the game does NOT require that you join a guild. There are no guild-only missions/quests in PvE. If you do join a guild, just pick one that is more casual. Usually the only ones that need strict schedules are the PvP guilds due to practice and match requirements. Due to the non-p2p nature of GW, it is the perfect game for the casual player. You get to go through the game at your own pace with no penalties for non-login. A good explanation of the hero system and how they are controlled http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Hero