Curse

fiery · Nov 22, 2005, 02:51 PM // 14:51

after AI killed my solo trapping UW... im reduced to killing charr outside of piken. agony.

Argentus · Nov 22, 2005, 03:19 PM // 15:19

I feel that solo is the way to go. Oddly enough, this game encourages solo play right from the start. You can only be in a group with one other person in pre-searing, and it is hardly necessary. Most people go through pre-searing solo, only joining with others to get their Res Sig and to go Across the Wall. But why stop there?

I play the game solo whenever I can. I don't really think of it as 'farming' when I go out alone, but I suppose that is what it is. My reasons for going out to adventure alone are many:

1) I like the challenge. I find the game more entertaining when I must test myself against the environment with no outside assistance.
2) I find other people too unreliable. It's annoying to have to wait for others to grab a snack, go to the bathroom, answer the phone, etc. I want to play on my schedule, not everyone else's.
3) I find other people too incompetent. It's frustrating when others in your group run off, aggro unnecessarily, talk to NPCs too early, don't listen, etc. and generally mess things up for everyone else.
4) I like getting an item drop from (almost) every monster I kill. It seems unfair to me when I work with others to combat a difficult group of monsters, yet nothing at all drops for me. Where is the reward in that? When I kill something, I want a reward for my effort.
5) I like to explore Tyria. I make it my personal objective to uncloud every nook and cranny of the map that I can. It's amazing what you can find out there if you look hard enough. I find that most other players aren't interested in exploring. They want to get from point A to point B, complete their quests/missions/bonuses, capture their skills, and that's it. I don't have to deal with the impatience of others when I'm all by myself.

Playing Guild Wars solo is what makes the game fun for me. If I can manage to solo an explorable area or mission, then I absolutely will solo it. If I can't manage to solo it for some reason, I take a minimal number of henchmen along for the journey. I find that nearly every mission/bonus can be completed either solo or with henchmen, if you are strategic and patient in your approach. For example, I have completed all of the Crystal Desert ascension missions using only henchmen, as well as the all of the Ring of Fire missions. As a last resort, if I have trouble succeeding with henchmen only, I reluctantly join with a group of real players and take my chances. (The Aurora Glade mission comes to mind.)

Now I'm sure this makes me sound antisocial, and perhaps I am. I won't argue about that. And I'm sure some people will say that this is not how the game was intended to be played, and they are certainly entitled to their opinion on the matter. But I paid the same amount for the game as any other player, so I believe I should be able to play the game as I choose. If I choose to play solo and reap the benefits, how is that a bad thing? I'm not hurting anyone else by playing solo. If I'm able to design a build for my character that allows me to defeat my opponents alone, why should I be penalized for my ingenuity?

I fail to understand why so many people think that something must be done to change the game for this and that reason, to stop this and that behavior, and such and such. Most of the so-called 'problems' people discuss are so superficial. There are collectors out there who have the best weapons and armor in the game available for a few measly monster parts. Sure, they aren't the most attractive items in the game, but they are of the highest (or almost highest) quality, and easily obtained. So in a game where you only need money to get better looking equipment, what difference does the economy make? It's not like any of us are deprived of top notch equipment because only the rich can afford it. Fissure armor is no better than Droknar's Forge armor, as we are all fully aware. So having more money does not imbalance the game in any way. It only helps you look better, not play better.

As a counter to the suggestions others have made regarding minimum party size for entry to the Underworld or Fissure of Woe, I believe that if you can make it down there solo, you deserve to go by yourself. You paid your 1k, you should be allowed to give it a go. Furthermore, I think you should be allowed to take some henchmen with you as well. My biggest difficulty in UW and FoW are the people I go there with, not the monsters. If I could go there with a group of henchmen, I would have no such problems. Henchies know how to listen and work as a team, unlike many of the real players I have encountered.

It is just as valid to play solo as it is to play in a group. It is simply a different way of thinking.

aron searle · Nov 22, 2005, 03:36 PM // 15:36

one thing that people argu is that the drops have been nerfed in heavily farmed areas, whereas i feel they were just rubbish to begin with.

for instance, Hells precipe hardly a popular farming spot.

Last night i did the mission for the first time (i got put off by all the ***** there), i got....

about 400 gold
2 titan claws (or whatever there called)
a white bow with about 25 damage
a white staff (or maybe 2 wow)
and some white titan armours (again cant remember what there called).

All in all utter rubbish, and the mission took nearly an hour with stops. To be honest i dont know why i bothered.

I can make more than that in 5 minutes solo farming. The drop system for parties is what is the real cause of solo farming, solo farming shouldnt be killed off, but there is too huge a gap in what you can earn.

(EDIT, and what im hinting at is not nerfing of farming but increasing team bonuses, nerfing is all that is done so far and its just a quick fix)

Argentus · Nov 22, 2005, 03:42 PM // 15:42

Aron Searle,

Well, it all depends on your expectations, I suppose. Did you go to Hell's Precipice to:

A) Do the mission/bonus?
B) Capture some elite skills?
C) Explore and map the area?
D) Kill some challenging monsters?
- or -
E) To get good item drops?

For me, E) is not the answer. A), B), C), and D) are all good choices for why I would go there, but E) is simply not a priority. By the time you reach Hell's Precipice, your character probably already has the best (or almost the best) equipment they can get. So what do the drops really matter?

aron searle · Nov 22, 2005, 03:55 PM // 15:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argentus

Aron Searle,

Well, it all depends on your expectations, I suppose. Did you go to Hell's Precipice to:

A) Do the mission/bonus?
B) Capture some elite skills?
C) Explore and map the area?
D) Kill some challenging monsters?
- or -
E) To get good item drops?

For me, E) is not the answer. A), B), C), and D) are all good choices for why I would go there, but E) is simply not a priority. By the time you reach Hell's Precipice, your character probably already has the best (or almost the best) equipment they can get. So what do the drops really matter?

Your not getting my point.

Why i went there is irrelivent, the point was if you want to make money/get itmes going solo is the best way, by a HUGE margin this should not be so (the huge part, there should be some gap).

(I did enjoy doing the mission, and whent there with the sole intention of "doing it". But to do it again i would want some kind of incentive just like "most" people. I may go there again for elites, but thats it. Its a shame as now i have knowledge of the area and could help others through but other than being charitable there is no incentive, if there was a chance of good drops i would be there and other places often helping others through, but there isnt even a chance of getting average drops).

SincorpDeath · Nov 22, 2005, 03:58 PM // 15:58

Pro-SoloFarming

I personally believe that solo farming shouldn't constantly be nerfed. From how I see it, if someone gets joy out of spending their time farming alone for items that they can use or sell, let them. Stop bashing on people that post their builds because they're just spreading the ability for others to have fun farming too. I recently made my invinci-monk, and every once in a while, i don't have the time to do a mission or pvp, so i go out and do 2-3 solo runs. I think it's awesome seeing me survive an onslaught of lvl 20's. Also, Props to all the other solo builds that don't incorporate warrior or monk skills. I think it takes someone with a great mind to manipulate skills in order to solo farm. Why punish them for this? Let them have their fun!

I pwnd U · Nov 22, 2005, 04:00 PM // 16:00

yesterday i posted that i was for soloing but thought they UW should not be soloed. i would like to retract this statement. first of all no i do not have a monk that solos the UW or anyone that solos UW. the reason im retracting it is b/c people work there butts off to be able to solo there. sup monk runes arent cheap, its a big investmant. also there has been alot of nefing of the UW yet people stil find ways. they work hard at it they should be allowed to. also the monks have to have 2 sets of armor in case they just want to be a regular monk. i know i dont want a monk w/ 55hp in hells precipe w/ me if they are just trying to heal teamates. so beinga solo monk is expenisve until u learn to do it well. and that takes PRACTICE!! dont take away what people have worked so hard to achieve. LEAVE SOLOING ALONE!! its fine how it is. it takes time to do it. now leave it alone. let people solo if they want and can.

thats just my 2 cents worth.

Argentus · Nov 22, 2005, 04:02 PM // 16:02

Aron,

My post was merely intended to address your statement:

"To be honest i dont know why i bothered."

I just wanted to point out that there are other reasons to go to Hell's Precipice besides farming.

Edit: To directly address your point, I don't think that the drop rate for parties should be changed at all. If you go out with 4 people, you should only get 25% of the drops. If you go out alone, you should get 100% of the drops. It makes perfect sense. Why should monsters have more loot on them just because there are more players in your party?

aron searle · Nov 22, 2005, 04:09 PM // 16:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argentus

Aron,

My post was merely intended to address your statement:

"To be honest i dont know why i bothered."

I just wanted to point out that there are other reasons to go to Hell's Precipice besides farming.

yea i was in ranting mode, point taken.

It does suck though that all hells has to offer is the "i did it" goal, and a few elites.

Which pretty much covers the fire islands. I dont think ive had any drops in the fire islands that have netted me more that 3-4 k in total with gold.

Drops are not the reason i do the missions, but the reason i dont re-do them.

Argentus · Nov 22, 2005, 04:23 PM // 16:23

I look at the missions in the Ring of Fire islands as the ultimate test for each of my characters. Despite being the same mission each time, it does not feel the same for my Mesmer/Ranger as it did when I went there with my Warrior/Monk. I doubt it will be the same when I go there as my Necromancer/Elementalist either. I have to employ a new strategy for each of my different characters, which makes the return trip worthwhile.

The elite skills are nice also.

judge1121 · Nov 22, 2005, 04:57 PM // 16:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by I pwnd U

yesterday i posted that i was for soloing but thought they UW should not be soloed. i would like to retract this statement. first of all no i do not have a monk that solos the UW or anyone that solos UW. the reason im retracting it is b/c people work there butts off to be able to solo there. sup monk runes arent cheap, its a big investmant. also there has been alot of nefing of the UW yet people stil find ways. they work hard at it they should be allowed to. also the monks have to have 2 sets of armor in case they just want to be a regular monk. i know i dont want a monk w/ 55hp in hells precipe w/ me if they are just trying to heal teamates. so beinga solo monk is expenisve until u learn to do it well. and that takes PRACTICE!! dont take away what people have worked so hard to achieve. LEAVE SOLOING ALONE!! its fine how it is. it takes time to do it. now leave it alone. let people solo if they want and can.

thats just my 2 cents worth.

Ya i agree took me some time to make money i started with 5k worked to get sup runes when they where going for 20k so that was like 100k for 5 sup runes then armor and really parchment suxs for me, so more money to waste then i started got used to it and made some money. i made around 300k and lost 100k it was a nice investment.

Hanuman li Tosh · Nov 22, 2005, 05:03 PM // 17:03

if someone gets joy out of farming thats golden but if someone gets joy out of an imbalance thats lame.

they should make an online mmorpg called "bruce lee" and your character can kill infinate mobs and bosses indefinately.

Argentus · Nov 22, 2005, 05:12 PM // 17:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hanuman li Tosh

if someone gets joy out of farming thats golden but if someone gets joy out of an imbalance thats lame.

Did someone here say they get joy out of an imbalance? Of whom or what do you speak?

Fantus · Nov 22, 2005, 05:24 PM // 17:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argentus

Did someone here say they get joy out of an imbalance? Of whom or what do you speak?

I guess it's because he belongs to the people who think that all chars who can solo farm are exploit builds...

Argentus · Nov 22, 2005, 05:56 PM // 17:56

I suppose that makes about as much sense as me saying that you are taking advantage of an 'exploit' by ganging up on the monsters when you go out in groups. Give those poor monsters a chance! Play solo!

Hanuman li Tosh · Nov 22, 2005, 05:57 PM // 17:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fantus

I guess it's because he belongs to the people who think that all chars who can solo farm are exploit builds...

ill just say
"including the devs"
and leave it at that.

Argentus · Nov 22, 2005, 05:59 PM // 17:59

Do you speak for the game developers now? Are you their official representative?

Has it been officially posted somewhere by Anet that it is against the intended purpose of the game to play (and succeed) as a solo character?

Reve2uk · Nov 22, 2005, 06:04 PM // 18:04

i have no problem with solo farming, i take joy out of making up new farming builds and trying them out on groups, and to tell the truth it dosen't take any sort of genius to make a solo farming build. So i don't understand why people make such a big fuss about people posting solo farming builds, because solo builds are one of the easiest types of builds to make in the game. (for me anyway)

and they will never be able to stop solo farming, tey might be able to slow it down, but that is about it.

aron searle · Nov 22, 2005, 07:44 PM // 19:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hanuman li Tosh

ill just say
"including the devs"
and leave it at that.

Provide me the quote where they actually said they are against solo farming.

I have seen them say they are agains solo farming high level end game areas in response to an UW question, but nothing else.

3lite · Nov 22, 2005, 07:50 PM // 19:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reve2uk

i have no problem with solo farming, i take joy out of making up new farming builds and trying them out on groups, and to tell the truth it dosen't take any sort of genius to make a solo farming build. So i don't understand why people make such a big fuss about people posting solo farming builds, because solo builds are one of the easiest types of builds to make in the game. (for me anyway)

and they will never be able to stop solo farming, tey might be able to slow it down, but that is about it.

Totally agree with him...solo farming is never gonna go away...there will always be new builds, new places to farm and what not...

Any ways i dont see what the big problem is everyone has the equal chanse of farming...no reason to get mad when u can do it too...i personally view solo and making new builds as a challenge and fun experiance...theres not much once u have beaten the game a numerous times..

Ne ways, Peace