Hard Mode: Are there even enough players?

So, now we have Hard Mode. Yay.

There are now a total of 56 missions that require a group to be completed in Hard Mode for the Guardian Title (the obvious exceptions are Augury Rock and Tihark Orchard).

Although some missions can be easily cleared with Heroes/Henchmen (i.e. Imperial Sanctum, Abaddon's Gate), many of these missions demand strong human player input and strategies that AI is not capable of.

Are there enough people to easily fill 56 seperate districts with atleast 8 people with well-rounded builds?

That might be the straw which breaks Hard Mode's back: Not enough support.

The best example is Vizunah Square. As I'm sure you know, Vizunah Square consists of two human parties for a total of 16 people. Vizunah Square is near impossible in Hard Mode without 2 full human parties; just try it. And even then, safety is not guranteed.

Therefore, in order just to even do Vizunah Square, not only do you need 16 people, you need 16 coordinated people. How does ArenaNet expect us to do that?!

Even when you factor in Guilds and Alliances, it's very difficult to reliably get 8 people for a normal build (Not enough Monks), let alone 16.

The only solution is to make the Hard Mode Party Search Global and Cross Continent, otherwise it'll be too desolate to look for a group.

Too much content, but not enough people to do it. I wonder how ArenaNet tested Hard Mode...

As far as long term... they need to fix badly bugged out hero/hench AI this update did because it will be too hard to find groups. So far it's not a huge problem though, although it's gone from the 5 minute range to getting groups to the 20 min range as I go along in order.

Time to put your guildies to good use

I'm hoping a solution is found in henchman and heroes. I can't play with guildies because of my hours of play.

not everyone has guildies to put to use. I'm in a guild that is inactive...I'm the only one active...the rest are playing WoW...but I'm fine with that because I don't mind playing with AI or occasionally PUGing it.

just consider this issue another factor that makes it "Hard Mode"...

It won't really be an issue a little while after it's introduction...we will be in the same position we were in before...people farming areas...people trying to complete missions. Concentrations of people in areas that require human groups. The most difficult areas will have people that can't get past the mission with just AI...so those people will be there to complete the mission with the other humans that are there. There will simply be more areas that need human groups. There will be fewer people farming as people try to complete the missions in hard mode for guardian.

Where does it say Hard Mode is mandatory?

According to Gaile:

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Gaile_News

basically no, not really.

Even in normal mode some groups struggle to find a decent team. Those classes that enevitably won't be favoured for hard mode will probably never find enough partys to complete a campaign without guild/alliance help

On the same note, where does it say we need Hard Mode at all?

Find a new guild?

WTB large guild full of helpful people
WTB large guild full of helpful people
WTB large guild full of helpful people
WTB large guild full of helpful people
WTB large guild full of helpful people

I have only done this once before, but I forgot to bring my own weapons

Not when my buddies are in this one.

Having tried the mission several times now with synced groups (granted we had a number of heroes) and at best getting to the second last group, I would be amazed if someone was able to do it with henchmen on the Togo team. Perhaps the Sunspear/Lightbringer skills that are late will make a bigger difference, but until then I am skeptical about what the testers were using to achieve this.

What testers? (pwnt.)

The part they didnt figure on is that those guys who test play the game every day, for several hours a day, because that is their job. They really are pros at this game. So something that they would be able to do would be nearly impossible to someone who hasn't logged all those hours.

Jesus,

I think there is a group of people that troll these forums to tell people what they dont need... You don't NEED green items, You don't NEED FOW armor, You don't NEED rare items, You don't NEED to do Hard Mode.

How in the world have you helped the OP by telling them that Hard Mode was not mandatory? Do you think they were somehow confused and thought they HAD to do Hard Mode or Gaile was gonna come and unistall GW?

Really, who cares about hard mode, doesn't even have new weapons and is all used maps. The same 3 campaings again with not incentives except tittles? I am not gonna spend hours for the same golds or greens that i have already.
No thanks.

If Anet honestly just upped the levels to 24-26 (then 30 for bosses) and assumed their AI could handle it I've lost all faith in them.

Where does it say that ANYTHING in GW is mandatory? It doesn't. The fact is that hard mode is available, and most players will want to play it. Players are even more spread out now - I agree 100% with OP. Don't get me wrong, I love hard mode and everything in this update. I just agree finding a well balanced human party is going to be difficult. What about a full hero party option for hard mode only?