Guild Wars 2

I’m mostly a soloist and hear that this dungeon is so hardcore-only at the end that someone with no experience at dungeons in this game would drastically hurt every one else’s chances in the group…especially a ranger with a pet. Besides most groups require an outside voice program and I don’t like the hassle of trying to get the kitten things to work.

I don’t begrudge group content, just wish a solo version had been considered. I like this game because you can just jump in and help without hurting anybody on most things and not have to bother with grouping.

So if a soloist, what can you do in Sky Pirates and can you still get something useful and where do you start?

There’s searching around Tyria for the hidden collectable content detailed in the achievements, but other than that, not much.

here’s the thing: It has been said and shown in the past many, many times that this game is going to be consistently trying to get you to play with other players. Dungeon content like this simply doesn’t work as well with one player, as the mechanics are clearly designed for a party of 5. reworking and retuning each dungeon that comes out so that single player people can play through it (Despite the game being an MMO, one that specializes in player groups) would be an unnecessarily large use of arenanet’s time.

I strongly, strongly recommend you find yourself a nice casual guild or a casual pick up group. I’ve actually never been in a dungeon group in this game in which I’ve needed to use an outside voice program, and I’ve been a dungeongoer since launch. All of the pugs on my server (maguuma) are keyboard communication only. This dungeon isn’t so difficult that it requires THAT much cooperation.

But this is going to continue. There are going to be more group-only dungeons in the future, just as there have been in the past. I suggest you try and see if you can find a nice, comfortable way to adapt so that you might enjoy the game more.

Play a single-player game.

Lopez.7369:

Play a single-player game.

No, I like a game you can play for years and I like people to listen to and talk to, I’m not anti-social, have spent many years as a member and even the leader of hardcore raiding guilds.

I’m just getting old and groups are always in such a hurry that I find them more stressful than fun these days. I like to enjoy the content, not just dash through it and gobble it up as quickly as possible.

Anwar.2018:

Lopez.7369:

Play a single-player game.

No, I like a game you can play for years and I like people to listen to and talk to, I’m not anti-social, have spent many years as member and even the leader of hardcore raiding guilds.

I’m just getting old and groups are always in such a hurry that I find them more stressful than fun these days. I like to enjoy the content, not just dash through it and gobble it up as quickly as possible.

Sorry man, but that’s just the content here. If arenanet spent money retuning and reworking every single piece of content they put out to suit every single type of player. (solo player, 5 man dungeon player, 10 man raider player, 25 man raider player, 40 man raider player, open world event player, pvp player) the content would end up so amorphous and glob like that no one would enjoy it. Not to mention it would take forever.

Personally, I just accept the fact that I’ll never complete the content. Simple as that, and it’s not a complaint.

I have to admit that it’s easier to accept given the reward of a minipet (really?) for all the achievements. But I don’t find the structured group play to be fun or interesting. I do love open world impromptu grouping (especially when the cavalry comes in to save my… kitten… from being thoroughly stomped). I enjoy interactions with general players in the world, but locked into a group… meh. No thanks. Particularly for difficult content like I’m hearing for this.

In GW1 I had a great alliance — two, in fact, that I participated in. But the server split scattered us all to the wind and I’ve lost contact with the majority. So I play more solo content than group content, and just… shrug it off. I doubt it’s going to get any better. Even though ArenaNet has scaling in place for dynamic events, applying that to dungeons is apparently too hard to do.

I solo 90% of the time. I just accept some things can’t be done solo and skip them. It’s really no big deal, and the new content is free so… thing is, my normal haunts have the same and new faces there so maybe alike minds etc..

If they release solo content, dungeons, etc.., lions arch would have bodies all over as some would throw themselves off the viewpoints lol

I think the idea of solo content in a massively multiplayer online game is ridiculous. I am 100% in favor of group content, or even forced grouping to progress as it builds upon the community that is necessary for an MMO. Solo content creates an every man for himself attitude that does not belong in a game like this.

join a nice casual guild!

Do the kill quest and jumping puzzle. Only 12 of the 19 achievement is needed for reward so I dont’ think you need to do the dungeon.

And actually the dungeon might be soloable. You just have to be super good.

You don’t need to worry about missing out since there really isn’t much reward for it. Only good reward is the monocle which have a low drop chance. It might be faster if you just farm gold and buy it from TP if you want it that much.

If you don’t like to group, don’t. But let the other people enjoy doing group dungeon. The reward is really mediocre. Unless you are in a super elite speed run group, I’d say you make much more gold farming solo.

You can definitely get the mini without touching the dungeon. 8 achievements for the caches (although you’ll have to go through obsidian sanctum) and 5 for the aether kills. You’re covered if you can do that.

Solo or not, if you dislike jump puzzles and Dungeons this is one not to bother with. I think even if you do just the easy JP’s and the Aether kills you can only get to 11 at a push. Havent even bothered to go into the new dungeon, tho I did rezz alot of people outside the instance not long after update so kinda already had a feeling this was going to be as tedious as Flame and Frost one.

This just feels like they want people to go back to jump puzzles since once they done people dont bother and those that really dont care wont bother to go anyway. Dont really care for minis so not really bothered but will be the first living story content Im not bothering with which will prob now give me the mindset if i missed this one then I wont be as bothered missing the rest.

Dog.1472:

I think the idea of solo content in a massively multiplayer online game is ridiculous. I am 100% in favor of group content, or even forced grouping to progress as it builds upon the community that is necessary for an MMO. Solo content creates an every man for himself attitude that does not belong in a game like this.

I’m glad you’ve so conclusively determined how everyone else should be playing.

About the same us dungeon runners had to do for a long time. Sit and weep while no content is added for us. Welcome to our world.

And then again that’s not entirely true cause you can still look for dragon bash holograms (they have 50% chance to spawn aetherblades for the achievement now) or chase the hidden pirate caches in the jp.

Dog.1472:

I think the idea of solo content in a massively multiplayer online game is ridiculous. I am 100% in favor of group content, or even forced grouping to progress as it builds upon the community that is necessary for an MMO. Solo content creates an every man for himself attitude that does not belong in a game like this.

Yet forced grouping creates an elitist attitude leading to exclusion of the “lesser” people. There should be different content for different people. As it stands, this dungeon is extremely hard, and I like it for it, even though I had to abort at the final boss yesterday sadface

MMO games require content that’s solo just as much as casual group content and hard group content. Given some achievements, even the nigh impossible content is included. I like this patch.

I never agreed with people saying: “bring back heroes/henchmen”…but I am starting to wonder…..

I can understand Dog.1472’s opinion, I don’t agree with it though. Some people enjoy being part of a living mmo world where real people are interacting around them and can be seen doing things, but yet want to do their own thing at the same time.

" Solo content creates an every man for himself attitude that does not belong in a game like this."

" this game is going to be consistently trying to get you to play with other players. "

If Anet wants everyone to be grouping for their game as the above posters are suggesting, then the devs need to find a way to make the dungeon content more appealing. Most people would be willing to try dungeon content if it was FUN. I have seen countless threads about the state of the dungeons in this game. Threads about the difficulty or lack of difficulty, threads about which dungeons are easiest to farm, threads about the changes to AC and how to beat certain dungeon bosses. But the one thing I rarely see in most threads is anyone saying how much FUN the dungeons are to play. Mostly I see people discussing the boring mechanics of the GW2 dungeons.

So maybe if Anet wants everyone to be grouping in dungeons, they should try making them FUN and interesting. I’m sure there are people who will say that they think the dungeons are already fun because they love tortu …….err challenge. I’ve done a few of the dungeons and some fractals; I didn’t find them fun. They weren’t especially hard, I just didn’t enjoy doing them.

Anwar.2018:

No, I like a game you can play for years and I like people to listen to and talk to, I’m not anti-social, have spent many years as a member and even the leader of hardcore raiding guilds.

I’m just getting old and groups are always in such a hurry that I find them more stressful than fun these days. I like to enjoy the content, not just dash through it and gobble it up as quickly as possible.

Welcome to my club.

Sometimes when I answer the same question repeatedly message by a player, I get this creeping feeling that that player is daft. Especially when they demanded to be listened to, and when I am the one actually listening, their repeatedly same questions reflects someone who is the one not really listening.
And I ever encounter players bullying other players without mic. Been a kittenhead before, so I know. The way they behave in game reflects a lot on what they are doing.

With dementia like conditions, the same dungeon is almost a new experience depending on the frequency I play it. Sometimes I just forgot how to use my character, completely forgot, really depressing when it happens in a middle of a fight. I just laugh whenever I forgot how to use my keyboard and mouse when they don’t coordinate.

If you can’t find understanding players or guilds, we can only do so much and enjoy so much. Every time when someone helps me with something I know I can’t accomplish alone, I really appreciate it; and I let them know by giving what little I can afford, of course not always, as I am barely saving up for armor and stuff I really want. As much as I love dungeons, I know my handicap, thus I loose myself in WvW keeping up with my server color, LOL.

I have the same problem… but I’ll just try to find a group to do the basic achievements. Last time at Flame & Frost I had a group where we wiped for about 30 minutes at the last boss but then managed to do it(my first time in the dungeon there and never did it again… I think for others it also was the first time).

Was there with my level 70 guardian with a bit old green/yellow equip and more of a power skill/build not toughness you’d expect. I just play like I play in normal open world PvE and try to rezz if someon is downed…

If it’s not good enough I’ll just leave and not do it again… there are enough other achievements for meta(I only want to see story/dialogues a bit and could watch a video for this).

I don’t care if I hurt the party because I’m a noob – it’s not my fault that ArenaNet made a temporary dungeon where I can’t just train for weeks before doing it…

I enjoy completing stuff solo a lot of the time, but in this kind of game you need to make concessions.

There is a bit of content for every kind of player out there. Not all of it will be exactly how you want it. I don’t mind PuGing dungeons like this, but if it’s something you can’t bear the thought of doing – it’ll have to be something you will resign yourself to missing out on.

It’s sorta like me saying “I don’t like WvW, I want a WvW that I can experience solo.” What would be the point? Dungeons like this are designed to make use of group mechanics.

DE’s are designed so players can solo but help out. In Fact most players are soloing while working together. Soto say solo players shouldn’t be playing is idiotic.

How about giving players a dungeon and a “mad king labyrinth” style map.

Missy.7356:

Solo or not, if you dislike jump puzzles and Dungeons this is one not to bother with. I think even if you do just the easy JP’s and the Aether kills you can only get to 11 at a push. Havent even bothered to go into the new dungeon, tho I did rezz alot of people outside the instance not long after update so kinda already had a feeling this was going to be as tedious as Flame and Frost one.

This just feels like they want people to go back to jump puzzles since once they done people dont bother and those that really dont care wont bother to go anyway. Dont really care for minis so not really bothered but will be the first living story content Im not bothering with which will prob now give me the mindset if i missed this one then I wont be as bothered missing the rest.

At least one of the caches is hidden at the end of a passage filled with veterans and a champion who are all in groups. Good luck to anyone who doesn’t like warrior/guardian…….

This whole patch pretty much spits on everyone who doesn’t enjoy dungeons. Good job the rewards are all junk, otherwise I might be more annoyed at basically being alienated in this patch.

Danomeon.3201:

There’s searching around Tyria for the hidden collectable content detailed in the achievements, but other than that, not much.

here’s the thing: It has been said and shown in the past many, many times that this game is going to be consistently trying to get you to play with other players. Dungeon content like this simply doesn’t work as well with one player, as the mechanics are clearly designed for a party of 5. reworking and retuning each dungeon that comes out so that single player people can play through it (Despite the game being an MMO, one that specializes in player groups) would be an unnecessarily large use of arenanet’s time.

I strongly, strongly recommend you find yourself a nice casual guild or a casual pick up group. I’ve actually never been in a dungeon group in this game in which I’ve needed to use an outside voice program, and I’ve been a dungeongoer since launch. All of the pugs on my server (maguuma) are keyboard communication only. This dungeon isn’t so difficult that it requires THAT much cooperation.

But this is going to continue. There are going to be more group-only dungeons in the future, just as there have been in the past. I suggest you try and see if you can find a nice, comfortable way to adapt so that you might enjoy the game more.

Well this is an MMO isn’t it?
I want more open World Content and not only one more dungeon for two weeks. This is more like a multiplayer game content that new mmo content to keep the world feel living.
And as the first post said, i don’t want to play constantly with other people. Sometimes i want to make something alone or with a big group.
I love mmorpg’s and they should give me the freedom to decide how I play it, and not only give me monthly dungeons that are too hard for my feeling.

It’s good that they implement new content for hardcore-group-gamers, but I miss the open world stuff that changes the world forever… and thats what a-net said when they introduced the living story… content that changes the world…

It baffles me that people are so concerned about themselves they don’t even realise this is the first patch in ages that even includes decent dungeon content, so as you now have slightly less to do, imagine how it is for people who prefer dungeon content in mmo’s and play mmo’s for dungeons, they have been left without content far longer then you solo people have been.

Dog.1472:

I think the idea of solo content in a massively multiplayer online game is ridiculous. I am 100% in favor of group content, or even forced grouping to progress as it builds upon the community that is necessary for an MMO. Solo content creates an every man for himself attitude that does not belong in a game like this.

Like the hundreds of missions youve done so far,that were basically…Soloable ? Like all the hearts you’ve done that were….soloable,or getting full map completion that is..Soloable.You’re wrong,sometime people need a break and want to solo a bit,Yes even in an mmo.

Danomeon.3201:

….Dungeon content like this simply doesn’t work as well with one player, as the mechanics are clearly designed for a party of 5. reworking and retuning each dungeon that comes out so that single player people can play through it (Despite the game being an MMO, one that specializes in player groups) would be an unnecessarily large use of arenanet’s time.
….

Two to maybe 3 hours max for all dungeons together, not each! The only dungeons which would take longer are the ones where you have to press two buttons at the same time.

All they have to do is: Replace “bullkitten health and defense and damage enemies” with normal “found in the rest of the game enemies” and you could probably solo most dungeons already.

gigamarkus.2109:

Danomeon.3201:

There’s searching around Tyria for the hidden collectable content detailed in the achievements, but other than that, not much.

here’s the thing: It has been said and shown in the past many, many times that this game is going to be consistently trying to get you to play with other players. Dungeon content like this simply doesn’t work as well with one player, as the mechanics are clearly designed for a party of 5. reworking and retuning each dungeon that comes out so that single player people can play through it (Despite the game being an MMO, one that specializes in player groups) would be an unnecessarily large use of arenanet’s time.

I strongly, strongly recommend you find yourself a nice casual guild or a casual pick up group. I’ve actually never been in a dungeon group in this game in which I’ve needed to use an outside voice program, and I’ve been a dungeongoer since launch. All of the pugs on my server (maguuma) are keyboard communication only. This dungeon isn’t so difficult that it requires THAT much cooperation.

But this is going to continue. There are going to be more group-only dungeons in the future, just as there have been in the past. I suggest you try and see if you can find a nice, comfortable way to adapt so that you might enjoy the game more.

Well this is an MMO isn’t it?
I want more open World Content and not only one more dungeon for two weeks. This is more like a multiplayer game content that new mmo content to keep the world feel living.
And as the first post said, i don’t want to play constantly with other people. Sometimes i want to make something alone or with a big group.
I love mmorpg’s and they should give me the freedom to decide how I play it, and not only give me monthly dungeons that are too hard for my feeling.

It’s good that they implement new content for hardcore-group-gamers, but I miss the open world stuff that changes the world forever… and thats what a-net said when they introduced the living story… content that changes the world…

I agree that the living story should add content that changes the open world. Not just during the event but afterwards too.

Dog.1472:

I think the idea of solo content in a massively multiplayer online game is ridiculous. I am 100% in favor of group content, or even forced grouping to progress as it builds upon the community that is necessary for an MMO. Solo content creates an every man for himself attitude that does not belong in a game like this.

> party size 1
> ridiculous in an MMO
> party size 5
> massively multiplayer

MMO gameplay is world bosses and WvW, neither of which require joining a party. If I want to run around with a few friends I have D3 and L4D. Please keep your 5-player co-op game out of my MMO, thanks.

With the continued irony that ANet have the tech to deal with this, as they demonstrated with all the Personal Story instances that scale the mobs depending on the number of toons present. Why ANet do not use this for their living story instances is beyond puzzling.

I solo a lot. Most of the game anyways. Cause me and my friends have the most conflicting schedules ever.

Every time I go into an MMO and know I won’t be around friends (I’m quite terrible at making new friends, anxiety and all that). I just accept that I won’t be able to do group content.

Grouping up for dungeons and stuff though isn’t really a huge deal to me, most of the times PuGing works out great for me; this dungeon isn’t one of them though it seems lol.

But it would be nice if in the future they would make scalable dungeons instead of scaling low levels up to 80 (its doesn’t help if the dungeon is really hard, a scaled up level 80 in low level gear is not going to survive easily unless the rest of the group is 80).

I think the capability is there to make dungeons more open to everyone. Especially if story related. But they like using this way better, so /shrug.

I’m pretty sure it could be done solo. You may need to be very tanky though due to the shadowstep on Mai, and take loads of condition removal because of everything, but most of the really hard hitting stuff is a game of ‘avoid lots of red circles’.

wolfyrik.2017:

At least one of the caches is hidden at the end of a passage filled with veterans and a champion who are all in groups. Good luck to anyone who doesn’t like warrior/guardian…….

If you’re talking about Tears of Itlaocol (Weeping Cache), you can just run past them. They won’t stop you. I ran past all of them on a thief without being stealthed. To be safe, bring condition removal, swiftness if possible (or innate run speed boosts) and any defensive boons and effects you can.

Nkuvu.2570:

Personally, I just accept the fact that I’ll never complete the content. Simple as that, and it’s not a complaint.

This. I’m a soloist as well, and once I found out the dungeon was a 5-player instance, I just accepted I wasn’t going to do it and moved on, much like I did with the 5-player part of Southsun, Molten Factory, end of the personal story, etc. I enjoy being part of a massive, living world, but I like doing the things I want to do the way I want to do them and when I want to do them. Perhaps sounds a bit self-centered, but in truth, this is a game I play at the end of the day to relax.

mojowalker.3798:

Perhaps sounds a bit self-centered, but in truth, this is a game I play at the end of the day to relax.

Exactly. The 5 man content isn’t any fun, it’s just grind anyhow, so I just skip dungeons as a rule in this game.

Soloists in an MMO can exist, but they can’t expect the developers to be focusing their efforts to cater to you. You’re in a genre that promotes group play and teamwork. Yes, you can solo most PvE things but the game is still an MMO. I think that ANet has gone to great lengths to make it possible for soloists to not miss out on rewards in these events. They have not put the rewards behind a 10/25 raid where you need to prep by reading up guides and watching videos to complete the dungeon. It’s a 5 man dungeon that requires a bit of teamwork and coordination. They’ve made a good compromise to accommodate everyone and it’s up to you if you don’t want to enjoy the content. I’m not saying to go play single player games, but if you can’t budge on not joining a group to do a dungeon then try to find an MMO that caters fully to soloists.

I don’t run with guilds in this game and don’t join groups in WvW. I like playing alone and only join groups if I have to run dungeons. Everyone running these dungeons were doing it for the first time yesterday. They all learned the dungeon by trial and error. Not trying because of a fear of failure is worse than failing because you never learn from mistakes.