Guild Wars 2

Deroy.2457:

I don’t think I’ve ever played solo.
Except for the personal story.

I played a few missions solo then found they were much easier and way more fun if I had at least one person do the story instance with me.

I’ve never even seen a situation where it was just me in a zone, and it’s ridiculously easy to put a party together and start having a chat, you just have to want to do it.

It’s actually quite difficult to play solo, as people will just run up to you in the world and start helping you kill stuff without being asked.

So yeah, literally the complete opposite of what OP is saying is true.

lothefallen.7081:

The game is mostly done solo. The only grouping you’ll do is in dungeons and even then, it’s very shallow because of the lack of distinct roles and the poorly designed skill system. The personal story is pretty much solo as well, no group missions like in GW1. Grouping is pretty much a novelty feature in this game. So yeah, mostly alone. When you do manage to find other people in the open world, though, they’ll just zerg the closest event with you and then run away. Not much to it, it’s the most impersonal and shallow experience i’ve ever had in MMO gaming.

It’s less a solo game than most MMO’s these days. WoW for example is even more a solo game than GW2 in every aspect.

I’ve played a LOT of these games (GW1, DDO, LOTRO, DCUO, CoH, CoV, WoW, CO, WXYandZ) and this game by far gives me the most choices for playing the game different ways. Dungeons require a team, WvW works solo or with an army, beating event bosses needs a good sized group (usually), events may or may not need a group, maps can be explored solo – there’s just so much to do and so many ways to do it in this game. I have not yet hit a wall where I say to myself, “Self, there’s no way you can do anything more on this toon unless you get a group – I’m stuck.” Not once.

I didn’t even know GW1 was a sociable game. Who woulda thunk it. I’ve had a better, more sociable time in GW2 by far.

lothefallen.7081:

The game is mostly done solo. The only grouping you’ll do is in dungeons and even then, it’s very shallow because of the lack of distinct roles and the poorly designed skill system. The personal story is pretty much solo as well, no group missions like in GW1. Grouping is pretty much a novelty feature in this game. So yeah, mostly alone. When you do manage to find other people in the open world, though, they’ll just zerg the closest event with you and then run away. Not much to it, it’s the most impersonal and shallow experience i’ve ever had in MMO gaming.

I feel sorry for you.

Get into a guild, talk to people, don’t be so antisocial.

lothefallen.7081:

The game is mostly done solo. The only grouping you’ll do is in dungeons and even then, it’s very shallow because of the lack of distinct roles and the poorly designed skill system. The personal story is pretty much solo as well, no group missions like in GW1. Grouping is pretty much a novelty feature in this game. So yeah, mostly alone. When you do manage to find other people in the open world, though, they’ll just zerg the closest event with you and then run away. Not much to it, it’s the most impersonal and shallow experience i’ve ever had in MMO gaming.

The second I log in, someone in my guild is sending me an invite to group.

Let’s go here. Let’s go there. Let’s do this.

Just because most of the hearts can be solo’d doesn’t mean you have to do them solo.

You can group, log in at an odd hour, go do some stuff solo, do dragons, champs, events.

Actually, sometimes I wish I wasn’t always in a group. Sometimes I just want to go hunt chili peppers in Charr zones.

Just how many champions are you capable of soloing, much less the priests in Orr?

If you’re adequately skilled, yes its possible to do most of the content in game, but certainly not all of it. And its not like you can solo WvW, PvP matches, or (almost all) the dungeons in the game.

There’s content for solo players, and content for groups. Just the way it should be.

Deans.9415:

The game may not require you to party all the time but it’s great at getting you to naturally interact and cooperate with other players during events and such.

This is how more MMOs should be. Less “single-player + parties” more “everyone is always in your party”

This. I honestly don’t know what your complaining about. Granted a lot is solo-able but the stuff that isn’t like dungeons, group, temple, dragon and meta events aren’t. My guild is never online and my server has a low population but when it comes down to it everyone is there when they are needed, as it should be. I shouldn’t and refuse to play a game where I need to party to take out an adult wurm, which is exactly what you seem to be suggesting as I can’t see why else you would create this topic unless you wanted more group stuff, of which general mobs and exploration are the only things you can solo really.

Holyblesserx.7618:

cool post. you want a multiplayer mmo go play final fantasy. where everything you do will require a party. youll probably complain about that too saying theres not enough solo content

I played FFXI and I know exactly what you’re talking about.
If attempted solo, even an “Easy prey” monster could crush your max level well equipped character. Unless you were a Red Mage or a Beastmaster.

I’m all up for the solo content rather than all that party-only stuff.

Oh look, it’s this topic again. I will just make it as short as I can:

You should play with other players because you enjoy their company, not because you need them to continue playing the game. This means that if you want to spend time with other players, you actually have to talk with them first, and get to know them. You know…just like in the real world.

I like playing solo. Means I don’t have to listen to more of stuff like this from other players.

Or wait on them…to do whatever. Thats the part of groups (and raiding) that I hate/hated the most. Always standing around waiting.

But here…I can join a group on the run, fight together for awhile, then go my own way if it suits me. or stay if we all get along.

Solo is not a MMO, if you like Solo, why you play online? If this was Lineage 2 with Olympiad and 1vs1 PvP, I will understand you – you like to beat other ppl, even it’s only online. But here, you sound ridiculous and in fact your post is incredibly stupid. And yes GW2 is a solo game, it’s not a MMO, and that’s why I don’t like it. If I want to play solo I will play Skyrim or Devils may cry.

BobbyT.7192:

I swear to god, there was a thread last week about this game not being solo friendly or something stupid like that.

i wish these forums would make up there minds ><

That is why I do not envy the job of game designers. Trying to make sense of the sanitarium-worthy babble coming from the community is nigh impossible.

Kasama.8941:

Oh look, it’s this topic again. I will just make it as short as I can:

You should play with other players because you enjoy their company, not because you need them to continue playing the game.

Succinct and well said.

lothefallen.7081:

The game is mostly done solo. The only grouping you’ll do is in dungeons and even then, it’s very shallow because of the lack of distinct roles and the poorly designed skill system. The personal story is pretty much solo as well, no group missions like in GW1. Grouping is pretty much a novelty feature in this game. So yeah, mostly alone. When you do manage to find other people in the open world, though, they’ll just zerg the closest event with you and then run away. Not much to it, it’s the most impersonal and shallow experience i’ve ever had in MMO gaming.

What he means is, every MMO since WoW was released has become solo friendly. Not sure why he is telling us this, anyone who has played MMO’s the past 5+ years knows what to expect.

Guild and WvW is where I get my socialising from in this game. Everything the OP has said is pretty much on par with my experience. I’d raised these concerns during the BWE to no end.

critickitten.1498:

Holyblesserx.7618:

cool post. you want a multiplayer mmo go play final fantasy.

….okay, as silly as the OP’s post is, you realize your response is even more ridiculous, right?

What do you think “MMO” stands for? Because last I checked it stood for Massive Multiplayer Online.

Given how many I see I thought It stood for “Massive Moa Over there!”

This has been talked to death, the truth is that GW2 can be perfectly played socially if you want to be social.
It’s not a game that forces you to; you can freely decide if you want to play alone or with one friend or you girlfriend, or if you want to play with a whole guild.
Also, lack of pidgeon-holing into one role is actually a good thing; decent players fall asleep if stuck into one role, GW2 requires you to tank, heal, DPS, support, control all in one.

I get it that some people like to be forced to be in a full team all the time and pidgeon-holed, but this is simply not that kind of MMO. Uninformed purchase OP.

GW2 has a couple flaws that Anet said wouldn’t be in, but these things you mentioned are intended.