How Solo friendly is the game?

spikenog

How solo friendly is Guild Wars?  Also, what is a good combination for a primary and secondary class for a solo player.



My plan is not to only solo...just like to know whether or not it is viable...or if I should look elsewhere.



Thanks.

Oprah2

U can play all games solo but i prefer playing with groups because its more fun and its way easier

Akaraxle

Guild Wars is extremely solo friendly, probably the most solo friendly MMORPG you'll find. You can't go "alone" unless you're farming with specific builds in specific areas, but you are provided with AI henchmen (and customizable heroes if you have Nightfall) that you can bring with you anytime. All missions and areas but the most difficult "elite" are doable with henchmen/heroes, once you learn how to control them properly.

A good combination if you plan to solo a lot is probably the stereotypical Warrior/Monk. Warrior, because henchmen are best controlled if you are a melee (you'll see what I mean once you see the mechanism of target calling), and monk because some self-healing never hurts. Basically every melee character (like a Dervish, if you own Nightfall) with some self healing abilities will do well, if you plan to solo.

That's not to say that you need a physical to solo, however; if you're more support-oriented you could roll a Monk and send your henchmen ahead while you stay in the backline to heal them, with an eye on your energy, although it will be trickier to focus your offense while targeting your allies at the same time. A midline caster like an Elementalist or a Necromancer has to direct his/her offence while being careful for monsters not to break through the frontline alive and start pounding the healers.

What I recommend, as always with Guild Wars newbies, is to pick the class that inspires you the most. I chose Elementalist back in 2005 because I liked the description, and never regretted it.

Sunseed

It's easy to solo this game with heros and henchman but I like to make friends to and joining a good guild can make it even more fun.

spikenog

Thanks for the Respose Aka and the rest.  Going to install and give it a go.

Secrom

Originally posted by Akaraxle

A midline caster like an Elementalist or a Necromancer has to direct his/her offence while being careful for monsters not to break through the frontline alive and start pounding the healers.

I've actually mostly been playing midline support characters (primarily necromancer), since I could call a target (Ctrl + Space for newcomers) and let henchmen focus on this one, while keeping an eye on the whole scene in case things got hairy.

The most problematic character in that respect has to be my assassin (which is btw my only frontline toon), since I had to try and get the henchmen bash one mob while I would shutdown another. It has gotten better with the recent AI update and heroes that you can lock on specific targets though.

One trick to have henchmen stick to the first mob is to change target by cycling through enemies with Tab, and NOT clicking on your new victim.

8hammer8

I think I know the next thing that needs to be put into the FAQ sticky thread...Is this game solo friendly?

redman7t

This game is very solo friendly but it also encourages you to play with friends or henchmen.

Akaraxle

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Originally posted by Secrom
I've actually mostly been playing midline support characters (primarily necromancer), since I could call a target (Ctrl + Space for newcomers) and let henchmen focus on this one, while keeping an eye on the whole scene in case things got hairy.

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Yeah, I hench with an Ele too but it often happened (pre-hard mode update) that when you nuked stuff in, some monsters off towards Alesia & friends and I had to pick them off with some well placed spikes to bring them down before they could do any damage.

However, now that "normal mode" has been reverted into a somewhat easier version and Hard Mode has all the monsters running around, it should be less of an issue.

Falfeir

very solo friendly but dont get the taste of a good group. the difference is great. addictive.

get in pugs though, especially in factions. things get funny when some try to do master, with nevbs.

davion101

It is probably one of the most solo satisfying games out there. Usuall I prefer to be in a group of four, but it also depends where you are farming. But believe me, if you're lookin for a solo mmo this is good.

Squal'Zell

it is a very good solo game but it encourages groups.

in fact it makes it more fun to play in groups even if you dont know anyone. My guild is not always available but no matter what i can find a group and do mission or quest.

of course there are idiots who will just make the mission fail 45 minutes into it... but then again, what multiplayer game doe snot have idiots?

Taera

I actually find GW easier to solo than to group.  My henchies aren't the brightest bulbs, but at least they don't go AFK for half an hour!

thetank

Henchmens+Heroes+Instanced world

make this game VERY solko friendly.

it allows you to finish the campaign by yourselfe

however you you want to go to the elite areas you 'll have to group.

in PvP you are almost forced to group,

but you can chose to play hero battles (you and 3NPC's commanded by you)

that has its own Ladder and Tournements.

The huge skill poll also allows you to solo or work with a partner some bosses and mobs to gain green and gold weapons

wich would require 8 players in the regular way



its all about choises.

you chose whatever you like most

Squal'Zell

Originally posted by Taera

I actually find GW easier to solo than to group.  My henchies aren't the brightest bulbs, but at least they don't go AFK for half an hour!

some missions are almost impossible with henchies (but it seems they made the game easier and added hard mode... mk that could help the situation..

but i rather team play, there are still people who are dumber than the henchies but i get those once every 7-8 group, no big deal, just redo the mission, yes its frustrating, but better than redoing the mission 3-4-5 times with henchies

when prophecies was only game out,  as a ranger it was hard to do with henchies the thunderkeep mission...

Chainmail

GW is the most solo friendly mmo type of game I have played. Most everything is instanced and you have henchies to help you out. You can solo most of the PVE content (missions) in the game. I actually prefer to use henchies on missions because they are predictable and you know exactly what they are likely to do. (Unlike some PUG noobs who run off and aggroes everything!) However, for pvp you need to group or you will get owned!

drbaltazar

guildwars nightfall is best for solo cause with the hero you can trade skill and all make it so mutch smoother(if you know what your  doing of caurse)