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Quick fix for the horrible Solo'ing of DDO

openedge1openedge1 Member Posts: 2,582
in Dungeons & Dragons Online

My complaint. I like to play, but lets say my friends are not around that week. My money leaves my pocket as I cannot play. "Well, get online , find a group". I still remember from stress test taking 2 hrs to find someone, to no avail..All wanted another quest..
Blah, Blah..
Well...this is an easy fix
Henchmen..
GW did it, and since DDO is so close to GW....the concept is sound. I still remember my journeys from my PnP days. I would be in the tavern (yes...they have that right...DDO has taverns)...and then the DM would play an....NPC, thats right...the DM would play this character, who was just a helper, or a storyline item, a quester or quest giver..
Agghh...
I pray my hopes will not be dashed...but paying for this setup does not seem right. If my check pays for a monthly fee..I want to play when I want to...not dictated by others...
Thank you

Comments

  • ShurijoShurijo Member Posts: 104

    It wouldn't be that quick. They would need to implement AI for the NPCs. I agree that it would be a good addition to the game .

  • IntrospectreIntrospectre Member Posts: 40
    I haven't tried the beta yet so can't comment on the soloing, but if its bad as you say, then yeah they need to implement ways to do it better. Henchmen would fit with the theme of the game since as I recall, in some of the old D&D PC games (Ravenloft, Menzoberranzan, Stone Prophet, etc.) you would always meet a 2nd character to group with so you were capable of surviving the game, otherwise you'd constantly get owned by poison, disease, petrify, etc. if your class wasn't able to cure it.
  • rwyanrwyan Member UncommonPosts: 468
    I have found it easy to find groups, more so then other MMOs.  When I first started, it seemed hard but I resorted to making my own groups as there are always people LFG.  Its not hard to search through players using in-game tools and ask them, "Would you like to join a group I'm starting?".  When I progressed passed the Harbor area, it seems that as soon as I put my LFG flag on, I get invites.  The other thing is, is that A LOT of people initially try the quests solo and either give up because they can't solo or wise up and start grouping.  Trust me, finding a group is a lot easier then people think or make it be.  The whole, I solo because I'm a casual gamer doesn't need to apply here because pick up groups are plenty and people are very understanding if you can only complete a quest or two before you need to log, especially because its very easy to find a replacement.  I remember in previous MMOs playing a very integral role in a group and being begged to stay ever so longer until they could find a replacement for me.
  • HashmanHashman Member Posts: 649

    That would make the grouping situation worse. Wouldn't altering the quest system so that they can be done in a different order or have mini sub quests be a better solution? Everyone would have the same idea as you and solely use the henchmen. As previous poster indicates all it takes is a little effort, jesus harry christ does everyone want to ruin these games because they want to solo them, it's called challenge something players seem to be scared of these days.

  • vizaviza Member Posts: 204

    Originally posted by Hashman
    That would make the grouping situation worse. Wouldn't altering the quest system so that they can be done in a different order or have mini sub quests be a better solution? Everyone would have the same idea as you and solely use the henchmen. As previous poster indicates all it takes is a little effort, jesus harry christ does everyone want to ruin these games because they want to solo them, it's called challenge something players seem to be scared of these days.

    /signed for truth and common sense

    DDO is an "MMOG" That stands for "Massively Multiplayer Online Game".
    MMOG's are designed for group play and player interaction. If you want to play a solo game, you should pick up one of the many solo games based (tightly or loosely) on the D&D pantheon, and skip the monthly fee altogether. You'll be much happier. Those are always soloable.

    The concept that any content in MMOG's should be soloable is completely beyond me and silly if you think about it.

    If everything is soloable, it will be too easy for groups and much less gratifying when you beat it.

    -Viza

  • StormpupStormpup Member Posts: 4

    Well DDO actually has the potential to lean towards those who like to solo.  They already offer different difficulty levels for quests, which correspondingly give greater rewards.  Why not make a 4th level that is called Solo (for lack of anything better to call it).  This would set the mobs HPs and ACs and also the associated rewards to a level that any class could solo the entire mission by themselves.  Again the rewards (xp and items gained) would be of a lower quality that the other 3 settings, but this would give those people who clamor for solo content the same opportunity to face every quest that the people who don't want solo contect face.

    Now that seems like a lot easier thing to implement then to add in henchmen (or henchpeople for those who are interested in political correctness) for the game with all the associated AI and such.

  • burrekburrek Member Posts: 198

    I think henchmen (along with lack of servers) is what killed the community in GW.

    Since people were able to tackle quests on their own they just adventured with the henchmen instead of forming solid relationships with real players, combine this with instancing and you end up with a bunch of people playing by themselves in their little pockets of e-reality.

    I really don't think it's such a big problem since you can help other people with their quests. What I found the best solution to the grouping problem was to form adventuring groups instead of groups for specific quests. You just do the quest that the majority wants, and since you can repeat quests if you want (it's rare that you have to) you can go along with the group even if you did this quest already.

  • Ian_HawkmoonIan_Hawkmoon Member Posts: 365

    I do not like the idea of Henchman...  But the idea of a solo level is not bad.  It would at least give those who like to solo occasionaly the chance to.  And if you make it less exp, that would fit also.

    And what gave you the idea that MMOG were not meant for soloing?  The only MMO that I have played that you were not able to solo was EQ1. ( I have not played EQ2)  But DAoC, AC1, AC2, WoW, Horizons, City of Heros, City of Villians, Shadowbane, all were soloable.

  • openedge1openedge1 Member Posts: 2,582

    I do note, a lot of people have missed my point on the solo part. I like grouping, and enjoy this part of MMO's.
    But, I will be paying my hard earned money for this game on a monthly basis. My friends cannot be on but maybe once or twice a week, so I would like to play on another day, etc, etc...
    During stress test it took way too long to find another party, and myself as a "casual gamer" lost all my time to play the game.
    Now, here is preview weekend. I walk into the tavern (to "tons" of lag)...lots of people (whipping their weapons around, as the left click button is attack instead of select. And they all are just clicking that left button...probably to move. Yes...I know you can change it...but...what crap) Again, trying to find a group was most difficult. The game crashed on me 3 times, and then the server wiped the character I had already walked through the training solo quest with....what a mess.
    I am a long time DnD player as well, Pen and paper, Baldurs Gate, NWN. And I am agreeing that this game is a disgrace.
    I am 43, not a noob, great with computers...an RPG fanatic...and this feels...cheesy.
    My wife who has played GW, Lineage II, Silkroad Online...lasted 5 mins, before yawning.
    I truely am disappointed with this product, and will save my money.
    I note a lot of people say GW is ruined...yet, it is a quick pickup and play game. And if I want to group, my Guild is always available to play with...so group mechanics seemed right there.
    Lineage II is not a great solo game...but it is possible...but better with a group
    WoW - Soloable, but better with a group
    GW - Soloable, but better with a group

    DDO, Not soloable, better with a group, if one can be found.
    Oh, and did I mention the ugly looking models? Female Elves...fine, Female Humans...fine...everything else...the ugly sister and brother.
    Sorry to rain on the parade...but this game is just not ready.
    Good Luck Turbine, and all the poor people who buy this.

  • MinscMinsc Member UncommonPosts: 1,353

    Originally posted by openedge1
    I do note, a lot of people have missed my point on the solo part. I like grouping, and enjoy this part of MMO's.
    But, I will be paying my hard earned money for this game on a monthly basis. My friends cannot be on but maybe once or twice a week, so I would like to play on another day, etc, etc...
    During stress test it took way too long to find another party, and myself as a "casual gamer" lost all my time to play the game.
    Now, here is preview weekend. I walk into the tavern (to "tons" of lag)...lots of people (whipping their weapons around, as the left click button is attack instead of select. And they all are just clicking that left button...probably to move. Yes...I know you can change it...but...what crap) Again, trying to find a group was most difficult. The game crashed on me 3 times, and then the server wiped the character I had already walked through the training solo quest with....what a mess.
    I am a long time DnD player as well, Pen and paper, Baldurs Gate, NWN. And I am agreeing that this game is a disgrace.
    I am 43, not a noob, great with computers...an RPG fanatic...and this feels...cheesy.
    My wife who has played GW, Lineage II, Silkroad Online...lasted 5 mins, before yawning.
    I truely am disappointed with this product, and will save my money.
    I note a lot of people say GW is ruined...yet, it is a quick pickup and play game. And if I want to group, my Guild is always available to play with...so group mechanics seemed right there.
    Lineage II is not a great solo game...but it is possible...but better with a group
    WoW - Soloable, but better with a group
    GW - Soloable, but better with a groupDDO, Not soloable, better with a group, if one can be found.
    Oh, and did I mention the ugly looking models? Female Elves...fine, Female Humans...fine...everything else...the ugly sister and brother.
    Sorry to rain on the parade...but this game is just not ready.
    Good Luck Turbine, and all the poor people who buy this.

    Wow...way to judge server performance of the final retail servers based on preview servers that are running at 3x the capacity of what the live servers will. If you can't find a group then form one, and make sure you put in the comments what you want to group for. I find a lot of people just either put themselves up as LFG/LFG with no comment so no-one has a clue what they are planning to do. Every time I put myself in the LFG/LFM queue with a comment it takes less than 5 mins and I'm in a group. You just need to use the tools provided.

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