"Low Level Soloing": an oxymoron?

I want to know to which extent this game allows soloing for characters under lvl 20. I have a lvl 16 Ranger/Mesmer, and I see absolutely no possibility at all of soloing outside a few places, such as Lion's Arch. It feels as if the game was made with large parties in mind. Before Yak's Bend, my MM used to be my best character and I had a blast slaughtering Charr on my own before the first time I encountered a Stone Summit patrol and was easily dispatched by them. The same happened to my Elementalist/Mesmer, and it's very, very frustrating.

Recently, I tried to go alone with my Ranger/Mesmer from Beacon's Perch to Lion's Arch, and the Snow Ettins in Griffon's Mouth killed me incredibly easily. I had to try it a few times, some of them with henchmen, some of them with other players, and it took a higher level party including a lvl 20 dervish to finally get me through. Now, after I got to Lion's Arch, I can't leave town without being slaughtered by the Caromi Tengu. Is it supposed to be this ridiculously hard for a lvl 16 to play alone, or am I doing something wrong? I really wanted to solo, for the greater item, money and experience gain, and I'm not very fond of hanging around a city for more than ten minutes just asking for team mates, only to find that they are, quite often, ridiculously incompetent and stupid. Just not as horrible as the henchmen.

Should I wait until I'm lvl 20 to play alone? Do I need all the skills from Factions and Nightfall, or can I stick with Prophecies? Do I need elites THAT much for such relatively low-level areas?

Thanks in advance!

GUILD wars, yep you saw GUILD. No you cant solo gw except for few places. Its team play.

it was designed on 8 so yes it is hard, and Farming spots are the only place to go solo IMO You can however get max armor/skills/ and gear at a low level all will help. A 55 monk/necro does not have to be at level 20 to work (but it is alot easier)

If you really want to play alone, you have to use henchmen. You do not gain more money or experience from being alone, the only gain being rare items and you probably won't find any before lvl 20.
"Real" soloing is only farming.

Well yes, I can say it is. Guild Wars is supposed to be a game where you go through most of the story with a full party of different professions, in most cases.

Soloing requires specific builds and equipment, and is certainly more efficient when you're level 20. You can even solo in hard mode, but it's not easy with a non-maxed character. Most of the builds available aren't designed for soloing. They are made to help a party achieve their goals.

So yeah, it's supposed to be difficult soloing and you should (not strictly necessary though) be level 20 and have all the campaigns to gain access to all the skills.

That's how the game works.

By the way, check out this site for farming builds.

Alright, thanks for the help.

Yeah, this definitely isn't WoW, so you'll have to party with people or go H/H.

Soloing is not for the faint of heart. And definitely not for those under level 20.

The majority of areas in the game world were designed and balanced for full parties. Going solo before lvl20 for the "greater item, money and experience gain" will most likely only hinder you - the loot dropped by foes where you have reached are inexpensive, money drops will be small amounts, and experience gained is indeed greater in smaller parties per foe killed but will be offset on your killing speed (and from your post it sounds like you're finding it very difficult).

Adventuring with a full balanced party will allow you to progress through the game quicker onto the next areas with more valuable drops and more experience to be gained. Try to enjoy playing alongside the henchmen during Missions and Quests to progress through the storyline and before you'll know it you'll be level20.

For the record an 'oxy moron' is a direct contradiction of 2 parts of a phrase so soloing with hench is in fact an oxy moron
Indeed though get yourself to level 20 and learn the games fundamentals before trying any solo builds

dude, no one bast pre should be soloing unless you are farming

Soloing is mostly a matter of cut and past builds and a fixed combination and timing of skills. It's (mostly) hardly difficult

GWs story is designed to get you to 20 and show you the ropes, than the game really begins. Solo is pretty much solidly meta-game.

yes you do.

12 char

Yeah it is, but it's a little more complicated than running Ursan in low end PvE. A little more hectic as well.

That's mainly what I meant.

Tbh, anything is a little more complicated than running Ursan in low end PvE

u c wut i did thar?

Hyperbole, that is.

There are still many viable solo areas. LS reduced the rewards, but they're still equal to roughly x2 what you'd potentially receive in a full party.