I feel like i'm hardly playing the game at all in PVE campaign

You don't always have to be in a group of 8 (if it allows you that many) for playing. Try challenging yourself. What's one extra henchmen who most likely will die faster than Alesia on a good day... try a group of 7 in the Docks.

if i could have a sig
this quote would be in it!

y do ppl hate pugs so much?
they can be good...
depends on how much u expect from them

blind invites ftl
randomway ftl

if u kno how to organize a pug
(inviting the rite classes, aksing ppl to ping their builds, etc)
u can actually get thru things quite easily

there should be no reason to get mad at a monk for bringing vampiric gaze...
all u need to do is aks politey for them to have a real build,
and if they refuse, simply kick

Because its easier to remember the bad things more than the good things. It also depends on how thorough your knowledge/skilled you are in the game because you know what is effective and what isn't. Sooner or later, you'll end up becoming a bit biased on builds.

The idea of [healing breeze] and [mending] on a warrior doesn't sound bad when you first start out, but as you learn more, you'll notice that its like cancer.

BTW telling them to get a real build can sound condescending if they're starting out.

PUGs can be really fun for a number of reasons. You can socialize, you can learn from others, and you can a challenge yourself. They can really make you work and remind you of how lucky you are to have heros and henchmen.

not really
unless they're elitists...
but elitists r generally asses no matter wut teh situation

but i dun mean u tell them literally "get a real build"
i mean u aks them wut skills to put on...i.e. can u run bha?
if they aks wuts bha...
u simply tell them broad head arrow
u dun rage on em

personally, if i was a newer player
i would definatelly appreciate advice on which skills to take

but in teh situation,
if they r a newer player...
that tends to mean im doing normalmode and a low lvl area
in which case, it really doesnt matter wut they bring, cuz u'll roll thru teh area anyways

if they r a new player...in an elite or difficult area
they either need to be willing to learn, or they dun belong there

if 8 is too easy do 7, if that is still too easy 6......if you really want a challenge dont level your heroes up and then do it (a level 10 koss and dunky would make for an interesting docks mission).....there are plenty of ways to make it more 'entertaining' if you dont have HM yet.

i guess i am looking for more of that solo experience

There is a sense of playing a bigger part in team PVP (GVG is awesome) as there is in PUG PVE but with heroes and henchmen its just me watching the computer play most of the time

Reducing the hero/henchmen count vs areas that are meant to be played with a full party can be more challenging but the game doesn't' balance itself out accordingly

The gameplay experience is different when you travel just by yourself vs travelling with others, be it real people or heroes/henchmen

The game has that solo play aspect to it and its seen in pre-searing as it is in the starting area of Factions and I wonder why they couldn't allow both playstyles to have continued on instead of shifting as the game went on entirely....maybe it was to get people used to the pvp portion later on.

If you really think you make no difference to the team I suspect it's your build that's at fault.

Can we see it?

do what i do. either play really oddball builds in general, or play a mesmer with mes h/h lol.

in all seriousness, i do that, but in your case, i'd say play with friends or random people. get to make some acquaintances, and talk while you play. thats what brings me back to this game.. friends.

I too have felt the same way sometimes, but I try to spice them up with teaming up with a pug or a guildie with heroes and doing it in HM. If I'm on NM i try to challenge myself with how fast I can finish the mission/quest. Rushing takes alot of the boredom away.
Also PVE is not all about missions and such, try doing the elite areas like The Deep, Domain of Anguish or Duncan dungeons, those you have to have a good team with you to do well. You also got to have the right build/title for it. Those elite areas are what makes PVE fun for me. For example, in DOA you have to have a high rank in Norn and Lightbringer for you to do it effectively on an Ursanway team. So this motivates me to rank up my titles. BTW, Ursan I think is the best thing that happened to PVE, it made elite areas accessibile to everyone, ofcourse with the flipside of possibly making it too easy :P. Anyway, that's besides the point. PVE can be fun if you look for something that catches your interest.
Also, the posts above that say that your character class/build affects your game experience is so true to its mark. If you're not into Ursan, then experiment with your build and the builds of your heroes. Designing your team build for areas afffects so much of your PVE play. Also your character class has to suit your style of play too. Find your passion and build around it. So goodluck with your game, Guild Wars offers so much for you to get bored. That's why I stuck to this game.

[build=warrior/monk;OQMTEPJXRC8JqYvSuAq4UMAImAA]

I'm more of a pvp player and i've finished prophecies and factions but skipped many side quests...I'm up to the part where i need to get rank 7 sunspear general and just farming points is pain in the butt right now....probably call it a day

the game felt like i had more of an impact when the party is fewer, right now its really boring just going through the motions of attack spawn, fireworks go off from my entire party, things die and i repeat it. If i rush into a giant spawn i'm obviously not going to survive long and it makes it more interesting but i don't know still boring and repetitive.

no pugging is sometimes frustrating to do
the guy may have the build but can be a pain in the ass
like my fow clears
GLF 1 ursan R8+
a war invites himself and what does he roll? a mending war

Try monking for your h/h team, with no other monk backup (at least for those early missions in Elona), you'll soon notice your impact or lack of

I'm not sure what exactly you're looking for though, as you just don't seem to like the idea of...well, actually playing at all. I mean, the point of the game in PvE is to attack with your party, hope everything dies without a hitch, and then move on to the next group in your way. That's what PvE play is about when doing quests, etc (mainly).

Maybe this just isn't the game for you. I mean...what would you prefer to happen? You attack, aliens land nearby and offer you safe passage to Mars, you take a flight, time travel back in time, ride a dinosaur, watch a film, go camping in the Rockies with Lina...then move on to the next group or spawn? Seriously, not sure what you were expecting from PvE :/

Anyhow, maybe you just need to get to the slightly more challenging missions and things. Or you could try some of the 'elite' areas like UW, FoW, etc, and possibly dungeons in GWEN...in HM if you're finding everything too easy

Failing that, PuG...or forget PvE altogether and go PvP...that's a little more unpredictable at least

Also, give your heroes theese builds: http://gw.gamependium.com/tools/builds/random

stop playing PvE for a while. It realy helps. Just play PvP-only till you feel like PvEing again

Lol you've just invented the next MMO.

Seriously it sounds like to me you need to change your gameplay style. Try pvp, elite areas, go for a title, etc. You just need a change of pace maybe.

/threadwin

on a more relevant note..find a build that you really enjoy..i find this takes some of the boredom of H/H out.

phail for agreeing with Malice.

win for suggesting creativity

Of course the game is easy. You just beat consulate docks.

Wait till you get some end-game or at least mid-game stuff before complaining about it.

Damn it, you keep beating me to my posts. That's it! No more sleep! (for you.) Anyway!

PvE IS easy. That doesn't mean you can't get any fun out of it. Try a fire elementalist or try new things. Maybe try running a curses necro instead of a minion master. Don't expect hard mode to be any more dangerous. They just upped the damage and attack speeds, both you can mitigate or take advantage of.