Henchies - Hero's - PCs

I get the distinct feeling from the GW lit that the game is meant to be played by Player Character teams, with Henchies filling in as (purposely) 2nd rate substitues when players are not available.

But thats not the feel I get from playing the game.

Most outposts I see people hanging out often in exactly the same space for hours; I'll do a mission, then the bonus, comeback the same toons are still staking out exactly the same space. Other toons can be seen running around with a little 6 over their head; and I recently came to realize they where not full parties mostly but individuals with a full load of Heros; at the same time I rarely see a LFG or LFM posting in the party channel; tons of trade, but not much Missioning.

Am I wrong in thinking whatever the Dev's intentions the games real focus has largely shifted to Solo play, or am I just missing something?

Blessings, BB.

It became fairly apparent in the 7H update that they knew that maintaining GW as a co-op based game (for most of pve) wasn't really going to work, and they abandoned that ideology to make it easier to accomplish stuff. Mostly to get ready for GW2.

With the playerbase where it is it was common sense to convert it over to a more solo played game, if they focused on multiplayer at this point the game would be completely dead long ago.

Ok,
So it's not my imagination, thankyou much for the replies. : ) Blessings, BB.

As someone who had some experience with PUGs, lemme tell you, be glad you've got heroes. Hell, I switched to using pure henchman groups to finish prophecies back before factions came out because PUGs were so bad. I thought I'd never finish Thunderhead Keep.

I was not complaining per se, just wondering if I had something off,

My own style of play is actually rather Methodical. I like to pull up just out of aggro range of bunch of Mobs, and assign targets, charge my energy gliph; and then hit hard all at once.

It only takes a few moments prep; but it does not mesh well with the race through at full stride at all times style of play I've encountered with every one (of the admittedly few) PCs I've had the oppertunity to mission with; I am still open to PC missions, It might even be cool to find a guild of like minded folks (We could be Knights of the Tortise.)

When I join someone elses group I do try to grab hold of their belt and match their style of play, after all they control the MPC, and the NPCs, while I just have one toon.

But I have had experiances like I suspect you've had where one wonders why the other player joined my party? Because even after I explain I tend to take a slower approach, they usually just run off which can lead to a strange you keep rezing 'm and 'e keeps charging off cycle. (Possession by Rurick Spell I think. )

Your absolutely right, I came into the game about 9 months after release so have played it at its peak.
The problem with cooperative pve is that players get through the storyline at different rates, so you need a large player base with a constant influx of new players.
If you have that then forming a party anywhere in the game isn't a problem, as time went on this became more difficult to achieve and many of us spent more time looking for other players than actually playing.
pvp doesn't have this problem.

What player base we have now is split between hard and normal mode - war in kryta - winds of change - zaishen quests - farming and completing titles.
If you do get into a good party its a joy.

Thanks Grem. BB.

Indeed, it is a rare sight to see people LFG for anything apart from end-game stuff that Heroes aren't quite perfect for. For questing, Vanquishing, missions and so forth, Heroes are a quicker, easier, and in most cases, more efficient way for players to do that.

Typically, the main non-hero groups these days are either friends or more likely, guildies/alliance members. They're the only people I ever group with nowadays, as heroes allow me to bypass the long "LFG" time, the possible disconnections, AFKs, bad players and so forth for something as simple as HM missions.

I really understand you in this. I never group unless with friends and of those the ones who play a bit like me. I like being slow, careful and relaxed, as for me games must be a relaxing moment, but most people just rushes all the time as if there was no tomorrow, resulting for both ina pretty frustrating experience, for me for the rush-anxiety (and the fear of overaggroing, I tend to pull everything as well) and for others cause I'm not being quick enough.

So I agree with XaiXo, AI is my only surrogate for when no friends are on, after all the reason why I bought this game (and many others who don't like LFG as well I guess) it's cause you have either the options, play alone with h/h or with friends, without the need to pick up strangers or fail solo.

And also obviously now the player base is shrinking so if you want to play cooperative you'll have a harder time.

Would not say you have a harder time.(newer guys)

You have your Guild and if they are worth there salt they should be joining you as most decent guilds will since they asked you to join should assist.

with 7 heros yes new guys are having a time mabe getting there heros to perform well but, thats the game to play through and obtain there runes ect.

A lot of guys are doing other things on toons as was said since we have other content added as was said.

Often on a alt when in town I ask if anyone needs help if doing say a mission ect I know a lot who do this also.

Yeah, that Leeroying component is one of things I'm talking about when I say pugs are bad. To be entirely fair, they're not all bad. But the vast majority are. I've found most other players lack situational awareness.... and the number of times I've had a pug calling the wrong targets in a group is just ridiculous. It usually ends with something like...


"Yeah, go for the assassin when the group has two rits and a monk....really bright."

Idiot Pug has left the party.

Ok, I get that I'm a sarcastic bastard and my expectations are higher than they should be, but in the average pug I've played with there is almost always at least one has approximately a third to half the skill of a hero. We're talking uninfused armor, weaponless heroes etc.. it's just sad, really.

And just to clarify, I don't mean all the pugs are bad, just that there is usually one in almost every group who frustrates the rest of the party. It shouldn't be a relief to see that someone has left, but it so often was when pugging.

Sadly a lot of players who used to pug have bad experiences and tend to avoid them where possible.I can remember the ursan days , if you were below r7 norn you had more chances of walking out of uw on 1 run with 250 ectos ( sarcasm ) as most pugs wanted players with a high rank and basically said sod off to lower ranks.Then we see alot of players suddenly wanting high rank norn players and finding out that theres hardly any coz no1 let them pug and increase rank.
And a lot of ppl can see the same pattern all over gw sadly - but on the other side of the coin is pugs that contain idiots who are unable to listen.
years ago on my 55 monk in gates of kryta - innundated with party invites because i was a monk - even when told im a 55 who DOESNT HEAL OTHERS !! they still persist , one occasion i felt generous and offered to help a few players and boy was that a big mistake.They were told what i was and i cannot heal them nor rez them and told i would do the work - simple enough.Nope as they ran into foes , screwed everything up and then decided to blame the 55 monk who was still alive for it going wrong and calling me a noob - wtf.
Thats only 2 examples and im sure if everyone posted their bad experiences guru would need a bigger database to hold it.
Players who do listen and do what they are told suddenly find it harder for themselves because of the idiots who insist on giving the term PUG a bad name .
Guilds tho usually are nicer and friendlier and help where possible - so in a way most pugs have migrated into guild teams.