No good groups after Sanctum Cay? [rant]

The Crystal Desert has made me want to take henchies to the end of the game. Every single group I've had since I got there has been really bad. Half of them didn't know how to run past enemies without aggroing, I even got one guy who asked "what's an aggro?" I can't stand it, it's impossible to run anywhere and it's much easier to run than fight, fighting takes forever but if you run, some idiot in your group is bound to aggro the group of 5 hydras there to your left. I had so many good groups back in Ascalon and Kryta, what happened? [/rant]

they crystal desert is the first really tough part of the game. up till then you can get by being a mediocre player not really caring about tactics and group orginization.

At the desert the mission get exponentially harder for a reason. to make you think about things like tactics, so you can finish the game. there are some mission later on (thunderhead keep comes to mind) that without proper tactics and being orgnized there is no way you will finish.

at the desert the learning curse rises dramatically. (for most people)

anyway keep looking you will find a good group eventually (you can add me to friends and i will go with you)

the game got difficult....and the good players can finally see how obvious it is that most people aren't any good at the game...

I'm always willing to help. IGN: Algren Cole

Hm - did you talk with the other players about whether to do a run or killing critters underway BEFORE you left town? Some players (like me) don't do running which might lead to some confusion if half of the players want to run and the other half wants to kill...

I have played with some very competent players in and after desert - and some complete idi... as well. Some players really have a talent for blowing Thirsty River and Thunderhead, though - so I tend to approach these missions with a guild team.

Crystal Desert = idiot trap

I agree with the expoentially more difficult missions once you reach the desert. It's all a buildup to ascension when you have to defeat the idea of "self". In a real world sense, you have to learn to subjugate yourself/character to the needs of the 'whole group'. That's what the desert is supposed to teach you/your character, IMHO.

I got out of the crystal desert fairly easily. If everyone around you seems to be clueless, you should probably set up the group yourself instead of asking around for invites (which is what I did).

Trust me though, the crystal desert isn't an idiot trap. PLENTY of idiots escape the desert, unfortunately.

Isn't THAT a sad reality?

A ton of idiots even make it to the final mission without a clue on how to play the game. This boggles my mind since I don't see how they got past missions like Thunderhead Keep or Ring of Fire if their main strategy is to aggro every mob at once and lead them back to their party.

Undoubtedly, Lost, it's because they 'tagged' along on a decent group's mission and fought just enough not to be called a freeloader.

I agree with this "rant" i remeber when i was in the dessert half the time i was the only one who knew what he was doing, everyone else just ran off saying "we are going to do bonus even though the ghostly hero is under attack... one warrior should able to fight them all off", it took me quite some time to find a good group who could actualy finnish the missions... memorys like that make me never want to go there again.. sadly my monk is just about there

Well last night on my 3rd char that reached the desert, i loaded up 2 "sprinting" skills and ran from Augury to Dunes alone. No henchmen, no players. I got there only dying once [intentional death to jump to the rez shrine next to Dunes]. I must admit this was alot more convenient/easier than trying to fight or trying to work with a group.

Although it is quite disturbing that this seems to be more "fun" than the actual "dungeon crawl" [which is the point of the PvE part] to the place. Imho running into a zone [avoiding all fights] should be a last resort , as soon as it becomes the "best" alternative [which is currently the case for me] there is something wrong...but oh well

*continues to develop his run+stealthy sneaking ability*

PS Reason why the dungeon-crawl part is lacking for me =
(a) Crap or no drops [im not interested in killing 5000 mobs to get 1 random item of no good for me specifically]
(b) Crap or no Xp

Those 2 basically kills my only incentive for clearing a map.

This is just one more reason why running to Droknar's should not be possible. The ascension missions, and the Crystal Desert as a whole really, are there to make you a better player. You learn how to pull, how to tank, avoid aggro, work as a team, etc. Because if you don't... you don't get anywhere. Now we have the Southern Shiverpeaks full of people who just get run through and have no clue what they're doing. Please ANet, for the love of <insert Tyrian god here> stop non-ascended characters from entering the Southern Shiverpeaks.

[topic hijack]

While i agree,i do believe the problem lays with the rewards. There is too much focus on -destination- and not on the -journey-. If you got rewarded DURING the journey then this whole running to places while people sit afk wouldn't occur to this extend. If it did, the person would still loose out because the actual trip contained the rewards so at the very least he had to be THERE to gain the reward.

[/topic hijack]

Anyway....as for groups in the crystal desert. My monk got dragged along with a group who had no sense of direction even WITH a complete map. I eventually had to leave after they zoned into Heros [we were on our way to Elona....] . Nevermind the amount of times i had to try and save our party from 6 hydras that magically got lured onto us...

My absolute crystal desert favorite as a monk:

>>6 Hydras dropping Meteor<<:
Half the team wiped before even getting to them and warrior goes:
Warrior : "FFS HEAL !!!"