I think that I've been missing a huge part of the game...
fgarvin
I've finished the game, and I did it using only henchies. I tried a pug once, and it was such a disaster, that I swore them off forever. But, now I'm wondering, should I try pugs again. Questing with guildies is always a blast (when you can all agree on what to do), but are pugs just too much of a hassle? With henchies, I can take as long as I want, take breaks when I want, but I'm limited by their AI, I can't tell them to hold back while I agro certain groups, they don't prep themselves prior to battle with any coordination, but then again, they also don't leave once they've capped the one elite they needed. And btw, when I bought this game, I was under the impression that solo play meant solo....single, mono, alone...not with others...lol
Snowman
I dont think you have 'missed' this part of the game.
But you are correct about trying pugs once you have completed the game..
its a game.. a game is for enjoyment and entertainment, when you are trying to go through the game seriously pugs usually get in the way and cause frustration, NOT what you want when trying to have fun.
Playing with pugs once you no-longer have the pressure is extremly entertaining!
I sit quietly at the back and watch how the groups play, even if they go the wrong way.. I still keep quiet!.. its such a great laff to see other people making the mistakes you made.
I once sat there for 10 minutes while one group of people tryed to figure out the teleporters in the desert... I could have helped, but I was in tears with laughter.
you havnt missed this part of the game.. you've simply delayed it, and now you will most likley have alot more fun with it.
But you are correct about trying pugs once you have completed the game..
its a game.. a game is for enjoyment and entertainment, when you are trying to go through the game seriously pugs usually get in the way and cause frustration, NOT what you want when trying to have fun.
Playing with pugs once you no-longer have the pressure is extremly entertaining!
I sit quietly at the back and watch how the groups play, even if they go the wrong way.. I still keep quiet!.. its such a great laff to see other people making the mistakes you made.
I once sat there for 10 minutes while one group of people tryed to figure out the teleporters in the desert... I could have helped, but I was in tears with laughter.
you havnt missed this part of the game.. you've simply delayed it, and now you will most likley have alot more fun with it.
Mimi Miyagi
PUGs are either great, or a nightmare. They all run the gamut. I've been in PUGs where bickering, name calling and stupidity all are on full display. I've been in others that were a breeze.
But playing with guildmates still is the ultimate in the GW experience. Just a few days ago the Guild I'm in did a run all the way from Camp Rankor to Dreadnought's Drifts for skill capping, and it was a blast. We mowed through the monsters like a hot knife through butter, everyone capped their skills they wanted, even Feast of Corruption for the Necros, and had a great time chatting on TS while we were at it.
Playing with Henches is fine - IMO - to get trhough areas of the game that don't require a lot of coordination, or when no one is online. I even managed to cap Life Transfer with just henches - it just took an hour to do it.
But some people hate interacting with other random human players for their own reasons, and that's fine. There isn't anything "wrong" with it. Perhaps they are missing out on part of the "charm" of GW - but that's their perogative.
But playing with guildmates still is the ultimate in the GW experience. Just a few days ago the Guild I'm in did a run all the way from Camp Rankor to Dreadnought's Drifts for skill capping, and it was a blast. We mowed through the monsters like a hot knife through butter, everyone capped their skills they wanted, even Feast of Corruption for the Necros, and had a great time chatting on TS while we were at it.
Playing with Henches is fine - IMO - to get trhough areas of the game that don't require a lot of coordination, or when no one is online. I even managed to cap Life Transfer with just henches - it just took an hour to do it.
But some people hate interacting with other random human players for their own reasons, and that's fine. There isn't anything "wrong" with it. Perhaps they are missing out on part of the "charm" of GW - but that's their perogative.
fgarvin
I have to admit, a full guildie party is the best way to go when what needs to be done is difficult. I helped twice on Thunderhead, and omg, what a huge difference skilled players make, and what a blast we had helping two new members complete the mission. But there are times when henchies are the better choice, capping Perdition Rock while (insert activity here) is a great example. Henchies are the most patient people around, they could care less if you and the wife go out to dinner while they wait around some lava pit for you to return. The final mission took more than five hours for me to complete because of a prior commitment, but Cynn (pre-patch) and her buddies could have cared less. Skill capping outside of mission areas, for me, is almost always better with henchies...those buggers never quit, never complain and never call the other team members "noobs".
btw....Cynn = least used henchie
btw....Cynn = least used henchie
Hate
guildies>henchies>alone>pug
Grimm
Somewhat off-topic: have you done PvP? If not, you *have* missed a huge part of the game.
Loch
PuG's are what you make of them. If you choose your PuG teammates correctly, you'll get a decent bunch.
twicky_kid
if you didn't get to play during the first 2 weeks after release you missed out on pugs anyways.
now everyone has their own agenda. over lvled characters and armor. yet still henches are better than 80% of the pugs you'll find.
don't worry about it. pve is very limited on its experience even if you did it with pugs.
now everyone has their own agenda. over lvled characters and armor. yet still henches are better than 80% of the pugs you'll find.
don't worry about it. pve is very limited on its experience even if you did it with pugs.
aron searle
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Originally Posted by twicky_kid
if you didn't get to play during the first 2 weeks after release you missed out on pugs anyways.
now everyone has their own agenda. over lvled characters and armor. yet still henches are better than 80% of the pugs you'll find. don't worry about it. pve is very limited on its experience even if you did it with pugs. |
ive had many good pugs, outnumbering the bad. The key is to be picky with your groups, also some groups can really apriciate your knowledge of the missions (and some just plain ignore you).
I tend to aviod groups that say "Looking for people no noobs", and i never accept or give blind invitations, get them or whisper them first. (and if anyone is like "gogogog" before starting i kick em or leave.
Banebow
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Originally Posted by twicky_kid
if you didn't get to play during the first 2 weeks after release you missed out on pugs anyways.
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Though once in a while, you still find a competent, halfway polite group. *sighs* ah, the good `ol days, when people asked if my ranger could heal because monks were not common. . .
I say, if you feel like you missed out on something, either make a new character and do the missions again, but this time try with PuG's, or just use the character you have now. If you find them detestable, you won't have to keep grouping with them either way, and you'll have answered the question.
B3H
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Originally Posted by Loch
PuG's are what you make of them. If you choose your PuG teammates correctly, you'll get a decent bunch.
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twicky_kid
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Originally Posted by aron searle
not a flame, but that is a very 1 sided opionon.
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pugs back then were fun and didn't have to work 20 minutes to weed out the noobs and make a decent group.
pugs started to get harder and harder to find after the invinsimonk i started to use the henches. after the AI update i ONLY used henches as most pugs were either dumbed down by soloing or never got the experience of a group before.
better to travel with guildies in any case. if you had to do that same mission 8 times or get stuck on one for a few days b/c of pugs you won't care about the experience at all anyways.
Crotalus
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Originally Posted by twicky_kid
if you didn't get to play during the first 2 weeks after release you missed out on pugs anyways.
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EternalTempest
Pug's will be great around chapter 2 due to everything new again, and willing to explore and not A) Run Through, B) leave when 1st dead.
When GW went live eveyone's was "new" made for a better pug's.
I was in a pug needing to do D'Alessio Seabed with "Bonus Only" no mission.... (if you rember how to do that bonus)
I do only pugs, guild is starting to get the size that we can do some stuff on missions. It all depends, had lot of bad and good bugs. I beat the game with pugs.
When GW went live eveyone's was "new" made for a better pug's.
I was in a pug needing to do D'Alessio Seabed with "Bonus Only" no mission.... (if you rember how to do that bonus
)I do only pugs, guild is starting to get the size that we can do some stuff on missions. It all depends, had lot of bad and good bugs. I beat the game with pugs.
Loch
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Shimus DarkRaven
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Originally Posted by Hate
guildies>henchies>alone>pug
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Guildies>PUG>Henchies>Alone
--The Shim
Mimi Miyagi
I'd wager that if people consistently have "issues" with PUGs that the problem isn't the PUG - it's them?
Having finished the game with 7 different characters, I've done the majority of the missions too many times to count, with either guildmates, PUGs, or alone with henches. Some missions can be frustrating (Thunderhead Keep, Elonas, Thirsty River, etc) with PUGs but the VAST majority are fine. In fact, I'd say that some of the more difficult missions are easier since more people you get in a PUG have done them before, which makes doing those types of missions fairly easy. My first characters I made I had to redo Elonas and Thirsty river dozens of times, over and over, because 99% of the time, I was the only one that knew how to do them, and the rest of the PUG were lost. The last time I did Elonas, I got it done first try, and everyone in the group know how to do it, or at least bothered to listen.
The only "area" of the map that is troublesome is the jungle areas, only because you don't "need" them to advance in the story. It's the least "fun" area for most people. You can simply do it with Henches, or a runner, guildmates, or whatever.
Having finished the game with 7 different characters, I've done the majority of the missions too many times to count, with either guildmates, PUGs, or alone with henches. Some missions can be frustrating (Thunderhead Keep, Elonas, Thirsty River, etc) with PUGs but the VAST majority are fine. In fact, I'd say that some of the more difficult missions are easier since more people you get in a PUG have done them before, which makes doing those types of missions fairly easy. My first characters I made I had to redo Elonas and Thirsty river dozens of times, over and over, because 99% of the time, I was the only one that knew how to do them, and the rest of the PUG were lost. The last time I did Elonas, I got it done first try, and everyone in the group know how to do it, or at least bothered to listen.
The only "area" of the map that is troublesome is the jungle areas, only because you don't "need" them to advance in the story. It's the least "fun" area for most people. You can simply do it with Henches, or a runner, guildmates, or whatever.
Former Ruling
Heres my THK expereince with Henchies vs. PUGs.
First Time: Henchies
Got a good ways into The fort defense, had killed the first Jade boss (Prefected Armor) and such..Had to go to Supper..Quit.
Second Time: PUG
Got to fort..aggroed everything at fort..didnt even kill the Dwarf boss to start cutscene
Third Time: PUG
2 minute game - All the warriors except 1 ran at the Tengu while the rest at on bridge - they died got angry and left..as did I.
Fourth Time: PUG
Got to defending the fort..Had plan out - perfect group for it. 1 Necro decides he can be leader now and instructs everyone to crowd 1 Gate door..While their doing that..Jade and Mursaat swamp in through other door - King is dead in 2 seconds.
And so on and so on.
First Time: Henchies
Got a good ways into The fort defense, had killed the first Jade boss (Prefected Armor) and such..Had to go to Supper..Quit.
Second Time: PUG
Got to fort..aggroed everything at fort..didnt even kill the Dwarf boss to start cutscene
Third Time: PUG
2 minute game - All the warriors except 1 ran at the Tengu while the rest at on bridge - they died got angry and left..as did I.
Fourth Time: PUG
Got to defending the fort..Had plan out - perfect group for it. 1 Necro decides he can be leader now and instructs everyone to crowd 1 Gate door..While their doing that..Jade and Mursaat swamp in through other door - King is dead in 2 seconds.
And so on and so on.
Ventius Hozza
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Originally Posted by Grimm
Somewhat off-topic: have you done PvP? If not, you *have* missed a huge part of the game.
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Im sorry, I'm a cynic
Dax
My 2 cents is the only thing you missed out was the frustration.
The good thing about this game is you can check out all facets of the game out, although it's too bad alot of times things have gotten outta hand so that you don't get a good representation...*cough low level PvP arenas.
The good thing about this game is you can check out all facets of the game out, although it's too bad alot of times things have gotten outta hand so that you don't get a good representation...*cough low level PvP arenas.
pyrohex
PuGs are tons of fun. If you know how to take lead at the right times, you'll be fine - unless you get another guy who thinks he can lead.
Yamat
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Originally Posted by Snowman
Playing with pugs once you no-longer have the pressure is extremly entertaining!
I once sat there for 10 minutes while one group of people tryed to figure out the teleporters in the desert... I could have helped, but I was in tears with laughter. you havnt missed this part of the game.. you've simply delayed it, and now you will most likley have alot more fun with it. |
Shimus DarkRaven
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Originally Posted by Yamat
Quoted for truth!
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Try it! It's real fun, just go back to an old mission you had fun on, they'll take you right away because you're probably level 20 by this point..and just...have fun
--The Shim
coolsti
You definitely have missed out a lot in this game by playing with henchies only.
PUG groups can definitely be frustrating and annoying, and I had the same bad experiences at the start, and had the same feeling of never wanting to play with a PUG group again. And I will only choose henchies in some parts of this game where I know it is next to impossible to find human players that will play out the quests (like travelling between cities in the desert, or doing a lot of the shorter low level quests).
But my biggest enjoyment in this game, and the reason why I continue to play it so often after finishing the game with 4 characters (working on a 5th) is because of the interraction with other human players. By myself striving to be a friendly, team playing player using good tactics and contributing a good humorous chat or commentary to the game happenings, I have accumulated a large group of friends that, like me, play this game for fun and with lots of humor and team spirit. And I am usually meeting a few new nice people per week. This really makes the game fun and interesting. I log on, and after a few moments come the whisper messages from various friends asking me how I am today and what I am doing or would like to do in the game, and maybe we could do something together?
It takes some luck and effort to find the right people to play with. I still wind up with a lot of undesireables in my groups, but then I just note the character name and try not to team up with him/her again.
PUG groups can definitely be frustrating and annoying, and I had the same bad experiences at the start, and had the same feeling of never wanting to play with a PUG group again. And I will only choose henchies in some parts of this game where I know it is next to impossible to find human players that will play out the quests (like travelling between cities in the desert, or doing a lot of the shorter low level quests).
But my biggest enjoyment in this game, and the reason why I continue to play it so often after finishing the game with 4 characters (working on a 5th) is because of the interraction with other human players. By myself striving to be a friendly, team playing player using good tactics and contributing a good humorous chat or commentary to the game happenings, I have accumulated a large group of friends that, like me, play this game for fun and with lots of humor and team spirit. And I am usually meeting a few new nice people per week. This really makes the game fun and interesting. I log on, and after a few moments come the whisper messages from various friends asking me how I am today and what I am doing or would like to do in the game, and maybe we could do something together?
It takes some luck and effort to find the right people to play with. I still wind up with a lot of undesireables in my groups, but then I just note the character name and try not to team up with him/her again.
Subletter
I've been doing exactly the same as the original poster! 
I played through the game almost entirely with henchies twice, after that playing Guild Wars was just a huge pain...
So I gave it a rest for 4 months, but now I'm back looking for friendly people to play with. It's easier said that done, as I found out that basically NO ONE want's to start over.... Can't blame em though..
I started my own guild yesterday aswell, devoted to fun and games purely.. Ascalon Book Club [ABC] ... Sadly, recruiting is just as hard as finding players who play just for fun..
So, where can you find all these fun, friendly people? I'm dying to play through the game with actual humanbeings
I played through the game almost entirely with henchies twice, after that playing Guild Wars was just a huge pain...So I gave it a rest for 4 months, but now I'm back looking for friendly people to play with. It's easier said that done, as I found out that basically NO ONE want's to start over.... Can't blame em though..
I started my own guild yesterday aswell, devoted to fun and games purely.. Ascalon Book Club [ABC] ... Sadly, recruiting is just as hard as finding players who play just for fun..
So, where can you find all these fun, friendly people? I'm dying to play through the game with actual humanbeings
Kailin Aer
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Originally Posted by Subletter
...
So, where can you find all these fun, friendly people? I'm dying to play through the game with actual humanbeings |
As for main subject, I fit the common player description here. Mostly used henchies and stayed away from the PUGs.
Have four characters, and recently decided I'd build a Mo as the most frequently frustrating occurance in SF/UW and FoW where bad PUG Monks. It was at this level (FoW/UW) that I first really started playing PUGs. Ive seen good and bad and downright obnoxious.
I found it a test of my own maturity and patience at times, but many times I find that the actual majority of INDIVIDUALS in groups are good ppl. We just sadly remember the one or two troublesome ones..
Two things give me a clue to a high potential of a PUG I join..
1. Do they say Hi when you join?
2. Do they take a few minutes discussing who has what and what tactics we'll use, whos, lead healer, targeting, etc etc
Those dont guarantee anything, but indicate that even if not successful, the group is likely a better investment of time for my own satisfaction and enjoyment.
A LARGE part to see is play those other slots for characters.
My primary is a Nec. I know the characters strengths and weaknesses (also why I need to know a bit about the party Im in, so I can best adjust the skills to support them). However, to be a better team player I realized I didnt know enough about my team mates charcaters. Playing Monks, Rangers, Warriors really up'd the learning curve and I'm an even more effective Necromancer now.
Carnajo
I played through the entire game with PuGs. Sure I had some bad groups, but I also had a lot of good groups and had (still am having) a blast.
Kailin is right, as Necro I agree it's important to communicate a bit before, especially if there is another necro in the group, 2 minion masters can clash for corpses, or one might be upset if he uses your corpse to cast a well while you're half way through a raise.
To add to Kailin's list:
3. No stupid or insulting names, if the guys name is Massive Dildo, I'm not going to take him, or won't join a group he's starting.
4. No one who uses the word Noob in any way other than "Hi, I'm a bit of a Noob to FoW/UW/Sorrow's/Whatever, mind helping me a tad?" I have better experiences with people learning certain parts or bits, than the twits who scream "Exp Slayer LFG for XYZ, NO NOOOOOBS!".
5. Anyone who tells you "take/do this" or "don't/do take this" in a mean way. This is different to a suggestion or a request. "Could you possibly bring Blood is Power?" is different to "Idiot, Necro without bats is useless, kick him".
Kailin is right, as Necro I agree it's important to communicate a bit before, especially if there is another necro in the group, 2 minion masters can clash for corpses, or one might be upset if he uses your corpse to cast a well while you're half way through a raise.
To add to Kailin's list:
3. No stupid or insulting names, if the guys name is Massive Dildo, I'm not going to take him, or won't join a group he's starting.
4. No one who uses the word Noob in any way other than "Hi, I'm a bit of a Noob to FoW/UW/Sorrow's/Whatever, mind helping me a tad?" I have better experiences with people learning certain parts or bits, than the twits who scream "Exp Slayer LFG for XYZ, NO NOOOOOBS!".
5. Anyone who tells you "take/do this" or "don't/do take this" in a mean way. This is different to a suggestion or a request. "Could you possibly bring Blood is Power?" is different to "Idiot, Necro without bats is useless, kick him".
coolsti
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Originally Posted by Subletter
I've been doing exactly the same as the original poster!
I played through the game almost entirely with henchies twice, after that playing Guild Wars was just a huge pain...So I gave it a rest for 4 months, but now I'm back looking for friendly people to play with. It's easier said that done, as I found out that basically NO ONE want's to start over.... Can't blame em though.. I started my own guild yesterday aswell, devoted to fun and games purely.. Ascalon Book Club [ABC] ... Sadly, recruiting is just as hard as finding players who play just for fun.. So, where can you find all these fun, friendly people? I'm dying to play through the game with actual humanbeings |
DaHun
Even if you already beat the game you can always go back into the beginning and play w/ people. Playing with real people is 10 times as entertaining as henchies (although henchies to make me laugh) you can have a great time w/ real people.
coolsti
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Originally Posted by DaHun
Even if you already beat the game you can always go back into the beginning and play w/ people. Playing with real people is 10 times as entertaining as henchies (although henchies to make me laugh) you can have a great time w/ real people.
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