questions for parties and groups

Me and my girlfriend love playing mmorpgs, but a lot of things are turn offs for us when it comes to playing mmorpgs. For starters we (well i) hate the grinding. Also I hate being forced into parties (i.e. I have to have at least ## members with a certain setup of groups.)

We just recently quit World of Warcraft. Although it was amazing how we never needed a party to level up (we prefer just going duo just me and her) but we still knew we were meaninglessly grinding out our xp to reach the max. I have high hopes for guildwars because of the level caps and amount of skills yet you can only bring 8 with you.

However what bothers me is the fact that I keep hearing most missions require at least 4-8 people. Is it still possible and at the same time "still fun" if me and my girlfriend play missions and maps just us 2. Also I heard that you can hire henchmens to fullfill the roles. Are they any useful? like their AI and what not? And would it be expensive to always hire henchmens???

Thank you in advance for answering my questions *bow *bow and please excuse any grammars, spelling, and/or punctuation marks.

I've never played this game during the beta weekends, but I have played other games so while I am talking out of my hat I'm not completely making stuff up. ^_^

The other games I've beta'd were often not very hard to make freinds in. Usually I'd wander the contryside (after having leveled some so I don't die the first time I encounter something larger than a rat) and look for someone fighting one thier own. I offer help, or if I'm too late I offer a healing spell or resurrection spell. Sometimes the roles are reversed and I'm the one being helped. Either way, it's often a good way to break the ice. In games without spell costs I've stood on a knoll near the warp-in/re-spawn point and heal all incomming players as much as I can. Some folks might see this as interfering with thier game play, but most were grateful.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that you'll probably have little trouble finding people you'll WANT to party up with, instead of the next three morons that come along.

Also, what I have read implies that you can replay some areas (as in, quests that two can handle without too much trouble) as much as you like. I'd also be willing to bet that if you're clever and skilled enough, the two of you might be able to challenge some of the 4-8 people quests. It'd be hard, but not un-do-able.

Dave III

Answering in reverse order, it doesn't cost anything to hire henchmen, however they do take a share of the gold and loot that drops during the mission. Of course, so would any real players. How good are they? They're essentially like mediocre players, not as good as the good ones, but not as terrible as the bad ones, either. I have certainly not tried every mission with only two people and four henchmen, but I've actually been through a number of them that way (my best friend and I, plus as many henchmen as we could pack in the party) and they are doable.

It's more fun, though, if you can find some good players to play with. Ah, that's the rub though, right? How do you know J. Random Stranger is a good companion? For what it's worth, I've had pretty good luck meeting great people at random in this game. Sure, some are duds, but you just don't play with them again. When you hit on a good group of people, you tend to stick with them for quite a while, so even if the duds outnumber the dudes (and dudettes), you'll end up playing with good people more often than not.

Of course, the ultimate solution to that is to join a guild. Not everyone in your guild will necessarily be good to play with, either, but you quickly learn who you like to play with and who you don't, and know who to invite and who not to...

Well, from what I have learned from the Gurus here, (I have never played the game and cannot wait for this next weekend for thenext Beta Weekened event) you probably wont mind the other players. And it most likely will not be difficult to find people to fill up your party for quests. There will probably be people needing you, you know? This game is not like World of WarCraft. Or anyother MMORPG for that matter. I am very sure you and you girlfriend will love it. I wish my girlfriend was interested in PC games. That would be freakin' awesome. You are luucky in that way. How did you do it?!

lol thanks for the replies, to answer the above question. I was playing counter-strike and I met her there when my friend invited his cousin (my girlfriend) to play. So next thing you know she's pretty and loves games so we hit if off and its been 2 years so far.

Taht is freakin' awesome. I met mne in school. (I'm 14 years old. ) Last year in 8th grade and asked her out like in the very beginning of summer. We are both Freshman in heighschool. We have been going out for 8 months and will be 9 this month. Amazingly this is my first girlfriend and I'm her first as well.

Sorry if this isn't iformative, but it does go with the current conversation. Please do not pentalize me.

lol wow this is my first girlfriend too lol anyhow back on topic the reason is that most times me and my girlfriend really prefer just playing together and what not, but it seems like it'll be doable with henchmens just that we can't undertake the really hard missions correct?

You can always try the harder missions with just henchmen, if you lose try joining a group of real players or learn from your mistakes and try it again with henchmen. Even with real players I often fail the first time through a mission.

I'd recommend grouping but you should be able to play most of the missions with henchmen.

The Nash can confirm what others have stated. It is very doable to beat missions with 2 players and henchmen. However, being in a guild with people who are not idiots is better.

I definitly agree with The Nash about this. Just make sure you find a guild that suits your interests.

You can form a party with anywhere from 1 to however many it will allow (2... then 4... then 6) but you may find some of the missions really damn hard without a full party. And don't even think about entering a PvP match (tombs, guild battle) without a full party. You'll get schooled. The good news is, it's extremely easy to find a party in most cases.