That have been exasperated by pick up groups, and put them together in parties of other formerly solo players and see what happens.
To make this a point for discussion, do you think that would be effective, hiss? Gathering as many players as possible that tend to do things solo because the random party finder always sticks them in a group that can't carry their own weight, and actually giving them a capable party to enjoy the game with?
I mean.. I guess guilds do that, but still..
If I can handle it by myself, I solo. If it's something I never done (Apocrea, SL, etc) before or need help with, then I'll go in a group.
Over all, I'm a prime soloist. I only go on group runs with guildies and friends.
But when I do, I normally end up carrying the rest of the party.
When I'm in haven and people ask nicely, I party with them (plenty of "The Gauntlet" requests - that's a fun mission). Otherwise, I'm often running some analysis that may be boring for normal players. I mean, who likes someone that spends an extra 30 seconds idling next to boxes just to record the data?
Mostly, I don't think everyone is bad in groups. They just dont like waiting for people. I can carry one extra person at no time cost pretty much anywhere with no change in the speed I move. If that guy is a loafer that for some reason is always answering the phone and makes me wait an extra 5 minutes per depth, I'm not that happy (and either go solo, or kick them). Mind you, I move fairly fast so an extra 5 minutes per depth is roughly an extra 30% time tacked on (depending on the depth).
That being said, I still do occasionally join parties in the party finder and open up my party. Its nice to help people. If they're competent - things actually go much faster than solo (with some luck, my current fastest RT boss killing is just a hint above 2 minutes from the previous elevator. With a second person, that could have been 30 seconds faster from chained rockets).
Finally, all these solo player may come out of the clockworks when "challenge mode" appears. Why? Reread the hints.
In addition to the exciting features we have planned for the Arcade and Rank Missions, we're busy working on an all-new 'challenge mode' that will allow players to work as a team in cooperative scenarios and compete with other teams for a high score. Challenge mode will also feature rewards for those that really excel.
My guess is puzzles that require more than one person to complete - voiding any advantage of solo runs. Just a guess. Best make some competent friends fast :D
I generally don't like relying on others which is why I play solo. When I can find time to get on, at least. :(
I'll leave parties open sometimes but I usually just prefer running stuff by myself, even though I have a lot of friends who are really capable.
I WOULD do party runs for RT if anyone actually started one. Every time I hit Join Party in RT, there isn't one.
I usually go solo not only to train and challenge myself, but also because I don't like to rely heavily on others, especially friends. However, I would go with a group if the mission or event (i.e. Apocrea) proves to be too hard or is my first time doing it, although the latter falls for the "first time I'm doing this boss run" motif.
It's amazing how smooth a party run can go with good players.
Thanks Raven, you mutilated RT.
The game is far more fun when you have knights of all types in a party. Exceptions when you have to carry the whole party unwillingly cause they're somehow terrible at the game or people just afk non-stop that the run turns sluggish and unentertaining cause you're waiting for someone to go get their hot pocket from the microwave. I casually search for T3 Arcade Elite parties, but the members, which is at most 2, usually drop out at Basil so the later half of the tier is just by myself.
At this point in the game, you need some fun people with you to make the clockworks fun. So sure, it'd be a great idea to grab anyone who solos most of the time, I'd like to party along.
You said the "a" word! Gah! They can get you for that!
*edit YOU SAVED YOURSELF
The Mods must be pretty sensitive if you can't use a light profanity such as that, but alright, edited.
15 and 16 min full clear elite RT runs, pretty on par with my solo runs. Almost beat my record with the boss the first run. 2 min 15 secs (from previous elevator to token). 9 seconds off my current (recorded) record.
Over all, I'm a prime soloist
Going into parties that can't carry their own weight is just like going solo. Though I do go into parties just to help (and for extra crowns)
Soloing is easier because you can control everything (especially in RT) but also more boring.
I don't care how bad the players in my party are; I'll happily carry them. Hell, watching them flail about is half the amusement.
The downside of parties is players who go afk for dinner or whatever or diddle around before the lift, which is why I always start the party in case I need to remove anyone. However, playing in a guild party is by far the best way to enjoy the Clockworks.
And there are a very few players who are almost magically good, like Vokster, who are fun playing with just to watch them.
I think over-powered parties are also boring, almost as boring as soloing, which is why elite guilds are boring to me, unless you are doing a shadow lair or a danger mission.
That's just me, though, and explains why I'm Guild Master of a mentoring guild. I appreciate the social aspect of the game, so it's just how I enjoy playing the game.
It's not always about putting a group of good players together. It's about getting the group to work, knowing their play styles and strategies, being able to know what they are going to do so that things go smoother. I once was conditioned in a former guild of mine to doing runs the way they did. That guild was truly a guild, because they all fit a certain play style. I grew up learning to do FSC with them, and after that guild died, I found it hard to do FSC with anyone whether they were an amazing player or not. I assumed every guild had their own signature play style, but sadly I found out that didn't seem to be so true as I hoped (hence the reason I haven't found a "home" since).
As a Gunslinger, I try not to get in peoples way. I run in, hit the wave with Heart Attack, then fall back and assist with gunfire, trying to stay out of the way so the melee fighters have room to maneuver.
people get angry for all kinds of different reasons
because of that soloers can hate soloers too
I go solo and try to avoid parties. I was in one a while ago, but that turned into a knightmare. I occasionally go with another person, but only if they need help. People can be good, but sometimes people's playstyles do not match.
I often find myself alone in the clockworks because I like to multitask while running through the clockworks. I love partying with randoms and only use the party finder if I'm looking for a Vanaduke run. I simply don't party because I want to advance at my own pace, and if I'm not worried about that, I'll leave my party open.
Those who solo probably do well in groups too - I ran a shadow gloaming wildwoods the other day, and didn't use a single spark of life, or my ER for that matter, until the boss battle. This was on elite difficulty, too. I'm not sure much would change putting soloers in parties with other similar players, but that's just coming from me.
Except when I feel underpowered or bored, I always solo as I don't have to look at people wearing not decent armor and gear, die, cry, beg for sparks or just abandon the party, being irresponsible
Being pro alone often make me feel good
I think I've soloed way too much.
I never meet those people who "abandon parties", "beg for sparks" or who knows what they do.
It's boring solo, but half the fun is that I get to do what I want.
Oh yeah, and it also means catalyzers are finally useful in a non-catalyzer party.
Pulsars too. Spam away!
But in all seriousness though, I solo because I like it. It also means I get to complain more at my ping issues without anyone noticing.
I solo too, which in my opinion sucks. I liked going in parties. But in my opinion, teamwork in this game is dying at a slow rate. Such examples is I rarely find parties for the prestige missions and most FSC parties I find, the people suck or just want to be carried which I in the love of world, I HATE! Which results in me sometimes to ask my friends or guildmates to come along or to go solo it. Heart Of Ice itself is the worst to solo, but I feel it's one of the biggest feats an my opinion, as it's the hardest to solo even with good gear, while Compound 42 is the easiest if you bring the correct gear.
Both going solo or in a party have their own advantages and disadvantages, such examples is: When soloing, it's easier to keep track of the enemies since they got only one target. In a party, you can control the aggro of the enemies, such as a Trojan is on one person while the rest of the enemies is attacking the main group.
@Qwao
You usually find those people in T2 boss missions
@Chainguy
Dragging people is tiring indeed... I don't want to team up anymore other than vana and SL :(
I'm game for this. I'm not as geared as I used to be because I was hacked some time ago (and I lost about 400k CE as a result), but I'm climbing my way up again.