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Game difficulty. (Does it get harder?)
clivehowlitzer
Member, Neverwinter Beta Users Posts: 5 Arc User
I wasn't sure which area to post this in but I figured General Discussion was as good a place as any.
I've been playing the game with two friends of mine. Trickster Rogue, Guardian Fighter, and Devoted Cleric. We are all lvl. 30 at the moment. I am curious if the game ever gets more difficult? At the moment, it always starts to seem fun, but the enemies all get steamrolled so hard. All the bosses die in like 5 seconds. The only enemies with even a little bit of durability are Dungeon bosses but even then, it isn't anything crazy.
Since this was a Cryptic Game and I played City of Heroes extensively, I was hoping for a difficulty option available somewhere but no such luck.
Does the game ever get more difficult? I know unfortunately, a trend of MMOs is for the game to be a cakewalk until you've finished all the content, and just farm end-game over and over. That isn't too interesting to me, so I am hoping the game actually gets tougher before you finish all the content and just start farming.
Thanks in advance for any answers.
I've been playing the game with two friends of mine. Trickster Rogue, Guardian Fighter, and Devoted Cleric. We are all lvl. 30 at the moment. I am curious if the game ever gets more difficult? At the moment, it always starts to seem fun, but the enemies all get steamrolled so hard. All the bosses die in like 5 seconds. The only enemies with even a little bit of durability are Dungeon bosses but even then, it isn't anything crazy.
Since this was a Cryptic Game and I played City of Heroes extensively, I was hoping for a difficulty option available somewhere but no such luck.
Does the game ever get more difficult? I know unfortunately, a trend of MMOs is for the game to be a cakewalk until you've finished all the content, and just farm end-game over and over. That isn't too interesting to me, so I am hoping the game actually gets tougher before you finish all the content and just start farming.
Thanks in advance for any answers.
Post edited by clivehowlitzer on
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When does it start ramping up? The main problem seems to just be enemy durability right now. They never survive long enough to do anything.
There isn't a lot of difficulty in the PvE, especially as you level up. Skirmishes and Dungeons offer the only challenges, and even these are low key to players used to basic MMO gameplay. If your running with a group in open zones, for sure you are seeing no challenge.
Even in the vast majority of end-game content, such as Epic (tier 2) dungeons, the difficulty is a matter of DPS application more than skill and timing, even if your doing each dungeon 100% legit. The addition of Module 1 began to see some challenges added, though, and while they aren't amazingly difficult, they can force many players who have grown lax to get on their toes. Some timing is required in Malabog's Castle to really master the bosses there.
The only real difficulty is against players, but I've found this to be true in every game I've played. PvP just amps up the random variables. Because there is no matchmaking system, though, your just as likely to run into a group with best-in-slot equipment and top tactics, as you are to run into a pick-up group with three quitters and two TR bots.
Good luck. This game is very low-key on the mental and skill requirements.
"D*mn wizards," said Morik the Rogue.
Learn what a GWF and GF really are: The History of Fighters
1. Around level 32-35, there is a dungeon called Lair of the Mad Dragon in the classic MMORPG tankable dragon style. For some reason, it gives many players a very difficult challenge...
2. Around level 38-42, there is a dungeon called Gray Wolf Den whose endboss is more raid-level difficulty than dungeon difficulty. Doing it with a full group at level is a challenge. The endgame Epic version is a magnitude or two harder and a rare achievement at appropriate gear level.
3. Around level 42-45, is the first "effort-required" Skirmish called Garrundar the Vile. You basically have to kill a big black lizard/dragon while keeping his powerful aoe healers away from him. If you ignore the healer adds, prepare for many broken groups!
4. Around level 56-58, there is another tough Skirmish involving four giants and many many fiery adds. Killing them is no breeze, especially without a CW, unless you have an amazing healer. This zone also has some of the tougher and interesting solo instances - I loved the "Bishop" fight with roomful of aoe on my GF, for example (but since you're in a group, that's not really relevant).
5. Around level 58-59, the final solo instance of Whispering Caverns zone contains a hidden room with many treasure chests that pops up an entire team of enemy "players" if you touch the wrong chest. This is more of a fun fight than a huge challenge because its like a one-versus-five PvP match. Any class can win the fight, including Clerics. You will not find any other fight like it in the game!
But most of the difficulty in PvE comes from the level 60 endgame Tier 2+ Epic Dungeons, including one at the end of the Gauntlgrym PvP "battleground". Some of them are significantly harder than Heroics in other games, but like all PvE content, in the end (even without exploits) its all doable.
The only content really designed around full groups are the ones you can queue into. The skirmishes and the final area dungeons. There is generally only one of each for each adventure area. But its entirely possible to focus on those rather then the main story solo content.
I expect you will find those much more satisfying and challenging with your group. To the point that you'll most likely want to find a few more friends to fill it out to a full 5. Seeing as how you seem to be doing this without any kind of controller or main AoE player. I suspect that you have really been missing the group content.
We haven't been powerleveling anything, we've been doing all content at the level that it is. I am surprised that it was all designed to be soloed and there was no scaling. You'd think they'd bump up with additional party members. Especially since if I understand it, you can carry 3+ companions with you at a time?
I don't mind the idea of epic content but I read you have to queue into it, and its random leaders, and you don't get to keep your group? So you end up with random people? I could have been misled.
-EDIT-
Also, it seems really weird to design all the content with solo in mind. It is cool that it can be soloed but its odd that is the focus. Since it is not only an MMO, but it is also based on D&D, which is very much about playing in a group. I am coming from DDO, so its a big change.
If you queue as a group you get to keep that group, with additional players so that you become a full party.
The problem is, the entrances are not well marked on the maps. And can be hard to find. The best way to handle it, is in each new adventure zone. Open your landing page (L) find the name of the dungeon for that area and ask in zone where the entrance is. More often then not folks will help ya.
At level 30, you most likely just finished Helms hold. So it might be worth you time to go back and try the "Lair of the Mad Dragon".
If you have moved on to Ebon Downs, the dungeon there is the "Throne of Idris"
Give them a shot, I promise you, it will be a whole different game.
Well, for one, it's a "modern" MMO, so the general "leveling" content isn't group-required (combination of the elitists raiders' attitude of "the game starts at endgame, why can't we just skip all this leveling garbage" and the economic fact that making the basic game experience group-required will exclude a great many hopefully-paying customers). Most group stuff in MMOs the past decade has been the odd dungeon while leveling, pvp, and then lots of stuff at the level cap.
For two, that's Cryptic's style. I haven't tried Champions, but both Star Trek and City Of Heroes were built in a similar way - instanced quests, solo-friendly zones & quests, with periodic group-centered activities (Task Forces, Fleet battles, etc)
..and if you're coming from DDO, then yeah - this isn't as hard. At least as far as I've seen, I never got a character past lv10-11 in DDO. Very solo-unfriendly game. And required waaaaaay more min-maxing & micromanagement (bars and bars full of daily-use items/multiple gear sets, etc. That's not really my thing.)
Good luck with the Aberrant Assault skirmish at lvl 59.
Doing the skirmishes/dungeons as you level will be much more interesting/challenging and make you learn your class far better than facerolling easy solo content with a party. The queue system (you can use the /lfg channel to make a full group before queuing up) will ensure that no one in your group is too high a level for the dungeon (you want a challenge, right ?) and if someone else gets leadership, you can always tell them to pass leadership to you if it bothers you that much. You already have a group of 3 friends and the 2 randoms you get most likely don't even know each other.
I queued up for the skirmishes/dungeons with my partner as I levelled my toons and found them much more interesting than doing the normal quests. Since you already have a party of three friends, it should be even easier for you, so you shouldn't be afraid to tackle them.
This is in Rothe Valley. I cannot remember which quest exactly though.
@Clive
"Active companion" is not summoned, just one that can have gear equipped and be easily swapped out for a different companion. Idle companions go in your backpack and any gear you've used on them will be returned to your bag (runes remain bound to them). Only one companion at a time can actually be summoned.
Neverwinter Census 2017
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Neverwinter Census 2017
All posts pending disapproval by Cecilia
Are you always playing in a group?
If so keep in mind the game is intended to be done solo except the end of zone dungeons and the Epic dungeons.
A second factor is that a team that builds and plays together learns synergy, which the game strongly rewards.
Finally I have played areas naked with a GWF solo... Some zones are easier than others, they are all easy in a party.
Obsidian Oath - Warlock
A whole lot of other Obsidian toons as well.
I see what people were saying about the Adds, but it still wasn't too bad. The endlessly respawning ones are a bit of a cheap way to add difficulty to some fights but either way. It was way more fun than anything else so far.