Squads -a beginner questions

As a Veno, you can solo a lot more than most other classes. However, dungeons (fbs/bhes) and bosses are always best done with a squad. Clerics with rez in particular can come in handy for you guys, as occasionally your pet goes down or you out-damage your pet and take those inevitable accidental deaths.

If, for example, you're in the world, just doing "kill twenty white wolves" type quests, and you see someone else killing the same nearby, it's usually not important what sort of squad makeup you have, since usually you both are capable of killing the mobs on your own anyway. Squadding in this case is a way to get through the quest faster, and to make sure you don't kill steal one another (which can happen often, if there are a limited number of mobs. Melee fighters in particular have difficulty not getting ksed in populated areas like the mines, since Venos, Archers, and casters all have that range advantage, so can shoot first). So be kind to the other people in the area and squad up, so that they don't have to work around you and vice versa.

For dungeon squads, like your fbs, you'll want to be more careful about what you pick. There is no way to tell what the squad make-up is until you join it, but you can leave at any time. A lot of people join a squad, check the make-up, and if not satisfactory, leave it (this is, admittedly, a little rude to do, particularly if you don't explain why)

In a dungeon or boss squad, you always want a cleric (and I'm not just saying that because I am one! b:laugh ) and a tank... usually barb, but often BM, Sin, or even Archer. Your pets can also act as tank, but it's usually best not to offer to be the only tank unless you know for a fact that your pet can keep aggro (keep th boss attacking it), and that you can out-heal the boss's damage.

Otherwise, squad builds can be flexible. I've had heavily cleric squads, half-Sin squads, all-DDer+me squads, and even the classic barb+bm+archer+wiz+cleric+veno squads. Each squad works a little differently, but if they're decent players, they'll get the job done.

The best way to tell what you can solo and what you can't is to ask. If you're in a faction, simply ask them when a quest shows up whether a veno can solo it. If not, most good factions will offer to help you take it down. If you're not in faction, you can wait at the boss for others to come, or check back every now and then to see if anyone wants to kill it. Failing that, a lot of bosses can be soloed after a couple levels, but certains ones take a loooooong time to do so (I've soloed bosses for half an hour straight). Check the boss' hp before you intend to solo it, just to make sure it's reasonably doable.

You'll learn more about this sort of thing on your own as you play. As I said, venos are relatively independent.... you won't need squads as often as the rest of us. But they come in handy, and so it's good to get a feel for what your role is.

As for factions/guilds, that is a bit of a bigger decision. If a faction is helping you out, it's usually a sign that they're helpful and friendly to low-levels, which is something you'll want at low levels. TW concerns and FCC runs and whatnot can come after 70+ levels. That said, I never accept a ninja faction invite (an invite where you haven't interacted at all with the sender) on my as-of-yet factionaless alts. Those guys just want numbers, not members. If you get invited, feel free to ask the sender about the faction, to make sure they suit your needs.

Like squads, factions can be left at any time, and, though it's rude, you need not tell them why. So neither decision will lock you into anything. Explore and have fun; squads and factions just provide you with more people to do it with.

no one apperantly mentioned it so i m gonna say, the difference between doing a quest with squad or solo is, when you squad you share exp and spirit and drops. who ever does more damage they get higher chance of getting drops. if you have in your squad a person who is way higher, for example a squad of 20 has a 80 in it, then he/she will suck the exp and i dare say that mob exp in low lvls is important.

as for fb s and instances, during fb you get a tab and that tab gives everyone in the squad a certain amount of rep(utation) . people will want that rep. and it will become very hard to solo it, very quickly. you will always need a squad, (unless, like you re a lv60 veno doing fb29). and share the rep, if possible share it with me b:laugh .

oh also on the subject of fb s, who ever has the tab, gets to keep mold drops, ask for it, dont be shy and dont take bs on this subject. i m sure other high lvls who help, will back you up on this subject.

I was wondering about squads and factions too. I get request for joining factions, it is really hard to decide right then and there, I don't know who they are sometimes I don't even see who is requesting me to join. I get no info on the requester and usually say no. I would like to join a faction but i just would like a little more info and not when i am fighting a monster. I am an assassin and have to battle up close and it is a little distracting for that exclamation point to appear. I don't mind helping other players if i see more than one monster attacking and will help than continue with my quest. I have found a lot of good players who also help in this way or if the boss is too strong we take turns working together so that each one gets the credit for killing a boss.

Thanks for all the info, it really is hard to say no and not appear uppity or something. I'm glad others had this same problem.

A lot of replys so I'll try to make it short and sweet.
If asked to join a squad, yes if your going o help them or just want to do some grinding or want to fulfill you quest quota. Yes you get EXP and spirit and drops.

A note on quest quotas; if you are in a squad not only are you helping to kill tough mobs but if you kill on your own and other squad members kill the same thing they are adding to your count. Keep checking this though it does not always work right. Sometimes you have to make the first strike to get the kill.

A note on the drops; if you are the leader (the one who started the squad) you can edit the squad specs (press "T") so that everyone gets what they pick up instead of the drops being randomly distributed. To do this choose "Free" instead of "Random" in the squad specs pop-up window, I like this way because if I want something I get to keep it and I don't end up with unwanted stuff. Remember to press the "Change button after editing to save this selection, it will stay that way until you sign off. (I wish they would change that).

A note on etiquette; If you don't want to join just hit the "NO" reply, no foul.
But what ever you do try to be respectful especially when you leave a squad. I really think some players just dump you when their done and get what they need. That just Pssss me off. Good by Mr One Way....
On the other hand, I have been asked many times to be a friend just because I stay after I finish my quest and help others and am civil about my actions.

Taken to extremes though - if you team a level 90 up with a level 15, say - the level 90 does indeed suck up the lions share of the xp.

You can't party up with a high level character and just watch them kill high level mobs all day - you'll get almost nothing for it. (And, as already noted, if you kill low level mobs then the high level will totally destroy the total xp to be shared)

What it does let you do is get the quest done more quickly.