All new content is no longer solo friendly?

[arthurh35353]

3 hours ago, huang3721 said:

 

I have a somewhat similar experience.

• Regarding low-level story arcs: On average, I faceplant between 0 - 3 times for every solo mission. (+0x1 difficulty). The defeats become less frequent around level 30. At that point, my toon has enough slots to enhance their stats effectively.
• I played Agent Watkin's arc using a new toon. The survival rate was abysmal. In contrast, running the contents using Lv.50 toons yield much better results. 
• This problem also happens to a lesser extent when I run incarnate missions. Unlocking level shift fixes the problem.

So, back to your post, consider setting your difficulty to -1 or hoarding P2W items (if you have spare inf).
If you don't mind waiting, farm and power level your toon to Lv. 50, make a complete build (purples and ATOs are optional), then solo the contents. Those lieutenants won't stand a chance against you. 

That is like the opposite of 'accessible' for solo play.

[lemming]

There are some arcs that are hard to solo with certain builds, but I've solo'd most of the content in the game.

 

The hardest stuff is often the low level Praetorian missions IMO.  Most of the new stuff is later on when your characters have better mitigation.

 

Toughest issue with the Watkins arc are the Zoombies IMO.

 

The devs need to run a tight rope between the people asking for harder content and those that feel that stuff must be easier.

 

They did dial back difficulty in some areas.  (New Minotaur & Cyclops in Sister Solaris were brutal while in Beta for example)

 

One thing you haven't mentioned is what AT you're having difficulty with.

[huang3721]

CoH's mid-level missions have never been friendly for solo players since issue 0. That's what I was trying to say.

For accessibility, my option back then was to set the difficulty to -1x1 since I was a Freem. Today, thanks to Homecoming Team, I have more options (IOs, amplifiers, temp powers, for example).

Also, welcome back!

[Bionic_Flea]

20 hours ago, huang3721 said:

CoH's mid-level missions have never been friendly for solo players since issue 0.

Wut?

 

I've mainly soloed from 1-50 on every AT and most powersets from issue 0 on.  It is certainly easier on certain ATs and powersets, but that just means those sets get to turn up the difficulty sooner.

[Astralock]

20 minutes ago, Bionic_Flea said:

Wut?

 

I've mainly soloed from 1-50 on every AT and most powersets from issue 0 on.  It is certainly easier on certain ATs and powersets, but that just means those sets get to turn up the difficulty sooner.

 

Yep.  I've soloed gold side from levels one through level 35 (Precinct Five through Night Ward), on Defenders, Blasters, Corruptors, Brutes, and Masterminds.  It was certainly easiest on the Brutes, but it was doable on the other ATs as well.  And if you can solo gold side, you can solo any story arc.  

[lemming]

3 hours ago, Bionic_Flea said:

Wut?

 

I've mainly soloed from 1-50 on every AT and most powersets from issue 0 on.  It is certainly easier on certain ATs and powersets, but that just means those sets get to turn up the difficulty sooner.

I noticed when doing Iron Challenges, the 20s & 30s were the most likely where I got swatted

 

[Bionic_Flea]

Well, an occasional death is to be expected (even when trying your best to avoid them).  And yes, the 20s and 30s are when you start getting more foes with exotic damage and mezzes and debuffs but don't yet have enough powers or slots to deal with all of that efficiently.

 

But an occasional death should not be equated as "solo-unfriendly".  If that's the standard, then everything in the game falls short.

[Glacier Peak]

36 minutes ago, Bionic_Flea said:

Well, an occasional death is to be expected (even when trying your best to avoid them).  And yes, the 20s and 30s are when you start getting more foes with exotic damage and mezzes and debuffs but don't yet have enough powers or slots to deal with all of that efficiently.

 

But an occasional death should not be equated as "solo-unfriendly".  If that's the standard, then everything in the game falls short.

Well said! I don't see resurrection powers hyped up too much in build discussions, but that could be another option for players. I look at it this way - debt means absolutely nothing. It disappears now by not playing the game (Issue 1 me would be jealous as ever). I like the idea of proactive defeat mechanics making their way in to powersets. Rise of the Phoenix (now Phoenix Rising) is a perfect example of making a power that isn't used by players and turning it in to a proactive "I-think-I-might-be-defeated" power to use if things get crazy. 

[LegionAlpha]

At this point I just want content story. Really do not care if it is easy, medium or ball busting difficult. With that said, when is Issue 28?  

[Stealthrider]

On 11/25/2022 at 7:22 PM, arthurh35353 said:

No, I was referring to the new Story Arc in Steel Canyon (Agent Walker?)  So I was only in my level 20s or so for it. Like I said, all new content is now 'harder core', solo players are being ignored for ever increasing harder mode. Nothing that has come out recently has been solo friendly. And it appears to be by design.

 

I don't think I'll bother playing 'harder mode' ITF and Aeon Strike Force.

 

My dude, I've got some really bad news for you.

 

Literally nothing in the base game, going all the way back to issue 1, was designed to be soloed. It wasn't until CoV that soloists got some love.

 

But with all the available tools, there is nothing in the game, short of hard mode TFs (even 1-star, and for some chars 2-star, is possible) and flashback LRSF/MsLib TF old-school mode, that can't be soloed.

 

If you're having trouble soloing, it's not the devs' fault, either Paragon or Homecoming. The tools are there, it's up to you to use them.

[MoonSheep]

15 hours ago, Stealthrider said:

 

My dude, I've got some really bad news for you.

 

Literally nothing in the base game, going all the way back to issue 1, was designed to be soloed. It wasn't until CoV that soloists got some love.

 

But with all the available tools, there is nothing in the game, short of hard mode TFs (even 1-star, and for some chars 2-star, is possible) and flashback LRSF/MsLib TF old-school mode, that can't be soloed.

 

If you're having trouble soloing, it's not the devs' fault, either Paragon or Homecoming. The tools are there, it's up to you to use them.

 

this is a great point. below i've pasted something from the CoV tutorial which gives a view of the original game vision for difficulty

 

[CaptTastic]

I think the new content is getting harder, but it’s still much easier to solo than stuff was back before IOs, set bonuses and Mids. 
 

With the newer content, such as Sister Valeria, a lot of it is just having enough patience and persistence to find a way. Might not be the usual way, but I think that’s a great thing. 

[UltraAlt]

On 11/27/2022 at 9:53 PM, LegionAlpha said:

At this point I just want content story. Really do not care if it is easy, medium or ball busting difficult. With that said, when is Issue 28?  

 

Have you played all the non-farm AE missions yet?

[Seed22]

8 hours ago, UltraAlt said:

 

Have you played all the non-farm AE missions yet?

I'd recommend playing the Dev Choice, if you want AE story mishs.

[Tax E]

On 11/18/2022 at 7:01 PM, arthurh35353 said:

Oh, that was nice. I guess all new content is now 'harder core' for non-casual players. +1 mobs of 2lts and a minion. A boss fight when bosses are turned off and an ambush against toxic foes. I'm so glad that I can go back to not playing City of Heroes again.

 

 

That was a very annoying end to Agent Watkins and some of the newest content. 2 for 2, new content is not for soloers. That along with the second mission in new missions in Cimmeria just are meant for 'real players'.

 

Well that's unfortunate.

 

I found it rather easy to solo a Dr. Aeon, which is still new content for most folks. It all depends on what you are solo'ing with? 

As for 'real players' - (pinches self) - no clue what you mean there.

[Doomguide2005]

     When exactly was it promised by anyone that all content,  new or otherwise, would be able to be solo'd much less friendly to such  endeavors?   Is it desirable for most content designed so it can be done solo?  Probably a good goal for normal content.  Maybe even relatively easily at minimum settings for most of that content.  But no not all and some should be nearly impossible to solo and arguably some content should be essentially impossible without a team.   All content is not created or intended to be equal in difficulty across all players of varying skill and builds.  If the complaint is more hyperbole related to how hardmode and incarnate content has been emphasized with recent pages, *shrug*.  Well there's far more overall content relatively easy to solo and very little to even start challenging a full team of experienced players running Incarnates.  So if a couple pages focus a bit more on the hard end of the spectrum, chill.  The pendulum hasn't stopped moving yet.  

Edited December 3, 2022 by Doomguide2005
Typos and clarity

[Shred Monkey]

I thought the OP was being sarcastic.  Is the OP being sarcastic?  I can't tell, now.  I hope so.  I don't feel like ranting about how participation trophies and Minecraft creative mode has turned our society into a bunch of spoon-fed pansies who think work means sitting in a beanbag chair sipping a mocha latte with their name fashionably misspelled on the cup. 

 

You know what though.  At least you're doing missions and not begging for an AE PL.  So here's a tip.  Load up on purple inspirations when you're at the hospital.  And take air superiority with 2 recharge SOs.   That should get you through pretty much anything solo at +1x0.

 

 

 

[Zect]

7 minutes ago, Doomguide2005 said:

     When exactly was it promised by anyone that all content,  new or otherwise, would be able to be solo'd much less friendly to such  endeavors?   It is it desirable for most content designed so it can be done solo.  Probably a good goal for normal content.  Maybe even relatively easily at minimum settings for most of that content.  But no not all and some should be nearly impossible to solo and arguably some content should be essentially impossible without a team.   All content is not created or intended to be equal in difficulty across all players of varying skill and builds.  If the complaint is more hyperbole related to how hardmode and incarnate content has emphasized with recent pages, *shrug*.  Well there's far more overall content relatively easy to solo and very little to even start challenging a full team of experienced players running Incarnates.  So if a couple pages focus a bit more on the hard end of the spectrum, chill.  The pendulum hasn't stopped moving yet.  

 

Exactly.

 

The odd thing is, the game has been constantly getting easier for years. Powersets are continually being improved and buffed, while restrictions on powers and systems are lifted. Legitimate concerns over power creep and lack of challenge have been repeatedly brought up. So it's going to take much more than a few deaths in a mission to claim that any kind of opposite trend is in effect.

[TerroirNoir2]

On 11/28/2022 at 2:53 AM, LegionAlpha said:

At this point I just want content story. Really do not care if it is easy, medium or ball busting difficult. With that said, when is Issue 28?  

 

13 hours ago, UltraAlt said:

Have you played all the non-farm AE missions yet?

 

5 hours ago, Seed22 said:

I'd recommend playing the Dev Choice, if you want AE story mishs.

 

Following this little chain of quotes, I can tell you that there's some great content in the AE if you look for it.  I'm currently hitting near 200 missions of actually GREAT story from only three authors and with more to come from them.  Now, they ARE Dev Choice winners so that's a thing.  Plus I'm doing a little Holiday Special nonsense on the side.

 

This is what I've got so far. Thanks @Zhym for the listing. 

 

And I haven't even touched the rest of the Dev Choice winners yet.  So, plenty of stuff.  Plus, apart from searching through my reviews or others, they're not on the HCWIKI and you can't spoiler them for yourself. And I'm playing a middling Rad Blast/Kinetics Corruptor, so totally doable.  Even if I do have a Backup Radio and a Signature Summons to pull my ass out of the fire on some occasions. 

 

 

[LegionAlpha]

19 hours ago, UltraAlt said:

 

Have you played all the non-farm AE missions yet?

 

Was thinking canon lore missions, why I brought up Issue 28. But I will take a peek at AE 

[Here be Dragons]

On 11/19/2022 at 11:01 AM, arthurh35353 said:

Oh, that was nice. I guess all new content is now 'harder core' for non-casual players. +1 mobs of 2lts and a minion. A boss fight when bosses are turned off and an ambush against toxic foes. I'm so glad that I can go back to not playing City of Heroes again.

 

 

That was a very annoying end to Agent Watkins and some of the newest content. 2 for 2, new content is not for soloers. That along with the second mission in new missions in Cimmeria just are meant for 'real players'.

You appear to be complaining that the game has gotten harder?

 

But the opposite is true.

 

When I started playing CoH, it was on a Storm/Psychic Blast Defender in Issue 6. Because of my timezone, I mostly soloed. Soloing the Hollows with no travel powers, no Stamina, only Training enhancements, no ability to turn off bosses, no boost to low level accuracy - that was harder than what you describe.

 

Today with Single Origin enhancements being available from level 2 onwards and a little planning of Power sets and slotting, most builds can solo the types of encounters that you describe, even if they have no self-heal or armor. On almost any build, I am usually soloing with notoriety set to x2 or 3, with bosses, from about level 4 onwards.

 

For a low level toon, Praetoria often delivers the type of experience that you describe, in addition to timed waves of ambushes that find you despite stealth!

 

For many builds, soloing is not the same as steamrolling through content with a team. It can require some tactical play, such as pulling foes, choosing what to debuff, being aware of other mobs that might be aggroed. Even many comic book superheroes have to use tactics to win. Batman typically picks off minions  and lieutenants, before tackling larger groups. And then he will be using smoke or flash grenades to minimise the incoming damage.

 

For me, those early days of CoH were both challenging, and rewarding. This is a game that I have loved for almost 20 years. My personal feeling is that the Homecoming team are doing an excellent job at preserving and continuing to develop its legacy.

 

 

Edited December 2, 2022 by Here be Dragons

[Nemu]

I do miss the days when you couldn't get a travel power before level 14, watching a teammate hover over grendel's gulch to get to a mission, and the team waited for them.

 

To this day I still think players need to pass 2 tests before they can level up to level 2.

 

1 - sprint only, no travel no temp no stealth/invis run across the hollows through the gulch from the Atlas Park zone entrance to the Skyway zone entrance, no deaths

2 - escort a hostage properly under a time limit with a temp stealth field and travel power (that you can turn off)

 

Wait I'm the inner circle (you hear that Devs?), it shall be so!

[Doomguide2005]

     I think I was about 6th when I was following the star for my first deep foray into the Hollows.  Hopped a boulder he'd just gone over unaware the Gulch was on the other side.  I was dead what seemed like milliseconds later after having a very purple Troll plaster me with a rock.  Yeah there's no way I'd ever say this game has gotten even remotely harder over the years.

[arthurh35353]

23 hours ago, Doomguide2005 said:

     When exactly was it promised by anyone that all content,  new or otherwise, would be able to be solo'd much less friendly to such  endeavors?   It is it desirable for most content designed so it can be done solo.  Probably a good goal for normal content.  Maybe even relatively easily at minimum settings for most of that content.  But no not all and some should be nearly impossible to solo and arguably some content should be essentially impossible without a team.   All content is not created or intended to be equal in difficulty across all players of varying skill and builds.  If the complaint is more hyperbole related to how hardmode and incarnate content has emphasized with recent pages, *shrug*.  Well there's far more overall content relatively easy to solo and very little to even start challenging a full team of experienced players running Incarnates.  So if a couple pages focus a bit more on the hard end of the spectrum, chill.  The pendulum hasn't stopped moving yet.  

Looks like you agree that all new content should be harder and less accessible. Congrats, you have won the internet and a non-friendly video game.

[Doomguide2005]

58 minutes ago, arthurh35353 said:

Looks like you agree that all new content should be harder and less accessible. Congrats, you have won the internet and a non-friendly video game.

     No, not what I'm saying at all.  I'm pointing out the term "all" is hyperbolic and or inaccurate.  Doubly so over the long view of the games history.  Even with the emphasis on the hard mode content in the last few pages there have been noticeable buffs to Electric Blast, Sonic Blast and Trick Arrow just to name what I recall off the top of my head.  Presumably buffs across entire sets hasn't made solo play more difficult but just the opposite, at least for players of those sets.   Expecting everything to be solo friendly is just as off as expecting everything to nightmarishly difficult for teams.  And yes there's been a lot of push for something more challenging for endgame incarnate characters to do which for those folks wanting it was limited to AE until recent pages.  I'm not a Developer and have no input there beyond what we all have but feel fairly certain the Devs aren't focusing only on hard mode content and are or will be creating new lower and mid-level content designed with solo play in mind as well as teams for all sorts of skill and ability levels of play.