|
Post by busybumblebee7 on Sept 15, 2022 21:04:38 GMT
I came back to Higher Ground about 4-5 months ago after a 14 year break. I've really enjoyed the challenge of Hardcore, the randomized loot system (life is like a box of chocolates you never now what you're going to get), the variety of subraces and the quasiclasses.
The problem is I don't really like the large group runs i.e. hells runs. I've joined a couple of these but it felt like I was being drug behind a ski-boat without skis. Not only do I feel overwhelmed but I often have to go AFK in a moment's notice. IRL I'm a caregiver for a son with Autism and Father-in-law with Alzheimer's not to mention my employment also can cause me to be on-call pretty much 100% of the time. I don't want to join a large group and then ruin it because I have to leave.
I keep getting feedback that the real game doesn't begin until you enter the hells. Is it okay if I don't want to go to hell, I mean the Hells, or other areas that seem to require more players or multi-boxing, I'm currently playing 3 toons at the same time and don't really even like doing that.
Also is it ok to play classes that aren't ideal? I used to play a BFM and got a Hardcore toon to level 60, it was a lot of fun soloing Uro with timestop before the nerf. Now I keep getting criticism that Blood Fire Mages are useless and I need to play a something else. It seems to me if I want to play a useless BFM I should be able to do it without criticism.
Hoping there is a place on higherground for someone who mostly only wants to solo (often AFK) with the occasional group when necessary (xul/lloth/immo) whose only real goal is to see if he can find a build he likes playing enough to get to level 80 in hardcore without ever going into areas he might fugue as an immo and have his toon deleted.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2022 21:40:53 GMT
Bee, you can do HG however you wish. Many people have done just what you are doing. Sounds like you feel pressure from external sources to play differently then what you enjoy. And communicating that to the community will hopefully ease that. It can be a challenge to squeeze in HG into RL. Just do you and join parties when you are able.
All the best!
|
|
|
Post by busybumblebee7 on Sept 15, 2022 23:28:18 GMT
"Sounds like you feel pressure from external sources to play differently then what you enjoy." I've have a few people tell me I'm not really playing the game until I go into the hells and go for demi.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2022 23:57:44 GMT
That may be their opinion, but you get to decide how you want to play regardless. There have been quite a few people that have enjoyed just doing LL's for years, experimenting with different builds. I am guessing that those people that are saying that are just excited to pull others into their way of play. We all have our grooves that we find here. Find your and revel in it.
|
|
|
Post by dopplegang on Sept 16, 2022 1:11:55 GMT
You do you Bee, remind the party members that you sometimes have to go afk at a moments notice, and worry no more about it. Others will find a way to fit you in if they are willing. I have had similar scenarios over the years, and most people understand. Have fun.
|
|
|
Post by hackenslay on Sept 16, 2022 1:28:08 GMT
My brother ottoillusions and I do exactly what you are talking about, play at our own pace, slowly and piecemeal. We don't have many immos and actually enjoy the 1-40 runs because that way we don't have to just follow everyone rushing through runs, either getting dragged through or dragging others through.
It just doesn't seem fun to us either.
I have a wife and kid(24 but still...) and 5 dogs, a cat, 4 parakeets and about 60 chickens... I have to get up and walk away all the time too, which makes it hard to play in a "normal" party. I will still join a regular run a few times a year(usually when I'm home alone and have less distractions) but even then I feel rushed through content I want to savor instead of chug.
I don't know how many others play like us, but this community has made my brother and I feel welcome for the last 14? years, even though we are decidedly odd birds. I'm sure they will make you welcome too, although there will be the occasional asshat(is that allowed?) that gets upset because you start a run they need, they ask to join, and you're not willing to blast through it at their pace so they get upset. That's what !anon is for.
|
|
|
Post by dopplegang on Sept 16, 2022 1:38:45 GMT
One observation I would make is that there is far more flexibility on the softcore side of the mod than the hardcore side, many more people with many more characters and options available to them for accommodating someone with an oddball build that is not min-max but a lot of fun to play, my daughter loves to make her oddball builds that sometimes work and sometimes do not. You are welcome to join the soft side if you feel that the hardcore side is just not working out for you. But like I said, you do what makes you happy, that is why we are here.
side note: 60 chickens??
|
|
|
Post by Yojimbo on Sept 16, 2022 3:36:00 GMT
#1 thing to say is even if you may have to stop and leave a run don't let it ruin the game for you and be clear to any large group that you may have to do that so they know what to expect.
I know People love to min max on HG and I get it there is a noticeable advantage but I like to build my stuff with my own restrictions and it sometimes means a less than ideal toon but as long as I can do something and I enjoy it then I don't mind not being top or a toon that just kind of a filler in the run.
I recently came back from a ~10yr ish hiatus and runs in Hell and Abyss are much faster than they used to be most layers of hell before Cania can be done in under an hour and Abyss a full part 1 through 3 can be done in 1.5-2 hours pretty easy so broken up into 2-3 parts it is easier to complete and many are happy to just run something for the exp these days to help more tag for prince or demi run.
I have a wife and kid these days so gaming for more than a hour often leads to less than happy wife so most long runs for me are late after everyone is in bed.
|
|
|
Post by Paradoom on Sept 16, 2022 14:51:13 GMT
busybumblebee7In the beginning I have been playing for around 3 years only doing LL Runs maximum and had fun doing so. I can draw a map of the pre LL areas out of my head I started doing hells, once I found a nice group I enjoyed it with. You are free to play this as you like, and going Solo (or with limited Multiboxing), while tough, is doable in alot of places. Just do it as you wish and enjoy. If your RL demands you to go afk often just talk to the people and make it clear from the start. Just consider for yourself if you can commit to a run for an hour or two without going afk too much, if you want to do a longer group run at some point. And who told you BFMs ain't good? Such nonsense! They play different from a pure sorc, but that doesn´t make them less. If you enjoy them, just stick to it.
|
|
|
Post by boroie on Sept 16, 2022 18:43:05 GMT
Also is it ok to play classes that aren't ideal? I used to play a BFM and got a Hardcore toon to level 60, it was a lot of fun soloing Uro with timestop before the nerf. Now I keep getting criticism that Blood Fire Mages are useless and I need to play a something else. It seems to me if I want to play a useless BFM I should be able to do it without criticism. Others have already commented that you should feel free to play how you want, not how others expect. I don't need to repeat that. On the BFM thing though - a couple of months ago I built a BFM (30 sorc/10 rdd). As someone with 10+ sorcs on that account, it was hands down the most fun of any of them to play. More so, the BFM was really (I mean really really) good in hells and abyss. It regularly destroyed entire spawns in abyss prince fights and racks up 20k+ damage on asmo. That BFM has done nearly all LL runs, is 3x demi, has 5x prince wins and has done limbo p1 hard. It was typically the only arcane on those runs. BFMs are not useless at all. Except underwater, then they are slightly less fun (eg abos is a slog). And yes you can detonate and meteor swarm but I miss my firebrands.
|
|
|
Post by Yojimbo on Sept 16, 2022 19:14:37 GMT
I see people bash Staffmaster these days as a "dead" build/class and I admit I rarely see them but I recently dusted mine off and ran it solo/boxed through Toyshop and it was very easy run granted mine is L63 and I didn't shackle but considering dispel/breach/mord is an issue for a caster that is a big deal on a SM even if otherwise overpowered. I would happily take him all around the mod other than I am trying to focus on finishing out a Hell/Demi cycle for my Rogue to reinc and improve that toon. I am looking at many of my toons and seeing who to focus on and reinc or just straight up reinc after my hiatus.
For me a large part of the fun is find an idea for a build with certain requirements or restrictions and put it to paper then try and build it. I don't get to the build part every time or sometimes I might put to paper at a lesser tier race but build a high tier version of it.
I do enjoy the Pre-LL a bit but if you want to max tags and you don't run an optimized build it can be a drag sometimes as there is less people playing pre-LL.
I have a 2nd account and can box but really I am not a fan of it mostly use it to ease some pre-ll and to fill a role and tag a toon on my other account.
|
|
|
Post by chirality on Sept 16, 2022 22:11:07 GMT
if you want to play -hc- and just grind to 80 and avoid runs where your toons can get deleted, that's your prerogative.
sounds like someone/s is/are pushing you to leave your comfort zone, but that's most likely a little bit of "the game is so cool once you see the rest of it, you really should get to endgame content!" and a little bit of hoping to have you to party with to make their own playtime more enjoyable. after all, even with bot army meta, there are still advantages to be gained by partying with another person. this may include loot and xp%, simply having another human being to chat with/coach/show off to/guide/have as a buddy, having a training/trading partner, and of course the chance that when properly mentored, a friend might be a true boon in endgame and take some pressure and work off of the primary run conductor.
in other words, you might be getting some pressure to play more endgame, most likely from a mix of both altruism and self-interest, and in -hc- mode there's certainly always a desire and demand for people to hang out with, since it's literally a separate game for most intents and multiplayer-game purposes.
if you don't feel comfortable with being politely asked or badgered (or whatever in between) about doing higher-level runs or playing at a higher frequency than you're enjoying, just ignore them. it's a game, and there should be no expectation to explain yourself to a stranger on the internet if you're not playing the game the way they want you to. they'll get over it, and hopefully no one's feelings will get hurt in the process. if not, oh well. spending your playtime doing things you don't really enjoy and feel uncomfortable with is a poor price to pay, regardless what you may get out of the deal (or what they lead you to believe you will get out of the deal).
i'm inclined to believe that people really just think you'd have fun in the later game and pretty much just want to show you the ropes and have you as a friend to chill with and have fun with. after all, it's a multiplayer game and despite the low population and age, ultimately this is still something we're all primarily doing for social gratification in some way.
i'd courteously offer that playing -hc- is a waste of your time and you should just play normal mode the way you want to, up to and including deleting your toons and playing by your own rules if you feel like it. there's no point in the artificial coded box that -hc- mode sticks you in, other than bragging rights, which were always a joke anyway, and are now more than ever largely a complete and utter sham (not that it was ever much more than a sham anyway, but at this point it's just silly).
you're under no obligation to play with anyone you don't want to or play in any way you don't want to, at the end of the day, so do as you wish. hope you stick around and are able to find some friends that are willing to take you as you are and welcome your participation for what it is, when you can offer it.
good luck and thanks for sharing
|
|
|
Post by jelricle on Sept 17, 2022 1:53:11 GMT
I know People love to min max on HG and I get it there is a noticeable advantage but I like to build my stuff with my own restrictions and it sometimes means a less than ideal toon but as long as I can do something and I enjoy it then I don't mind not being top or a toon that just kind of a filler in the run. My brother!!!!
|
|
|
Post by thomascovenant on Sept 17, 2022 5:30:59 GMT
From the beginning when I met you on hg you informed me of the constraints you had for your child and your father, if you remember correctly I told you that it was not a problem as long as at the start of a run we were informed. Almost everyone here who responded to your post seems to agree.
As dopplegang mentioned with a softcore toon it would make things easier for you, especially for doing hell's runs, especially if at first the group members are advised that you might have to be afk at any time for an indefinite period. In the worst case scenario when you return, if there is a risk of respawning while the group is on a new map you could use an SOS to port to leader and continue the run with the group. Also the constraints of losing a group member during runs with softcore toons are less critical than with HC, in the worst case our toons will just go limbo and have to restore one of our gears, we won't lose our toon like with HC.
The advantage of tagging your toons on hell's runs is among other things to give your toons the possibility to use some equipment and items increasing the power, protection, etc. of your toons and therefore they are not only more efficient in their actions but also they survive more easily.
In short, I would never refuse that you join a Hell's run that I would make and I believe that all those who responded to your post would also welcome you in their groups even if they know that you may have to leave at any time for an indefinite period.
|
|
|
Post by Paradoom on Sept 17, 2022 10:18:38 GMT
I know People love to min max on HG and I get it there is a noticeable advantage but I like to build my stuff with my own restrictions and it sometimes means a less than ideal toon but as long as I can do something and I enjoy it then I don't mind not being top or a toon that just kind of a filler in the run. My brother!!!! That was the reason I started playing GI for a self nerf and challange in the beginning. And look at it now
|
|