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I am suprised at how many people on this thread do not want to group. As in EQ1, EQ2 is designed to be a group-based game. Sure, you can solo, but IMO grouping is more fun and rewarding.
Why are you surprised? SOE advertised that EQ2 would cater to different styles of gameplay. Be it grouper, soloer, powergamer, casual player, etc.
In actual execution, it may be slightly harsher for soloers (others opinion, I had no trouble getting to 22 with my Guardian and right now 18, going on 19, with my Predator), but EQ2 was not (originally) designed to be only a group-based game.
Grouping more fun? I guess so. The comraderie is great and if you're in a good pick-up group, the pace would be great also. No argument over the rewards however, as there are group specific loot, and/or loot that can only be gotten if you have the help of a group.
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At the lower levels, I would agree that soling is probably fine. But if you're still soloing much past 15, I think you are missing out on a lot
From what I heard, after 25~30, is where soloing gets particularly nasty. Soloing is fine whenever someone wants to solo. That's the difference between EQ1 (and FFXI) and EQ2.
Remember... the Multiplayer in MMORPG means more than one player, not group-oriented gaming. The EQ1 (and FFXI) mindset of playing holds no water for EQ2...
At least it shouldn't.
The only thing good about the forced grouping that I experience in FFXI is that because you NEED a group to progress, player reputation and server community tends to be better.
Then again, comparing playing a game that has a few years to mature with one that only has a few months under its belt may not be exactly fair.
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Sure, you can set up a group anyway you like but to be most efficient you need one of each archtype for HO's.
Thankfully, this is a playstyle that can be avoided in EQ2 (mostly at least). "...to be most efficient" smacks of powergaming. Now, this is how some people play, and this is how I play in FFXI (really, no other way to play), and there's nothing wrong with that. But some people want to take their time, have fun (in a different way) and experiment.
Being most efficient is playing on the edge of being an elitist and someone who just wants to get through the levels quickly. There's both in EQ2 (and definitely in other games as well). Hopefully, elitism doesn't take over EQ2 as it does with FFXI...
Or those adventure packs that people keep harping are "optional", won't really be optional after all.