A Great Game, But a Frustrating Experience for Solo Players

[DerFeeeynd]

I genuinely like this game. The setting is original, the base-building is enjoyable, and the grind, within reason, is perfectly fine. The gunplay is also well-executed.

But despite all these positives, there’s one massive flaw: You simply can’t finish the game as a solo player. The last two major dungeons, which are crucial for progressing in the story, are locked at level 60 master difficulty. This is infuriating because up until these missions, everything could be tackled solo.

To make matters worse, the servers are depressingly empty. Finding a group is rare, and matchmaking can take 30 minutes or more. As it stands, the endgame is almost unplayable for solo players, and is only appealing to groups.

This drastically reduces the replay value, especially given the short seasons that last just a few weeks. It’s truly a shame that a game with so much potential ends up being such a disappointment for those who prefer to play solo.

[AngryChef]

the servers feel empty cause they are. cause people are waking up to the scam this game is mate :D

[zghaun]

Originally posted by AngryChef:

the servers feel empty cause they are. cause people are waking up to the scam this game is mate :D

scam, is a free game.
OK

[DerFeeeynd]

Since the purchases are almost exclusively for cosmetics, I don't find it particularly exploitative—unless there's something I'm overlooking?

[Dr. Atrocious]

It is a problem. Maybe they'll get the identity crisis this game suffers from ironed out in following seasons.

[xxxHolic Waltz]

Your best bet is to ask around to what servers peeps are playing on then transfer once the new season starts. I did most of the content as a duo with the iffy random matchmaking for certain content and eventually once I got to the raids I found a group of people who regularly ran content on the server.

You CAN do stuff solo buy you're making the already grindy experience of running content in hopes of getting whatever mod you want for your build longer than it should be. Eventually you'll be able to run most of it solo, heck it's even a challenge in the logs for some Marks but ultimately their (the devs) focus seems to be a PvP experience with PvE after it. Not really an entirely solo experience either way you go.

[Spyware006]

They will add a cross-server party feature to help with dead servers issue. Maybe will help

[Sheva]

It is possible to do. If you sweat for the right build. I know this because I'm sweaty with the right build. I do think they should have just simple hard modes for Forsaken and LEA though for those who arent sweats like me. Pretty simple, just drop loot quality like all the others. Ill still be sweating in pro regardless. But it wont be for me, it will be for the casuals who just wanna enjoy the story and I think thats wholly fair.

[Tiki]

Originally posted by DerFeeeynd:

I genuinely like this game. The setting is original, the base-building is enjoyable, and the grind, within reason, is perfectly fine. The gunplay is also well-executed.

But despite all these positives, there’s one massive flaw: You simply can’t finish the game as a solo player. The last two major dungeons, which are crucial for progressing in the story, are locked at level 60 master difficulty. This is infuriating because up until these missions, everything could be tackled solo.

To make matters worse, the servers are depressingly empty. Finding a group is rare, and matchmaking can take 30 minutes or more. As it stands, the endgame is almost unplayable for solo players, and is only appealing to groups.

This drastically reduces the replay value, especially given the short seasons that last just a few weeks. It’s truly a shame that a game with so much potential ends up being such a disappointment for those who prefer to play solo.

Solo player here. Finished every Silo, every Monolith in all difficulties including LEA solo. (LEA being the only one I struggled with) The only content I couldn't do alone obviously were prime wars. Did those too with the server.

[DerFeeeynd]

I managed to solo the "Forgotten Giant," but it was a real challenge for me. However, I can’t solo LEA—it's just too frustrating. Up until these two dungeons, the game was manageable, and the hard mode of most dungeons was enjoyable to play. But these two dungeons present a difficult task, especially for players who have a life outside the game and can’t spend endless hours grinding and optimizing gear.

[Wabbajack]

You can totally solo LEA and Forgotten giants. There are even special rewards for it in the last week of the season. It's not easy but doable.

[Firecam]

Like others said, be a meta slave or don't do it.

[Big Boom Boom]

Originally posted by DerFeeeynd:

I managed to solo the "Forgotten Giant," but it was a real challenge for me. However, I can’t solo LEA—it's just too frustrating. Up until these two dungeons, the game was manageable, and the hard mode of most dungeons was enjoyable to play. But these two dungeons present a difficult task, especially for players who have a life outside the game and can’t spend endless hours grinding and optimizing gear.

LEA is obviously a meta only if you want solo, but Forsaken Giant is not hard. DMG is not required, unless I'm wrong it's quite obvious you can't dmg the boss too fast because the weakspot will stop being weak spot after a certain amount of dmg done to it, even though it's still glowing, so you can't melt boss in 5 seconds like other Silos. It's just a simple mechanic fight where you have to be patient.

[FallenActual]

Originally posted by DerFeeeynd:

I genuinely like this game. The setting is original, the base-building is enjoyable, and the grind, within reason, is perfectly fine. The gunplay is also well-executed.

But despite all these positives, there’s one massive flaw: You simply can’t finish the game as a solo player. The last two major dungeons, which are crucial for progressing in the story, are locked at level 60 master difficulty. This is infuriating because up until these missions, everything could be tackled solo.

To make matters worse, the servers are depressingly empty. Finding a group is rare, and matchmaking can take 30 minutes or more. As it stands, the endgame is almost unplayable for solo players, and is only appealing to groups.

This drastically reduces the replay value, especially given the short seasons that last just a few weeks. It’s truly a shame that a game with so much potential ends up being such a disappointment for those who prefer to play solo.

yeah even in PvE01-00001 the servers on the last half of the phases seems way more empty than usual

[cults]

Originally posted by Tiki:

Originally posted by DerFeeeynd:

I genuinely like this game. The setting is original, the base-building is enjoyable, and the grind, within reason, is perfectly fine. The gunplay is also well-executed.

But despite all these positives, there’s one massive flaw: You simply can’t finish the game as a solo player. The last two major dungeons, which are crucial for progressing in the story, are locked at level 60 master difficulty. This is infuriating because up until these missions, everything could be tackled solo.

To make matters worse, the servers are depressingly empty. Finding a group is rare, and matchmaking can take 30 minutes or more. As it stands, the endgame is almost unplayable for solo players, and is only appealing to groups.

This drastically reduces the replay value, especially given the short seasons that last just a few weeks. It’s truly a shame that a game with so much potential ends up being such a disappointment for those who prefer to play solo.

Solo player here. Finished every Silo, every Monolith in all difficulties including LEA solo. (LEA being the only one I struggled with) The only content I couldn't do alone obviously were prime wars. Did those too with the server.

maybe im lucky, but my server is very active. there's always someone doing something, or looking for a party, advertising their party in the team channel. and when i crafted 50 red plasma and everyone ragequit because of molotv lag on a pro PW, i was going to be so pissed if i lost all these resources that i corralled the entire server do do all 9 PWs with me.

its not too hard, most people are just bored and initiating / leading people is something most dont want to do in a chill video game. i got my starchrome and got value out of my red missiles, i dont really coordinate the server now. what im saying is, as a solo, just bring the DPS and pay attention to the people coordinating/strategizing and you'll be fine.

do watch a tutorial for LEA and Forsaken Giant though, those are unforgiving and you dont want to waste people's resources by being a burden. rest of the game is a cake walk. just optimize your gear by farming/crafting for a day or two and you'll keep up just fine.