We finally finished the main storylines in the core game earlier today, we've probably done 80-90% of the main missions & side missions in the 3 Solomon Islands maps, 70-80% in 2 Egypt areas, and about 40% in Transylvania (seems like we'd finish what side-missions we'd come across, and have none left to do so move onto the main quest mission, and before we know it we've completed it and hardly done anything in Trans3).
Ive done loads of the Egypt #1 missions multiple times, like 4-5 times in some cases, simply cos they're fun and give a nice dollop of XP.
I dunno why, but i've always really liked the first area in each zone (Sol, Egypt & Trans) and not been that fussed about the others after them.
Sol-2 wasnt bad, but 3 felt a lot more random compared to Sol-1 which was familiar and homely feeling. Egypt-2 lacked character IMO, where the first is my favourite region. Trans 1, 2 & 3 all seem about the same, but i still felt #1 was much nicer. I think each one starts quite familiar, as towns or villages, and then start to get darker and more over-run.
I've never quite known what to expect from MMO type games, im not fussed about traditional multiplayer content, i'd much rather play a rich storyline than 10 multiplayer maps over and over and over. Finding games with a co-op element is a real PITA, but im very tempted to start trying more MMORPG types, provided they have no subscription model.
Im really hoping that they release a full size DLC which adds an entire new region (like Solomon, Egypt & Transylvania) with a load of missions and stuff in there, rather than just side-expansions which is how i'd describe Issue 5 & 6.
Once you've completed the quests you're left with the dungeons and lairs, and unless theres a handful of you, they're just not possible. I've joined a Cabal and done one of the Elites, and fortunately my character best suits the healer role, so all i needed to do was kinda hang back, keep someone alive and not get killed myself. But as 'co-op' (2P), we've kinda struggled in places with just the 'normal' ones where its recommended QL3-4 and we're both packing full blue gear and unlocked all the skills & abilities we'd be able to take advantage of.
I guess the 'problem' is that they're not really designed for 2-3 people, it would have been nicer if they were scaled to the number of ppl in there, so say 100% difficulty for 1 person, 180% for 2, 260% for 3 etc, so progressively easier per-person if theres more people, but not near impossible if you dont have 2 others attacking with you, drawing agro/hate to give you time to heal or let someone else take the heat, and 2 people healing you, all to kill the exact same boss. It becomes pretty much impossible to beat a boss which has the intention of being taken on by 5 ppl.
The ones we've beat have mainly been through grinding it, slowly chipping away and not getting killed, rather than through skill, ability or cunning. I guess the thing is its content designed for groups, not 2 people, but it also feels like it could be adaptable for smaller groups so its still a challenge. Fortunately there are plenty of instances in the main game quests for that, but it does feel like the very top-tier stuff is kept at arms length unless you come with an army.
I quite fancy giving Guild Wars 2 a try after this, or at least checking out some alternatives.
