Soloing on the mainland?

[necrosub]

I've just recently headed to the mainland. Yrkanis, specifically. I was wondering how soloing is possible, as I've read so in other threads. I read that it was slow, and with a lot of downtime, but I've found it /exceedingly difficult/. I'm using the Ranger armour, Duellist Blade and shield (quest one). My skill in Melee Fighting is about 36. Off Magic is around 32.

The raguses and gingos that roam around Yrkanis are all different ranges in difficulty. I fight one that's easy to challenging, and turn around to find a higher level one ripping me to pieces. Are there no level ranges to the areas? I figured as the yubos, capyrni, and bodocs were low levels (1-10) that the other creatures would be about the same. But no.

I can't find any herbivores to fight that I can get half-decent XP off. They give me less than 100 XP each. Some of the carnivores give good XP, but they move around so erratically that I can't manage to keep from getting adds. And they are effectively stopping me from getting out of the immediate area of Yrk, so I can find other mobs to fight.

I guess I'm wondering: Am I doing something wrong? Is there some tactics I should employ/gear I should use that will make things easier? Is it going to be this hard for the whole game?

I know people will tell me to get into a group, but I didn't see many people at all in Yrk. A /who didn't bring up a lot of names. Those people I did see were all 100+ lvls in skill. There's no reason for them to team with me, unless they want to work on some unused skill. And I don't want to be powerleveled either. That just removes the reason to actually play the game at all.

I want to be able to solo, even if it's difficult, as I'm an extremely casual player. I like to be able to stop playing at any point to go make food, chat with friends, or simply play some other game that tickles my fancy. I can't dedicate hours of gameplay at a time, and wouldn't choose to if I could anyways.

I'm liking SoR but I keep getting the feeling that the game simply isn't for someone like me. It seems like it's more old school, forced grouping than solo-friendly.

If soloing is possible, anyone have any tips/advice/suggestions to help me out?

Thanks in advance.
Jaecek (Matis Warrior)

[geezas]

Old school was single player

Seriously, you can get out of yrkanis but you have to sneak around the aggro mobs a bit.

You could ask in region for some support, I'm sure there are some people who help out to let you make some first steps into the big world.

[chessack]

Soloing is certainly possible. It's going to be a bit rough around Yrkanis at level 36 in fighting.... The main issue (as you've noticed) is that Raguses and Gingos like to patrol the roads, often in packs of 2-4 individuals. You'll need to move cautiously and go around them wherever possible. Frankly I found the pre-70s levels much easier to do in the desert, particularly working around near Fourways against Izams first, and later, against Igaras.

Also if you're going to melee, get rid of the ranger armor, and get some level 50 or so (if you have the stats for it) heavy armor as soon as you can. This will raise your resistance from around 30% to around 50%, which will help significantly. It will also give you more hit points (Heavy armor gives more HP bonus by default than medium does). Also, get yourself a nice set of level 50 jewels, which will provide a little magic/realm resistance, but can also provide up to +25 hp each (x10 = +250 HP). I can make sets of +25 level 50 jewels if you want... contact Sandaara in game and I will make you a set. Or check the vendors... I try to keep a set on the Matis and Fyros vendors (though they are Fyros jewels -- you can use them regardless of race)... My last batch is probably gone because I was away this week, but in a few days I should be back up to normal.

My guess would be a nice set of jewels + a nice set of heavy armor will leave you with a good 350-400 more HP than you have now without having to even gain a level. That will help a LOT... Then make sure you raise your stats every chance you get upon levelling to keep up your stamina, health, etc. And finally, get a nice solid level 40 or so sword if you can. On the island those quest items were way better than any crafter could make, but on the mainland, the crafter stuff buries the island "loot." Look to replace it all as soon as possible.

Really, this will help. With Ranger Armor and the Q45 2H sword, Sandaara around level 50 was able to kill 2, maybe 3 things around her level and would then have to stop and rest (this includes, during the killing of those 2-3 things, the user of her best self heal). After joining the Order of Dragonblades I was given a Q50 2H sword that buried the fire/wrath one from the island in terms of damage, and a nice set of Q70 heavy armor. My resistance almost doubled, and my HP went up considerably. I then went out hunting and found I could take on 5-7 of the same exact critters before needing to rest again. Just from that my levelling speed probably went up by 50%.

Also, I find it helps to have secondary goals when hunting. If you're just killing things to level it can be a bore. But when I am killing things to obtain "eyes" and "nails" to make jewels, for instance (or whatever), to me it makes things more interesting. (Also, during rest periods I can whip out my jewel making tool and make some jewels.)

C

[rushin]

what sandaara said

the mobs in the starter zones range from 5 (is suckling yubo 5?) to 70, you can get an indication of their level by the number of stars (1-5) but there is more to consider when picking targets especially when solo. some mobs make good melee targets others dont. birds are often good, carnivoires you need to learn how to pull and to fight in a safe area, thats down to experience but you'll get the hang of it.

Ideally dont just run blindly around, take your time and notice whats hunting what, and where. then find a place that gets no aggro mobs and pull your chosen target back there.

The RoS equipment is not useful on the mainland as you will outlevel it almost straight away/can find better the same level.

[necrosub]

I bought a full set of Heavy armour, a new shield, all new jewellry (as mine was crappy stuff I made myself when fiddling with Crafting), and a 2h sword. My HPs have jumped from 550-ish to 880, and my resists are much higher. Though I can't find a better 1h sword to use on the vendors, as my Parry is slightly higher with the shield than the 2hander. 6% higher, in fact.

Now I find the 2hander far better for dmg, even though it's slower. I do ~230 dmg / swing with it, compared to the 60-90 with the 1hander. The 2hander isn't half the spd, so it's far superior.

I'm just wondering why it seems I'm somewhat "forced" into using specific gear in order to simply survive. I thought the whole idea was that you can be whatever you want. But trying to be a meleer in Light/Medium armour, dual wielding, etc., just don't work out. You gimp yourself pretty bad. It seems like you simply have more options (Magic, Melee, Ranged, etc.), but for each one there's specific gear you have to use.

It sucks. I originally wanted an agile, dual wielding fighter. But now it seems I'm stuck with the 2hander and heavy armour.

[rushin]

i'm a dual wielder. i've worn MA for ages and ages but i broke it and i havent been able to replace it yet so in HA for a bit.

not every skill is equal, but they shouldnt be. you are forcing yourself to use 2h and HA because its easier. I'm not necessarily blaming you, especially if you want to solo 1h is a painful choice, but its still a choice.

[vguerin]

Unless I am PvPing I dual wield in LA almost exclusively, always have... this allows me to change to another role most quickly.

You might be misreading what folks have said about being what you want to be... Until your skill trees split, what you use really doesn't matter as your not a specialist. You can use exactly the gear you choose, but it may not be the best or most efficient for soloing. You have to weigh the XP you get with how to be most efficient. If you can kill lesser mobs for less XP but at a higher rate and less risk, it might be better than getting them Gingo's which will be your best XP other than maybe Kipee and risking DP every fight.

[necrosub]

I think my biggest problem is that the only mobs worth anywhere near decent XP are the carnivores, which I almost have to use a 2-hander vs. cause I'm soloing.

If there's some herbivores somewhere, I haven't found them. The capyrni, bodocs and yubos are all worthless for XP. There's the odd one of those that give decent XP, can't remember their title though ("roaming"?), but it's a pain to try and find one in a mass of crappy ones.

Also, the fact that aggro sticks with you for so long makes it impossible for me to get away from the nastier gingos. I can use the speed boost, but after it wears off they catch up and eat me. I don't know what to do, as they always seem to catch me at the wrong times. Bad luck, I guess.

I'll keep trying to figure things out. I appreciate the help so far, but as I see it now, the future chance of me subbing for another month looks grim. Perhaps things will change though.

Here's to hoping.

[xmojo]

I moved to the mainland two days ago as a lvl 56 2-handed meleer with Ranger gear. Two days later I still have the Silan weapons/equipment and I've gone up to lvl 58. As you said, I've been levelling up primarily on gingos/raguses. I've found that only the Scowling Gingo gives me decent XP (900xp/kill). I have explored a little bit, going so far as Natae to do a couple of missions. I check the merchants regularly for better equipment, but the better 2-H swords are either just beyond my ability or over-priced. I feel as you do, I shouldn't have to be forced to wear Heavy armor to survive as I prefer Medium armor. I am starting to check Heavy armor but I like to keep my armor color-coordinated too so finding matched pieces is a pain. It looks pretty much like I will have to spend Fight credits on boosting my Strength so that I can use the better weapons.

[mikadou]

Plants give good xp, see if any that are near your level are around. Psykopla, Shooki, Stinga, etc.

I've been wearing MA since I got off the island, and it's been working fine for me. But then, I'm not really soloing melee much.

I feel as you do, I shouldn't have to be forced to wear Heavy armor to survive as I prefer Medium armor. I am starting to check Heavy armor but I like to keep my armor color-coordinated too so finding matched pieces is a pain. It looks pretty much like I will have to spend Fight credits on boosting my Strength so that I can use the better weapons.

I've never had a problem with armor. Are you in a guild? I just say what color/class armor or amps I want, and someone whips em up for me. I also put people that I know craft certain things, on my friendslist, and order stuff from them too, when I need it.

If you're having trouble finding gear on the vendors, perhaps post a advertisement on the forums, and I'm sure a crafter will be more than happy to supply your needs.