Aion

Or will you be able to solo up to lvl cap. Ive played many MMOs out there and absolutely fell in love with FFXI b/c of its "force grouping" (never played EQ1). A little bit of both would be sweet too. I guess what Im asking is will this game offer a challenge while lvling that will require help a lot? Im just getting sick of all the easy dull WoW clones....../cry

From what I've been reading, grouping is neither forced or useless until end game. You can solo if you want or have to go that way due to time restrictions, but you will probably do better and have more fun with the game if you group.

Like FFXI and LotrO they are group combo skills that will help you defeat challenging content, and the leveling curve while not being grindarific is not as easy peasy as WoW and will probably go faster in a good group.

If I'm wrong testers, let us know. ;)

Just to add that as far as i know The Abyss its supposed to be really group oriented, PvPvE, castles and so.  

PvP is always group oriented, even in FPS games.  5 people > 1, simple fact.  

Originally posted by mbg1411

Or will you be able to solo up to lvl cap. Ive played many MMOs out there and absolutely fell in love with FFXI b/c of its "force grouping" (never played EQ1). A little bit of both would be sweet too. I guess what Im asking is will this game offer a challenge while lvling that will require help a lot? Im just getting sick of all the easy dull WoW clones....../cry

I have to agree the most fun ive had in an MMORPG was in EQ ,1 when you basically had to group in order to level. Very few classes in tha game could solo unless you had very good gear.  And that was near impossible for a very long time. I hope that MMORPG's slowly go back to the you are requierd to group to level system.  However I dont think Aion will go in that direction.  Aion seems to be more like a Final fantasy in a WoW type enviroment. Which is a good thing considering WoW has some great art design, and im excited that they are taking the character art style from FF type art. Overall it should be a beutiful game, and I am hoping its gonig to be WoW/WAR/FF in one game.

some area's on the map require a party because the mobs are leet as hell. I have been soloing the whole time in OBT, At lvl 17-18 I came to the area with the leets mobs and died like 4 times trying to solo them. So with me unable to get a party I found a new map area with mobs ranging from l9 and up and I had no problem killing these mobs at lvl18. I think the better drops can be found in the party areas but i'm not sure.

Originally posted by Sharajat

PvP is always group oriented, even in FPS games.  5 people > 1, simple fact.  

that depends on who the 1 person is

Originally posted by toddze

Originally posted by Sharajat

PvP is always group oriented, even in FPS games.  5 people > 1, simple fact.  

 

that depends on who the 1 person is

so friggin true XD

Originally posted by redrum666er

Originally posted by toddze

Originally posted by Sharajat

PvP is always group oriented, even in FPS games.  5 people > 1, simple fact.  

 

that depends on who the 1 person is

 

so friggin true XD

Going "Rambo" in FPS games is awsome. Knowing that you just smoked the other team with little to no help from your team. There is no better feeling than that, as a gamer.   

IMO that is.