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I am sorry to tell you that the more I play CoH the less I like playing in groups. The game just doesn't seem to be built for large groups at least for my taste. The more I play however the more I find I love soloing this game. Partnering is also very cool because you can't have a "balanced" team (AoE blaster, healer, tank) in a 1 or 2 person team so you have to think instead.
I prefer strategy not just mindless punching. Once you get more than about 3 people on a team villian groups get so big that, in most cases, targetting specific mobs after the first one becomes pretty hopeless if you want to take them down fast enough. You just rely on AoEs both for damage and aggro with single target shooters just picking up who they can or trying to get bosses/leuts. There is no strategy involved in most fights it is straight bull in full force and whoever does the most damage wins.
On the other hand solo, partner or even 3 players can be completely different. You usually can't just overpower every group of mobs (unless soloing a overpowered build which is a completely different issue). So you have to split mobs, you have to pull - basically you have to use strategy instead of force. You have to use stealth and build up to get close enough to take out key mobs then run away so that you can come back and finish off the rest. You have to figure out inventive ways to use your powers that large groups just don't have the patience for. As far as I'm concerned this is FUN.
Obviously fun is different for different people I guess but for me nothing is more fun than coming up with and executing tactics that work and do things I couldn't do otherwise.
Fun for me is my Ice Controller pulling much too big a group then dashing around a corner and dropping a ice slick at the corner so that most of the mobs get around the corner quickly and we pick the ones who do. Fun is Soloing my Peacebringer and going in with Stealth on in human form hitting Haste and Build-up just as I reach melee range with a Vortex in a group of mobs, Radiant Strike to put him down, Pulsar to get group off me, Incandesent Strike to finish off Vortex (add Gleamming Blast if necessary) and possibly an extra RS if anyone in range then switch to Nova form set off 2 AoEs then quickly to dwarf form for a heal and to finish off the group.
Not fun is switching to Nova Form and cycling through my 4 blasts for 4 hours, occasionally switching to another form for a heal or for effects protection while I level weee. Sorry I am sure some people must enjoy playing like that, because a lot of people sure do it, but I for one just don't get it.
I want to be dynamic and I want the game to be dynamic. I want to have to think and plan and I want to be rewarded for it. I don't want to punch keys for 4,000 exp an hour.
Now I realize this isn't for everyone and I have met many people in game who can't handle it and would be better off if the game just had an auto attack key. They aren't there to think they just like to hit things I guess I don't know you would have to ask them. I have also met people who I have partnered with who have said that it was the most fun they have had in CoH, because it was crazy and exciting and damn fun.
When deciding about encouraging teaming and whether soloing is good for the game please consider this and try it out for yourselves. Take non traditional partners (i.e. not healer/tank scrapper) through missions. Try a pre 32 Controller/Defender or Controller/Blaster duo. These work very well once you figure out how, they are odd to play at first though and that is what makes them fun. Especially fun for the Defender when you push them up front and tell them they are the main damage dealer now. And before anyone points it out NO you won't level as fast as you would teamed with a Fire Tank or whatever but who gives a flying fig? Leveling is a goal the point of the game (any game) is to have fun.
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I've really enjoyed my 2nd character (post 50) is pure support and I love the large group play, The toughest part is finding large groups.......
