Soloing Instances

Being level capped for the moment, I like back-tracking a bit and going into previous instances solo. Although I usually have some sort of reason to do so, sometimes it's just for the experience and maybe an achievement. Today was one of those days where I had sorta kinda had a plan. Kara. Never been there and wanted to give it a go. I needed a key though, so it was off to Shattrath to run the key fragments quest chain. No problem, could'nt be any worse than most quest lines.


The first two fragments were easy enough to get, even though I had to run a seperate instance to get a key for the instance to get the first fragment. Minor side-track, but easily done. The second fragment was even easier, did'nt have to kill a single thing til I opened the arcane jar. (good stealth kitty) So far...so good. The problem came with the third fragment though. Turns out it was hidden within Tempest Keep, raid group required for entrance. *insert unsavory words of choice here* I solo things. It is a personal accomplishment I look forward to. The last thing I want to do is to attempt getting a group together for one lousy key fragment. I don't need the boss kills, I can live without the achievement, I just want the damn key fragment.

This is where I have strong disagreement with Blizzard's ways. It is my belief that if a level capped player wishes to solo older instances, Blizzard should not stand in their way of doing or attempting to do so, by requiring them to be in a group. Sure, make them run quest lines for keys and such. Or even add some odd quest to the line-up to allow a solo player to enter. These are 'old world' instances, pre-Wrath. I fail to see why a level capped player should be stopped from attempting to solo such instances. Yes, I know that there are ways around this nuisance, but finding someone willing to group long enough just to get you in to solo is next to impossible, at least on my server. Perhaps this is just the price I have to pay for soloing 80 levels with Sol. Perhaps I'll just have to bite the bullet and come into the reality that there are just some things past that I will not be able to experience.

What do you think of this? Should a level capped player be able to enter instances pre-Wrath solo? These are all old content, not really useable at level cap, (unless you pass it on to an alt maybe), so does it really make any difference to require a group?

Oh well, that's my little rant for the week. With Kara out of the picture for now, I'm off to try something else. I really do need to spend some time practicing my off-spec tanking, solo at first of coarse. Wouldn't want to get anybody else killed in the process :) Still need to get back into WG also and build up some sort tanking gear set. Hmmmm...bag space for extra set of gear to carry. /shrugs That's another story for another time.

Learn something every day

There are some thngs I've learned over time about using the RDF, for instance, the importance surrounding the time of day. For my own local time, the earlier the better. Between 5am and 9am, most always get a good group of random people. Players who will take a minute or two making sure everyone is on the same page so to speak, and willing to answer any questions about the run. From 9am up till noon, everything becomes real iffy. It's like the whole crowd had a shift change or something. Attitudes and friendliness levels drop fast. After 12 noon...should'nt even bother, it'll be the worst case scenerio's you can imagine.


I took two days off from the game since I've been pushing myself over better gear and things. Today I came back with fresh thoughts and good intentions about doing more with dungeons, getting more accomplished. I started my routine a bit later than usual, and tossed in two WG battles as sort of buffers. My first RDF norm went really quick. I got dropped into one where the group had wiped, and two had left the group. Wasn't much to finish, a small amount of trash and the final boss. Took all of five minutes and out.

I went for a herioc mode next. Now, I've only done one of these before today, they are a bit harder for sure and I'm still a bit hesitant and nervous about them. Anyway, turns out to be Culling of Strathholm. Ok!, I think. I've done this on norm several times and pretty well know the fight. Right? WRONG!

It was late afternoon, three of the group obviously knew each other and talked amidst themselves. No hello's, no nothing. That's ok, I'm just there to dps and nuke, np. What I didn't know was that there was apparently some sort of portal or something which I obviously missed. Followed the group up and the three seemed to disappear. So I mounted and went down the road anyway, I knew the way there. Then I see about halfway there that the three group is already engaged and on the second wave. Now I'm really wondering what I missed. I get there and jump in on the second wave with the rest, got off two shots...and found myself back in Dal. I got group kicked, took a moment to realize this. Hmmmm, never been kicked before. Something new added to the soup. A little bit later I learned that there is something about doing that instance in a certain amount of time and someone gets a drake or something like that. Hmmmm, I don't think I got any points for speed today. More like; Live, Die, learn from mistakes, and get kicked.

Now with all that went on, I'm not even really sure about this port to instance or drake thing. Logic says there must have been one or how did the three get there so quick? Either way, my obvious lack of knowledge cost me this time. I'll just have to make a list of the heroics and see if I can find some vids on them for 5-mans. I do take the time to watch these things, though they are mostly 10's and 25's. Either way though, I still need to learn quite a bit, ok, maybe a lot. The herioc modes will just have to wait a bit longer.
 
Sol