Can we finally get real content / gameplay?

[muzickmage]

IMO, the problem with dungeons is ... group play. The fact that you have to do them with other people is whats destroying the dungeons and dungeon play experience.

A couple days ago I decided to take my level 64 Summoner, who is equiped with level 60 Ironworks gear (inluding all jewelry slots) and solo the ARR dungeons ... beginning with Sastasha, and one by one make my way to Castrum/Praetorium just to see how it all worked.

Despite being in Sastasha many times with a group I was surprised to learn that there was a room in Sastasha I didn't even know existed. Its a bit off the beaten path, and it's treasure box likely won't offer anything you'd care about so its doesn't matter that you skip it but.... the point is.... I only found this room as a solo player.

Immediately i'm wondering.... what else am I missing because of group play?

One by one I continue working my way through the dungeons.... slowing beginning to struggle as I reach level 20+ dungeons... not because of the enemies... they were of course not an issue for my well geared level 64 summoner... but because ... I didn't know that some things had to be clicked on... or pulled.. etc... to complete these dungeons. I didn't know about all these mechanics that were happening during dungeon plays.... until I had to do them all alone.

As part of a group.. I could complete these dungeons without any trouble at all a dozen times over while only half paying attention to what i'm doing. But alone... I found myself standing in one spot trying to figure out what I was supposed to do. OK... now that I know.... fair enough. But the point is... group play didn't teach me this. I had to teach myself during solo play.

How many of you know (and i'm going to guess all of you lol) that you need to use the canon to kill Livia Sas Junius in Castrum Meridianum? Well.... it was news to me. I have completed Castrum Meridianum literally dozens of times with a group without any major problems. But last night I soloed it and learned... wait for it lol... you can quiet the alarm by shutting off the big lights. AND... now I know why we ALWAYS ran down that dead end in every dungeon run. There's 2 pipes we have to blow up down there. Despite the many times i've been in this dungeon as part of a group... I didn't know these things were happening during the dungeon play. So when I went in as a solo player.... I was lost. I didn't know what to do.

I know now... but that's not the point.

As a solo dungeon runner... I found the experience more rewarding, more of a challenge, while at the same time... less stressful.