Floki_Vilgerdarson wrote: »

I only play pve and have a VR14 Nightblade Stam build bow/2 hand. I have been solo since launch with my 2 Nightblades. The other is VR12.

I tried to solo the sewers last night and some play above ground. I held my own but got to some dremora that self heal faster than I can damage.

My questions are as follows:

1. Is Imperial City DLC a waist of time for a solo player?

2. When I get to VR 16 tomorrow (yes i play 10+ hours a day every day.) will that make enough difference?

3. Is Orsinium DLC going to be anti solo players like IC?

Thanks,

Floki

1. Nope. I've been doing it mostly solo, and only occasionally grouping up (it's often a lot more fun in a small group though). The district daily quests are pretty easy to solo once you get the hang of fighting the tougher IC mobs, and keeping an eye out for signs of enemy player activity, and being aware of wandering mobs & sweeper bosses. I strongly suspect you're talking about the Cauterizers when you talk about a mob that self-heals faster than you can damage. They'll do that: you have to interrupt their heals. If you don't interrupt healing mobs, you're going to have a bad time.
2. It'll make a bit of a difference, but probably not that much unless you get yourself a new set of VR16 gear. For reference, I got to VR16 in a pretty short time after starting to try out IC (there's good XP to be had there), and I don't notice much of a difference in the difficulty at VR16 vs VR14-15. I'm still using all of my VR14 gear, by the way.
3. Orsinium is said to be very solo-friendly. Some of it will be content that's intended more for groups (like the public dungeons and world bosses), but overall it's supposed to be mostly intended for solo PVE play.

Anyone else with input?

UrQuan wrote: »

Floki_Vilgerdarson wrote: »

I only play pve and have a VR14 Nightblade Stam build bow/2 hand. I have been solo since launch with my 2 Nightblades. The other is VR12.

I tried to solo the sewers last night and some play above ground. I held my own but got to some dremora that self heal faster than I can damage.

My questions are as follows:

1. Is Imperial City DLC a waist of time for a solo player?

2. When I get to VR 16 tomorrow (yes i play 10+ hours a day every day.) will that make enough difference?

3. Is Orsinium DLC going to be anti solo players like IC?

Thanks,

Floki

1. Nope. I've been doing it mostly solo, and only occasionally grouping up (it's often a lot more fun in a small group though). The district daily quests are pretty easy to solo once you get the hang of fighting the tougher IC mobs, and keeping an eye out for signs of enemy player activity, and being aware of wandering mobs & sweeper bosses. I strongly suspect you're talking about the Cauterizers when you talk about a mob that self-heals faster than you can damage. They'll do that: you have to interrupt their heals. If you don't interrupt healing mobs, you're going to have a bad time.
2. It'll make a bit of a difference, but probably not that much unless you get yourself a new set of VR16 gear. For reference, I got to VR16 in a pretty short time after starting to try out IC (there's good XP to be had there), and I don't notice much of a difference in the difficulty at VR16 vs VR14-15. I'm still using all of my VR14 gear, by the way.
3. Orsinium is said to be very solo-friendly. Some of it will be content that's intended more for groups (like the public dungeons and world bosses), but overall it's supposed to be mostly intended for solo PVE play.

I'll disagree on one point in this otherwise great reply.

My VR16 Gold Hundings & Nights Silence armour & weapons combined with agility jewellery have proven a HUGE bonus for me in IC.

I'm the original solo Pve noob, and switched from DW to 2H to survive, full Stamblade, full medium, and given care & a little luck I can solo all the IC gates(?) as well.
Bal's gates & he himself, Sweeper bosses, WGT, Prison, Arena, all impossible for me solo, as are the Sweepers in the sewers...but everything else you can do once you fail a few times to learn the mechanics of different mobs/mini bosses.

There's almost always plenty of others around to help in the above challenges, and I've even teamed with opposition players above ground (in cross factional pug groups) killing sweepers before reverting to a Pvp fight.

1. VR15 gear should make a big difference 4 u. Minimal stat difference from v16 . Just don't pull more than a couple npc at a time or a elite one at a time. Most people I know can solo in v15 gear. Gonna guess u already use a self heals playing solo all the time. Run it to sell the mats if nothing else

Floki_Vilgerdarson wrote: »

I only play pve and have a VR14 Nightblade Stam build bow/2 hand. I have been solo since launch with my 2 Nightblades. The other is VR12.

I tried to solo the sewers last night and some play above ground. I held my own but got to some dremora that self heal faster than I can damage.

My questions are as follows:

1. Is Imperial City DLC a waist of time for a solo player?

2. When I get to VR 16 tomorrow (yes i play 10+ hours a day every day.) will that make enough difference?

3. Is Orsinium DLC going to be anti solo players like IC?

Thanks,

Floki

Contrary to what others have said, you absolutely can be a solo player for IC with the exception of a couple spots. I've found every skyshard in the sewers and up top (all solo), as well as completed the main story with the drake of blades (two spots you need a group or just wait until a group shows up). You don't need to be v16 either. I think I was at v5 when I first came in.

The key is to sneak.. A lot! Also choose your battles wisely. Don't run up to an ogrim and three dremora and start whacking.. Find ones that are in groups of one or two. Mobs are much stronger here and can't be handled the same way as in other zones.

Once you complete the main quest it opens up five or 6 daily quests that can all be soloed for easy TV stones. Another good way to get stones is to sneak around the buildings up top. Lots of chests you can loot if you're careful.

Also keep a close eye on your map. It will show you where the PVP battles are taking place. Avoid those areas

Lastly and most importantly, choose a campaign that has mainly your faction and little of the other faction and play at off hours. If you're on a NA server play at 4am EST when in PVP zones.

Alucardo wrote: »

I've been soloing on my stam blade since level 39 (VR1 now). IC was made for stamina Nightblades. Keep camo hunter up and spam silver leash - no daedra or undead are going to outlast that.
The self-heal ones you're talking about are probably those Dremora things that act like Templars. Use a bash to cancel their healing then burst them down. Silver leash them whenever CC immunity is up.
Will VR16 make a difference? Like I said, I've been easily soloing IC for a while now, even before vet levels. I probably couldn't have done it without my stam blade though in all honesty, at least not this easy. Remember, camo/evil hunter and silver leash are your friends. Animation cancelling a silver leash after a heavy attack from stealth will generally almost drop their health by half, so I usually start with that. The second one pulls them close to you, so you can switch to 2h and beat the snot out of them with medium attacks, soul harvest and some more leashy goodness.

Silver leash? You've confused me sorry?

Tholian1 wrote: »

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Alucardo wrote: »

I've been soloing on my stam blade since level 39 (VR1 now). IC was made for stamina Nightblades. Keep camo hunter up and spam silver leash - no daedra or undead are going to outlast that.
The self-heal ones you're talking about are probably those Dremora things that act like Templars. Use a bash to cancel their healing then burst them down. Silver leash them whenever CC immunity is up.
Will VR16 make a difference? Like I said, I've been easily soloing IC for a while now, even before vet levels. I probably couldn't have done it without my stam blade though in all honesty, at least not this easy. Remember, camo/evil hunter and silver leash are your friends. Animation cancelling a silver leash after a heavy attack from stealth will generally almost drop their health by half, so I usually start with that. The second one pulls them close to you, so you can switch to 2h and beat the snot out of them with medium attacks, soul harvest and some more leashy goodness.

I guess I should slot a fighters guild skill for IC. Will killing daedra there level up the fighters guild skill line? Mine doesn't seem to be progressing with the kills there.

I am never without Dawnbreaker (Flawless atm) & Camouflaged Hunter whilst hunting dremora/undead.

Rally then Camo before a long range Snipe does immense damage (attacking a solo) and sets them running at you...a simple target for more snipe or poison arrows to kill them before they reach you, Cauterizers included.
Rally then Camo then Arrow Barrage before Ambush then Brawler then light attacks/brawler/even WB is the group approach.

My non buffed HP is only 13,326, so I'm almost as squishy anyone can be, but the above approaches guarantee success with mobs in IC for me.

Tholian1 wrote: »

Swindy wrote: »

Tholian1 wrote: »

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Alucardo wrote: »

I've been soloing on my stam blade since level 39 (VR1 now). IC was made for stamina Nightblades. Keep camo hunter up and spam silver leash - no daedra or undead are going to outlast that.
The self-heal ones you're talking about are probably those Dremora things that act like Templars. Use a bash to cancel their healing then burst them down. Silver leash them whenever CC immunity is up.
Will VR16 make a difference? Like I said, I've been easily soloing IC for a while now, even before vet levels. I probably couldn't have done it without my stam blade though in all honesty, at least not this easy. Remember, camo/evil hunter and silver leash are your friends. Animation cancelling a silver leash after a heavy attack from stealth will generally almost drop their health by half, so I usually start with that. The second one pulls them close to you, so you can switch to 2h and beat the snot out of them with medium attacks, soul harvest and some more leashy goodness.

I guess I should slot a fighters guild skill for IC. Will killing daedra there level up the fighters guild skill line? Mine doesn't seem to be progressing with the kills there.

I am never without Dawnbreaker (Flawless atm) & Camouflaged Hunter whilst hunting dremora/undead.

Rally then Camo before a long range Snipe does immense damage (attacking a solo) and sets them running at you...a simple target for more snipe or poison arrows to kill them before they reach you, Cauterizers included.
Rally then Camo then Arrow Barrage before Ambush then Brawler then light attacks/brawler/even WB is the group approach.

My non buffed HP is only 13,326, so I'm almost as squishy anyone can be, but the above approaches guarantee success with mobs in IC for me.

Hmm.. I am only level 9 with fighters guild. Having a tough time unlocking Dawnbreaker. Right now I open with Piercing Mark, and Focused Aim. Then I use Relentless Focus if there is enough distance.

Ok that's cool. I use that approach also at times.
I don't activate Dawnbreaker, I use it on both bars for the damage buff.
I activate it when solo'ing the IC gates but otherwise I don't use ultimates much...I save them for the Oh S--t moments lol.
Silver Bolts are very handy for delaying/dropping daedra also.
Once/if you have Veil Of Blades that is the ultimate group Ultimate imo.

If your damage isn't that great, try to learn the timing of the Healing Xivkyn. If you wait more than a second to interrupt them they will heal almost as quick as you can damage them and it will take forever to kill one, but if you can learn to land an interrupt at the same time the healing starts it helps out a lot.

Edit: it also helps on PC to map interrupt to an extra mouse button if you have one. No missing it if left and right buttons don't register as being hit at the same time (which is the default).

UrQuan wrote: »

Swindy wrote: »

I've had Templars saving my butt numerous times in IC...got to love a free heal when you're dps'ing a gate solo.

I do like to throw out a Breath of Life here and there when I see friendly players in battle Sometimes that's the most effective contribution I can make.

Also, all the info you guys are posting for tips and tricks for stamina nightblades is very interesting to me, as I'm planning on starting to take my VR2 stamina nightblade to IC...

As I showed above I'm squishy as a solo.
But with cloak, I sneaked the sewers from Pact to both far ends & returned without a single "fight" (chasing sky shards & exploring achievements), joined a Bal battle during my sneak, and returned safely.
I doubt there's another class that would so easily offer that level of subtly & stealth.

I've not yet successfully fought my way to either end without dying in places.
Usually by being discovered by a sweeper whilst I'm fighting mobs, but the bosses down there, whilst easy to sneak past, are impossible for me to solo fight.

That's why he's called Assassin Loner & not "come here you big mutha & I'm gonna kick your arse".