I've got 4 days left on my account...

[Gregorius]

In a way, I'm with you on some of your issues - you and I both prefer the solo style of play.  I like it because, just like you, it allows me to play *my* way, at *my* pace, just the way I like it.  This is a result of a lot of Diablo-style play, no doubt - and many Lurkers may fit under this category whether they know it or not, because most of us came here from the Diablo games where solo play dominated much of it.

This is why I don't let mages into my instance groups! They sit and drink so much, I hate waiting like that! But more seriously...

...So we longtime Diablo players are being thrust into the MMORPG world, many of us for the first time.  We will either adjust to the reality of needing to group up, or we won't.  You are having trouble adjusting, and I am as well - I find myself never getting around to doing these high level instances because:

1) They require a lot of time.  A 10-hour run of Stratholme that I heard about just gives me the heebie-jeebies.
2) They depend on many other players, which feeds into #1.
3) I'm not part of the "cliques" that form up on the servers because I prefer soloing, thus I don't get invited.
4) I don't "farm" - once I've run an instance and cleaned out its quests, I'm done with it.  Maybe someday that'll change, but for now I prefer leveling alts over farming.

I'm going to reach 30 on my Druid this week, unless I decide suddenly that I want to make another unsuccessful push for Guardian on my flashy Hydra sorceress. Already I feel past my prime-I got schooled getting Sven Yorgen's book in Duskwood four times! On a green quest! But on the other hand I have gone through two rounds each of laborious but rewarding Panter- and Tiger-hunting in Stranglethorn, with one death (when my bear whiffed five mauls in a row). I'm not sure if I even have enough time under normal circumstances to finish Gnomeregan in one go (fortunately the Workshop Key may make it more feasible). And 12-hour Scholomance clears, 10-hour Stratholme trips, and raiding guilds who want every available member on six hours a night blow my mind.

Number 2) isn't such a problem for me, I have an easy time finding random groups to go around and do pretty much any quest so far. I consider myself very lucky, I haven't ended up in groups with jerks (though I'm still peeved by fools who want to kill VanCleef at 15...) and I get all the items I need (my staff, gloves, bracers, belt, and maybe even pants) all came from BFD. Groups are the least of my worries...for now.

I too, prefer soloing, but I'm not afraid to ask for groups if I'm having trouble or want to do something that's otherwise impossible (red quests). However, I don't feel like I'm ever going to have a shot at high end instances or raids until they up the level cap. But without those things, I'm not going to be around that long...there's always PvP, but...Guild Wars is free per month, and I have a Druid, as opposed to somebody who is actually some sort of efficient player killer. (actually right now I beat rogues 1- or lower, if I get to hit first, but my friend's 58 Druid has nothing on them)

The first thing I caught on to when I started playing Diablo II (thanks to an insane fanatic who loved the "do everything once, and only once) was that I didn't ever want to repeat the same thing over and over and over with the same character. Not for experience, not for items, not for anything. Once again, I haven't had any trouble with this to this point, but according to most forums the 60's have had to repeat instances multiple times. I'm not sure if I'll ever have a shot in this venue either.

So you and I are hitting the wall - either we learn to group up and play well with others, or we'll be moving to the Next Big Thing (Guild Wars?) in short order.  I don't know if I am the right personality for it either...

-Bolty
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That makes three of us. I love playing my Druid but I fear the day when my special abilities will go by the wayside and I'll become a healbot for instances. Or I'll be an eternally gimped PvPer. My own third month is ending soon, and already I'm feeling intimidated by the enormity of either a) starting another character to level up and either perform a role I enjoy more than a percieved second rate healer, b ) starting another character (warrior, almost certainly) to engage in PvP honor and battlegrounds c) sticking with my Druid and having a level 60 character who's gimped in solo/PvP and doesn't have time for high end group stuff d) cancel my subscription and face the permanent loss of four days of my life.

/wince

Does anybody have advice for me? Please?