Guild Wars may be a massively multiplayer online game but as I’ve mentioned before, I generally prefer playing the game’s missions and quests with NPC henchmen. I like taking time out just to admire the scenery and I imagine most XP- and loot-lusting gamers wouldn’t appreciate waiting while I get a Really Nice Screenshot of the surroundings.

The other reason is that participating in pick-up groups (ad hoc groups of strangers formed specifically for a single mission or quest) invariably results in my death count rising rapidly.

My very first PUG, formed in Piken Square, was outstanding. We had an experienced party leader who was very supportive of team members, and as a result we completed two back-to-back quests with little fuss.

On the other hand, my first attempt at the Aurora Glade mission with a PUG was more typical of my experience with PUGs in general. Moments after we left for the mission, I got that old sinking feeling when I asked who would be leading the party and received this reply:

We’re all leaders here.

A comment about cooks and broth seemed warranted but I just groaned and hoped for the best. I can’t say I was at all surprised when we ended up a) getting lost and b) failing the mission. It felt like such a waste of my gaming time.

I fared better with my next PUG. We spent about five minutes before the critical last section of the Aurora Glade mission discussing tactics and strategy, and it paid off. It got a little chaotic and I did die for the 71st time during the mission but we managed to complete it and the bonus quest as well.

Still, I think I’m going to stick with NPCs for party members as much as possible. Alesia and company may lack initiative and finesse but they make up for it by not being irritating jackasses.