I spent quite an agonizingly long time running in and out of combat, getting healed every few minutes because of getting torn apart. (Helps even less that the silver-backed bears sometimes see dire bears wander in, or even down to the blood wolf area--those are exceptionally painful.) Took some armor classes while being healed. Basically ran between silver-backed bears, fire maidens, and snowbeasts every time I got frustrated with one of the areas, which... was often. Got the ranks to handle them eventually that way, but it was a very tough grind. If I had predicted this gap, I would have built my barb differently (I went for offense, e.g., Everild's Rage, which weakens their defenses but not their offenses).

Yeah, it was doable solo.

It also sucked.

I've bought a pass for this character for now and am enjoying it again, but for a while I just didn't want to do anything. It was aggravating in the extreme, and rather than tempt me to buy a pass for another province that I might have been able to hunt well in, I just wanted to scream at everything (well, I have been playing a barb). More frustrating than tempting for sure. I realize that is my own reaction and not one to be expected from every F2Per (especially ones with better barriers than my character had), but dang.

Yes, I did cap defenses in blood wolves. I actually have defensive skills higher than weapons now (except mastery skills), which feels slightly embarrassing for a barb, although I have no context, maybe it's normal. (Cannot for the life of me lock weapons--they sink in too fast.)

<<Question: How do the newly released snake-things in the prydean hub work? Too easy, or same range as the blood/snow/etc.?

Reports have been that the vipers are too easy to almost just right. As with all WtH questions, this all depends on your character and play style.

There's been enough discussion that makes me believe that one more critter that spans vipers to snowbeasts in Zoluren would be useful.


Nikpack

The vipers are sadly far too easy, actually. Though they did help fill a niche, it wasn't the one I expected. This was my progression:

rats
musk hogs
scavenger goblins
boars
eels
cougars
wind hounds/reavers
beisswurms
copperhead vipers
malodorous buccas
blood wolves
silver-backed bears
snowbeasts

The part that was a huge problem was the jump after blood wolves.