As I have been saying to many folks lately, maybe hunting partners will help you out. The game needs its shield parry and pray heal updates to make others REALLY rely on group hunting; until then, little things like high span rates, monsters picking up loot, monsters jumping from shadows will encourage it somewhat.

Also, sometimes areas do not fit you to a T. If you watch as many drakes as I do solo hunt in that area with zero problems, you would have seen a change was needed. And it still needs some tweaking. The knock down rate was helping them tremendously in earning coin and uses.

Tyviel'a