The Solo disease?

[Ayerc]

the one thing I never found to make any sense........ if you want to solo..... why in the heck are you playing an MMORPG....and dont give me that "single player RPGs dont hold up to MMORPGs) because I have a whole shelf full of games, spanning decades that will prove that wrong.

I think for most soloers, myself included on occasion, it's about playing a game in a persistent world. Also, having the social aspect a MMORPG brings to the table. You can solo, but still chat with friends, or see others playing in the world around you. It's a lone wolf situation, not running with the pack, but enjoying it in your own right. And there's really nothing wrong with that.

I don't have a problem with people who solo because they like to solo. My problem is when certain soloists expect to be able to do everything that a full party can do.

Yes, soloists should expect to be able to do everything on their own, and as such, content should never be designed from soloer up. At the same time, if a soloer can pull off something it normally takes a full group to accomplish, awesome. Like you said the amount of preparation and skill that goes into those feats is commendable.


It is discouraging to hear players taunt and ask soloers why they're here, and tell them to go play a single player game. There's so much more that goes into a MMORPG than just party mechanics, and all those appealing qualities that draw each of us to play these games aren't party exclusive either.

Keep your head high thedevilsjester, you are not alone.

[Commat]

the one thing I never found to make any sense........ if you want to solo..... why in the heck are you playing an MMORPG....and dont give me that "single player RPGs dont hold up to MMORPGs) because I have a whole shelf full of games, spanning decades that will prove that wrong.

This argument is brought up often. Yes regular solo rpgs are more fun to play but they lack persistence. I am not going to do the linking for you but many professionals have found that the fact that the game world is eternal is the key emotional draw to MMOs.

The advertising crews have done a great job hyping up the Massive Multiplayer part of it all but what most people love about the games is the sense of accomplishment. Which if you read around these forums you will find is what this game desperately needs. The first step to getting accomplishment is having a game world that saves records and keeps them forever.

I would have to image that even if most people won't admit it, the fact that tons of other people can share/admire achievements with them is why MMO's kept getting made over releasing single player games with hundreds of expansions.

[thedevilsjester]

the one thing I never found to make any sense........ if you want to solo..... why in the heck are you playing an MMORPG....and dont give me that "single player RPGs dont hold up to MMORPGs) because I have a whole shelf full of games, spanning decades that will prove that wrong.

Really? Name one, just one, that has as much content as FFXI (including things like crafting, campaign, etc...), that is updated regularly with new content and expansions, has a large, open, "sand box" world, and a great lore/background story. Of course, it has to have a similar amount of game play time as well. Name one.

Yes, it is solo friendly and will have solo content, but the game isn't going to be 100% soloable.

Why not? Why is the only option a group game that you can solo in, or a solo game that you can group in?

What makes grouping so special that groups should get what soloists shouldn't? If I put in the same amount of effort (or more) as a soloist as you do in a group, shouldn't I be entitled to the same rewards? Is your time or effort more valuable just because you had other people to help you?

This isn't to say that soloist should be handed anything, quite the opposite, I like to be challenged, and if done right, scalable quests and instances can provide an equal challenge to a party or a soloist with equal rewards. It doesn't have to be a game designed for one or the other, we can coexist.

[BruceyBruceyBangBang]

Why not? Why is the only option a group game that you can solo in, or a solo game that you can group in?

What makes grouping so special that groups should get what soloists shouldn't? If I put in the same amount of effort (or more) as a soloist as you do in a group, shouldn't I be entitled to the same rewards? Is your time or effort more valuable just because you had other people to help you?

This isn't to say that soloist should be handed anything, quite the opposite, I like to be challenged, and if done right, scalable quests and instances can provide an equal challenge to a party or a soloist with equal rewards. It doesn't have to be a game designed for one or the other, we can coexist.

MMOs, again, are not designed for soloers and you have to get over it. Solo content is perfectly fine and they know they have to incorporate something to those players, but this isn't for the antisocial. If there is solo content it's directed to people who don't have all the time in the world and if they decided to play for an hour before sleeping and having to get up for a full day of work, they'll have the content there for them.

This type of content is not developed for people who just want to be antisocial. It's not the genre.

[sketch]

Really? Name one, just one, that has as much content as FFXI (including things like crafting, campaign, etc...), that is updated regularly with new content and expansions, has a large, open, "sand box" world, and a great lore/background story. Of course, it has to have a similar amount of game play time as well. Name one.


Why not? Why is the only option a group game that you can solo in, or a solo game that you can group in?

What makes grouping so special that groups should get what soloists shouldn't? If I put in the same amount of effort (or more) as a soloist as you do in a group, shouldn't I be entitled to the same rewards? Is your time or effort more valuable just because you had other people to help you?

This isn't to say that soloist should be handed anything, quite the opposite, I like to be challenged, and if done right, scalable quests and instances can provide an equal challenge to a party or a soloist with equal rewards. It doesn't have to be a game designed for one or the other, we can coexist.

way i see it is that alot of the games r solo *almost all offliners* while some mmo's u can solo most r party related i think that peeps get fed up with soloing esp if u play both types of games.
i like both solo and party but in my eyes theres too much solo out there but thats wat i think. not fact.

[Dubont]

Why not? Why is the only option a group game that you can solo in, or a solo game that you can group in?

What makes grouping so special that groups should get what soloists shouldn't? If I put in the same amount of effort (or more) as a soloist as you do in a group, shouldn't I be entitled to the same rewards? Is your time or effort more valuable just because you had other people to help you?

This isn't to say that soloist should be handed anything, quite the opposite, I like to be challenged, and if done right, scalable quests and instances can provide an equal challenge to a party or a soloist with equal rewards. It doesn't have to be a game designed for one or the other, we can coexist.

Why? Because MMOs are, by nature, group games. It isn't going to have ONLY solo content. There will be content that you either 1) Need a group to accomplish or 2) Need to be an amazing soloist (like the first RDM in FFXI to solo Suzzy) If this game only caters to soloists without giving any challenging content for groups, it will fall very quickly. Look at King of Kings 3. That game is incredibly soloable. It's not so much that it is "solo friendly," the problem is that it is COMPLETELY SOLOABLE. I'm fine with a game being solo friendly (which is what FFXIV is atm) but the second that it becomes 100% soloable by any person, on any job, at any time with any skill level, that's where I draw the line.

Again, the game will (hopefully) have solo content, group content and then group content that can be soloed with the right skill/knowledge, but I doubt that it will be 100% on either side. SE isn't THAT stupid.

[thedevilsjester]

MMOs, again, are not designed for soloers and you have to get over it.

Why? What you have stated is more or less true, but you didnt give any reasoning for the statement. Why should MMO's be group focused?

Your claims that soloists are anti-social is just the sort of backwater thinking that I am talking about. Does that mean that people who don't play MMO's at all are all anti-social? Anyone who plays offline RPGs, they must be anti-social too, because they are choosing to play a single player game over an online game.

Again, the game will (hopefully) have solo content, group content and then group content that can be soloed with the right skill/knowledge, but I doubt that it will be 100% on either side. SE isn't THAT stupid.

I talk mostly of scalable content that can work perfectly for either side. Why would a company choose to make content for one or the other, when they can make it for both?

Why? Because MMOs are, by nature, group games.

Why? Multiplayer doesn't mean that you have to form groups with these other players, just that they exist in the same persistent world as you. So Why are MMO's, by their nature, group games? "It just is." Is not an answer to anything.

[Valan]

solo playing is only a opnion. not good nor bad.
who cares if someone play alone o not?


ps i'm a solo player

[thedevilsjester]

My original point, before we sidetracked, was that all soloists don't secretly wish they played in groups. Soloists play solo because we enjoy the game more solo than with a party.

[Renshi]

Hi, my name is thedevilsjester and I am a soloist.

I see a lot of hate for solo players in almost every MMORPG. I had hoped that FFXIV, being very solo friendly would be a haven for the soloist because we have been officially "accepted", unfortunately even those who defend solo players, do so with the back of their hand.

Solo players, apparently, only solo because they do not have time for larger/group content, or just cannot find a group to play with. It seems as if playing solo is some kind of ailment that we would all love to be cured of.

Its not. I play solo because I like to play solo. I have plenty of time on my hands, and could find a group easily if I wanted one. I don't. In fact, unless friends need help doing something, or I have no choice in the matter, I do not group at all, and will often turn groups down because I simply do not want to play with other people.

Why play an MMO then? Because off-line RPG's do not even come close to the splendour, size, and sheer awesomeness that MMORPG's do, and probably never will. And, even though, as a soloist, I like to play the game by myself, that doesn't mean that I want to play in a lifeless empty world. I want my game world populated, and to feel alive, I just don't want to play with anyone. If I have to put up with an occasional group to play in such a world, its a price I am willing to pay.

Sorry for the...rant, I just ran into too many "hate the soloist" topics today, and needed to vent!

Hopefully those who just cannot understand why someone would play solo (trust me, I feel the same way about groups), can take something from this to better understand a soloists reasons for playing an MMORPG.

I have total respect on your ideals, and I'm the first one who thinks that someone has to play a game like that someone wants.

I'm always by the opinion that Party Playing is great, because you actually have the chance to fight alongside with other players and make fighting a game of strategy and plans. Not counting the bullcrap we often do in parties that make us lose with style and in a funny way =D

I respect your soloist choice anyway. BUT! I only respect you guys if you actually tried to play with a Party and realized that that's not your playstyle. If you didn't, I can't tolerate that and I'll obligue you to play in a party ASAP!


Anyway, an MMORPG is also meant to be played solo-style. It's just that with a group is even funnier! That's one reason on why's it called Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game, because playing with others is funnier than playing alone. That's the concept that I've got from those games.