"Cheating" - Walkthroughs on Solo Game vs MMOs

[Vyrerus]

The idea behind not using walkthroughs for a single player game is so that you don't spoil the experience by reading ahead/knowing all of the twists in the plot. A lot of guides and walkthroughs aren't spoiler free. The societal idea behind that is people want you to enjoy the game more and learn to play it yourself. A lot of guides also only opt for middle of the road tactics.

These kinds of things are true for MMORPG fight guides and the like as well, but in the MMO setting you are doing content with other people. People have different priorities and concerns in regards to fights. Most people just want to win, they don't want to think. Basically, we as a player base encourage guide use in order for people to learn a way to win the fight that everyone in the group can agree on and adjust around. There's more than one way to handle a lot of the mechanics in this game, but if 1/8 person is trying to freestyle what they learned on their own vs. what the 7/8 other people are doing, it can lead to death and wipes. So it's mostly about getting sympatico with the groups you're joining, have consideration for the 7 other people and their wants and needs vs. your own. If you want to learn fights without guides, just find 7 other people with the same mentality and prog with them.

Edit: Also, as an aside. A lot of people use walkthroughs and guides with no qualms for single player games, usually due to impatience. It can be surprising to learn, but there are tons of people who've never played a game without consulting a guide.