Do you prefer your FFXIV solo or MMO style?

[Adeacia]

Both. I like being able to run content by myself so I can get things done at my own pace. I also enjoy doing things with other players. Having a bunch of both is a good plan I'd say.

[Wyssahtyn]

this is an mmo?

[Adeacia]

this is an mmo?

I personally have always viewed the game as a single player Final Fantasy, that just happens to be an mmo.

[Derio]

I like the occasional solo stuff. I mean crafting and gathering is pretty much solo content. Most of MSQ is solo content and side quests are solo content.
Endwalker missed out on the large scale battle content so if you werent raiding or doing criterion dungeons most of your gameplay was solo content. Like others said we need balance.

[CuteBucket]

I wouldn't say I "prefer" either. I like both and do both solo and group content and the game needs both to thrive. I do solo content when it's late at night and most of my friends are offline, and I do group content when it's more peak hours and lots of people are online running content. Endwalker definitely suffered a lot imo from the lack of big group content. Some of the most fun I've had in this game was doing Bozja when it was current content, and I'm looking forward to having that experience again.

[RikkCavalier]

This is an MMO yes, but that doesnt mean they should only have group content. Some people dont have the time to search for a group, create a group, explain mechanics, or dont want to sit in a queue, etc. SE adding more solo content would only be beneficial to the game imo. It doesnt have to be instanced soloable content. I would prefer if the solo content was open world content. There is nothing to do in the open world playing solo besides, hunts, FATES, and side quests but the quests dont really offer any meaningful rewards. Please add more open world content that you can do solo or in a group, or solo with others, if that makes sense. Basically adding open world content similar to WOW World Quests that offer reputation for that zone/expansion that will unlock new armor, glam, items, mounts, minions - anything to keep players working towards a goal would be beneficial for someone to log on and do 2-3 quests and have made some progress towards something.

[posona]

I like playing solo but around people. Makes the world feel more alive even if I don't interact with others much.

This is me. I wouldn’t play this game if it wasn’t so friendly to solo players. Sometimes grouping is fun but I’m an introvert and even socializing online can drain my battery fast.

[Nighthawky2010]

I like BOTH but prefer the solo aspect of the game. The only time I play in a party is to do some of the Roulettes for gear & tomes. Gear I trade in for GC Seal so I can fund my 8 ventures. In other dungeons, I can use squadrons, duty support, or Trust. All the boards I do solo. To me, FFVIX is a single-player MMORPG. Outside of doing the new 8-man raids, trials, & the new 24-man alliances, the game is basically single-player. No rule says you have to do the exploratory content.

[Myrany]

I've come to find that, with the most recent relic weapon abandoning additional content in favour of tome grind, a lot of people really do prefer this MMO to be a solo experience. I'm of both minds: it's nice to be able to solo and complete personal goals without relying on others, but I feel you get SO MUCH more out of it when you have to actually play the game with other people, persevere, and earn your shiny beatstick. It also feels like the game heavily favours the solo players experience.

For me, ginding for boz relics and the yokai event in anticipation for Dawntrail has been some of the most fun I've had in my 1800+ hrs of playtime. This is the first time I've done any events with an FC aside from maps, and its cool actually playing with your guild! I've met some really cool people in boz because it forces interaction, something which I think this game SORELY lacks, considering its an MMO. Stepping into the southern front instance and seeing people milling about and actually talking about the game has been so, so refreshing. The yokai event has injected a ton of life into the game for me. The world actually feels alive when you can go to nearly any zone right now on a congested server and see SWARMS of players running around doing overworld content. It all comes down to personal preference, I suppose, but playing an MMO and actually having to make your own parties, work with other players, and engage with content I've otherwise not really touched due to a lack of general interest from other players has been phenomenal.

What is your preference? Did you do the any of the bigger relic grinds when they were current? Did you love it, hate it, or was it just meh?

This Watch event brings out everything I hate most with the behavior of some people in MMOs to be honest.

As far as playstyle I am mostly a solo player. I do use Duty finder to get things done. I enjoy seeing other people around me and the random things that can happens as a result. But for day to day play I prefer to be solo. Not rushed by anyone. Not told what to do tonight by anyone. Free to explore and go down rabbit holes at my own whim (latest is discovering Big Fish fishing).

[Equitable_Remedy]

I've come to find that... a lot of people really do prefer this MMO to be a solo experience.

In what sense did you "come to find" that? What percentage of the total player base have you asked?

I'm begging people to realize that social media is not a representative sample of anything.