Why do people want solo play in an MMORPG?

[Jeronlmo]

right. i'd be fine with more forced party for whatever, if it would be quick and easy to join one, and you wouldn't have to stress about ruining the party, cause they could find new member in a min. But that's pretty much impossible, since there's so many maps, and so much content; everyone is spread out to much.

on the other hand it annoys me when i'm in some area, where some other people are on same quest mobs, and i invite them to party, and they refuse...i mean really? why fight over the mobs?

I think 1.0 was fine. party xp was faster, so there was incentive to party, but it wasn't forced on you; i think that's good enough.

When exp chains came out, I capped every job that was not already 50, 1 job every day. If you found this to be good leveling, your insane.

The only things that I'm against requiring parties are the storyline and to a lesser extent levelling. Reason I'm against partying for storyline content is that once people get past a fight, they never seem to want to do it again. I was stuck on baby Ifrit for months. Partly this is my fault for not coming back until May, but no one wanted to come kill him because they were all on 'United We Stand' or 'To Kill a Raven'. When I got to 'United We Stand', people that were 'To Kill a Raven' didn't want to help because "I don't need that anymore." Partying to beat a mission at the level it's designed for is fine, but if I'm level 50 and can solo baby Ifrit without breaking a sweat, I should be required to beg people to come so that we can kill him in a matter of seconds. As for requiring a party to level, there is no such thing. It's always possible to find some way to level solo if you try ahrd enough.

Though we werent on the same server, im likely one of the people to not help you... but guess why? Its not to be mean, but because you quit the game and refuse to be sociable like the rest of the people here defending solo play over group. If you do not know people, and refuse to play with them because drama "might" happen, I will not help you, I do not repeat content I have already completed and likely spent a long time trying to figure the content out for anyone to come in and want carried. The fact that people have maby 2hrs a day means nothing to me, these people you feel should be basically forced to help might also have -2hrs to play, and you want them to spend 30min's of that time helping a complete stranger... who wants nothing to do with them.

Even in RL, friends have drama, its part of life, if people want nothing but solo content its called an RPG (if you really want to just play solo and talk to people, open facebook while you play instead of turning mmo's into facebook). These are the same excuses to turn to regional servers and why I will likely no longer see all of my JP/Korean friends even though I speak neither of those languages. People who claim they are not racisist advocated that they were tired of seeing "squiggles" on their screens and they should all be put on their own servers like some sort of internment camp during WWII or something. Other peoples inability to communicate with people from a different culture... and from what ive read so far in this thread, many of you cannot communicate with people in general is now effecting me in a very big way.

Solo content is perfectly fine, but never should it be more prevalent than group content. In FF11 I used to solo alot, things like serket/bune/KA... lots of NM's, that most would bring 3+ people to, you could solo, you just couldnt solo and suck at the same time. Solo content in FF11 generally did not involve progression through the story, there was plenty of it, but most of it was a means to make fast/large money to progress your characters gear.

Ive been trying to get on these forums less and less because the community is so screwed up and im sure this post is going to get crap because im being blunt... but people constantly on here every single day working to literally change what a genre of gaming is because they want to play group content without every talking to people is just incredible.

[ZakarnRosewood]

"Just go play offline and leave the MMO to the elite. We need a challenge and want to play with huge groups but only if you know what you are doing. We wont have these things if you insist on whining for the ability to play solo, even to a point. Solo players ruined this genre." This may be over exaggerating the actual OP but the sentiment is one i see expressed a lot when this topic is brought up.

And then this guy comes along and proves my point about the elitist mindset.

Though we werent on the same server, im likely one of the people to not help you... but guess why? Its not to be mean, but because you quit the game and refuse to be sociable like the rest of the people here defending solo play over group. If you do not know people, and refuse to play with them because drama "might" happen, I will not help you, I do not repeat content I have already completed and likely spent a long time trying to figure the content out for anyone to come in and want carried. The fact that people have maby 2hrs a day means nothing to me, these people you feel should be basically forced to help might also have -2hrs to play, and you want them to spend 30min's of that time helping a complete stranger... who wants nothing to do with them.

Even in RL, friends have drama, its part of life, if people want nothing but solo content its called an RPG (if you really want to just play solo and talk to people, open facebook while you play instead of turning mmo's into facebook). These are the same excuses to turn to regional servers and why I will likely no longer see all of my JP/Korean friends even though I speak neither of those languages. People who claim they are not racisist advocated that they were tired of seeing "squiggles" on their screens and they should all be put on their own servers like some sort of internment camp during WWII or something. Other peoples inability to communicate with people from a different culture... and from what ive read so far in this thread, many of you cannot communicate with people in general is now effecting me in a very big way.

Solo content is perfectly fine, but never should it be more prevalent than group content. In FF11 I used to solo alot, things like serket/bune/KA... lots of NM's, that most would bring 3+ people to, you could solo, you just couldnt solo and suck at the same time. Solo content in FF11 generally did not involve progression through the story, there was plenty of it, but most of it was a means to make fast/large money to progress your characters gear.

Ive been trying to get on these forums less and less because the community is so screwed up and im sure this post is going to get crap because im being blunt... but people constantly on here every single day working to literally change what a genre of gaming is because they want to play group content without every talking to people is just incredible.

[Undrentide]

""... I will not help you, I do not repeat content I have already completed and likely spent a long time trying to figure the content out for anyone to come in and want carried. The fact that people have maby 2hrs a day means nothing to me, these people you feel should be basically forced to help might also have -2hrs to play, and you want them to spend 30min's of that time helping a complete stranger... who wants nothing to do with them.""
Even in RL, friends have drama, its part of life, if people want nothing but solo content its called an RPG (if you really want to just play solo and talk to people, open facebook while you play instead of turning mmo's into facebook). These are the same excuses to turn to regional servers and why I will likely no longer see all of my JP/Korean friends even way.

to this poster i say
Thats a rather mean spirited attitude to take. These games are about helping each other when we need it, regardless of how much interaction you have with a player. You did your content great, but remember you needed the help of 7 other players to do that content, some of could have already completed that content. If they'd had the same attitude as you then youd have left 1.0 having missed out on events such as Primal battles, Castrum Nova, Rivenroad etc due to them being unwilling to help. Whats the problem if your standing round bored in Uldah or wherever and your not doing much to going helping out random people. All that should be expected for your help is a thank you, not lifelong gratitude. I do understand your time is your own but be a better player, pass on your knowledge to those who dont know how content is done, or havent played the game as long, or even attempt a couple of runs just to give people an idea. It shouldnt just be "well ive got my weapon/armour of choice im not going back to that content". Wheres the harm in helping out now and again. You never know, that person who plays solo might end up being a good friend in game and able to help you out in other ways. For example take someone who's never really been bothered with DOW/DOM and just stuck to crafting, they might need help getting through the level 25 dungeon because they want a chocobo to help with travelling...you take time to help them, and they think what a nice guy im gonna offer to do his melding requests. Swings and roundabouts.

[Jeronlmo]

to this poster i say
Thats a rather mean spirited attitude to take. These games are about helping each other when we need it, regardless of how much interaction you have with a player. You did your content great, but remember you needed the help of 7 other players to do that content, some of could have already completed that content. If they'd had the same attitude as you then youd have left 1.0 having missed out on events such as Primal battles, Castrum Nova, Rivenroad etc due to them being unwilling to help. Whats the problem if your standing round bored in Uldah or wherever and your not doing much to going helping out random people. All that should be expected for your help is a thank you, not lifelong gratitude. I do understand your time is your own but be a better player, pass on your knowledge to those who dont know how content is done, or havent played the game as long, or even attempt a couple of runs just to give people an idea. It shouldnt just be "well ive got my weapon/armour of choice im not going back to that content". Wheres the harm in helping out now and again. You never know, that person who plays solo might end up being a good friend in game and able to help you out in other ways. For example take someone who's never really been bothered with DOW/DOM and just stuck to crafting, they might need help getting through the level 25 dungeon because they want a chocobo to help with travelling...you take time to help them, and they think what a nice guy im gonna offer to do his melding requests. Swings and roundabouts.

The people I do content with, want something to do with me, they are social friends/LS members, the people you are trying to defend are the people saying they want to only solo ever, and complaining that people refuse to help them do things that are not solo. These people cannot get people to help them because they ignore these same people until they need help then throw them under the bus again.

Its like a friend that only calls you when they want to borrow money... exact same thing... you dump those "friends". Bad people are bad people.

[Undrentide]

The people I do content with, want something to do with me, they are social friends/LS members, the people you are trying to defend are the people saying they want to only solo ever, and complaining that people refuse to help them do things that are not solo. These people cannot get people to help them because they ignore these same people until they need help then throw them under the bus again.

Its like a friend that only calls you when they want to borrow money... exact same thing... you dump those "friends". Bad people are bad people.

The thing is it isn't a friend its a stranger, someone thats wanting help to progress with certain content. You turned your back because they aren't in your clique and you dont directly benefit.
However if it was say someone in your ls who never bothered speaking unless they wanted something then i say your entitled to refuse help because they refuse to take part in the community theyve joined. Please dont tar all solo players with the same brush. People like to play the game in different ways and shouldnt be penalised for doing so. for e.g why force people into a party to level up when they can do it solo should they choose, it doesnt make them a bad player for taking the solo route.
I came to FFXIV relatively late in the day, and remained linkshellless for a while not because im antisocial but because i was too busy trying to solo stuff to 50, and experience the main storyline. The vast majority of people still playing were all at 50 on multiple jobs busy with Castrum Nova, then Rivenroad. When i started coming across stuff i needed help with id shout and through one of those shouts ended up in a lovely friendly linkshell that i went on to complete all group content with. Had no one answered that shout cos they'd all done the content and refused to go back there i still wouldnt have had a GC chocobo as id be stuck on the level 25 dungeon! Try helping a random one day you might end up with a valuable friend or ls member.

[ZakarnRosewood]

Though we werent on the same server, im likely one of the people to not help you... but guess why? Its not to be mean, but because you quit the game and refuse to be sociable like the rest of the people here defending solo play over group. If you do not know people, and refuse to play with them because drama "might" happen, I will not help you, I do not repeat content I have already completed and likely spent a long time trying to figure the content out for anyone to come in and want carried. The fact that people have maby 2hrs a day means nothing to me, these people you feel should be basically forced to help might also have -2hrs to play, and you want them to spend 30min's of that time helping a complete stranger... who wants nothing to do with them.

Sorry for misreading you as thinking you were elite. Upon re-reading you are just an unfriendly person who chastises people for not keeping up with him. Then berates those people for seeking to play in a party after you have already done it as being not worth your time. I guess that's not the same as being an elitist. My apologies.

[Nix]

Sorry for misreading you as thinking you were elite. Upon re-reading you are just an unfriendly person who chastises people for not keeping up with him. Then berates those people for seeking to play in a party after you have already done it as being not worth your time. I guess that's not the same as being an elitist. My apologies.

I wish I could like this more than once. <3

[Jeronlmo]

Sorry for misreading you as thinking you were elite. Upon re-reading you are just an unfriendly person who chastises people for not keeping up with him. Then berates those people for seeking to play in a party after you have already done it as being not worth your time. I guess that's not the same as being an elitist. My apologies.

You are a person who wants nothing to do with me, then shouts asking for help, so when it involves what you need im supposed to jump. If you want to solo only, then do that.

I am a very blunt person when im pissed, I could care less if people move slower than me, ive joined random groups before full of people that just needed help, but those people I help are social, ive seen them asking for help before, I recognize their LS name, anything. I have always had problems with "patch hoppers" who only care about the storyline expecting help, the second your done helping them they log out and wait for the next patch. I help them, they dont help anyone back, thats you.

Your the friend who only calls to ask for money.

[LicontAshontear]

nvm. I read what she said. Continue.