Why do people want solo play in an MMORPG?

[Nix]

I think a lot of the gripes between solo and group players is that some people who absolutely abhor solo play in an MMO think that we want the entire thing solo. This couldn't be further from the truth. Our main gripe is not wanting group play for everything.

Levelling and storyline should have solo options, maybe with some storyline like bigger fights catering to light party since it doesn't make sense to be able to push through every important part of gameplay (lore-wise) on your own.
Trying to find an 8-man group for stuff like the Castrum Novum fight was cumbersome if everyone you knew had already done it, same for the fight against Nael Van Darnus (Not counting Rivenroad [Hard]).
My work schedule had gotten the better of me and I was reduced to shouting in Ul'dah for days on end until when I offered a substantial cash reward did I get an answer. (However the guy that did take me under his wing, didn't take my money and instead offered me a place in his linkshell where I remained quite happily til the end of 1.0, so props to you, Yowyow!)

For things like raids and whatnot that offer the top of the line r/ex gear, I agree that this should remain as group play. You shouldn't be able to obtain absolutely everything in game on your own. At the same time I'd like to see some light party options for this as well for some of the lesser-end raid gear but keep the omg-foam-at-the-mouth-awesome stuff for 8man.

As a tl;dr: We're not asking for the entire game to be solo, maybe some solo levelling and storyline options. Levelling efficiency should go up with your group size but solo should still be viable. Storyline aspects of things would rock as a mixture of solo/light party, Raids between light party and 8man then for the uber stuff push for 8man~

[Shougun]

I think some of them are also getting at the iconic issue of MMOs and design. People do what is efficent even if it isnt what they want.

People say "dont force me to walk anywhere- I want a lot of limitless teleports, you can walk yourself still" - and no not really I've got to use teleports if they exist like that. (I dont like a teleport in every zone, but I dont want FFXI walking time.. so I'm kind of in the middle of a GW2 and FFXI, which I thought WoW did pretty well in that aspect).

Anyway..

If you can solo effectively then why do the effort for group? So group content may die until at least late game. Or at least that is what I think some of them are saying. While yes its true you can do both, the further truth is both will not happen as much because now you've moved /split preference and so now "I cant play the way I wanted to play" (double fold, you've given people more options so each singular option is less used, and also if solo is just as efficient then you've doubled the effect (keeping in mind efficiency includes emotional feeling like "I hate gathering a party so I'm just going to solo")).

This is the same reason why changing classes in dungeons, and hybrid class designs are really difficult. Efficiency even at the cost of entertainment.

[faris]

For 1.0, storyline solo stopped for me at the GC magitek fight quest. From then on was all parties, parties and parties for Castrum Novum and Darnus. AF fights can't be soloed, and nor can GC content considering the 3+ person rule for Primals on easy mode. I don't understand why 1.0 was considered "everything can be soloed" when that's the case.

Furthermore, some players don't like teaming up with complete strangers in pickups. Similarly, some people don't have linkshells or friends on the game and for whatever reason won't go out and find a shell or sit around waiting for pickup groups for content. I don't quite understand their reasons, but they exist. Limiting a game to "party only" for those people is a crappy move as it excludes them - the same way making the game "solo only" would exclude people that like the social aspect of the game. A balance of both is great, and we have that.

[Nix]

le-sniiip!

We could solo in 1.0 for exp with guildleves and solo grinding, it wasn't as effective as group play but I was really happy with that system and hope that it sticks around in 2.0. Group exp was by far more efficient and people would always be looking for parties, spiritbond and whatnot via shouts and the search function.

Solo play was definitely an option in 1.0 but it feels to me like even if nothing was changed between 1.0 and 2.0 on the levelling aspect alone, people would still gripe that 2.0 is still catering too much to soloers even though group play once again would come out ahead.

[VanillaLatte]

I think as long as solo play is possible, and is way less efficient than group play, then we(or just I) will have on problems

[Nix]

I think as long as solo play is possible, and is way less efficient than group play, then we(or just I) will have on problems

Offtopic; your name makes me want to go and get coffee Q_Q lol

[Akubikumo]

Just because I like hanging out at the park doesn't mean I want to play frisbee with everyone there, much less be required to do so. The park is great: theres animals, weather, snippets of conversations, it even changes over time and theres always interesting people running around. Maybe I'll even jump in a game here and there. But then imagine if one of them ran up to me (me, who is minding my own business, enjoying my day) and said "Why the hell are you just sitting there having a picnic by yourself in the park? What is wrong with you? You're doing it wrong!". I'd just laugh. Maybe they are doing it wrong.

[Shougun]

We could solo in 1.0 for exp with guildleves and solo grinding, it wasn't as effective as group play but I was really happy with that system and hope that it sticks around in 2.0. Group exp was by far more efficient and people would always be looking for parties, spiritbond and whatnot via shouts and the search function.

Solo play was definitely an option in 1.0 but it feels to me like even if nothing was changed between 1.0 and 2.0 on the levelling aspect alone, people would still gripe that 2.0 is still catering too much to soloers even though group play once again would come out ahead.

Oh I wasn't saying you cant solo in 1.0 I was just trying to explain another point of the other side (like you were doing in your post).

I was saying the sole existence of solo play is actually a problem for "some" these people, and I gave example why the existence of many free teleports with at least one in every zone has been my problem (because I want to encourage travel in a role play sense and ensure a bridge cross zones, but not to the extent you fall asleep at the wheel like in FFXI - hence I mentioned WoW which did this more so then FFXIV 1.0 or 2.0 lol).

So if you have any solo play then some people will choose to do it, you've lost some players to play with - if you have solo play that is effective (pretty much as long as its not FFXI where only a couple classes could do it- so FFXIV was effective solo play) then you've lost some players. For these people who live on groups you've made it harder for them/taken away the essence they strive for.

Of course I think some of these people will be fine with systems that are just well balanced and others are like I say above - the only solution to them is to remove solo play. Just trying to explain one of the perspectives you didnt touch upon :P


As myself I'm more of a I don't care what source it was from solo or party as long as the amount of work (time) and quality (skill) matches the reward. So I find no intrinsic issue with solo play (and very often enjoy it myself).

[Nix]

Snipga!

XD no worries Shou! I got ya , You are awesomesauce as always!

[Shougun]

XD no worries Shou! I got ya , You are awesomesauce as always!

*Squees*



/gives awesome cookie

On other exciting news:
Cant wait till the 25th >.>, I'm dying lol