Why do people want solo play in an MMORPG?

[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).