Love this game,Only one complaint

[Vidu]

Lol! Do you have any idea how old anybody is on this message board? In the game? I had a lady in my FC who was 73 years old. I'm closer to 50 than 30. A lot of people in this game played video games before the first Final Fantasy came out.

OP mentioned that they're 50 - otherwise I'm normally falling into the trap we're all most likely falling in: assuming everyone is my age xD Which would be only slightly younger than 50 - makes it honestly even more surprising to me that they're complaining. I would expect someone around that age to be more willing to either accomodate to the game are accept that it might not be for them. But hey, thats probably again me projecting my standards onto someone else - to be honest: In this case I dont think my expectations are to far off.
If I have a problem with a specific element of a game, I'll make a conscious choice wether or not I can still enjoy the game enough - and if I cant I'm fine with saying "Okay, not a game for me then, but probably for someone else".

Wasn't fond of needing group to complete msq and to this day, still don't. I laugh at people who go out of their way to spell out what MMORPG is like its the end all to be all reason behind doing it. Not everything needs to be group content.

But please, continue to shout from the mountaintops how this is a MASSIVELY MULTIPLAY-foam-ER and how TC's dead wrong for disliking a SLIVER of what the game offers and that he should go back to his other mmos.. Well done /clap

True, not everything needs to be group-content - and first of all: not everything in this game IS group-content. Infact there is a lot of solo-content but having the dungeons for the story is obviously a design-choice made by the dev-team. If you dont like that, thats fine - but it also means that this game might not be for you (unless you decide to suck it up). A lot of games are making design-choices that are liked by some people and disliked by other - we're having the freedom to pick those games we like out of all the games that are out there. If the devs would start to listen to things people want in regards of fundamental gamedesign... phew...
This is a game that tells its story through dungeons - dont like that? Look for another game. My argument is not even about the whole "dont play an MMO if you dont want to play with other people!" - its really just: Dont like this sort of gameplay? Ask yourself if the game is really right for you - you have to accomodate to the game, not the game to you. And if you cant - there is a giant pool with lots and lots of other games out there! And for someone who doesnt seem to like group-content anways picking a single-player game seems to be a legit option, right?

Edit: To "back up" the design-choice argument a bit: We're meeting groups of adventures, just like "ours" outside of the first two dungeons. They're even being part of the story, telling us how they want to go on adventures - the whole game is basically leaking the idea of people working together to achieve something there. Right at the start, within the first two dungeons - this is what the game is because its what it wants to be. Like it, learn to like it, at the very least tolerate it - or look for a game that suits your own needs better.

[Vidu]

When I first started the game, I hated the whole dungeon-stuff aswell - just like you, I started as gladiator and became a paladin (in my case not even knowing that it would be a tank-class and what a tank actually does, never played an MMO before). I would spend days infront of dungeon-entrances just crafting because I loved the game but couldnt progress the mainstory since that meant going into a dungeon with... other people *shiver*

I really, really hated it - but now, 4 years later I totally dont mind anymore! I cant say I love it, because people annoy me to much by now, but my whole dungeon-anxiety is gone and if I dislike them today its more because people are idiots that dont listen to advice no matter how hard I try...

What I'm trying to tell you is: Give it a chance. An honest chance - if you dont like randoms, try to make one or two friends within the game who can join you. Start to learn to like the group-aspect or look for a single player game. "Sadly" this is an MMO after all and you're supposed to play with other people. If you dont like that, you picked the wrong game - or you can learn to like it! Its highly unlikely that SE is going to change how this game tells it story - as in: they wont remove the dungeons from it and there wont be solo-versions. They've decided that the dungeons and trials are part of the story.

In theory you can do dungeons solo though - open the DF-settings (little gear in the top left corner), select "Undersized party" and you can go in alone, you wont be leveled synched either - now, thats not really an option for you because unless you're like 20 levels above the dungeon-mobs they'll murder you, but in theory... its possible.

Word of advice here... when you reach level 50 you're going to have to do two 8man-dungeons. They're very cutscene heavy and unless you get extremly lucky a DF-group is most likely going to ask you to skip the cutscenes (you can rewatch them in the inn, but its not the same if you ask me...) - so your best bet is to do this dungeon with friends (probably undersized aswell, so that you'll only need 2 or 3)

All in all: Give it a serious try - maybe it will widen your horizon, so to speak. If you're dead-set on wanting to play solo... play a solo-game to begin with.

[Nestmile]

I don't mean to be rude, but yes, what you're saying is true -- you can't finish the game unless you group up (which you clearly have already done if you're at Brayflox).

Your options are either to suck it up and run the dungeon with some others, or quit. It is exceedingly unlikely that lower-level instances will become solo ordeals; it's just not the philosophy of the design team (I imagine).

You don't have to use the Duty Finder if you don't want to. You could always try the Party Finder if you want a premade group, or you could see if someone is willing to run you through the dungeon unsynced -- though if you do that, you're essentially missing out on the entire experience of running the dungeon. My suggestion would be to find a friendly Free Company who will be patient with you if you're not so comfortable with group roles, and maybe to change to a role that tends not to come with as much pressure (DPS) unless you're really attached to Paladin/tanking.

[Whocareswhatmynameis]

Don't buy an online game if you don't want to play with other people? Problem solved.

[Selova]

Im 50 years old and played mmo's since WoW was released.. I kind of know what one is.

Still dont like being forced to group with people. it should be a choice..... i shouldnt have my main story progression stopped and pretty much cant finish the game because im forced to group up.

This mentality isn't healthy in the longterm of the design of a MMO. MMOs have always been designed and balanced around group play and while there are mmos out there that have options for entirely solo play, FFXIV isn't one of them. You're in for a rough ride if your goal at max level is to solo. Good luck.

[rjspencer4]

run palace solo until you hit max level, then undersize all previous content, problem solved.

[White_Wolf_X]

You can do most of the story alone, yes some of it you have to group up with other players to do ( or get a high level fc member, if you are in one to give you a boost in that dungeon. pre lvl 50 stuff mostly ) and well if you really don't wanna group up with other players to do a dungeon/trial etc every now and then, why are you playing a MMORPG?.

MMORPGs are made on the idea that you do stuff like dungeons with other players.

And the "rude people" you should simple put on your blacklist.

[Ayerinn]

MMO does not mean "forced group" - it is a garbage argument. Group content is created for MMO's because there are some people who really enjoy it but forced anything is never a good thing. While I personally don't mind doing the group content for the story the OP does and I completely understand his opinion. A MMO has MANY social, MULTIPLAYER interactions that have nothing to do with groups or combat.

[Felis]

MMO does not mean "forced group" - it is a garbage argument. Group content is created for MMO's because there are some people who really enjoy it but forced anything is never a good thing. While I personally don't mind doing the group content for the story the OP does and I completely understand his opinion. A MMO has MANY social, MULTIPLAYER interactions that have nothing to do with groups or combat.

It is not really forced, just the fastest option.
Other option is to grind first up to lv 50+ and then doing the low level dungeons solo unsynched to progress in the story.

[TarynH]

I really really dislike the fact i am forced into group events to progress the main story. Ive never been a big player in groups, dungeons etc. Im not very good at group roles and have always been a PVE player mainly.

I cant progress the main story unless i do the "The Things We Do for Cheese" and i have to complete the dungeon just to get a main quest item. I really wish they have a single player version of these events and didnt force me into groups.

And here I was thinking it might actually be fun to do some of the main story quest fights with a friend or two. >.>