Love this game,Only one complaint

[Isala]

It's funny, using SWTOR as an example of what happens when you don't merge story with content, when there are quests, in the open world, no less, that require groups, or at least several people, unless you come back once you're overleveled. And some of the most amazing content in that game literally requires an entire 8 man group to complete, and no, I don't mean the raids. Anyone who went after their permanent +10 to all stats buff knows exactly what I'm talking about. You needed people to activate the bridge on both sides, as well as trigger switches in multiple locations, all to get a group of 8 through that gauntlet of puzzles. At least, that was how it worked on Imperial side. No idea how Republic did it. I'm imagining something equally as frustrating.

As much as it might suck to hear it, this game actually is BETTER for making story tie in with instances, especially when this game uses the Level Sync system to ensure that people actually run old content, something most other MMOs completely ignore. You want to run that obscure dungeon in the lower levels? Nah. Nobody cares, since they're all sitting at level cap. Here? Dungeon roulettes for daaaaaays.

[Evergrey]

This is also the reason why my ex never got too involved in this game.
She really liked it, but being forced into the group content made it hard for her as she usually run around solo exploring stuff.
Forced groups made her too nervous, eventhough the times she tried worked out just fine.
Some people just feel more pressure than others when playing with randoms in MMOs, an enviroment that have the bad reputation of being very picky if you make a mistake.

I've always felt sorry for her, since she was the one that wanted to buy this game and made me buy it aswell during a Black Friday Sale years ago.
Took me some time before I even started playing.

[Crysten]

Did the OP not realise the Undersized Party option was a thing? Anything MSQ related in ARR and likely Heavensward as of tomorrow can be soloed if a player wants to.

Sure, it means he has to be grossly overlevelled in order to solo said content but that's hardly the community's problem.

[Solarra]

Yes, it can feel uncomfortable being forced to group up with strangers, especially around the end of an expansion when people are pushing to get the MSQ finished and running low on patience.

However, since you love the game, I'd advise finding yourself a good Free Company. You may have to search for a while but there are a lot of helpful companies out there. I would make a post on the board for your world and maybe a post on the Companies board too (don't forget to check out who is recruiting, too).

Our company was founded primarily for people who find group content stressful and we have a weekly event devoted to MSQ, so nobody has to use DF to progress. Other companies expect their members to do the MSQ on their own, so it's definitely worth checking the ethos and asking a few questions before you join.

Once you have more experience, the instances won't seem like so much of a hurdle, but while you are still levelling and learning, it's a lot more fun doing them with friends.

[Kling-Klang]

You will get used to it. I felt a bit scared too but its not bad.
Also most are very understanding when they see a new player in a dungeon.

[Belhi]

Group content is a core part of this game and I don't see them changing that at this point. Going back and retuning every MSQ dungeon and trial for a solo experience would be a huge amount of work and they have a shortage of battle content designers.

[Chrallmal]

While I am trying REALLY hard not to slide into rude territory, Tales of Adventure potions are about to be a thing. Granted, you can argue that having to pay to get an auto-complete to all story quests is not the same as being given the free option to do them under your own conditions. I guess. Going in over-leveled is a thing, but I have a distinct feeling that this probably isn't going to satisfy your personal desire to be able to solo content - as you have to do so much extra work that other games apparently do not require. Either way, there is a vehicle for players that are anti-social and/or have real-world anxiety about group content that might make the game less than fun. If either of these afflictions do not describe your rational for disliking group content (apparently due to interactions with other people), then I am going to echo that you probably want to find another game.

Don't get me wrong - I get it. I have never been in an FC, because I don't want to have to deal with peoples problems or listen to their life stories while in the game. I came to play, not to talk. If this game was constructed in such a way that dungeon/trial content could be just as easily solo'd as it could be dealt with in a group - you bet your bottom dollar that I'd go that route every time.

However, it (conventionally) is built around group play. I adapted. At some point - if I want to get into raiding - I'm probably going to have to bite the bullet and talk to people.

[The_NPC]

gona say as my 2nd (yes 2nd friend had me try WoW out back in Burning Crusade-lich King days) I dreaded dungeons... especially since my 1st class pick was ironicly GLD-PLD... don't get me wrong I've played Multiplayer in some way before (Halo & White Knight Chronicles 2... & about 2 dungeons in WoW when I played it) so the "idea" of working with another real person to achive a goal, be it kill that Sniper or hold the line, was not new just "Forced role" was. Yes I got A'holes a few times or that odd DD/Heal who pulled for me when I was soooo undergeared & unskilled, but as u can I'm here arn't I (Dwarvinisum at it's core I quess, Adapt or die... well in gaming case its adapt or Rage quit lol)

Basicly it's up to "you" what you do with the choice's you can see you have, I liked this game enouf I grit & clawed my way threw "forced role group content" & now its as easy as... well okay at times it ant easy but I don't Loath dungeons anymore cause I made my choice (to adapt) so figure out what youre choices are, for good or ill. & decide one, just as long as you remember it was youre choice.

[Natsuno]

Probably WoW too, but I have no personal experience there.

Soloable up to a point. I mean there is lots do do that can be soloed, but as it stands now in Legion, the main story is divided between zones and also separate class hall quest chains. Every quest chain in each zone in the expac culminates in a 5 man dungeon. The story quest chains then take you into raids (and more dungeons) later on down the line. NO avoiding it if you're there for the story.

I'll admit to not being the most sociable person, and that sometimes I can suffer from anxiety when faced with grouping with people for certain contents (mostly due to not wanting to let them down by messing up), but I wouldn't want this game to change.

[Claviusnex]

I've got more than a few years on you (let's just say my level and age are very close). I also played WoW for a number of years. The thing is the design of the games are quite different with more than just selected dungeons being part of the main story line. XIV puts a lot more emphasis on the main story line than other MMO's I've played. It was these differences that prompted me to move to FF XIV so while I understand your viewpoint I can't agree with it. I can't speak for your server but I've also found mine to be a lot less toxic than the ones I played on WoW or ESO.

I frequently run DF for the leveling dungeons and with rare exceptions does someone not want to go at the pace of the first time players. As far as pulling aggro, it happens to me quite frequently but doesn't bother me. After all we are all squishy at one time or another. I'd say it probably boils down to two things. The first is you learning the tanking actions needed for the dungeon. If you only intend to run the dungeon once I can see where you wouldn't want to spend a lot of effort learning the moves. You will also not have a very long run in the game as once the story runs out dungeons and raids are what you do for combat related activity and gear. The other is the DPS need to learn to back off a bit if they continually pull aggro. There's not much you can do here other than ask them to back off a bit and hope for the best. You picked the highest visibility, most thankless role in the game. If you do your job well no one will really notice. On the other hand if you make a mistake it will be glaringly obvious. In the end though if you decide you want to continue with this game I agree with some of the others that you would probably be happier as a DPS. As a DPS you can pretty much stay in the background as long as you are doing decent damage and don't die to basic mechanics. I wish you well with whatever you decide.