I LIKE, yes, ENJOY playing solo a majority of the time
but... but... why would I play an MMO then?!?!?
While I play I can chat with my girlfriend who also plays MMO's, I can chat with my friends (playing solo doesnt mean you don't meet people... guilds are for the social aspect as well as grouping) And the main thing, I like groups as well... maybe once or twice a day. I enjoy the ability to work as a team, and to experience group content in MMO's. What this doesnt mean however, is that I want to *enjoy* (/sarcasm) grouping every time I log into the game, this ruins it for me.
If a game isnt well balanced with a complete solo storyline, I probably won't play it. I'm not trying to flame, just stating how I feel.
Yes I play single player games as well, what they lack is a community, an economy, and teamwork when you want it.
that's just me
Retired from WoW Rebellion - 60 Warlock || Kalaa - 60 Warrior Littlerebel - 60 Hunter || Albie - 60 Shaman Played: Erm, a lot more.
Op not everyone has the same interests as you..people are different and like to play differently too..stop telling people dont buy the game just because they dont have the same idea of a mmo as you....who are you to say what a mmo is and is not..let people play how they wish.
I have been playing the latest computer games for over 25 years now ( since my ZX81 ) and despite changes in my lifestyle I see no reason to stop doing it.
why do I play solo now, because I still love MMO games and its better than not playing them. Dont get me wrong, I am not trying to complain. Just to explain that some of the choices we make are forced upon us.
As a middle aged Dad I get maybe 1 or at max 2 hours a night and thats not uninterupted. when you've got the kids arguing and the missus asking "Can u load the dishwasher ? " it distracts me and would not be fair on a group if my toon sat down afk mid-dungeon.
Also, once you get past the mid-game of an MMO then there are very few dungeons you can complete in a 1.5 hour timeframe, especially if you wait around at the start for the entire party to turn up.
So I solo.
I still try to join a friendly guild and will group where I can, but I will probably channel my toon into making a fortune thru crafting and just fight/quest where I can, for as much as I can.
The choice to group or solo. It's not always black & white
i may have sounded a litle rude on my words , i know we are not always , actualy almost never , guilty of our acts. the truth is , i like to socialize online , i like IRC , forums , etc etc and this kind of games ( mmos ) i see them as extencions of the IRC programs , its the next interface , i do have a lot of RL friends but i like to play online games not just to get virtual gold , cool armor , ubber weapons , the main reason is while im having fun using the computer , do it with morons and jerks.
im not saying soloers are antisocial people , like you all said , its a matter of energy needed to spend , time , its social work , that is not always fun. actualy when i said grouping makes the game harder is becose of that , the human factor is the ultimate chalange imo.
I ended up soloing as I broke the L, F & G buttons on my keyboard through over use in GW.
Thankfully, I bought a new keyboard & started playing EVE
AmazingAveryAge of Conan AdvocateMemberUncommonPosts: 7,188
I enjoy the MMO experience, but depending on how long i play that particular game for i tend to solo as time go's on. For example one particular mmorpg i played for the last 6 years, for the first 2 i was happy running about and chatting with all the other people. Now its a relief to do my own thing without the hassle i get for being such a high rank. Sometimes too, the way games are looking these days you like to take a look around and appreciate the beauty instead of rushing thru, making a mental note to revisit but never do for ages. Different games have different themes, so joining a party or doing a mission is a requirement sometimes, but some games out there have features where you cant really do things with other people at the same time and chat away. I don't think that just because you prefer to play an MMORPG solo doesnt make you a loner, its just a preference for some people. Like prefering one flavour of ice cream instead of the ability to have a multitude of flavours. You can never get enough of a good thing. These days the ability to play on your own, lets you play the game at your own pace and your not subject to the ever increasing names/ insults people throw at you if your not quick enough for them, for example. I believe that for this one reason people are far more likely to play solo.
So what about the "Dogs of War" in Warhammer? Will it now be possible to run an instance solo( with a pack of dogs) or Sorta solo, just you and one good friend plus some dogs?? I might actually prefer some npcs running with me, they wont drop group due to Lag, evil mother, stupid argument, guild obligations, etc..
it is a time thing for me, weeknights I don't have time to really do a lot of long groups. I may join up for a mini if the situation warrents it or just run a duo for some mob grinding. Even when soloing I try and interreact with other players if nothing more than giving them a wave as I run by and I like to toss out heals and buffs whenever possible also. Guild chat is always good for a laugh, and depending on the game general chat can be good too.
I've answered this question quite a few times, but I guess one more won't do me any serious harm. The first thing to understand is that solo fighting and solitary existence are two different things. While one might prefer to do their "pve" activities alone, that doesn't necessarily mean they don't interact with people to trade, chat, roleplay, etc.
That said, there are several reasons I prefer to do my pve activities alone. One is that I take some measure of pride in the fact that everything my character is or becomes is due entirely to my own endeavors. I like being personally responsible for my character's strengths and weaknesses, exercising a degree of independence that is rarely possible in the real world. I feel that by grouping, much of my character's progress can be attributed to others. The main reason, however, is that every pickup group I've been in has had one of two goals: gain as much experience as possible in as short a period of time as possible, or accomplish the quest objective as efficiently as possible with no mucking about; there's no time to stop and smell the flowers, there's no time to read any lore that might happen to be involved, there's only time for achieving objectives. I simply don't enjoy that style of play. I greatly prefer to take my time, set my own pace, and retain the ability to change my mind at any given moment.
Now, why play online if that's the case? Because online worlds are persistent, evolving, dynamic worlds that last years. I can complete a single-player rpg in a week, and then that character is forever finished. In an MMO, my character can continue to grow and change. Also, as I mentioned above, there is more to any MMO than simply killing things. I enjoy roleplaying, and I enjoy belonging to a quality guild. I also enjoy the hum of life that other players present. In a sense, they're like additional scenery, extras in a movie; they flesh out the environment and make it seem more vibrant.
Really, the list goes on and on. I suspect there are as many reasons people choose the solo playstyle as there are players. I feel that the primary thing to understand is that people respond to different things in all areas of life, but those differences do not preclude coexistence. People tend to get so preoccupied with differences that they completely fail to notice any similarities. When it comes to MMOs, we're all gamers, after all. Some of us like pvp, some pve, some like grouping, some like soloing, but we're all after quality products that capture our imagination and give us enjoyment.
yes , but my question still is the same , why do you play solo in a massive multiplayer game.
if it takes too long to find a group , why did you get that game in the first place.
you know massive multiplayer games , are full of people and if you are not going to group , then you are going to solo , if its becose of time comsuming or not , i dont care.
thats not the point , you know from the start that you will play more solo becose of the time you need to group.
i know all the reasons grouping takes time , im playing guildwars for 20 months and i love grouping , for me PUGs FTW
and this is why i bring this topic , becose before guildwars i played all kinds of games but didnt play any mmorpgs.
i was totaly not expecting to find a comunity that plays solo in games where you can group.
it doesnt make sence to me.
its like have a ferrary and always driving 20 miles per hour.
for you its fun to do quests and missions alone ? beat the stupid code ? whats that ..
for me its more fun trying to group with 7 people , even if we take 30 minutes to make a group and then take 30 minutes talking about the tactics and then we play for 30 ..
there i have 1 hour fun from the MMO factor and 30 minutes from the stupid CODE factor.
im not playing online to beat the stupid CODE , that i do in single player games anytime
i dont have a monthly fee in guildwars ( this topic is not game related its for all MMOs )
but i pay my internet connection and electricity bill.
It's reallly simple: What attracts me in the MMO is the "possibility" of grouping when i feel like it. I don't want to be obligated to it though. But in a single player game, you can't group at all. So even if i like to group 10% of my gaming experience, the normal solo rpg doesn't offer that option to me.
It's all about options.
What deserves to be done, deserves to be "well" done...
I like to solo most of the time in a MMORPG for the same reason I sometimes post my thoughts in public forums instead of in a private journal: because even when I write a post by myself and even for myself, a public forum is organic and alive with interactivity in a way that a private journal can never be.
Somebody earlier mentioned Elder Scrolls III and how they couldn't get into it. I experienced the exact same thing. The world--even filled with NPCS--seemed dead, dreary, and dull. With real people there--even if you don't go out adventuring with them, you can have all sorts of levels of interaction.
For example, sometimes I play the same MMORPGS as friends, but we almost never adventure together. Instead, we go by ourselves but spend the whole time talking to each other. No stress, no worrying about who is higher level or who needs what quest, no worries about letting your friend down if you have to leave at a moment's notice, etc. This is especially great since so many of my friends have moved to other cities.
But there are other things you can do. You can talk ask for help about things in-game. You can talk about things happening IRL. You can see people and their neat gear and realize that there's more things that you didn't know about, encouraging you to explore further or play more.
Finally, I think part of it is that there simply aren't many single player RPGs made anymore, and the ones that are either a form of FPS, or else decide that they need to cram so much mayhem and complexity into it that I cannot get "into" it. For example, enjoyed Dungeon Siege, but hated Dungeon Siege II because so much was happening all over the place that I kept dying before I even knew that I was being hurt!
im going to sound like a fanboy , but thats ok becose its what i am there is no other mmo that can beat guildwars in game play period. i like silkroad grafics , but solo lag persistent credid card real money rip offs , no thank you. show me a bad ass sci fi mmo meaning something like swg was before the nerfing , and ill pay 15 month to play it
i perfer soloing because of the time factor. I can get alot more done doin it alone then waitin on 3-4 more people to catch up, its a waste of time to me to type and explain why we should go left instead of right. Also the time it takes to make a group, find/get to the dungeon, and wipe 4 times it really doesnt benefit me. I dont want to have to hope this group wont suck. So i just bypass it all and resort to soloing . I like to group with friends though of course.
I feel this way. Now imagine one of them is the OP and you are trying to discuss some situation in the mission? How long would that take. Waiting for groups to get together makes me feel very unproductive. When I solo, I hopefully don't feel that way!
If someone want to solo, please, oh please, don't enforce grouping on him. I want peoples who WANT to group, not that have to. If some player is a sicko that is anti-social, don't bring him kicking in my group!
CoH/V pretty much hit it right on the nail for solo/group balance without having 2 endgames. I still think 2 endgames, 1 for solo, 1 for grouping, would be better, but it isn't necessary.
Personnally, I always group, unless I can't commit to grouping for any reason. If such a thing happen, you want me to be happy about soloing, not been cursing the fact I can't group, I already can't group, the last thing you want to do is to hammer it on my head. Solo has to be self rewarding and fun in itself.
Solo has 1 edge, you can put unlimited levels/achievements, these fit perfectly well with soloers. This require little work. Having the players able to compete with other soloers in an indirect way (score board for example), and this is something sweet.
- "If I understand you well, you are telling me until next time. " - Ren
I prefer grouping when the opportunity is there. Given a choice between getting together with guild-mates doing something as a group, and soloing, I will always do the former.
However, sometimes my guild mates are not on. Or sometimes they are busy crafting or what have you. In those cases my choice becomes soloing or joining a pickup group. And it's really pickup groups that I am not all that into. The main reason is that I like to stop and smell the roses (read all the quest text, etc), and most PUGs that I've been in seem to be in a massive rush through the content as fast as possible. I have even had them get annoyed at me because I was "taking too long" reading quest text. "Just click OK so we can move on," etc. So, given the choice of that or soloing, then I solo... because it gives me the chance to take my time and enjoy the content.
So, I would say that for me, I prefer grouping, but I do want to be able to solo. I think there is a big difference between wanting to be able to solo, and wanting only to solo. I don't only want to solo. But if I hop on at 1 AM and the rest of my guild is asleep, it'd be nice if I could grab a "solo quest" and go do that for an hour until I am ready for bed, etc.
yes , but my question still is the same , why do you play solo in a massive multiplayer game.
if it takes too long to find a group , why did you get that game in the first place.
you know massive multiplayer games , are full of people and if you are not going to group , then you are going to solo , if its becose of time comsuming or not , i dont care.
thats not the point , you know from the start that you will play more solo becose of the time you need to group.
i know all the reasons grouping takes time , im playing guildwars for 20 months and i love grouping , for me PUGs FTW
and this is why i bring this topic , becose before guildwars i played all kinds of games but didnt play any mmorpgs.
i was totaly not expecting to find a comunity that plays solo in games where you can group.
it doesnt make sence to me.
its like have a ferrary and always driving 20 miles per hour.
for you its fun to do quests and missions alone ? beat the stupid code ? whats that ..
for me its more fun trying to group with 7 people , even if we take 30 minutes to make a group and then take 30 minutes talking about the tactics and then we play for 30 ..
there i have 1 hour fun from the MMO factor and 30 minutes from the stupid CODE factor.
im not playing online to beat the stupid CODE , that i do in single player games anytime
i dont have a monthly fee in guildwars ( this topic is not game related its for all MMOs )
but i pay my internet connection and electricity bill.
I have a question for you: if you are unable to find a group, what do u do? Do you keep spamming LFG every 1-2 minutes? How long will you do that? An hour? two? six hours?
Soloing in a MMORPG is NOT solo play as you mean it. Soloing is playing alone in a crowd. Thats not the same as a single player. game.
What exactly is the OP's definition of soloing in an MMORPG? Is it no social interaction with any other player whatsoever? If so then I understand his question. But if he's just talking about people that like to experience solo, quest solo then I don't understand why he has a problem with it.
When I play MMO's there are certain things that I like to do solo. Obviously farming is first, and is probably first for everyone that plays MMO's that require farming, because I don't know too many people that like to help others farm. I like to solo quests that I can solo. If it's something that I can't do without a group then I'll find a group to do that quest. I also like to experience solo most of the time. Finding good groups that don't complain about every little thing are rare in MMO's and as someone that isn't obsessed with gaining as much experience as possible all the time, I just stay away from experience groups to avoid people like that unless I'm in the mood to level fast.
Now all that said, I still like social interaction in MMO's. I'll join a guild and chat away while I'm experiencing or questing. I'll help guildmates with whatever I can help them with. It's just that I don't want to have to socialize every minute of every day that I spend in an MMO. I want to be able to do what I want when I want. You can't do that in an offline RPG, which is why I play MMO's. I still play offline RPG's but I also like MMORPG's for the freedom to group with other people or solo, instead of just being able to solo in a world with no other real players.
What I do is use the time I have at disposal and make the most of it. Example: If I'm looking for a group to do a quest or dungeon then I usually solo and do quests I can handle myself while I'm LFP instead of wasting time and do nothing while waiting. In a group oriented game like FFXI, that's almost impossible because you need a group for basically everything and when your LFP, theres very little you can do in the meantime.
Solo content is necessary in my opinion, since it gives you the opportunity to do something if you only have an hour or so to invest, keep in mind that not everyone plays at the exact the same time and finding a group can sometimes be tedious and not to mention the times where you have a full group and then something goes wrong only to find the group disbanded seconds later.
I dont know if someone already said this but alot of people will solo because they dont want to share loot.
From your guild wars sig you should know this... if a good item drops and your in a group then someone in your group might be assigned that item and refuse to trade it or give it to you...
So everyone being greedy as they are they will solo farm so that they keep everything the monsters drop.
EDIT: also with quests... unless ive done it before normally i will solo quests or do them only with my brother who also plays the games i do... Doing it solo makes me feel like ive accomplished more.
For me it's about freedom to choose. If I want to solo then that's my choice I should be able to. If I want to go romping with a group of friends, I should be able to. If I want to get together with my guild, and raid something. Well I think I should be able to do that to. One of the greatest things about some MMO's is the freedom they give you, to decide what you want to do, and how you want to go about accomplishing that goal. Wanting to solo really (imho) has nothing to do with being: Anti-social or Lonely. It's just a preference, sort of like going to the movies. Sure I could go with my friends and see the movie, and probably have a good time.
If I decide against going with friends to the same movie. Do I enjoy the movie less? Maybe, maybe not.. but does doing so make the movie any less worth watching? It all depends, and comes back to personal preference. Some people would only find the movie good, if they had "friends" with them. Others would appreciate the movie just as much if they went to see it, alone. Then there are people like me that appreciate both possibilities. Whether I see the movie by myself or with friends. In the end for people like me it would come down to how good the movie is, not what company we may or may not keep.
Well made MMO's are like that. You'll find people that enjoy braving the world alone, just as much as the people. That choose to traverse that same worth with companions. A good MMO's doesn't stick to one rigid path. It offers content for the solo artist, the group player, the raider, the crafter, and the explorer. Without going out of it's way shoving particular play styles into generic, non-meaningful content just to pacify them for more $$. At least that's my opinion on it.
In War - Victory. In Peace - Vigilance. In Death - Sacrifice.
I know when I played EQ with my monk + epic + fungi tunic, I was able to solo, and it would allow me to get really good exp. But why did I do this? Because I wanted to get to a high level, and go on high level raids... with other people
at the same time I liked group hunting alot too... Im very social and liked meeting people. if you put urself out there in any game... the more people that get to know you, the more help you will ultimately always have when u need it. i think in a MMORPG to solo the whole game away is a waste of time... whats the point. the most fun anyone is going to have in one of these games is a huge battle involving many many people... soloing is only sometimes a faster way to advance in a game (if possible). In EQ you couldnt solo as a cleric... but at the same time you were never LFG, cause people were looking for YOU in thee group... It comes down to choosing ur class... Some classes are meant to work alone, some are team classes... but in the end, again, what do u want to do...
it feels good though, to take down something big, solo, and just know... ur better
Comments
I LIKE, yes, ENJOY playing solo a majority of the time
but... but... why would I play an MMO then?!?!?
While I play I can chat with my girlfriend who also plays MMO's, I can chat with my friends (playing solo doesnt mean you don't meet people... guilds are for the social aspect as well as grouping) And the main thing, I like groups as well... maybe once or twice a day. I enjoy the ability to work as a team, and to experience group content in MMO's. What this doesnt mean however, is that I want to *enjoy* (/sarcasm) grouping every time I log into the game, this ruins it for me.
If a game isnt well balanced with a complete solo storyline, I probably won't play it. I'm not trying to flame, just stating how I feel.
Yes I play single player games as well, what they lack is a community, an economy, and teamwork when you want it.
that's just me
Retired from WoW
Rebellion - 60 Warlock || Kalaa - 60 Warrior
Littlerebel - 60 Hunter || Albie - 60 Shaman
Played: Erm, a lot more.
I have been playing the latest computer games for over 25 years now ( since my ZX81 ) and despite changes in my lifestyle I see no reason to stop doing it.
why do I play solo now, because I still love MMO games and its better than not playing them. Dont get me wrong, I am not trying to complain. Just to explain that some of the choices we make are forced upon us.
As a middle aged Dad I get maybe 1 or at max 2 hours a night and thats not uninterupted. when you've got the kids arguing and the missus asking "Can u load the dishwasher ? " it distracts me and would not be fair on a group if my toon sat down afk mid-dungeon.
Also, once you get past the mid-game of an MMO then there are very few dungeons you can complete in a 1.5 hour timeframe, especially if you wait around at the start for the entire party to turn up.
So I solo.
I still try to join a friendly guild and will group where I can, but I will probably channel my toon into making a fortune thru crafting and just fight/quest where I can, for as much as I can.
The choice to group or solo. It's not always black & white
Jackdaw
amen
i may have sounded a litle rude on my words , i know we are not always , actualy almost never , guilty of our acts.
the truth is , i like to socialize online , i like IRC , forums , etc etc and this kind of games ( mmos ) i see them as extencions of the IRC programs , its the next interface , i do have a lot of RL friends but i like to play online games not just to get virtual gold , cool armor , ubber weapons , the main reason is while im having fun using the computer , do it with morons and jerks.
im not saying soloers are antisocial people , like you all said , its a matter of energy needed to spend , time , its social work , that is not always fun.
actualy when i said grouping makes the game harder is becose of that , the human factor is the ultimate chalange imo.
/bow to soloers
Guild - http://lightness.goodforum.net/
Blog - http://www.pierrecarlier.com/
I ended up soloing as I broke the L, F & G buttons on my keyboard through over use in GW.
Thankfully, I bought a new keyboard & started playing EVE
I enjoy the MMO experience, but depending on how long i play that particular game for i tend to solo as time go's on. For example one particular mmorpg i played for the last 6 years, for the first 2 i was happy running about and chatting with all the other people. Now its a relief to do my own thing without the hassle i get for being such a high rank. Sometimes too, the way games are looking these days you like to take a look around and appreciate the beauty instead of rushing thru, making a mental note to revisit but never do for ages. Different games have different themes, so joining a party or doing a mission is a requirement sometimes, but some games out there have features where you cant really do things with other people at the same time and chat away. I don't think that just because you prefer to play an MMORPG solo doesnt make you a loner, its just a preference for some people. Like prefering one flavour of ice cream instead of the ability to have a multitude of flavours. You can never get enough of a good thing. These days the ability to play on your own, lets you play the game at your own pace and your not subject to the ever increasing names/ insults people throw at you if your not quick enough for them, for example. I believe that for this one reason people are far more likely to play solo.
Avery
I miss DAoC
My "why solo" copy and paste post
:
I've answered this question quite a few times, but I guess one more won't do me any serious harm. The first thing to understand is that solo fighting and solitary existence are two different things. While one might prefer to do their "pve" activities alone, that doesn't necessarily mean they don't interact with people to trade, chat, roleplay, etc.
That said, there are several reasons I prefer to do my pve activities alone. One is that I take some measure of pride in the fact that everything my character is or becomes is due entirely to my own endeavors. I like being personally responsible for my character's strengths and weaknesses, exercising a degree of independence that is rarely possible in the real world. I feel that by grouping, much of my character's progress can be attributed to others. The main reason, however, is that every pickup group I've been in has had one of two goals: gain as much experience as possible in as short a period of time as possible, or accomplish the quest objective as efficiently as possible with no mucking about; there's no time to stop and smell the flowers, there's no time to read any lore that might happen to be involved, there's only time for achieving objectives. I simply don't enjoy that style of play. I greatly prefer to take my time, set my own pace, and retain the ability to change my mind at any given moment.
Now, why play online if that's the case? Because online worlds are persistent, evolving, dynamic worlds that last years. I can complete a single-player rpg in a week, and then that character is forever finished. In an MMO, my character can continue to grow and change. Also, as I mentioned above, there is more to any MMO than simply killing things. I enjoy roleplaying, and I enjoy belonging to a quality guild. I also enjoy the hum of life that other players present. In a sense, they're like additional scenery, extras in a movie; they flesh out the environment and make it seem more vibrant.
Really, the list goes on and on. I suspect there are as many reasons people choose the solo playstyle as there are players. I feel that the primary thing to understand is that people respond to different things in all areas of life, but those differences do not preclude coexistence. People tend to get so preoccupied with differences that they completely fail to notice any similarities. When it comes to MMOs, we're all gamers, after all. Some of us like pvp, some pve, some like grouping, some like soloing, but we're all after quality products that capture our imagination and give us enjoyment.
It's reallly simple: What attracts me in the MMO is the "possibility" of grouping when i feel like it. I don't want to be obligated to it though. But in a single player game, you can't group at all. So even if i like to group 10% of my gaming experience, the normal solo rpg doesn't offer that option to me.
It's all about options.
What deserves to be done, deserves to be "well" done...
I like to solo most of the time in a MMORPG for the same reason I sometimes post my thoughts in public forums instead of in a private journal: because even when I write a post by myself and even for myself, a public forum is organic and alive with interactivity in a way that a private journal can never be.
Somebody earlier mentioned Elder Scrolls III and how they couldn't get into it. I experienced the exact same thing. The world--even filled with NPCS--seemed dead, dreary, and dull. With real people there--even if you don't go out adventuring with them, you can have all sorts of levels of interaction.
For example, sometimes I play the same MMORPGS as friends, but we almost never adventure together. Instead, we go by ourselves but spend the whole time talking to each other. No stress, no worrying about who is higher level or who needs what quest, no worries about letting your friend down if you have to leave at a moment's notice, etc. This is especially great since so many of my friends have moved to other cities.
But there are other things you can do. You can talk ask for help about things in-game. You can talk about things happening IRL. You can see people and their neat gear and realize that there's more things that you didn't know about, encouraging you to explore further or play more.
Finally, I think part of it is that there simply aren't many single player RPGs made anymore, and the ones that are either a form of FPS, or else decide that they need to cram so much mayhem and complexity into it that I cannot get "into" it. For example, enjoyed Dungeon Siege, but hated Dungeon Siege II because so much was happening all over the place that I kept dying before I even knew that I was being hurt!
Discussion closed. This guy has no valid opinion... (I just revived this thread for fun. The quote isn't fake.)
most people solo because
those are the three reasons why people ususally solo.
If someone want to solo, please, oh please, don't enforce grouping on him. I want peoples who WANT to group, not that have to. If some player is a sicko that is anti-social, don't bring him kicking in my group!
CoH/V pretty much hit it right on the nail for solo/group balance without having 2 endgames. I still think 2 endgames, 1 for solo, 1 for grouping, would be better, but it isn't necessary.
Personnally, I always group, unless I can't commit to grouping for any reason. If such a thing happen, you want me to be happy about soloing, not been cursing the fact I can't group, I already can't group, the last thing you want to do is to hammer it on my head. Solo has to be self rewarding and fun in itself.
Solo has 1 edge, you can put unlimited levels/achievements, these fit perfectly well with soloers. This require little work. Having the players able to compete with other soloers in an indirect way (score board for example), and this is something sweet.
- "If I understand you well, you are telling me until next time. " - Ren
However, sometimes my guild mates are not on. Or sometimes they are busy crafting or what have you. In those cases my choice becomes soloing or joining a pickup group. And it's really pickup groups that I am not all that into. The main reason is that I like to stop and smell the roses (read all the quest text, etc), and most PUGs that I've been in seem to be in a massive rush through the content as fast as possible. I have even had them get annoyed at me because I was "taking too long" reading quest text. "Just click OK so we can move on," etc. So, given the choice of that or soloing, then I solo... because it gives me the chance to take my time and enjoy the content.
So, I would say that for me, I prefer grouping, but I do want to be able to solo. I think there is a big difference between wanting to be able to solo, and wanting only to solo. I don't only want to solo. But if I hop on at 1 AM and the rest of my guild is asleep, it'd be nice if I could grab a "solo quest" and go do that for an hour until I am ready for bed, etc.
C
Soloing in a MMORPG is NOT solo play as you mean it. Soloing is playing alone in a crowd. Thats not the same as a single player. game.
I am the type of player where I like to do everything and anything from time to time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holodomor - pre-WW2 genocide.
What exactly is the OP's definition of soloing in an MMORPG? Is it no social interaction with any other player whatsoever? If so then I understand his question. But if he's just talking about people that like to experience solo, quest solo then I don't understand why he has a problem with it.
When I play MMO's there are certain things that I like to do solo. Obviously farming is first, and is probably first for everyone that plays MMO's that require farming, because I don't know too many people that like to help others farm. I like to solo quests that I can solo. If it's something that I can't do without a group then I'll find a group to do that quest. I also like to experience solo most of the time. Finding good groups that don't complain about every little thing are rare in MMO's and as someone that isn't obsessed with gaining as much experience as possible all the time, I just stay away from experience groups to avoid people like that unless I'm in the mood to level fast.
Now all that said, I still like social interaction in MMO's. I'll join a guild and chat away while I'm experiencing or questing. I'll help guildmates with whatever I can help them with. It's just that I don't want to have to socialize every minute of every day that I spend in an MMO. I want to be able to do what I want when I want. You can't do that in an offline RPG, which is why I play MMO's. I still play offline RPG's but I also like MMORPG's for the freedom to group with other people or solo, instead of just being able to solo in a world with no other real players.
Solo content is necessary in my opinion, since it gives you the opportunity to do something if you only have an hour or so to invest, keep in mind that not everyone plays at the exact the same time and finding a group can sometimes be tedious and not to mention the times where you have a full group and then something goes wrong only to find the group disbanded seconds later.
I dont know if someone already said this but alot of people will solo because they dont want to share loot.
From your guild wars sig you should know this... if a good item drops and your in a group then someone in your group might be assigned that item and refuse to trade it or give it to you...
So everyone being greedy as they are they will solo farm so that they keep everything the monsters drop.
EDIT: also with quests... unless ive done it before normally i will solo quests or do them only with my brother who also plays the games i do... Doing it solo makes me feel like ive accomplished more.
If I decide against going with friends to the same movie. Do I enjoy the movie less? Maybe, maybe not.. but does doing so make the movie any less worth watching? It all depends, and comes back to personal preference. Some people would only find the movie good, if they had "friends" with them. Others would appreciate the movie just as much if they went to see it, alone. Then there are people like me that appreciate both possibilities. Whether I see the movie by myself or with friends. In the end for people like me it would come down to how good the movie is, not what company we may or may not keep.
Well made MMO's are like that. You'll find people that enjoy braving the world alone, just as much as the people. That choose to traverse that same worth with companions. A good MMO's doesn't stick to one rigid path. It offers content for the solo artist, the group player, the raider, the crafter, and the explorer. Without going out of it's way shoving particular play styles into generic, non-meaningful content just to pacify them for more $$. At least that's my opinion on it.
In War - Victory.
In Peace - Vigilance.
In Death - Sacrifice.
I know when I played EQ with my monk + epic + fungi tunic, I was able to solo, and it would allow me to get really good exp. But why did I do this? Because I wanted to get to a high level, and go on high level raids... with other people
at the same time I liked group hunting alot too... Im very social and liked meeting people. if you put urself out there in any game... the more people that get to know you, the more help you will ultimately always have when u need it. i think in a MMORPG to solo the whole game away is a waste of time... whats the point. the most fun anyone is going to have in one of these games is a huge battle involving many many people... soloing is only sometimes a faster way to advance in a game (if possible). In EQ you couldnt solo as a cleric... but at the same time you were never LFG, cause people were looking for YOU in thee group... It comes down to choosing ur class... Some classes are meant to work alone, some are team classes... but in the end, again, what do u want to do...
it feels good though, to take down something big, solo, and just know... ur better
qwr