I'm a solo player on a MMORG!

[Siul]

I tend to be a solo player. In large groups I found that there are those that always think they know better and go ahead without thinking or order around. I also found smaller groups which are very fun to play with, ppl that care how your doing and wait. I'm a caster, I can deal a lot of damage but then also agro a lot which means I need someone to help me out when I'm attacked. I hope that the guild I'm in will be understanding and helpful when the time comes for dungeons and harder quests.

I also have the tendency of doing too many things at the same time. I can be adventuring and see some harvest material and I will go for it, or see someone to parley with and go for it (that can be annoying for others) but his is my way of playing, trying to see all and do all (that doesn't sound too good ).

So all in all I would say that I solo but a nice group is a great advantage and fun.

[sherrjo]

I'm a bit of both. There are times when for lack of time I can't group (ie there's no point in grouping with people when you only have a 1 hour session as no matter how many times you say you have to go they are still annoyed when you finally leave.)

However, recently I have started playing with 2 guildmates using SKYPE/ventrilo and it is much more fun as you can talk and play. (Something which is impossible to do when you are in combat and trying to type.)

This makes the game more social. Some people say it loses the RP aspect but that doesn't have to be the case as we actually continue to have ingame in character chat and teasing as my guildmates are high elfs and i'm a dwarf. But I must say the game is much more interesting and you can also get more done quicker which for me is a bonus as my play time is limited.

Anyway I don't think there is a right way to play the game. So long as everyone accepts the game "as is". People only complain when others try to have the game slanted towards their particular play style. Sigil have said that the game is geared towards grouping for around 60% if you accept this and still want to and enjoy soloing then that's great.

[Snowman]

In a team I often worry a bout letting other players down, or getting involved with other such disputes!

So when I group I like to make sure im at my very best!.. with people who are casual and enjoy a laugh.

Because I like a specific type of team I often just cant be botherd with looking!.. and yes, being an independant kind of person myself in real life I like to make sure that I can hold my own in a game and not have to rely on other people!

However, I have to say that solo'ing can get boring!.. its tiring and sometimes I just want to GET THINGS DONE! lol.. so thats when I look to group up..

If I do group up though, I like to be at a level several higher than what is needed, this way I feel I am helping the group alot, at the sacrifice of xp and worthy loot.. but its more enjoyable because the members are happy that they have a high level helping them out - I find huge satisfaction in helping people.

On the flip side, sometimes I like the adrenaline pumping action of being the weak link in a group higher than me! you gotta stay alert, make sure your helping as opposed to causing a problem, being aware of exactly what your team mates are doing!

Ideally everyone should solo and only call for help when they absoloutly need to it makes you a better player later on!..

Some games you can solo alot! but some you HAVE to have a team.. im not sure what VG is like at the later levels but I definatly NEED to be able to do my own thing, to have my own space and work at my own pace.

[Tuor falconeye]

so ok now weve from lots of people describing what they prefer. but why if you prefer to solo do you play a MMORG?why not play a single player game?

the reason i ask is because i have read that many replys on sites to the solo/group argument that say if you want to solo you shouldnt be playing a MMORG. so this is just an opurtunity to find out why solo players like to play these games.

just for the record i solo on MMORGS myself so i am not disagreeing with any comments, just interested in hearing them

[Nosyd-V]

Originally Posted by Tuor falconeye

so ok now weve from lots of people describing what they prefer. but why if you prefer to solo do you play a MMORG?why not play a single player game?

the reason i ask is because i have read that many replys on sites to the solo/group argument that say if you want to solo you shouldnt be playing a MMORG. so this is just an opurtunity to find out why solo players like to play these games.

just for the record i solo on MMORGS myself so i am not disagreeing with any comments, just interested in hearing them

I solo quests most of the time. The reason why I don't play a single player game and play MMORPG's is this.

I like to play in a world thats as real as possible. Real players controlling characters is what an MMORPG has, a single player doesn't. A real evolving world where real players interact with each other. A single player game doesn't feel alive like an MMORPG is.

I like to interact and communicate with these real players. I don't have to group with them for quests to get that.

I like to craft and sell/give my created items to other players. I like to feel I'm making and contributing things to the community and to feel part of it.

I like the virtual economy and market trading a MMORPG has

I like to be in a guild, chat with them, craft items for them, help the guild grow and develop.

I could go on for ever with reasons why I play an MMORPG, but I'll stop with the few I have listed. An MMORPG isn't all about grouping up for quests and dungeons, not for me anyway. There is far more to them than just that. It's a whole social, community thing. I can solo quests and still have that whole social thing going as well.

[Ysharros]

Originally Posted by Tuor falconeye

the reason i ask is because i have read that many replys on sites to the solo/group argument that say if you want to solo you shouldnt be playing a MMORG. so this is just an opurtunity to find out why solo players like to play these games.

I don't answer that question anymore. It's a non-argument. Nothing in the term "Massive Multiplayer etc etc" implies in ANY way that one can't solo. It's a big game with lots of players online at the same time. "Multiplayer" does not equal grouped. Solo does not equal socially inept or incapable of communicating, as many group-harpies like to imply.

I'm not being harsh about anyone here, not at all - the Spheres community is one of the few where we can still have a good old-fashioned debate! - just about an attitude I've seen all over the general gaming community for years now, and that I've decided I will no longer indulge. I'm tired of the rampant intolerance of other people's ways, lives, playstyles and circumstances, and I won't make allowances for it anymore. Sometimes I argue back - mostly I try to ignore it.

If Groupie-Jane can't understand why I play alone in an online game, that's her problem, not mine. I need to justify my choices to her about as much as I need to justify to anyone why I'm wearing this T-shirt instead of that one today.

[Sheazy]

Originally Posted by Snowman

Ideally everyone should solo and only call for help when they absolutely need to it makes you a better player later on!..

I have to respectfully disagree. Soloing only unless you need help will not make you a better player, I would go so far as to say it will make you a worse one. There is a lot that goes into a good group and working together is a learned skill, and one that can't be learned by soloing.

For example, a sorc who only solos has an opportunity to group. Do you think she'll know how to manage her aggro while maximizing her dps? More than likely one of two things will happen. Either she will constantly pull aggro and make my life as a healer much more difficult, or she will be putting out sub par dps and therefore not contributing to the group as well as she could be. A sorc who had grouped a significant part of their adventuring career would have a better idea of that "aggro threshold" that you can ride where you put out max dps you can without pulling aggro.

This is true for all the classes. The skills you need in a group are not the same you need while solo. Most of the time they are completely at odds with each other. A solo tank doesn't have to worry about keeping aggro off of anyone else, he just has to worry about killing the mobs as quickly as possible. A solo healer doesn't have to be concerned with healing multiple people and maximizing mana efficiency, she just has to mow through the mobs while healing herself.

I'm aware that solo play is a valid and popular (as evidenced by this thread) playstyle. But to say someone is a better player when they solo unless absolutely necessary is just plain wrong :P

[Ysharros]

I agree with Sheazy to some extent, though I believe it's quite possible for a solo player to learn to be totally competent with their class. Grouping does not work the same way as soloing, however -- and it doesn't work the same as duoing either, really; each permutations has different ways to play and be effective.

Vanguard has taken this a step further with weaknesses/exploits too, which I like. It pays to consult your fellows and know what they can do, or what they can exploit that you can do. That's fun. (Edit - unless you play a cleric in which case you don't get any goodies. *mutter* )

Saying a solo player can't group is like saying a group player won't know how to solo - both are a matter of acquired skill.

[Snowman]

yes, after I read it again I dont like the sound of it myself :#)

I should have said :

perhaps most players should consider at least attempting to solo through the early levels!... I attempted the stronghold near Tanvu many times before grouping, maybe it was a waste of time but I really felt like I had learnt what my strengths AND weakness's were!

When grouping now I feel more comfortable in knowing my place.

Going back to the OP :

When I was young i simply LOVED going to arcades!.. in my day, not many games were multi player.. street fighter and racing games where the only things really! But even then most people preferd to play by themselves and show off their HIGHSCORE to friends..

I loved going to the arcade with friends, not because I enjoyed them to be playing with me in the same game, but because they were around me laughing and joking or competing with each other.

MMO's offer the chance to play a game and be sociable at the same time! without having to leave the house, or have to drink and take drugs, just to be sociable!

I too simple cant stand those people who say "why play an mmo if your going solo" do they not realise people love to talk?

[dirtymeat80]

Originally Posted by Tuor falconeye

so ok now weve from lots of people describing what they prefer. but why if you prefer to solo do you play a MMORG?why not play a single player game?

the reason i ask is because i have read that many replys on sites to the solo/group argument that say if you want to solo you shouldnt be playing a MMORG. so this is just an opurtunity to find out why solo players like to play these games.

just for the record i solo on MMORGS myself so i am not disagreeing with any comments, just interested in hearing them

few reasons really, one of them being the option to group with some people if you so choose. Also being able to jump in a conversation with some other people via the chat channel.

Plus, what single player game out there is like Vanguard?