How Often Do You Play Solo?

Danikat · May 25

About 75%

RealLoveBVB wrote: »

katanagirl1 wrote: »

Interesting, it sounds like some of the negative experiences of fake tanks and healers is driving people away from group dungeons, especially since so many people here support them. They may never make it to trials and end game if that is the case. Solo play is all that is left for them. It may be more than the “gatekeeping” people claim is the motivating factor. (Of course I think it is, but the comments above support my opinion.)

ZOS should take heed of this if they plan to continue to have support of these activities.

Not sure if that is the reason.
I think the reason is, that players don't make the step to join a like-minded guild. And there is definitely one that is matching with everyone.
Being in said guilds also solves the problem of encountering fake roles in dungeons.

I think there will be a lot of reasons.

For me it's mostly personal preference. Sometimes I like playing in a group, and I'm in 3 very friendly helpful guilds I know I can ask if I want help or company, and sometimes I'll join in with what other people are doing too. But I like having the freedom to do my own thing, at my own pace. Also my free time is unpredictable so I can't commit to playing with a group on a regular schedule. That's one of the reasons I quit Ultima Online (wow, over 20 years ago now). I realised to get anywhere in that game you had to play with the same people regularly, it meant commiting to being online for several hours at the same time every week, ideally multiple days per week, and I couldn't do that. If anything my life has gotten less predictable since then (mostly by choice).

For a long time I thought that meant MMOs weren't for me, so I was very happy when I found ones that were more solo-friendly. In theory I still like the idea of something like EVE Online or the old Star Wars Galaxies that's almost entirely player driven, but I know I could never play something like that.

But even when I am online I like having the freedom to do whatever I feel like in the moment. When I'm exploring (including in delves and public dungeons) I'll often wander off to check out whatever seems interesting, stop to read all the books, try to break out the map or stop to take screenshots. None of that would be any fun for anyone with me, so I don't do it when I'm in a group, but I have fun with it so I like playing solo to give myself that freedom.

I've never had any interest in trials or vet dungeon achievements or whatever so problems with finding PUGs for them are irrelevant to me. It certainly hasn't 'driven me away' because I was never doing those things in the first place. But it's also not that I have trouble making friends and don't have anyone to play with. I'm just happy where I am and have more than enough to do (and lots of other games to play if I'm bored with this one).

shadyjane62 · May 25

100% All The Time

Always, except for pvp but nothing organized.

ADarklore · May 25

100% All The Time

Absolutely 100% of the time solo since the very first day I started playing in May 2015. As the newest trailer said at the end, "Play alone... or with friends" (eg. 'Skyrim with friends').

This poll result so far confirms what Rich said years ago on a couple different podcasts, when he said that the majority wanted 'Skyrim with friends' and that's when they developed One Tamriel. Since then, they've been pushing more in that direction, with hybridization and now subclassing- making the game more and more like Skyrim.

ADarklore · May 26

100% All The Time

I just went and watch HTM's video on this, and the comments there are FILLED with players stating how they also only play or mostly solo. I've said for years that ZOS has the data and know who their majority player base is, and it's clear to me that subclassing was added for us solo players who want a more 'Skyrim-esque' experience. So a HUGE thanks to ZOS for implementing subclassing and letting us 'play our way'... "Alone or with friends".

Khanmorte · May 26

100% All The Time

I 90% play solo, including what is considered "group content". I only group up to help fill if the guild event host needs more bodies, or when hosting a guild event myself. The only other reason I group up is to farm trials for gear to use for my solo runs in "group content". I would like to see a way to obtain trial-equivalent gear from solo arenas or the Infinite Archive, which would allow solo players to avoid farming trials. Ideally, the IA trial bosses drop trial gear, with bosses above arc three dropping perfected trial gear. An alternative option is to introduce a solo arena mode (including a veteran mode) for existing trials, which would provide more options for players who prefer to play solo but reuse existing content, making it relatively inexpensive to produce.

Vrelanier · May 26

25% or less

I have a friend to play with so I play with a friend and we sometimes do group content with other people too. It's lame that people don't talk in zone chat or even say hi in random dungeons, so as far as MMO's go, ESO sucks, but for a co-op, it is pretty neat!

silky_soft · May 26

100% All The Time

My whole guild quit after a certain update. Can't remember what it was about. But now I play solo or only help my wife on occasions, so I have less chance of being banned. It's a solitary life, but it's a peaceful life.

Hapexamendios · May 26

About 75%

Probably a little higher. It's mainly because of time zones. I live in Japan and play on PSNA. The vast majority of my friends are in the US and Canada. Can really only play together on weekends.

Frayton · May 26

100% All The Time

I knew before I even voted that the poll would be overwhelmingly pure solo or mostly solo bc ESO is a casual game.

cyberjanet · May 26

25% or less

If I want to play solo, there are some really great variations of Patience to occupy me. Or some great RPGs with companions that are worth something. Or many other games actually designed for solo play.

ESO has many features designed for group play, unfortunately not enough choice of group size. I play with a particular group of people, I am not interested in random groups of usually hostile and intolerant strangers. Even my original guild is filling up with people I do not know, who despise anyone not parsing 80k or more.

The group I play with regularly, we can duo a lot of things, but unfortunately not normal trials and VET DLCs. When we have 5 or 6 in our group, it's too many for a dungeon and not quite enough for a trial, which is sad and frustrating.

I don't like being forced to play with the masses (see hostile and intolerant strangers). That's probably why I would love instanced overland.

daim · May 26

100% All The Time

Since beta, 100% solo, group dungeons included.

I don't wish to play in guilds because I want to play the game when and how I want to do it. Coming from raiding guilds in other mmo's I know I would be sucked into the guild drama eventually if I'd joined so it's a safe mechanism for myself

RealLoveBVB · May 26

25% or less

daim wrote: »

I don't wish to play in guilds because I want to play the game when and how I want to do it. Coming from raiding guilds in other mmo's I know I would be sucked into the guild drama eventually if I'd joined so it's a safe mechanism for myself

If you aren't in a core raid group, then nobody is forcing you for stuff. I really don't understand why so many players say or think that.
Best you can do is joining a social guild. They often don't expect high activity, but there you can always ask in guild chat for a spontaneous dungeon or trial, when you want it or you could join, if someone else is asking.

daim · May 26

100% All The Time

RealLoveBVB wrote: »

daim wrote: »

I don't wish to play in guilds because I want to play the game when and how I want to do it. Coming from raiding guilds in other mmo's I know I would be sucked into the guild drama eventually if I'd joined so it's a safe mechanism for myself

If you aren't in a core raid group, then nobody is forcing you for stuff. I really don't understand why so many players say or think that.
Best you can do is joining a social guild. They often don't expect high activity, but there you can always ask in guild chat for a spontaneous dungeon or trial, when you want it or you could join, if someone else is asking.

Oh I didn't say anything about someone forcing me - I was talking about getting sucked into things and getting attached to it a bit too much. But that's just my personal experience of it all, not a general opinion.

Don't get me wrong, playing in a guild can be great, I'm not denying that. Actually I've had my fondest moments of gaming while playing in HC raiding guilds - but also the worst.

ESO is a chill pill for me and I like to keep it that way. I like the game mechanics and the stories but I don't need the social aspect of it.

Muizer · May 26

About 75%

RealLoveBVB wrote: »

daim wrote: »

I don't wish to play in guilds because I want to play the game when and how I want to do it. Coming from raiding guilds in other mmo's I know I would be sucked into the guild drama eventually if I'd joined so it's a safe mechanism for myself

If you aren't in a core raid group, then nobody is forcing you for stuff. I really don't understand why so many players say or think that.
Best you can do is joining a social guild. They often don't expect high activity, but there you can always ask in guild chat for a spontaneous dungeon or trial, when you want it or you could join, if someone else is asking.

That's the problem in a nutshell though, isn't it? That you need to join a guild of, hopefully, like minded people just highlights the problem with the content. I don't have an answer, but the problem is clear enough. Group content is not welcoming to casual players because it's not designed to be. They are obstacle courses you have to learn] by doing and in the process that creates a huge gulf in how good people are at it. There's actual 'gatekeeping' going on, but that probably is nothing compared to the 'self-censorship' it creates.

ADarklore · May 26

100% All The Time

Servadei wrote: »

I knew before I even voted that the poll would be overwhelmingly pure solo or mostly solo bc ESO is a casual game.

It's not really about it being a 'casual' game at all... it's an Elder Scrolls game. That in lends itself to being more about quests, housing, and crafting... and ESO allows that to be done with other people, IF we choose. As HTM mentioned in his video about the interview with Matt and Rich, they realized early on that the majority of players didn't want a traditional MMO, and so they began formulating ways to make it more like a traditional Elder Scrolls game- just online. I saw this years ago, but whenever I'd mention it here in the forums, PvP and Endgame players would try to shut me down, choosing to believe that THEY were the majority keeping the game going... when in fact, it was quite the opposite. As you have seen, many PvP and Endgame players left after a couple different updates, and yet, ESO is still going strong both in popularity and financially... DUE TO mostly solo players. HTM points that out quite eloquently in his video, and I'd like to thank him as well for sharing it with us all.

Elsonso · May 26

100% All The Time

Servadei wrote: »

I knew before I even voted that the poll would be overwhelmingly pure solo or mostly solo bc ESO is a casual game.

They designed the game to be solo and first person friendly because of the single player Elder Scrolls heritage. This was apparently something of a crisis after Skyrim released and the ZOS team realized that they were going to miss the mark on expectations. Sounds like it resulted in a delay of about a year while they revised the game.

It is not surprising that this turned out to be a popular decision. I think TPTB are working hard to build up the multiplayer popularity, though. Evidence would be the "Skyrim with friends" You Belong Here video they just released.

frogthroat · May 26

About 50%

I play a lot in groups. Trials and dungeons and the odd fun event with a guild.
But I also play a lot solo. Quests, grinding, and the normal solo stuff, but also dungeons for the challenge. Not sure how world bosses count. I do those when I come across with them. If there are others, fine. If no one else is there, also fine.

Oddly enough, I much prefer soloing dungeons than doing the solo arenas or IA. Maelstrom is way too long and IA is repetitive. Dungeons are way more fun.

Sheridan · May 26

100% All The Time

Well, not all the time, but around 95% for sure. This poll needs more options.

AcadianPaladin · May 26

100% All The Time

I play to spend time with my elf - not other players.

That ESO is multiplayer is a drawback that I relatively happily live with. I would actually prefer a solo game but have found nothing that has the sheer mass and scale of ESO (which dwarfs Oblivion and Skyrim combined), a dynamic world that is open and evolves, a fantastic character creation and outfitting system, a fine companion system that can evolve and improve, an endless variety of daily repeatable activities. I find combat enjoyable. Though the range of bows is too short, the magic staff is fine weapon (for the first time in TES history!). The game is solo friendly and runs a very full range of challenge to satisfy anyone I should think.

Blood_again · May 26

About 75%

katanagirl1 wrote: »

Interesting, it sounds like some of the negative experiences of fake tanks and healers is driving people away from group dungeons, especially since so many people here support them. They may never make it to trials and end game if that is the case. Solo play is all that is left for them. It may be more than the “gatekeeping” people claim is the motivating factor. (Of course I think it is, but the comments above support my opinion.)

Fake tanks an healers? Sorry, I would think that sounds more like the forum visitor preferences.
I guess many avid group players visit their guild chats and 3rd party tools (like discord) way more than general forum area. I know some static group players, who've never visited the forum

It is one of the problem ZoS might look at, btw. The community is segmented.

As for fake roles, it is annoying, yes. But honestly it touches only one part of the group play - PUG dungeons.
One of:
Trials (PUG, guild, static)
Dungeons (PUG, guild, static)
Overland (PUG, guild, static yes)
Cyro PvP (PUG, guild, static)
Battleground (PUG, guild, static)
IC (PUG, guild, static)
RP (guild, static)

Among all this only one part of a PUG dungeoning - dungeon finder groups - is affected by fake roles.
It is not really much among the whole group play. While the poll is about whole group/solo division.

When I run a quest or Nimic duo with my partner, trust me, no any fake role would push me off of this group play

xXCJsniperXx7 · May 26

100% All The Time

If the game was not Elder Scrolls, I wouldn't be here. In all, I'm not "playing" it right now; I'd rather be in Oblivion and Doom.

DeadlySerious · May 26

About 75%

Even the PvP mains like me are forced to PvE more than half the time to get the best PvP gears. The game is designed to force mostly PvE activities.

LadyLethalla · May 26

100% All The Time

Since the Oceanic guild I was in on PC EU fell apart 2-3 years ago, I've rarely done any group content.

Ye_Olde_Crowe · May 27

100% All The Time

Solo most of the time. I see ESO as an Elder Scrolls game primarily, so I do the usual stuff - quest, explore, dig up stuff, do the occasional dungeon and so on. I do Cyro and BG and IC a bit, but generally solo.

ElderOfTamriel · May 27

About 75%

SilverBride wrote: »

It depends on what is meant by playing solo.

About 90% of my activities I do solo, but I often chat with friends while doing things on my own, and talk to others I run into while out questing etc., so I do have social interaction with other players while playing solo.

Exactly this

sans-culottes · May 27

About 50%

ADarklore wrote: »

Servadei wrote: »

I knew before I even voted that the poll would be overwhelmingly pure solo or mostly solo bc ESO is a casual game.

It's not really about it being a 'casual' game at all... it's an Elder Scrolls game. That in lends itself to being more about quests, housing, and crafting... and ESO allows that to be done with other people, IF we choose. As HTM mentioned in his video about the interview with Matt and Rich, they realized early on that the majority of players didn't want a traditional MMO, and so they began formulating ways to make it more like a traditional Elder Scrolls game- just online. I saw this years ago, but whenever I'd mention it here in the forums, PvP and Endgame players would try to shut me down, choosing to believe that THEY were the majority keeping the game going... when in fact, it was quite the opposite. As you have seen, many PvP and Endgame players left after a couple different updates, and yet, ESO is still going strong both in popularity and financially... DUE TO mostly solo players. HTM points that out quite eloquently in his video, and I'd like to thank him as well for sharing it with us all.

ESO has always supported solo play. That’s not in dispute, and it doesn’t need to be repeated like scripture. The idea that anyone mentioning group or endgame content is trying to erase that reality is exhausting.

There’s no need to mythologize it. The game supports a range of playstyles. Always has.

Pixiepumpkin · May 27

About 50%

I pretty much play ESO alongside my wife, almost exclusively. We might pug a normal (rarely do vet anymore), but due to the heavy handedness of the report system/getting in trouble for the most innocent of things (happened twice to me), I refrain from engaging much with the community.

I do miss 40 man wow raids though.

Defatank · May 27

About 50%

Good poll for sure and I figured the 100% would most likely win here as I believe most people dont "group" with others and that is kind of the point here I believe. For myself I am normally running around doing dailies or working on achievements, but I do run alot of dungeons and PvP as well. Which dungeons you're pretty well forced into groups and PvP I normally dont group with anyone (except for BG's which again is forced) but I am for sure right in the thick of action

Devs should definitely see this poll as a bit concerning really if the 25 / 50% numbers dont begin to level out some and begin asking the questions of what would it take to encourage players to group up together to do content? (Not force, but encourage) after all we are playing a MMO, but still respect the hermits that just want their little corner of oblivion

My own personal thoughts of why people dont group is mostly because they're afraid of not living up to some "standard" of performance that is expected of them and being belittled because of it. Which I have to say by far ESO has always had the best player base out of any game I have ever played that welcomes players of any skill level and embraces and adapts to it on the fly and not just that the player base as a whole helps others grow and learn about the game in a healthy manner. So kudo's to the community for doing this and keep it up! Those of you who make players feel insignificant or not good enough, please do better you are absolutely in the minority of the games community. At the end of the day we're all here to have fun.

Michaelkeir · May 27

About 75%

Most of my limited current playtime is solo. Mostly soloing world boss’s in DLC zones and soloing those Grey Host Harrowstorms in Skyrim. Working on a build for soloing a Dragon in Elsweyr currently. I’ll tank a vet dungeon when an event calls for it but otherwise I’m solo.

Before that I was mostly tanking random vet dlc dungeons and putting together builds that could tank vet dlc dungeons but not your typical sword and board tanks. Examples are a werewolf tank, pure vampire themed tanks, necromancer ice staff tank, etc.

Ever since Oblivion Remastered came back out I’ve been caught up in that game reliving my ole necromancer days as an actual minion summoning necro. If only we could summon and buff our undead minions in ESO like the Boca in game do.

BXR_Lonestar · May 27

25% or less

Truth be told, its FAR less than 25%. Maybe 5%, and that is if I'm opting to farm, do surveys, play Infinite Archive specifically for achievements, or I have to do a quest solo. I have an incredible guild and good friends so I'm never short of people to play with.