Confessions of a Compulsive Soloer

What's Massive Multiplayer Really Mean to You?

by: Coyotee Sharptongue

 

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I am a solo player in a multiplayer world, yet MMORPG's appeal to me more than any “strictly” solo content game ever could.

But why?

I get asked this constantly from friends both in and out of the game when I explain to them that most of the time I'd rather be off exploring new locales or fighting newly found monsters on my own, rather than in a group. Sometimes the persistent grouper will try and hunt me down and add me to his list of conquests before running off into the night to brag to his friends and not call me the next day. Drive by group offers are the worst. Luckily, I have a bevy of excuses in my arsenal, and I'm ready to lob them grenade-like at any who would attempt to delve too deeply into my playing habits.

“I'm not going to be on long.”  I'll reply back with a “frowny face” emote as I trek across the plains, knowing full well that I have no intention of leaving any time soon.

Or…

“I'm looking for a drop,” Usually conveys the image of tedious farming and mind numbing boredom to other adventurers long enough for me to get a few hours of uninterrupted play time in.

Or my personal favorite, “I'm linkdead.” .

But the truth is actually very simple - I'm afraid.

I don't mean that I have a social disorder, or fear of people in general – but let's face it; in the blind grouping pick up society that makes up your standard MMORPG, I have been burned more than once.  I don't have a fear of groups or grouping, I have a fear of other players. I fear opening myself and my game time to someone who not only abuses it, but lessens my enjoyment. Now this doesn't mean that I do not group, or will not group. In fact I love to group very much. I just prefer to do it within my close circle of friends.

My gaming safety net if you will. These are the people who have proved themselves to me in battle and in social banter. People that I can joke with laugh with, and feel free to fight beside knowing full well that the chance of them greedily snatching loot that I need out of my hands or bickering over a drop that they don't need is next to nothing. People you can just be yourself with without the worry of a social blunder. But sadly, these friends aren't always on, or because of my tendency to solo, I'm too far behind in levels to actually hunt with them.

So why play? What allure could a multiplayer world have to a MMermit (Massive Multiplayer Hermit) like me? How can Everquest offer me anything in terms of incentive to socially interact with other gamers?

Ironically enough – the same thing that I fear the most, is what draws me to the game.

The people. I'm an optimist, and I carry that glimmer of hope with me where ever I go. I love role-players and banter. I love the “noise” of the zones and the people that make them up. I honestly feel that players of an MMORPG add more content and “life” to a game than any designer or programmer ever could. They add that element of uncertainty that can burn you, but that can also promise a treasure better than anything that could drop in the game. A new friend or new person to add that trusted circle. That, my friends is incentive.

So while I understand that I'm living in a world where groups and raids stomp towards epic battles and unbelievable loot, and that I may be missing out on the true purpose or design of the game, I can happily say that I've found my niche. I can see both sides of the lake from where I'm swimming, and it's given me a great view of the waters of my future.

Perhaps someday I'll be joining those large raids, or grouping without thought in order to pick up experience or loot, but until them I'm content to see things from the solo side of the coin as I slowly stick a toe into the “deep end” of gameplay and test the waters.

Who knows, maybe some day I'll jump.