I've looked at the features in The Old Republic, and I just don't see a grouping game in there. The Old Republic is heavily quest based.

Not only that, but the devs are actually going to encourage you to read the quest dialog. Why? Because it makes a difference in your character.

Most games have FedEx quests or Kill X quests. But the dialog doesn't matter, other than where do I take the item to, or how many do I need to kill? Everythign else is just fluff that doesn't make any differnce, because it won't change anything in the game, not the game world, not your character. Kill X because...anything after because will not affect your character.

But questing isn't that much of a group thing, UNLESS you have a quest you can't do solo, because you can't kill X without a group. Why? Because reading quest dialog is more of a solo thing than a group thing. Maybe I read faster or slower than you, maybe I want to read it twice, you want to skim the dialog. Maybe you read it already....etc.

But, will there be a lot of quests you can't accomplish solo? I doubt it because the other feature is Henchmen. You can basically hire an NPC to do your quests with you. It's sort of like playing Knights of the Old Republic where you get a bunch of NPC's to boss around. So why would you need other players, or grouping?

Still might be a fun game I suppose. Sort of like KOTOR online. I guess you can ask other players stuff, maybe trade, or just chat.

There will be objectives in the game that will require groups but most of the game can be soloed.

We could just wait until Bioware releases more information about the gameplay, or better yet, just wait for the game to come out rather than all this speculation, but that would defy the norm on this site now wouldn't it?

From what I've seen so far, the Devs have only said that it would be possible to level solo but that there would be some (optional) content that required groups.

From that, I'm kind of expecting TOR to be similar to WoW in terms of solo player experience.

Considering the decision i make will stick with my character for eternity, I think ima start doing some light reading during any of my questing.

Its nothing to wander about.

Most MMOs are going the way of heavy soloing. Thanks to WOW like crowds.

Expect TOR to be kind of KOTOR like game. A RPG that you can basically play like offline. But you may wonder into other people soloing around.

Also expect that end game will have some raids...

Actually its funny that WOW players think that MMO means you solo until top level and than group element are the raids.

Right now I prefer BioWare single player games (Mass Effect, Jade Empire) to most MMOs. So a BioWare single player game with some people interaction may not be a bad thing. It may not be what you envision, but it may not be bad at all.

Remember it's ok to have different kinds of games, pvp, pve, much grouping, much soloing. Totally and completely ok for different games to do different things.

Originally posted by Lobotomist

Its nothing to wander about.

Most MMOs are going the way of heavy soloing. Thanks to WOW like crowds.

 

Expect TOR to be kind of KOTOR like game. A RPG that you can basically play like offline. But you may wonder into other people soloing around.

 

Also expect that end game will have some raids...

 

Actually its funny that WOW players think that MMO means you solo until top level and than group element are the raids.

 

What I liked in the OP's thread is how he mentions FedEx quest as if TOR is going to be full of FedEX quests.  I guess he is trying to shape his point about how bad TOR is going to be by linking the image of FedEx quests to the mind of the reader.  Hopefully people will see through this weak mind trick.
 

As a soloer/exploreer, I look forward to a game that has creative, deep, interesting, challenging, and fun solo content.

I also love to group, though, but usually on my own terms (when I want to, really).

We need a game out there with really deep, sophisticated solo content.  If anything, it is amazing how developers have neglected to, or have been able to serve, provide content for soloers.

to solo is the only reason i play a mmorpg then to group with rl freinds since i could give a fuck about some geek with no freinds needing to be social on a game lolz

Solo or not, I know there are a lot of players  looking to this game to fill the gap SWG left in their hearts.

As someone who actually reads the quests given to me I actually do enjoy trying to immerse myself as I play the part and go about the quest.

The "Fluff" as the OP calls it is part of what makes an MMO tick, without the quest descriptions/backstory or detailed lore all we are left with is a bare bones game that lacks any heart and soul.

I know alot of ppl want to ignore what the quest givers tell you, but thats your choice to make, I along with others out there like to feel that even though the quests we do may appear to mean nothing to the world around the character they do mean something to the player, it's moving the story along and drawing them deeper into the lore of the game and thus giving them a more fulfilling experience, rather than the mindset of looking at a quest and seeing "Go kill 10 rats" ppl like myself will take the story and use it to make the experience of killing those 10 rats into a more enjoyable process, rather than a means to an end or the "Must get to max lvl ASAP" mentality.

However everyone has their own playstyle, and as such everyone should tolerate how everyone else wants to play the game and should not try to take away any part of what makes the game fun.

Originally posted by Czzarre

Solo or not, I know there are a lot of players  looking to this game to fill the gap SWG left in their hearts.

TOR is not SWG2!

Originally posted by FreddyNoNose 

TOR is not SWG2!

Most commonly asked question on any TOR forum I've glanced at: "Will this be like pre-nge SWG?" .. it's fun to tell them "NO" and watch the tears.

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

I've looked at the features in The Old Republic, and I just don't see a grouping game in there. The Old Republic is heavily quest based.

Not only that, but the devs are actually going to encourage you to read the quest dialog. Why? Because it makes a difference in your character.

Most games have FedEx quests or Kill X quests. But the dialog doesn't matter, other than where do I take the item to, or how many do I need to kill? Everythign else is just fluff that doesn't make any differnce, because it won't change anything in the game, not the game world, not your character. Kill X because...anything after because will not affect your character.

But questing isn't that much of a group thing, UNLESS you have a quest you can't do solo, because you can't kill X without a group. Why? Because reading quest dialog is more of a solo thing than a group thing. Maybe I read faster or slower than you, maybe I want to read it twice, you want to skim the dialog. Maybe you read it already....etc.

But, will there be a lot of quests you can't accomplish solo? I doubt it because the other feature is Henchmen. You can basically hire an NPC to do your quests with you. It's sort of like playing Knights of the Old Republic where you get a bunch of NPC's to boss around. So why would you need other players, or grouping?

Still might be a fun game I suppose. Sort of like KOTOR online. I guess you can ask other players stuff, maybe trade, or just chat.

The question: The Old Republic: The ultimate solo players MMORPG?

The answer: While there are some tasks that cannot be completed without the cooperation of others, the majority of the game can be accomplished by playing alone. taken from: http://www.swtor.com/info/faq#348

Originally posted by vmoped

We could just wait until Bioware releases more information about the gameplay, or better yet, just wait for the game to come out rather than all this speculation, but that would defy the norm on this site now wouldn't it?

That would defy the very purpose of a forum for a game that isn't out. If your not here for speculation, why are you here?

Originally posted by Ilvaldyr

Originally posted by FreddyNoNose 

TOR is not SWG2!

Most commonly asked question on any TOR forum I've glanced at: "Will this be like pre-nge SWG?" .. it's fun to tell them "NO" and watch the tears.

 

Yup, this has nothing to do with SWG, this in KOTOR online.  This is something for BioWare and KOTOR fans, not SWG fans, sorry.

My guess still goes towards a heavily instanced, Diablo-esque type of game.  Story line game with single player offline/online mode and online multiplayer mode.  They'll sell a ton this way...and they'll stamp "MMORPG" on the box to sell even more.  Can't really blame them.  If they attempted a full-blown MMORPG they'd just end up with a turd like every one else, so it's probably better off this way.  Just don't try to convince me that it's a real MMO.

I was a fervent supporter of pre-NGE Star Wars Galaxies and would love to see another game under Koster's philosophy, but it is not at all what I want or expect from The Old Republic. I want it to be what BioWare is good at, what they're passionate about, and what I love them for. I can only imagine that being done with plenty of instancing for strongly personalized gameplay, so that is what I'm hoping for.

I love sandboxes and I agree with those urging more of them to be made with greater production values, but I sure as hell don't see them as the One True Way that so many seem to.

I can see myself enjoying a Star Wars solo questing game with an occasional run in with another player but I really am torn on the whole "solo content is king" direction that all the games are going in.

In EQ1 I got so sick of my group of RL friends always being unavailable. The cleric was going to New Orleans for the weekend, the Chanter was sick, the Druid was going on a month long vacation etc. At that point, I absolutely hated the fact that my tank couldn't solo very well and the game wasn't very soloable. On the flip side in looking back, I have more fond memories of EQ than any other game because it's lack of soloability caused the community to work together.

In relation to Star Wars, it seems that the Jedi (Luke) was always off soloing his quests but everyone else was working together (Han, Leah, Chewbacca etc) to accomplish a task. That whole Star Wars vibe of storming the deathstar and rescuing someone or shutting down a generator with a small strike force will be lost unless they can implement it in the extra group content they speak of.

I guess I'm just second guessing myself. Rellying on other people can be hugely annoying so everyone screamed for MMORPG soloability (ala WOW).  It will be fun to run thru a game at my own pace just like Mass Effect or Oblivion but we don't pay a subscription for those games? What is the subscription fee for if not to play with other people?