Anti-social gamers in a mmorpg?

My social points have been stuck at like 342 since release, so it doesn't even matter to me.

Had to jump in since you were so adamant about declaring someone wrong about an MMO.

Technically, you are wrong here since MMO stand for Massive Multiplayer Online etc. You certainly can play solo, but it's not a MSO or Massive Singleplayer Online etc.

And yes, the entire point and design of an MMO is to play with other people at various points of your gaming experience. By playing solo through out your entire game time you can have an awesome time, no doubt. But you pretty much miss at least 2/3rds of the games intended design/content/social intentions/etc.

Skyrim, Fable, Fall Out, and games of that ilk are great examples of intended solo play games designed specifically to played alone without the intention of grouping, socializing, or interacting with other players online.

There is an option under preferences>social that allows you have other party members in your story zones, watch/listen to your conversations, and even help with completing your class missions.

I don't even care about social rewards, I think it's a nice addition to the game. I think I'm over lvl2 from just playing with friends.

I think social items are not meant to be really great for a reason. They are vanity items in the same respect as a vanity pet. There is no advantage to having a mouse droid other than looking different. I think it is smart not to have game altering things on the social vendor because I dont want people farming groups simply to get a frilly hat. When I group I want to be with people who want to be there for the group not for the grind. Go grind your XP for your gear, get your social points as they come and enjoy the little things they unlock for what they are just little nuggets of interesting you can live with or without.

Multiplayer doesn't mean you MUST group with other people to enjoy the game and that's all i am going to say about it.

Truth be told I don't think the game is at the stage of normal players looking for groups yet.

So much of the playerbase at the moment is all about 'I've got a 50 and several alts almost there'. I joined a guild on my second day playing and within a couple of days they were in their 30s whereas I was happily trundling along with a few alts and hadn't passed 16 on any of them.

Many people get really shirty about the options picked during conversations, and I've even had a few people rage-quit over their choice not being chosen - despite the fact it doesn't matter - your choice reflects on your character.

Having said that, grouping is not particularly encouraged in the game. No-one (with any sense) wants missions that can't be completed when solo, but at the same time the game concentrates so much on making YOU the epic-hero of your OWN story that it forgets to give any real reason to bother.

Obviously there should be lots of content for people who enjoy grouping with others, no question. But people who prefer to play alone should have their place in an MMO, just like "loners" have their place in the real working world (freelancers = soloers, small business = flashpoints, corporation = operation). TOR seems to have enough content to keep soloers like me playing and happy, therefore I will continue subscribing until I've done all the solo content, or it stops being created by Bioware.

Many of us don't want to group - but we love the idea of playing alongside others in a persistent world.

I do HMs almost every day and slowly gather points.
It is a casual thing for me and just an extra to progression rewards.
But there are tricks to boost your SPs if you REALLY want that armor set.
1. Do dailies in groups and wait for other join convos.
2. Help lowbies on their FP runs.

I havent grouped with anyone yet. I'm 48 right now.

I just suck the planet dry of all missions and bonus quests. I come back and do the +2 Heroic's when they are green leveled.

I havent done any +4 heroics yet.

You don't need to group at all, for any reason really.


I prefer playing alone, and doing things my way. When I'm 50, I'll start grouping with guildies and doing stuff. But for the leveling process I prefer to do it alone.