Is World Of Warcraft Good For Solo Players? World of Warcraft is an MMORPG which means it’s a mass-multiplayer online role-playing game. A new player may not have any friends to play the game with. And, a returning player might notice that all of their friends have left the game.
The great thing about the modern (retail) World of Warcraft is the flexibility. Anyone who takes a dip into Classic WoW will notice that community matters. Sure you can play Classic WoW by yourself, but it’s going to be difficult if you’re not an experienced player. Classic WoW is a recreation of the original vanilla World of Warcraft.
When you play Classic WoW you’re entering a more dangerous version of Azeroth. Raiding in Classic WoW must be done with people from your server. There’s no looking for Raid (LFR) like there is in the modern game. Modern World of Warcraft is the perfect game to play solo. This doesn’t mean that you never participate in group content, but you will join in when you feel the need. Many WoW veterans don’t consider solo players a part of the larger WoW community. There are a ton of misconceptions about solo players that lead to this way of thinking.
Let’s talk about playing WoW solo and why you shouldn’t feel guilty if you do.
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Is World Of Warcraft Good For Solo Players?
Reasons To Play Solo
- You want to
- The story
- All of your friends have stopped playing
- Real-life schedule and commitments
- Slow reaction times make raiding or PvP difficult
- You’re a new player
- Personal reasons not listed here
1. You Want To
Let’s start with the best reason listed above. You want to. Playing a video game is meant to be enjoyable. We all know there are people out there who’ll judge our favorite past times. Video games don’t rot your brain and make you an anti-social outcast. Most gamers are very social and incredibly intelligent.
Video games require us to use critical thinking skills. Dungeons are laid out like a puzzle. They may have deadly traps, and murderous scoundrels hiding inside. Playing any video game will test your mettle. World of Warcraft offers a unique challenge. As a solo player, you’re required to learn more survival skills. It’ll also give you time to focus on your professions. You could also try role-playing.
Azeroth is a treacherous place, and survival isn’t guaranteed. Well, as a solo player you can increase your skills and learn to slay the most fearsome beasts. Exceptions include world bosses, raid encounters, battlegrounds, and dungeons. WoW has a Looking For Raid (LFR), and a Looking For Group (LFG) function. If you’ve never used it, you’ll find an eyeball in the bottom right of your screen. It’s in the same row of buttons as your character profile.
Playing solo can be a rewarding choice. True mastery of your class involves spending a lot of time practicing.
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2. The Story
The next reason to play solo is the story. Azeroth is rich with history. Some of my favorite moments in-game involve finding books, historical artifacts, and easter eggs. Solo play allows you to play at your own pace. You actually have time to stop and smell the roses.
Azeroth has many hidden secrets to uncover. One of the most well known involves the Ruins of Lordaeron. If you turn down the music and turn up the ambient sounds you can hear a chilling haunting. The day Prince Arthas Menethil returned to Lordaeron and murdered his father still haunts the ruins.
You’re able to hear the bells tolling as they welcomed the prince home. Then if you stand in the throne room you can hear ghostly echos of Arthas and his father King Terenas right before his son murdered him.
World of Warcraft is chock full of awesome surprises, stories, easter eggs, memorials, and callbacks. You could spend weeks searching for epic tales. Playing solo means you have the chance to look for those things without pressure. Most players are focused on raiding or battlegrounds. You can still participate in those too, but you don’t have to feel rushed.
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3. All Of Your Friends Have Stopped Playing
Is World Of Warcraft Good For Solo Players? Now we’ve reached the reason why I play alone. Returning players may be able to relate. World of Warcraft has been online for 16 years.
I began playing WoW as a teenager during the Wrath of the Lich King (WotLK) expansion. At the time, I was blessed to have my godmother. She introduced me to her guild. The guild was small and felt like family. They took me under their wing and taught me how to play.
Over the years, I’ve joined many guilds. I’ve been in guilds with close friends and served as an officer. Also, I’ve run two guilds myself. During my adventures in Azeroth, I’ve also made many game buddies along the way.
During the Warlords of Draenor (WoD) expansion, I stopped playing WoW for a year. It’s the longest time I’ve gone without logging into the game. WoD wasn’t the best expansion, and many players left the game. When I returned to WoW during Legion, I was saddened to see that all of my old friends were gone.
All Of Your Friends Stopped Playing Cont.
Guilds I had joined and run had both died. I played Legion for months and none of my old friends returned. I’m sure you’re wondering why I didn’t join a new guild. Honestly, my life had changed. My grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. Around the same time, I was diagnosed with depression.
Making friends in-game became difficult, but I’ve continued to play WoW. The world of Azeroth is enchanting all on its own. I’m enjoying playing the game solo.
Returning players can relate to no longer seeing old friends in Azeroth.
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Reasons To Play Solo Continued
4. Real-Life Schedule And Commitments
Real-life schedules and commitments can make group content difficult. Guilds have a set day and time they raid. You might work a job with 12-hour shifts, or maybe you just had a new baby. Regardless of the reasons, everyone’s life isn’t the same. Participating in Mythics could be hard when you can’t invest enough time to gear your character.
WoW fans will tell you that not playing often enough means you’re not dedicated to the game. When other players utter those words it makes WoW sound like a job rather than a fun pastime or hobby. Being busy in real-life doesn’t make you a bad player. Learning how to play the game correctly involves practice.
Once you can play your class effectively it doesn’t matter how often you play. Mastering World of Warcraft isn’t about the quantity but the quality of your game time. If your game time is short but it’s well spent then you’re fulfilled. If you’re playing for the story LFR ensures you’ll be able to defeat the bosses and watch the cutscenes.
Real-Life Schedule And Commitments Cont.
Also, some guilds are understanding. There are guilds out there with flexible raiding schedules. If raiding is something you want to do, but you’re worried about having time to participate, then you should search for an understanding guild.
You can find guilds recruiting in Trade Chat. Sometimes guilds will send out random invites to players. As long as you don’t have guild invites turned off in settings you’ll receive it. Some guilds will recruit on the World of Warcraft forums. Other guilds may say they’re recruiting in Facebook groups or Reddit. Just make sure that the guild is on your server, the correct faction, and the same region.
If you end up in a toxic guild it’s easy to leave. Just type /gquit in the chat panel and press enter.
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5. Slow Reaction Times Make Raiding Or PvP Difficult
World of Warcraft is home to players from all walks of life. So it’s not a surprise that elderly players or those with disabilities play the game. Reaction times are important in dangerous encounters. Attacking too slowly will lower your damage per second (DPS).
Raiding and PvP require you to attack quickly. There are ways to get around certain limitations by using key binds, addons, or a console controller. But, playing the game with a controller might slow down your reactions further.
Having a slow reaction time can be frustrating. Especially if you enjoy group content. I have a hand injury and my reactions aren’t what they used to be. Queueing for LFR has been a fantastic way for me to view the current content. Don’t feel ashamed if your reaction times aren’t what they used to be. If you need to play with a guild or group there are always kind and understanding players in the game.
I’d suggest you join a good guild. They’ll be understanding about your limitations. You wouldn’t have to be concerned about being left out of the fun. Playing WoW isn’t just about min-maxing your stats. If you’re not enjoying the game then what’s the point of playing?
Feel comfortable playing solo. Playing with a guild is fun too. It’s worth the effort to find a guild home where you feel safe. But, until you find that special place, don’t feel ashamed for being a solo player.
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6. You’re A New Player
Is World Of Warcraft Good For Solo Players? Being a new player is exhilarating. I’ll never forget the first time I logged into the game. Azeroth was gigantic and full of secrets to uncover. I was lucky to have friends to show me around and teach me how to play. Not every new player has a group of friends who already play the game. Joining a guild can give you peace of mind, but as a new player, you won’t know which guilds are best.
The WoW fandom can also be toxic to new players. Making a mistake in a dungeon, or asking a question in Trade Chat can lead to disaster. Some players forget how difficult the game was when they were new. World of Warcraft has many power systems, armor, and countless content. A new player can become easily overwhelmed trying to learn how to play their class.
You’re A New Player Continued
Asking another player for help is scary. They may mock or kick you from groups. As a new player, choosing to play the game solo is perfectly fine. Take your time to learn how the game works. Mean players shouldn’t stop you from trying. Being a solo player doesn’t mean you’re not part of the WoW community.
The WoW community comprises millions of diverse individuals worldwide. We don’t all play the game the same, but we all pay a monthly subscription fee. That fee means we all have a right to share the same virtual space. So, while you’re a new player take your time and enjoy the game. Most veteran players aren’t going to look around the game and marvel at the Dark Portal or the Frozen Throne. Veteran players have already seen the wonders of the game. Some veteran players have forgotten what makes Azeroth magic.
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Reason To Play Solo Cont.
7. Personal Reasons Not Listed Here
Everyone has personal reasons not listed here for why they play solo. You don’t owe anyone an explanation. Some WoW players play the game to do pet battles or collect mounts. How you spend your monthly fee is up to you.
Modern WoW is also solo player-friendly. The main story campaign revolves around your character. Our playable characters make appearances in important cutscenes. We’re trusted by the leaders of Azeroth, and we’ve saved Azeroth countless times.
I choose to play solo. Playing with others is incredibly fun. But, I miss playing with my old friends. Also, this blog keeps me busy. Running a website is rewarding work, but the technical part of owning a website takes time. So, not being on a raid team or in an active guild works for me. I don’t have the pressure of needing to be active. Sometimes guilds will kick you out if you haven’t logged in for a while.
Do you play World of Warcraft solo? Are solo players a part of the WoW community? Please feel free to leave a comment below.
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Is World Of Warcraft Good For Solo Players?
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Thank you for hanging out at my hearth.
Happy Hunting,
Spyells