How many of you are going to solo the majority (if not all) of the game? I love the Elder Scrolls series and I bought this game solely for my need to experience the game's story and lore aspects. I'm not even remotely interested in PvP or all that other MMO mumbo jumbo, most of which I don't understand anyway.
I've had a fair go at Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic but rarely ever joined forces with other players. (and when I did it often involved silent understanding. Defeat the baddies, conquer your objective and go your separate ways.) I guess I'm kind of a lone gamer but I like it that way.
I know I will miss out on a lot the game have to offer given that respect, but it truly does not interest me. So it has me wondering how many of you feel the same? I feel even if I were to want to engage the game with other players I wouldn't know where to begin and truly believe my newbish ways leaves me with little to offer any one. What are your thoughts? Or perhaps criticisms or advice?

i mostly solo because there never seems to be that person that has the exact same schedule /pace that i do. i expect you will likely have to make a new character or two to get the full lore experience.

if you wanted to know a god place to start to learn how to group in MMOs find a nice friendly casual guild.

you can solo most of the content but there will be parts of the game you cant do solo.

It really depends on my mood , there are days when I want to solo and there I days when I want to group up .

Ah you brought up another excellent point as to why this type of gameplay disinterests me. Unless you manage to group with someone who is very like-minded, I don't see how you could agree on anything. I can just see myself wanting to check every nook and cranny while admiring my surroundings while player 2 has run off ahead without me. Lol.
Maybe I'll muster up the courage to join a guild as you say... But I know that will be some time after I've played on my own.

I'll play mostly solo. I enjoy taking my time and exploring.

From what you have said in your post. This game should offer you the same thing. Solo when you want to, group when you want / have to. If you are into the PvP end of things, it is better in a group, for sure. From Beta play the grouping has been really good.

A guild can be beneficial as well. Depending on the people who are in it. Try to join up with like minded people. You will no dought have to try a few different ones, but there will be many to choose from. And when you are in a guild, that does not mean you have to do everything in a guild group. ( kinda reflect on what I said about like minded people)

Pilot!!!

On-topic: I plan to solo or low man as a rule. I'll join groups as needed as i get higher up of course, but i'm gonna just wander alot.

Most of my characters will mainly solo (except at certain dungeons/bosses). But, I have planned possible characters that will be in family guilds. It will be my first MMO, so I don't have previous contacts from other MMOs to play with or the multiplayer experience. Besides, I don't have to feel too stressed or anxious if I'm solo.

I also only bought the game because it's a TES game, and I am really interested in the new lore and exploring most of Tamriel. For me, the MMO aspect just happens to be attached to this. I need to feed my TES addiction. ^.^

I play that way a lot. Most often what happens is someone comes up and invites me to a guild. If they seem mature I'll explain my play style, that I'm not that great and the next thing I know I'm in a guild meeting people that play the same as I do. These are known as casual guilds that let people play how and when they like, yet offer the opportunity to group up when needed. Hopefully you won't have to learn what Guild Drama is :0

I solo too and I join groups as an opportunist.

I enjoy going at my own pace so I will mostly solo at first, but later I plan on finding a guild so that I can do AZ, Skirmish PVP and Trials.

Most ppl will solo most of the game., even those with established guilds. The whole leveling process can be and kind of must be done solo and while there is group content interspersed you are never forced to do it.

Yikes. Got enough RL drama to contend with. Don't need that crap in my TES game!!

It certainly helps to hear that many of you will also be playing solo for the majority of your play time. Hopefully I'll come across some people in game with similar play styles and who are friendly enough. Otherwise I'm sure there will be plenty for me to do on my own.

On another note, I think I would be too shy to find people in game to group with for more than a dungeon or boss. I would also feel that other players are too busy to deal with me or just want to be alone.

It is very easy to avoid drama and perfectly acceptable to close your chat window/voice chat is people are being idiots (it happens) many games will even allow you to put up and DnD Do Not Disturb flag so you can go do your own thing without being bothered.

Ill play a lot solo, maybe run around with some friends and of course do the group stuff with them or random groups.

But i almost always will be talking to my guild, my friends and so on through chat and teamspeak.

So, we will play together in some sense i guess...

I usually solo, I think a lot more people do these days, generally less hassle.

Although I might do some RvR type PvP if there's any. Not looked into that aspect yet.

I play like that too, so I'd be happy to group with you if you want to team up with others to do a group dungeon sometime - and I'm sure there are plenty of players in this game with a similar gameplay style.

I completely understand, you don't want to feel as though you're holding anyone back whilst you wander off and see what's over the next hill.

Seems that people think they'll have to be permanently attached to a person or a guild in an mmo.
you dont have to find someone with the same scedule or w/e you can just ask for example while leveling to a person who seem to be on the same quest.

i'm more of a people to have people around me to interact with or share a joke etc.
A person who likes to help other people weither its quest or just something small.
I usually join small/medium guilds with other casual people mixed with PvE and PvP orientated people.

Interesting thread. As a long time TES fan - going back to Daggerfall - I hesitated before buying this title. I waited until all the betas were done and gathered as much information as I could (and I'm still gathering).

The key for me was the repeated assurances from beta testers that I could go solo easily and that something like 70% of the game was solo-friendly. I'll probably do PVP at some point, just so I can say I experienced it and to complete all the quests - something I try to do each TES title.

I'm a solo player, and I prefer solo, but I'll TESO a chance.

I tend to quest alone, at least at early levels and when I'm new to a game. I'm a fairly casual player and tend to take a slower pace while I'm learning and experiencing the world. While questing, if it makes sense to join forces with someone for a boss/dungeon etc... I will. It doesn't bother me if we have that unspoken arrangement and split up afterward. I will even go PvP alone on both stealth and visible classes.

Though I tend to lean to casual play, I also like to be very effective. My long term goal is to find a guild of like minded folks to play with in the higher level content. I prefer to group for PvP, and would like to participate in higher level raid type content. I've not played in an MMO yet that I didn't eventually find a guild home and make friends, and I'm not the most outgoing person.

I think that so long as you are not a pure introvert who has problems socializing with others, you will find people to play with over time. If you are that pure introvert, there are many of us that will still group with you. I wouldn't spend much time thinking about it. The game seems to be setup so that you can experience much of it while playing alone. In time, you will probably find you don't have to remain that way all the time. I hope you enjoy the game

Seems like many people feel that way or at least stop talking to random people once they join a guild. I think this time around I will just walk up to random people and be like: Hey there guy! How is it going?

That should either get more people talking or have me end up on many blacklists haha.

Frankly I like moving around at my own pace. I will group when I need to (boss mobs or dungeons) but rarely is questing with others fun, even with friends. Each person has their own pace and someone is either always charging headfirst into every mob he sees with others playing catch-up or I'm constantly looking around thinking "where did they go". Continuous group questing reminds me too much of the military . . . hurry up and wait.

EDIT: I will and do enjoy helping others in the task at hand. All I ask is please whisper me before inviting me.

I mostly solo, while chatting with friends (or kin members), and group either impromptu or scheduled run. The beauty of MMOs I suppose, the social aspect, when you want it.