@Ostaff Don't get me wrong, I love games like the Baldur's Gate Series, Elder Scrolls, etc... and they are a ton of fun to play, however, rarely do they contain the scope of an MMO. I am a very social person, but I like to socialize more on a face to face basis. MMOs were for me, more for when I want to jump into a game and do my thing on my schedule, and not worry about anyone else's. Yes, like I said, sometimes I would clear a dungeon or go on a raid with friends, and rarely, but once in awhile with a group of strangers, but those were by and large the exception, not the rule. I've been in Guilds, and even ran a guild or 3, but the other guildies were also like me, more solos and groups of 2s and 3s, that might come together for something special, like an in-game event, but most of the time we want to log in on our schedule, log out without feeling like we're disappointing anyone or leaving people hanging.
The first MMO was Ultima Online, and it was designed primarily to play your way, solo or grouped. EverQuest came pretty much next in the major scheme of things, and yes, it had several boss areas that encouraged grouping, but you were still fully supported if you wanted to solo your way through the game. MMO does stand for Massive Mutliplayer Online, but that doesn't by any means mandate the Multiplayer aspect, except for the fact that you will pass a thriving world and you know that those around you aren't all AIs. You might not be grouped with them, but potentially you can group with anyone you want, or just be a hermit/loner.
When I want the mandate of other players, I play a team game, or a TTRPG like Dungeons & Dragons, and when I play an MMO, I let my individual mood guide me from session to session.
