One of the biggest problems with MMORPGs is that a proper, full experience depends on everyone keeping in character, a requirement that hardly anyone keeps to.

If you play something like Elder Scrolls (from Morrowind onwards), Two Worlds, Fallout or Dragon Age, every character you encounter is part of that game world in terms of their personality. They act in accordance with their needs and wishes in respect of their presence in that world. Stats, items, events outside of the game world are irrelevant to them.

With an MMORPG, the experience is too dominated by egos and e-peens. Too many people are out to prove something, others still don't understand the concept of teamwork. Their motivations are not defined by their character's existence, but rather their own needs for self-confirmation and the confirmation of others. All it takes for the experience to be ruined is for some idiot to go yarping on about microtransactions or the stats of items that they want to sell.

MMORPGs can only work if they can force the players to remain in character, something which is impossible to do. A good RPG is not just about encountering the people you do know - it's about encountering the people you don't and how you deal with them. Let's say, for example, that a game "captures" one player, puts them in a prison, and assigns a quest to another player to release them. Does that engender any sense of gratitude or loyalty? No. And therein lies the problem.

Some Neverwinter Nights servers were quite good at it though, due to enforcing strict rules - and admittedly also due to their smaller niche audience (as opposed to the "Massively" in MMO).

I myself prefer single player RPGs, with OPTIONAL multiplayer and not obligatory, for these good reasons...

1) No always on. You can play the game even if your connection is dead.
2) Game is built around such ways, that you CAN solo it.
3) Less bugs.
4) Lag free.
5) Game is built around such ways, that player can become powerhouse, imbalanced and kickass.
6) Usually you can mod it.
7) No nasty ambush pvp like those in diablo 2, in the old days...

You make it sound like it's a bad thing and after reading my reply a couple of times, I'm sad to admit that's precisely what I mean.

Playing with friends, you're usually at a similar level of skill (unless you both started playing at different times or he practices more often or takes the game more seriously than you). If he's your friend, you know what to expect maturity or age wise and you know he's not just gonna drop the game unless he has something to do and warns you before hand. Sure, you can get lucky and find random strangers which are fun to play with, but playing with friends has always been more fun for me. Also, gloating face to face (or getting gloated by) when you meet them IRL has its perks. It's not as fun when a random stranger does it, unless he happens to be funny.

In a single player RPG your character can be the hero, that saves the world. In an MMORPG you're just one of the crowd.

Also a single player RPG waits for you, till you have time to play. Don't have time to play for a few months? No problem, everything will be right were you left off. Not so in an MMORPG, where you not only have to take your time table into account, but also those of your fellow guild members.

I definitely prefer single-player, to the point where entire genres that lend themselves better to multiplayer just don't have any appeal to me. Gaming's strictly something I do when I don't want to be social. RPGs in particular are definitely something I'd rather play on my own, and the more story-centric they are, the better...to the point where most people would go, "Why don't you read a book instead?"

I thought it has a expensive single player campaign too?

Maybe so, but if you don't get a crowd to fund it waits in the wings. This generation wants it here and now and thanks to Magic services, they can do it.

Wait, what do you mean "single player" RPGs? There aren't any other sorts of RPGs!

Haha, funny story :D

^I pretty much agree with this. It's the pacing that appeals to me as there are sessions where I'm just happy to wander around not achieving or progressing much.

I've only recently purchased Morrowind but am yet to download it - this thread is going to help bump it up to near the top of my next game to play list.

Morrowind was an awesome game, I hope you enjoy it! :)