I play solo because I can't stand the randomness that NPCs add to the equation (I particularly hate it when I'm doing purple rifts and Astos or Cid joins me, and sometimes I can't tell if a projectile coming my way is from a friendly NPC or from an enemy). I also don't like how NPCs can tank the framerate in this already poorly optimized game. But yeah, also because it makes the game too easy, especially on lower difficulties. On a related note, I wish jobs like Liberator and White Mage that have a strong focus on empowering allies (including NPC allies) provided the player with different affinity bonuses if they chose to play solo. Because otherwise, those jobs feel useless as either of my main jobs for a soloist like me.
It's worse when a boss shares an attack with an NPC. Behemoth and Sophia both have access to Meteor. Is it aiming for me, an ally, or the boss? Can't say I experienced frame-rate issues with NPC's but I believe it. PS5 is mostly solid but it does have those moments (especially in the rift with loot everywhere). I think White Mage is still quite effective solo, Liberator is too but less so (400%+ affinities are useless). However, you can synergize both with Evoker which makes it even better (and it's an NPC you have control over). Though I agree that they should've made either Ultima or Evocation more solo focused and had the affinities be useful if you do play solo.
![Warriors of Calamity/A Fraught Journey (Level 1 | No Upgrades) [SOPFFO]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/P_4_l8KRU10/mqdefault.jpg)
I play solo because I can't stand the randomness that NPCs add to the equation (I particularly hate it when I'm doing purple rifts and Astos or Cid joins me, and sometimes I can't tell if a projectile coming my way is from a friendly NPC or from an enemy). I also don't like how NPCs can tank the framerate in this already poorly optimized game. But yeah, also because it makes the game too easy, especially on lower difficulties. On a related note, I wish jobs like Liberator and White Mage that have a strong focus on empowering allies (including NPC allies) provided the player with different affinity bonuses if they chose to play solo. Because otherwise, those jobs feel useless as either of my main jobs for a soloist like me.
It's worse when a boss shares an attack with an NPC. Behemoth and Sophia both have access to Meteor. Is it aiming for me, an ally, or the boss?
Can't say I experienced frame-rate issues with NPC's but I believe it. PS5 is mostly solid but it does have those moments (especially in the rift with loot everywhere).
I think White Mage is still quite effective solo, Liberator is too but less so (400%+ affinities are useless). However, you can synergize both with Evoker which makes it even better (and it's an NPC you have control over). Though I agree that they should've made either Ultima or Evocation more solo focused and had the affinities be useful if you do play solo.