What I'm Looking For

jbsseagull

Alright, this is a selfish topic, but I've come to a point in my MMO life (or anti-life...) where I'm on the verge of giving up. I started by playing one of the free Korean grindfests for a couple weeks, and had fun, but the game overall was flawed. I moved on to play Guild Wars, not really an MMO in the "WoW" sense of the word, but an MMORPG nontheless. I stuck with GW for a good year before tiring of the system, and being slightly bothered by the little incentive of leveling up. I then switched to WoW. I played it nonstop for a month, then realized it was terribly boring to grind my character through the same 30 minute instance 60 times. I also hated clicking on an enemy, and being able to go out to Taco Bell and get one of those burritos, and get back and still be fighting without me, the PLAYER of the game, actually doing anything.



So anyway, I think a lot of people have reached this same conclusion, that MMO's just aren't much genuine fun anymore. Sure WoW has redeeming aspects, and getting uber loot feels good for a while, and yes GW has great graphics and an interesting and skill based PvP system, that IMHO wipes out any PvP competition, and yes grinding for hours can be ok when nothing else is going on in your life, but what I want is a game that I can play, not watch. So my question (now that I'm done complaining) is, Are there any MMO's out there that have broken away from the typical WoW carbon copy or Korean grind?

EggFtegg

Originally posted by jbsseagull 

Are there any MMO's out there that have broken away from the typical WoW carbon copy or Korean grind?

Yes, there are. Most MMORPGs give you the option to grind, but it's up to your play style and imagination if your game becomes a "grind" or not.

The problem with answering your question is that you call your post "What I'm looking for", but you only say what you're not looking for.

What features are important to you? What do you want to get from your gaming experience?

jbsseagull

Yeah, I guess what I want is important too.



I'll sum it up: Morrowind.



Obviously, this is a completely ridiculous idea, to have a gigantic, immersive, multi-faceted, lore-filled world  to explore...or is it?  Morrowind and Oblivion (Morrowind especially) kept my interest for several years, and no MMO has been able to do that, except for GW temporarily. I want a game with a background, a game with real time combat, a game that allows true interaction and immersion, not just the typical "I can only talk to the NPC's that sell me stuff" deal. Plus, instances that get harder or easier depending on your level?



Yes, a game like Morrowind fleshed out into a full MMO might be difficult (because I don't think anything even close has been attempted, much less released) and many changes would have to be made to accomadate such a large player base, but I want a game, not a chore, and I think a game like Morrowind, with a giant environment and a true life to live would be just what I'm looking for.



So, should I just go play Morrowind and stop complaining, or is there something for me out there?

Krogg

Stick to morrowind.

Taera

I think that this is really a question of mindset as well as oppertunity; Guild Wars' PvE missions had a very forced storyline, and it seems like you're a bit into the mindset of progresson a more linear path.  You don't HAVE to complete the same mission over and over 60 times!

I'm very much a small carrot person - I would rather run around the world doing tasks then just stay in the same spot killing the same monsters.  I like progressing in tasks as much as I like progressing my character - it creates a story for my character, where she's been, what she's done   And the experience ain't half bad, either.

The best I can recommend is shopping around a bit.  EverQuest is a very fun game with a lot of complexities, but there's a fairly grindy aspect to it in the background.  Vanguard's got a lot of tasks and a fun world, as long as you don't approach it with a min/maxer mindset.  Heck, go radical - does it have to be fantasy?  Try out Puzzle Pirates, that game can be insanely fun for a short romp

Tuutob

Wait for AoC, twitch combat like Morrowind, castle seiges, it will be pretty kickass.



Till then, if you wanna break out of the original mold, Ryzom has a lot of depth and roleplay value.

jbsseagull

I played VG a bit during the beta, and I liked it but didn't get very far into it. I think getting my own horse/boat/house is highly appealing, and with some time investment, it could be pretty fun. The only thing I worry about are the bugs from a rushed release and the slight lack of polish with things as simple as the numbers above enemies heads when you hit them. Yes, that actually matters to me. Well, thanks for your opinions, and yes, I do have a sort of progression mindset, as those are the type of games I usually play, but I'm trying to be a more versatile player, and I want to feel like I'm connected to the character I'm playing. More opinions are welcome!



EDIT: Just saw Tuutob's post, and I have been peeking around at AoC, and I really, REALLY like the idea of Real Combat, but I must say I am very reserved, considering games like DnL that have made promises and become vapoware. Not that I think AoC is lying, but I definitely need to play it and find out. I played the beta for LotRO for 45 minutes, and was bored to tears, and I had high hopes for it. On the other hand, if AoC does all of what it says, or even most of it, I might make a purchase in the future.

EggFtegg

I think many of us would like a Morrowind MMO. I'm not sure anything has come close to that yet. Ryzom has the potential, but still needs more developing...but worth checking the free trial out.

The only games that have that kind of complexity are some of the better MUDs, but you have to put up with a text only game.

jbsseagull

Actually I have played several MUDs, just to see what they were like. They surprised me, and I played for a couple nights, but the limited sight options impaired my experience. But I did have some fun. The complexity of a MUD mixed with a graphical MMO would rock. But this is just more wishing I guess.

EggFtegg

The guy in charge of designing WAR is apparantly an ex MUD player. It will be interesting to see what he comes up with.