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Which MMO; EQ2, Vanguard, or Wow?
alrothan2003
Member Posts: 5
I'd appreciate any opinion offered here. These are the games I'm thinking about: Vanguard, EQ2, and WoW. This is how things stand right now:
Computer: AMD 400+ Socket 939, 2Gb Ram, 2 74 Gb Raptors, 2-6800GTs in SLI.
Background: I have around 4 characters in each game. While I love grouping, I do not always have the time to do so (I'd say around 50% each group and solo play). I like being able to accomplish SOMEthing in an hour or 2 (even though it may not be a lot). My station pass (all SOE games) expired back in May of this year and I'd lost interest at that time (wasn't playing enough to warrant keeping it paid up,) so let it go. I'd like to subscribe to just ONE game (there's the rub).
Thoughts on EQ2: I have not played the game in over 1-1/2 years. My highest char in EQ2 is a 54 DE SK (my highest level char in any of the games, so I have time invested here and it would take less "work" to get him to the cap (i.e. end-game content). While I like the graphics just fine, they are not as "pretty" as WoW's, though more realistic. Miscellaneous stuff? I did not like having to start a DE in Freeport at all, though I understand Neriak is back in the game (as well as that the Fae and the "evil-fae" are very cool. Yay! I'd like to check it out. Things to look forward to? Upcoming expansion in November. Worries: "Over-expansion" killing the game.
Thoughts on Vanguard: My highest char on here is a level 18 human necro. I spent *quite* a bit of time on character development (meaning I LOVE how my characters look and am attached to them for this reason, not b/c I've got the time involved in levelling them). The graphics in this game are stunningly realistic (I think, at least,) though the pallet sucks (very drab, *esp* in the "desert" variety of zones. Also a system hog. I miss my characters:/. (I realize that sounds pretty sad). Looking forward to? Not sure; hopefully the game has taken a 360 from the last time I played in May? Worries: Does this game have a future?
Thoughts on WoW: I was very late getting around to trying this game (the only time I have in the game was in the 2 week expansion I just completed. My highest level char is a 14 undead Warlock. Likes? I LOVE the art, even though it is not nearly as "real" as the other 2 games under consideration (*especially* how colorful everything is). The spell effects are nice. Being able to play as undead rocks, and I like the twist of Warlocks and Demon-summoning vs. the "overdone" Necros in the other 2 games. The game is just plain-old FUN. Dislikes: The art can get too sugary (too sweet/cartoony). Why put aliens in the game (strange, but hey, it's Blizzard's game)? I am so low-level; it'll take more time to get levelled-up here than to hit the cap in EQ2. Looking forward to: loving the idea of the upcoming hero class and Northrend (though again, that levelling-up bit,) as well as it'd be nice to have more character customization options (heard they are coming as well).
So there you have it; please help me make this tough call. THANK YOU all in advance for your replies!!!
Comments
Either EQ2 or WOW, vanguard is craptastic.
Between the two, for soloing and short play I enjoy WOW more, for longer periods of play and grouping I feel eq2 is superior. Both games have their good and bad points. I'd suggest giving lotro a try if you liked wow at all, it has a good mix of eq2 and wow. Shrug.
I'm very disappointed in all the mmo's right now... the entire genre is in a downward spiral of copy-cat games that lack any innovation.
Shadus
Lol, you wrote out all that but you can't make a decision? I think you probably answered your own questions in there somewhere.
I liked WoW. I never played Vanguard and have not played EQ2 or WoW for over a year.
Why not try Sword of the New World? I love this game and it is free to play. See their homepage at www.swordofthenewworld.com
Yeh you already answered to your question. You know its Vanguard, so stop hesitating and jump in it.
REALITY CHECK
Vanguard!
Playing: TESO (great!)
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Most looking forward for: Everquest Next
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Have Played: World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy XI, Guild Wars, Lord of the Rings Online, Vanguard, Everquest Online Adventures, Everquest 1, EverQuest 2, Dungeons & Dragons Online, The Chronical of Spellborn, Warhammer Online, Age of Conan, Aion, CoH, Loong, Dragon nest, LoL, Alods, Diablo 3, NWN, Tera, Poe, Guild Wars 2, Rift
Most favorite; Everquest online Adventures (EQOA, 2003, PS2)
WoW, every MMO player should fully experience WoW's endgame. You will get hooked.
WoW is great but the only things that really bothers me is the childish community and the simplicity. The crafting system is way too simple and all in all it isnt really that difficult of a game. HOWEVER it is just straight out fun and any sort of "lag" is none exsistant in wow. The UI and graphics are just so smooth and it makes it so much fun to play unlike alot of games that try to MAX out the graphics at the expense of gameplay.
WoW crushes Vanguard in to the ground for sure...and EQ2 isnt too bad. I'd still have to say WoW beats EQ2 though just because WoW is just too much fun.
Vanguard is just way too buggy, laggy, and bland....not a very good game in my opinion.
Having said all this you have to keep in mind that I am very picky about my MMOs. If a game gives me and bugs/lag/confusion im done. The UI and graphics should always be smooth, highly responsive, and lag free (with appropriate graphical settings of course.)
To OP, if you want to have fun in more dimensions. Fun with crafting, fun with lore (diplomacy), fun with huge world with beatiful atmospheric and realistic graphics instead of cartoon ZX sinclair graphics then go for Vanguard. If you want to have fun with spending hours and hours everyday in the same graphically uniteresting raid instance then go for WoW.
REALITY CHECK
Well going from the OP's specs, I would rule out Vanguard tbh.
Which leaves EQ2 and WoW. EQ2 has a new expansion coming out soon, which will bring a lot of new players, as well as a new race, so it would be an ideal time to start.
I also think that only reaching level 14 in WoW not enough to properly judge the game. As you explore the world and realize how vast and well constructed it is, it'll suck you in and chances are you'll become a WoW fanboy like me
I don't think you can go wrong with either game, but avoid Vanguard.
Still waiting for your Holy Grail MMORPG? Interesting...
If you do not want to waste the time already sunk in, then you have already listed the pros and cons of the 3 games you tried out. Let your heart make the pick, do not play the game you like less b/c someone here say this or that.
As suggested by another member above Lotro is a good game for casual player, very very polished game, I would say more polished than WoW and the graphics is stunning. The storyline is also compelling, more so if you know the Lotro stories or at least try the movie triology. By the time you go up the top of the ridges of angmar or misty mountains, you have that woot feeling. I once make it to the top of the mountain, watch the sunset and was so moved. That games has weaker end game content, but unless you play very power levelling, you will not run out of action for a few months at least. They also add free new contents every few months, not just some dummy content but a full epic chapter, and big instances and zones. The music is good for each zone, till you grew tired of it with constant looping, if you set that option on. Walk into shire and watch, its really very sweet.
EQ2 is great when it comes to crafting, you really have to be involved, not just a snap of ingredients. If you have not experimented that, its worth trying at least for its own sake.
Wow is fun for the early levels, it has lore, variety and a very polished interface. The community is a big let down. There are mature players for sure, but well the majority is less so, and the PVP servers I just cannot bear. These little kids have so much ego planted into their avatar they will bad mouth you for a year if you beat them once 1 on 1.
Vanguard I will stay away for now, until I am sure its going to be viable. I do the closed and open beta and grow from enthusiastic to skeptic. One month after launch, when I still fall thru the road at exactly the same location, from open beta to the end of the free first month, I give up. 1000000 /bugs and I still fall thru the world at that spot.
OP: Your computer can run Vanguard well on medium settings.
REALITY CHECK
Well I wouldn't say my computer is a beast my any means nor is it sub-par.
2g DDR2
P4 3ghz HT
6600 GEforce
Anyway I haven't really progressed further than level 10 in Vanguard, but just exploring the areas I was in it was just so bland.
And I agree that the Endgame in WoW can get boring possibly after you've played for a year or so but what game doesnt? I mean ya thats why I quit however I've played the game for 2 years. Thats pretty much how long your average MMO is ganna last you anyway. You can't argue the fact that the worlds in the WoW are beautifully created. I'd spend my first hours in a zone just staring at waterfalls, vast mushroom fields, and canyons heh. It's a great lookin game.
The only other games Ive played that are as smooth as WoW are EVE and CoH. CoH's missions get very repetive and boring to solo but EVE has been a blast. Theres nothing like hearing your autopilot saying "warp drive active"!
In summary again, I know many people are put off by the "cartoony" graphics of wow, but they work. They're lag free, smooth, full of detail, and beautiful. Get back in to WoW with a few buds, start a guild, raid some instances, get phat loots, and have a great time. Outland is an amazing place. 6 million play the game for a reason...and it isnt because it sucks. Id be playing now if I hadnt of invested hundreds of days of full gameplay time in one character.
O and yes i to "fall thru the earth" even on medium graphical settings on Vanguard. The bugs are endless. Made it unbearable honestly.
Everything rated high by a general public stinks. General public is not interested in quality but in cheap instant moment of joy.
REALITY CHECK
You act like WoW lasts you a week and then its boring....
WoW is a very smooth, polished, beautiful game. I will admit it does lack depth however the game will keep you entertained for months and month at the very least. What more can you ask for than having fun? That's why we play these games right? I mean clearly you don't find the game enjoyable.
The game runs flawlessly and is keeps me entertained...even if it doesnt last as long as say....Everquest. In my entire career of WoW, which is 2 years, I have only had to put a GM ticket in ONCE....ONCE. Beyond that lag is close to non exsistant,, and bugs are just plain hard to find. The game is well put together. I played a 14 day trial of Vanguard and put 5 GM tickets in all to report bugs.
When I play and MMO i want to feel like Im in that world and get lost in it. I can do that in WoW. When im in the middle of exploring a vast new world I kinda dont like to fall through the middle of it. I don't want to feel like I'm in a computer genatrated grouping of pixels. Even though that's what it really is
. So anything that takes me out of it gets a Veto in my book.
You should try WoW for sure since it's the best MMO for now (Not my opinion, 9mils of ppl is the reason why).
EQ2 = SoE. This says everything.
And Vanguard looses subscribers very fast, Imo it's just bad choice, also the 2nd name of this game is Lagguard.
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You Are Not Tifa, Cloud, Aeris, Barret, Red XIII, Vincent, Yuffie, Cait Sith, Sephiroth or even Cid.
Not Any Other FF Character.
agreed noan
No i dont find instant fun and then addiction to farming for better loot enjoyable.
REALITY CHECK
I've also been looking for a decent MMo to play tried Vanguard but like many people say i got annoyed with lag and bugs and weird quests (just ran back and forth) WOW is still in my opinoin the best game to try even though i stopped playing almost a year ago, its fun for a long time and good for peole who don't want complicated crafting or any of that. Biggest thing i missed in WoW was RvsR and owning property... I really miss my house in SWG...
As I said, everything rated high by general public stinks no matter what it is. There is no critical thinking in a head of an average person, all need and want is limited to instant joy. Is it really a valid logical thinking that if 9 milion users have the same opinion as you so its true? Is it applicable to everything else? (music, movies..)? Do you dress the same as 9 milion people (lets better say majority of population) ?
REALITY CHECK
Spot on.
Of the three EQ2 is the best game imo.
World of Warcraft can be fun the first 1-2 times you level a character but in the end it gets really boring really fast. It has no depth or challenge to really keep you. Unless you like raiding the same instances over and over hoping to earn enough DKP to finally get a loot drop and then using that loot to PVP so that you kill other players in just a few hits. Or if you love to grind and farm for cash/faction/whatever. If you like either of those two things then WoW at the endgame is great for you.
Personally though they do not add content for all play styles fast enough to keep me playing. The fact that they gear most of their content to one particular play style is one of the things that really kills the game for me. Everything in WoW is meant to be a time sink and not even a well hidden one. If you want good loot you can either take the time (1-6 months) raiding to get your gear or you can take the time to level up in the arena/pvp to get gear. In either case it feels like a time sink, instead of feeling fun but taking time. At least to me.
In the end that is what kills World of Warcraft for me really. Other games in my opinion have done a much better job of hiding the time sink. Every game pretty much has one, but WoW's was just so blatant when compared to the level 1-60 and then 60-70 game play. When you get to the endgame the time sinks just stick out so much.
War Beta Tester
I don't know much about the other two, but WoW has a couple critical parts that make me shy away from it, after 2 years of 30 hours a week. raiding 5 out of 7 days.
As a player, I love progression, tactics and strategies and fighting the game on a massive scale.
So in all terms, WoW seems to be my game and I've loved it for a long time, but in the end, there is something that's so incredibly flawed about the game.
The fact they made the items BoP/BoE has changed the face of the game from what it could have been. At the beginning you don't really notice this, but take a look at the WoW forums and you'll soon find many pages, filled with drama about the looting system and why DKP should be banned.
However, it's not the DKP, nor the officers ( by default ) that cause these issues, it's the system around it. DKP ( a player invented system ) was brought in place, because it was the only fair loot-distribution present in-game. Having the prospect of eternal fame and glory, when wearing purple gear, turned people I know, into angry and aggressive people that would nearly kill for their phat epix. I've seen many guilds being torn apart by the issues over loot.
WoW is a game that makes you forget why you play. You play to enjoy yourself, together with other people. An MMO is not designed to be about ME ME ME, but about what you do together and that's where WoW fails, because in WoW, the only character that counts, is the one behind the screen.
1) WOW: Fun.. in fact very fun pre 60 however the tired it's the best because xxxx Million play line is preschool reasoning.
2) EQ2: IMHOs a fine title but not for everyone. BTW..The whole SOE bashing thing is so..so tired let it go.
3) Vanguard: Alas we had such high hopes for thee..It's alot like EQ1 in both possitive (Character developement) and negative (timesinks) I didn't have a strong opinion either way with VG and maybe that's the problem. Vanguard is kind of just there.
It depends on how busy you're schedule is... If you've little time nightly to play WOW pre 60 is hard to beat. If you've 2 hours a night I'd go EQII. If time's not an issue give Vanguard a shot.
Dutchess Zarraa Voltayre
Reborn/Zero Sum/Ancient Legacy/Jagged Legion/Feared/Nuke & Pave.
1) WOW: Fun.. in fact very fun pre 60 however the tired it's the best because xxxx Million play line is preschool reasoning.
2) EQ2: IMHOs a fine title but not for everyone. BTW..The whole SOE bashing thing is so..so tired let it go.
3) Vanguard: Alas we had such high hopes for thee..It's alot like EQ1 in both possitive (Character developement) and negative (timesinks) I didn't have a strong opinion either way with VG and maybe that's the problem. Vanguard is kind of just there.
It depends on how busy you're schedule is... If you've little time nightly to play WOW pre 60 is hard to beat. If you've 2 hours a night I'd go EQII. If time's not an issue give Vanguard a shot.
That would be true if WoW didn't pull one of the worst bait and switches in the whole genre. Fun casual friendly game all the way to the level cap. Then it turns into one of hte worst time sink games in the market. I am talking old school EQ1 time investment needed to be on the cutting edge of raiding. Sure you can raid semi casual (maybe 1-3 nights a week for 3-4 hours a pop) but you will never be on the top end of raiding and it will take forever for you to gear up. If you want to experience the new raid content as it is released and experience before people post all of the walkthroughs then you will need to be in a top end raid guild which means 5 to 7 nights a week of raiding starting usually around 6pmish and ending around 12-1am.So WoW is great if you can stomach not being the best. But if you strive to be the best you better have at least 50-60 hours a week of playing time. Because on top of the raiding 5-7 nights a week for 4-8 hours per night, you also need to grind for all of your supplies and cash for repairs. Top end guilds treat World of Warcraft as a job and not a fun experience.
War Beta Tester
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