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Hello everyone.
I am on a paid vacation this week from work, and just got back from a small trip and have the rest of the week to myself. I am currently playing World of Warcraft, but I only login to play arenas with my friends a few times a week. So for my last few vacation days I want to play a new MMORPG.
I have been looking into these two mmorpgs; Star Trek and Darkfall, and I am trying to decide which one to get. I have read the positives and negatives of both games, and I understand that I may not play this game until the end of time like some people expect, but I do want a relatively fun and interesting new online gaming experience to have some fun with. Money is not that big of a deal because I rarely buy new games (same WoW account since 2005).
So to give my spin on the feedback both games seem to be getting.
Star Trek: Mostly people seem to be unhappy with the instanced nature of the game, and the repeatable missions as content. I really dont see that as being a deal breaker for me. I never really read quests that much and while I enjoy a good story, I enjoy a simple "random dungeon" system more for mmorpgs. I just grab a few friends and own up a few missions. If I want a story I'll play Mass Effect 1/2 or something. I dont expect that quality of storytelling in an online game (maybe The Old Republic will change that ^^). That being said I like when a game gets more difficult and interesting later on, like involving lots of players working together in PvE or PvP (like raids and battlegrounds). I also get into guild play but that does not get mentioned much ni the feedback on this forum, so if someone could give me some info.
Darkfall: Most people seem to complain about the skill grind and lack of content, and also the difficulty for beginners (ganking/griefing). Some people also bring up the bad character models/combat animations. The first part will probably not bother me. The animations would bother me a bit more but it wont prevent me from enjoying the game if the rest is good. I like figuring out new games, especially if they are challenging and interesting, or have unique systems. After this week I will play somewhat casually, probably login for a few hours a night. I am worried that it will not be enough time to really get into this game, if anyone could help with that.
This did get kind of long so I'll add a TLDR : If you HAD to purchase and play one of these games which would you and why?
Comments
In the interest of disclosure I voted STO because it's science fiction based which would be a change from WOW for you.
What it really boils down to is do you have friends in either? Darkfall is much more PVP based so I expect a good guild would be critical to having fun in it. STO is brand new so it will have growing pains that Darkfall has already been through.
Personally I'm loving STO just because it's science fiction (I know lots of folks like EVE but I just don't get it-to each their own) and it's new so there's a bunch of stuff to figure out in it. Plus I love visiting the stuff from the shows.
I am not the person to actually suggest you any of these 2
I aint a really into PVP in MMORPG, get that fix from regular FPS/mulitplayer games, I simply want more from a MMORPG, so Darkfall didn't atract me, it might be a nice overall game experiance for those looking for PVP, only wished you had a change of trying before buying Darkfall.
Star Trek Fan right here, yet Cryptic take on MMORPG never suited the playstyle I want out of a MMORPG regardless the MMORPG they have released, so was not expecting much to begin with, and turned out it indeed wasn't the game experiance I was like to have in a MMORPG. So for me personaly being a Star Trek AND a MMORPG fan it just didn't click with me.
My problem is this: I am a niche gamer when it comes to MMORPG's, I want it to be more then what I already play in other genre's, and really hoped this genre would indeed be more then what mostly combat oriented games in other genre's already offer me.
Sorry, I know not much help here from me, but just atleast wanted to add why......
But as said with what I mentioned with Darkfall, which or hope you might find a way to try before you buy........would be the most honost opinion you could get by getting the playing experiance in those games yourself.
I would go with STO.
The game is heavily instanced indeed. It has the pros and cons and it was a design choice.
Every location you are in is an instance, you enter an instance with lowest population by default.
The major drawback of instancing is world persistance though, since those two are pretty much mutualy exclusive. Sector map travel is not helping it much unfortunately.
What creates immersion in STO are well written missions and IP. There is plenty of non-repeatable missions and main story line. Apart from those, you can participate in fleet events, do repeatable patrol and exploration missions - those are randomly generated.
Ground missions are lacking a bit imho, they are too easy and straight forwarded(the combat ones).
Combination of your skills and bridge officers allows you enough room to be unique and different from other starfleet captains.
PVP is arena style(ground and space combat). Not much to add here.
STO is casual game and if played as such, I think you will enjoy it a lot.
As for Darkfall, some others might be more funded to write about it since I see it as nothing else but FPS in open and persitant world...
Well really if you only have a few days DFO isnt a great choice. I mean if ya want to get somthing out of it youll need to get involved with a good clan with clan city access. Just researching appling and joining the right one probly will take ya longer then the rest of you va-ca
Thats not to say STO will be great i just DK about that one but if ya take the time youve got to find a good DFO clan then play casual from there ya might have a blast. I mean if ya dont its gona be gank city where ya go and even in a great clan the chances are high!
You are looking at both ends of the spectrum
Darkfall is the most hardcore MMO out at the minute and nothing on the market will change that anytime soon. Mortal online is coming out soon but its more of a dumbed down DF game that a casual player can make an impact much sooner.
Star Trek is a themepark, heavily instanced MMO that is grindy but easy to play
It really depends on your play style .
If you can take the hardcore that darkfall is with not much guidance free for all full loot.
But open free world with no instance loadscreens to explore or craft harvest with risk been ganked or kill mobs also risk been ganked lose all you have but still dont mind i say darkfall.
Its a true sandbox mmo with total freedom, but its fantasy world, like world of warcraft only opisite of what WoW is themepark.
Recconment a mahirim wolf humanoid its rather unique race and alot different then most games have.
Star trek just launched a sci fi game with well known IP but it seems not very well polished.
Darkfall is a beautifull world very realistic and rather polished well your choice if you go for darkfall good luck it maybe a wonderfull experience and supprise from what you have played before.
Games played:AC1-Darktide'99-2000-AC2-Darktide/dawnsong2003-2005,Lineage2-2005-2006 and now Darkfall-2009.....
In between WoW few months AoC few months and some f2p also all very short few weeks.
I for one wouldn't recommend either one, but "the lesser of two evils" I would say is Darkfall.
Darkfall get a lot of critics about it's looks, this game has been in development for oh so many years, I would guess a decade and probably would nail it, so the graphics are not up to date, but then again you played WoW so obviously graphics are not an issue, to many it's about the "fun" factor, not how it looks. In this game you'll break away from what you probably know, it's a skill based system, not a class one, so if you want to be an archer, then go buy a bow, some arrows and start hunting with your bow, the more you do it the better you get at it, same concept with every other skill in the game, there's technically no barriers.
As stated before, the problem with Darkfall is the heavy ganking/griefing, so that rules out soloing if you're not planning to play it hardcore, if you're a PvP junkie, then this is your place.
STO has "interesting" PvE, pretty good story line, great (yet not amazing) graphics, but no "real" PvP. If you ever played CoH it's very much the same concept but in space with a Star Trek skin on it, everything is instanced, the missions get repetitive pretty early in the game.
If you're a casual player that just want to play for some hours every day, or power play for a couple days, I guess STO falls in that category, just don't expect much or fun PvP. Darkfall is more of an active pace game and it's bad to fall behind.
Thank you guys for the really good responses. They have actually helped alot.
I am still on the fence a little, but leaning towards Star Trek because someone mentioned that I probably would not have enough time to get to the "good stuff" in the game, which was one of my main concerns.
I was kind of hoping that if I powergamed for my last 4 days I could get into a good enough clan/guild and switch to a more casual schedule. Maybe someone with alot of Darkfall experience could help me with a timeframe that it takes to be really competitive. I have been known to pull a few overnighters ;o).
To the person who asked if I would be solo or with friends, good question. I act as sort of a pioneer in mmorpgs for my group of friends. I typically have the most money ( I actually work, but thats another subject all together ) so I dont mind spending some money on a new game. I would be starting off solo, but if I really liked the game I might get a copy for my best friend and really recommend it to my others (I owe him a christmas/birthday present still lol) My friends are usually not that wealthy lol so they are less likely to take that kind of risk.
So basically eventually if the game went well I would have my friends join me.
Thanks again guys for the responses, I plan on deciding tonight so I can get it all downloaded and installed and ready for tomorrow. So any other comments and votes before I make the "big" decision (lol) would help.
The problem is, DF is crazy grindfest... STO can be easily played casualy.
Because of my very irregular time schedule and limited spare time, any grind based game is out of question so the the only game I play is EVE Online. It is the only sandbox on market, can be played casualy and subscription can be paid with ingame currency so it cost me nothing but little ingame effort.
From what you said, it seems to me that more casual gameplay could suit you and your friends much better.
In my opinion, STO would suit you better overall, Darkfall is a game you need to be fairly dedicated to.
based on your requirements and if these are the only 2 choices, i would have to say sto.
Darkfall is likely the better game of the two but you won't be able to 'max out' in a short period of time. But a good sandbox should be suitable for casual players as much as hardcore ones
sto seems to be designed as more a single player game a'la ddo and i personally wouldn't spend any money on it
what you(and the rest of us) really need is a free trial for each
btw are there any other games you may want to through into the mix?
Both suck. But out of the 2 i guess STO, darkfall has one of the worst communities of all time, of all TIME!
OP, if you have "must max to have fun" mentality forget about Darkfall. I started PvPing with clan after a week ingame, first day I joined clan. Like in EVE, you don't need to max your character to be viable in group PvP. If you really want something different then try Darkfall. You won't be disappointed and you can play casual (all of my guildes are working and have family life). If you want even more instanced game than WoW, with WoW game mechanics but in space, go for STO.