Themepark Player Wanting to Try Sandox

Zookz

Hello all. I've been playing MMO's for awhile now, but I've mainly only played themeparks. Starting with FFXI and then eventually moving on to WoW. After I got bored with WoW I played literally anything that interested me. From Runescape to Age of Conan. I always find myself thinking that a lot of these games are awfully similar, and once again end up bored.

 

Of all the games I've tried not a single one has been a sanbox. I always knew what the concept behind them was, but couldn't wrap my head around how it could be fun. Well, I'm at the point that if I have to collect 20 more animal parts to turn into an NPC my head will explode. I just can't stomach it anymore. I've done it thousands of times already. I need something exciting, and I think it's time to try to make my own adventure. 

 

I'm looking for some advice on where and how to start. It all seems quite daunting to me. Probably because of the massive change of pace I'm in for. No classes, no levels, no predetermined path, no quests, no rules etc. It's exciting, but at the same time I have absolutely no idea how or where to get my feet wet. Any advice for a first time sanbox player? Better yet, any advice on a good game? I'm open to anything, although I prefer fantasy settings. 

Malcanis

Pick a few with free trials and jump in, tbh.

Remember that sandbox-orientated games generally also mean FFA PvP as well, so you will be much less safe from other players than you're perhaps used to. Your social skills will probably come in to play a lot more as well.

twstdstrange

I've always been a themeparker, and when I tried some sandboxes I was really disappointed. Simply because, in my own earnest opinion, no sandbox games that were out at the time were very good... At all...

Except, from what I was told, Eve, but unfortunately I'm one of those guys that just looked at the screenshots/trailers and walked away. Just didn't appeal to me at all. Spaceships... Bleh...

Good luck to you, anyhow! If you happen to find something you enjoy, drop me a PM and let me know. I would like to try a few new games out myself.

Amaranthar

There really are no good sandbox games out there. Just about everyone has gone the way of the themepark design, because so many players play that.

Most players are just like you. They don't have any reference to "sandbox" in a well designed game. They don't even know what it really is, much less what it could be. And as a result, it's perceived by developers and bean counters everywhere that theme park is what players want.

Even old "sandbox" games have started adding theme park style game play. They weren't very good or had major problems in the first place, so lack of players caused bean counters to decide that theme park is what they need. Didn't work, but they still believe that. It's "the way". The "power of the force".

SabbathSMC

WEll the big difference in themepark and sandbox is themeparks give direction basicly leading you around from quest to quest while you advance in levels and get to the end.

While a sandbox has no or very little quest and you choose the directions you want to go in.

Think of it  like this,theme parks go well if at work you need to be told what to do. Sandboxes go well if your a self motivator and dont need to be told what to do. As it stands most people need to be told what to do and very few are self motivated to just do it. So most games are themeparks.

my suggestion is try ultima online,its truly the first sandbox type thats really done well.

Lumanil

You really shouldn't to all the people in this forum and make your own decision.

There are some good sandbox mmo's out there, but not every game is for everyone.

 

You have to test it yourself. Most games have one or two week trials, where you can see a glimpse of the world.

 

There is Darkfall for example, which is really a great game, if you like PvP, FFA, full loot and especially large scale pvp.

There were already sieges with a few hundred people involved.

But like every game, Darkfall has its pros and cons.

 

There is also Mortal Online, which is also a great game, if you like PvP, but also RPG elements and like things like taming and crafting.

 

So, i have to say this again:

Take a look and make your own decision. Maybe read some articles ( from different sites ) about these games and form your own opinion.

Amaranthar

Ultima Online has gone "Theme Park" too.

There's no classes, but there's skill templates that work better for some things than others, i.e. if you want to farm gold and items you want a "Tamer", because they are by far the best "class" for that.

As you build your character, you need to go fight monsters that you can beat, get the phat lewtz that allow you to move on to the next level, and rinse and repeat, etc., etc.

Once you get to Grand Master, you need Powerscrolls to allow you to move on to the next levels.

Once you get standard magical items, you need an ever increasing level of magical artifacts.

The world is now completely static. You go to certain places to get what you need for the next "level" of adavancement. Sure, you do get a choice of such places to pick from. Oooo boy, freedom!

No, UO is no longer a pure sandbox game.

SabbathSMC

Thats ashame really as its truely the grandfather to the sandbox. I played for the first 6 years then moved on and never really found a good home since. I think entropia was my second favortie sandbox but it can become very costly if you really want to have fun.

the other sandbox that i would suggest is wurm online for a non pvp enviroment.

for a pvp place i would have to say darkfall.

MMOExposed

Ryzom:

Is that a Sandbox?

 

Anyway

before going for DF and MO, make sure the games can run on your computer

Sovrath

Originally posted by MMOExposed

Ryzom:

Is that a Sandbox?

 

Anyway

before going for DF and MO, make sure the games can run on your computer

I would consider ryzom a sandbox game.

Few quests, you essentially make your own purpose, your character can be just about anything you want as well as creating your own skills, crafting is important in the game, the game play is driven by the players.

Gabby-air

Originally posted by MMOExposed

Ryzom:

Is that a Sandbox?

Yes, one of the best PVE oriented ones might i add too.

SuperXero89

My problem with Ryzom is that there appears to be very little to do outside of fighting or crafting.  To my limited knowledge,  there is no player housing, player cities, or anything that really allows players to shape the world as there were in pre-NGE SWG and Ultima Online.  There really doesn't appear to be much socializing outside of your guild either as the world is too large and the population is too small to allow for any sort of central gathering area.  The only thing that made the game feel like a sandbox was the fact that you had an in depth crafting system and complete control over the development of your character.  Outside of that, I felt like the game was any other themepark MMORPG minus the quests.

Gabby-air

Originally posted by SuperXero89

My problem with Ryzom is that there appears to be very little to do outside of fighting or crafting.  To my limited knowledge,  there is no player housing, player cities, or anything that really allows players to shape the world as there were in pre-NGE SWG and Ultima Online.  There really doesn't appear to be much socializing outside of your guild either as the world is too large and the population is too small to allow for any sort of central gathering area.  The only thing that made the game feel like a sandbox was the fact that you had an in depth crafting system and complete control over the development of your character.  Outside of that, I felt like the game was any other themepark MMORPG minus the quests.

Ryzom does have housing.

SuperXero89

Originally posted by Gabby-air

Originally posted by SuperXero89

My problem with Ryzom is that there appears to be very little to do outside of fighting or crafting.  To my limited knowledge,  there is no player housing, player cities, or anything that really allows players to shape the world as there were in pre-NGE SWG and Ultima Online.  There really doesn't appear to be much socializing outside of your guild either as the world is too large and the population is too small to allow for any sort of central gathering area.  The only thing that made the game feel like a sandbox was the fact that you had an in depth crafting system and complete control over the development of your character.  Outside of that, I felt like the game was any other themepark MMORPG minus the quests.

Ryzom does have housing.

Well, from what I understand, there are apartments in some of the major cities where you can simply store items.  You can't place them anywhere, they can't be customized, and no one else besides you can set foot in the door.  So I guess theoretically it has player housing, but there are themepark MMORPGs out there with far better housing systems.

This is all old info though.  They may have expanded on the housing system since the article I read was published.

Zookz

Thanks for all the helpful replies. Several people have been suggesting EVE to me recently, and I decided to just dive in and see what happens. So far I'm having fun, but I must admit I feel somewhat lost. The concept of players choosing their own path is totally foreign to me. 

 

There's a few titles I've taken cursory looks at. Darkfall, Mortal Online, and Xyson. Nobody has anything really positive to say about any of them. I do wish someone would step up and make one of these games with the budget and resources afforded to other MMO's. It's a real shame -- I feel like I've missed out on this big chapter of MMO history, and it doesn't look like it's coming back anytime soon.

 

Again, thanks for the replies!

Atak

Xsyon is actually pretty nice, but it's brand new and not out yet and there is a lot of content/features yet still disabled , i have my hopes and hypes on that, and i suggest looking into xsyon if you want to learn about true open sandbox. Most games out there , even darkfall, Dawntide, eve, are theme parks with little sandbox elements.

Evile

I am a sandbox lover of the ole pre cu Galaxies days, and atm I am in Age of Conan because whatever format you want to call, it is the best mmo out. It is not  forced themepark. You can do or skip any quest you want and not "miss out" on anything. There are plenty things to do in game both pve and pvp. It has themeparks, but EVERY sandbox has themeparks in it.

It is not perfect but nothing beats it atm, and I don't see anything soon coming that will, especially with the good direction AoC has been heading. It has been constantly improving.

For true sandbox EVE is in a league of it's own. It just made me feel like I needed a in game day job just to undock in anything decent.

Basicgear

Hope the OP is still reading this and catches my post.

 

If you are okay with a birds eye view mmo, try Ashen Empires. This game is f2p atm (used to be sub based) and has awesome gaming mechanics with a very very helpful community.

Just watch out, you can get addicted to the tradeskill side of the game so much and so fast that you dont actually fight much. lol. Also go with the PvP server, it has a good/evil system so its not just race faction pvp, if you kill your own side you turn evil and are a criminal.

Dont worry tho they have a whole city of evils you can join up with to sell and trade and bank.

Mikeha

No good Sandbox games out atm. Dont know if Earthrise will be the one to finally deliver but if its not then just wait till a real company makes one which may never happen.