The top 3 most Hardcore MMOs you've ever played?

DaNcE4fLoWeR

So yeah I'm trying to find a really hardcore MMO to play, the kind that takes years to max level and are just a huge grind fest and getting reputation with factions takes months. Kind of like Vanilla WoW, but harder! So if you guys don't mind listing your top 3 most hardcore MMOs you have ever played, even if they don't exist anymore or just aren't as hardcore as they used to be (Like WoW), any MMO that you have played is valid.

sazabi

i think games can be hardcore in many ways. examples:

1. random asian mmo (mu online, lineage 2 etc) - grind to hell.

2. eve - you die, you lose your ship and everything you carry

3.  this:

Garvon3

Originally posted by DaNcE4fLoWeR

So yeah I'm trying to find a really hardcore MMO to play, the kind that takes years to max level and are just a huge grind fest and getting reputation with factions takes months. Kind of like Vanilla WoW, but harder! So if you guys don't mind listing your top 3 most hardcore MMOs you have ever played, even if they don't exist anymore or just aren't as hardcore as they used to be (Like WoW), any MMO that you have played is valid.

Er... WoW is not even remotely hardcore. Vanilla WoW was the easiest MMO on the market when it launched. 

 

Even if they aren't as hardcore as they used to be? 

 

Well EverQuest and Ultima Online were probably the two most hardcore MMOs on the market back in the day.

Some people never made it to level cap, harsh death penalties, smart mob AI, difficult combat and in depth combat mechanics, dropping all your loot on your body... 

NOWADAYS the more hardcore is probably Darkfall. 

elocke

1. EVE

2. FFXI

3. Darkfall

jbadol

Vanguard: Saga of Heros comes to mind. Otherwise there's not much out there I've seen recently. If you do find a game that fits your discription, please let ME know too. Everquest 1 was the only game i've played like that and havent been able to fill in that hole it left. Maybe FFXI is for you? I just can't past the UI in FFXI .

Good luck

ElderRat

1) EVE

2) EQ

3) Shadowbane

I list Shadowbane because it was a gankfest and if your city was small you died alot. Certain cities controled the best farm areas and became very powerful. I loved it but went on to play the games my friends liked and was sad when it died.

spizz

If you really looking for such games, which I dont recommand, try one of the houndreds of asian grinders. They are all the same and the description fits very well from you.

Rohn

1. Ultima Online

2. EvE

3. Mortal Online

Irishoak

1. High School. (Grind sucked.)

2. College. (Never hit end game due to subscription fees.)

3. Job Market. (16 years of working for the government and no epic drops.)

Hellfyre420

1. Diablo 2 Hardcore Mode

2. EvE Online

3. AIONs end game include Miragents/Fenrils

spizz

There is already one huge thread here, maybe you find something:

 

http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/163039/page/1

bunnyhopper

EVE.

UO pre Tram.

Darkfall.

 

I'd have Diablo II Hardcore Mode in there if you counted it as an mmo.

Tahamtan

Not sure to call them Hardcore MMO or not but mine were Runescape and WoW.

Rockgod99

UO

EVE

EQ (pvp server)

Benthon

EQ

Eve

DAoC