Combat is the main reasons I am waiting for games like GW2 & Tera. Not really knocking Rift and games that use Tab-Targeting but I have been playing games like them for years and I'm just so dam sick of them.
Same here, though I've only been playing MMOs for a few months (started LotRO when it went F2P) and yet I'm already sick of boring static combat that most MMOs seem to follow, to this day. Which is why I'm waiting for Guild Wars 2, which will allow me to have fun whilst I'm in combat, instead of face-rolling my standard combos.
Im always up to realisitc combat systems but flipjumping every once in a while backwards 15-20 meters dont u think is kinda childish and ridiculous?
Also too much benny hill show running around. I understand moving around but when armoured with weapons on dont u think speed of characters should be slower?
Well if you think of magic as a guy with a gun. Then a regular non-caster would stand no chance. The only way to make them viable is to make melee extraordinary, since of course, casting is extraordinary. More strength, more speed, more "perfect" I guess.
But in my opinion, two ogres standing in each others faces swinging away to no avail is more rediculous than dodging a few meters.
Not played Vindictus or Tera, did not think GW1 combat was any better than 'the rest'. Played Vanguard, same again only joint 3rd place with so many other MMO's.
When I said 1st DDO and 2nd AoC I am talking combat gameplay. Not saying the balance was great or there were no gliches. Melee not havinng to select to hit (FPS style) was the key. DDO long ranged even had FPS arrows and spells, AoC did not go that far. For PvP I am not sure a full FPS system like DDO would work well, so for me AOC hit the spot for MMO's as they stand now.
But if the PvP could be sorted I would go DDO combat gameplay for sure.
The problem is not the game. You just witnessed the art of diverse templates kicking your arse. Just let the rage drift away and fight another day. The higher the rank, the more complicated it will get. Your health was probably dropping because you didn't stay with your group and your opponent was more tactical. Trust me, i felt the same. I even found my self saying "f#k this". However, why blame the game? I'm the one that needs to adjust.
A game with non-cookie cutter professions comes around, and people start to rage. Jeez
i dont really get this post it seems to me the OP is saying the games combat is too easy ? Not to hard.
Seems to me he is complaining its a button masher where he just does the same thing to win (and barely get any damage to boot) so sorry i not sure i understand the whole "diverse templates kicking your arse" ?
OP its one small reason why i didnt buy the game after doing the betas amongst other things
Yes combat is rather easy and requires no true tactical skill.
I didnt do the beta , I got the game because I heard it was very polished and worth playing. And it is very polished but at level 27 Im starting realise my finger is very sore from pushing 1 button over and over as fast as I can spam it
Can you explain why you spam a button as fast as you can in a game with GCD? -.-
I haven't tried all the classes in Rift, but i don't know what the op is talking about, i use plenty of skills and have never spammed just one or two keys, far from it. The combat is fine. My opinion you are tired of mmos, get a new hobby.
Combat is the main reasons I am waiting for games like GW2 & Tera. Not really knocking Rift and games that use Tab-Targeting but I have been playing games like them for years and I'm just so dam sick of them.
Same here, though I've only been playing MMOs for a few months (started LotRO when it went F2P) and yet I'm already sick of boring static combat that most MMOs seem to follow, to this day. Which is why I'm waiting for Guild Wars 2, which will allow me to have fun whilst I'm in combat, instead of face-rolling my standard combos.
Im always up to realisitc combat systems but flipjumping every once in a while backwards 15-20 meters dont u think is kinda childish and ridiculous?
Also too much benny hill show running around. I understand moving around but when armoured with weapons on dont u think speed of characters should be slower?
Well if you think of magic as a guy with a gun. Then a regular non-caster would stand no chance. The only way to make them viable is to make melee extraordinary, since of course, casting is extraordinary. More strength, more speed, more "perfect" I guess.
But in my opinion, two ogres standing in each others faces swinging away to no avail is more rediculous than dodging a few meters.
The manual aiming spells system exists in oblivion as well. And u can just move around while in combat and avoid the spells incoming to you without having any sprint -fast like movement..u simply move away from spells incoming direction..
At the end it has to do with the general development of the game and its mechanics.
Combat is the main reasons I am waiting for games like GW2 & Tera. Not really knocking Rift and games that use Tab-Targeting but I have been playing games like them for years and I'm just so dam sick of them.
Same here, though I've only been playing MMOs for a few months (started LotRO when it went F2P) and yet I'm already sick of boring static combat that most MMOs seem to follow, to this day. Which is why I'm waiting for Guild Wars 2, which will allow me to have fun whilst I'm in combat, instead of face-rolling my standard combos.
Im always up to realisitc combat systems but flipjumping every once in a while backwards 15-20 meters dont u think is kinda childish and ridiculous?
Also too much benny hill show running around. I understand moving around but when armoured with weapons on dont u think speed of characters should be slower?
As long as the combat mechanics are fun and in-depth, that's all that matters. I come from the Unreal Tournament generation, so I can appreciate a good dodging mechanic, that's more active than just stacking your points into agility. Not everyone would like the combat in GW2 but at least it provides people with options, when deciding what MMO they want, based on it's combat alone.
I understand what u say. Personally for me fun=realistic like combat simulation. Something like mount and blade warband or oblivion's combat systems. Movement during combat aint that fast like some korean ps3 rpg's, tactical desicions play big role ,well timed blocking and attacks , smart movement around the enemies ,all that stuff . If u played and enjoyed the 2 games i mention u can understand easier what im talking about.
Another factor for me is when on massive battles with loads of ppl and/or mobs around it's oing to be a mess ... A good thing with the slower movement around is that it is less messy around and u have more time to observe around what's happening ,understand what's really going on,which mate needs u more, who of all should u charge etc
With all the soul combinations available and all the different skills to each soul if you are only using one or two of the skills then you are not playing to the potential of your class. Sure, there are a few basic skills that are used most often and can be effective all by themselves but if you choose not to diversify your skill selection and then complain about it then you are at faull, not the game.
I haven't seen anywhere that Rift claims to be different, but I do see a lot of comparisons to other games. It's not like Trion was trying to decieve anyone and claim to have made a new and exciting type of combat, in fact just the opposite. If anyone has failed to read up on what this game is and is not and then complains that it's too much like other games I have to question why even complain at all?
What amazes me is how you managed to buy the game without doing ANY research on the product. A quick youtube video would have shown you how the game plays. If you're done with tab targetting/hotkey combat, you would have known right away that this game has that.
The problem is not the game. You just witnessed the art of diverse templates kicking your arse. Just let the rage drift away and fight another day. The higher the rank, the more complicated it will get. Your health was probably dropping because you didn't stay with your group and your opponent was more tactical. Trust me, i felt the same. I even found my self saying "f#k this". However, why blame the game? I'm the one that needs to adjust.
A game with non-cookie cutter professions comes around, and people start to rage. Jeez
i dont really get this post it seems to me the OP is saying the games combat is too easy ? Not to hard.
Seems to me he is complaining its a button masher where he just does the same thing to win (and barely get any damage to boot) so sorry i not sure i understand the whole "diverse templates kicking your arse" ?
OP its one small reason why i didnt buy the game after doing the betas amongst other things
Yes combat is rather easy and requires no true tactical skill.
I didnt do the beta , I got the game because I heard it was very polished and worth playing. And it is very polished but at level 27 Im starting realise my finger is very sore from pushing 1 button over and over as fast as I can spam it
Can you explain why you spam a button as fast as you can in a game with GCD? -.-
Sure you could setup a macro for pve. In pvp of course it would never work. The combat is the same as any other MMO really. If you dont like it go play something else, dunno what to tell you.
That gave me a good guffaw..that combat in WoW was somehow more complicated then Rift.
I mean really, they're the same damn mold. Rift uses Warhammer's engine, which was copied from WoW's. 1-4 primary abillities with a whole bunch of situational crap thrown in.
If you want complicated combat go play a melee in EQ2 pvp..you'll wish you only had to hit 4 buttons.
AoCs combat was an utter failure. Just accept Rift for what it is..a game that took all the good from currently succesfully games and tried to fix the problems they have (I particularly enjoy the bag search feature.)
That said..don't expect any MMO to be bringing any innovational combat system soon..AoC's failure has a lot of companies scared to try.
I can't believe no one has improved combat in these sort of games yet. Conan tried to deviate but the enemy AI is as bad as pacman's ghosts.
I noticed that I just spam 3 - 4 attacks over and over so I put them onto 1 key macro .
Now I have 4 macros for my cleric / shaman
1- range spell
2- attack
3- heal
4- AoE attack
Most of the time i just keep hammering the 2 button over and over like a mindless goon and sometimes press 3 when my health drops slightly.
The enemy AI is totally boring as there is really only 2 types of attacks ranged and melee but to kill each you still hammer 2 key but the difference is for ranged mobs you don't use 1 key to pull them close.
4 different macros to do 4 different skills.
Why?
It's not just 4 abilities. If you notice, he says he made 4 macros each having several abilities put into them. Rift's combat is far from lackluster and much more complicated than WoW's. What I don't understand is that the OP made said macros to make it "easier" and then complains that it's too easy... well, QUIT USING MACROS.
I guarantee that because he is using macros, he is wasting a lot of abilities/dps. Sure I could macro all my abilities into less buttons on my 50 Warrior tank, but there's a lot of situational use to some abilities and using them for the wrong situation will leave you gimped.
I admit to using macros myself, but even then I am left with way more than 4 buttons. Maybe the OP is only around lvl 20 and has very few abilities?
Here's how my macros are situated for my tank: Single target attacks - Multiple Target attacks - Single Target Finishers - Multiple Target Finishers - DoT that has no CD - DoTs that have a CD - Skill to spread the DoTs if there are multiple targets - Stuns - and then a few Defensive CDs that aren't Macro'd.
I can't believe no one has improved combat in these sort of games yet. Conan tried to deviate but the enemy AI is as bad as pacman's ghosts.
I noticed that I just spam 3 - 4 attacks over and over so I put them onto 1 key macro .
Now I have 4 macros for my cleric / shaman
1- range spell
2- attack
3- heal
4- AoE attack
Most of the time i just keep hammering the 2 button over and over like a mindless goon and sometimes press 3 when my health drops slightly.
The enemy AI is totally boring as there is really only 2 types of attacks ranged and melee but to kill each you still hammer 2 key but the difference is for ranged mobs you don't use 1 key to pull them close.
4 different macros to do 4 different skills.
Why?
It's not just 4 abilities. If you notice, he says he made 4 macros each having several abilities put into them. Rift's combat is far from lackluster and much more complicated than WoW's. What I don't understand is that the OP made said macros to make it "easier" and then complains that it's too easy... well, QUIT USING MACROS.
I guarantee that because he is using macros, he is wasting a lot of abilities/dps. Sure I could macro all my abilities into less buttons on my 50 Warrior tank, but there's a lot of situational use to some abilities and using them for the wrong situation will leave you gimped.
I admit to using macros myself, but even then I am left with way more than 4 buttons. Maybe the OP is only around lvl 20 and has very few abilities?
Here's how my macros are situated for my tank: Single target attacks - Multiple Target attacks - Single Target Finishers - Multiple Target Finishers - DoT that has no CD - DoTs that have a CD - Skill to spread the DoTs if there are multiple targets - Stuns - and then a few Defensive CDs that aren't Macro'd.
That's far from 4 buttons.
Makes a good point..lol OP deliberately dumbed down the game and then complained about his own actions.
I can't believe no one has improved combat in these sort of games yet. Conan tried to deviate but the enemy AI is as bad as pacman's ghosts.
I noticed that I just spam 3 - 4 attacks over and over so I put them onto 1 key macro .
Now I have 4 macros for my cleric / shaman
1- range spell
2- attack
3- heal
4- AoE attack
Most of the time i just keep hammering the 2 button over and over like a mindless goon and sometimes press 3 when my health drops slightly.
The enemy AI is totally boring as there is really only 2 types of attacks ranged and melee but to kill each you still hammer 2 key but the difference is for ranged mobs you don't use 1 key to pull them close.
ya, combat n performance, the reasons that made me not go with this game =/
The problem is not the game. You just witnessed the art of diverse templates kicking your arse. Just let the rage drift away and fight another day. The higher the rank, the more complicated it will get. Your health was probably dropping because you didn't stay with your group and your opponent was more tactical. Trust me, i felt the same. I even found my self saying "f#k this". However, why blame the game? I'm the one that needs to adjust.
A game with non-cookie cutter professions comes around, and people start to rage. Jeez
i dont really get this post it seems to me the OP is saying the games combat is too easy ? Not to hard.
Seems to me he is complaining its a button masher where he just does the same thing to win (and barely get any damage to boot) so sorry i not sure i understand the whole "diverse templates kicking your arse" ?
OP its one small reason why i didnt buy the game after doing the betas amongst other things
That is another reason I removed myself from beta too, this is a very poor title, once you have got to mid 20's it shows it's real colours and it's obvious to the average Joe this is nout new and just more of the same olde $h!t but fluffed up a little to warrent you paying for this cargabe.
Lets see where you all stand in the next 3 months, as this will prove it's worth, if this title does not evolve quickly it will end up like all the rest... Time for one of these companies to make a real sandbox game and move away from the theme park crap which is taking over the MMO world. This is all down to Wow, everyone expects the same but harder and this just aint gonna happen.
Just wait till all you folks see BW MMO that will be much the same but with npc fluff in the form of voice and voices will not hold people they will just esc crap cut schenes and want to get on with it. I can see unless BW make space sandbox or even most of the planets this will have the same effect on the player base too.
If you want a challenge then go play EQI progressive servers and then you will see hard, it aint pretty but then again it's years old. Having listened to the community which now has lots of players from Wow who understand why it made such an inprint on the MMO world back in the 1990's enough said...Loading please wait!!
Rift's combat is far from lackluster and much more complicated than WoW's
Nah, it is more simplistic than WoWs. The rogues are more or less a carbon copy only with fewer abilities. The Warriors combat system has been dumbed down. The casters have less gimmicks in their combat rotations in most cases. Neither game is great but Rift has made combat even more simplistic than WoW and it is a lot clunkier making it uncomfortable.
Rift's combat is far from lackluster and much more complicated than WoW's
Nah, it is more simplistic than WoWs. The rogues are more or less a carbon copy only with fewer abilities. The Warriors combat system has been dumbed down. The casters have less gimmicks in their combat rotations in most cases. Neither game is great but Rift has made combat even more simplistic than WoW and it is a lot clunkier making it uncomfortable.
Wow, have we really hit so low that we are arguing over which has simpler combat than WoW? Never thought we'd see the day.
Yeah, I am going to have to agree with the OP here. The combat in Rift is extremely simple and boring. Pick your soul and use the same few skills forever. You do get some new abilities as you spend more points in your soul but a lot of them are either passive (crit chance etc) or have so insanely long CDs that you'll pretty much forget to ever use them. You can't really base your role around skills on 2-3 min cooldowns after all.
You also get some situational skills but most of them are a complete waste of time because of global cooldowns or because you simply never have the time to use them.
The Sentinel soul gets some cool skills for example but the tanks in Rift go down in seconds during tough fights, so you will hardly ever have time to use any of those situational skills, as you'll be chain healing the MT with your biggest heal just to keep him alive. If the MT is tanking a boss, you don't have time to target a mage (or whatever) and curing 3 poisons etc. If you do, the tank is already dead.
And although I am not exactly a fan of WoW or WoW's combat either, I'll have to agree with Ender4 as well. Rift dumbed a lot of things down even further than Blizzard did. I don't like admitting this, but Rift is (amazingly enough) even more simplistic than WoW, and I have a hard time seeing it staying successful for very long. I suspect most players will simply get bored and quit.
I am still playing Rift (I paid for 3 months in advance.. First and last time I'll ever do that..) and it can be fun at times. But the headstart was like 3 weeks ago, and I have a level 50 cleric, a level 50 warrior, a level 28 rogue and a level 23 mage. I don't see myself even playing through the 3 months I've paid for. The game is just too easy and too simple. There's nothing to do besides grinding (also known as raiding) for the chance of getting some new leggings with an additinal 5 strength or whatever. That will get old very fast in a game where you'll be using the same 2 or 3 skills no matter what you're up against.
Rift's combat is far from lackluster and much more complicated than WoW's
Nah, it is more simplistic than WoWs. The rogues are more or less a carbon copy only with fewer abilities. The Warriors combat system has been dumbed down. The casters have less gimmicks in their combat rotations in most cases. Neither game is great but Rift has made combat even more simplistic than WoW and it is a lot clunkier making it uncomfortable.
If you're going to argue that one is different than there other, at least state facts why they are instead of just simply stating that they are.
I find it hard to believe that as a 5yr WoW player I can tell that Rifts combat system has more to offer than WoW's, but there's other people who say otherwise. I can tell you right now, that if I had to choose between tanking in WoW as a pally, warrior, druid, and DK or play as a warrior in Rift... I would choose Rift's warrior hands down. It's just much more fun, interactive, and engaging than what's found in WoW.
AoCs combat was an utter failure. Just accept Rift for what it is..a game that took all the good from currently succesfully games and tried to fix the problems they have (I particularly enjoy the bag search feature.)
That said..don't expect any MMO to be bringing any innovational combat system soon..AoC's failure has a lot of companies scared to try.
You say AoC's combat is an utter failure but fail to explain. If AoC's combat is an utter failure than Rift's combat must be a catastrophe.
Comments
Vanguard really set the bar. AoC was a mess....
---
Ethion
How's Vanguard doing today? AoC at least isn't a tomato on life support.
Well if you think of magic as a guy with a gun. Then a regular non-caster would stand no chance. The only way to make them viable is to make melee extraordinary, since of course, casting is extraordinary. More strength, more speed, more "perfect" I guess.
But in my opinion, two ogres standing in each others faces swinging away to no avail is more rediculous than dodging a few meters.
Not played Vindictus or Tera, did not think GW1 combat was any better than 'the rest'. Played Vanguard, same again only joint 3rd place with so many other MMO's.
When I said 1st DDO and 2nd AoC I am talking combat gameplay. Not saying the balance was great or there were no gliches. Melee not havinng to select to hit (FPS style) was the key. DDO long ranged even had FPS arrows and spells, AoC did not go that far. For PvP I am not sure a full FPS system like DDO would work well, so for me AOC hit the spot for MMO's as they stand now.
But if the PvP could be sorted I would go DDO combat gameplay for sure.
Can you explain why you spam a button as fast as you can in a game with GCD? -.-
I haven't tried all the classes in Rift, but i don't know what the op is talking about, i use plenty of skills and have never spammed just one or two keys, far from it. The combat is fine. My opinion you are tired of mmos, get a new hobby.
The manual aiming spells system exists in oblivion as well. And u can just move around while in combat and avoid the spells incoming to you without having any sprint -fast like movement..u simply move away from spells incoming direction..
At the end it has to do with the general development of the game and its mechanics.
I understand what u say. Personally for me fun=realistic like combat simulation. Something like mount and blade warband or oblivion's combat systems. Movement during combat aint that fast like some korean ps3 rpg's, tactical desicions play big role ,well timed blocking and attacks , smart movement around the enemies ,all that stuff . If u played and enjoyed the 2 games i mention u can understand easier what im talking about.
Another factor for me is when on massive battles with loads of ppl and/or mobs around it's oing to be a mess ... A good thing with the slower movement around is that it is less messy around and u have more time to observe around what's happening ,understand what's really going on,which mate needs u more, who of all should u charge etc
With all the soul combinations available and all the different skills to each soul if you are only using one or two of the skills then you are not playing to the potential of your class. Sure, there are a few basic skills that are used most often and can be effective all by themselves but if you choose not to diversify your skill selection and then complain about it then you are at faull, not the game.
I haven't seen anywhere that Rift claims to be different, but I do see a lot of comparisons to other games. It's not like Trion was trying to decieve anyone and claim to have made a new and exciting type of combat, in fact just the opposite. If anyone has failed to read up on what this game is and is not and then complains that it's too much like other games I have to question why even complain at all?
Id suggest op tries playing a bard if he wants a soul that requires skill
Greatness is difficult to appreciate from close up. The great mountain on the horizon is only the ground when you are standing on it.
What amazes me is how you managed to buy the game without doing ANY research on the product. A quick youtube video would have shown you how the game plays. If you're done with tab targetting/hotkey combat, you would have known right away that this game has that.
{mod edit}
A.D.D.
If I was having a drink of milk when I read that, it would have shot out my nose.
All of my posts are either intelligent, thought provoking, funny, satirical, sarcastic or intentionally disrespectful. Take your pick.
I get banned in the forums for games I love, so lets see if I do better in the forums for games I hate.
I enjoy the serenity of not caring what your opinion is.
I don't hate much, but I hate Apple© with a passion. If Steve Jobs was alive, I would punch him in the face.
Sure you could setup a macro for pve. In pvp of course it would never work. The combat is the same as any other MMO really. If you dont like it go play something else, dunno what to tell you.
Darkfall - Sick
Earthrise - Sick
What have yo expected ? The combat mechanics are on the level of Diablo with more buttons to press ( at times ).
If you want something new in terms of combat try Darkfall or wait for GW2. Maybe someone else can suggest some other interesting titles.
That gave me a good guffaw..that combat in WoW was somehow more complicated then Rift.
I mean really, they're the same damn mold. Rift uses Warhammer's engine, which was copied from WoW's. 1-4 primary abillities with a whole bunch of situational crap thrown in.
If you want complicated combat go play a melee in EQ2 pvp..you'll wish you only had to hit 4 buttons.
AoCs combat was an utter failure. Just accept Rift for what it is..a game that took all the good from currently succesfully games and tried to fix the problems they have (I particularly enjoy the bag search feature.)
That said..don't expect any MMO to be bringing any innovational combat system soon..AoC's failure has a lot of companies scared to try.
It's not just 4 abilities. If you notice, he says he made 4 macros each having several abilities put into them. Rift's combat is far from lackluster and much more complicated than WoW's. What I don't understand is that the OP made said macros to make it "easier" and then complains that it's too easy... well, QUIT USING MACROS.
I guarantee that because he is using macros, he is wasting a lot of abilities/dps. Sure I could macro all my abilities into less buttons on my 50 Warrior tank, but there's a lot of situational use to some abilities and using them for the wrong situation will leave you gimped.
I admit to using macros myself, but even then I am left with way more than 4 buttons. Maybe the OP is only around lvl 20 and has very few abilities?
Here's how my macros are situated for my tank: Single target attacks - Multiple Target attacks - Single Target Finishers - Multiple Target Finishers - DoT that has no CD - DoTs that have a CD - Skill to spread the DoTs if there are multiple targets - Stuns - and then a few Defensive CDs that aren't Macro'd.
That's far from 4 buttons.
Makes a good point..lol OP deliberately dumbed down the game and then complained about his own actions.
ya, combat n performance, the reasons that made me not go with this game =/
Asbo
Nah, it is more simplistic than WoWs. The rogues are more or less a carbon copy only with fewer abilities. The Warriors combat system has been dumbed down. The casters have less gimmicks in their combat rotations in most cases. Neither game is great but Rift has made combat even more simplistic than WoW and it is a lot clunkier making it uncomfortable.
Wow, have we really hit so low that we are arguing over which has simpler combat than WoW? Never thought we'd see the day.
Yeah, I am going to have to agree with the OP here. The combat in Rift is extremely simple and boring. Pick your soul and use the same few skills forever. You do get some new abilities as you spend more points in your soul but a lot of them are either passive (crit chance etc) or have so insanely long CDs that you'll pretty much forget to ever use them. You can't really base your role around skills on 2-3 min cooldowns after all.
You also get some situational skills but most of them are a complete waste of time because of global cooldowns or because you simply never have the time to use them.
The Sentinel soul gets some cool skills for example but the tanks in Rift go down in seconds during tough fights, so you will hardly ever have time to use any of those situational skills, as you'll be chain healing the MT with your biggest heal just to keep him alive. If the MT is tanking a boss, you don't have time to target a mage (or whatever) and curing 3 poisons etc. If you do, the tank is already dead.
And although I am not exactly a fan of WoW or WoW's combat either, I'll have to agree with Ender4 as well. Rift dumbed a lot of things down even further than Blizzard did. I don't like admitting this, but Rift is (amazingly enough) even more simplistic than WoW, and I have a hard time seeing it staying successful for very long. I suspect most players will simply get bored and quit.
I am still playing Rift (I paid for 3 months in advance.. First and last time I'll ever do that..) and it can be fun at times. But the headstart was like 3 weeks ago, and I have a level 50 cleric, a level 50 warrior, a level 28 rogue and a level 23 mage. I don't see myself even playing through the 3 months I've paid for. The game is just too easy and too simple. There's nothing to do besides grinding (also known as raiding) for the chance of getting some new leggings with an additinal 5 strength or whatever. That will get old very fast in a game where you'll be using the same 2 or 3 skills no matter what you're up against.
If you're going to argue that one is different than there other, at least state facts why they are instead of just simply stating that they are.
I find it hard to believe that as a 5yr WoW player I can tell that Rifts combat system has more to offer than WoW's, but there's other people who say otherwise. I can tell you right now, that if I had to choose between tanking in WoW as a pally, warrior, druid, and DK or play as a warrior in Rift... I would choose Rift's warrior hands down. It's just much more fun, interactive, and engaging than what's found in WoW.
You say AoC's combat is an utter failure but fail to explain. If AoC's combat is an utter failure than Rift's combat must be a catastrophe.