Where should I go from here?

jmjones_1

OK, here's the deal. I've been playing EQ1 for years now, the only MMORPG I've ever really tried, and I just recently had to quit so I'm looking for new things.

To keep this short and sweet, if I was a HUGE EQ1 fan, should I stick with the original, upgrade to EQII, or perhaps try another game? I'll let the topic start here, and we'll evolve as we go, so to speak...and remember, I have no exp. with any other MMORPG game...but I have always loved all of general RPG's for the consoles (as long as the story was deep, FF7 for instance), and of course EQ1.

VicodinTaco

Oh man.....

 

You've opened up a can of worms here.  I'm die hard anit-EQ2.  I had a lot of expectations for this game, and none of them developed.  Nonetheless, my opinion. 

I'm enjoying the heck out of Asheron's Call 2.  One advantage to this game is that it is free to download and has a 15 day free trial.  http://www.turbinegames.com/ac2free/   There is also a site out there that had a delivery agent but I forget what it was.  Do a google search if your interested.

I like AC2 because it's got that 'old-school' MMORPG feel that these newer games seem to leave behind.  I also like the crafting in AC2.  It currently has a low population (which makes it hard to find the consumer), but the crafting is set up so supply can NEVER even come close to demand.  You gotta like that.  AC2 will have a rerelease to all the software stores shortly so I hope to see some population upcoming.

I also have a World of Warcraft account.  I play 3 different characters and I enjoy them all.  WoW has a nice fast pace feel to it, however, that is also a problem.  If I did not have 3 characters I would most deffinatly be at end-game on one of them.  I use WoW as a "quick excape" in a way.

I also have an EVE-online account.  EVE is a hardcore space based MMORPG.  If you have the time and patience for brutal time-sinks, giganctic market systems, and stats/info overload; give the free trial a go.

I gotta a lotta hope for Dark and Light and Vanguard.  With these games however I will probaly wait 3-6 months untill after they release to avoid all the pain and suffereing involed with new MMORPGS.  I kinda wish I did this with EQ2, but I figured SOE learned their lessons.  Obviously not.  I'll probaly also give Guild Wars a go because there is no subsction fees..... Man.....  So many games, and obviously, so little time.

 

 

 

Munka

Well, there's no time like the present! I was much like you 5 years ago, Ultima Online had been the only MMOG I had played and was starting to feel it was time to take a look at the new ones coming out. Back then, my selection was kind of limited, unlike todays current list.

I don't normally go into a big list of MMOG's I suggest trying, but sence you have stuck with EQ1 for so long, I will make an exception.

1.) Ultima Online
The longest steady running MMOG to date, with the exception of Meridian 59, is the oldest. Meridian 59 had accually stopped all together, but is now back on the market. UO is skill based, no levels, starting from 0 skill to 100+. There's combat, magic, and crafting, dungeons, guilds and guild wars, factions and faction wars, mounts, player owned and custom designed housing, boats, pets, PvP, and the list goes on. To date, UO still has the most interactive skill system than in any other game.

Example: Blacksmith Skill - In order to craft weapons and armor, you need metal, and tools. Metal is mined via the mountians and caves, with a pickaxe or shovel. The ore you mine then needs to be smelted into ingots, ingots are then used near a forge and anvil to craft an item. Tools are required to craft these items which can be purchased via NPC's, or crafted by your self or other players that have the Tinkering skill. Blacksmiths can get Bulk Orders from local npc's smiths which the player needs to fill and return to the NPC. Rewards are given in the form of money and/or special items like for example a Runic Hammer that can be used to create magic items, rivaling anything they could normally make.

Now this is just a small taste of UO and a short description of the Blacksmithing skill. Working against UO is the graphics system which is still largely 2D with 3D charactors and creatures. This however may change in the near future, but don't ask, because I can not comment on it, end of story. PvP is challenging at first but can become great fun once you learn the ropes.

Here's the website - http://www.uo.com/

2.) Asheron's Call
AC is not only skill based but Level based as well (used to be 126, but I think has increased). As you run around killing things, or using other skills, you will obtain points to use in the manuel progression of the skill of your choice. Unlike UO, AC is true 3D, but lacks bleeding edge quality like EQ2, although, at the time of it's creation was a wonderful site to behold. I found combat to be great fun, as with the magic system and archery. When I last left I had a level 112 archer that could kick ass and take names later, enjoyed it greatly.

There is also dungeons, mounts, pets, crafting, guilds, housing, and a neat alliegance system in which a vet player can assist you in learning the ropes, and in return they get points from your progression. There is a new expansion in the works, Microsoft no longer has anything to do with AC and has turn over all rights and ownership to Turbine Entertainment, the makers of Dungeons & Dragons® Online, The Lord of the Rings: Middle-Earth Online and AC 2.

Here's the website - http://ac.turbinegames.com/

3.) Rubies of Eventide (Free to play)
Kind of smimilar to AC in the Level & Skills department. Has crafting, dungeons, pets, guilds, etc. but no mounts or housing. RE has been taken over by a new company after RE almost went belly up, so updates and patches are on the way. RE is not complete and there are some unimplemented skills and other things that are planed for. Graphics once again are not bleeding edge but it is a well designed 3D world that looks quite good with a low level video card, and great with a medium/high card.

Combat is a little automated and is different than most MMOG's I have played, but is easy to get used to. The community is not very large but is loyal and often very friendly and helpful.

Here's the website - http://www.cyberwar.com/
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I'm going to stop here for now. I feel 3 games are enough in the begining if not boarderline overwhelming. If you have any questions I'd be happy to answer them. Some of you may be wondering why I posted these older MMOG's. Would it be wise to buy a used car before test driving it and investigating it's history? Same concept here. It's like a level of progression, and I feel it could be harmful to jump from the original EQ to say bleeding edge technology and a 3rd generation MMOG with out knowing about the fathers of the genra, and how what we have today was influanced by these forefathers. Just my two cents and my opinions.