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Looking for unique MMORPG. Suggestions?
Hi all,
I've sort of been on the sidelines of the MMORPG scene for the past decade or so but I'm looking to get into one that fits some criteria (I'll list below). I'm looking for suggestions from an experienced community. But first, here's my brief critique and why I've decided to set some personal criteria for a what I'm looking for in a game.
I've noticed that a lot of the popular MMORPGs use pretty simple skill trees (or at least some form of one) to shape your character. For example, you learn a skill and attach it to your hotkey list and you perform that skill over and over. To me, it seems like this limits the variety of characters that you see and the amount of character customization. Which basically leads to a small number of "optimal" character paths. It gets really boring when you see the same type of characters over and over.
I've also noticed that questing systems are pretty basic and there is a lack of variety (i.e. go kill 5 rats and return, or go talk to this person, go create this etc). Boring...
So here is my criteria:
1) No skill tree. I would rather build "skills" through ranks or experience etc. I used to play Dragonrealms [MUD] back in the '90s which I believe has the best character development/leveling system to this day among online games. Something similar would be awesome!
2) Fairly new, nice graphics (I would like to utilize my new PC's capabilities)
3) Unique questing or something different
4) Lots of character customization
5) No max level (does this even exist?)
Any suggestions?
Comments
Error. Does not compute.
This game doesn't exist man. Wish it did but it doesn't.
Unique questing or something different is beyond the means of developers. Your choices are WoW clone A or WoW clone B.
Quest hub or Grind. Especially when it comes to something with "modern-ish" graphics. Only games I can think of under that category would be Tera/FFXIV/ArchAge/Guildwars 2 (Maybe). There are many potentially "good games" coming out. But right now at least in my opinion the market is saturated with crap. And if the type of game you are looking for fits your list of demands then you will most likely feel the same way.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Yes, Diablo 3 paragon levels.
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
and since there is none in MMORPG .. may as well know about the next closest thing.
Here's an old thread with a few titles that might fit your criteria:
http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/349518
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
"Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre
The Secret World may be a good fit. It matches all of the criteria quite well, except perhaps for the graphics.
It has no skill trees, very unique questing (especially the investigation and stealth missions) with excellent stories behind them, tons of character customization and it's not level based at all.
I'd say snag one of the free trial keys in the related thread under TSW forums, and give it a try.
My SWTOR referral link for those wanting to give the game a try. (Newbies get a welcome package while returning players get a few account upgrades to help with their preferred status.)
https://www.ashesofcreation.com/ref/Callaron/
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I did look at this old thread: http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/349518
and Mortal Online looks kind of interesting. The only drawbacks I can tell seem to be the graphics (looks pretty old). The character development sounds unique.
But it sounds like GW2 is about the closest fit. I really want to try this game, but I'm not about to pay $40 just to try it. If they had a free trial, I would love to give it a shot and possibly buy it.
What about the upcoming Black Desert? Has anyone on these forums played the foreign version yet?
I actually tried EVE back in 2010. It was definitely unique and I enjoyed it, but I couldn't get past the fact that you don't really have a "character". I also prefer the fantasy style.
The Secret World
It's B2P, so if you want a 3-day trial key, shoot me a PM with your email.
1) Skill-based leveling system, there is no cap, you just cannot use every ability at once(your "active" ability bar is 7 active/7 passive abilities).
2) Game came out in 2012, graphics are pretty new, and look great on max if your rig can handle it.
3) FANFREAKINGTASTIC questing system. A mixed variety of types, my favorite being investigation missions which make you something like dick-tracy
4) In appearance? Or... Anyway TSW has a decent character generator, although I think they could've done more - and an epic ton of outfits, accessories, appearance items out the wazoo,t he majority of which are available freely, with the item store ones being icing on the cake.
5) You don't level at all. Only gain skills and abilities. No levels at all = No max level.
[mod edit] <-- Because of this Nazi-esque restriction on my right to free speech i'm forced to rewrite half my post.
Once upon a time, in a galaxy, far, far, away there was a game, called Star Wars: Galaxies (pre - cu) this game fit all your requirements except the graphical requirements. Of course, the crappy studio that released it decided to shut it down, but rumor has it google may know of a team of necromancers struggling to revive this fearsome and ancient undead beast.
Playing: Secret World: Legends
Waiting for: Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen
Guild Wars 1 is the game for you if you want build diversity.
Guild Wars 2 has way less of it, but overall better gameplay. 97% chance it will go on sale for 10 dollars before the expansion launches. (Keep an eye out)
Age Of Wushu has no level cap, player driven economy, and a "time spent skill proggression system"(like EvE) from the few videos I have seen on utube.
Camelot Unchained(not done, in alpha) will let you "craft skills" probably similar to PoE, but I guess in a more balanced way.
Overall if you dont mind a bit clunky gameplay, want to play mostly alone, GW1 has a ton to offer. Still a small community active, but probably that noob friendly.It is unique in the way that you add NPCs to your party. The later expansions added heroes, which lets you customize the "Heroes" build as well. You can have 3 heroes or 7 if you buy a DLC.
You may also give darkfall uw a try after the next patch hits in a couple weeks. About the only game out there (other than old school game and gw2) that doesn't require you to quest all the damn time.
They did start to add avatars to eve. Last i checked you could only walk around your quaters and imo it was way over the top for what was needed. Not sure if they're still planning to do anymore to it though, but could be worth another free trial to check it for yourself.
There's always the eve clone perpetuum but that's sci-fi too.
Another one could be archage if you can put up with the way it's been monetized.
BTW it may be worth your while reading up on mortal online before downloading it.
From what you are looking for , i would think TSW or Mortal would be better , nothing unique about GW2 at all and i dont think you will make to lvl 32 before you are bored to tears
Thanks again for the suggestions everyone. I'm continuing my search for the ideal MMORPG (starting to realize that maybe it doesn't exist). I'm learning about new criteria as I experience new games. Since my original post, I've tried Mortal Online and Tera (my wife wanted to try Tera and it was free on Steam). Here are my critiques for the two:
Mortal Online
Pros: Experience/skill building seemed to be what I was looking for.
Cons: Feels like it's in Beta testing and looks very old. I took a few swipes at some pigs in the first quest and realized that this game feels like it's about 10-15 years old. I may be a little quick to judge this one, but my gut feeling is that it could use some polishing on many different levels.
Tera
Pros: Graphics are great. Aesthetic character customization options are very cool. Action combat is fun and keeps you on your toes. In fact, the action combat is now one of the top items on my list of criteria for an ideal MMORPG.
Cons: Character development. Character development. Character development. Seriously? You gain experience and all you get to do is pick a skill when you level up? You can only pick from about 15 skills per class? So essentially, every Warrior, Priest, Lancer etc. is the same. No attributes (i.e. intelligence, strength, etc.) to differentiate your character from others. Maybe I am missing something through the first 20 levels, but this feels like a completely watered down MMO (which I'm guessing was probably the point in order to attract non-MMORPGers to the genre).
Next up is The Secret World. I think the character development (as far as choosing skills/gaining experience etc) looks great. The only things that might cause me to dislike this game is the setting (normally I like the fantasy style settings) and the lack of "action" combat (it looks like you target enemies and let the dice roll?).
Combat isn't super in depth imo, but there's more to it than that. You have 7 active and 7 passive abiltiies in use at a time, and different enemies require different strategies. Use the starter decks, and develop a few of them to get the feel for differences, then start building your own custom decks.
Soloing, Dungeering(Normal/Elite), Nightmaring(Extreme hard mlode dungeoneering) and raiding all require different tactics and builds. At end-game you'll find yourself struggling to push certain attributes higher(good luck hitting anything in tokyo with under 450 hit rating) if you didn't take your time and learn the game on your way there.
Different bosses tend to have different abilities, but most things telegraph also.
You'll have to see it to get a feel for it.
I usually prefer the fantasy genre too, but fantasy mmos are pretty much cookie cutter, unique is a dirty word in the land of post-WoW MMOs.
Playing: Secret World: Legends
Waiting for: Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen
Marvel Heroes is unique. There is no other MMOs, nor single player games (aside from the very old MUA 1 & 2) that is a diablo-ish MMORPG with marvel characters.
You can also say the same for STO ... no other star trek TNG era RPG (MMO or not) with ship & ground combat.
/facepalm
Anyway...not huge graphics, but I've started playing Tree of Life recently and it is surprisingly fun. Survival/Builder/PvE/PvP.
Mabinogi has no max lvl. Anyway suggestion thread is here: http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/forum/841/LFGame.html
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