What is your favourite mmo combat system?

FomaldehydeJim

I have included "AOE telegraphing" as a separate item as this seems to fall outside of what I would generally describe as action combat, where there are single target hit boxes and a faster pace. I am sure others will disagree with this separate classification. My personal preference is for FPS/TPS (alas the MMOs that include this type of combat are lacking in may other features).

H0urg1ass

Age of Conan.

Combo based combat system with fatalities.  You can Tab target to see a target's defenses if you want, but otherwise you hit anything and everything your weapon can reach.  Makes the difference between a dagger and pole-arm pretty noticeable.

It's my favorite combat system of all time.  It's engaging, dynamic and gory.

It's a shame that the "mash a single butan, wait for cooldown" system is the one that has taken over the MMORPG landscape.

FomaldehydeJim

H0urg1ass said:

Age of Conan.

Combo based combat system with fatalities.  You can Tab target to see a target's defenses if you want, but otherwise you hit anything and everything your weapon can reach.  Makes the difference between a dagger and pole-arm pretty noticeable.

It's my favorite combat system of all time.  It's engaging, dynamic and gory.

It's a shame that the "mash a single butan, wait for cooldown" system is the one that has taken over the MMORPG landscape.

I thought about AoC when I was in the car on my way home, then forgot about it. I would kinda consider it a hybrid system. 

ThumbtackJ

I voted 'Other'. I don't really care what style the combat is done in, so long as it is done well in that style. I think you can have fun and engaging combat of any of those styles.

Blazeyer

voted for other, but normally "action" would be my pick. ESO is not what I'd use to represent my ideal action combat. I'd go with TERA for best combat.

giftedHorn

Couldn't get into Age of Conan, partly because of the combat. Mainly how slow the combat is in the first level content. Too much button mashing for me. The directional part was cool though.

My all-time favorite combat systems are in single player games, stuff like Mount & Blade where combat is simple -- just the mouse buttons -- but fast and deadly. Skyrim used a similar scheme, but its combat was too slow and mushy, I couldn't get more than two hours into that game. I haven't tried ESO yet.

I enjoy the mix of telegraphing and action combat in Neverwinter Online. They do little things that make the combat feel "impactful", like making melee attacks move you toward your target, putting a lot of knockback on melee, or ragdoll-physics fatalities.

I want to try a turn-based game. But more likely a single-player, I don't want to wait for some deep thinker to move. Gotta to try that Banner Saga I guess.

Po_gg

I prefer roleplay and story / lore over combat any day, so until it's not a complete and utter crap I'm ok with any kinda system.
The two exceptions which are "sticking out" from the pool of generic combats for some degree, are AoC's melee combo system and LotRO's warden with its gambit system, I like those two.

(SotA's CCG-esque mechanic will be an interesting one as well)

sunandshadow

I voted turn-based, but specifically tactical, where there's a checkerboard of terrain to move units around on.  I actually hate turn-based combat like pokemon and I only tolerate turn-based combat like Final Fantasy 7 through 10.  I like action/arcade and tab-targeting spellbar/cooldown and Skyrim-style archery too.

FomaldehydeJim

sunandshadow said:

I voted turn-based, but specifically tactical, where there's a checkerboard of terrain to move units around on.  I actually hate turn-based combat like pokemon and I only tolerate turn-based combat like Final Fantasy 7 through 10.  I like action/arcade and tab-targeting spellbar/cooldown and Skyrim-style archery too.

I do love a tactical turn based combat system. P101 is undoubtedly a child's game, but it plays like a simple chess. you have different companions and it is all about manoeuvring them into the right position to make the right move at the right time. It is certainly more involved than a lot of *adult* combat systems out there. 

I used to love W101 back in the day for the same reason. It involved tactics; it involved staying the course while you took damage but collected for an epic move. It was judging these pay-offs that made the game so fun. 

If I compare it to the sort of Pavlov's dog telegraph design we see so often these days- where the game tells you to dodge so you dodge, it certainly has more depth. The telegraphing design is reactionary rather than pre-emptive; rather than building a superior move using time and tactics. It is also why I prefer FPS/TPS to hybrid combat, because it is about positioning, about using cover, about building a pre-emptive move rather than a reactionary Pavlov's Dog response to a telegraph from a mob. I has more depth, for me.  

celestialimmortal

i voted tab target ..i just love being able to just hit tab then trigger macro key to press 12345 and go make a coffee

celestialimmortal

but seriously..darkfall online pvp has been the best for me...

Elevenb4

Action combat, both so far none of hte action combat games have held me for more than a month which makes me sad. I love the combat, but really dislike the other parts of the game when it comes to action combat mmo's. 

Mikeha

Tab Target where you can move while attacking.

tixylix

Vanilla WoW got it perfect, I even liked SWTORs apart from ability delay and before they ruined it with 1.2.

Zarkin86

the best combat in the history of videogames has monster hunter series and gothic series. but since you probably dont know what im talking about (you should play both) ill say TERA had the best combat system so far. did i mentioned that i absolutely hate tab target?

immodium

I don't have a favorite. They're all great.

FPS combat (Not within MMOs, the genre itself) edges it though as sound plays an important part in them if you pay attention to it.

I remember on certain Quake 2 maps I instantly knew where my opponent was just by the sounds he was making.

neve1272

i loved melee in AoC really would have love of TSW had they brought something like that to their game
 

Mardukk

EQ as it is strategic unlke most MMO's.  Darkfall as it is true free aim and no animation locking.  And I also enjoyed GW2's combat mostly for the innovate combo system.

Morgenes83

Tab-targeting:
1: Guild Wars 1 - Especially playing an interupt mesmer or archer was so much fun
2: Age of Conan
3: Vanguard

Action combat:
1: Elder Scrolls Online
2: Mortal Online
3: Darkfall

Wizardry

FFXi is much more than tab targeting,most in depth combat of any game to this day.Renkai,elemental and type of damage all a factor.Then you add in the day weather such as Firesday or Watersday and again a factor.Then the mobs all have the same types of attacks and resistances.Plus the aggro systems that are involved with combat add another layer,example some undead can smell blood,if damaged too much they all come running.So as a tank/player you need to be aware at all times of your position and health.

Also no SPAM in FFXI,you do have spike damage that needs to be timed,your entire group needs to pay attention to more than just your dps ,as positioning again a factor to be either in front or  behind,to the side of the creature as well as being ready to interrupt possible fight ending moves by the enemy.

We always hear about healing as a boring class,well in FFXI you are not just a healer,you have to be ready to remove debuffs or problem spells/abilities cast on your fellow player,as well as dispelling constant buffs if a RDM healer and many other aspects such as refreshing yours and others mana etc etc.You also need to be ready to silence or perhaps even sleep adds,haste your fellow players,the combat involves so many different aspects because it is a action/reaction combat design and not a SPAM design like so many games are.

Although a very high priority on Trinity grouping,very skilled players can do those same fights with only 2-3 players,sometimes solo.I have never come across another game that needs a group fight but can be soloed.I have not yet mentioned the sub class that gives your player an added layer in combat be it shadows for defense or healing/buffs/debuffs etc etc.How about mobs that become immune to either magic or melee or ranged,mobs that can sleep or charm you all factors in combat.

Kilmaul

GW2's hybrid system, head and shoulders above everything else.

Caldrin

FPS darkfall style..
I do think i would enjoy an MMO with good mount and blade style combat as well.

All the other combat system in mmos are kind of boring for me now.

Quicksand

Age of Conan

Theocritus

I think my combat preferences come down to what I don't like more than what  i do like.....If I am going to play 80+ levels in a MMO I sure dont want a combat system that wears me out.....I really dont like the systems where you have to dodge alot or move around alot.

KenFisher

Tab sticky target with AI Hero henchmen, which is how I have RL2 setup.

Specialists can solo when grouped with an appropriate companion.  Groups can form even without tanks and healers.

PAL-18

Turn based : Wakfu
Tab target : Anarchy Online ,because everyone can press tab,but atleast 50% of the combat comes from character customization and AO is (was) the toon customization mmo godmode.
Twitch,action etc. Counter Strike ,i believe we can call it sandbox MMO these days.