Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
Best combat in an MMO and why?
MMORPDEATH
Member Posts: 414
Which mmo has the best combat? Here is what I think of those that IVe played.
WOW-personally hated it, I dont know why but it felt really repetitive with the same animations.
DAOC-my favorite MMO in every way EXCEPT the combat makes it almost unplayable. Melee combat is SO SLOW
GW-Irritating sound effects, combat has a nice pace though.
EQ2-Second best that ive played, but it more or less follows the same crappy formula and simple battles can take a long time.
SWG-Best combat simply because its NOT the same old crap as in every other mmo. Its too bad lack of content makes this game unplayable.
Extremism in the defense of Liberty is no vice.
Comments
SWG back in the day had great combat and was a lot of fun.
AC1 had great combad and untill all the macros came out was a hell of a lot of fun. Pre macros AC1 pvp was the best IMHO.
The vast majority of MMOs have HORRIBLE combat systems right now, very little change from EQ in 1999. Target monster, mash buttons.. repeat.
DDO is the one that stands out as different to me. It is very active and "twitchy" which I like. You can see the dice roll and can figure out the mods that help you hit or miss. For example, moving while swinging incurs a penalty so you miss more often, flanking an enemy gives +2 to hit and it shows that. The combination of tactical combat that involves skill, gear, and position combined with pure axe swinging spell slinging chopping up hordes of kobolds is impossible to beat in the current market.
I'm playing planetside as well because, obviously, the combat is not button mashing 8)
I am sick and tired of the same essential combat model for the last 8 years and I refuse to play games that do not challenge me. Thus I'm waiting on AoC and maybe TR and tiding myself over with the carnage of DDO & PS.
<< All of the above represents my retarded opinion ONLY, I do not pretend to represent all gamers
>>
Classic SWG
But, without doc buffs. A lot of people didn't even experience the depth of the combat system, because they got super doc buffs and used composite armor which often times you couldnt even equip un-buffed because of encumberence. Then, yes, it was just a question of filling the combat queue, which is one of the common complaints about that system.
Without that though, it was quite challenging
- and the only combat system that I have ever thought was fun, with the wide dmg range of hits from mobs and yourself, all the different stats and pools to take into account, states, even the animations were so much fun. Even little things like the injured mob trying to limp away from you when you had almost killed it, something I didnt like much as melee as they got out of range, but it gave an added feeling of immersion.
What I miss more than anything is that even a mob you should have been able to kill outright could give you a very tough fight, sometimes incapping or killing you even, or a really tough mob killing you ten times until you with luck and learning the strategy for it managed to kill it. Sometimes you had to run out of range of a tough mob, use stims for health and action, and get back at it before it had recouperated. etc etc.
There were so many tools (food/drink, stims, scout traps, spice, different hits) for you to use in combination.
I also did like that if you were just hunting for resources (ex ranger here), you could do the easy way as well, slap on heavy armor, get a huge buff, and not worry. It was up to you how to play.
It should be obvious by now that I was looking forward to the Original CU, the Balance.... Because using the doc-buffs in PvP became very unbalancing, imo they should have matched the entertainer buffs, not given you god mode where the only vulnerable pool was the mind.
Oh, and before anyone say something - there was food for knockdown. There was mostly a way for any good player to be able to win, if they learnt their profession well and knew who and what they were up against. Its hard to find an RPG combat system (turnbased) where the skill of the player still has the potential to shine through, but imo the pre-cu combat did really well.
Sorry for the long post, got all nostalgic and stuff.
MMO combat - Hands down Planetside.
Fantasy Based MMO have little to add to great combat, though I think the ShadowBane combat was decent, but nothing matches Planetside to date. Conan and Warhammer might, but we will have to see.
LOTR also has some interesting feature with Combo attack by group mates that could play out well, but agian we will have to see.
Althoug I never played it I had heard Matrix Online had great combat.
Rage - Head Honcho of the Revilers
"Ragemore and Whine Less"
I really like L2's combat and pace. It's fast, furious, spell affects are amazing, you really get into it. Unfortunately the limited movement and camera style that L2 uses makes you feel confined. Otherwise IMHO it's probably the best RPG style combat made to date, very well suited for pvp.
I loved the concept for the combat in MxO it was just very poorly implemented at launch and brutalized even more at combat 2.0.
EQ2 and WoW both have super combat systems, I tend to tip the hat to EQ2 because of chain spells but I find the movement fluidity of both systems lots of fun.
Everything else is pretty much copies of copies with minor differences of -/+. RPG fighting/combat is what it is, it's the nature of the beast in many instances, not much you can do.
Important Information regarding Posting and You
Your last line there is totally untrue and I think, sadly, that is what alot of designers feel. RPG combat DOES NOT need to be dull and repetative!!!!
It can be fun and involved! 95% of the interaction in these games is by combat so make it hella fun ! 
DDO is a great example of making the combat fun, although it is far from a perfect game. AOC looks to make it a bit more fun as well.
(btw the !! are not directed at you Shae, just the concept that there is nothing you can do about the combat system model.)
For my money the best melee game animation goes to L 2.
All I want is the truth
Just gimme some truth
John Lennon
Totally agree on DDO. A halfling bard with a heavy repeating crossbow was a joy - charm something, let loose a triple volley, roll in and start ducking and diving while you swing that sword.. ah.. good stuff.
Shadowbane!
Fly up and nuke the crap out of melee classes on the ground!
Only to have throwing/archer type chars to pull you back to the ground where you get owned in your face.
Still by far the best flight combat I've ever experienced! WSAD should remain in FPS (my #1 favorite genre), imo, unless they start to make some really good mmorpg-fps hybrids ... aka Tabula Rasa
Have to check that one out and lucky me I didnt spent my money on yet another clone and boring game...yet.
WTB Shadowbane 2
Great topic... My favorites may be a bit diffrent as I always play Paladin types.
1) CoX: Peacebringer & Warshade 3 forms, nuff said.
2) EQII: Skills refresh quickly, combat wheel.
3) Lineage II: Hard to explain but it's fast pace just feels solid.
4) Guild Wars: Solid pace EQ1/COX hybrid feel to it and ability to use any two proffesions.
5) MxO: Ability to switch load outs plus methodical martial arts feel matched the movie well.
*Edit* Honerable mention to WOW as it has a tight responsive feel like EQII.
Dutchess Zarraa Voltayre
Reborn/Zero Sum/Ancient Legacy/Jagged Legion/Feared/Nuke & Pave.
AoC, the combat in existing mmorpgs is pretty rubbish. FFXI might be different though, always like FF but its nontrial and its hardcore nature puts me off. I guess I could mention WoW for its combat, it can be decent soloing despite its inane repetiveness and the BGs you can have some good fights.
This might be a shocker to you but ... the game is not out yet!
Following your exmple I'll switch my answer to Everyquest 6. That game has amazing combat unlike AoC, which totaly sucked. Its very innovating because you use your toes to cast spells!
So pick a game you played hm?
WTB Shadowbane 2
I played Hellgate London at E3 liked it a lot. But since its not out yet for the masses-----
I might go with City of Heroes out of the current crop I've played for released games. I think running using superjump/superspeed and opening up a can on someone is fun
Need to try this DDO someday sounds like it would be interesting to study for a few days to see what they did
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xMQgKUCPGM - City of Heroes PvP flick is a good example of what I'm talking bout. This the only MMO where at least you have great vertical movement (or at least one of the few). If developed better, this sort of system could really go far
Yeah, I've READ Runescape is awesome.
Anyway, for me, the best combat system in the MMO's I've played is the one designed for City of Heroes. I assume that by 'combat system' you mean not only the structure of combat itself, but also how it plays out in the game. Taking that into account, CoH pretty much outshines all of the similarly structured MMO's out there, simply because the 'ambient' the combat takes place in really enhances the experience. Villains fly all over the place, crash into the walls, jump and run while you use all sorts of flashy superpowers and gimmicks on their sorry behinds
The Reasons:
1. Choice; every class is played differently.
2. Customize: every class can be customized to your playstyle.
3. Skills: it matters if you are in front or behind; set up shield walls; trip, stun, cleave, great cleave, whirlwind.
4. Swing on demand!: auto attack works, but manual attack is much more fun.
5. No complicated button mashing: you have a skill and want to use it? press the button, no "waiting to critical" nonsense.
6. Again on the button mashing: feats like Stunning Blow, Tendon Slice and more are added bonus' not must push buttons.
7. Cool weapon effects: lots of weapon choices; Puncturing, Banishing and Vorpol are my favorites!
8. Block on demand! There is a delay for blocking, but once you are blocking, it works and you can tell its working.
9. Damage Resist: while blocking you can absorb a much higher level of dmg, again think tactics.
10. Zerging!
DDO is not as immersive as I would like in an MMO, as in the city zones are very bland; but the combat and dungeon exploring make up for this a great deal. And I am TOTALLY immersed when inside dungeons. It is also fast to level up, which I like... only 14 levels as compared to 50+ levels of pure grind.
RYL -- real-time, first-person-style combat but with camera view from behind the character so you can see body/sword position.
Check some of the gameplay videos at http://PwnerTV.com to see what it's like.
Age of Conan, with a similar combat and view style, when it comes out.
One warning--once you play this way, you can't stand to play click-to-attack anymore.
Watch the latest episode of "The Guild" and other Pwnage videos from around the net--also post your own: http://PwnerTV.com
BF2 and 2142 work because you have a max of 64 players on a server and ping restrictions. I play both--definitely the best combat/fps out there, and even the flying in BF2 is better than any other flying game I've tried.
Actually, it's amazing that some of the mmorpg's work as well as they do with players from all over the world playing together and no ping restrictions.
The speed of light is the main problem, lol.
Watch the latest episode of "The Guild" and other Pwnage videos from around the net--also post your own: http://PwnerTV.com
This might be a shocker to you but ... the game is not out yet!
Following your exmple I'll switch my answer to Everyquest 6. That game has amazing combat unlike AoC, which totaly sucked. Its very innovating because you use your toes to cast spells!
Bah. Everquest VI is nothing compared to World of Warcraft IX. If you have one of the virtual reality force-feedback holographic projector monitors (released in 2037), you can truly feel it when your opponent hits you. Receive a critical hit, and you might actually lose the use of your leg for a few days.
I've got to say, either EVE Online or Mabinogi. Both games require a certain amount of thought before combat (EVE more so in most cases) and during combat, rather than the click, hit number keys, repeat system a lot of MMORPGs use. You can argue that EVE's isn't different from the normal MMORPG (Optimal range = mages VS warriors, Capacitor = Mana, etc.), but I feel it has that extra punch that steps it up a bit.
Mabinogi is a lot more like a Rock-Paper-Scissors sort of deal, forcing you to try and guess your opponent to avoid being hit. My favorite combat system is in Phantasy Star Online, however. But that isn't an MMO.
Oh gawd people, stop trying to compare FPS to MMO hacknslash. Thats like apples an oranges.
As far as Planetside goes, in the mmo aspect its different than all the others out there. As far as an fps game, its a piece of crap.
TBH, I think OP needs to drop the genre altogether.
DDO has some aspects that don't translate well into an mmorpg but that doesn't take away from the top notch combat.
Of course the supposed price for the extremely fluid combat is that the majority of the world is instanced.
Being able to dodge an arrow, tumble away from a ray of fire, shield block a giant's club swing, use terrain to your advantage, duck and cover, and then use any such movement in concert with the various spells is really very impressive.
Don't know how many of you have played EVE. But it has the best combat PERIOD. You can take a ship out with a configuration and find that against a certain enemy that config sucks. So you reequip your ship in a couple different ways from a ton of choices. And try it again.
Old SWG has second place imho. Find you are getting hurt a ton, maybe get some medic line. Or get a profession that mitigates damage....
WoW has the worst imho. As a rogue I have several different talent specs available to me. Leveling specs are usually useless in PvP, and useful in PvE. and PvP specs are usually useless in PvE. The classes are well defined though. So thats a plus.
nothing compares to old school ultima online
gamertag - Swaffle House