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What I'm looking for in an MMO
Master_Razor
Member Posts: 226
I've made a few posts like this in the past. I think I've presented my ideas better this time, I'm not sure, but if you agree or disagree or you have some of your own ideas go ahead and post them here. I just think it's better if we talk about the things we want in a game rather than what we don't want, maybe we'll actually get somewhere this way.
This is what I'm looking for in an MMO:
PvE gameplay is the most important part of an MMO for me. I want there to be a decent amount of group content but at the same time I want to be able to solo whenever I need to without too much difficulty. Immersive, meaningful content is desirable but not necessary. In PvE I don't want to just be doing the exact same things over and over again. I want some variety. When it comes to quests, I don't want them to seem like a glorified pizza delivery, I want quests to be fun and exciting. Also, concerning quest item drop rates: there shouldn't be any. Sometimes in WoW you had to kill 30 mobs to get 5 items. Why not just make it 30 items that you have to get?
PvP is not nearly as important to me, but it is a fun activity that I like to be a part of. I don't want ganking, at all. I'd rather have no pvp at all than have ganking. Outdoor pvp is a neat concept but it leaves a lot of room for griefers. I liked how in WoW there were PvE servers where you could only be attacked if you were flagged for pvp or in enemy territory. I like this option.
I don't want the game to be gear based. I'd actually like a game where gear was only for aesthetic value, but I don't mind if gear has stats on it. In WoW a level 60 character with no gear on had lower stats than a level 30 character in greens! I don't want that happening.
I want a solid economy. I don't want money to be too easy to get. However, I don't want to have to farm to make money. There should be enough alternatives that no one is required to farm to get the money they need.
A crafting system isn't very important, but it is desirable. If a game has a crafting system implemented, it should have a meaningful purpose. It shouldn't be easy to improve your skill at crafting, however, you shouldn't have to farm mats for hours to improve.
I would love a huge expansive world with tons of stuff to see, but I don't want a world like that if I constantly have to go from one end of it to the other. If I had to constantly go from one end of the world to another, I'd like to have the option to do it quickly like with teleportation or something. Again however, I'd rather just not have the need to constantly move from one end of the world to the other.
Character customization is something I love, it's not something that will make or break a game, but good character customization will definitely make me like a game more.
I don't want to play a game where the servers are constantly down. I want a game with dedicated maintenance.
Comments
Read your LFGame thread.
1. PvE should be the baseline of a MMO, simply because this is where most MMO players prefer to play. If folks want combat 24/7 they'll get a dedicated MMOFPS game -- TF2; Quakewars; BF2, etc.. Unfortunately, it's easier to make a MMO a cheap FPS knock off. It also keeps the ADD/ADHD types happy (but the downside is they rarely stay for long. Next new title, they're off to try it off). Devs want the largest game market (15 to 21 year-olds), and will make the game more geared to them. But again, they don't stay for long.
2. Ganking can be prevented simply by limiting the highest level to attack another and making it no higher than 10 levels. It gives the lower player a chance to fight back and win. How and why devs don't do this knowing full well gankers are the #1 reason why folks won't play PvP is beyond me. They hurt their own game by that "anything goes" mindset.
3. Unfortunately, WoW has made gear the "lewtz" in this genre. It's dumb, it has ruined potential, but devs like to copy from each other. Skill based MMOs get lamblasted alot because ADD/ADHD types can't stand to level anything longer than a few hours at most (why MMOs are being dumbed down more each year).
4. NPC traders would eliminate the whole gold selling business. But gamers don't like selling to NPCs, as they believe they can get more money "playing the market" (yes, but inventory taking up space for days to weeks hoping to get that plat payout is also inefficient. In MMOs if space isn't used for getting profit or for some gain, it's a waste). No matter if there is a broker or a shop, I'll still use the NPC trader to unload stuff, as space is better used for better stuff.
5. To me, crafting is the most important, since there's many other genres that can satisfy everything else. But crafting and trading in complex economies can only be found in MMOs. It's my #1 reason to play a MMO, and any that doesn't have a decent crafting game, I don't play it. And I detest games where drops are more important than mastercrafted gear -- a slap in the face of a tradeskiller who's willing to do the tedious work to be a master. Plus, crafting should never be a minigame secondary to adventuring, it's suppose to be a profession. In doing so, the game won't be flooded with junk, but quality goods by folks who make it not just for money, but they're one of the few who can.
6. Part of the reason games are massive is because you can't get to point A to point B quickly (defeats the purpose -- the maps would be SP size if they were). Teleportation and flying helps, but for explorers they need to go places on mounts or foot.
7. A RPG isn't a RPG without character customization, not just with faces and bodies and clothes, but with beginning character stats (much like the old D+D games, where a dice roll determines your initial stats, not cookie cutter race stats). If someone rolls very nice stats -- or willing to spend an hour rerolling until they get it -- more the merrier.
BTW, farming mats I actually like -- get to a good spot, fire up the mp3 player, and have fun. It doesn't have to be tedious, and it can be v-e-r-y rewarding at times. Every MMO I've played I started as a mat collector as most don't want to do it, which means money to me.
.:| Kevyne@Shandris - Armory |:. - When WoW was #1 - .:| I AM A HOLY PALADIN - Guild Theme |:.
I agree with you on pretty much every point. Mat farming was a very tedious task in WoW and I'd rather not go through that again.
Any more ideas, criticism, anything?
That right there is going to be the hardest thing to find. The only MMO that says it will have it is Darkfall, but I'm pretty sure you're going to have to get a good video card for it.
So far there isn't a PvE game that offers that and fits the rest of what you're looking for, but the closest you will get is with Age of Conan.
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A work in progress: (Update: 08/09/10)Easily find your favorite type of MMO
I've mentioned it in other forum posts, but I think interaction*both with ones enviroment and with NPCs* would make the genre a lot more enjoyable, let alone bring out more skill-based play. Perhaps an MMORPG that "feels" like a modern action game*Controls similiar to Assassin's Creed* but with some group dynamics.
If you're not using feint, you're not doing enough damage.
Author of http://themmoexperience.blogspot.com and writer for http://www.negativegamer.com
I wanted to try AoC but when people started playing it I started hearing bad stuff about it.
I actually like the interface of most RPGs in general more than that of FPSs or most action games.
Newegg is your friend baby.
Also don't solely judge a game from anyone elses perspective besides your own. It offers a trial so get buddy key or whatever they offer and give it a whirl yourself.
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A work in progress: (Update: 08/09/10)Easily find your favorite type of MMO
Heh if I could afford a new computer, even off of newegg, I'd have one already. I'm definitely getting a trial before I try out the paid version.
Tiger Direct imo :P. It's where I got all my computer parts for a fairly low price, shipped excellent too.
Currently restarting World of Warcraft
Only thing that was wrong with AoC was they hadn't released everything for it and once you hit level 40 you were stuck grinding all the time. They have since released content for it now so it's definately worth a trial. I'm picking it up again once I get my desktop finished and hoping it's the same thing with more content.