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Running out of choices
What I want:
PvP - small groups perferably but as long as there's structure to it I'm ok. Not rampant ganking (go kill 10 dogs, on dog #3 2 rogues unstealth and kill you) and the devs have to have given some thought to preventing things like rez camping (some still don't). I prefer my PvP to be the endgame but I'm somewhat flexible if it's focused (there's a point to it; seiging, realm abilities, land grabs, realm bonuses etc.). NO SCENARIOS, limited crowd control. I don't mind large scale pvp either as long as all 3 types of PvP exist in the game (1v1, small group, large scale). All 3 MUST exist and thrive in your game (DAoC did it so I don't see why it isn't doable).
PvE - Raids I'm ok with but I prefer smaller group content for special things and largely soloable for the overall grind. Good immersion, lots of quests, but presented in a nonlinear way. Essentially I'd love to just roam around, grabbing quests, every so often further some story elements along, while I level or skillup, then when I need a break group up in a small group to hit a special area or difficult mob. Don't give me a very limited number of big, in depth places to go and then make the drop rate low so I have to go to the same place 40 times, instead spread it out so I have to go to a bunch of smaller places once or twice (and then limit the number of instant travel options, see below).
Economy - The more complex and deeper the better, player made items on par with most drops but I'd prefer the very best items to be drops. It should be -
1) special mob drops - 10% of total items (put limits on these items; low durabilities, time limits, make them lootable, disappear on death etc.)
2)player made - 50% of total items (average to excellent durability, this should be the bulk of used items in addition to being the most flexible and diverse. ie-you can dye these, customize them, makers marks etc.)
3)quested- 30% of total items (infinite durability or alternatively make the quest repeatable on loss item, no versatility, bland and utilitarian, not tradeable)
4)npc store bought - 10% of total items (stop-gaps, not resellable, exists merely as a baseline at certain levels.)
I'd prefer NO auctions but I won't get that so forget I said it (mom and pop stores in the game are preferable to me over an auction house that is Wal-mart). I'd like limited, very limited instant travel but again, I won't get that either so forget that too (you should hand make the world so having to travel by land is preferred, I should WANT to go out and explore).
Grind - I don't mind a long grind so make levels/skills as slow as you want. I'd prefer a combination of levelling and skilling but please no skill gain thru use, it's a good idea but until they figure out a way to successfully combat macros, no thanks.
cash shop or subscription - don't care
I prefer tab targetting, I thought I might like aiming and having to lead targets and such but I've found that it requires too much concentration on my part to enjoy that type of play. Chalk it up to lack of skill I guess, or lack of focus, just give me tab targetting.
I need a customizeable UI and extensive ability to remap keys. Very important to be able to not only inverse the mouse but I need to be able to turn my toon with the mouse WITHOUT having to hold down a button at the same time. These requirements are a bit specialized so don't factor these into your recommendation.
I also would prefer a relatively recent release or something in beta, nothing over a year old.
Any options?
Games I've tried recently:
Runes of Magic - pretty decent game, problem was - too much ganking on the pvp server, no pvp on the other servers.
Requiem - nice graphics, it took the hackshield a total of 4 minutes to make me uninstall, I couldn't move the guy like I needed to and couldn't customize the UI AT ALL. No mouse invert
World of Kung Fu - Same as Requiem, the UI and lack of customization for keys and movement killed the game long before I got a chance to play it.
Warhammer - Scenarios, large scale fights + only having 2 factions is a recipe for constant population imbalances. Bad class balance, waaay too much crowd control. Very linear. Very poor PvE.
Darkfall - Worst release ever, ganking way too rampant, if the best way to play your game is naked maybe you should rethink the design. I like being able to loot other people, I really do like the risk, just got to limit it some more in order to lessen the nakedness. Manual aiming, too much dependance on guild, hacks and cheats rampant, just not my style of play.
Chronicles of Spellborn - Good graphics, good control, good dev communication, this is the game where I came to the realization I couldn't do the manual aim thing.
Comments
Sounds like you're looking for a lot of what I am.
Been told LOTRO, EQ2, DOD are all very good choices.
LOTRO is easier solo with group content similar to WoW from what I hear (been downloading it the past 3 hours actually I want to try it out) with the biggest raiding material being significantly smaller (10-15 man??)
EQ2 I hear is a solid choice, no first hand experience.
DOD I hear is more group oriented than anything other than FFXI, dungeon crawling and group questing are heavy.
I played lotro on release, the pvp system with playing as monsters didn't appeal to me as real pvp.
eq2 didn't have any pvp
Always hated PvP.
if I want to PvP I can play an FPS or WoW.. and PvP tend to ruin game balance, they can never balance PvE and PvP as a whole so PvP isn't something I need, but thanks for telling me that
I will be sure to try EQ2 if LOTRO isn't my style.
LOTRO is very shallow in many ways, EQ2 is your best major mmo that roughly fits your requirements. Soloing is the fastest way to level but there is virtually endless small group content with bonuses for doing content below your level. End game raiding exists but there is a talent xp grind that encourages you to find all the small group content you can.
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Note: PlayNC will refuse to allow you access to your account if you forget your password and can't provide a scanned image of the product key for the first product you purchased..... LOL
any other suggestions?
Play WoW?
Yeah, it isn't a bad game, Burning crusades made me quit. I prefer pvp and did the hardcore raiding thing as a means to compete in pvp. When BC came out and they made all the original gear moot I didn't have the energy to regrind. Pve was deep (deepest of any game), but pvp was instanced (but it was focused at least with high warlord grind and Hwl gear). BC, to me, wasn't an addon so much as it was a reset and the pvp wasn't good enough to make me want to endure the reset.