Looking for free to play (with friend) as a secondary MMO

Explorium · January 2011

So my main MMO is WoW (definitely not my first MMO, been playing since 1999), but I like to play various games/MMOs at the same time...not big into playing the same MMO/game and only that one.

So me and my friend have similar tastes.

What we are looking for is more sci-fi (I'm not big into space games), but that isn't required, but a huge bonus. We know of Anarchy Online, and we may play that one as a last "resort"...problem we both have is its so outdated, but its still okay. We don't care about graphics, but like the game itself is just meh...but if nothing else, a good secondary MMO and we'll live with it, it isn't really bad, but heh.

We tried playing Neocron 2, since we heard its free to play, but they kept asking for our credit cards, so I'm not sure what is up with that. And they kept refusing to make our accounts until we put our CC info in, so guess its still pay to play or somethingRyzom is good, its pay to play...another problem we both have with that is, we found a ledge that was literally a couple inches high...we spent literally 5 minutes going around it, because there is no jump...no jump in a game is a huge nuisance and feels so limiting and 2d feeling. And annoying when you can't go over a stupid 2 inch high ledge.

We both like Runescape, but we've played that to death. Might still be a good secondary choice

We both like Tibia, but the community is the same if not a bit worse than 4chan...literally.

I personally liked Istaria (Horizons), but don't think he was a big fan of it, and only reason I would play would be to be a Dragon, but that costs monthly.

I LOVED Haven and Hearth, my friend hated it to though...liked the concept, but he hated the controls (he and I often got stuck on stuff)

Wurm is okay, but he doesn't want to play it.

We don't want a MMO like WoW. Hence why we are trying to find a secondary MMO. So no LOTRO and DDO doesn't fit us at all either. Not interested in free to play EQ2 either, plus their free to play system is weird...spend 15 dollars and get less than the pay to play servers...strange...pay same, get less...

We both LOVE crafting, if it isn't in the game, then we avoid that game. We also LOVE exploring...the more to explore and find, the better. Fantasy is nice, but we are more looking for a sci-fi game that isn't spacey...something with crafting, doesn't need to be complicated...good exploring. We don't care about combat as much as everything else, combat is a low priority. Not many sci-fi MMOs that are released that are modern and don't cost anything or are cheap. But I know there are a lot of possible fantasy ones.

Really, Anarchy Online and maybe RS is closest we can find to a MMO that would make a good secondary MMO. A free to play sandbox, that is sci-fi (or fantasy for RS). But AO is just a meh game since its so outdated. We both played at release and had a lot of fun, but that was many years ago. I mean as a last resort I guess. I think the thing for me, is AO's UI is very outdated (last I played), and that was my biggest turn off. If the UI was updated, then that would be great. Don't even care if the graphics are updated or not, I don't need uber graphics to play a game...heck I and my friend play some sucky graphical games like Dwarf Fortress and Unreal World RPG. Minecraft is another one with not so uber graphics, but we both love it.

Anyone have any suggestions? If not, guess AO will be a good one to play. It is closest to a sci-fi MMO we want that doesn't cost anything. But like I said, even Fantasy would do, as long as it isn't a linear quest based clone. We are more looking for a sandbox style game. Something along the lines of AO, RS or Tibia.

FarReach · January 2011

Wurm Online is right up your alley, but it's not SciFi. Most people in the game are part of a Duo, including myself. It's not fun with too many people because with it's nature you need elbow room, but then again most people don't play MMOs to be hermits.

You're probably not going to find another SciFi Sandbox besides EVE or AO. There is also SWG EMU, but you have to buy the game to play on those servers and I'm not sure if it's completely done yet. It's Pre-CU SWG.

Explorium · January 2011

Also, here is a list of MMOs I've played and liked (or disliked)

Auto Assault (our favorite MMO ever)

Anarchy Online (one of our favorite MMOs)

Asheron's Call (my first MMO, back in 1999)

Tabula Rasa (was a lot of fun, lacked content, crafting kinda sucked)

Age of Conan (great combat, sucky crafting, friend can't play due to credit card not being accepted)

Vindictus (fun combat, but tedious, and boring fast)

SWG (one of my favorite MMOs before it was changed)

WoW (one we currently both play)

Runescape (fun game, community may be young, but not a bad community, better than most adult members I've seen on these forums and in WoW)

Tibia (amazing game concept, horrible community, might as well just go to 4chan)

Mabinogi (we both like this, but can't play due to IP block, my friend is in europe, I'm in US...kind of lame)

Vanguard (we both love this game, it hasn't been updated in nearly a year, we don't pay for games that don't get updated)

We also love the Elder Scrolls series, and my friend and I likes Fallout series as well.

So yeah, mostly sci-fi games, and we tend toward sandbox style.

We also like pirate games (Puzzle Pirates is meh, he didn't like Pirates of the Burning Sea either). Umm, I'm big into historical stuff, like the romans/greeks and stuff. Not sure if he is.

MMORTS games are good too, but not really any AA ones out at the moment, and very few actual free ones

Explorium · January 2011

Thanks Far Reach

Be careful mentioning the Emu, I had a friend that did and got banned for it. Guess SOE doesn't want MMORPG.com letting the emu being talked about.

I mentioned Wurm in my post, but my friend doesn't want to play. My friend said "I would rather play Minecraft to be honest"...which I would rather play MC than Wurm too really. I can be a lot more creative in MC.

Looks like it will probably be AO then.

King_Kumquat · January 2011

Anarchy Online is very good indeed citizen Explorium! Since you are in to sci-fi and crafting.

This humble leader of fruits could only suggest Global Agenda for something outside of the WoW-esq spectrum. Ryzom is a bit sci-fi / fantasy hybrid of some worthwhile note.

If waiting is an option I can also see The Agency or whatever title it is going by now from Funcom as a possible option. It looks mighty dandy indeed!

For something a bit more tried and true - you can also never go wrong with City of Heroes. It's a super hero setting, but plenty of scifi and you can look how so ever you wish. Plus it still has some of my favorite game play out of any MMO of the WASD tab target variety.

I hope this is helpful, THE KING HATH QUATED!

jusomdude · January 2011

There's not a whole lot of options for sci-fi.

ToR should be coming out soon but that'll probably be pretty similar to WoW.

I really don't know of anything to recommend based on your criteria.

uratsumuro · January 2011

What about Champions Online? It's pretty sci-fi-ish, it will soon be F2P, and it has crafting aswell.

drowelf · January 2011

hunmm well most if not all the free to play mmos i know are fantasy.

Runes of magic

PWI

vindictus

champoins online <as of jan 25>

Lord of the rings online

DDO dungens and dragons online

and everquest 2 extended

all of the above are free, and of coruse look thrw the games list here on MMORPG.com

King_Kumquat · January 2011

Oh yes, many apologizes but an advisor of mine made a fantastic suggestion since free to play was desired...

Shin Megami Tensei of Aeria Games, yes I hear some of you groan. Still, for that it offers the game play is top notch and particularly fun with a friend.

Nothing like shooting a demon to start the day right.

Explorium · January 2011

Didn't know Champions was going free to play, I'll have to keep an eye on it.

Sin Megami looks cool too, I'll show my friend and see what he thinks

We both played Global Agenda, but not up our alley...our favorite part was the desert area. After that it was meh. Though we both loved Planetside, which I forgot to mention. I know there is a Firefall MMO coming out, which I personally am really looking forward too...but no idea when that will be released.

wyrdaskolir · January 2011

have you tried Fantasy Earth Zero?, if you join my nation I can get you into my guild and teach you how to pvp

TruthXHurts · January 2011

FOnline 2238 http://www.fonline2238.net/wiki/Main_Page

A friend is a good thing to have starting out in the wastes.

Explorium · January 2011

Originally posted by TruthXHurts
FOnline 2238 http://www.fonline2238.net/wiki/Main_Page

A friend is a good thing to have starting out in the wastes.

just found my game. I'll try to get my friend to play too...epic...thanks

drowelf · January 2011

And there is a possablty that star trek online will go free to play as well.

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Looking for free to play (with friend) as a secondary MMO

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Shin Megami Tensei of Aeria Games, yes I hear some of you groan. Still, for that it offers the game play is top notch and particularly fun with a friend.

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Looking for free to play (with friend) as a secondary MMO

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Shin Megami Tensei of Aeria Games, yes I hear some of you groan. Still, for that it offers the game play is top notch and particularly fun with a friend.