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Probably Futile, but Sandboxy game
Hey. Thanks in advance for the responses.
tl;dr - Doesn't have to be a real sandbox, but a game that gives the players a ton of options, has some kind of PvP, and a feel like the game is populated, though one populated server is enough.
I'm a longtime (since '99) MMO vet looking for a new game, at least until TERA or ArchAge at the earliest. I'm looking for an MMO that isn't a true theme park, but it doesn't really need to be a true sandbox either (though that's not bad). I'm looking for something with more depth and customization than, say, WoW or Rift (the Rift class system is pretty cool, though) in terms of classes/skills/crafting with an open, explorable world (by this I mean that, aside from the edges, I can generally go to places that I can see, there isn't just some "path" with tons of inaccessible or empty areas around the path... Rift would be opposite of this, lol). Zones are fine, instances are fine if they're limited to like PvP or raids, but less cool if it's most of the game.
The other thing is that if I have "dismissed" an MMO and you disagree with my reason, please feel free to change my mind. I could be working off faulty information if I haven't played a game in a while.
Some of my favorite MMOs:
Asheron's Call (but who doesn't love their first). Open world, skill customization, lots of unique weapons and armor. I loved the story. Left because of small population and the fact that I first ran the game using a 200mhz CPU with 2gigs (total), wouldn't mind using my new superpc for something a tad more graphically pleasing 
.
DAoC. Love the RvR and the variety of classes (lots of classes makes up a bit for lack of variety in the classes). Challenging at release. UI is what kills me now, DAoC finally feels like it is showing it's age there and with the graphics. For anyone still playing, how is population and such at the moment?
Everquest (1). Never had a game make me cry before (I was 12, in my defense), it was that easy to get into the world story. Maddening game, but had some weird draw on me. I do like games with a bit of challenge.
Vanguard. If this game was recieving any love from devs or had any kind of population, I'd be here. Very big world and lots of customization with extensive crafting.
Ryzom. Wish I'd gotten more into the game when it was populated, it sounds like that game is circling the drain though in terms of population and dev support. Love the skill system, the world, the crafting, and the community.
Fallen Earth. I'd be playing this right now if I hadn't heard some bad things regarding population and hacks/glitches with combat. Not a huge fan of post-apocalyptic but my short time with the game a year ago was fairly impressive, but then my PC died and I had to wait til recently for my new one.
Anyways, hopefully I was descriptive enough. I'm not sure such a game exists, but really I just want something with a lot of character customization, a fairly open world, some form of endgame that isn't just raiding (PvP is top choice, but I'm open if other games have other endgames), and a midsized+ population. Thanks again!
Comments
now i don't want to sound like there might not be anything for you but i've spent the last 6+ months tring to find a sandboxy mmo or some sort of mmorpg with a skill training system, but, i have found nothing everything has downsides or something i didnt like but im going to suggest a few you might like.
mabinogi, no limits on skills from what i saw, is f2p with some p2p options (things like mount, rebirth thing that starts you from a diffrent age, wont go into detail as its abit complex but, u need to rebirth at a younger age every few weeks) pvp i wasnt sure about, i know it has some but not sure how, think its duels. main reason im not playing is because all the materials to grind skills are got in dungeons, basicly there instanced, enter dungeon kill x monsters in way get to ore/herb/ect mat, gather, leave dungeons, repeat. i disliked that so i dint bother playing longer
runescape, not sure if you've ever played it but, has alot to do, huge population but community isnt great on f2p, try stick to p2p. there is no end game besides getting skills up and using those as end game, such as, you can't beat certain boss monsters at low lvl so, you need to get strngth attack and defense up. i played runescape for years, quit recently for many reasons and im in the same boat u are now.
eve, considerd the best sandbox game out now by many, and me. sure you've heard of it so i wont go into detail, you either love it or not, if you need some information post back ill see what i can answer.
darkfall some say its not a sandbox others say it is, doesnt seem to be alot to do as its mainly focused on pvp, but ill suggest it anyways as i did like it alot, just cudnt handle the first person mode and the UI. id avoid this for abit though till the big exspansion comes out soon, as alot of hate is coming towards the devs currently due to lack of communication.
really not sure what else to suggest, i've been tring to find an mmo for well over 6months, alot of them had problems or really bad devs, its kind of a circle really.
*big budge game with decent devs end up being a WoW clone
*low budget indie devs have awesome ideas, but not the time or budget to make there dream come true, ends up being a copy paste f2p WoW clone or a really poorly designed game far from there dreams, or ending up getting released but in such a state everyone quits.
sorry if i wasn't much help and being so negative but, really is far from any decent games out at this time, unless you want to play something like minecraft till another game comes out.
I'm expecting to get flamed for this, but I've recently picked up SWG and it's easily one of the best sandboxy games I've played. Now, 1)I never played before NGE and 2)the general attitude is "I've heard bad things, I won't play it" as opoosed to "I really should at least try it, just so I know what I'm talking about".
Anyways, it's a suggestion, nothing more.
I sure won't be flaming you guys. I appreciate the advice, thanks. I'll check out those games you mention Legshot - already played Eve for a while and DF just wasn't my game. And I get the frustration, it's been a couple years since I really got into a game (aside from a few weeks of Rift and a couple months of FFXIV, which is WAY better than it was in beta), tough to find a good one.
I used to enjoy SWG but I quit before it was "screwed up" so I never saw the changes... is there a decent population? I'd have expected a ghosttown but I don't really know.
For a sandbox mmo swg is "currently" a runner for it as far as the whole housing system i used to play it and was in from pre-launch so i do know the pain and all that come with knowing what it was like if you can push that aside (i cant seem to for long) swg currntly wouldnt be a bad game.
if another game had a housing system like swg has where a lvl 1 could posibly have a house and start to decor it i think that would apease some (i know not all or even 1/2) of the sandboxer wanabee comunity.
now for a head trip imo i think the best sandbox game would have the core system of UO pre-tremal mixed with minecraft and for a touch of class updated graphics to swg or some simi realistic game but not a system hog like AoC. I have a persistant layer in the programing yes like minecraft you can dig and what not all around but if you dont keep a cave for example "kept up" mother nature will take it over (slowly not sure on tamescale) till it was back to default.