Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
Moving on from WoW - EVE vs DAoC
cookiemonsta
Member Posts: 31
OK, the topic line pretty much tells you what I'm looking for, but I'm about to ask you to decide between 2 MMO's that's play styles are just a 'tad' different. Since I really don't want to run up my bills with a bunch of MMO subscriptions I hoped to set my eyes on one I really wanted. Basically, it's boiled down to EVE or DAoC... I'm liking the idea of EVE because I've always thought that non-linear gameplay was very important in an MMO and the idea of an MMO based on use of the brain intrigues me(heh), but I'm not sure if I'm ready to move away from classic MMO's. Is WoW just DAoC in a Warcraft shell? And in EVE is it just mining, transport, and some combat or can you take proffessions in espionage or what are the proffessions? Also, in EVE is it a bit like devellopping a life where you own a port or home or something?
Comments
There's a free 14-day trial for both if you want to test them out.
You need a valid credit card though.
Can you link me to where I create a TRIAL account, I downloaded the client for EVE but the only options it gave me were to buy it with a credit card, buy with cash, or entera code from a game retailer. I've played the DAoC demo (first time with an MMO really) and I would like to give it another shot so I think I will go back to that (I think I can find that link myself)... from what I hear though it takes quite awhile to get to the meat of EVE and 14-days doesn't sound like enough, but it would be helpful for that link anyways.
http://www.mmorpg.com/eve_trial.cfm?fp=1024,768,114186578,20051201001201
its on this site
Honestly, it takes more than 14 days to get to the meat of either game.
I will tell you this though... EVE is the only game that I've actually fallen asleep at my keyboard while playing... and it wasn't from some marathon session, either.
Anyways, here's the EVE 14-Day link...
http://www.mmorpg.com/features.cfm/view/special_offers
DAoC would be your best bet coming from WoW I think. WoW is to DAoC what paint by numbers is to Rembrandt. I think you will find it a fresh challenge. Eve is a great game, but strictly for a certain type of person. I don't think it would be the game to move to from WoW. Both are on trial as has been said. There are also a lot of MMORPGs offering 14 day trials at the moment so now is a good time to do some suck it and see.
“Hustlers of the world, there is one mark you cannot beat: the mark inside.”
― William S. Burroughs
Right... except that "Rembrandt" has a fundamentally flawed combat system.
The only way to truely know is to play the free trials of both games. Someone posted that you can't really know which you'd like based on the free trials and this is simply not true. In my experience playing MMORPG's it's pretty much been proven to me time and time again that if I don't like an MMORPG in the first 14 days I play it I probably won't like it 2 months later. Which is why I *never* buy a game based on it's beta anymore. I always wait for a free trial of the retail game. (And, frankly, that one simple rule has wound up saving me hundreds of wasted dollars)
Anyway, my take, having played all 3 games: WOW, EVE and DAOC:
EVE has, by far, the most depth of the three games. However, you will really have your patience tested by the game. It is not for anyone who doesn't have a lot of patience... especially for the first month or two... UNGH! To say I found the game excruciatingly boring is putting it mildly. Mind you, I am a HUGE fan of open ended systems going as far back as Elite. And skill based systems going as far back as some of the original fantasy RPG MUSE's on the internet and including UO, old SWG and several other "open" style games. EVE is good, don't get me wrong, but several aspects of the game just make it overly tedious and boring for me.
I played DAOC during the beta and it is one of the TWO games I actually bought AT release (UO being the other.... I played EQ1 from release as well but I was a guide so that was free for me at the time). I loved DAOC very much but the level grind was horrid back then. Played it for about a year, maybe a year and a half then got into so many beta tests of other games, and my guild moved on to ShadowBane when it came out so I let my account expire and moved on to other things. Was very happy in other games for a while but the recent fiasco with SWG made me give DAOC another look less than a month ago.... I have to say that DAOC is, currently, the best and most fun I have ever had playing an MMORPG. It's not a real 'skill' based system since it's a class/level system but I like that you have control over what you learn within your class. Each level you get a certain number of skill points to spend and you can train any of a number of ability lines within your chosen class. Needless to say the way people choose to 'specialize' varies like the wind so you could meet two healers, for example, who are completely different gameplay wise
I like the combat in both EVE and DAOC but I find DAOC's pacing and style of combat to be more fun. I also like that in DAOC it doesn't take me 40+ minutes to get to the action. (yes, literally). Both games have decent crafing systems, I find DAOC's less of a chore than EVE's. EVE has the better economy but DAOC's isn't bad either. EVE you will only ever see your ship, never your character other than a picture... in DAOC you get to see yourself, own a house, visit your guildhall, etc. For me this is just more fun. I don't like that in EVE all I ever see is my 'ship'... I understand why it was done and, as a programmer, I applaud them for making that tough decision to go that route.... but as a player I wind up getting sick of staring at space ships all day
(and, mind you, I'm a sci-fi GEEK).
Questing in DAOC is excellent.... they have added so many quests and the storylines are so well done and such... many are multipart and trigger other quests within the game. Which makes it a lot of fun and makes you feel like you're part of the universe. EVE has a good storyline but it's all "out of game" on their website. In the game you'll catch glimpses of the storyline but for the most part you don't really notice it unless you're actively looking for it. Also the quest rewards in EVE are pedestrian at best while DAOC's quests are very solid... matter of fact I would rate EVE's quests more along the lines of 'canned missions' and DAOC's as 'stories'.
For me, the choice is simple: DAOC is the better game. EVE is a very good game that just leaves me feeling bored whenever I try it. I played in the entire beta for both MMO's. I played over 2 months of retail of EVE and over a year of DAOC and have since returned to DAOC to find it noticeably improved. In the 2 years EVE has been out there have been updates and bug fixes... but the gameplay is still identical and the same things I hated in beta I still hate 2 years later. In DAOC the things I hated in beta were mostly gone at release and the things I hated at release are nearly completely gone now, 4 years later.
For you: Try the free trials. But after 14 days if one is clearly more fun to you than the other then that would be your best bet. You may not get the full feel for the game after 14 days but you will get a good general idea of how you would enjoy the game long term.
Currently Playing: Dungeons and Dragons Online.
Sig image Pending
Still in: A couple Betas