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MMO without a complex build or timed combat.
plyrofmmo
Member UncommonPosts: 25
I hate to sound like an old man, but I am one.
I am looking for a game that doesn't have elaborate skill trees that have to be built a certain way so that you can push certain buttons at specific times or your party wipes.
I have dropped a number of MMOs after reaching the level where your build matters because I get tired of trying to figure out what I need to take and the vastness of the skill trees just makes my head hurt.
Maybe I am over thinking this but I know that many MMO core mechanic are based on builds and timing.
I used to like DDO because I could get my mind around the D20 mechanic I was familiar with but then they changed that to a tree pick list.
Can anyone suggest anything?
Comments
Death is nothing to us, since when we are, Death has not come, and when death has come, we are not.
Timing as in cool down and pushing the right button at the exact right time.
Although I also have problems with the so called action RPGs, with all the running and dodging and swinging.
AOC is a good game but the combat requires all my fingers and a prehensile dick to run the mouse.
I will have to look into this, I haven't tried GW2.
This is what I fondly remember
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Yeah I figured that might be the case. My father didn't grow up with computer games by any stretch and he plays WoW but he is pretty dedicated
and he didn't exactly get accustomed to it over night. If you find the same problems with WoW, GW2 or whatever wurm may still be worth a look because as I said it has passive combat and no skill trees. That said it won't be without it's own headaches but atleast the headaches won't be combat related.
As DMKano said, EQ1 is suitable. Some classes are known for having fewer abilities than you have fingers... on one hand. And you get plenty of time to react to a need to use an ability.
As for another game like it; I've been searching for a decade, I'll let you know if I find one.
The recent (for old foggies) push to inject more "action" into RPGs has left us with few options this side of turn based.
edit: I'm liking Wurm more and more. The slow pace, the focus on systems other than combat, the open world nature. To hear it also has more passive combat has put me over the edge; I'll have to give it a try. I figured since I'd tried Xyson that I could skip Wurm.
I agree with what you all are saying, I am glad to see this is not as rare as I thought.
I think I would be more social in MMOs if I felt I could keep up.
I will often look at ability trees, choose what I think are good for the few attacks I like but then get my ass handed to me when the push comes to shove with a minor boss.
The feeling of letting your group down is in the back of my mind.
I will have to down load EQ again and see how it is doing.
Does GW2 have a demo?
I've got the feeling your in for heart break with GW2 and I don't think it has a free trial. I'll tell you what though, I'll change my account details around for security purposes and you can have mine. It's b2p so there is no sub. PM me if you want my account and I'll set about changing it.
I suggest Lord of the Rings Online. LOTRO's traits were recently redone to be very simple. It's easy to play around with them, easy to change them, and pretty difficult not to get a viable, fun build. For all classes, Red is the mainline DPS build; Blue is the mainline tank or healing build; and yellow is the support or buff line. It pretty much is that simple. You can have more than one build (such as DPS and tank on a Guardian or DPS and healing on a Minstrel). Just a click of the tab changes them from one to the other and resets all the skills on your skill bar correctly. Skill rotations in LOTRO are quite easy for many of the classes. I would stay away from the premium class Warden, as the gambit system requires a lot of memorizing and timing.
LOTRO is easy to pick up and if you get on a popular server (such as Gladden or Crickhollow), you'll find a helpful community to answer questions and kins (LOTRO's version of guilds) to join. Since LOTRO is free to play, it's no risk to try it out.
I wouldn't recommend Rift. Rift is a really fun game and has a lot to offer, but the skill trees are a nightmare, in my opinion. Unless you go with a canned build, you'll have trouble. Rift's skills are built around a min/max system with causes you to sweat every skill point's percentage advantage.
Many people play Rift with macros and most theorycrafting on their website includes imbedded macros. To me, this is Rift biggest drawback. However, if you're happy with going with a pre-designed build and are comfortable gaming with macros, then Rift may work for you. Rift also has a flexible skill model, which allows you to have more than one build and to switch between them.
Both games offer a lot in the way of content, festivals, cosmetics, housing and grouping. You can have a lot of fun, even at end game, with a pretty standard trait build.
I prefer LOTRO because it has a very strong Epic story arc (based, obviously, on Tolkien's trilogy). Once you start helping the Fellowship succeed in their mission to Mount Doom, it kinda gets to you. Rift, on the other hand, has a convoluted lore that even as a longtime player I simply can't be bothered to keep straight and is just an excuse to hang quests on. It works okay, but it doesn't have the epic sweep that LOTRO has.
I second WurmOnline. It's possible to play like combat doesn't exsist, and even when it does it's most just dice rolls based on stats.
If you're willing to go to 2D Haven and Hearth is the same thing, but with a far better crafting system.
Practice doesn't make perfect, practice makes permanent.
"At one point technology meant making tech that could get to the moon, now it means making tech that could get you a taxi."
Rifts was one of the reasons for this post.
I was enjoying the game because of many of the options like fishing and crafting, but I felt I was not getting the combat right.
You can use presets and let the game choose where your points go but then you get into having skills that fit well with the set raid combat cycle of "Tank push 1, 2, 3 then cool down while healers heal and DPS....DPSs"
Your right about Rifts quest, they are a bit thin in story, WOW has more epic story lines then Rifts.
I recently uninstalled LotRO in a MMO clean up of unplayed games, I will have to reinstall it.
I will also rec LOTRO. I have an older friend who plays a lot. He plays with one hand, movement, combat and all. As mentioned above the skill trees are ridiculously easy now also. Also, so much content it is very easy to be over the level of content to make it as challenging as you want, or not.
Good luck finding something you can enjoy.
If you are like me and prefer slower paced combat, I would avoid the GW2 recommendation. You'd probably like Final Fantasy XIV, EverQuest I & II, Champions Online, Star Trek Online and Lord of the Rings Online. Champions is especially good in character builds that are preset and very viable and no need to number crunch or gear grind to be viable in groups and the high end game.
I agree with that. Personally Wurm Online has the most passive combat system I've played and no skill trees whatsoever. You can try it for free aswell but unfortunately it's not without it's own sort of headaches.
No worries, I do appreciate the offer but I don't want to put you thru a hulabaloo.
I will try GW 2 when I see it on sale and I am taking another look at some of the game suggested above.
I don't mind if you want to try it but I agree with those who said GW2 may not be what you are looking for anyway. It's not so much the amount of skills but there are alot of different possible builds and the skills still require timing. That and you also have dodge mechanics thrown into the mix.
Elder scrolls Online ?
Additionally, the easy modes, Normal 5 mans, LFR, questing, etc, reduce drastically the degree of reaction speed and thinking speed required. Literally the hardest part of any of those activities is keeping up with the group.
however, there is still the problem of spell effect clusterf***. Good luck remembering which of the five flashy AoE effects hitting you at this moment is the healing one, etc.
and of course lacking the reactions of a mongoose on coffee will call down upon you the wrath of the elite dps whores.