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Can someone help me pick one to try?
Solarm
Member Posts: 10
Hi everyone:)
First time posting here and I'm looking for some advice on what games I might want to try.
First off, let me tell you what I'm looking for.
I like games with depth and options. I don't like games centered on PvP, nor do I like games centered on PvM. I'm NOT hardcore about my playing, but I'm also in no hurry to get to the end-game. So basically, slow progression is fine as long as there's stuff to DO in that progression beside grinding. Games with solo options are great because when I do play, its often at weird hours. I don't like games where I HAVE to be online at certain times so 20 people can help with "this" so I can progress. If I'm online at the time for such activities great, but I never plan on it. Graphics get no more than a "meh" from me - content is much more important. I tend to prefer fantasy to Sci-Fi but that's not a definite rule. Lastly, a good community is needed.
So - games I've tried and grown tired of/didn't like (please don't take offense if I didn't enjoy your favorite game;) ):
So far I've played Ultima Online, EQ, EQ2, DAOC, Shadowbane, WoW and Horizons, Guild Wars.
UO has seemed the best combo of depth with not needing to play for 8 hours straight and an awesome combat system (I'm talking about a private server of old school UO, not the crappy production versions). Others either required me to play for long periods of time to go on "raids" because there isn't much else to do, or had bad combat systems.
WoW has potential but is far and above the worst community I've ever seen which is why I left after my free month. For every nice, reasonable, mature person I met there were 30 little kids. It got to the point that I was just embarassed to be playing and felt like I was at a daycare center instead of with other adults. It seemed like a good game but I just started to HATE it because of the types of people playing it. That was even WITH a guild of decent people I found.
So does anyone have recommendations on other games to play? The big ones I HAVEN'T tried are Final Fantasy, Lineage 2, SWG, Eve and Asherons Call. Any of these seem like they'd fit my description? I'm open to other suggestions too, those are just the more well-known ones that I never played.
Thanks so much and nice to meet you all!
Comments
I think think this answer will help you to much as you have tried most of the games i have tried, but i'll give you my feedback in case it is useful for you or other players.
I think you have tried the best games out in the market. From all of them probably UO is the best by far (if it only had a this century engine could be great
)
from the other alternatives EQ2 is the one i like most. nice quality and deep contents and supporting PVP in 2 weeks if u like it.
WoW was fun for 30 days but after that period it gets boring. Nothing to do but PVP or instances. And its community is not the best i have seen. So, i really do not understand why ppl play so much. Probably it is their first mmorpg and they have not had the chance to compare. And as a simple and easy game it is true it is a good alternative for newbies.
Shadowbane looks nice. It has a nice PVP and includes one functionality i am missing a lot from UO, the ability to loot the target. Another plus for shadowbane is the GM support, It is the best i have seem they are really there when you need them. But graphics and animation are quite simple compared with others, so, to have bad graphics I preffer UO with no doubt.
EVE is nice, really deep and nice graphics, but i dont like scifi so i left it.
Guildwars is nice. Fun for PVP but quite simple as a roll game (i still play from time to time the PVP part)
So, I vote for EQ2. mmmm or ever better, i vote for UO with the EQ2 engine
Ahmen to that. I would love UO with EQ2 graphics. Why ohh why did they can UXO I hate you EA and Orgin anyways. Im not sure what to suggest I like EQ2 but its not UO. I would have even suggested SWG as I think that game was alot like UO (in a fururistic kinda way) but from what I hear its hit the wall of suck hard. I dont know what to say other then just wait for some of the new games coming out but theres always a GOOD chance they will suck just as bad. Vangaurd could be good but Im a little leary of it Im also looking at Age of Conan but ehh who knows.
I would say give the free trials a try...
Doh!
I was afraid I was going to hear that. UO has far and above the most depth of any of the games I've seen and far and above the best combat engine (once again I'm talking old school UO, NOT the crap on the EA servers).
Perhaps I will give Eve a try but it really didn't sound like my type of game. I probably forgot to mention I hate instance areas. Which is the main reason I don't like guild wars.
I probably would have stuck with WoW if it wasn't a moron magnet but I just can't deal with that sort of environment. Of the ones I listed I think the only ones I'd consider going back to (aside from UO which I still play) are DAOC and WoW. WoW only if they added some sort of "You must pass an IQ test to play here" server. Really a shame to see the people ruin an otherwise decent game.
I hope a new one (possibly one of the ones I listed) can provide the experience I'm looking for but I'm not holding out hope.
Thanks for your reply!
EVE doesnt have instances. although it may not be the game for you. just, if you think you dont like it beacuse of instances, dont worry. it is probably the most different game to guild wars from the list.
it is deep, very deep. it is pvp centered, and you will enjoy it more if you get in a player corp. so maybe it is not the game for you. but there is a 14 day free trial. so you may try and see whether you like it or not.
Asheron's Call 1. There is a reason its still going and AC2 is dead.
FINBAR
-------------------------------------------
I would reccomend going back to DAoC
The devs are really LISTENING to us! They respond alot and actully seem to care. In their last few patches they have 'nerfed' ToA (which might have sent you running, but now. theres nothing to fear) And are drastically trying to balance the realms by nerfing/giving love to classes.
They just release a new expansion DR which brings alot to the game such as player mounts, CL's, Champion weapons, and REALLY fun quests.
DAoC is only improving from my view.
Did I mention it has the MOST mature community on Lamorak server anyways. Almost everyone that plays the game is 18+. RvR is fun, and well organized. Most people choose to go on vent, which makes the expierence that much better.
I would SERIOUSLY give DAoC another look if I were you. Great things are just around the corner.
Guild Wars - Rorick Aurlith E/Mo pumped up with the best armor and weapon, has all his skills, and runes. PvP King!
Dark Age of Camelot - Leaton 50 Vampiir - Lamorak - Guild: Magic and Mayhem!
Mayhaps I will have to look at DAoC again. Still have my CD floating around somewhere. I just started my SWG trial so I'll see if that's my type. Not holding out hope since I'm not a sci-fi person but certainly worth a try:)
To the person who said they don't think MMORPGs are for me....I'm a bit confused as to why. I've been playing them since UO's earliest days....was it because of my comments about the community in some? I hold out hope that somewhere out there there is a game with people who act like adults (and it sounds like DAoC might have one....perhaps I'll start on Lamorak if I go back).
Only been a day and I'm somewhat disappointed with SWG:(
While Lineage 2 looks good I've heard from enough people that its VERY "grind" based and not very deep that, combined with the lack of a free trial, I'm doubtful of it.
Anyone have additional suggestions? If not, I think I will be trying DAoC again. Someone mentioned Lamorak as a good server full of decent, mature folks?
Played WoW for about 6 months... terrible community there. I suppose I was able to work through it because I had RL friends to play with, and a decent guild. It makes me sad when people call this a kiddy game simply because of those who play it... all games change completely at high end... the game was one of the most complicated and deep I have ever played. Had to quit though, got addicted. 720 hours while for some people is nothing... to me... it was my whole summer and most of my weekends during school.
EVE has an awesome community. Played 14 day trial... then after playing WoW came back and subscribed for a month. Not enough action for me... a little lonely feeling... but the corps are awesome once you find them. Lots and lots of nice people play this, and it is very deep.
Stay away from L2 I say. Not many mature players here. Lot's of scammers and griefers... farmers and people who dont even speak english. I suppose like other games there are great guilds out there... but they are hard to get into.
Personally, I'm playing COD2 and lame free MMO's until some of the 3G games come out (Vanguard, Darkfall). Hoping I can jump on those and get started early, make some friends and such.
Maybe give EVE a whirl. Or CoH/CoV. Game gets boring if you play for long hours, so that will help you there. Good community too. Nice people.
Asheron's Call 1 really is an amazing game. The graphics are quite dated and the game itself does have its share of issues (bots, bots, more bots, automated characters, and player-at-the-keyboard-disadvantaged characters). Aside from the above issues, and a somewhat small population right now, the actual game itself is the best ever, in my opinion. There are more dungeons, more lore, more detailed quests, and generally just more stuff to do than in pretty much any other game on the market. I say this not because I'm a current player trying to boost the population, but because I was a long-term player who moved onto other things; I enjoyed my stay there immensely, but eventually it always comes time to try something new.
If you're able to put the problems aside so you can find the real joy of the game, here's a link for you to look at: Maggie the Jackcat's AC Page
That page has a very detailed collection of AC's growth, a complete catalogue of quests, lore, travel directions, everything. By definition, this also means it has a lot of spoilers, but just take a look at the lists of quests to get an idea of what you're dealing with. Here's another interesting link: AC Maps
Click on the letters at the top of the page for the alphabetical map listings. Also note the big "693 Maps" graphic in the upper right. Those are dungeons, and that number has continued to grow for 6 years. It's been awhile since I played the game, but it is very solo-friendly; really, it's almost the anti-Everquest. There are no zones other than portals, and very few things that mandate groups. Sure, a number of the bigger quests need groups, but the greatest gear tends to be stuff found from random loot that has been improved with crafting. Incidentally, there has never been a game with loot like Asheron's Call. Really, I swear.
The downside is that there is no free trial for the game, and it's unlikely there will be one again. Due to the way housing and allegiances work, free trials were used in the past to create dummy memberships, dummy storage housing and all manner of other exploitations that could never have been anticipated during the development of Asheron's Call. As a result, Turbine was forced to discontinue their free trial. It would require a complete redesign of several core game systems to get a free trial up and running again, and Turbine opted against that. Unfortunately, the lack of a trial really hurt population numbers.
That said, the game was magnificent in its day. Absolutely underrated, and there's still more to do in the thing than you could shake a stick at. While it's undeniably an older title, it did many things that have yet to be replicated, much to the MMO industry's detriment.