Looking for a bit of everything

Chlodwig

And again one of those "what should I play" threads. I hope you're not tired of them yet. And I hope that someone has an idea what they could offer to me, since I'm looking for something very unique it seems. At least I couldn't find it myself. Maybe I do have a completely odd taste and thus no MMO exists that would cater to my tastes. But on the odd chance that someone has an idea, here's what I'm looking for:

Crafting: Yes, it's odd to start with this, but it's pretty important to me. I want to have "sensible" crafting in my game. Vanguard would be a quite good example, if only the items crafted had some value (would be important too) and getting the resources wasn't near impossible unless you also want to be a fighter. What I'd envision would be a crafting system that is interesting and fun like Vanguards, yet useful.

Setting: I'd prefer a SciFi setting over fantasy. Whether that's set in deep space akin to EvE or the upcoming StarTrek MMO, or in a futuristic planet side setting like Anarchy Online or Star Wars is less important. I just can't stomach any more Elves. And I'm a bit of a machinery geek, so something like Age of Armor (with, like, a game around the whole setting) would be perfect too.

Difficulty and grind: I don't mind either. Actually, a slow progression would be quite nice. I don't want to feel like I'm just trying to get past the whole leveling crap to finally get to the game (like in WoW), and I would like it to be more than a set of learned and practiced keystrokes (again, like in WoW), I'd like a game where I, the player, have some sort of impact on the outcome of the battle, not just whether my equipment gives me the necessary buffs and abilities.

Grouping/PvE/PvP: I'm more PvE oriented. PvP can be nice, but it is certainly no requirement to keep me happy. I am, though, very much a group player, a game where you play 99% of the time solo is not what I'm looking for.

Character Development: I would very much enjoy if I could customize my character past its appearance. I would prefer a game that allows me to pick and choose my abilities and all of them should be viable and offer different ways to play your character. Also, mistakes should be correctable (even at a price, that's fine).

Technical stuff/bugs: Don't care. Frankly. Especially if the game's new. It will have bugs if it's new. If the game gives me what I want, I accept a crash or two once in a while.

P2P/F2P: I'd prefer P2P. Yes, no typo. I prefer to pay a monthly fee to play instead of playing for a few months only to find out I can only continue sensibly if I shell out a few 100 bucks.

 

A few games I played in the past, what I liked and disliked, so you may get an idea what I'm looking for:

Anarchy Online: "Old" Anarchy certainly was perfect to cater to my tastes. Almost freeform development of your character, insane equipping options, very group oriented with actually interesting (and meaningful) PvP battles. Today it's a wee bit too top-heavy and quite deserted. Still one of my best memories and certainly a good indicator what I'm looking for.

WoW: Ok, who hasn't played it? I like its new grouping, it sure meant that you play more group oriented content now. Still it feels bland. Cookie-cutter characters with a cookie-cutter range of abilities, nearly no player skill necessary (at least, it has very little impact how and how well you play) and let's not talk about crafting. Also, the game only really starts once you reach top level. It's a good example what I'm NOT looking for.

Vanguard: A crafter's wet dream and certainly what I'd be looking for in crafting ... if there was a market, i.e. some sort of playerbase that consists of more than 100 people. I'd even stomach the Elves for that.

Tabula Rasa: Hate it all you want, I loved it. For the whole base fights alone, nothing beats the high you get from finally taking over a base after an hour of fighting. The FPS feel also helped a lot here. If it only were a little more group oriented... but then, game's over anyway. Sad, really sad. When it was closed, it was finally polished enough for release...

EvE: I already play EvE. Well, to be honest I operate it more than I play. It's not playing what I do. I'd be looking for something where I can play for a change, not feel like I'm the CEO of a company. Games like EvE have the odd effect on me that I stop playing them when I see there's more profitable and easier ways to succeed in them. I think I haven't even undocked in half a year or so with my main for anything other than transporting crap around.

I hope it gives you an idea what I'd be looking for, and I sincerely hope you have any suggestions for me where to go from here. Thank you for your time.

Hyanmen

Okay, Final Fantasy 14. Coming out this year.

Crafting has an important role in the game.

Setting is high-fantasy. Screenshots show a more medieval style areas, but the trailers have very high tech machinery in them.

Progression will, most likely, be slower than usually. The amount of grind is unknown, but it'll be there! 

There are many ways to customize your character. The leveling system is unlike anything you've played before, and it allows for very much freedom. 

The game is heavily based on PvE, and some PvP content will come later rather than sooner. The game will focus on grouping much more than for example WoW, although you can also solo if you choose to. Quests reward cooperative gameplay.

Bugs will be there like always, but the game has been in development for over 5 years so it's not the lack of time that will be causing it!

The game is P2P.

johnmatthais

 I'd suggest the new STO game but I'm skeptical myself. I may recommend or dis it depending on what happens when I get to play. I do have a Fileplanet CB key though so that shouldn't be too long.

Until then, I'd look into Perpetuum and Fallen Earth. Maybe Earthrise as well.