Ready for something else

Tecknic

I've recently started to get back into MMOs after a long absence from the genre, and I'm interested in trying out some new entries into the genre.  I've given WoW another go, but it didn't really go anywhere.  Likewise, I tried out City of Heroes again, and gave Cryptic's games (Champions Online and Star Trek Online) another go, but none of them quite fit what I was looking for either.

So, I would like to give another game a try, one that's a bit different from the norm.  Something with a trial period or a demo would be great.

VikingGamer

Originally posted by Tecknic

I've recently started to get back into MMOs after a long absence from the genre, and I'm interested in trying out some new entries into the genre.  I've given WoW another go, but it didn't really go anywhere.  Likewise, I tried out City of Heroes again, and gave Cryptic's games (Champions Online and Star Trek Online) another go, but none of them quite fit what I was looking for either.

So, I would like to give another game a try, one that's a bit different from the norm.  Something with a trial period or a demo would be great.

I think that will depend on just how different you are looking for.

If you are looking for something that is much like WoW but perhaps with more depth of features and just as much content, basically WoW but in a different world, then try out EQ2. There are more ways to advance your character, the trade skill system has much more depth, I has one of the best housing systems at least in terms of just how many things you can put in your house and the freedom you have in decorating the interior. It has like 6000+ quests, at least as much if not more land mass to explore as WoW. It also has a better variety of quests, in my opinion, collection quests, lore and legend quests, heritage quests. And of course all the standards, achievments, pets, mounts and so on.

If you are looking for something that is visually stunning then you could try Aion. Of course, having wings to fly is a blast. It is, hands down the most beautiful game I have seen in terms of scenery, architecture, costuming, pretty much everything. Very angelic. It suffers a bit for lack of content compared to games like EQ2 and WoW but we are just 3 weeks away from 2.0 and even at this point lots of improvements have been added in the last year. I also really enjoy how the game plays. The structure of PvE combat is such that you really have to plan for CC, tab target tanking aggro, plan ahead in healing and such. It is much more like how WoW was back in vanilla. Everyone has to work at it a bit more rather than depend on an AOE tank and go to sleep. It has a trial but it is more limited than most and you can only get it by getting a referal. Send me a PM if you want one.

If you are looking for something that is completely different, and I mean, think way outside the box, you might try one of the sandbox games, like EVE or A Tale in the Desert. EVE is more about fighting and PvP of course but in terms of spaceships. You start out with little and work up from there. It can be a vicious galaxy though so be ready to develop thick skin. Also, it has a hellacious learning curve. DO THE TUTORIALS! it is not an option to skip them. EVE is a game where you have to be willing to apply yourself to learning it. After doing the tutorial agents you may want to apply to EVE university. It can be a very enjoyable game but you only get out of it what you put in. You can get a 14 day trial or if  you PM me I can send you a buddy invite that will give you a 21 day trial.

In the other corner of the sandbox, with actual sand in it, would be A Tale in the Desert or ATITD. It is hard to describe just how "different" this is as an MMO. Ancient Egypt, you start with nothing and no skills and you learn to make tools and build things. It is a crafting, trading, social game. There is no combat, at all. zero. Yeah, it is that different. You can propose laws that can actually change the game and if the law is passed by a vote of the players it gets coded into the game. yeah, it is that different. There are no cities at the start of the game, nothing, the players build everything from scratch starting with knocking pieces of slate together to make a crude knife all the way to building 7 great pyramids. Now is a good time to get in as the 5th telling just started. Basically the game runs for about one and a half to two years, ending with the pyramids and then the world gets wiped out and you start again with a new generation of Egyptians. So right now, the current world is not quite 2 weeks old so everyone is just getting started building houses, planting flax and veggies, setting up sheep pens and building workshops for carpentry, blacksmithing, stonemasonry or glassblowing. Far and away the most complex crafting system I have ever seen. More so than even EVE or SWG. Oh and it has some Civilization like elements in terms of tech development. Each region has to unlock technologies, we just unlocked blacksmithing in Sterope. And you do that as a region. There are a number of activities that have to be done in groups and yet, you can still set up your own little farm and get a sense of having built it on your own. ATITD has the most backward graphics of the bunch but the game is so facinating that you tend to forget about that. It has a trial as well. Simply download the game, create a character and you are in the 24 hour trial period. Don't worry, it is 24 /played hours so it will last you several nights unless you really go nuts on it this weekend.

Tecknic

It occured to me, reading that, that I've never actually given EVE a try before.  So I've gone out and signed up for the 14 day trial.  I figure that 14 days is enough time to decide whether I really like a certain game or not.

MMOman101

Vanguard Saga of Heros.

It is a bit buggy but an excellent game with a lot of depth.  There is a free trail to boot.

GTwander

Originally posted by Tecknic

It occured to me, reading that, that I've never actually given EVE a try before.  So I've gone out and signed up for the 14 day trial.  I figure that 14 days is enough time to decide whether I really like a certain game or not.

Eve is a great game, but an acquired taste.

If you start digging the sandboxy nature of it all, feel free to try other games that have a free period/trial/etc like ATitD, Wurm, Darkfall or maybe even Fallen Earth.

willo248

I would reconmend Pirates of the burning sea, it also has a trial, Join the roberts server and PM Leopoldo Dez I will give you a hand.

Wizardry

Originally posted by Tecknic

It occured to me, reading that, that I've never actually given EVE a try before.  So I've gone out and signed up for the 14 day trial.  I figure that 14 days is enough time to decide whether I really like a certain game or not.

If you are just game hopping,i doubt Eve will be of any interest,it is just too boring of a game to dive into without any research.

I agree with Viking in that if you are a fan of anything like WOW ,then EQ2 does it all better,no need to play WOW ever.Yes Vanguard is a VERY good game,with the card game adding something different from any other MMORPG.This is the diplomacy card game,unlike the cards used in EQ2.

Thing is that MOST games in the RPG formula are pretty much the same in some capacity or another.The only differences will be in games that offer PVP servers,it is the PVP that offers a different view of a game.In my opinion  if you are looking just for PVP,then why bother with the RPG element,better off to play a FPS game.If all you want is PVE gaming then you are not going to find many differences at all from title to title.