Looking for a nice levelling PvE experience

Jaldren

I don't like endgame, I like the constant flow of new skills, abilities and spells; reaching a new level and something new opens up, showing something new. 

On the other hand I love and need group content (dungeons/instances) where it's just more than pressing tab and spam 1,2,3.

I've tried so many MMOs in the past decades, and if I need to say what I like the most is FFXIV (pre-endgame) and AION.

Personally like tab-fighting, but I also like to think, analise the bosses (FFXIV dungeons are great for this), but also to plan our my character with skills and talents (WoW/Rift). Don't like extremely acrobatic games like WildStar or BDO, as I tend to play healer, where you are basically a turret, dispatching plasters for everyone. A good storyline is well received (SWTOR), but as combat is 90% of a game, is what matters; it has to be fun and dynamic.

Any new (last 3 years or so), kinda popular MMOs that I might've missed, or an old one worth revisiting?

Xarko

ESO maybe? Has a shitload of PvE content and you can unlock more skills even  on max level.

Keller

I would like to suggest LotRO, and SWtOR for their story telling. WoW for 13 years of content plus endgame doesn't have to be raiding, it can be worldquests, petbattles or a new alt. EQ2 for lots of content plus decoration your house/guildhall.

Jaldren

ESO's combat is too active and can't turret. Not enough skills to make levelling enjoyable (just 6 in the hotbar).
SWTOR: I think it was dead shortly after it went F2P, and everyone just worries about endgame.
LOTRO: played to death and a bit too old nowadays.
WoW: When Legion came out got 2 chars to max level. Enjoyable but far too easy.
EQ2: do people still play it?

Raquis

Guil wars 2 the missions are good not just fetching missions and The secret world the missions are interesting, off the top of my head;)

Aelious

Jaldren said:

EQ2: do people still play it?

200-400 hundred per server (of those "visible") and there is mentoring so with an active guild shouldn't be a problem. Certainly a game if you want content and many different kinds of content (crafting, gathering, housing, etc.). Not the best at a giving an immediate world story, like Legion, but that may be a positive for you as it makes you feel smaller in the world rather than king of the universe. If you like abilities.... you'll have a sea of them in the end, honestly what keeps me away but you may enjoy it. Worth a try at least since it's free to a point.

Another worth considering is TERA, though it has action combat. Healing is interesting with lock-on team mate targeting.

Good luck on your quest!

TheDarkrayne

Jaldren said:

SWTOR: I think it was dead shortly after it went F2P

It's more populated now than I've ever seen (except launch of course). Once they cleaned up the ftp model it improved dramatically. Need to sub though to play it properly; really low credit cap.

You may have exhausted all the games that fit what you want though.

Age of Conan? Long levelling process, loads of skills and then meaningful alternative progression (that changes skills) at level cap. Got a really unique melee healer class; bear shaman. Has the turret type healer too. Proper skill trees. Kind of old but I think it might be one of your only options. Free to check it out if you haven't already. The expansion, Rise of the Godslayer, was/is excellent.

Jaldren

GW2 and TSW don't fit the criteria.
EQ2: interesting, might play it again
SWTOR: giving it a new try. Downloading

Thanks!

delete5230

It seems to me your in exactly the same boat as all of us.

Triple A mmos have let us down in the past 8 years with making short carrot on a stick story telling games that are way too easy.  This leaves us ALL with cheap Asian grinders with heavy cash shops.

I see some are recommending a few classics, but they are a let down too as their cash shop easy games too. 

Hay, if you find something, let us know

Dragnelus

Jaldren said:

ESO's combat is too active and can't turret. Not enough skills to make levelling enjoyable (just 6 in the hotbar).
SWTOR: I think it was dead shortly after it went F2P, and everyone just worries about endgame.
LOTRO: played to death and a bit too old nowadays.
WoW: When Legion came out got 2 chars to max level. Enjoyable but far too easy.
EQ2: do people still play it?

Levling with my 2 sisters in swtor. Really alot of new players and fast dugneons ques. Prob cause of the server merge.

Jaldren

Read about the server merge on SWTOR. Resubbed!

Canibaloler

 I found blade n soul pretty nice all the way to lvl 50 and the story was good too. As for the endgame... Mindless farming and a bit pay to progress from some point .. Really I wanted to like this game and trust me I tried hard.. (2 times at least) both have me quitted for the same reason. I'm stuck @ hogmun 9 atm with about 900 AP and don't feel like returning back  

Scorchien

You already answered your own search OP.... just return to FF14

Jaldren

Scorchien said:

You already answered your own search OP.... just return to FF14

Did, got lvl 335 on 3 jobs. Went back to SWTOR