I'm in MMO limbo

ultimateduck

I haven't played an MMO consistently for a few years now. To be fair, I started MMOs during its golden age: AC, EQ, UO, DAoC, SWG.  DAoC was the perfect MMO for me, even if I wasn't the best at playing it.  I played that game well over ten years. I want DAoC... only a DAoC that isn't 17 years old with a dwindling population.  I keep hoping that the next big thing, even the next niche thing, will have something that grabs me and makes me want to stay.

I'm not picky. I don't care about excessive polish. I don't care if it has a few bugs.  I don't care if it taxes my fairly nice computer system with stunning graphics and animations. I don't care if it has a beautiful soundtrack.  These are all nice to have things that take a back seat to what is important... which I honestly can't put my finger on.  I know what I like. Some games have some of those aspects and it just didn't matter.

I like a community that wants to be a community, not one that's forced.  I like a diverse loot system, not one where everyone is looking to get the same armor and weapon set as the next guy. I need more than 2 factions ( WAR had two factions and I think it suffered because of it) and they can't just be copies of each other. I need unique character classes that with multiple, legitimate build options, not one class for each roll that no one wants unless it has the meta build. Racial choices that matter, not just the same thing with a different skin.  I want to get all of my content via a paid subscription, no cash shops with costumes that make me look like a gay pirate (I'm not judging) or French maid... and absolutely no PTW.  PvP/RvR that had objectives, consequences and a character progression beyond capped level that does not revolve around getting the next tier of PvP gear.

I can't be the only one. There is a reason people, myself included, are buying into games that are so new, they are in the pre-alpha phase even though there are so many more MMO's now compared to when I started playing them now. Something is clearly missing in the genre. Is there a game out there that I'm missing? (please don't tell me the DAoC shard server). 

This is a major bummer for me.

Ungood

Well, while you might not be the only one, you could be part of a very, very, small demographic.

Albatroes

Unfortunately, games like that wont really exist in the current market, mainly because its not a smart business move to not try and milk a customer for every penny they are with, if they can. I guess you can always try one of these official 'classic' servers of various older games like lineage 2, lotro, and wow classic coming in the summer. Some people are really enjoying lineage 2/lotro old school server, or even project 99 but I dont personally know much about it. 'Problem' is the first 2 are p2p which most people that play them accept it obviously, but if you've never played either, it might be best to try out the f2p versions first before tossing money around or at least do some research.

Kyleran

The "purple squirrel" is that way --->

Or you can hang out with the phoenix like I do.

Morgenes83

Until Camelot Unchained is released there is only one game out which has all you stated and thats ESO.

It has
- RvR
- divers loot system (many sets and the possibility to change your appearance completely, e.g. giving a light armor piece the look of a heavy one)
- Races that matter and have different benefits for certain play styles.
- A sub system (optional)

But it also has: 
- Skill weaving, which is imho a bad system
- Sometimes a bad performance in RvR (especially in EU Server)
- An item shop (sub gives you coins every month for the shop and there are no p2w items)
- Some items (e.g. master weapons) locked behind PvE content.

The worst part oft it being the skill weaving which forces you to also do it to be kompetitive. The rest can be ignored.

Cryomatrix

You know what those original MMOs had that you cant put your finger on?

NOVELTY and you're not going to find it again. 

Xasapis

I've become an mmorpg nomad, sticking to a particular mmorpg for it's strengths, not it's weaknesses. I'm enjoying all the good stuff it has to offer, find some good people to hang around and when I start to get bored, I look for alternatives, my next stop to my nomadic travel.

Playing the games for what they are is the way to go. Playing them for what they could have been or what they used to be only leads to bitterness.

I can't think of an mmorpg similar to DAoC, but I'm not entirely sure that all those emerging survival games are not moving towards the right direction. It's just that they don't aim so high as to become MMOs perhaps.

Kyleran

Cryomatrix said:

You know what those original MMOs had that you cant put your finger on?

NOVELTY and you're not going to find it again. 

Well, if no developer ever creates something novel, then I guess you are right.

I actually experienced real novelty with L1, Shadowbane, DAOC, WOW, and EVE.

I never played AC1, UO, SWG, FFXI, or EQ1, each I expect each were novel in their own way from the MMORPGs I did try.

Perhaps there really are no more new, good ideas?

Not sure I believe that.

Gobstopper3D

I'm afreaid a game like you described isn't currently being offered, at least no new games.  Could there be a game like that in the future?  Anything is possible, but the current market says no. 

Erevus

Kyleran said:

Cryomatrix said:

You know what those original MMOs had that you cant put your finger on?

NOVELTY and you're not going to find it again. 

Well, if no developer ever creates something novel, then I guess you are right.

I actually experienced real novelty with L1, Shadowbane, DAOC, WOW, and EVE.

I never played AC1, UO, SWG, FFXI, or EQ1, each I expect each were novel in their own way from the MMORPGs I did try.

Perhaps there really are no more new, good ideas?

Not sure I believe that.

Well lets face it guys, ain't no company nowadays gonna care abt us (40+ yo gamers) who

care abt real MMOs and not copy/paste b/s aimed at just emptying your wallet.

It's really so sad that they (companies) have all the technology to make a masterpiece but they just keep making utter crap for the easy manipulated crowd of 15+ age gamers.

Kyleran

erevus said:

Kyleran said:

Cryomatrix said:

You know what those original MMOs had that you cant put your finger on?

NOVELTY and you're not going to find it again. 

Well, if no developer ever creates something novel, then I guess you are right.

I actually experienced real novelty with L1, Shadowbane, DAOC, WOW, and EVE.

I never played AC1, UO, SWG, FFXI, or EQ1, each I expect each were novel in their own way from the MMORPGs I did try.

Perhaps there really are no more new, good ideas?

Not sure I believe that.

Well lets face it guys, ain't no company nowadays gonna care abt us (40+ yo gamers) who

care abt real MMOs and not copy/paste b/s aimed at just emptying your wallet.

It's really so sad that they (companies) have all the technology to make a masterpiece but they just keep making utter crap for the easy manipulated crowd of 15+ age gamers.

Can't say that I blame them considering how wildly popular games which cost far less to make are, it is a business after all.

I think much of the early diversity was less about artistic creativity and more about trying to find the "secret" to big success, which Blizzard eventually hit the jackpot on, at least in the MMORPG space.

Once revealed, most other devs piled on, much like what happened in MOBAs and now BR space.

Chasing what works, it's just what business does.

Erevus

Kyleran said:

erevus said:

Kyleran said:

Cryomatrix said:

You know what those original MMOs had that you cant put your finger on?

NOVELTY and you're not going to find it again. 

Well, if no developer ever creates something novel, then I guess you are right.

I actually experienced real novelty with L1, Shadowbane, DAOC, WOW, and EVE.

I never played AC1, UO, SWG, FFXI, or EQ1, each I expect each were novel in their own way from the MMORPGs I did try.

Perhaps there really are no more new, good ideas?

Not sure I believe that.

Well lets face it guys, ain't no company nowadays gonna care abt us (40+ yo gamers) who

care abt real MMOs and not copy/paste b/s aimed at just emptying your wallet.

It's really so sad that they (companies) have all the technology to make a masterpiece but they just keep making utter crap for the easy manipulated crowd of 15+ age gamers.

Can't say that I blame them considering how wildly popular games which cost far less to make are, it is a business after all.

I think much of the early diversity was less about artistic creativity and more about trying to find the "secret" to big success, which Blizzard eventually hit the jackpot on, at least in the MMORPG space.

Once revealed, most other devs piled on, much like what happened in MOBAs and now BR space.

Chasing what works, it's just what business does.

And so we'll linger around forums dreaming abt things that were, and never to be again..... so sad.

Scorchien

My advice to the OP is go play Project Gorgon till Pantheon releases , PG hits many of those old school feels ..

  And/or just stick to the old games im still playin UO and revisit AO and EQ each year .. I know you seem worn on DAOC but im going to hit that this year for a few months in my rotation also ..

   If you are exclusivley looking for a game with 2019 graphics and 2000 gameplay it does not exist ..

  GRaphics are not neccassary for me at all , it is all about gameplay and challenge

WarWitch

Eso Bdo or Gw2 wvw. Eso can seem a bit clunky but u can use whatever u find. Bdo is more of a solo grind very cash shop heavy. Gw2 wvw is a 3way server vs server Zerg fight With a good commander can be mad fun.

CU ohh when will Cu be out . 

Kythyn

Having played all the MMOs since Meridian 59 and UO, what I miss is the sense of adventure, and dealing with the unknown.  For me, the best MMOs are story-driven (not the same as linear quest driven) and while game design is important, quality writing is even moreso.  It is the experience the game provides, not the list of virtual accomplishments, that is so elusive today.  

Sovrath

Scorchien said:

My advice to the OP is go play Project Gorgon till Pantheon releases , PG hits many of those old school feels ..

  And/or just stick to the old games im still playin UO and revisit AO and EQ each year .. I know you seem worn on DAOC but im going to hit that this year for a few months in my rotation also ..

   If you are exclusivley looking for a game with 2019 graphics and 2000 gameplay it does not exist ..

  GRaphics are not neccassary for me at all , it is all about gameplay and challenge

I've been playing Lord of the Rings Online and trying to "capture the magic" with Elder Scrolls Online."

While the graphics of Elder Scrolls Online are very good, Lord of the Rings Online still feels more the mmorpg and more the world than ESO could ever feel (for me)

WargfootYV

Same.

I'm kicking around getting into Legends of Aria or Runescape.
I'd probably do Legends of Aria if it was sub based.

Flip-Kidding

Based on the description you mentioned,
It looks like you want to play something like Elder Scrolls Online.
 
There's more than 1 faction (Daggerfall Covenant, Ebonheart Pact and Aldmeri Dominion) and they even have a legit war in cyrodiil where you take over Castles, towns, outposts with sieges, running into war with your mount while being accompanied by your army (group of 24 people).

The races have a big influence on your build and class, so that means there's a lot of variety of builds you could go for. 

The lore is amazing, if you ever get bored of one story, just go to the next town over and do the quests there. 

The community is a little trolly, BUT what game isn't? the game lets you use a mic and keyboard if you want to communicate with someone. Which is great because most games would either only have one or the other.

The only thing I can really think off that makes this game unplayable is the lack of action they have with the controls when it comes to fighting. In my honest opinion, I like action MMORPG's fighting style like TERA or BLACK DESERT or even FFXIV. But those three games don't have the same kind of MMO feel that ELDER SCROLLS ONLINE gives, which is a sense of freedom to do anything and everything you want at any given time. Sure there aren't any flying mounts... or combat pets (not talking about pet builds). But the game is still home to a lot of gamers.

ultimateduck

Gameplay is more important to me that pimp graphics.

ArcheAge hit a lot of the boxes for me, even with their cash shop fill of ridiculous costumes, but its P2W model and atrocious regrade system killed it for me.

Shroud of the Avatar seems like it could be good, so does Legends of Aria but I am worried about game depth and loot as well as whether their cash hop is purely cosmetic or P2W.

I tried GW2 and LotRO. I couldn't get into LotRO, I don't know why. I may have to revisit it. GW2 was shallow.  It has polish and a decent story line but zero community and zero diversity, from level 1 all the way through WvW.

I will look into some of the other games.  Never even heard of Project Gorgon.

Volenibblets

Even male gynecologists get bored after a few years...

Amathe

My advice to you would be to join a multi-game guild. That then would be your community, and you could stay with it from game to game. There are a number of good ones. 

Cryomatrix

Volenibblets said:

Even male gynecologists get bored after a few years...

People have your mindset, but take it from someone who rotated through ob/gyn for 6 weeks, it isnt like it is a bunch of pornstars coming in, it is a bunch of gross nasty diseased vajizzle that comes in.

Then you get a bunch of people who you wonder how any one would sleep with them. Dont forget the whiff of BV. 

Kyleran

Cryomatrix said:

Volenibblets said:

Even male gynecologists get bored after a few years...

People have your mindset, but take it from someone who rotated through ob/gyn for 6 weeks, it isnt like it is a bunch of pornstars coming in, it is a bunch of gross nasty diseased vajizzle that comes in.

Then you get a bunch of people who you wonder how any one would sleep with them. Dont forget the whiff of BV. 

Some things you just can't unsee.

WargfootYV

I read the last few posts in this thread.
I've decided to take a break from MMORPG for a spell.

gross.

zaxxon23

I'm in the same boat.  I haven't played a mmo legit since after year 1 of WoW when I realized it was never going to be anything more than raid or die.  I've tried many, and the only one I've liked recently was Black Desert Online.  I thought that was the first very good mmo to come out in a very long time (and not a WoW clone).  However ironically enough I left it because it didn't have player to player trading.  There was trading, an auction house, but you couldn't trade player to player directly.  You say you don't want a mmo with pay2win, however I think p2w (more specifically player trading) is one of the key elements that provides longevity and drive to play.  But I digress.  Seriously, check out black desert if you haven't.  Might be right up your alley.

ultimateduck

I tried BDO.  I didn't care for it... among other things, the combat was weird to me.  It seemed very Tekken-esque.  Grand swipe and dash motions and explosions and all these other over the top effects that were splashed on looking almost 2 dimensional and seemed like they should knock a house down but barely moved the health bar of the mob I was fighting. Way too much.

p.s. P2W is buying things only available on a cash shop that gives you a distinct in game advantage or sanctioned cash purchases that allow a player to buy the best gear possible using real money.  Player to player transactions is not pay to win.