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Looking for an MMO
snuffysmythe
Member Posts: 15
I'm looking for a new MMO after trying several and not finding anything that fits my desires. Maybe it's because nothing out there fits my desires because I am picky when it comes to monthly fees.
Mandatory:
The main thing I'm looking for is a group based MMO not solo. I don't like soloing a multiplayer game. If I want to solo, I'll play offline. Solo friendly games tend to make it hard to find groups so I'd prefer a game that is either group required or very heavily leaning towards grouping.
Community is very important also. I don't want a game with millions of immature players. If I'm going to pay to play, I want to enjoy my time online and not have it ruined by griefers. I tend to be the type of player that completely turns off OOC chat because I can't stand the mindless garbage it is used for.
Also, I enjoy crafting. Not the push a button and go to sleep while your toon crafts 1000000 objects though. I want to feel a sense of craftsmenship. I want crafting that actually keeps me involved and makes me feel a sense of accomplishment.
Optional PVP. I don't tend to PVP because of balance issues. Especially in games where real world money translates to the best characters (see economy below).
Preferred, but not required:
I would prefer a less grind oriented game, but I realize that grinding tends to be a part of gameplay these days.
Also, I would prefer a game with a realistic economy. I don't know if this is possible in this day and age, gold sellers have unbalanced the economy of every game I've tried lately. I don't want to have to pay more than a monthly fee just to be able to buy armor and etc. This tends to unbalance the game because whoever has the most real world money becomes able to control the economy.
I appreciate any suggestions, especially if the game has a temporary trial account so my wife doesn't start griefing me. Oh that reminds me, if there is a game that also is female friendly for her that is a huge bonus.
Comments
Might help if you tell us what games you've already tried/played.
How about Guild wars?
There are two sides of guild wars, at least how i look at it, which would be the pve side and pvp. As you stated earlier you are not looking for pvp and thats fine, pvp could just be an added bonus— something to try later. The pve part can be done in groups, such as missions or quests. Usually it is funnier to group with people, although sometimes its difficult to get what i consider "talented" groups. There is some crafting in this game, mostly just collecting certain items and bartering for a weapon. To craft armor and certain weapons you need to have materials, so with some of the rarer armor you'll need unique materials. Crafting armor and customizing it is a huge part in guild wars, i think it'll be enough for what you seek. There isn't all that much grinding in Guild Wars, you level to max level pretty fast. Although the max level is low, that doesn't mean much... just that your adventure is truly getting hard. The economy is guild wars is decent, everything has went down in price for the most part, although its harder to get gold now of days. There are 3 campaigns 1 expansion. It only costs 30 bucks for the first guild wars, maybe less. The graphics in guild wars are pretty amazing compared to free mmo's or games in general. Also there are many free trials(10 hours - 14 days) they are pretty easy to get a hold of. By the way... no monthly fees, just need the game installed on your computer + a key code. And i know alot of married couples who play and women in general, so your wife won't be the only female that is there.
hope this helped —Weareweare
not really my personal favorite but EQ2 pretty much meets what you're looking for. some may debate that whether grouping is a requirement or not, but it most certainly helps. as far as communities go... i usually try to select a rp server. i don't rp, and alot of players on them don't either, there just seems to be a higher maturity level on rp servers to me. i kinda enjoyed EQ2's crafting, it's pretty basic, but i felt i was actually accomplishing something during it. personally, i can't quite figure out what i had/have against EQ2, maybe the character models, maybe the combat system (altho it's pretty much the standard system), either way, i dunno, i just never really took to the game, but it actually DOES have a a lot to offer a player.
another game to maybe look into would be SWG. again, try one of the rp servers. they only problem would be if you have a combat toon then you can't craft, so you'd pretty much need to make a crafting alt.
as far as agreeing with the guild wars post...
, that would probably be at the very bottom of my list because the "crafting" is non-existant, and the community (from what i have found) is/was just horrid. i did enjoy pre searing tho, nice little story, pretty graphics, but it fell apart after that for me.
maybe try a few of the better free to play games as well, a pretty much swear by the fact that Anarchy Online and Perfect World both have features that aren't in most pay to plays and are better all around games than 95% of them.
____________________________
TheCore
Totally my bad not mentioning played games, I apologize.
SWG - Played year 1, irritated when they took out the galactic war and quit when they put in the Jedi trials allowing everyone to be Jedi. From what I've read I was lucky I left when I did because every addition since has ruined the game even more.
EQ2 - played trial, was 100% solo, have heard the main game isn't much different. I did like the crafting but couldn't really do much because of lvl 10 cap.
WOW - Not in this lifetime. I've heard too much I don't like about this game even from people trying to talk me into playing it.
Anarchy - froob acct, 2 weeks, every character I get into main game and join a guild the guild then ignores me. It seems there is something that encourages guilds to get as many people as possible but nothing to encourage them to help those recruits once they have joined. Happened multiple times where I join guild and then it seems everyone in the guild immediately puts me on ignore when I put out a hello after joining. In my experience, horrible community. Also, very solo friendly game especially with the way they let people buff a lvl 10 char to put on lv 50 equipment. This also discourages new players because they just don't have the resources to get high level equipment nor get the buffs.
Free to play - are you kidding me? I said I would prefer a mature community. Free to play = tons of kids and every one of them seems to be immature. I played one of these and all the rediculous dialogue in ooc, and you can't put anyone on ignore. Also, I've never been in a game more supportive of the gold sellers. I can't avoid them and can't ignore them. I had to turn off chat completely every time I entered town and usually didn't bother to turn it back on because of the kids. Needless to say, it's not for me.
Browser games - I just can't get into them, too many years of being spoiled by being able to look around at the world. I might as well go to the attic and pull out the dice (yes I was majorly into pen and paper back in the day).
Guild Wars - I actually beta tested GW, was unimpressed because of the short game content. It seemed to me they were focusing the game on the PVP so I have never really looked back. I did enjoy the PVE content but it just went by soo fast and left me with nothing to do. I realize that a lot has changed since beta, but it would take a lot for me to believe this isn't a PVP focused game.
Ultima Online - I wanted to like this, loved the Ultima series, but didn't like loot trash everywhere and it reminded me of SWG with all the housing scattered everywhere in the landscape. Also, a general lack of direction. After finally figuring out how to leave the tutorial area, I had a great deal of trouble finding any quests I could complete. The community seemed willing to help you get on your feet as far as outfitting you with weapons and armor but not willing to help you learn how to find quests you could complete without being twinked.
DAOC - I can't even remember this game and just played it within the last month. Obviously it didn't make a good impression.
EVE - wanted to try it but read a line on their webpage that changed my mind. Something like - not only is griefing acceptable, it is encouraged. I was actually in the process of downloading the client when I read that comment, and stopped the download immediately.
Have played a couple recent betas (TR and 12 Sky come to mind) but neither appealed to me. Have tried signing up for others just in hopes of hitting the jackpot and finding a good one.
Also did trial for COX and honestly I liked it more than most. The only reason I didn't buy is because in 2 weeks of play I only grouped once. Tried getting groups every day at various times during the day with various character builds and just no one interested. It seemed to me people were more interested in costume contests than questing. Also it seems that the guilds in that game are set up for PVP. This is the only game I have ever played online where I didn't have at least five people added to my friends list (and that includes the free to play one I tried) within the first week. I had zero friends still after 2 weeks. Most games I have 2 to 3 friends already during my first play session.
LOTRO - lasted about 3 months on this one. Mainly lasted that long because I had a couple of really good friends. In the end the expansions just kept making the game more and more solo friendly and it became impossible to find a group in under an hour unless my friends were online. Also I went on vacation for a week and simply fell too far behind in level to make it plausible to adventure with them much anymore.
Good lord I need to learn to make shorter posts. Sorry for the length of this everyone. I'm sure there are more I have played, but just can't think of them right now. Hopefully this gives you some more insight and you can help me find something.
"WOW - Not in this lifetime. I've heard too much I don't like about this game even from people trying to talk me into playing it."
Well just give it a try , for 15 days. Honestly people just hate it because of how popular it is. I enjoyed playing it and so have many thats why its the best selling MMORPG right now. It indeed is solo friendly but you can group for the instances and PVP which is probably the best parts of the games. I loved playing the instances, I could log on for hours doing them.
Well, this has got to be one of the pickiest "LF MMO" threads ever, and theres like 10 of them daily.
Mate, you've tried every MMO worth trying, and none of them please you. I guess you gotta just wait until something better comes? EQ2 has the best group PvE content bar none, but nobody groups on newbie island (trial area). Once you get to 15-20, you will start to see groups forming in chat. Though, every MMO is pretty much soloable and groupable.
the only one that fits what you're asking for is everquest 2, give it another shot
WoW or EQ II are really the only two that fit what you want.
It's possible to solo to maximum level in EQ2, but it's by no means a solo game. All the good dungeons are group content, and it's not hard at all to find groups. even when I'm out soloing with my Monk (one of the most solo-friendly classes), I get more invites than care to accept. Since I started a Berzerker and started grouping more, I see everything I missed out on by soloing. I think it has everything else you're looking for: the community is one of the best, crafting requires interaction, and PvP is a very minor feature - you don't need to PvP in order to get good gear.
I'm not sure what you mean by "female-friendly," but I've never witnessed any sexism in EQ2, and it's not full of horny teenagers like some games I've played. I don't think your wife will feel out of place at all. You also mentioned turning off OOC chat, so I'm guessing you're a role-player. If that's the case, you'll find plenty of it on the Antonia Bayle and Lucan D'Lere servers.
EQ2 might not be your perfect game, but it's going to come pretty close.
As for the comment about WOW, just another person convincing me I don't want anything to do with that game. I believe you said solo friendly except for PVP or something like that. LOL just what I don't want.
From what I'm gathering, EQ2 seems to be only real choice for me. At least it's the only one that's even close to what I'm looking for. If I remember correctly they have new expansion due next month so I'll probably keep searching until then, and if I don't find anything I'll buy it and give it a chance to win me over. Admittedly the trial was very much lacking in that it had an extremely low level cap. I do understand why developers cap games like that though.
Thanks again for the feedback. I realize there are a lot of these posts out there. I just don't think the game I'm looking for exists.
Im telling you www.tibia.com go there tell me u dont like that game
As for the comment about WOW, just another person convincing me I don't want anything to do with that game. I believe you said solo friendly except for PVP or something like that. LOL just what I don't want.
From what I'm gathering, EQ2 seems to be only real choice for me. At least it's the only one that's even close to what I'm looking for. If I remember correctly they have new expansion due next month so I'll probably keep searching until then, and if I don't find anything I'll buy it and give it a chance to win me over. Admittedly the trial was very much lacking in that it had an extremely low level cap. I do understand why developers cap games like that though.
Thanks again for the feedback. I realize there are a lot of these posts out there. I just don't think the game I'm looking for exists.
Hehe, hopefully we'll see you in EQ2
Sound emo if ur not gonna try WoW just because everyone hates it because its popular. EQ2, or if just being able to solo in WoW makes u in cringe, I suggest final fantasy. You cant do anything without a group past lvl 5ish.
I don't think theres anything you can solo in FF11. Watch as you try to take on just one mob equal to your level
And for the record, wow is dead to me for the gay ass new Hero class that they will release, and stopped subbing a long time ago. And still waiting for AoC!
Darkfall for now.
Quit bashing games YOU don't like! Including WoW, you know you liked it before you got burned out.
http://live.xbox.com/member/Njai
Final Fantasy XI matches the game you want except for being grind heavy.
it actually sounds like you judge games based on what you assume, and hear about them rather than actually give them a fair chance. games are meant to be fun, let your expectations go a little bit, and just play and have fun. as far as getting into "bad" guilds and orgs, that's your fault more than the fault of the other players. when i'm interested in finally joining a guild or org, i interview them more than they interview me, to make sure i'm what they want, and they meet what i'm looking for in a group. taking blind invites is just insane, and only ever leads to problems. you'll find this to be the case in ANY game, not just AO.
my 2 bits.. lower your expectations a bit, have fun, reduce your prejudice and attitude towards some of the ones you've already ruled out, and you'll have a much easier time.
____________________________
TheCore
You need to just play some of the ones you read about and see for yourself. WOW is your best chance, because many people are starting to play new alts again. EQ2 will be extremely solo up till the level 40's or so. Right now if you play a alt in EQ2 you can't find groups. In all the new EOF content as a low level alt 20-40's it is extremely hard to find groups. This is due to the fact the game isn't all that populated on servers and many people are level 70 or 50+ after 2+ yrs of casual play. So this leaves an interesting thing.
Either play WOW or wait. EQ2 is mostly going to be solo play, unfortunately from what others say it is a nice game if you can get to 70 then raid. Raiding is fun in EQ2 and in WOW. But at least in WOW you can find a group pretty early on anytime you need. EQ2 is like ummm where is the beef commercial.
Hello am i invisable here TIBIA need i say more.
i agree give Eq2 another try, as a good majority of the good in depth quests are centered and focused on having a good group. i got up to lvl 68 as a paladin and i can tell you alot of the quests u need a good balanced group or a nice raid for some of the high level instances in KOS, Greater Faydark or Sinking Sands. WOw is kinda the same but found alot of quests soloable, just like Eq2 but only the end content was raid oriented. rest was either soloable, or u could have a lvl 70 come help you clear the area. at this point because of TBC MC, and rest of the Lvl 60 raids are passed over for burnign crusade lvl 60+ greens. but its up to you, you seem very finicky. id say try Eq2 for about a month or so, WoW maybe the same thoguh you find more so that itll be harder to get groups as i found out with my lvl 25 dwarf paladin. eq2 tends to be slightly eaiser at lower level to find a group once u get into Qeynos, or Freeport or Faydark towns as more people either roll new alts, or new people in general come in. i find Eq2 questing more in depth, better lore, and all around the combat to be more creative and fun. but thats just my opinion.
3.4ghz Phenom II X4 965, 8GB PC12800 DDR3 GSKILL, EVGA 560GTX 2GB OC, 640GB HD SATA II, BFG 1000WATT PSU. MSI NF980-G65 TRI-SLI MOBO.
it actually sounds like you judge games based on what you assume, and hear about them rather than actually give them a fair chance. games are meant to be fun, let your expectations go a little bit, and just play and have fun. as far as getting into "bad" guilds and orgs, that's your fault more than the fault of the other players. when i'm interested in finally joining a guild or org, i interview them more than they interview me, to make sure i'm what they want, and they meet what i'm looking for in a group. taking blind invites is just insane, and only ever leads to problems. you'll find this to be the case in ANY game, not just AO.
my 2 bits.. lower your expectations a bit, have fun, reduce your prejudice and attitude towards some of the ones you've already ruled out, and you'll have a much easier time.
judge based on assumption, not hardly! EVERYONE, and I mean everyone including people in this post, telling me to try WOW keeps using reasons that are contrary to what I want in a game. You may be right in me making some assumptions about WOW, but when I've heard the same thing from over 50 people about the game I tend to believe it. And the reason I don't want EVE is because of a quote from the company's website telling me they support griefing, which I abhore.
Every other game I have mentioned, I have played either beta, trial, subscription, or a combination.
As for the guilds, I didn't take blind invites. I adventured with people in the subway for a couple hours, got along with them, so joined the guild when they asked. The second guild I tried was someone that showed me around for 3 hours, introduced me to some friends, bought me some implants, and asked me if I'd be interested in a guild. I joined, and haven't seen a single word uttered in their guildchat other than that night. I don't take joining a guild lightly as you seem to ASSUME.
Your in luck.. there is a game out there that fits almost every one of these requests.. I play it, and have played most of the same ones you have.
FINAL FANTASY XI.
Community: You'll have added 5 people to your friends list the first few hrs of play. Lots of nice people, and usually helpful people. Get in a good linkshell and you'll have friends for life. I just went back, and some of the same people that I played with 3 years ago still play. The game is still flourishing.
crafting: OMG.. the crafting in FFXI is almost another game in itself. So many factors. I'm not gonna go into details. But, def. one of if not the most in depth crafting systems out there. Most people focus on JUST crafting once they get to a point where they can.. like i said.. its a game within a game.
PVP: no open pvp like in WoW, but they do have 2 forms of organized pvp.. and it has no effect on the game other than for fun. If you don't do it, your not out anything. Heck I didn't even get registered to do it til I was max level. It is rather fun though, and promotes "teamwork" over killing.
lastly.. there is a grind.. and almost everything you do requires a group.. which is both good and annoying at the same time. They've made things easier as of late. You also have the ability to be EVERY class with one character.. you can play a main class and a sub class.. and switch them out anyway you want throughout.. depending on what you want to do. I'm a white mage/black mage.
If you decide to check it out. I have a buddy pass you can have. I play on Asura and am in a friendly linkshell that would love to have you.
Only other game I can suggest is CoH. but FFXI is on the money, according to your description.. even more so that EQ2. EQ2 is more like WoW.
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Currently playing:
FFXIV on Behemoth, FFXI on Eden, and Gloria Victis on NA.
I agree with the FFXI recommendation. Though you might find yourself looking for a group for alot longer than you want especially if you're one of the dps classes, but it's the best experience I've ever had in an MMO. And they have a built in auto-translate function if ya play late night with the people living in Japan.
{ Mod Edit }
Lineage 2: This has got to be one of the most extensive crafting systems that I have ever seen. A lot of the more common items like soulshots and spiritshots are the ones where you can just sit down and make them, but for high level gear you have to collect tons of materials and make items within items. It's crazy. One of the main reasons I've never wanted to be a crafter on there. Plus, you will almost always need a spoiler and other people to collect materials for items since drop rates are better on high leveled monsters. You can pretty much grind to level 40 by yourself, but after your second class change it's all about partying. You will get absolutely nowhere by yourself guaranteed unless your a summoner. But those are boring to play and easy to kill =P You make lots of friends, and PvP is optional here, as is Pk. Griefing is allowed, but it's not as bad as you think. They have a very unique Pk/PvP system here based on karma that makes people think twice about Pk/PvP. You'll have to read the website since I don't want to make this post longer than what it has already become
Ragnarok Online: Crafting system is not so great here, basically you find items to craft stuff that is already found in the stores, the difference is, crafters can add elemental attributes to them and fortify them. Community on ro is great, I think it's one of the best I've played actually. There is no pvp in ro unless you warp to the pvp room. completely optional. You can solo by yourself up to level 80 in this game honestly, but nobody chooses to do so. As I mentioned earlier, parties are found everywhere and it makes things go a lot faster and more fun.
Both games are female friendly, I'm a girl and these two games are the ones I've liked the best out of all the games that I have tried. However I've only played on private servers so my experience might be a bit different, but you should give them both a try
{ Mod Edit } The F2P games I've played are simple download and play though so I'm pretty sure not what you are talking about. I haven't heard much about Lineage 2 so I will look into that.
I'm currently considering FFXI, but unfortunately I can't seem to find a trial for it. I'm also hesitant on FF because lately their console games have gone away from what I liked about the older FF games. EQ2s new expansion is supposed to be released next month, so i might just wait for that to spend money on a new game. Many more people have recommended it and I did like the trial with the exception of it being completely solo.
Thank you everyone for giving input. I will keep watching in case someone has any other ideas.