To give you an idea of what type of player I am.
I would run around in skyrim, with invisibility, dagger and bow, the original rags and shakels you were given with.I would spend time gathering herbs for brewing potions. I was very minimalist. My character was a 60 year old,frail looking but agile hermit.
A rather unremarkable, unimportant, explorer and observer.
Here is what I am looking for...
[ #1 Character customization ] ( not korean, not meathead ) ability to customize look like dye system in guild wars.
With ability to transmog the look of one piece of armor onto another of similar type.
For instance maybe you have a lvl 60 piece of gear, yet you like the look of the lvl 10 armor chest so you
apply the look of it to the stats of the higher gear.
[
#2 Progressive Skill System ] Similar to Elder Scrolls Online, where the more you do something the better you get.
or like eve online where you can pick and choose to custom build, not class bound style WOW ( paladin, priest, ranger bullcrap! )
[ #3 Savanging and Crafting ] I really like to discover items and places, I like to loot loot loot chests and bodies. I like to take
scraps and make my own little items.
[ #4 Player Housing ] I like the idea of my own space to organize, use privately, enjoy away from everything else. decorate.
Personally I would love to have a nomadic tent, buried in the trees, as I drift area to area.
[ #5 Stealth ] I really really like to be unseen, unheard to go place to place and observe my enemies and other players, stalk.
[ #6 Play Style ] I really hate a game that has 40 skill icons on screen that you have to press in order like a monkey, with creepy
spider like fingers. I like the KISS method, keep it simple stupid. Whatever item you have in hand is the skill you are using.
Axe, Bow, Spear, Pickaxe, etc.
[ #7 Persistant Large World ] I want an MMO, not a MMOG, or MOBA, or Player server, but an expansive persistent world.
[ #8 Sandbox ] I like to do what I want, I prefer skill grind over item grind, and I don't like theme park, hold your hand carebear
bs. I like full loot, but can live without it. I don't get attached to items...
[ #9 POLISH ] I am done supporting cash grab pre-alpha, pay me to never complete my "dream" games. So many hype hype hype,
and never finish, or are buggy as hell, or hacked, botted, exploited, dead.
Does the game I am looking for even exist or is it another 30 years out from now?
Comments
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
When you don't want the truth, you will make up your own truth.
To the op: I think your last point is the most important. I could ramble off some upcoming mmos, but wait and see is the best policy to avoid disappointment. I think no mmo has replaced the good 1st gen mmorpgs like UO, Asherons call, etc.
There isn't a technological hurdle, the things I am searching for are pretty standard now
just not easy to find all in the same combination yet.
I just want to play in rags, as a nomadic little hermit with sticks and stones. lol.
In an environment where I can sneak around and watch other players,
occasionally interacting with people at random... a little role playing.
MAGA
- Albert Einstein
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
So how flexible are you? If a game nails 5 or 6, good enough? Any must haves or deal breakers such as forced PVP?
The more specific you get, the less likely it will happen.
A game like Mortal Online supports much of what you ask for, as well as some indie titles in the pipe but will likely have to drop that last item from your list.
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
Must Haves:
[ Freedom of Playstyle ]
[ Persistant Large World ]
[ Sandbox ]
[ Character customization ]
[ Performance ] If it functions like dog crap I won't play.
[ Scavenging / Gathering / Crafting ]
Optional But preferred:
[ Stealth ]
[ Player Housing ]
What I won't do:
[ Asian/ Korea Styled Cash Shop] Screw labor pots and cash shop ArcheAge!
[ Theme Park ]
[ Older than 2010 ]
[ MOBA/ MMOG / Player Server ]
[ Screen filled with skill icons ] I just don't have the finger agility for drug assisted button mashing.
[ Older than 2010 ]
MMO's are dead.
Get a PS4 and wait for new games.
I dunno, BDO maybe. For first 7 days I heard it's free.
[ Freedom of Playstyle ] (uhh, this is subjective matter..)
[ Persistant Large World ] (check)
[ Sandbox ] (check)
[ Character customization ] (check)
[ Performance ] If it functions like dog crap I won't play. (check)
[ Scavenging / Gathering / Crafting ] (check, but I dunno about "scavenging")
Try BDO then.
When you don't want the truth, you will make up your own truth.
"We all do the best we can based on life experience, point of view, and our ability to believe in ourselves." - Naropa "We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are." SR Covey
Elder Scrolls Online is the closest thing to what you want.
Minus the Sandbox but you can always use your imagination. Seems you are already good at that anyway.
If I remember correctly character customization is in the works (if it is not already in game, I haven't played in awhile)
It has everything else on your must have list and player housing Yet I feel like your demanding list will shun the game due to the isometric view.
Meh -- you said 2010 after your initial requirements. Still It couldn't hurt much to give it a try if you never played this unique title.
Ticks all of your major boxes, but they appear to be underfunded and over promising at this point.
New World by Amazon Studios is a more likely bet, though they haven't shared many details they definitely have the funding.
Both titles are several years away IMO so not seeing much on the near horizon that would suit your tastes. (which are close to mine btw)
As someone mentioned, BDO is likely the closest thing out there and costs like $9.99 to buy.
Read a few guides / watch a few videos posted by players here on this site before you start.
I think if you dont play it as traditional rush to the end MMO you will find a much deeper game with several sandbox like activities, and the game is definitely solo centric.
If you ask someone will likely give you a 7 day free trial key, but again read up prior so you get the most from the experience.
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
* more info, screenshots and videos here
Currently Playing:
......
ESO is the closest thing you will find that fits your criteria and feels like Skyrim. as others have said the thing that will probably disappoint you is the fact that it's not a sandbox, and doesn't have a completely open seamless world. it's all pve zones with one main pvp zone in the middle. there is stealth, customization, gathering/crafting, etc. no player looting. it is a very heavy questing experience until you are high enough to enter the (GW2 style) pvp zone inthe middle, where you endlessly fight over control of forts and resource points.
BDO is a huge seamless world, it is more of a sandbox than ESO, but there is no stealth a la WoW. you actually have to crouch/crawl in the bushes if you want to not be seen. the combat is like Vindictus, and not everyone's cup of tea. the art style is very Asian, and there is a (expensive) cosmetic cash shop. End game is also very RNG dependent, and there is little group PvE content, just pvp. at level 45 you there is partial inventory loot drop on death.
someone mentioned Mortal Online. it has everything you want except stealth and it runs like shit, with bugs and glitches galore. an amazing concept for a game with an incompetent tiny dev team that just has not enough money or skill to get it to work properly.
EvE does deserve a mention. it has everything, except that you are a ship in space. you really have to love space here.
Shroud of the Avatar might be worth checking out when it eventually is finished perhaps
Not many games really fit that well within the necessary criteria.
1) Get ESO
2) at level 10 go to Cryodiil (pvp area... huge)
3) in Cryodiil pretend you are in open world pvp, sandbox
4) see if you can sneak around unnoticed and unimportant in your little rags
5) loot EVERYTHING you see... and pickpocket and murder peepz and NPCs.
6) use your little scraps that you find, loot and pickpocket to craft till your hearts desire
7) sneak up on the real enemy... obviously that is the smelly AD and DC factions
8) become a stealth monster by choosing the right class... spec'd right you can stealth all day, cc peepz and dance around them in the nude... or with your little rags.
9) ESO is definitely your game... just be creative and go to Cryodiil at level 10 and be that little rag-a-muffin that you've always dreamed of being.
10) your kinda hot!
Sz
10) Just book a motel room, you two!
When you don't want the truth, you will make up your own truth.