I'm looking for a comparatively strong grouping element. I don't like the MMO's where soloing is so strongly emphasized and how everybody essentially is doing the same quests. I realize I won't find something like original Everquest, since even modern Everquest isn't like that. I don't expect forced grouping.
Think I'd prefer a sandbox Questing system to a themepark or railroaded system. Dislike instances, but I know they're the norm so I can accept them, although I'd demand some open non-instanced places too.
In this past I've played a LOT of PvP. But I'm not looking striclty for that now.
I'm trying to save time, so I'm first reviewing modern Everquest, Everquest 2, LOTRO and Neverwinter. They're all downloaded. Still unsure what to expect. It's hard to judge a MMO based on the lwoer levels. And ti's tiring to post in the forums to ask members what ot expect in the higher levels.
Anybody played NEverwinter? It's interesting to me since it's so obscure. Not heard about it much from others. I've played only a small amount. So far it's raildroaded Quests. Boring, but maybe if groups become a bigger part I'll like it.
These're hte MMORPGs I've played, ordered by length of playtime:
Everquest (years)
Wurm Online (years)
UO (years)
Anarchy Online (months/years)
Shadowbane (months/years)
DDO (couple months on different alts)
MUDs (too many to list.. most for only weeks or months)
Everquest 2 (less than DDO; about a month)
Ryzom (about a month)
(insert random MMORPGs I played for days or weeks)
...Villagers and Heroes (played on iphone; fairly solo-focused so far; cartoonish-theme)
...Celtic Heroes (played on iphone; actually not bad, since some grouping and less instances)
...Darkfall: Rise of Agon (not bad; the population is very low; i may go back eventually; no instances!)
...Shroud of the Avatar (UI and skill-use is cumbersome; too much solo-emphasis)
...Eternal Lands (interesting, but too amateurish; clunky)
...(many others)
Played a lot of Diablo 2 in its day. It's not really an MMORPG. Even though II'm interested in Paht of Exile for the same reason I was itnerested in Diablo 2, it's not an MMORPG, so it's not part of this thread.
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There's a recent review article on entropia universe, but has the most unique monetization in the industry.
EVE would be good if you like space. Project gorgon is old school but hideous graphics
You can see my sci-fi/WW2 book recommendations.
One other game I'll throw out for you that probably wasn't on your radar is Elsword. It's almost entirely group content, with PUGs formed by a group finder. It's also heavily instanced (loosely, group content is instanced and solo content isn't, so nearly everything is instanced) and very heavily on rails, so it might not be to your liking. But it is likely the most group-heavy PVE MMORPG on the market at the moment.
EQ1, EQ2, SWG, SWTOR, GW, GW2 CoH, CoV, FFXI, WoW, CO, War,TSW and a slew of free trials and beta tests
And no, not everything is defined by your level. There isn't a single, primary character level in UWO. Rather, there are three, for different purposes. It's decently common for people to focus on one of the three and let the other two lag far behind, though that's not required. Few things have level requirements other than ships. That best in slot gear that I mentioned above? You can equip it almost immediately after creating a character, if you can get it.
Actually, a lot of things in UWO are wildly different from anything in any other MMORPG ever. That means that the game has a steep learning curve, so if you try it, don't give up the first time you get stuck on some stupid thing for half an hour. If you've played another game made by Koei, you have some idea of how they do everything wildly differently from the rest of the industry.
I'd say give GW2 a try, they have some fun PvP modes like WvW and sPvP. They have some fun group content like Dungeons, Fractals, and Raids.
They also have Dynamic Events, which may or may not be group stuff, they also have World Bosses, which are group events, they have Guild Events (Races, Bounties, Etc)
They have a "Personal Story" but you can opt to ignore it if you like.. that's on you. They also have Living World updates.
It's one of those games that you can make of it what you want.
I'd advise to join a guild early, and get involved in what they do for social and group stuff.
Yeah, the end game is a mess. I was in the "lesser" guilds pre-velious. Came back recently for velious and did the hardcore thing to scratch my raiding itch. Killed everything, quickly got bored again
The best part of p99 is the initial experience of leveling to 60 (or however far you get). Meeting new people, going through the shared experience of the grind, etc.
That said, OP said he already did p99
Is FFXIV group heavy? I never played it - I know FFXI was very similar to EQ from the grouping to level perspective.
Basically, todays games do not support a community unless you create a guild and make your own. And even then, your community revolves around that small one rather than a server wide one like your games from previous years.
It will be awhile before another game with proper grouping arrives. Who knows how long. Could be a very long time. Many gamers today didn't get to experience what games were like before group finders were introduced. They just know instant gratification which actually cheapens the experience further. Sometimes it was a bummer when people weren't around to do a task you've set out to complete. But that is also why we got to know people back then too. It's what drew us to find others with similar goals and likes. We'd talk to them since we grouped so often.
Now a days its: Join PUG, run instance, leave PUG, Join PUG, run instance, leave PUG.
Be the Ultimate Ninja! Play Billy Vs. SNAKEMAN today!
Be the Ultimate Ninja! Play Billy Vs. SNAKEMAN today!