So, I haven't played an MMORPG in a while, outside of trying out Classic WoW Hardcore servers for a week. I've had the itch to play a MMORPG again, to complete every quest in a game. But when mentally going through all of the options, I can't think of one MMORPG that didn't make leveling faster and easier over time. Leveling is my favorite part of MMORPG's and has been ever since I began playing MMORPG's back in 2001 with DAoC, followed by SWG. All MMORPG's have become a face roll in the leveling sphere, meaning you can't die unless you just auto attacked a large enough group of enemies. It's become a speed race through the content as well, leading to out leveling content.
Am I wrong here? Is there a MMORPG with a lot of leveling content I can chew through that hasn't already been trivialized with expansion releases, number crunches, and world detuning throughout the years?
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I won't play EMU servers, because I don't trust the people running them. They're under no obligation to run them fairly or to keep the servers going for 10-20+ years, which is how long many MMORPG's have been running at this point.
Project Gorgon looks like it appeals to the original MMORPG community, which I appreciate, but it's still in Early Access.
the state of EQ2 today is horrible though.. so play it through the first 5 to 7 expansions and then just stop because it starts to go downhill.
The problem I've pointed out already is that the open world content is too easy and you also out level every zone you're in due to developers speeding up the leveling process and doing level crunches.
I found FF14 to be very good in the early days/expansions, but then they nerfed their dungeons to being just speed runs. Their open world content is pretty fun, up to a point. The big "nope" in my book about FF14 is actually their job customization method, which is to say they don't have one. I'm an RPG enjoyer and have to be able to customize whatever I'm playing in order to feel connected to my character.
@Luiden I'd love to play EQ2. I've only dabble in it a few times many years ago and I don't think I made it past the teens before getting sucked into a new MMORPG. The reason why I haven't given that one another change is because I've read you out level the content, which is my gripe that led to this thread getting created. I understand MMORPG's aren't made for people like me anymore (the leveling enjoyers), but it sucks that developer's nerf their open world content to where you quickly out level and never get to experience the content it was originally designed to be experienced. I think it's a big lost opportunity to not keep at least some servers evergreen, where content stays the same where new players can hop in the game years later and experience everything the way it was once before.
I understand that progression servers exist. Unfortunately, they're targeted towards hardcore players who know the game already. There's no way a casual dad gamer will make it through all the content of the expansion before they move the server to the next expansion. I can play around 10 hours a week. The last server I looked up swapped to a new expansion every 16 weeks. That's insanely fast. I'd need at least a year per expansion I imagine.
In DDO, I couldn't find groups to do many of the quests and I'm a quest completionist. Last time I played LOTRO was when they released high elves. The game ran so poorly I quit, and I always have a modern PC. I read that the game is just poorly optimized, which is a shame. I also couldn't see the font on the launcher on my TV to even log in when I tried again a few years ago. I play all games on my PC using a 60" tv now and sit on the couch. I can't do small screens and gaming chairs anymore. Everything must be large screen at 4k resolution, max graphics, while I lay reclined on my couch/recliner. Haha
Edit: I just watched a YouTube video by LazyPeon about LOTRO. I think I might give the game another shot. I can always get up next to the TV to login.
Last I played, I was a High Elf and I felt so lost after their tutorial zone. I didn't know where I was in the world in relation to the regular starting zones which flowed naturally from where you did your tutorial. Any advise?
I also played Classic WoW when it released. I thought it was a lot of fun. I had to think strategically before pulling, otherwise I'd pull more than my Warrior could handle solo. There were camps of mobs that were untouchable for me, since I couldn't solo the 3-5 mobs that were in those camps. Retail, by comparison, I can just run around gathering the 10-15 mobs I can string together, pop a CD or two, and mow everything down (I played Prot Pally in Retail).
I hope there's a day when someone releases an MMORPG with Souls-like action combat to make soloing mechanically challenging as well, but I doubt that'll ever happen. I don't think the general public enjoy having to learn mob behavior to win a battle. But I have single player RPG's for that itch. MMO's scratch the [level slowly over a long period of time] itch, or at least they used to.
"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
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"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
Nothing beats the combat of DAOC in both RVR and PVE. At level 5 you weren't pulling multiple mobs in that game or you were getting your face smashed into the ground. That game had so much combat complexity that I can't think of a single game that even comes close to what you had to learn about your class. It's laughable to compare today's MMORPGs against DAOC and unless you played it.. people just don't get it.
It did take forever to level in that game but the journey was worth it. It had so many classes and the variety was so great that I didn't mind the slow journey. I can still remember being level 28 with a few months into the game.. got into a group with a Champion and thought.. I've never grouped with this class.. I have no idea what this is or what he does... it was kind of wild the depth that game had.
But those are found memories now, like you said I don't have the time now to commit like I did in the past but that doesn't mean I don't want to play that game. I would always be behind and I would be okay with that because the fun of doing those open dungeons at level 15 was next level. There is just so much that today's MMORPGs get wrong that players will never experience.
I don't know if gamers will ever get the chance to have that kind of experience again. Playing those MMORPGs was more than just playing a video game.. it was a life investment. I can't even contemplate investing any of my time to a modern MMORPG today because it's a poor investment, there is no return on investment here. Like you said, you login and start pulling 5 to 10 mobs at once and level to 25 in a hour or so.. all the time just running through content that somebody spent a significant time to create but no player will appreciate. It just seems silly.
This isn't a signature, you just think it is.
I bought it back when they had pre launch purchases and played through a few rounds of testing. It was a little to niche for me. But like you I was itching to play an actual MMORPG and saw this event and thought I would give it a try again with a year since launch, I have been having a great time. Small improvements have made the game much more enjoyable and the community there is great, everyone helps out. I would say it most resembles EQ if you had to compare it to any previous MMO, with its pace of leveling, grouping and bag runs
You should try it out, for that matter everyone should try it out, its free.
My in game name is Hrothgar.
I did return for Hardcore servers, but I wasn't happy with the ruleset, since it allowed too many freedoms that would result in RMT, GDKP's, and twinking which would impact the leveling experience for players who aren't sending gold and items to their alts. So I left and finally uninstalled BNET.
I've seen that video recently. Funny but also gives one something to think about when it comes to Everquest.
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo