Next MMO I should try?

[RandomNobody]

My sub is about to expire, so anyone have good recommendations for another MMO?

 

I'm leaning towards FFXIV, maybe WoW or Guild Wars 2 (all active with new expansions recently or coming). Something that can be played solo a good deal of the time (it'll definitely take me a while to learn the mechanics). SWTOR is the only MMO I've played (well, I dabbled with Star Trek Online years ago, but that sounds like too much F2P and cash shop stuff by now), but hopefully I can adapt fast enough.

 

Mainly I'm trying to find good beginner sites for those games. Like WoW has so much content and most guides are for endgame builds. I'm still trying to figure out which WoW servers are west coast, whether to start on a high population one or someplace quieter (yeah, I'm easily confused). A "good" thing about SWTOR was eventually it was easy to keep track of servers. Well, I guess I can just try their "trial" but just curious if anyone else know any good sites first. Dulfy is great (and has been invaluable for SWTOR over the years) but starting from scratch again in another MMO is kind of daunting.

[CKNORTH]

My sub is about to expire, so anyone have good recommendations for another MMO?

 

I'm leaning towards FFXIV, maybe WoW or Guild Wars 2 (all active with new expansions recently or coming). Something that can be played solo a good deal of the time (it'll definitely take me a while to learn the mechanics). SWTOR is the only MMO I've played (well, I dabbled with Star Trek Online years ago, but that sounds like too much F2P and cash shop stuff by now), but hopefully I can adapt fast enough.

 

Mainly I'm trying to find good beginner sites for those games. Like WoW has so much content and most guides are for endgame builds. I'm still trying to figure out which WoW servers are west coast, whether to start on a high population one or someplace quieter (yeah, I'm easily confused). A "good" thing about SWTOR was eventually it was easy to keep track of servers. Well, I guess I can just try their "trial" but just curious if anyone else know any good sites first. Dulfy is great (and has been invaluable for SWTOR over the years) but starting from scratch again in another MMO is kind of daunting.

 

I wish MMO's were fresh again when I started back in 2001. Wow has a lot of content yes but starting fresh can be a bit annoying because everyone has max Heirloom gear, Heirloom gear is gear you can equip at lvl 1 and stats increase as you level to cap but they have stages you need to pay gold for. And most likely your looking at about 300k gold to cap all of it to 110. So buying tokens or boosting a character becomes very tempting. Don't boost any character to lvl 100 until you level one that far you would be utterly lost.

 

I'll be quite honest in saying this but keep SWTOR as a back up game and play a new game preferable a single player online game that is in early stages of development either Alpha or Beta stages. Reason being you learn to play it as it gets developed. It's all I do now I found a game I like I paid for the Backer stage I liked. And now I can sit back and enjoy. Perks to me are a big + so find one that has the perks you like. Anyhow people here will fire all type of ideas at you but best advice is buy into an alpha or beta. It's worth it, but do your research too. I hope this helps!

 

Edit: Reason i say Online Single player game is due to me being bias to a degree. 90% of MMO's are Orc Castle hack and slash. with the exception of a few. also most are Old games that tend to have a lot of top end people. it is all preference really. New players are nice in MMO's because it helps the game, but community in those games can mostly be rather degrading to new players... some people aren't but most are, with that being said you will get a lot of negative BS, Unless you find someone nice enough to help or show you the ropes. one game you could try is Lord of the rings online they have a great community or Elder Scrolls online. People there from what i seen are fairly nice.

Edited September 27, 2017 by CKNORTH

[hallucigenocide]

ot of those 3 i would probably go for GW2. the base game is free and if you like it you'll only need to pay for the expansion. it's also a very casual friendly game as in once you've got yourself a decent set of orange gear at max level you don't really need to worry about upgrading it anymore unless you intend to be hardcore about it. so you can come and go as you like and still be able to join in on most things.

 

FFXIV got a lot of forced group content

WoW is pretty dated and pretty much built to rush you to max level these days

[SolarSaenz]

FF14 (Final Fantasy 14) definitely has good group content and lots of mechanics for their versions of FPs and ops. It has a unique take on repeatable quests. It certainly receives a significant amount of TLC that SWTOR doesn't.

 

Coming from SWTOR, the story (at least the lv 1-50) in my opinion isn't the strong point of the game. You don't get companions in the same way you get companions in SWTOR. Your character is mute and hardly ever makes conversation choices. And, only a fraction of the cut scenes are voice acted. A lot of cut scenes are just text.

It's a beautiful game, and you get a lot more ways to customize the appearance of your character.

 

You have to buy the game and expansions and then pay like $15 per month for subscription. But, I think it's worth the price.

 

ESO (Elder Scrolls Online) is good too, in my opinion, if you like open world exploration. Your character is mute, but the NPCs speak in cut scenes. The dialogue is kind of like KOTOR classic style conversations. You can solo a lot of it, but they do have group content.

 

The combat is different than SWTOR. I'm not saying it's better or worse. It's just different and may take some time getting used to. ESO, in my opinion, does level sync better than SWTOR. ESO is buy to play with an optional subscription. The world is beautiful. You have night and day (ff14 has night and day too). Again, you don't really get companions like you do in SWTOR.

 

I personally find the lore hard to get into. It seems like they are trying too hard. I get the feeling that Elder Scrolls is trying too hard to be Lord of the Rings on super steroids or trying to one up Dungeons & Dragons/Forgotten Realms in the lore department. But, maybe that's just me. maybe if you're already familiar with other elder scrolls games like Skyrim, you really get into the lore.

 

The story is kind of weak. While some of the boss fights themselves are pretty cool, it feels like the game is trying too

hard deliver a climax, but they don't have an awesome beginning and middle to make that climax ...errr... climactic.

 

Also, ESO uses hero engine, but they did hero engine right. The game looks fantastic.

 

I haven't really tried any other MMO.

 

Looking ahead, I'm keeping a close eye on Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen. It's still like in the later stages of development I don't think they've released their alpha version yet. It looks like it could be good.

 

I'm also interested in Ashes of Creation. Again, this game isn't released yet. but, I don't think it will be long.

[SteveTheCynic]

ot of those 3 i would probably go for GW2. the base game is free and if you like it you'll only need to pay for the expansion. it's also a very casual friendly game as in once you've got yourself a decent set of orange gear at max level you don't really need to worry about upgrading it anymore unless you intend to be hardcore about it. so you can come and go as you like and still be able to join in on most things.

 

FFXIV got a lot of forced group content

WoW is pretty dated and pretty much built to rush you to max level these days

I like GW2.

 

FFXIV is beautiful, and has a fascinating world and story and class system, but having to do a group dungeon every 5-10 levels after about level 20 in order to progress your story is [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] stupid, and is why I'm not playing it any more. But gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous. The day/night cycle and weather effects are amazing, and if you get lucky like I did a couple of times, the weather will change to something that matches the mood of a cinematic or "open-world" NPC conversation just in time for you to begin. Standing talking to an NPC in ----ing-down rain and a howling gale that's making the rain fall at 45 degrees is a great thing to see. But GDMF dungeons as part of the story, just say no.

 

I poked WoW one time, and found it all a bit meh.

 

But if SWTOR faceplants, I will be going to GW2 as a main game. The new expansion (out for LESS than a week) has some great stuff in it, and I think the new mounts are an absolute blast. You know, just tooling around riding the mount for no other reason than the fun of riding it:

* Raptor: medium-sized dinosaur-type raptor with a "forward leap" special ability that's good for crossing canyons.

* Springer: sort of jerboa thing that can make big huge vertical leaps.

* Sand Jackal: made of sand, this one has a forward-blink ability and a special power to use specially placed portals to access interesting content.

* Skimmer: my favourite, a sort of low-flying manta ray which can cross water. Its special ability is flying short distances at a greater speed and height than normal, which allows it to cross some walls or gates, although for crossing higher walls, you need a Springer. It is also the only way to survive travelling in the sulphurous channels of the Desolation.

 

There is, apparently, a fifth secret mount, but it's a secret. (You have to get all four of the others first, and I have yet to get the Sand Jackal.)

 

The ones I've tried all give a feel of a real creature with weight and inertia, and the skimmer, being somewhat like a sort of hovercraft, tends to skid when turning, and is really reluctant to go up steep hills. On the other hand, if you drive the skimmer off a high place, you will take no falling damage when you reach the ground. None.

 

All the mounts have the added feature that's missing in SWTOR that if you try to ride one through a place where there isn't room for it, it won't go.

[RandomNobody]

Right then, GW2 it is then, and if I don't like it, on to FFXIV. Hopefully the GW2 servers will settle down after a few days, then I'll try the base game out to see how it is.

 

I had heard something about FFXIV's group battles being required for the story, just hadn't been sure about that part yet. Well, it is an MMO, but wish there was a solo option (especially given Final Fantasy's origins). Its too bad, I love FF (and the game looks beautiful and I'm interested in how the PS4 version runs), but I'll try that later maybe.

 

It would be nice to be able to join an MMO at the start, but the timing isn't that easy either. Who knew ARR would turn out so well? I've been playing SWTOR mostly since launch (from KotOR and ME to here), but the last two years have sapped most of my motivation for this game.

 

Thank you for all the answers. Now to see if my computer can run GW2 without struggling too much.

Edited September 28, 2017 by RandomNobody

[dscount]

Funny you should ask. I'm active in each of those games right now. SWTOR is going down the crapper again and I really doubt it's going to come back up for air this time.

 

My "quick" review based on my time in each of those games except GW2.

• ESO is pretty cool and the PVP is decent if you like that. Lots of free space and SOLO content.
  
• GW2 has been a while, but I've heard from friends it's not very populated (Like SWTOR levels)
  
• FFXIV is just awesome graphics, but lacks the voice overs. If you love crafting this is the game for you. I love the fact you can level any class, any crafting, any gathering all on the same character. SWTOR and WOW could learn from that. The FREE to PLAY model is pretty liberal here and you can level to 30 and stop and get a LOT of stuff done. If you want a friend key just let me know (I think purchase is needed to leverage most benefits).
  
• WOW has volumes of content lately - in fact TOO much content. Nearly impossible to keep up on gearing, but I know a dry spell has to be coming soon. This game has lots of catch up mechanics for new people. (SWTOR could learn from) You can also TRIAL run level 100 characters for a bit to see if you like them.
  

[SteveTheCynic]

Funny you should ask. I'm active in each of those games right now. SWTOR is going down the crapper again and I really doubt it's going to come back up for air this time.

 

My "quick" review based on my time in each of those games except GW2.

• GW2 has been a while, but I've heard from friends it's not very populated (Like SWTOR levels)
  

It's nothing like that quiet. The maps are fairly large, especially in the new expansion, so there's plenty of room for you to not find people in. And the "old" maps are somewhat depopulated because the old-time players are in the Path of Fire maps.

 

And I found a lightsabre! In GW2!

 

Here is my character seen from behind. The weapon on her right hip is a dagger. The one on the left is a sword...

And here she has drawn her weapons. That sword looks a little different here.

And here she is, assaulting some thugs.

 

Note that you have to get an Engineer to level 80 and have Path of Fire and earn another 30 hero points above the ones you get for levelling up, and unlock the "Holosmith" elite specialisation to get the weapon, and then you have to equip the specialisation before your Engineer-now-Holosmith can wield it. (And only the first one you do this with gets the weapon for free. All other characters - including non-Engineers - must apply the skin to a sword obtained by other means.)

[orangenee]

I keep side eyeing GW 2 myself, given it's old this craptop can probably run it acceptably.

 

No real need to download another monstrous amount of game just yet though.

[Jeweledleah]

It's nothing like that quiet. The maps are fairly large, especially in the new expansion, so there's plenty of room for you to not find people in. And the "old" maps are somewhat depopulated because the old-time players are in the Path of Fire maps.

 

And I found a lightsabre! In GW2!

 

Here is my character seen from behind. The weapon on her right hip is a dagger. The one on the left is a sword...

And here she has drawn her weapons. That sword looks a little different here.

And here she is, assaulting some thugs.

 

Note that you have to get an Engineer to level 80 and have Path of Fire and earn another 30 hero points above the ones you get for levelling up, and unlock the "Holosmith" elite specialisation to get the weapon, and then you have to equip the specialisation before your Engineer-now-Holosmith can wield it. (And only the first one you do this with gets the weapon for free. All other characters - including non-Engineers - must apply the skin to a sword obtained by other means.)

 

dude.. you are tempting me to give Path of fire another go with these pics. I do have an adorable asura engineer, I just got used to different kinds of action combat I suppose is the best way of putting it, and didn't at all enjoy myself during open acess weekends (though the game looks better then ever). but... the lightsaber! I may need to give it another go (I mostly just play a tourist in GW2 nowadays - its an incredibly visually and audio pleasing game to me)

 

edited to add, mostly been playing ESO lately. I love it. I get that its not for everyone, but I love it. that would be the game that got me used to slightly different feeling action combat (to be honest, after ESO, GW2 felt... clunky. even though there are a LOT of similarities, from limited number of active abilities, to aiming to dodge rolling to weapon swapping)

Edited September 28, 2017 by Jeweledleah

[Suzsi]

If you like modern day vampire/demons etc stories the secret world is actually quite good -- it has an awesome story involved. Edited September 28, 2017 by Suzsi

[UmbralSpirit]

Looking ahead, I'm keeping a close eye on Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen. It's still like in the later stages of development I don't think they've released their alpha version yet. It looks like it could be good.

 

I'm also interested in Ashes of Creation. Again, this game isn't released yet. but, I don't think it will be long.

 

Don't get your hopes up, pretty much every MMO in the past years that has been praised as the new "bestest thing of all bestest things" beforehand has been a disappointment.

 

At least i'm not very optimistic anymore.

Edited September 29, 2017 by UmbralSpirit

[orangenee]

On second thought, looks like GW2 is out. The latest expansion exceeds my "modest" specs too much.

[SteveTheCynic]

On second thought, looks like GW2 is out. The latest expansion exceeds my "modest" specs too much.

How modest? I have a slow-for-2011 machine(1) that I run it on, and Path of Fire runs OK. Not great, but not bad. The pix on the previous page were made on this machine. (Where it can be problematic is when I get into zerg situations, but the zergs have to be way far bigger than what SWTOR could ever handle. A zerg with 50 players will stress my machine, but not catastrophically.)

 

(1) i5 760 (four one-thread cores) at 2.8GHz, 8GB RAM, NVidia 430GT with 1GB RAM, Windows 10 Pro 64. I use the 64-bit client. Turn off reflections, though, or some places will go super slow.

[orangenee]

Yours is a super computer compared to mine.

 

Mine is a craptop with an e2-1800 dual core APU (1.7ghz) with a radeon HD 7340 (384MB to itself but can share the system RAM) and 6GB of RAM.

 

I bought it never intending to use it for gaming but due to an incident my old rig got killed so I'm stuck with it for now.

 

I may well run the game in lowest of the low settings but I don't see the point. It can run SWTOR on fairly high settings considering at a reasonable FPS (over 30 mostly). It maybe would run a bit better if the landlord would let me drill a hole in the wall to run an ethernet cable to the router but as it stands it's also wireless town for me too.

 

In short; if yours can just about run it, I doubt mine could at all.

[SteveTheCynic]

Ouch. Yeah, that's likely to struggle with GW2. I have mine on approximately medium graphics (some things low, some high, full shadows, but no reflections). I just won a few thousand euros in a "side" draw because I bought some EuroMillions tickets online (I didn't win this money actually from EuroMillions itself, but simply for buying a two-week, two-grid draw on the official site. Go figure), so when the money finally reaches me, it's time for a new computer. That will be fun.

[orangenee]

I can afford a new one. Just I can't justify it right now. Aside from a few luxuries I live a fairly spartan life, if I can't use it I don't want it type of deal.

 

Enjoy your winnings when they come through anyway. Always nice to have a gamble pay off. In my case the gees gees have not been performing to spec.

[CKNORTH]

I can afford a new one. Just I can't justify it right now. Aside from a few luxuries I live a fairly spartan life, if I can't use it I don't want it type of deal.

 

Enjoy your winnings when they come through anyway. Always nice to have a gamble pay off. In my case the gees gees have not been performing to spec.

 

i have a bit of a tip for you my friend, look up Linux Mint OS. then DL PlayOnLinux... a whole new world will open up for you.

 

its quite amazing. i will never be burdened by Windows OS or Crapentosh again! hope this helps my friend. Enjoy!!

[TheRobDaCool]

I've tried several MMO's (GW2, FF14, WoW, Dragon Quest X, Phantasy Star Online 2) and couldn't get into any of them. I am thinking, perhaps, MMO's are not my thing.

[CKNORTH]

I've tried several MMO's (GW2, FF14, WoW, Dragon Quest X, Phantasy Star Online 2) and couldn't get into any of them. I am thinking, perhaps, MMO's are not my thing.

 

i have done the opposite in a sense. been playing them for too long and realize they aren't my thing either LOL.

 

i am now looking at playing a single player online game. i really miss the days where you pay for a game install it and play the game. reason i want the online part to a single player game is because updates and content such as expansions are a lot easer to get. At this point in my life, i rather hibernate, Also why would i ever want to leave my house Y'all are crazy people

 

anyhow i am off to install Age of Mythology for free later Dudes!!

[orangenee]

i have a bit of a tip for you my friend, look up Linux Mint OS. then DL PlayOnLinux... a whole new world will open up for you.

 

its quite amazing. i will never be burdened by Windows OS or Crapentosh again! hope this helps my friend. Enjoy!!

 

It certainly would free up a lot of resources. I'll have a gander and see about it when I upgrade my HDD.

[CKNORTH]

It certainly would free up a lot of resources. I'll have a gander and see about it when I upgrade my HDD.

 

i am really enjoying the OS, there are a few MMO's which are playable on it. STO, GW1-2, Neverwinter, EVE. to name a few. but if your looking for a casual game still in alpha that will have a Linux port and a very budget friendly buy in...

 

https://theuniversim.com/

 

it has starting $34USD pack and you can play in the alpha and beta. i have been waiting for a game like this for years, the community is really good too. anyhow hope you enjoy it if you decide to go that route!

[ForfiniteStories]

It depends on what you're looking for in an MMO.

 

I for one find it difficult to get into any other MMO other than SWTOR.

 

It's not perfect. It has its problems. But it does more important things right.

 

I may still be able to suggest something, but I have no clue what you want. Most of them are "WoW clones" anyway.

[light_senshi]

It depends on what you're looking for in an MMO.

 

I for one find it difficult to get into any other MMO other than SWTOR.

 

Personally, my biggest issue is that I don't like so called "action" MMOs. If I wanted to play a shooter, I'd play a shooter....not a shooter disguised as an MMO. I like my tab targeting, skill bar, and other shinies.

Edited October 4, 2017 by light_senshi

[DarthSpuds]

If you like modern day vampire/demons etc stories the secret world is actually quite good -- it has an awesome story involved.

 

I live the story, the game world and the graphical style of TSW; but even after the recent relaunch I am still not sure the combat mechanics, and skill management thing works for me.

 

All The Best