Topic: MMO question (Read 1300 times)

Mongrel · « **on:** March 27, 2013, 07:28:05 PM »

Starr's been playing some MMOs lately, and most of them look, well, pretty lame.

Just wondering what suggestions there are for good MMOs that a) are free to play, b) kind to free-to-play players by not offering many or any restrictions (she's currently playing one which is area-restricted, but FTP players can still unlock pay areas by grinding certain bosses), and c) has a combat system that's not really dependant on reflexes (she's currently playing one with a card-based system, which appeals to her because MTG).

Büge · « **Reply #1 on:** March 27, 2013, 08:48:23 PM »

Well, Age of Conan fulfills all but C. They boast on the site that "you actually control every chop, thrust, and swing of your weapon" so I dunno.

http://www.ageofconan.com/playfree

Mongrel · « **Reply #2 on:** March 27, 2013, 09:03:45 PM »

Yeah, anything with a real-life dexterity requirement is not really going to be a winner with her. Like I'm willing to play with her in spite of my usually dislike of MMOs, but jesus is Wizard 101 ever a bland, boring, bucket of mould. Luckily she's open to trying other options, so long as they're in a realm she's comfortable with.

Bonus points to the above if grinding is minimal or non-existent. Or the game is actually, you know, fun.

TA · « **Reply #3 on:** March 27, 2013, 09:24:54 PM »

You're really not gonna find a game that doesn't have C to some degree, but I'd recommend The Secret World. It's not 100% free - there's a box price, but no recurring charge, and just about no restrictions on players who don't touch the cash shop - and it's really a superlative game. Very decidedly not Standard MMO.

I can throw you a couple of trial invites if you want, it's 3 days for free. Good way to burn a weekend.

Bal · « **Reply #4 on:** March 27, 2013, 09:55:19 PM »

Even full on hotkey MMOs in the vein of WoW require timed button presses to optimize your rotation. Some classes more than others, and it's really only demanding at the raid level. If she just wants to run around in a fantasy world whacking monsters just about any game whose aesthetic pleases her will do.

Mongrel · « **Reply #5 on:** March 27, 2013, 10:10:08 PM »

Quote from: Bal on March 27, 2013, 09:55:19 PM

hotkey MMOs [...] optimize your rotation

I don't even know what this means.

EDIT: Are you trying to tell me that the one MMO she's playing is the only one with a non-dexterity combat system? Because that actually seems kind of unlikely. I mean, it's "timed" in the sense that you have 30 seconds to play a spell from your hand. But that's not really a dexterity thing.

Bal · « **Reply #6 on:** March 27, 2013, 10:27:41 PM »

Hotkey MMO just refers to games that have ability bars controlled by hotkeys, as opposed to action oriented games or what have you.

An optimized rotation (at least in WoW, it varies somewhat), is when you're hitting your ability hotkeys in the most optimal pattern, attempting to stay as close to the global cooldown as possible, so that as many (of the correct for your class, build, situation, etc) abilities come out as possible. In WoW this means a correct button press about every 1.5 seconds. It's not really agility based in the action game sense, but a certain amount of precision is involved. Though again, that's really only necessary at high levels of play. Leveling is much more simple.

Mongrel · « **Reply #7 on:** March 27, 2013, 10:34:52 PM »

Yeah, okay, that seems like not a winner with her. Anything like that is rough on her hands and concentration and she plays this to kill longer chunks of time and relax (she WAS playing Minecraft, but she's been taking a break from that lately... hence the exploring new games). If she has the focus to do stuff quick like that then she'll just play a few throwaway rounds of a shooty game with us like L4D or TF2. For an MMO or whatever I'm looking for something along the lines of this card-based pseudo CCG system in that combat is purely based in decision-making.

Defenestration · « **Reply #8 on:** March 27, 2013, 10:39:10 PM »

Again, leveling is much more simple Mongrel. Taking WoW for an example you can almost autoshot (right click > autoattack) your way to max level as a hunter if you remember to heal your pet occasionally. Bal is referring to groups that need the additional people to kill a nasty boss, where obviously some effort will be required. If you level causally you are not going to hit level cap any time soon. And shit, if you like the leveling and hate the endgame, just level another alt.

Mongrel · « **Reply #9 on:** March 27, 2013, 10:50:29 PM »

That actually sounds interminably dull.

Brentai · « **Reply #10 on:** March 27, 2013, 10:52:23 PM »

Isn't The Old Republic free now? I heard that's mostly a talking game.

Defenestration · « **Reply #11 on:** March 27, 2013, 10:58:58 PM »

Quote from: Mongrel on March 27, 2013, 10:50:29 PM

That actually sounds interminably dull.

Obviously if you actually bother to play and fight equal or higher level mobs instead of ones 5 levels under you the process will be faster and more rewarding. More so if you have half an idea of what you're doing.

Leveling, not that I play MMOs anymore, is a very relaxing thing. I set my own pace, I try crazy things, I try weird builds and synergies that would hold back a group if they fail catastrophically. Is it dull and slower and grindier than other games? Of course it is, it's a goddamn MMO. You're going to grind no matter the case. And if you don't then in the current market it's sure to have no meaningful depth whatsoever.

Bal · « **Reply #12 on:** March 27, 2013, 11:10:53 PM »

I also found leveling relaxing. Good time to listen to podcasts too.

Mongrel · « **Reply #13 on:** March 27, 2013, 11:11:36 PM »

Okay, so I guess, people are just going to try and sell WoW then? Cool, okay.

I mean, I know that's just going to be boring and frustrating for her. And frankly that kind of stuff doesn't interest me at all either. If combat is going to be like that, I'd rather say fuck it to hotkeys and have it all dexterity based. I've seen WoW combat often enough and I've never said "gee that looks like fun". Neither has she.

Is it really such a crazy thing to ask for a strategic/turn-based combat system? has that suddenly become a wild and crazy thing that does not feature in games? Did she manage to find the only such MMO in the universe? If so, never mind then, I shouldn't have bothered asking.

Brentai · « **Reply #14 on:** March 27, 2013, 11:14:57 PM »

For the most part turn-based combat doesn't work in MMORPGs for reasons that should be pretty clear if you think about it. There's a focus on being able to work together as a team in those, you know, in real time.

There are plenty of web and flash games out there if you want a more solo/turn-based/asynchronous sort of thing. Not that I know jack shit about them. Kingdom of Loathing?

Maybe we should just have Thad turn his BBS back on and all pile into Overlord.

Bal · « **Reply #15 on:** March 27, 2013, 11:18:20 PM »

You weren't really listening. WoW is an example we're using because we've all played it. LOTRO, TOR, Guild Wars 2, and probably a bunch of other games I'm forgetting offer a very similar experience for either free or no monthly fee. It's just a matter of what turns your crank in terms of setting and mechanics.

MMO design is mostly of the hotkey variety, thanks to the success of WoW. Notable exceptions include Planetside 2, a twitch shooter, and various ARPG style MMOs you can find. This is just what MMOs are like, man. We're not trying to sell you on anything. I know for a fact that none of us that have talked about WoW even play it anymore, it's just that that's the state of the genre.

Mongrel · « **Reply #16 on:** March 27, 2013, 11:19:47 PM »

Well, she's playing one that features a turn-based combat system right now. And that game has and encourages team-based combat. So I know it's certainly possible.

It seems crazypants that she would magically stumble onto the only turn-based-combat MMO in the world. Wouldn't some of the ARPG-esque ones feature a turn-based combat system? Certainly there must be some JRPG ones that do.

Bal · « **Reply #17 on:** March 27, 2013, 11:22:18 PM »

Quote from: Mongrel on March 27, 2013, 11:19:47 PM

Well, she's playing one that features a turn-based combat system right now. And that game has and encourages team-based combat. So I know it's certainly possible.

It seems crazypants that she would magically stumble onto the only turn-based-combat MMO in the world.

I assure you, the turn based possibilities of the genre are severely limited, and indeed limiting in terms of design.

I guess she could play EVE? Nothing in that game happens fast by any standard, and it's mostly about warping to places, talking to people, and trying to provide a service valuable enough to make money or be a credit to your Corporation.

Mongrel · « **Reply #18 on:** March 27, 2013, 11:24:04 PM »

See the bit I added above.

Brentai · « **Reply #19 on:** March 27, 2013, 11:27:24 PM »

There WAS PSO Ep3, which was also a card battle thing, but it didn't live very long and nobody liked it.

Or there's, you know, the Magic game online, but I assume you've looked at that already.

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Author Topic: MMO question (Read 1300 times)