A Brave New World

[Ranorak]

As many people besides me, I am getting tired of the otherwise great world of Warcraft. (again)
I've had a great time in it, but everything grows dull after a while and even the latest patch only managed to re-spark that interest for a few weeks.

Now, I'm looking for my next fix.
But, there is so much MMO-ness out there, I've lost track. So I'm asking you all, if you can help me find something else to enjoy.

A few notes about some of the MMORPG's I have played:
*Star Wars TOR, was terrible at release, and while I haven't played it now that it's Free to Play, I don't think the issues I disliked have been resolved. AKA the "worlds" that were just corridors disguised as valleys. Compared to the lush, open areas of WoW.

*EVE-Online:
Love it, but just don't have the time and dedication to get into the big leagues.

*Guild Wars 2;
Love it, but I grew bored with it quite fast. I think it might have been because it felt like there was nothing to work to, or that it was just too similar to what I already knew.

*LotR Online:
I might never have given it the chance it deserved, but to me it was just a WoW clone, set in Middlearth. Maybe it did something better, or it shined later on. But the setting alone wasn't enough to keep me interested.

*Aion:
I have the game as a present, but never really played it. Besides it's wonderful graphics it didn't seem to offer anything new.


I'm having my eye on FF14 A realm reborn, but I prefer to give it a try before buying it, and so far, I haven't seen any trails yet. Though I have to say, I really, REALLY love the idea of a summoner class.

With this in mind, can any of you suggest me a fun MMORPG?
Feel free to use some of the ones I already played if you feel like I should just hang in there.
Like I said, I prefer the game to have a free trail, or at least a free client before I try them out.

So...
I'll just sit here...
Pressing the refresh button every few minutes...

I'm bored, did I mention that...

 

[jehk]

Well, as someone who plays a Summoner in FF14 I can recommend it. They might be one of the best DPS but their rotation is kinda complicated. The big reason to play FF14 are the dungeons. I haven't had this much fun since hard mode dungeons in Burning Crusade. Having said that there's a lot of little things in FF14 that need improvement. It seems like the developers are listening to player feedback but we'll see what patch 2.1 brings.

 

[Johnny Novgorod]

I can only speak for/again SWTOR. Yeah, the F2P doesn't seem like a bad deal at first but it wears you out eventually with imbecile restrictions, shutting you off most quest rewards, slowing down exp. raking, settign cooldown periods for EVERYTHING, limiting chat to 1 line every 60 seconds...

 

[Realitycrash]

If you got bored of Guild Wars 2, then I am unsure what else is out there for you, as most MMORPGs are just WoW-Clones. Try Age of Loathing? It's fun, if anything.

 

[Ranorak]

If you got bored of Guild Wars 2, then I am unsure what else is out there for you, as most MMORPGs are just WoW-Clones. Try Age of Loathing? It's fun, if anything.

Well, I didn't really get bored of Guild Wars 2, it's a bit different than bored.
I can't really explain it...
The mechanics were awesome, the setting is great, the classes feel cool and unique, but...

Maybe it's the lack "On the Horizon", I never really had something to look forward to, like "Ohhh.. in two levels I get X." or "Just 10 more levels and I can go to Y"

I probably should give it another chance.

 

[Realitycrash]

If you got bored of Guild Wars 2, then I am unsure what else is out there for you, as most MMORPGs are just WoW-Clones. Try Age of Loathing? It's fun, if anything.

Well, I didn't really get bored of Guild Wars 2, it's a bit different than bored.
I can't really explain it...
The mechanics were awesome, the setting is great, the classes feel cool and unique, but...

Maybe it's the lack "On the Horizon", I never really had something to look forward to, like "Ohhh.. in two levels I get X." or "Just 10 more levels and I can go to Y"

I probably should give it another chance.

If it is PvE-raiding that interests you, don't you look forward to 'phat-lootz'?
Sort of what kept me going in WoW.

 

[BloatedGuppy]

As many people besides me, I am getting tired of the otherwise great world of Warcraft. (again)

I've had a great time in it, but everything grows dull after a while and even the latest patch only managed to re-spark that interest for a few weeks.

Assuming you're just tired of Azeroth and don't have MMO fatigue...

There's little on the market right now that is like to impress you. You've tried GW2 and TOR, the #2 and #3 western MMOs on the market in terms of player base and vitality respectively...and found them wanting. It's not likely that Rift or Aion or any of the other more traditional MMO games that are lower on the totem pole will please. There are some mildly offbeat choices, like The Secret World or Neverwinter...but they're mostly notable for being bad. There's EVE, but it's quite a departure from WoW, and you're likely aware of it and would have tried it by now if it floated your boat.

My suggestion? Wait, and keep your eyes on one of these three. Try and squeeze into beta if you're impatient.

1. Wildstar. The present heir apparent to WoW in many ways...unsurprising as half the developer is old WoW people. Setting is sci-fi western lightly seasoned with magic. Aesthetically it is EXTREMELY evocative of WoW, although it brings a few new tricks to the table, like MOBA inspired combat full of movement and skill shots, ridiculously in-depth player housing, massive team based PvP set in destructible fortresses you build yourselves, and a re-emphasis on the "hardcore MMO player" that the genre has slowly moved away from. Currently in closed beta. Releases in Q1 2014. Will feature sub + PLEX style currency (ala EVE) you can use to pay for your sub with in-game money.

2. Elder Scrolls Online. Slightly more offbeat MMO with a significantly more well known IP. Less stylized than WoW or Wildstar, the graphics trend towards the "realistic", although they suffer from a bit of the same "plastic" feel that plagued EQ2. Has the option to build/design your own class to some degree, and features RMB/LMB action combat similar to the single player games. Has huge central province open PvP between three bizarre factions. Lots of potential. Initial reports from beta are a bit sour, but the game is presently in the polish stage. Due out in Q1 2014. Will feature sub + in game cash shop.

3. Everquest Next. Still in the alpha stages, but we know it will have a huge, deformable world where buildings can be knocked apart brick by brick and holes can be punched through the world, dumping you into underground caverns. It also boasts of doing away with traditional questing entirely, replacing it with "radiant AI" style monsters who spawn and engage in tomfoolery like roadside ambushes. No one has played it yet, so the veracity of these glimmering claims has yet to be established. Will have a Minecraft style world-editor released alongside it, and player made creations might find their way into the MMO proper. Will be Free to Play with microtransactions. Release date unknown, expect 2015 if not later.

 

[IndomitableSam]

Iplay a Scholar in FFXIV, which is one of the two branches Arcanist can become - Scholar(Healer) or Summoner(DPS). I really enjoy it. We have a group here on the site for Realm Reborn, and there are a bunch of us on the same server in a Free Company - check out the group, and ask questions if you want: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/Final-Fantasy-XIV-A-Realm-Reborn

None of us are at cap yet (Unless you could @Miyenne's Goldsmith, and maybe my 45 Weaver), and with the mechanics of the game, we often run low level dungeons with people. We're scatted over all levels, but the game is set up so your level syncs down to the required levels for a dungeon (you gear stays on and everything), so all you do is party up and queue for a dungeon and you get a good run in. Most dungeons take under an hour, too, so it's great.

If you want to try FFXIV, the game costs $30 and you get a month free, so it's not a huge investment. Server transfers are also happening soon, so I expect more Escapists will come over and join us, too. We've got about 15 people now, and there's usually a few of us on in the evenings or during the day.

 

[spartandude]

I am i the only one who came in here thinking it would be a discussion about Civilization V?

 

[Ranorak]

I am i the only one who came in here thinking it would be a discussion about Civilization V?

Sorry, I actually own that expansion but only just now realized the confusion it might cause.