Looking to play a MMO...

[Malakili]

I still don't have this feeling that there is a constant war going on though.  I'm just moeping about.

You will never get this feeling.  Maybe when you finally get to the Wrath of the Lich King content on a PvP server, MAYBE.    The original concept of the game held the "war" up to be a big deal, but at this point, its a fleeting memory at best, and has been replaced with mini games like battlegrounds.

[Sky]

On mechanics, yeah, it's just EQ1 with less grind. Not that this is a problem if you liked EQ1 barring the grind.

Except with the mechanic of group-only dungeons. I love me some exclusionary gameplay!

[Lantyssa]

(Warriors are kind of annoying to take to Silverymoon though.  Your nearest trainer is in Brill.)

Or Undercity - which at least is a portal away.

More annoying is Shaman - nearest trainer is in Orgrimmar.  Surprising as there's even a Druid trainer in Silvermoon.

Brill is closer because the teleporter is close to the outside wall.  The Undercity trainer requires running to the elevator then winding your way through the alleys to reach the War Quarter.

Where is the Shaman in Ogrimmar?  (Warrior is at the back of the city. ><)  At least the blimp is between the portal and Brill.

I saw the Druid trainer there and I wondered why they couldn't add a warrior, and shaman now that you mention it.

[PalmTrees]

Except with the mechanic of group-only dungeons. I love me some exclusionary gameplay!
[/quote]

Did you mean group-only in the sense of instanced content like CoH or group only as in takes a group to survive? Because I love me some instances and can deal with group only areas as long as my solo quest chains don't wind up there, which they do much too often.

[Sky]

Elite-tagged mobs that are balanced for groups to fight. You can zone in, good luck doing much after.

EQ2 has it, too. A few classes played well in EQ2 can take on Heroics (as they're called there), but it's pretty dicey for most regular folks.

[tazelbain]

It's Sky.  He wants MSOGs.

[Sky]

That is very much not true. We've been over this at least once. 

[PalmTrees]

Elite-tagged mobs that are balanced for groups to fight. You can zone in, good luck doing much after.

EQ2 has it, too. A few classes played well in EQ2 can take on Heroics (as they're called there), but it's pretty dicey for most regular folks.

Oh yeah, played eq2 a bit and those ^^^ bastards would stomp my poor enchanter every once in a while.

[Roentgen]

I just resubbed to Lineage 2.  I can attest to the fact that the dick-kicking grind has been seriously reduced.  Shit tons of XP per kill and 99% less downtime.  Literally.  I leveled a character from level 37 to 40 at the sea of spores with NO downtime. I only had to go back to town to get more soulshot.

[Kageru]

I have to hunt down some tigers for hides and these other creatures that drop some stuff I need (no names were given) that it doesn't even give me any hints where either of them are (at least the other quests it gave me hints.. NW NE somewhere).  I literally ran all the way to another town with no sight of these tigers.  I'm going to try swimming to these little islands across from the village, but I have no idea what tigers would be doing on those little islands, but you never know.

You *sure* about that? Here's the last line of the quest text from wowhead.

"Bring me 4 Durotar tiger furs, and I shall reward you. You can find them on the islands south of here."

There are some quests in wow which are unclear, but not many considering the massive number of quests the game contains. And if you do run into problems wowhead (www.wowhead.com) will give you all the information you desire.

Also note that level 1-80 in WoW is basically a tutorial, solo game. The challenge is in the instances (a bit) and the heroic instances and raids.

[eldaec]

On mechanics, yeah, it's just EQ1 with less grind. Not that this is a problem if you liked EQ1 barring the grind.

Except with the mechanic of group-only dungeons. I love me some exclusionary gameplay!

EQ had dungeons that were effectively group only.

[damijin]

So, like Cheddar, I've gone back to retail L2 with some friends.

Report: It's pretty damn awesome. The game has been totally changed.

Among the changes, significant rest XP that speeds up leveling to 2-3x faster than the game used to be.

Common items, which are like normal gear, but can't be enchanted. They're also like 1/10th the price, so getting geared up in decent gear is no longer a huge hassle that requires botting or ebaying.

Newbie buffs up to level 61. You get all the buffs you need to solo XP all the way up to level 61.

Baby pets. If you choose to level up a baby cougar, buffalo, or bird with your character from level 25 onward, you wont need a buffer even after level 61. A level 70 buffalo for instance, has focus 3, death whisper 3, vampiric rage 4, guidance 3, haste 2, bless the body 6, might 3, and shield 3. This is all the buffs you would need to do pretty much anything, so I advise grabbing one of those if you want to solo a melee character. Pick it up at level 25 cause you need to be the same level as the pet (roughly) to level it efficiently. So if you miss that opportunity window, you're fucked and cant level one. Oh, the buffalo also heals you. Kookooburra (bird) recharges mages and gives mage buffs. Cougar has a weaker heal, but buffs both melee and mage buffs. Useful for some classes.

Herbs. When hunting out in fields, monsters drop herb items that instantly increase hp or mp and give some buffs, these are really really useful and make downtime non-existent in fields. They aren't in dungeons because those are supposed to be for parties, so you should have a healer.

All of these features combined, with a few other things, have made the game far more tolerable to play. If you're looking for a populated server, it seems Phoenix is the most active North American at the moment.

One of my old clannies had a geared up 79 Overlord with 76 Spellhowler sub, so I'm playing that. I subbed tyrant and did 40 to 45 in one 4 or 5 hour session. I've gotten to 52 in about 5 days, not playing every day.

A friend playing every day did 1-52 and caught up to me in 4 days. You can do 1-20 in literally 45 minutes. Don't grind it, do the quests that the newbie guide gives you.

[Cheddar]

Baby pets. If you choose to level up a baby cougar, buffalo, or bird with your character from level 25 onward, you wont need a buffer even after level 61. A level 70 buffalo for instance, has focus 3, death whisper 3, vampiric rage 4, guidance 3, haste 2, bless the body 6, might 3, and shield 3. This is all the buffs you would need to do pretty much anything, so I advise grabbing one of those if you want to solo a melee character. Pick it up at level 25 cause you need to be the same level as the pet (roughly) to level it efficiently. So if you miss that opportunity window, you're fucked and cant level one. Oh, the buffalo also heals you. Kookooburra (bird) recharges mages and gives mage buffs. Cougar has a weaker heal, but buffs both melee and mage buffs. Useful for some classes.

Whoa, did not know about this.  Was wondering what those pets were for!  Thanks for the tip.

[Chinchilla]

You *sure* about that? Here's the last line of the quest text from wowhead.

I'm a dumbass and must have missed that part.  I'll reread that tonight.  I plan on getting a little bit of gaming in tonight.  I'm trying to give WoW a fair try.  I might end up trying L2 as well.

[Kageru]

Did you mention which server your on, couldn't see it? Given the number of WoW servers it's probably not Caelestrasz / Horde... But if by chance it is shoot me a tell (characters name is Shinrai) sometime.

[damijin]

What server are you on Cheddar?

Phoenix is quite nice.

[Cheddar]

Phoenix.  I know I should not be having a good time, but for some reason I am!  Currently I am working on a Pole Arm Dwarf.  I really really really would like to level my Buffalo, but he keeps dying as I gather mobs into a group for MASSIVE SLAUGHTER.   

Plus he levels slow as a bitch (I always seem to have vitality).  Any tips on levelling a pet?  Or should I just buy one at 55?

[Falconeer]

Lineage 2, old violent love of mine... if it weren't for Demon's Souls I'd be there already, again!

[damijin]

Should probably try to grab a high level one in Giran. Leveling them from 25 if you aren't also 25 is a bitch.

Actually, I tried to partner one with a scavanger solo bot at 25, and that one dies too :-\

The one that I use on my legit main 54 tyrant never dies. After 55 they get lots more health and he has a 2m piece of pet armor that lets him tank a good number of hits. Every takes a few shots to die in PvP!

Are you a BH or WS? Dwarf is ridiculous to play, but my friends and I may need a warsmith. If you're around 55 you could probably even group with us when we're around.

We have:

Level 78+ Prophet for buffs out of party.
Level 78+ Warcrier for buffs out of party.
Level 79 Abyss Walker, subbed 76 Hawkeye, subbed 55 Bladedancer (leveling now)
Level 79 Overlord, subbed 76 spellhowler, subbed 54 tyrant (leveling now, me)
Level 79 Spellhowler, subbed 77 bladedancer, subber 58 treasure hunter (leveling now)
Level 79 Hawkeye, subbed 76+ some DD, I forget, subbed 52 Sword Singer (leveling now)
Level 54 Hawkeye, no subs (leveling now)
Level 78 Spellhowler subbed 76 Hawkeye subbed 69 Warlock (waiting for us to catch up to him)
Level 79 Elven Elder, subbed 76+ Hawkeye, subbed 65+ tyrant (waiting for us to catch up)
Level 65+ Treasure hunter (waiting for us to catch up)

And several SEs for recharging and such of various levels.

We have a few boss jewels, most these chars got stripped by our clan leaders when we all quit over a year ago, so gear on the mains is spotty. Some people are totally broke. Some ebaying to get stuff back. We're doing whatever we can to scrounge up resources from our old friends and connections. All in all we have an extremely strong core though, and we'll form a small elite grief-focused clan with it, intending to disrupt the activities of some of the "Elite" top PvP clans.

[schild]

I have a theory that anyone who plays Lineage 2 just likes Diku as a design paradigm. And as such, is part of the problem.

It's less theory and more law.

[Cheddar]

We have:

Level 78+ Prophet for buffs out of party.
Level 78+ Warcrier for buffs out of party.
Level 79 Abyss Walker, subbed 76 Hawkeye, subbed 55 Bladedancer (leveling now)
Level 79 Overlord, subbed 76 spellhowler, subbed 54 tyrant (leveling now, me)
Level 79 Spellhowler, subbed 77 bladedancer, subber 58 treasure hunter (leveling now)
Level 79 Hawkeye, subbed 76+ some DD, I forget, subbed 52 Sword Singer (leveling now)
Level 54 Hawkeye, no subs (leveling now)
Level 78 Spellhowler subbed 76 Hawkeye subbed 69 Warlock (waiting for us to catch up to him)
Level 79 Elven Elder, subbed 76+ Hawkeye, subbed 65+ tyrant (waiting for us to catch up)
Level 65+ Treasure hunter (waiting for us to catch up)

And several SEs for recharging and such of various levels.

We have a few boss jewels, most these chars got stripped by our clan leaders when we all quit over a year ago, so gear on the mains is spotty. Some people are totally broke. Some ebaying to get stuff back. We're doing whatever we can to scrounge up resources from our old friends and connections. All in all we have an extremely strong core though, and we'll form a small elite grief-focused clan with it, intending to disrupt the activities of some of the "Elite" top PvP clans.

War Smith - level 32.  I have no idea what any of that stuff means, but am down with joining your clan. 

[damijin]

It means we have ridiculously bad ass shit. Not quite as bad ass as nova, but pretty bad ass!

Character name?

Oh also, you don't have to do the 40 quest anymore. Just pay 2 or 3m adena. We'll have you covered on that if you dont have it.

[Cheddar]

It means we have ridiculously bad ass shit. Not quite as bad ass as nova, but pretty bad ass!

Character name?

Oh also, you don't have to do the 40 quest anymore. Just pay 2 or 3m adena. We'll have you covered on that if you dont have it.

Arzhel is my main dude.  I have made some money via flipping - if you have someone who can cast recharge on me I can get enough cash to cover myself for a long time.  Mana is a bitch!

[Howitzer]

Am I the only one who finds it amusing the Lineage 2 calls their scheme 'refer a friend'? I mean, if someone is your friend...


EDIT:.....sorry, too easy, and now I can't think of anything meaningful to add to stop this being a worthless reply. Maybe there is a message there about Lineage.

Now, if this doesn't suit you, it's time to try something completely different and get someone to give you 21-day EVE trial. Ah, EVE, you've kicked me, beaten me, but still I've crawled back, and even though I know you'll do it again after I let my guard down, I'm too much of a sucker by now not to have a need to know what your next move might be. Why EVE? Well, there's the F13 crew keeping things afloat. We're pretty happy of what we have achieved and our wealth is lovingly spread among our possible recruits, which you can't enjoy in WoW for example, because trial characters can't accept donations. They can in EVE though! The first month is still fairly tricky and non-rewarding, as you have to do Learning skills to not gimp your progress, which sucks since it's just a timesink that might deter you from wanting any future progress at all. The newbie experience has been simplified and improved just recently, and I'm happy CCP has concerned themselves with this, but it would be nice to get feedback from actual new players.

Thankfully, EVE is a sandbox game. For new players it's like being thrown into a pool, but you've never swam before. Except there's seven types of flesh eating fish there. Oh, and it's not really water, it's some sort of flammable acid. But really, I would have quit playing, but we have some pretty darn great people in our group, people that have managed to carve out something for themselves and they let other people share the experience (with some minor prereqs). Goals are important in EVE, as you're pretty much the only one making them. There's a lot to do and a lot to see, but you have to understand that much of it is capitalised by bigger entities, because EVE is as much a sandbox as it is a social game. And a PvP game! I honestly don't know any other video game that has gotten my heart race.

I think it's important to read some EVE stories while you go through the boring bits of the game. No one's going to lie to you, there are people in internet spaceships that would rather make your life boring and frustrating, but having a perception of the whole universe by reading war stories while autopiloting or having Spelunky open on a second window while you chill and shoot control towers can help get through those.

Just got back into EVE.  Great game.

[Chinchilla]

I will be giving this Lineage 2 a try because I'm curious to see what its all about.  I will be 10 day trailing Eve too.

[Miguel]

Which MMO to play??

I'm going to quote from Vegas Vacation:

Blackjack Dealer: Why don't you give me half the money you were going to spend, then we'll go out back, I'll kick you in the nuts and we'll call it a day!

[Cheddar]

L2 evidently does not begin until around level 60.  Fuck that.

I could stand it if the buggy controls were better, or if gameplay was better.  As it is I am just gonna try and make cash until my sub runs out.  I am contemplating EQ2. 

[damijin]

L2 evidently does not begin until around level 60.  Fuck that.

I could stand it if the buggy controls were better, or if gameplay was better.  As it is I am just gonna try and make cash until my sub runs out.  I am contemplating EQ2. 

I think you mean level 80.

I played to 69, then just started using shared characters from my alliance that were botted or catassed to ridiculous levels. I'm not really a grinder personally, but Im apparently trustworthy enough to have access to all the important characters I would ever want to play.

[Chinchilla]

After trying out a few different MMO's I really do feel that for the amount of time and such I will invest that Warhammer is the best.  It has the fast paced PvP (RvR as they call it) and I really enjoy the setting and classes.  This may change in a few months, but for now this is it.  Any of you guys out there still play?

I'm trying out Dark Crag for my chaos character.  Not sure about my Order one.

[Cheddar]

After trying out a few different MMO's I really do feel that for the amount of time and such I will invest that Warhammer is the best.  It has the fast paced PvP (RvR as they call it) and I really enjoy the setting and classes.  This may change in a few months, but for now this is it.  Any of you guys out there still play?

I'm trying out Dark Crag for my chaos character.  Not sure about my Order one.

No.

[eldaec]

Jesus Christ.

[Nebu]

After trying out a few different MMO's I really do feel that for the amount of time and such I will invest that Warhammer is the best.  It has the fast paced PvP (RvR as they call it) and I really enjoy the setting and classes.  This may change in a few months, but for now this is it.  Any of you guys out there still play?

I'm trying out Dark Crag for my chaos character.  Not sure about my Order one.

He'll be back to ask about MMO's again after he gets out of tier 1. 

WAR is a lot of fun in Tier 1.  After that... not so much.