The next big PvE MMORPG

[Thales]

Hi, everyone.

I've been doing a lot of research lately, trying to figure out what the next big PvE MMORPG might be.  I'm shopping trying to find a game that fits my personal list of qualities for a great MMORPG:

Necessities:

• Fantasy setting
• PvE focus (ability to chose a server with only consensual PvP and no major integration of PvP into the mechanics of the game)
• Diversity of races and classes
• No F2P, RMT, etc. games (subscription only)
• Lots of soloable content, so that I can actually have fun when I don't have time to LFG or raid

Optional Personal Preferences:

• A strong conjuror/pet class
• Very fine visual character customization
• Lots of character advancement paths
• Robust crafting (i.e. crafting produces useful items without investment of near-infinite resources)
• LFG system that works well
• Lots of guild tools in-game

So far, I have only found a few games that satisfy my list of necessities.  I thought I'd post them here (and try to keep this list updated) in case you're interested.  I'd post this on a site like mmorpg.com, but I don't want to argue with trolls.

Tera Online

This one seems to meet all of my requirements except possibly having lots of soloable content.  That remains to be seen.  As for my "wants", well, there isn't enough information out yet to tell.  The main problem I forsee with it is that, as a Korean MMO, it might suffer the same sort of development lag that Aion does.  In principle, that doesn't have to be a problem.  But when the kiddies in North America see their Korean counterparts get updates before they do, they tend to rage quit.  It also seems to have cribbed some races and classes from the next title on the list.

Another nice feature of this game is the smaller group size: 5 instead of the usual 6, so it should be easier to get groups.

Release date is probably early 2011.

Final Fantasy XIV

This one does seem to meet all of my requirements.  It's sure to make a big splash.  I will very likely give it a spin.  It also satisfies many of my "wants", including a conjuring class, multiple methods of character advancement, and lots of character customization options. 

Release date is late 2010.

The main problem I have in trying to find more games to add to this list is that it's really hard to tell a PvP game from a PvE game.  On MMORPG.com, both EQ2 and Aion are listed as PvP games (as are almost all games).  I think I saw people duel maybe five times in years of playing EQ2, whereas hourly ganking and the overwhelming focus on realm vs. realm conflict made Aion unplayably stupid for me. 

I will keep poking around.  Let me know if this list interests anyone.

Thales

[Wren]

Hey Thales,

Your list certainly interests me, and we share nearly all of the same 'necessities' from a game. I don't care that much about a subscription model versus not, though I would prefer a sub-fee game. More important to me is the travel system of a game. I hate, hate, HATE wastes of time. If I've been some place in a game already, I want to be able to return there with minimal effort. While travel in EQ2 has improved since the beginning, it is still awkward, inefficient, confusing and TIME WASTING!!!  The game with the best travel options I've ever played is still the first MMORPG I played: Asheron's Call. Portal and Lifestone recall combined with being able to summon those portals for others was a beautiful thing. If your group wanted to go someplace that you didn't have a portal for, that got irritating, as 'regular' travel was still a PIA, but not everyone had to go. Just one person who would tie their portal somewhere nearby, and then come back to pick up the group.

Not sure I'd be into a Korean game, mostly for the reasons you state. I would suspect that support for North Americans isn't the best either. There are so many amazing great NA devs--I prefer to support them.

For my personal preferences in a game, sadly I've become a picky old gamer, and have way too many little things that can niggle me. I do love *stuff on the ground*, as in collection quests, or harvestables, or little surprises, etc.  I also like to have a customizable UI that is intuitive, clean and feature-filled without being difficult to figure out how to access all those features. Chat system and inventory system is important. GOOD MAPS and directions in quests (I love waypoints) are very much appreciated. I do like the a la carte class system where you can mix and match skills across disciplines.

Keep us posted. I suspect for the next big game out there, I am likely to join www.theoldtimersguild.com, unless someone from here plans on running a medium-large sized guild that I would enjoy. Final Fantasy might be worth a try, though I would actually prefer a game not based on licensing.

See how picky I am? It might be YEARS.

happy day,

wren

[Kaid]

Right now there are only two big fantasy MMO that I know about that are lurking around aiming for a release next year.

Tera which you mentioned does look interesting if one can handle the animeish art clothing styles or lack there of. My problem with korean games is eventually most degenerate into massive grind fests I never buy a korean mmo on release I wait until I hear player reviews on the grindyness most korean games just are to much like eq1 massive mob grindfests.

Rift: planes of talaran is a game aiming for a release next year that looks pretty interesting and does have a conjuror class that looks similar to the mage from eq1 and eq2. Not a lot of info has been released about this one yet so no clue how it will turn out.


One of the biggest MMO on the horizon is the starwars old republic game by bioware. This one I will likely wind up playing at least for a while as I have yet to encounter a bioware game that I did not at least enjoy playing. Given the good job they did with KOTR1 and 2 they clearly understand the genera well to do a good job with it.

But for fantasy games baring something sneaking out its likely TERA or planes of talaran for 1st tier quality MMO.

[Thales]

Hi, Wren.

I think you and I have very similar desires for an MMO.  We are both busy people who play MMOs as recreation, not second careers, so we don't want our precious play time wasted.   I agree, too, that the more fun non-combat activities a game has (collection quests and the like), the better.  Those kinds of options mean more ways to have fun without organizing a raid and spending five hours on it. 

I am not really leary of Korean MMOs.  As I said, Aion was virtually flawless, but for the PvP mechanic.  If it had been a PvE game, I would still be playing.  I would prefer to support a Western MMO, just because I like the style of Western MMOs (I'm not into anime) and I like to be first in line for updates.  Still, given how precious my play time is, my loyalty is to the game I most enjoy playing.

I also agree that I'd prefer a game which wasn't licensed from some other IP, especially an IP I enjoyed in its original form (e.g. Star Trek).  Also, I don't like the focus in Asian games on annoying cutesy races.  Both FFXIV and Tera have ridiculously cutesy bobble-headed races.  EQ2's gigglegibber goblins and Aion's shuggos were really at my limit for cutesy characters, and they were NPCs!  I liked EQ2's Fae, but they were more "high fantasy" than "cutesy". 

Kaid, I didn't put Rifts on the list because there's so little information available about it.  I can't even tell whether it will have a significant PvP component.  With all those rifts opening everywhere and changing the terrain, it sounds to me a lot like an MMO version of Oblivion, which would be fine with me.  It's also very pretty.  I'll add it to the list if further research reveals it to have a strong PvE focus.

Thales

[Wren]

Kind of on a sideways topic, EQ2 will soon be revamping their travel (HALLELUJAH!):

http://eq2players.station.sony.com/news/read/current/3545

PS to Thales--if you'd like to travel to northern CA over Memorial Day weekend, I'm having my gaming BBQ that Saturday. ))