Help I need a Fantasy MMORPG fix

[Leoghan]

I have not played one in a while (a fantasy mmorpg) and I am looking for one to play until Mythica comes out. Any suggestions. I want something with good graphics, so I am sort of against going back to EQ.

[esion]

Well right now, it seems the best mmorpg out is FFXI...everyone is waiting for either WoW or EQ2 beta...but game-wise I would say pick up FFXI, its very fun and the graphics are great...

[Leoghan]

I read the review of it below. How would it compare as far as game mechanics to EQ, AC, DAOC? (I know I am asking a generalization about the similarities between these games).

I'll check out the offical site, but any info you want to add on how the game works I would love it. Thanks for the rec though.

[Bograt]

i have yet to play FFXI so cant really comment on that

but i would suggest playing DaoC (they have a new expansion) or FFXI as its one newest ones

How about Horizons? has anyone played it?

personally i am waiting for WoW beta (playing Kotor in the meantime)

[Leoghan]

Bograt,

How good are the improved visuals on the new expansion?

[esion]

Well I would say that FFXI holds true to its earlier counter parts. It has a very nice UI, filled with all sorts of menus and sub menus, which can all be controlled from the keyboard if you want. I would say the graphics are probably the best on the market thus far, but the character creation is a little lacking in choices. The class system is very nice, it allows you to be able to take two jobs and one advanced job. The leveling is EQish, its very long, and the con is you can delevel if you die too much...which is quite annoying.

Of all the mmorpgs out thus far I would recommend FFXI, unless you have a character on DAOC. The new expansion made the graphics better, and the new artifacts and master levels are crazy. I havent played it personally but I have friends that give me updates on it, and they tell me they really like it. Although the pvp really has died since the implemenation of the new master levels, everyone is waiting to get those before heading back into battle.

I dont believe horizons is on the shelf yet...is it? I didnt beta it, so I wouldnt know if it is good or not, and I havent heard any real reviews of it thus far.

[Leoghan]

Esion, how lacking is character creation? Is it as bad as EQ? What kinds of choices do you have. Sorry to ask so many questions, but the offical site was very lacking in info.

[Bograt]

the New DaoC expansion has improved the graphics quite a bit, the graphics were good before, this just adds a little shine, i would say its still the best mmorpg in Graphics and Gameplay

As Esion said PvP is dead at the moment, everyone is back to PvE to try out all the new area's, am sure PvP will pick up again in a month or so, but if ur new to DaoC u wont be PvP'ing for a while anyway

i have not seen much of Final Fantasy XI but the few friends that have it tell me its not worth getting if ur a serious mmorpg'er so i wont be getting it

[esion]

Well the character creation visuals are amazing...but the choices are sometimes a little poor.

So you get to chose your race...there are 5 races...

Galka: A tough and strong race, they are initially suited towards warriors and other fighter jobs.

Hume: Humans are the average race and have no direct benefits toward one job or another. If you would think you may end up switching jobs a lot its best to pick Hume as your race to be.

Mithra: Dexterous and sneaky, these creatures make fine thieves but they are also well balanced for other positions as well.

Tarutaru: These little creatures have mastered the magical arts and make excellent spell casters. Dont let their small cute apperance fool you, when it comes to magic they mean business.

Elvaan: Elvaan are know through the land for their fine sword skills and strong sense of national pride.


From there, you pick male or female...from there you get to chose your face, which there are about 5-10 each race. Then you chose your hair color, which there are only 2. Then you chose your stature, small, medium, or large. Then you chose your starting class, and then your name.

Overall you can look very different from everyone else dont get me wrong. But its not like a SWG character creation screen. You cant pick your eye color, nose size, cheeks, etc. Everything is a "this or that" button, no sliders like SWG.

A lot of info can be found here (http://ffvault.ign.com/?dir=guides&content=newbiep1) and the front page here. (http://ffvault.ign.com/)

If you have any other questions go ahead and ask, I can fill ya in on anything.

[esion]

i have not seen much of Final Fantasy XI but the few friends that have it tell me its not worth getting if ur a serious mmorpg'er so i wont be getting it

Really? I think its for the diehard gamers. I mean there are people overseas that have been playing for almost two years and they havent hit the end game. That is pretty good, compared to DAOC's 4 months, or SWGs 2 weeks.

I think its worth it.

[Leoghan]

Funny enough these are the two highest rank fantasy games on MMORPG.com :p Well I will have to do more reasearch and see which way I want to go. Thanks both of you.

[Bograt]

well this is a quote from one friend in a e:mail

"Word of warning. Do not buy Final Fantasy XI Online...pile of Poo! Am sure its aimed at the 5-8 year old age group..very simplistic to say the least."

and that is from a guy who i played, EQ, DaoC, AO and AC with

Just coz it takes ages to get to a high level (because of low xp from mobs) does not make it a mmorpg for the serious gamer

by "Serious" i do not mean "hardcore" Serious(to me) means u have played alot of other mmorpg's, and expect certain things, Sorry if i was not clear

but as i said, not played it, just saying what a few friends who have played it said so take from that what you will

[esion]

Well everyone is entitled to their opinion. I have played almost every mmorpg out, and have tested quite a few of them and I think FFXI is a good game.

It is quite anime, and kidish, I can see that. I dont think the game is simplistic at all, there alot of things in the game that people dont get just playing for a few months. Lots of style combinations, class combinations, crafting, quests, missions to help your city, advanced classes, and many more things. But to each thier own.

[Leoghan]

alright guys I didn't meant to start a pissin' contest here :p

[Leoghan]

Oh one other question to both of you. What is the community like on either game. I onlt played DAOC shortly, so I am not sure if it has changed.

I am slowly being driven away from most games because of the horrible attidutes of many of the gamers, so I want a community that will either leave me in peace, or one that is actually good quality. (of course I am asking for generalizations again)

[esion]

Well since FFXI is fairly new in the States, there really arent too many attitudes, everyone is pretty low level and from what I have seen its pretty good. I got into a guild only a few weeks of playing and they are all really nice people. This is just my server which was Ifrit...it probably depends on the server you get on (which you dont control in FFXI, and I hated that).

DAOC, well since the game has been around and there are people who have maxxed out thier chars and have PvP attitudes of master leetness...there is a little more of attitudes in the game. It all depends on the server you pick too.

[Scarne]

I wouldn't say FFXI is simplistic. The low level game before when grouping becomes neccessary (about level 10-12 or so) is fairly simple so if you never bother to get past that, it could seem that way. Heck, you need to get to level 3-4 before you get any new abilities beyond the starting ones.

[Halldor]

With regard to Horizons, it's not on shelves yet. December 9th is the actual release date. I'm in the beta and have been for a couple months. Without breaking the NDA, it's a pretty decent game, especially if you enjoy crafting along with adventuring. The crafting system is deep and interesting without being tedious. And the adventuring...well...it's still in beta, so quite a bit of the world is kind of empty. I do like the fact that the players can have a direct effect on the landscape - as we defeat more and more undead, their hold on the lands of Istaria lessens and the twisted and sickened land heals itself. Oh, and did I mention that you can play a dragon?

[Scarne]

I find it very suspicious that Horizons hasn't lifted the NDA this close to release. Sounds like SWG all over again.

[Bograt]

Might givew Horizons a try, depends if i get WoW Beta or not

As Far as DaoC Community (as asked earlier) its pretty much the same as any other mmorpg, u have ur nice people and u have ur idiots, there all roughly the same.

Perhaps the PvP Mmorpg's playerbase is a little nasiter :)

[Halldor]

From my experience, the PvP game playerbase tends to be more venomous and defends to the death the right for their particular character(s) to be overpowered beyond belief, at the expense of every other player in the game. DAoC made me realize that there are a **LOT** of hateful people out there who hide behind the wall of Internet anonymity. The community has become a degenerated cacophony of nerf cries and other whines instead of creative writing and useful suggestions. Flamewars aren't just the norm...if you're not flaming someone, it's like there's something wrong with you. Sickening.

[Bograt]

your right about that helldor

Generally when i am gonna play a mmorpg, i will go on a search of the fansties and find a good forum to call home, the best ones are never the buisiest forums,

the mod's here seem to be doing a good job and i am sure they would crack down on idiot behavior