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Best RPG/Immersive MMORPG
midnighthusky
Member Posts: 2
in LFGame
Hello to all. I’m fairly new to the MMO Scene but there’s one thing that seems quite clear to me. That is that MMORPGs aren’t very rpgy and I’m a massive fan of immersion in games like Skyrim. So my question is are there any MMOs that actually feel like an rpg.
Comments
These are the MMOs I've played and my immersion experience:
Elite: Dangerous - Space Exploration & Trading.
Generally there are 2 types of quality of immersion recognized by 2 schools of thought for mmorpgs:-
1. Narrative-driven, high quality story content crafted by devs. People seem to mention The Secret World for this type of mmo-rpg. Alternatively a rich IP you like realized and the players are apt to role-play eg LOTRs is mentioned in this respect or ESO if you love that IP. GW2 would shower you in a beautifully crafted art rich content world by comparison if you like the tourist safari version of immersion.
2. Player-driven, usually but not always involves open pvp (dangerous player vs player anywhere) where the players actions create a post-hoc narrative. A good eg is rogue-likes where each "run" can use a formula that churns out a new experience recombining different elements. Can often be lower quality but can also offer genuine excitement and surprise. Examples would be EVE Online or Darkfall amongst others.
These are often called Themepark mmorpg (1) or Sandbox (2). It's subjective but the above 2 options are a good distinction to use.
http://www.gdcvault.com/play/1014633/Classic-Game-Postmortem
I like where you went with that.
For player-driven immersion, EVE Online has an incredibly dark and frighteningly real dystopia that I think is fascinating. For narrative-driven immersion, Age of Conan and The Secret World seem to do a good job of drawing one into the story, the latter moreso than the former.
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
"Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre
UO servers.
NWN servers.
So, did ESO have a successful launch? Yes, yes it did.By Ryan Getchell on April 02, 2014.
**On the radar: http://www.cyberpunk.net/ **
Yes!
A lot of hidden gems to be found there, but you have to sift through a lot of garbage to get to them. It can be worth it, though.
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
"Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre
True ,true :>
So, did ESO have a successful launch? Yes, yes it did.By Ryan Getchell on April 02, 2014.
**On the radar: http://www.cyberpunk.net/ **
Depends on your idea of role playing? My personal idea of role playing is an exciting story line (cutscenes more compelling than a movie), complex game interaction (being able to sit at a table without looking like a string puppet), simulation (eat, shit, piss), and genetics (raise farm animals, plant crops, foresting). By my definition only Final Fantasy XI/XIV or Mabinogi has come close but they are still light years off. So, no, there are no rp mmorpg's.
And if you asked a dev what role playing meant he/she would respond: "pvp and being trapped in first person, of course."
Dumbasses.
The Secret World has carved out a fabulous niche for itself as a home for role-players if you like a modern world with occult and horror themes. The game lore is the best I've ever seen.
In NWN series the only one left which is high-quality, popular and modern is the world of Baldur's Gate for NWN 2.
Check the other thread for more information about it.
If you are a fan of science fiction, there was a fun MMO project based on original Fallout 1 called Fonline 2238 but I haven't played there for two or three years and don't know about its status. Very long time ago there was also quite an immersive sci-fi MMORPG called Face of Mankind.
* more info, screenshots and videos here
Quoted for truth.
Immersion in an MMO is hard to achieve because of other players. They are there and they will break your RP immersion no matter where you go. Star Wars has great immersive storylines--until you notice you're one of fifty other Jedi chosen ones all with the same follower running around. When you join an instance all your Republic fellows are 100% Dark Side and you feel like you're trying to stop the Sith with Darths Maul and Vader as backup.
Every MMO you have to deal with stupid player names that will definitely trounce all over your sense of immersion. Sxyvxn69 the Night Elf Warrior whose MRP reads like hardcore porn is going to damage your sense of being in Azeroth.
Forget RP support. No company is interested in that.
Forget full pvp servers/games. If the MMO community at large is a skunk, adding PVP--full loot or otherwise--is like dipping that skunk in raw sewage and then rolling it rotten cheese. This isn't a knock at PVP--I personally love it and spent a lot of time in my younger days butchering bullies and gankers--but the community is almost always nasty.
I'm not judging ERP by any means, I don't care what other people do so long as it isn't bothering me, but any RP server on any game I've joined in the past has an ERP presence. It's to be expected, this being the internet and all, but if it bothers you be advised it exists. Along those same lines, often nestling oneself in an insular RP community via guilds or the like is possibly the only way to have immersive RP. Unfortunately RP servers tend to be established and extremely cliquey, it can be hard to break in.
Games I like for RP immersion? WoW can be good if you get on a good server and find a good guild. If I wasn't tired of its gameplay I'd still be on my old RP server (it's dead and CRZd with bigger RP servers, like Moon Guard, which changes the whole feel, hence my distaste for any further play of the game.) Despite the WoW hate you will encounter, there is no question that no game does polish and presentation better.
SWTOR is practically a single player game. Just try to ignore the other people around you and stick with the story quests. Guild Wars 2 as well. There are other people, but they don't steal mobs/mats nodes from you and they tend to just silently zerg around. Despite being "free-to-play" SWTOR pretty much requires a sub to enjoy at all.
If you like comics DCUO is a pretty good choice, though my personal experience is the more mature/friendly people are on the villains side. Worth it for me, as a massive Batman fan, for the voice acting alone.
Tera is fun to play, very pretty (my wife loves her toons,) and RP can be found if you look. Best of all, it has probably the best free to play model in gaming--the game can be played pretty satisfactorily without ever spending a dime.
LOTRO and Conan were pretty good, though I haven't played in several years. The first twenty levels of Conan are great, if you're interested in Howard's type of Dark Fantasy at all.
Good luck on your search!
For an immersive experience? Five come to mind off the top of my head for immersion/rp purposes:
1. LotRO
2. ESO
3. DAoC
4. WoW (I found the game to be highly immersive in vanilla)
5. FFXIV (so many roleplayers here!)
Currently Playing: ESO and FFXIV
Have played: You name it
If you mention rose tinted glasses, you better be referring to Mitch Hedberg.
For player-driven immersion it very much depends on the player. Personally I found EVE's PvP features to be the least immersive parts of the game as I see it as incredibly artificial and meaningless. On the other hand I got great immersion out of the mining and manufacturing systems.
The game where I got the most player-driven immersion was A Tale in the Desert. If you are really into that type of game, it's really easy to find a niche in the game that will give you hours of immersive enjoyment. The various communal projects were great and I spent hours on the wine making minigame as well as perfecting my linen production infrastructure.
None that I've found, I'm afraid.
Everquest was the only MMORPG that actually felt anything like the RPGs I played in the old days on systems like SNES, etc.
And even that was very much focused on combat.
I'd check the indie MMO scene. Xyson, for example, gave a great feeling of scrounging around in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
SWTOR and TSW - two games that I actually am trully attached to my characters and love them.
SWTOR is more interacvive - multiple choices, dark side vs light side. TSW has original questing, some quests are mind blowing... literally.
SWTOR is one of the very few games that you can play a true villain.
Love them both.
You might want to try ESO, but it did not awed me personally.
Sith Warrior - Story of Hate and Love http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxKrlwXt7Ao
Imperial Agent - Rise of Cipher Nine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBBj3eJWBvU&feature=youtu.be
Imperial Agent - Hunt for the Eagle Part 1http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQqjYYU128E
^This and what Scalpless said about GW2.
I'd give SWTOR a 9/10 thanks to the interactivity and variety in stories.
With ESO and GW coming in at close seconds at 8/10. I'd give TSW an 8/10 as well, due to the story being very well done, but lacking the kind of interaction the other two have since basically everyone is following the same storyline, with minor variations based on faction. (then again, the investigation missions are awesome)
My SWTOR referral link for those wanting to give the game a try. (Newbies get a welcome package while returning players get a few account upgrades to help with their preferred status.)
https://www.ashesofcreation.com/ref/Callaron/
Death is nothing to us, since when we are, Death has not come, and when death has come, we are not.
ESO has stolen that role. (Or become that "roll" if you prefer :P)
Though Wildstar seems to be getting there too judging by some of the recent threads.
Next year; ArcheAge?
My SWTOR referral link for those wanting to give the game a try. (Newbies get a welcome package while returning players get a few account upgrades to help with their preferred status.)
https://www.ashesofcreation.com/ref/Callaron/
Agree about Wildstar. Although it isn't really story driven and immersive as others, it has a very good combat system (it's smooth). It is still getting high reviews by gaming websites and the community is scoring it high also.
All I can say about ESO is I'm sad. I even read up on lore prior to it's release to be prepared and I just quit after about 3 weeks. I may go back and see if I missed something!
Death is nothing to us, since when we are, Death has not come, and when death has come, we are not.
I have often found that some of the games out longer become more attractive as far as immersion and RP.
Early releases are often dominated by min-maxers who want everything NOW, scroll through quest text, make level cap in three days and then fill the forums with posts about how they are bored, there is no content left, etc. God forbid they would ever reduce their XP/per minute rate to stop and talk with other players, much less engage in RP. So I agree you should check out some of the older MMO mentioned above, e.g. SWTOR and LOTRO.
Once the locusts have moved on, what is left are usually a higher percentage of players who value the journey as much as the destination.
While I endorse the idea that PVP and RP can go together in theory, too often in practice this isn't the case as many PVPers operate on the principle that "if I CAN attack someone, I MUST attack them!" The red-is-dead mentality usually leaves little to no time for any interactions outside of violent ones. PVPers also tend to be min-maxers/number crunchers (see above). So you are better off with the PVE focused games if you value RP. It's not that some PVPers don't RP well - its just not as common among that player type.
Hope this helps.
I found Final Fantasy XIV to be good at that because of its graphics and fluid animations. Story is great too.
I like how when I craft things my character wears all the tools and each crafting class has their own specific gear and goes through their own animations based on their tools. Same with the gathering classes.
It has tons of emotes and emotes for interacting with environment like going close to a chair or a bench and you can just sit on them. Theres even emotes just for how you want to stand in place.
You can feed and raise your chocobo, and have it fight along side of you.
You can take on monster hunting bounties and go find them out in the world.
The housing system is nice too.
The game cares about the back story of minor NPCs as well which is what the Delivery Moogle quests are for
Each class/job gets their own epic quest lines that really makes each class feel special