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    Casual MMORPG

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by taelrak, Jan 20, 2008.

  1. taelrak

    taelrak Lost

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    So back in the day when I had a ton of time, I remember those wonderful nonstop back-to-back raids where I'd look out the window and suddenly realize the sun was rising (wasn't college great?)...

    Alas, all good things must come to an end, including my free time. So, what's the best MMORPG for a casual gamer?

    By casual, I mean I'll pick it up to play maybe a couple hours a week max, if that. No time for raids, maybe enough for an instance or two, but that's about it.

    By "best" - I mean something where I'm not really compelled to raid exhaustively at endgame but still be able to feel I'm getting somewhere.

    It needs to at least have graphics better than Lineage 2's (for some reason every other Korean MMORPG maker out there wants to use that engine...)

    Not a huge fan of pure pvp - it needs to have a great storyline (i.e. on par with FFXI) and no artificial caps (i.e. DDO).

    A few examples of casual would be:
    not WoW
    not DDO
    not FFXI
    not eve online (although I guess it's casual sort of in the long run)
     
    taelrak, Jan 20, 2008
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  2. Dustin Sklavos

    Dustin Sklavos Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    It's not an MMORPG, but Oblivion comes to mind. For me, Oblivion was the panacea for everything I hated about WoW.
     
    Dustin Sklavos, Jan 20, 2008
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  3. coldplay

    coldplay Notebook Consultant

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    Guildwars ...............
     
    coldplay, Jan 20, 2008
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  4. KGann

    KGann NBR Themesong Writer

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    "Casual" and "MMO" just sound on in the same phrase... :p
     
    KGann, Jan 20, 2008
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  5. taelrak

    taelrak Lost

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    Yea, it might be easier for me to just pop in Oblivion as Pulp says and go explore a new content pack or something :p probably would end up taking just as long anyway ...
     
    taelrak, Jan 20, 2008
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  6. KGann

    KGann NBR Themesong Writer

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    Yup. Oblivion is a great game!
     
    KGann, Jan 20, 2008
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  7. BHD

    BHD Notebook Deity

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    guildwars and hellgate london? and yeah MMO and Casual doesn't belong in same sentence.
     
    BHD, Jan 20, 2008
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  8. Dustin Sklavos

    Dustin Sklavos Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    Guild Wars can be a decent diversion, but I wound up picking up Jade Empire and it's stolen my attention entirely.

    As for Hellgate London, well...that's just a really bad game. :)
     
    Dustin Sklavos, Jan 20, 2008
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  9. zeppelin420x

    zeppelin420x Notebook Consultant

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    Another vote for Oblivion.
     
    zeppelin420x, Jan 20, 2008
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  10. morphy

    morphy Notebook Deity

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    Oblivion isn't an MMO otherwise its decent. I liked Witcher too...both good as non MMO rpg's.

    Looking at the OP's req ( casual MMORPG ), I'd suggest LOTRO. Very casual, good storyline. Very soloable. There's a discount on now- $10/mth instead of $15...yes its pay to play.
     
    morphy, Jan 20, 2008
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  11. Harleyquin07

    Harleyquin07 エミヤ

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    Maple Story? Fits the category but the graphics might put OP off.
     
    Harleyquin07, Jan 20, 2008
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  12. lunateck

    lunateck Bananaed

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    Yea.. but it indeeds fit the casual part. And it's not that addictive compared to the others. So u won't have such heartache to pull the plug.
     
    lunateck, Jan 20, 2008
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  13. Dustin Sklavos

    Dustin Sklavos Notebook Deity NBR Reviewer

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    WHAT.

    Now I haven't played Maple Story, but when MMORPG addiction has come up in my classes and in my personal circles, it's always at the front. My ex's siblings call her constantly asking for money to buy crap in it.

    I'm pretty sure it's got its hooks.
     
    Dustin Sklavos, Jan 20, 2008
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  14. jaslyn

    jaslyn Notebook Geek

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    Guild Wars is the most casual MMORPG I know off. :)
     
    jaslyn, Jan 20, 2008
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  15. markheus

    markheus Notebook Consultant

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    Agreed, guild wars is the best "casual" MMORPG that I can think of. Its got as good story line, great graphics on ordinary hardware, and you can play a quest or two and then leave. If you want to play with others you can go to a staging area, find a party and then complete that missions. then leave. THe missions tend to be fairly short as well. I think its the perfect casual game.


    Best of all - there are no monthly charges!!


    Oblivion sucks you in.....
     
    markheus, Jan 20, 2008
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  16. AmazingGracePlayer

    AmazingGracePlayer Notebook Deity

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    Diablo II??...
     
    AmazingGracePlayer, Jan 20, 2008
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  17. Harleyquin07

    Harleyquin07 エミヤ

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    I don't recommend that, if you have a good group to play with and decent equipment it becomes very difficult to let go voluntarily.
     
    Harleyquin07, Jan 20, 2008
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  18. AmazingGracePlayer

    AmazingGracePlayer Notebook Deity

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    Yeah I agree... but I think it's easier to let go of the game now days because the graphics is so dated, and I doubt it still has as many players as before though, right?
     
    AmazingGracePlayer, Jan 20, 2008
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  19. Voodoofreak

    Voodoofreak Notebook Deity

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    Guild Wars has a decent story line along with great MMO interaction. The graphics are good as well. I would recommend that as well.
     
    Voodoofreak, Jan 20, 2008
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  20. morphy

    morphy Notebook Deity

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    Thing is Guild Wars is based around pvp.
     
    morphy, Jan 20, 2008
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  21. AmazingGracePlayer

    AmazingGracePlayer Notebook Deity

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    Guild wars is not only PvP, it's also PvM...
     
    AmazingGracePlayer, Jan 20, 2008
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  22. morphy

    morphy Notebook Deity

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    an euphemism for gold farmers ;)
     
    morphy, Jan 20, 2008
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  23. taelrak

    taelrak Lost

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    You know, I really wanted to play LOTRO, but there are no casting classes, which are really the only type of characters I enjoy playing (loremaster and minstral don't count :p)

    I'll give guildwars a shot. Thanks everyone.
     
    taelrak, Jan 20, 2008
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  24. Dreidel

    Dreidel Notebook Evangelist

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    i would say guild wars. you are never caught in the middle of a 2 hour long thing u dont wana play
     
    Dreidel, Jan 20, 2008
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  25. Jeff

    Jeff Notebook Retard

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    just play multiplayer shooters or strategy games.

    shooters are good, in that you can just jump off at anytime.

    i know i'm not really answering the question, but its what i have learnt over the past few years.
     
    Jeff, Jan 20, 2008
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  26. aznofazns

    aznofazns Performance Junkie

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    I agree with jeff. Online shooters like FEAR online, COD4, BF 2 and 2142 and all great games that aren't hard to let go of.
     
    aznofazns, Jan 20, 2008
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