I have been considering buying an online game. I was looking at Final Fantasy XI at Electronics Boutique, but to be honest I have not played any of the Final Fantasy games (I am a PC gamer almost exclusively, but Final Fantasy XI has a PC version). I also know that World of Warcraft is coming out, as is D&D Online. I have no real idea about current online games out there (I know about Everquest, but very little if anything), so needless to say I need some help with my decision. I don't mind waiting a while for World of Warcraft or D&D Online if they seem to be the better choice.

I can truthfully say that, while I may join parties along the way, the majority of my game time would be as a solo character. I lean towards magical characters, but do like the warrior types as well. I do want something that plays easily for a first time player, but still leaves plenty of option for growth. I am a big fan of PnP D&D, so I am skewed more towards that one, but I have heard that it is going to be much more group-oriented than the others.

I guess I've narrowed it down to 4 choices at this point (no particular order):

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• Everquest (out already)</font>
• Final Fantasy (out already)</font>
• World of Warcraft (not out yet...at least I don't think...)</font>
• D&D Online (not out yet)</font>

For the ones that have come out, what do you think about them? What are their good and bad points? Would you recommend them? What price ranges are we talking, and which programs and/or expansions will I need to buy to realistically play online with them?

For the ones that haven't come out yet, what have you heard about them? Do you think I should wait on them, or go ahead and jump into another one right now? I would prefer sticking with one game, if possible.

Thank you in advance for any recommendations you can give on this, as I'm just a little indecisive on this issue.

[ 04-17-2004, 04:04 PM: Message edited by: Nerull ]

I've only played a game called EVE, it's like the old game Elite, you play a mercenary in space... it's simply huge and you can choose your carreer... check it out at [http://www.eve-online.com]here[/url], takes a long time to get started... but it's very fun

Seems like every mmorpg to me is a game of killing endless monster for leveling up purpose and also getting better weapon/armor/items to enable you become godly.

oh, I never played those above but I'm playing Dragonraja Online and Ragnarok Online.

if your going to get everquest.. wait for everquest 2.. its coming out this year.

Check out Guild Wars. No monthly fee, and it looks awesome..
www.guildwars.com

You could also wait for Ultima X, the next in the line generation of Ultima Online mmorpgs. I've read reviews that suggest a return to emphasis on the single player experience, complex quests with ethical parables. Gamespy was keeping development diaries on the game's progress I think.

I've been generally suspicious of mmorpg's for many reasons and haven't really looked at them in any amount of depth as yet, but being an AD&D veteran means i'm pretty excited by the notion of an online D&D world.

Don't get D&D online, most D20 characters end up the same, despite what WOTC says (take this from a DM and a Player.), WoW is probably your best bet, as Everquest 2 could be a duke nukem forever (in 1997: Coming fall 2000!) Final fantasy 11 is apparently very good, a good choice as well. Get fantasy now, play until WoW comes out.

Hmmm...I was a little predisposed to D&D online; I've also played and DMed in PnP, and love the game, but don't know how it will go as an online game. I was reading a strategy guide on FFXI, and it looks okay, but for some reason it just doesn't jump out at me. I haven't seen too much on WoW. I also haven't seen too much on Everquest, but I guess I should do some research on Everquest 2 (they have Evolutions out now, and that seems to have all the original Everquest stuff in it...).

I say skip the monthly fees and go for Neverwinter Nights. Sure its an older game and the servers are much smaller than a 'real' MMORPG ( 64 player max) but there are many persistent worlds to choose from, not to mention authenic DM'ed games through NW Connections, as well as plenty of fan-made single player modules. Its fairly close to DnD rules ( with a few variations) and no monthly fees for the trouble.

Yahoo Pool. :D

I don't play online games very often. Yeah, I've played a bit of CS (1 |<1113d '/0u |\|3\/\/8. 1 |20k|< [img]tongue.gif[/img] ), but due to my crappy computer, slow 56k connection and a monitor so freakin dark I can't see anything, I don't normally delve into the online universe of gaming.

Anyway, I suggest a game which is not to costly i.e. no monthly fees, but as most of your choices contain these fees, I see that's not an issue. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Regarding your list of choices - I've heard that D&D Online isn't coming out for a long time but don't know much about the others. If it were me, I'd go for Final Fantasy XI but then again I do own FFVI, VII, VII, IX and X, so maybe I'm just being bias. ;)

[ 04-21-2004, 08:59 AM: Message edited by: GokuZool ]