Monkeys, Backs, Etc.

[flit]

Hopefully this will mean I update more often, and get my life generally more on track, etc. etc. etc

Comments

[koganei]

If you're looking for options, I recommend Guild Wars. For the longest time, I didn't think I'd like it, then I tried it and I enjoy it a lot better than I every enjoyed WoW. It's really good for casual play. You don't need to put up with asshats in any situation if you don't want to (especially if you turn off local channels in town). After the really easy prologue zones, you can flesh out your party with a NPCs if you don't have enough players, so there's no pressure to constantly find full groups (group size ranges from 2-8). Each class feels (to me) different and unique in ways that WoW didn't, and I think combat is more exciting to watch while you play -- some classes have different animations for almost every ability and the animations all look veeeeeeeeery smooth and clean. The lore is extremely rich and well-developed, especially for a setting made up just for this game. The game itself is gorgeous and doesn't use much in the way of computer resources for how good it looks. I'll put some screenshots below.

I know you said you're looking for something probably not RP oriented, but I don't know what the RP scene is like in GW. I also haven't actively sought out RP. I have heard there's a reasonable RP community. In any case, the game also allows good play with just a group of friends or a significant other.

It also has a really, really good story for an MMO, and it's built to put you, the players, front and center. Think the epic feel of Wrathgate, except that's how the whole main story of each Guild Wars campaign works. You go and do the mission and you get into a cutscene after, and some of the cutscenes are incredible. You flee to safety from hordes of enemies, reach places nobody else has reached, perform heroic feats -- it feels like you're a real part of the story in ways that WoW never did. The campaigns also run for a long time and there are enough quests and missions to give hours and hours of gameplay.

Here are a few screenshots I took from various zones so you can see some of the game.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i238/kaitou-kage/wowscreens/gw050.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i238/kaitou-kage/wowscreens/gw048.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i238/kaitou-kage/wowscreens/gw039.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i238/kaitou-kage/wowscreens/gw012.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i238/kaitou-kage/wowscreens/gw032.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i238/kaitou-kage/wowscreens/gw026.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i238/kaitou-kage/wowscreens/gw097.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i238/kaitou-kage/wowscreens/gw091.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i238/kaitou-kage/wowscreens/gw128.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i238/kaitou-kage/wowscreens/gw125.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i238/kaitou-kage/wowscreens/gw075.jpg

Also, most of the UI is movable so you can set it up however is most convenient for you. :)

Definitely worth a try (I know there's a free trial on the NCSoft site) and the no monthly fee is always a plus.

[flit]

Ooh that does look gorgeous. I'll put it on the list for "look at after LOTRO." I have a permanent account in LOTRO that I haven't even *touched* though (bought it in a fit of whimsy after the beta) so I kind of want to use it and explore that game.

[koganei]

Drop me a line if you guys do play :) I don't get much game time during the semester because of BUSY but I usually play a little every day during break seasons.