I can’t remember where I wrote this (maybe over in the comments on Keen and Graev’s blog), but I also want to see a developer put a skill system like Eve Online into a fantasy-themed MMO. I think there’s a real chance to distinguish yourself in the fantasy MMO market with that approach.

And I agree as well. I never got to enjoy DAoC in its heyday, but on all accounts I loved my bit of time in the game, and can totally see exactly why WAR fans are so excited.

Here’s hoping that if WAR’s take on how to make the elder-game really the best part works, other games will follow suit somehow.

I’ve yet to play an MMOG that really got the end-game the way DAoC seemed to back in its day.

My thoughts exactly.

I’m going to disagree with you for the purposes of discussion, but yeah, I see your points about “heavy quest-to-level” progression. If I can quibble about that point, I’ll say that they adopted a good idea, but they didn’t stop there. Both LoTRO and Age of Conan try to provide more game elements than WoW, while utilizing the quest-to-progress model.

We’re headed toward the old evolutionary/revolutionary discussion, aren’t we? LoTRO evolved from WoW, perhaps more than the other two, offering housing and better crafting while adapting WoW’s quest ideas to tell the story of the Ring. Age of Conan is evolving PvP (maybe more from DAoC’s model than WoW’s model) and evolving combat, while keeping the WoW quest model.

WAR might tip toward revolutionary, but I think it’s too early to tell. In fact, I think I’ll grab your word and say that they’re innovating more than the other two titles along the points you mentioned (public quests, PvP to progress, sieging cities, etc.). Revolutionary is a big word.

“In the end they all play completely the same”. I’ll take your word for it with LoTRO, I didn’t get to end game. In fact, I guess I’m not talking about end game for any of the three games mentioned. You might be entirely correct about LoTRO. Time will tell with AoC, if guild city sieges are enough to separate end-game from the WoW instance grind. I think we both know how different WAR will be in the end game, given our time in DAoC. Maybe there is a lack of vision for end game in LoTRO and AoC, or a lack of distinction from WoW, but both games tried to distinguish themselves in other ways during the climb to the level cap.

I guess what’s surprising to me is more people aren’t copying Mythic’s end game ideas. They’re the only company that’s given me something fun to do once I capped out in level. I enjoyed WoW more during the leveling than I did once I reached the cap. I suspect the same could be true about LoTRO, because I don’t like to just raid and upgrade gear at the end. I don’t know that Monster play, crafting, and playing house would be enough to keep me coming back.

Each of these games does something to sorta strike out on their own but in the end they all play completely the same. You can’t PvP to progress in levels in any of them. You can’t siege capital cities and literally claim them for your faction. You can’t attack keeps in the open world and claim them for your guild. There are no innovative changes to the questing system like Public Quests.

That does not make them bad games – not at all. And just because I’m saying they are just like WoW doesn’t mean I’m implying that WoW stunted the industry by any means. WoW has grown the industry immensely and really paved the way for the success these “next-gen” mmorpgs are seeing.

It’s nice not being in beta sometimes.