General Discussion

I know the definiton is subjective, so in your opinion: What qualities are necessary for a perfect MMORPG?

If you want go into detail for each quality that is necessary, and explain what should be avoided.

I think my perfect MMO would have:

- More than just raiding or PvP. Like crafting, music, etc. You could have a character that only crafts, or one that only works on playing music, or you could have a character that does it all.

- Immersive world. Little to no loading screens, polished and detailed.

- Player creations. Players have a house somewhere in the world, guild forts, etc. Players could create their own items, or at least personalize their crafts.

- A lot of mini games or puzzles. These would be for many of the quests (think about the zelda games or whatever). You would also be able to do most of them with other players.

- Crafting: Could be done without ever having to fight, and you would be able to craft most things. Crafting would also have different mini games for each profession, and maybe even some games you could play with other people at the same time to craft.

- Focus on the story! The MMO of my dreams would have a huge focus on the story from the beginning of the game and until the last possible quest. There would be a lot of in game cinematic type things, and you would feel immersed in the story and would want to keep progressing just to see the story unfold.

- PvP: All PvP would be based on traditional groups (DPS, Healer, tank). You would have the option to progress by only doing PvP if you wanted, but it would be a little slower than PvE. There would also be mass PvP battles, and PvP area.

- PvE: There would be many dungeons to explore, interesting quests, and epic raids.

- Lots of emotes and player actions. There would be a lot of emotes in games or at least a few good ones, and there would be more than just walking around. Your character would be able to do things like dance, jump, crawl, etc.

- Decent graphics. They would have to be 3D, and they wouldn't have to be spectacular but good enough to look at and become immersed in the game world.

- Focus on community. There would be a reason for people to get together, and you wouldn't be losing out if you didn't get together, but you would be rewarded and possibly have more fun in groups.

- Gear wouldn't be that important. Gear would only have a slight increase on your performance in PvE or PvP. You would also be able to do both PvE and PvP in the same type of gear (there wouldn't be PvE only and PvP only gear). The game would be more skill based than anything.

Of course everything would have to be polished, and the combat system would have to be somewhat interesting. There would be more focus on just playing and having fun vs. getting bigger and better gear all of the time, and there would be a lot more then what I listed, and plenty of things to avoid but that would take me all day to write about

That I enjoy the experience.

Originally posted by wjrasmussen

That I enjoy the experience.

What would be required for that to happen?

Originally posted by Aeroangel

Originally posted by wjrasmussen

That I enjoy the experience.

What would be required for that to happen?

lol Aeroangel.. I like you already!

Originally posted by Aeroangel

- Focus on the story! The MMO of my dreams would have a huge focus on the story from the beginning of the game and until the last possible quest. There would be a lot of in game cinematic type things, and you would feel immersed in the story and would want to keep progressing just to see the story unfold.

 

I never read any of the  NPC dialog in an MMORPG if I can help it, and I never read any of the lore. It seems boring and pointless to me, since it doesnt' affect the game play.

One of the few RPG's where the story has actually interested me, is KOTOR. But I wouldn't want to play that as a multiplayer game. I was enjoying watching the cut scenes, and listening to the NPC 's tell me the story. I wouldn't need anyone else around while I'm watching cut scenes.

I think open PvP where players could post bounties for players that just PKed them out of no where or something in which other, higher level players could take and get paid by the NPC based on the level difference if they succeed.

I also think it'd be great if, while the type of gear wouldn't be THAT importaint, it did affect how you performed in battle (i.e. Leather Armor wouldn't absorb all that much damage but would allow you to move around faster while something like Plate Mail would absorb a lot more damage but you would barely be able to move.)  and there would be weak spots that people could get through to do max damage (i.e. someone with a bow could aim for an exposed arm pit or other area not fully covered by plates and do critical damage)

I also think... I'll just stop here with these two points before I spend forever typing something up...

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

Originally posted by Aeroangel

- Focus on the story! The MMO of my dreams would have a huge focus on the story from the beginning of the game and until the last possible quest. There would be a lot of in game cinematic type things, and you would feel immersed in the story and would want to keep progressing just to see the story unfold.

 

 

 

I never read any of the  NPC dialog in an MMORPG if I can help it, and I never read any of the lore. It seems boring and pointless to me, since it doesnt' affect the game play.

One of the few RPG's where the story has actually interested me, is KOTOR. But I wouldn't want to play that as a multiplayer game. I was enjoying watching the cut scenes, and listening to the NPC 's tell me the story. I wouldn't need anyone else around while I'm watching cut scenes.

I think story is important in any game. But at the same time, I feel that the most important story of all should be the one you are living and the adventures you are experiencing in the game personally. Because after you complete the entire story of the game, and have visited each and every NPC down to the very last quest, you are still going to need something there to captivate your attention. And that is where your OWN adventure is important. I think that is why there are alot of Role-players in games these days. Not saying there is anything wrong with that, on the contrary, I have Role-played myself at times.  

Originally posted by Ihmotepp

Originally posted by Aeroangel

- Focus on the story! The MMO of my dreams would have a huge focus on the story from the beginning of the game and until the last possible quest. There would be a lot of in game cinematic type things, and you would feel immersed in the story and would want to keep progressing just to see the story unfold.

 

 

 

I never read any of the  NPC dialog in an MMORPG if I can help it, and I never read any of the lore. It seems boring and pointless to me, since it doesnt' affect the game play.

One of the few RPG's where the story has actually interested me, is KOTOR. But I wouldn't want to play that as a multiplayer game. I was enjoying watching the cut scenes, and listening to the NPC 's tell me the story. I wouldn't need anyone else around while I'm watching cut scenes.

Well on the subject of dialog I'm thinking the quest givers and NPCs would actually talk to you (like from oblivion), and it wouldn't be long winded and boring. You would be able to skip through or avoid the dialog if you wanted.

Like personally the one thing I enjoyed the most from WoTLK was the death knight quest line. It just felt epic to me, and it was almost like I was playing in a short movie or something. If you could make an entire game's quest line as interesting as that one I probably wouldn't mind doing the quests again

And I think pets would have to be in the game as well