So what keeps you playing?

[Rickety]

As a setup for this post, I am subscribed to both EQ2 and WoW. I thought that I'd play both and see which one I'd like and then drop the other.

My problem is, I really enjoy both

So, this leads me to this most perplexing question. Which game should I stick with? What keeps you playing a MMORPG? I have read that many of you have played games such as EQ, DAoC, etc for many years.

I think one of the main reason is the people. I continued in Horizons for quite a while due to the guild I was in (not TOG) rather than the game itself.

However, in my case, I like both EQ2 and WoW and both games have TOGers to keep me company

So, let me ask my question again and put it to you all, 'What keeps you playing?'.

[Karmajay]

The people and the content.

Once I run out of things to do, I start to get bored and restless. I can always hang out with the people in other games in TOG and the forums.

[Twiz]

I like the learning curve...which is why I probably played EQ1 as long as I did...I never got to, or even near, the end game, and was always learning new things.

I really don't see either eq2 or WoW lasting that long in interest due to their limited "class" systems. Classes are all so balanced, if you played one priest you've played them all...as an example, in EQ1, I had a 59 cleric, 58 shaman, and 54 druid...that will never happen in EQ2 or WoW because they are all so similar, whereas in EQ1 they were VERY different.

I would imagine once I get one of each class to the high end game, I will be looking for something different, unless there is new content raising the bar by then.

In EQ1, my first character was only lvl 19 2 months into the game. Here, in EQ2, I have a 32 cleric/44 provisioner, a 16 crusader, and an 8 scout...2 months into the game. When Frogloks are unlocked, I will make a mage class. Based on the WoW beta I played, I could level in WoW even quicker (if I could avoid the griefers)--I think my Druid was lvl 21 in a week, all solo...with TOG it would be vastly higher in that same time.

I was really looking forward to Wish (now cancelled) as EQ2 is becoming somewhat unchallenging (not that it was ever that hard with the conning system they use). I even started my crusader on the evil side in order to do the betrayal to provide some challenge. In the end, I think what really drives me to continue EQ2 is the ability to advance the guild and get EVERYONE perks through my personal actions, via patron writs.

[RedMan]

Love WoW and sofar has kept me playing because

1) Haven't finished the quests in the Human lands
2) Only just grazed the story in the Troll/Orc Hordish area, and just the tip of the quests and state of things there
3) Can barely mention the story of the undead and their realms.
4) Haven't tried classes beyond Alchemy, herbalism, skinning, tailoring, and leatherworking.
5) Haven't tried all the classes, and I perceive them as different despite balancing. Each have different roles and main home area's. Each have different styles of combat or focus of combat. Throw on either the Horde mentality or Alliance etc.
6) When trying something new you get alot of the enjoyment up front with alot of quests, a few morsels of the classes ability, and fun without having to work or feel a loss of not working on your other char.
7) Has the feel of WoW, my rts days

This is different to SWG which was mainly
1) STARWARS!!!!!!
2) er, Starwars... Plus had starwars stuff in it
3) what was then ok quests, didn't think there were better. Plus had alot to explore that just showed me more starwars. Environment was a big factor.
4) watching a character develop.

After playing both, I prefer the abundance and huge choice that WoW starts with at the beginning. Starwars started you with very little and a long journey ahead of you. I don't think I could go back. Or, at this stage switch to a game that has that quality. I kept playing though cause it was Starwars, a bit of an escape from the day.

I keep playing WoW because it is still a world to me to adventure in, while I have fun

[RoadY]

G'day RedMan, (all replies welcome )
Appologies if this seams a little off topic- I did a search in TOG 4 Starwar and this came up

Im new to online gaming. Currently hooked on BF2, but I'm looking to expand my experience. IC that U are experienced (Jimi H- reference).

I tried WOW and kinda got bored with the this quest next quest etc, without any real perpose. maybe the storyline didnt grab me- dunno.

So I thought I'd try Starwars, coz as U said "Its starwars". I currently run a IRL d20 starwars game, and love it, I wrote in each player starts with a Padewan LS and build there own to become a Jedi Knight(with PLuses added to the weapon of course).

Id like to have a go at the Jedi stuff- is there a lot of farting around before you get to do any real Jedi stuff ie swing a lightsaber.
I Didnt mind. Lords Of the old republic 1&2. Is it like that.

I notice there is a starter kit for Lvl1-10, does that give you a good look at the Jedi character or not?

Originally Posted by RedMan

This is different to SWG which was mainly
1) STARWARS!!!!!!
2) er, Starwars... Plus had starwars stuff in it
3) what was then ok quests, didn't think there were better. Plus had alot to explore that just showed me more starwars. Environment was a big factor.
4) watching a character develop.

After playing both, I prefer the abundance and huge choice that WoW starts with at the beginning. Starwars started you with very little and a long journey ahead of you. I don't think I could go back. Or, at this stage switch to a game that has that quality. I kept playing though cause it was Starwars, a bit of an escape from the day.

I keep playing WoW because it is still a world to me to adventure in, while I have fun

[Salti]

What keeps me playing any game is the uber-ness I'm just about to get next level! That's going to change my life and my play style - no more little dippy things to worry about, only really big new challenges!

Except when it seems like a while since I got any uber-ness, then I'm on to the next game. After all, the New Game must have some cool uber-ness at every level, don't you think? Yeah! At least it will have some different-ness from what I'm doing now.

Gotta go, I'm just about to get a cool new stealth-healing-pet-dot-buff!

[Karmajay]

road grime there is actually a SWG forum in the private MMo section if you would like info.

[Sente]

Originally Posted by Rickety

So, let me ask my question again and put it to you all, 'What keeps you playing?'.

As long as there is something new in the horizon, where both the goal and the way to get to it is enjoyable - then will continue playing. Unless there is something else that might have even more enjoyable and new interesting content...
The people one plays with is an important factor, but not the only one.

I tend to keep paying for subscriptions long after I have stopped playing a game, at least if it is a game I have enjoyed for a fair amount of time.

Looking at my track record of MMOs since I started about 5 years ago, the longest I have played one game continuosly is about a year - WoW is the longest, followed by Anarchy Online, Earth&Beyond and FFXI, more or less. And a few others in shorter bursts so far... Right now EQ2 is climbing in positions in that regard.

[Atrayo]

Hi Rickety,

Well what keeps me playing in a MMORPG?

Twiz, mentioned one of those goals i enjoy. Is for helping the guild reach some of it's goals in-game and in the web community.

Other things that can keep me in a MMO game. Is the overall maturity of the game community, be it server restricted or otherwise. With that comes the drama of the community on-goings that leads to it's politics.

Being able to explore various game play options or paths for my avatar. Be it content or leveling, although too much extreme grinding is a negative for moi.

[Marchosias]

I like the "discovery" aspect of PvE as well as some of the "competition" aspects of PvP. My main game, and the one I keep going back to, is DAoC. Its PvP ruleset is simply the best one out there as far as I'm concerned. 2nd favorite is a toss up between Anarchy Online and WoW. AO was just a nice Sci-Fi diversion to get away from elves and dwarves and such and blast things with a gun.

WoW had to grow on me, I didn't like the 'toony graphics and the FFA PvP was annoying. But I was in a great guild and most of the members had been guildies from DAoC. PvP w/o an over-arching purpose is just griefing, but I hate PvE only games as well 'cuz there's just no point... I DID like most of the questing system in WoW and the gameplay was fun too. As a die-hard pet class player, I loved my Necro and my Hunter - fun! fun! fun! But I had to quit once it became obvious that I was going to have run Molten Core about a billion times before I got any of the phat loot that you NEEDED in order to compete in PvP.....boring....

I've lately tried DDO, EVE, CoH/CoV, and EQ2 and they've all left me cold. Either no way to solo, no PvP (or no compelling PvP), or too much of grind before anything fun happens. At least in DAoC you can hop into level-appropriate battle grounds and whack folks anytime you want. The only diversion that actually held my interest lately was Guild Wars, and I'm probably going to go out and get Factions, play a few toons to max again, and then re-new my DAoC accts. until Warhammer is released. I may look at Huxley also, since it's supposed to be like an MMO version of UT, we'll see.