MMO virgin

[blacksok]

Hi guys
I'm an intruder here to the MMO stuff, usually I'm a FPS type, but after many years sitting on the sideline looking a MMO's i am ready to test the water.
Can you locals recommend any free MMO's to try out??? The only thing i have ever played that came close to a MMO was the original Diablo, so i want to have a feel about and see if the MMO world draws me in.

Thanks

[RedlineJunkie]

An FPS fan who wants to try a free MMO, sounds like DDO is what you may be looking for!

Download DDO | Dungeons & Dragons Online

[blacksok]

Gee, you guys are quick off the mark

Thanks Redline
Downloading now

[RedlineJunkie]

You might also check out Guild Wars. You have to buy the box but there are no subscription fees. Newegg has the Platinum edition which includes the original game (called Prophecies) plus the Eye of the North expansion for $10 shipped.

Newegg.com - Guild Wars Platinum Edition PC Game NCSOFT - PC Games

[Reoh]

Many of the Free MMO's are targeted at a younger crowd I find, but I know a lot of other TOGs were having fun in Free Realms not so long ago. If you wanted to pursue something more along the lines with FPS' MMO's there are alternatives like All Points Bulletin which will be subscription free and should be hitting beta soon I think; oh and then there's Global Agenda which I've had my eyes on for quite a while (but there's no info as yet on GA's fiscal requirements).

[Egil]

Guild Wars is relatively inexpensive to get into.

DDO is a free download and free to play 2 character slots per server.
A few of us are congregating on Ghallanda... and there's already a TOG guild there.

[Atrayo]

Hello blacksok,

Well before you get your toes wet into a Free MMO. You may want to clarify your intent as to what theme of MMO interests you? (Sci-Fi, Fantasy, or something else)

Will you be playing mostly a solo style or will you be open to joining a MMO guild? Playing with TOG be it FPS or otherwise you've most likely learned that being in a clan helps. Be it learning the ropes of a particular game title, or getting access to additional game tactics.

What will be your time investment like if you do enjoy a MMO title? (casual, moderate, to hardcore)

Those are three basic beginner questions that i can think of off the top of my head.

If you enjoy Sci-Fi, i'm guessing "Anarchy Online" still has a free version of their game client?

Use a news site like Mmorpg.com for additional listing to Free MMO's. They also offer constant access to MMO's that are in beta that will be Free down the line.

Good luck in your search.

[blacksok]

As far as themes go, i dont really have a preference, but i can play all the possible themes, space, sci fi, fantasy, . . . they're all good.

I assume that guilds are like clans or squads in FPSs,so as far as they go, i normally like to stick to myself for a week or so, learn the ropes, then squad up with some randoms to get the squad play experience, then decide if i want to go serious with a guild or not.
I dont think guilds would be real good for me. In the FPS's im a big squad memeber but sometimes ya just want to have some fun and cause some destruction by yourself, do your own thing so to speak

As far as time goes, at the moment i have all the time in the world, (suspended from work but still getting paid ) but in the next month or so things will change and i'll probably be back to a couple of hours a week, (if it can overpower my 2142 urges)

[Reoh]

Guilds are more like clans than squads. Its sort of like being in the "Social squad" here at tog. You just hookup and have a chat channel/play together if you want. It helps a lot with mmo's to have friends you can ask questions about the game when you're not sure how something works. Its been shown to really improve a player experience to be part of a guild.

"Squads" for mmo's would be more like your raiding groups, or sub-segments within the guild that take on the more hardcore portions of the game together on a regular basis. They would be slightly separate in that not all guildies play like that, and often only a few do.