I've been playing MMORPGs for quite a while now and have grown discontent with all my MMO having little story. I'm currently playing WoW but after playing some single-player RPGs I have grown tired of the quest grind that has become so typical in today's MMOs. It's not the questing thats the problem, its that I don't feel intrigued by the game because there isn't an appealing story. I've gotten high level in WoW, read some of the backstory, and played Warcraft III. I played CoH and LOVED the story presented there. I felt like a part of the story and always had something to keep me playing like learning about the history of the different villain groups and maybe even defeating that villain groups leader. I also played GW and enjoyed the story presented there.

    So I want to know which MMORPG to play to put the RPG back into MMORPG. I want to experience the story of a certain MMO setting, even if I don't feel like I'm changing the game world with my character(though I guess that motivation would help).  I was thinking "Final Fantasy XI" since I've played and enjoyed most of the Final Fantasy single player games, perhaps DDO since I kinda like the Eberron setting, or maybe even "The Matrix Online" since I liked the movies and have heard good things about that game's progressing story.

    Does anyone have any advice on a MMORPG that would would give me the thrill of experiencing a good, online story? Thanks.

Originally posted by DrWalnut

    I've been playing MMORPGs for quite a while now and have grown discontent with all my MMO having little story. I'm currently playing WoW but after playing some single-player RPGs I have grown tired of the quest grind that has become so typical in today's MMOs. It's not the questing thats the problem, its that I don't feel intrigued by the game because there isn't an appealing story. I've gotten high level in WoW, read some of the backstory, and played Warcraft III. I played CoH and LOVED the story presented there. I felt like a part of the story and always had something to keep me playing like learning about the history of the different villain groups and maybe even defeating that villain groups leader. I also played GW and enjoyed the story presented there.

    So I want to know which MMORPG to play to put the RPG back into MMORPG. I want to experience the story of a certain MMO setting, even if I don't feel like I'm changing the game world with my character(though I guess that motivation would help).  I was thinking "Final Fantasy XI" since I've played and enjoyed most of the Final Fantasy single player games, perhaps DDO since I kinda like the Eberron setting, or maybe even "The Matrix Online" since I liked the movies and have heard good things about that game's progressing story.

 

    Does anyone have any advice on a MMORPG that would would give me the thrill of experiencing a good, online story? Thanks.

 

Final Fantasy XI has some of the best storylines that you'll ever find in an MMO.

Any other suggestions?

EQ2 has some interesting lore if you actually pay attention to the quests, books, etc. Also, it's actually possible to find people to roleplay with on the RP servers, though you may need to look a teensy bit first.

The Chronicles of Spellborn (coming Q1 next year) promises to have a very good quest-driven storyline. You could check it out, their world was orginally intended for a tabletop rpg and it has a really cool and unique atmosphere.

The game I am going to suggest is still in development and still over a yr from going live. There is no information about what this new mmo is about as its a secret (many speculations are going on about what it will be)

My suggestion is the new Bioware MMO. Bioware has released some of the best singleplayer RPGs (in my opinion) out there. Look at "Mass Effect", as a story, great game (though there are some FPS issues in game). Neverwinter Nights, Baldur's Gate and several others. Bioware makes good story driven games and has a good reputation. This will be thier 1st venture into the MMO scene though.

So keep your eyes out for this one in 2009 (speculation from bioware forums)

Currently Only other mmo I play ATM is Battleground europe WW2 online.....no storyline here though only PVP Axis vs Allies.

Cedd

I played FFXI for a number of years, I can say that the story is very good. The problem with it is that unless you are willing to invest allot of time into it, you wont get far. Also there is far too little solo content, you need groups for everything. If you want to EXP you have to grind with a group of 5 other people (unless you take on the only solo class, beast master). Quests give no exp only rewards. The economy is very good, but almost every peny you will have will come from the Auction House, I liked this very much as the players spend a long time buying and selling. The crafting in FFXI is very good, but both expensive and time consuming, its also complex and you need the internet for the recipes as for some reson the game does not provide good clues as what to make next to level up. I would give FFXI a rough 7.5/10. It has allot of flaws but all in all its quite good.

Matrix online well, I have heard so many reports that the game is less desirable. Have you tried reading up on Lineage II?

As it stands I am playing Tabula Rasa. It has had a very mixed views from the players. But there does seem to be quite a good story, I like you dislike quest grind very much, I also played WoW untill reaching 70, playing some of the content and realiseing that the story was less than what I want from a game. In Tabula Rasa many instances have a showing before you enter, the quests all seem to some how link to a greater goal and most importantly on a few quests I have found decision making which actually effects the way people behave towards you, Or make you feel guilty for making the wrong choice.

It does however have its faults, It is very early days so there are a number of bugs. Also at the moment there is almost no high end content, but they are adding to it fast, this does not bother me as I am only LV 21. The crafting is really not good and the "Auction house" is new and seems to be for the soul use of buying and selling equipment so far, but its early days. So far 8/10 but that could change, they nerfed me 

Hope this helps.

I know mentioning World of Warcraft draws instand aggro, but in all seriousness if you get onto an RP server and into a heavy RP guild, there's some very good heavy RP'ers out there.  In the towns and houses you can usually find books to read that give a lot of background and lore.  The reason why most people will say "NO!" to that is not because of lack of RP, but because the game has been around a while and many people are already familiar with the lore.  Gamers are gamers wherever you go it seems, so I wouldn't base a game's RP by only the players.  Turn off all the yakkity yak channels and play it like you really are there.  Good RP is up to you, the game is only a tool to help you get there.