Age of Conan

I see many people pine for the days of the "sandbox" games, typically UO and SW:G. Some point to AC1.

These were all skill based systems, but does skill based system mean "sandbox"?

The thing I see in common between those three is not an intentional "sandbox" design, but rather, no storyline. Both AC1 and SW:G shipped without any reason to do anything. That's a flaw in my book, not a bonus.

So, all the proponents of a sandbox design, what is your ideal system? Do you bother with a story? Do you bother with skills? Classes? Archetypes? What's the end game consist of? PvP everywhere all the time no limits?

Originally posted by eric_w66

I see many people pine for the days of the "sandbox" games, typically UO and SW:G. Some point to AC1.

These were all skill based systems, but does skill based system mean "sandbox"?

The thing I see in common between those three is not an intentional "sandbox" design, but rather, no storyline. Both AC1 and SW:G shipped without any reason to do anything. That's a flaw in my book, not a bonus.

So, all the proponents of a sandbox design, what is your ideal system? Do you bother with a story? Do you bother with skills? Classes? Archetypes? What's the end game consist of? PvP everywhere all the time no limits?

Are u trying to start a flame war or something? from all he features of those games the only thing u noticed is that they are not story driven?

How about the fact u are free to do what u want where u want? there is no linear preogression, ie i outleveled this place time to move.

Or that there are no archetypes to constrict u? u can throw fireballs and smash heads with hammers if u want to

Or that sandboxes have seamless worlds? Or maybe that there is NO end game in a sandbox?

And to quote the words of many people on these forums u cannot understand what its like unless u try it/play it

I have played them. They play just like every other MMO, except they have no story driving them. I suppose if you like macroing skills over and over again, they're great. "Out level"? LOL, so being able to raise your skills by shooting bunnies is a great advantage... I missed that.

Seamless worlds = vast empty areas, or, at best, "Random placement of npc camps."

I want to hear what the ultimate sandbox game would be.

Originally posted by eric_w66

I see many people pine for the days of the "sandbox" games, typically UO and SW:G. Some point to AC1.

These were all skill based systems, but does skill based system mean "sandbox"?

The thing I see in common between those three is not an intentional "sandbox" design, but rather, no storyline. Both AC1 and SW:G shipped without any reason to do anything. That's a flaw in my book, not a bonus.

So, all the proponents of a sandbox design, what is your ideal system? Do you bother with a story? Do you bother with skills? Classes? Archetypes? What's the end game consist of? PvP everywhere all the time no limits?

SWG had many skills/classes or w/e you call them. You could mix and match in what every style you wanted. There were no levels so you did not know for sure what you were going up against. Player housing so that your house could be an expression of your indivdual self and not a box that pops up with slots to fill up for a bank. The game was the greatest game of expressing ones indivdual self that I have seen, from clothes to class spec to houses to cities.

It was truely something you had to play to understand. I am just looking for more games to pass the time until something that great is made again. It doesn't even have to be Star Wars, hell I didnt even like star wars till i started playing that game... It just has to allow ones self to be them self.

basicly:

sandbox: you are placed in a world and you decide where to go from there, what to do etc.
wow,etc: you are pushed through a world in a set pattern doing the same exact thing as everyone else

SW:G != the movies.

Same *setting* for the most part, but definitely not the same story (when I played I noticed no story at all).

It was just "go grind X skill over and over again so I can unlock Y skill so I can grind it."

How long and when did you play? There was a story but it did not follow an exact path like other games. It was open ended for a reason.

Originally posted by eric_w66

I have played them. They play just like every other MMO, except they have no story driving them. I suppose if you like macroing skills over and over again, they're great. "Out level"? LOL, so being able to raise your skills by shooting bunnies is a great advantage... I missed that.

Seamless worlds = vast empty areas, or, at best, "Random placement of npc camps."

I want to hear what the ultimate sandbox game would be.

 

wrong... wrong and again wrong....

this dude is exactly the reason why SOE announced the NGE..

sandbox means to give the players the opportunity to do whatever they want, and especially the opportunity to have a choice...

beside combat there are plenty of other things you can do... you dont have to "fight" or attend combat to have fun, its a big sandbox world where you can do whatever you want...

you are not forced to do something to have fun all in all...

you choose what to do and not the game and the most important thing: no linear quest driven system like world of warcraft nessasary(!) but as a bonus for those who prefer...

Originally posted by TheChronic

 

Originally posted by eric_w66

I have played them. They play just like every other MMO, except they have no story driving them. I suppose if you like macroing skills over and over again, they're great. "Out level"? LOL, so being able to raise your skills by shooting bunnies is a great advantage... I missed that.

Seamless worlds = vast empty areas, or, at best, "Random placement of npc camps."

I want to hear what the ultimate sandbox game would be.

 

 

wrong... wrong and again wrong....

this dude is exactly the reason why SOE announced the NGE..

sandbox means to give the players the opportunity to do whatever they want, and especially the opportunity to have a choice...

beside combat there are plenty of other things you can do... you dont have to "fight" or attend combat to have fun, its a big sandbox world where you can do whatever you want...

you are not forced to do something to have fun all in all...

you choose what to do and not the game and the most important thing: no linear quest driven system like world of warcraft nessasary(!) but as a bonus for those who prefer...

I can do every single thing in EQ1 that you can do in SW:G or UO or AC1. There's nothing forcing me to grind levels or skills in EQ1. I can craft, I can bake cakes, I can sit around chatting...

So... what's the benefit again? No one seems to be able to quantify it besides "I can do anything".

Can you blow up mos Eisly? Can you build a death star? Can you murder every single person in the game? That "anything" is looking kinda shaky... No, the "anything" is watch people AFK macro dancing skills, or AFK macro doctor skills, or AFK macro X skills, or run around vast empty areas not doing "anything"...