I am old time Sony customer who got fed up with their unethical business practices. I really enjoyed Vanguard and played EQ, EQ2, and DAOC. Looking for a good fantasy game. I prefer sandbox  but I don't think there is many of those around. Any recommendations from x-Eq/x-Vanguard players out there?

Nothing good. Age of Conan maybe? not sure how sandboxy it will be.

I suggest LOTRO.  There are many options in gameplay from fellowship (parties) to solo questing to grinding thru kills.  I think the community is very friendly and inviting.  I used to play FFXI and WoW and have left them for LOTRO and enjoy its pace and content very much.

---

Originally posted by Cubbuns
I suggest LOTRO.  There are many options in gameplay from fellowship (parties) to solo questing to grinding thru kills.  I think the community is very friendly and inviting.  I used to play FFXI and WoW and have left them for LOTRO and enjoy its pace and content very much.

---

LOTRO is not a sandbox. It's a "here do this quest, do this quest.. let me hold your hand and guide you through the game" game. Not that i didn't find it enjoyable for a bit but definately not a sand box.

Well there are only like 2 real sandbox games and one is only a shadow of what it used to be.  EVE, which is sci-fi, but a good game non the less, and the freedom is...well more like what cant you do.  The only true fantasy is Ultima Online.  Though it isnt quite what it used to be, and its now very item centric, and less skill build, and most skills are now set up so that there are for all the freedom to choose skills "class builds"  they have made it like any other MMO now days, am afraid, but if u are willing to give it a shot, u can mix and match all the skills u want, kill mosnters, craft, own house, now 2 races to play.  PVP though again that isnt what it used to be with the trammel/fel split. But i played it for 3 years, so i would recommend.  Umm graphics are 2d though good ones at that, hope that doesnt put u off. Good luck.

I'm a pre-CU SWG fan but even I know that SWG was never the most sandbox game ever. SWG actually did have a lot of restrictions, especially in PvP. I'd put EVE as the most sandbox MMO ever at this point.

Eve is sandbox.

Eve is non-Sony.

Eve is fantastic (so it's fantasy right? ^^).

Seriously...

I don't know all MMOs, but I'm quite sure there is no sandbox fantasy game out there (yet?).

Since you're asking for the "sandbox" mechanic, I guess you already know why you want that and how it can considerably add to the immersion and fun provided by a MMORPG.

So, even if you really enjoy fantasy and are not especially interested by the space theme, I would suggest you go for it and try Eve anyways. You don't really have anything to lose except a few evenings of gaming tops. Just make sure you don't get overwhelmed by the initial mega-complexity (resulting from the game being "sandbox").

You don't know, you might surprised and actually enjoy that theme... at least in the context of this particular game.

I also hear that Pirates of the Burning Sea is sandbox too. Haven't  tried it personally though. You may want to try it instead if you like the pirate theme more. But good luck on finding a trial key  :S

Hope that helped.