It gives me an overwelming feeling of  freedom. An open world where you can discover a dungeon that's not on the map and very few people know about.

What games can you do that in anymore?

Well, most people find not having things on their map aggravating, and like it when other people are already at or able to reach the dungeons that they know about.

If your question is what sort of game gives players a sense of exploration and sense of exclusivity: all the good MMOs do. You equate a lack of features and population in Vanguard to well...features.

The Tome of Knowledge in WAR for example is an example of an actual game mechanic that encourages fine-tooth exploration with rewards for the effort. Or exploration badges in City of Heroes. Blindly wandering a wasteland though and being rewarded only by what you imagine in your head...only a few are capable of not being bored by that.

Well, I don't seem to mind not having a very detailed map. It makes me feel like I am ACTUALLY exploring the world.

I'm just not one to want everything laid out for me I suppose. Allthough, I wouldn't mind exploration rewards in Vanguard.

I was also trying to make a point that most games are fairly linear, where as in Vanguard it just doesn't feel that way.

I just really enjoy the feeling of wandering and stubling upon to something as appose to the "Hey, where do I level at level 20?", "DUUDE, DO WAILING CAVERNS MAN!"

Crafting and in particular Diplomacy owns every other MMO I have tried, thats why I love Vanguard.

Originally posted by Ontblod

Crafting and in particular Diplomacy owns every other MMO I have tried, thats why I love Vanguard.

QFT. The game is finally amazing : )

If I don't like WAR in the free month, you guys have convinced me to give Vanguard another try! My computer couldn't handle it at launch, and I got disheartened by the number of bugs... but it seems like it's been going nowhere but up since then, so I'm excited to see where it's at now.

So many people are coming back to Vanguard. I have never once had a problem finding groups or people to chat with. The general chat is full mostly all day long. The bugs are dissapearing and the conent is amazing. I was stil iffy at first but as soon as I hit lvl 10 and a) got my horse b) started crafting and c) rode a flying mount for the first time I was hooked. I was in WAR beta and tried so hard to like it but it just got so boring. One road all the way to pvp end game. No thanks : ( the pve was garbage no matter what anybody tells you.

Originally posted by sepher

Well, most people find not having things on their map aggravating, and like it when other people are already at or able to reach the dungeons that they know about.

If your question is what sort of game gives players a sense of exploration and sense of exclusivity: all the good MMOs do. You equate a lack of features and population in Vanguard to well...features.

The Tome of Knowledge in WAR for example is an example of an actual game mechanic that encourages fine-tooth exploration with rewards for the effort. Or exploration badges in City of Heroes. Blindly wandering a wasteland though and being rewarded only by what you imagine in your head...only a few are capable of not being bored by that.

Very well said. Any MMO could simply not tell you where stuff is. Its not a feature but a lack of one. In all other respects Vanguard is the same as any other mmo - its static and unchanging.

Originally posted by Ramones274

Well, I don't seem to mind not having a very detailed map. It makes me feel like I am ACTUALLY exploring the world.

I'm just not one to want everything laid out for me I suppose. Allthough, I wouldn't mind exploration rewards in Vanguard.

I was also trying to make a point that most games are fairly linear, where as in Vanguard it just doesn't feel that way.

I just really enjoy the feeling of wandering and stubling upon to something as appose to the "Hey, where do I level at level 20?", "DUUDE, DO WAILING CAVERNS MAN!"

I agree that not having a detailed map does indeed make it "feel" more immersive.......at least the first time round anyway. Unfortunately after holding your finger on the W key for ages and looking at endless empty landscapes occasionally dotted with a hidden npc or a mob to attack, the notion of "exploring" wears off and you start wondering why on earth you are wandering around an empty 3d landscape when you could be doing something exciting instead.

If it was a dynamic world simulation where you could encounter random creatures roaming around (eg tribes of goblins moving into dungeons one day and then moving somewhere else the next etc) or if players could influence the world and change stuff (set up villages etc) then it might be interesting to "explore" because then anything could happen. However exploring in Vanguard simply means wandering around looking at the scenery which you can do in any game. Granted though Vanguard is generally bigger than most games so if wandering around with your finger on the W key is your thing then Vanguard is your best friend.

I do agree with the bit you said though about players asking in chat where they can level at each level bracket. I find that really annoying too actually. Its a constant reminder of what these games are essentially really about and totally breaks immersion........although to be honest I gave up on seeking immersion in mmos a long time ago anyway

 Example of Leveling in WoW.

1-10 Elwynn

10-20 Westfall

20-30 Duskwood

30-40 Stranglethorn Vale

40-50 Tanaris

50-58 Blasted Lands

58-70 Outland

Awesome! New Xpack! Now we have

68-80 Northrend

yay....im 80...imma do same instances, 5 battlegrounds, and maybe some open world pvp for a good 1-2 years until next expansion....

i love it because you can lvl a char 3 different ways and be usefull at the end and still have something to do.  no other game ive seen has diplo crafting and adventureing its something that takes time and when you finaly accomplish it you are one of few that get that far.  "well at least on the FFA but now with the GU6 /anon ftw"

Originally posted by Ramones274

It gives me an overwelming feeling of  freedom. An open world where you can discover a dungeon that's not on the map and very few people know about.

 

I think it is one of the most important assets, or features, to Vanguard that ought to be capitalized and expanded on more.  Game development companies are always seeking new ways to innovate, and I think exploration is that one critically important feature that is way, and I mean way, too often neglected.

Consider how many MMORPGers consider themselves "explorers," myself included.

Travel.  Exploration.  Discovery.   Each in their own right, and in inter-related ways, need to be expanded more to provide a more enriching, exciting, and unpredictable MMORPG experience.

Originally posted by neonwire

Unfortunately after holding your finger on the W key for ages ...

...so if wandering around with your finger on the W key is your thing ...

You do know that there is the autorun option, right? :)

For me the top reasons to like VG:

1. Best community I've ever seen in any mmorpg. Never has any question been left without a helpful answer and always fun and mature people to group with.

2. The amount of quest content is huge! So many quests to do, I have 4 alts to near mid-game and never had to do the same quest between them. Although some quests are a bit grindy (usually the ones with the best rewards) there is a lot of variety and nice writing behind them, if you stop to read what the NPCs say. Especially the diplomacy sphere has an amazing amount of story for the lore junkies.

All in all, maybe the community is so good because the game appeals to certain type of players. A bit old school and not liking anything spoon-fed to them, allowing everyone to choose their own paths through the game.

Originally posted by Ontblod

Crafting and in particular Diplomacy owns every other MMO I have tried, thats why I love Vanguard.

I have always found crafting in any mmo to be boring as hell. i cannot understand why someone would start up a game to make chairs. Its needed in mmo's i agree, but not fun in my book.

Originally posted by ronan32

Originally posted by Ontblod

Crafting and in particular Diplomacy owns every other MMO I have tried, thats why I love Vanguard.

 

I have always found crafting in any mmo to be boring as hell. i cannot understand why someone would start up a game to make chairs. Its needed in mmo's i agree, but not fun in my book.

This is why a good MMO has options. If you like crafting this game has it, if you only like killing you can do that and you can run quests for rewards if that is your playstyle. This game has a lot of options in how you play, and to me that is a sign of a quality MMO.