I'm desperately trying to find a game I can play that ISN'T like WoW. I've quit and gone back to WoW at least 17 times.. and Blizzard continues to destroy the MMO genre I loved. Its nothing more than a number crunching fest now, with elitist raiders trashing everyone who isn't super ulduar geared. I want to find a game that is about exploration and discovery, and not so much about clearing the next progression content.

EQ1 and FFXI were both like that. The content from FFXI on day 1 is just as viable today, as it was then.

In WoW everything before WOTLK is obsolete.. a new player has no reason to do any of it.

Is Age of Conan the game I seek? Or should I keep looking?

Probably, but you should give a try to EQ2 too. Both are good and have of lot to do. EQ2 is kinda old and have a lot more content than AoC. But AoC is a pretty good game since they fixed a lot of bug and performance issue

I'm currently in the same boat as you, i played wow through everything up to the release of WotLK and got to like level 72 before i realized how pointless it is to raid my face off until the next expansion where i will replace the purples i would have spent hours getting (literally) only to replace them with greens.

Currently im downloading the 7 day free trial for AoC, but be warned to only do that at night when you go to bed, the download is huge and the only way to download the client is through the AoC launcher, which is downloading the 11 gig file at 300-500kb/s.

If you were into the DAoC scene and didn't mind grinding then Aion might be for you also, i have a sorc at level 35 and i can tell you it was REALLY fun right when it came out but now that most of the hardcore playerbase is above my level the abyss (the pvp zone) is just a gank fest and a half. Youre literally screwed if you go in there alone and try to grind or quest anywhere that isn't near a guard tower for your side.

EQ2 could be the other one like the guy above me said, i haven't played that game since like 4 years ago, got to level 23 then moved on to something else, never really got into it, but im sure its much easier to get into now, lots of people are still playing it, so it cant be terrible. I'm even considering reinstalling it and seeing whats up.

But: you really cant go wrong with any game that gives you a free trial :)

Both EQ2 & AoC are fun games.

EQ2 strengths are its crafting system (very best out there) and AA abilities. EQ2 also has a great mentoring system. Downsides are graphics & pvp.

AoC  has great graphics and music. The Conan lore and dark atmosphere give AoC a very unique style. PvP mini games are pretty easy to get into (note I play on Wiccana a pve server). Sieging can be fun but they lag (necros) if you are running less than a top end machine. Raiding is a fun activity that does not consume your life. Downsides are crafting (bad design) and the need for a high end machine.  

Originally posted by catlana

Both EQ2 & AoC are fun games.

 

EQ2 strengths are its crafting system (very best out there) and AA abilities. EQ2 also has a great mentoring system. Downsides are graphics & pvp.

AoC  has great graphics and music. The Conan lore and dark atmosphere give AoC a very unique style. PvP mini games are pretty easy to get into (note I play on Wiccana a pve server). Sieging can be fun but they lag (necros) if you are running less than a top end machine. Raiding is a fun activity that does not consume your life. Downsides are crafting (bad design) and the need for a high end machine.  

Instead of me going through it--I'll let the OP read about it here:

forums.ageofconan.com/showthread.php

This is easily one of the most active threads since patch 1.05

Minigame is more a class balance issue, where minigames are ruled by certain classes, and very specific specs for the minigames.

You can find more info in the PvP section on the Home page here:

forums.ageofconan.com/forumdisplay.php

To OP;

I know how you feel. and yes, AoC might be what you are looking for. Give it a go with the free trial, and you'll know :)

A lot of people just left after free trials so this game is missing so much it is not worth 15 per month to most old players and pretty much every single new player. Is sad how bad this game is doing but when you play the game past level 20 it is no suprise that people get bored and dislike the lack of stuff to do and the broken stuff in this game.

EQ2, Warcraft, AIon, and LOTOR, are all better for sure.

 If you are sick of wow you are prob after something different. As stated try the 7 days trial and roll a melee character. If you like it then subscribe.  if not you wasted a download and some time:)

not to mention its a headache of a download :(

for the hell of it i just installed my dungeons and dragons online cds since its free now, if you bought the game back when you have 2 more free character slots, says my stuff is "premium" but you still have to buy new characters. thats how they are getting away with "free", basic content is free but high end better dungeons, certain classes, and character slots you must pay for in the store.

im already bored to tears at level 2.

Originally posted by Barteaux

To OP;

 

I know how you feel. and yes, AoC might be what you are looking for. Give it a go with the free trial, and you'll know :)

Best advice here. The trial is best way to figure out if you like the game. The game is cheap now that even if you just want to stick with it a month the 5.00 box price is worth it, in my opinion.

You may also try Vanguard, the most underestimated MMO of all times. Same Publisher as EQ2 but the better game. A huge open world without instances, mystical, perfect for exploration and adventure. Very sophisticated Crafting.

Here is a link to the free trial: http://vanguard.station.sony.com/isleofdawn/

Originally posted by DuckWizard

You may also try Vanguard, the most underestimated MMO of all times. Same Publisher as EQ2 but the better game. A huge open world without instances, mystical, perfect for exploration and adventure. Very sophisticated Crafting.

Here is a link to the free trial: http://vanguard.station.sony.com/isleofdawn/

I wish I tried Vanguard, and know it was a buggy mess....but the head developer created the EQ 1 expansion : Velious, which imo was the best MMO experience to date.

Vanguard is dated and no longer has the pull to bring in players so I wouldn't play it because of the low pop, AoC is quite the oppisite as they just recently had a lot of people try it out but like Vanguard are spiraling to a low population on it's current day merits...bugs, slow development cycle, lack of content, PvP issues, are the major reasons cited.