Darkfall is the game you are looking for.  There are no other hardcore games out there.

Originally posted by Ikeg

 I don't think Darkfall is what I'm looking for. I like PvE, and it seems to be lacking in that area.

 

I honestly think you would be very surprised at how great Darkfall's PVE is. It's not touted much, because people like to focus on the PVP aspects, but the PVE is freakin' great, and the mob AI will blow you away.

Just STEER CLEAR of Dragon lairs....they have great eyesight and can see you from a LOOONG ways off....if you hear the roar, you'll be dead in a few seconds, almost guaranteed. I've only ever escaped a dragon attack once.....not sure how, since the bitch totally carpet bombed me with fire, but I managed to ride down into a valley and I think she had a hard time getting a proper approach for another strafing run. My horse and I both had just a shred of health left, and I was positively shaking as I healed the both of us up....expecting any second for a rain of fire to finish us off.

Best thing to do is look at a map such as this one before you make any long distance traveling, and plot a course around any Dragon lairs...WAAAAYYY around, since they do tend to travel a bit.

Telling' ya man....you want a game that's a real adventure every time you play, this is the game.

you could give the open beta of mortal online a go for a while, but be aware it is still beta and not release standard yet.  But won't cost u anything until then

other than that as already suggested there is eve online ppl play that for yrs, but your house will be your ship there:)

dont try mortal online. it should be released this year, but... i tried it and i think its in pre-alpha state at best.

absolutely horrible.

Originally posted by Wharg0ul

Originally posted by Ikeg

 I don't think Darkfall is what I'm looking for. I like PvE, and it seems to be lacking in that area.

 

 

I honestly think you would be very surprised at how great Darkfall's PVE is. It's not touted much, because people like to focus on the PVP aspects, but the PVE is freakin' great, and the mob AI will blow you away.

^This

It's a friggin blast. I think they need to add some more spawns near the newbie areas but the PvE is great fun. The AI is amazing as he said. I saw a goblin scout accidentally hit a goblin shaman and the shaman turned around and started firing on him.

Honestly, I don't know why more people don't try Darkfall, it's a blast!

Darkfall definitely.. it's gone a loong way since release and I'm enjoying its sandbox goodness right now. :)

As for PvE.. so far it is most impressive - mob ai is second to none although if you're into story based quests or raids (which I'm not) you'll find it lacking. It is more of a "realsitic" thing where players give themselves a reason to go kill some mobs rather than follow some contrived story (no I really can't emphatize with NPC problems). In addition i find the world a bit.. emptyish although it does give it a sense of realism (not every square inch of the world should be covered with "monsters" waiting to be slaughtered like in most other games) so when you go hunting kobolds your first task is to find them... which can be fun in itself. The next patch/expansion is supposed to give a boost to PvE, especially to the dungeons so you might want to wait until then... or you might not.

Originally posted by Ikeg

You hit the nail on the head there. SOE said that they do not have plans for another Everquest, so let's hope that another company picks it up.

Actualy SoE already said they are working on EQ next , even showed some concept art ,so all we can do is wait and see.

I also would have to say try DF , no better game out there today till something new comes along , maybe MO in a year , also check out Dawntide its in beta now , but it could deliver everything you ( and my self and many others) are waiting on, specially if your an old school EQ player.

I was reading up on Entropia Universe. Didn't look like my kind of game but if you really want money to be important check it out. I doubt any major developer is going to make games with depth and challenge anymore. No one wants that stuff. Maybe those "independent" games come close to your ideals, but the ones I've tried seem underdeveloped. Though if you don't like polish I guess that's not a concern. Darkfall is on my list. I wish there was a trial. I had a blast in AO long ago. I might check it out with the new graphics. I suggest to the OP to get a good guild in EQ2 and enjoy the upcoming expansion. There was a lot of challenge in the last two expansions. Kunark and TSO. I rate challenge on how un-pug-able dungeons are. And the hard TSO zones are un-pug-able. You need a good guild to play it. 

 Sovrano, thanks for bringing Entropia up. You want a hardcore MMO? Play Entropia for free.