With last week's launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic, many folks' imaginations have been opened to the idea of space-themed MMOs. In today's Coyote's Howling, we opine that the fantasy genre "needs a well-deserved rest". See if you agree and then leave us your ideas in the comments.

Still, during this time of hunger and wanting, our eyes will wander to the future and we'll begin to glance longingly towards the next MMORPG that promises to be released; even if that game fails to realize that only one thing can save our beloved genre from the watered down grave that developers have been digging for it: Every new online game has to be based in SPACE.

Read more Coyote's Howling: Beam Me Up, Please.

Because in space no one can hear you……preen.

Classic,

Thank you again Coyote.......you hit the spot....not that an elf would have a spot of course !

 

Holy crap, my day is made. Thanks.

/sneaks off to check out Train Simulators

Han Solo and testies.

Well played.

Originally posted by KingofHartz

I am fairly new to the mmorpg genre, but I am finding that I do prefer fantasy over space, perhaps if space where brighter and less techies, but then how does that work? Space combat on horses? Maybe not, I just remember how much I enjoyed the rolling hills of Azeroth, and Northerend, the music, the various creatures and birds, marveling at that lvl ?? Alliance player roaming around, catching an occasional duel, all while completing quests, gathering materials, and just kind of out in the wilderness on my own adventure but not alone, and not thinking man this place is dark, it never was, it was just a great place to escape to. Tech worlds have to much in common with the hustle and bustle of life as it is today.

 

Made me think of this.

COMBINE BOTH DAYMMIT. 

Loaaadss of ways to do it without including.... space dragons -_-

I'm a huge Star Wars fan. I'm a classic Star Trek fan, too. However, I don't consider myself a sci-fi fan. I'm sure this makes no sense, but other than the two brands above, I don't yearn for the futuristic setting.

I am, however, getting sick of elves. But I do prefer the fantasy genre. There is just something more romantic when it comes to a warrior and his sword. I don't mind the guns etc, so long as there are a muiltitude of melee weapons.

I'd like see a blend of both genres to be honest. Try to think of Masters of the Universe. You have fantasty-like characters with swords, shields, armor, bows, magic, space ships, laser guns, tanks, creature mounts, and castles.

SWTOR isn't my kind of space game, but otherwise, I completely agree.  Except for the parts about irradiated personal bits!  Let's hope for the advanced sci-fi art of built in shielding on those pistols instead.

ShadowRun (the RPG), a mix of cyberpunk and fantasy always held a place in my heart. There's really no need to choose when you can have both.

...but let's face the facts - there are really only two types of MMORPG: Those that contain "space" and those that contain "dragons"....

 

 I don't mean to be nitpicky but isn't that statement a little simplistic?  There is room for other game genres that don't have to involve elves and dwarves.  I know that the offering now isn't great, but Fallen Earth is sci fi, but not in space, and I would definitely try a Fallout MMO game if there ever were one.  Also, This wasn't an MMO but Red Dead Redemption was a good RPG that could make for a fun genre too... although it might kind of cater to a small target. 

I don't think that the problem is with the genre of Fantasy at all.  I think it's that the developers coming up with so called fantasy games have stopped using their imaginations and pretty much stamped out clones of each other, not necessarily all based on Wow either but just think, if you're a mage in one game, you might likely play a mage the same way in another fantasy game.  They haven't come up with new ways to represent the fantasy genre is all and so on the point of giving it a rest, it might be a good idea.   

Don't get me wrong I'm a big fan of SWTOR, though I still haven't bought it (soon)..  I just still enjoy a good fantasy game too, just not a clone-based one.  I'd much rather play several hours in Skyrim instead.

THAC0 - wait.. lower is better?  I want to roll higher.. but lower is better?

I agree, let the Dragons and Elves have some time off.

A dragon by any other name will burn as brightly.

What's so hard about figuring out THAC0?

From the D&D wiki:

THAC0 (/?θæko?/, thack-oh) is an abbreviation for To Hit Armor Class Zero (0). To calculate if a hit succeeds you would take the AC of the target and subtract it from the attacker's THAC0, then roll a 20-sided die; if the die rolls equal to or higher than the calculated number, the attack hits. That is, THAC0 − AC = roll needed to hit.

Example: If a target has an AC of 5 and the attacker has a THAC0 of 18: 18 − 5 = 13. The attacker must roll 13 or greater to hit.

Example: If a target has an AC of −3 and the attacker has a THAC0 of 8, 8 − (−3) = 11. The attacker must roll 11 or greater to hit.

Fighter classes have the best THAC0 progression and spell users have the worst. Lower THAC0 is better, since you have to roll equal to or higher than the to-hit number.

Crap, just turned into this guy:

Heh more Coyote fun, thanks:)

On a serious note, i hope so. More space sci-fi would be a treat in the coming years.

Originally posted by JoeyMMO

ShadowRun (the RPG), a mix of cyberpunk and fantasy always held a place in my heart. There's really no need to choose when you can have both.

Shadowrun was the best . i dont play it anymore but when i did i loved how sci-fi/modern was blended with fantasy. Makes for a great variety of chars.

my favorite is the WoW advert right in the middle of the article.

Also very funny. And I agree

Nice one Coyote...

Been lookin for a kickarse space based MMO since TR failed to live up to that & tanked - none out there atm :(P

Ones I'd luv ta see/play:

 And NO elves, dragons or flippin Jedi allowed either!

Babylon 5 - The Station itself would  be an awesome starter area & quest hub if all station crew were NPC's and players could chose from savory races such as Minbari, Narn, Centauri, Vree, Drazi, or Human. For classes there'd be Ranger=Starship Trooper style, Soul Chaser, Psi-Corps agent to spice up the normal smuggler, spy, & assassin roles.

or how bout Dune... enjoyed the old desktop game a lot and would be way cool to be a Fremen or a Mentat!