First: I love this community.  People are helpful without being obnoxiously coddling or foolishly rude.  That's a balance hard to meet. 

Anyway I got soe good suggestions a month or so ago about finding a new game and I think I've narrowed it down to two:

GW2 and Vanguard: SOH.

Watched countless videos of both last night. 

With GW2 being B2P I have concerns that there's an online store where I can have the option to purchase things to better my toon?  I'd personaly just rather pay the monthly subscription fee rather than mess around in a game shop.

Vanguard seems to have a steep learning curve, and I'm unsre of it's player base.

I like a healthy blend of PvP and PvE and like to be able to solo some quests when necessary.

My only requirement is no panda bears. 

I'm a veteran of UO and WoW and spent a few months on other MMOs that didn't hold my attention for various reasons.  I think a huge problem is that I am constantly trying to find a game to replicate the experiences I had in UO which were amazing!

Also UO had no pandas.  ;)

Thanks in advance for the help.  I have two weeks off for holiday break starting Thursday and am anxious to spend some of it relaxing in front of a new MMO. 

-Sel

I would say VG SOH. If you are old school or new doesn't matter. This MMO has everything that people complain about on these forums and want in their MMOS. Big open world, no instances, no loading screens..open dungeons, deep crafting, diplomacy etc.

I just wish more people would play it.

I have not played GW2, since I am not interested in what it offers, but I did play VG very intensively (first world kills and all that), so I ll give you some input about this game, trying to be objective and honest althought I loved the game to death.

Bad points:

- Low population. It's an old niche game. The massive size of the world adds to it. Look for an active guild if you want to enjoy the game.

- Bad engine. Performance is just acceptable, but not actually good.

- Grindy once you get to the end game. Not becouse there's little to do, but becouse you need to do it over and over to complete certain stuff.

- Old game. Graphics can't compete with the latest games.

Good points:

- Insane amount of content. The world is massive.

- Depth. Deeper than virtually any modern MMO.

- Good crafting system that actually matters.

- Excellent community.

- Diversity. Lots of different classes, races and feasable builds. Many classes have different sub-classes available.

Poins that are good or bad depending on what kind of players you are.

- No PVP.

- Challenge. The game is not easy. Reasonable death penalties.

- Group oriented. While you can solo your way to level cap, grouping is way more profitable, even when it comes to farming crafting materials. Most end game content is group content. Holy trinity plus crowd control beeing very important. Backup healing and buffers very welcome for most content.

Apples and oranges IMO. It really depends on what you're looking for. For example, if you like getting better stats, GW2 is not for you. If you like PvP, VG is not for you. And so on.

That being said, GW2's cash shop is almost too useless, unless you like collecting mini pets and other junk.

Originally posted by Scalpless
Apples and oranges IMO. It really depends on what you're looking for. For example, if you like getting better stats, GW2 is not for you. If you like PvP, VG is not for you. And so on.

Umm..after the recent changes if you like better stats GW2 is for you. However VG as you said isn't about PVP. 

Like the above posters said two toally different game. I am playing vanguard now and love it. Healer is madamz ( telon server) tank is bastads (telon server) If you need ANYTHING PM me. I can mentor down and help you,

You won't find a better community  - Vanguard is top notch.

It truly is a game I'd suggest you download and form your own opinion. it is a love /hate relationship with mmo'ers

Easy question, if you have a group of friends to play with VG is the best option, the group content there will make the journey very very fun, if you dont have that group of friends then GW2 for sure, its much more accesible and enjoyable froma  solo pov and its easy to interact with other people than VG.

Just for the record, played both till max level and enjoying WvW warfare atm in GW2.

I've played both but Vanguard i've played for nearly six years and have mulitple level characters with four at max level.

World

GW2. has a nice looking world and some great graphic, even the avid disliker of the game has to admit that. It's a big world full of things to do but IMO it lack that feeling of belonging to a world.

Vanguard. has a vast open world with no instances,GW2 is no where near as big as Vanguard or as varied. I can go anywhere in Vanguard, no where is blocked off. The graphic are still very nice for a 6 year old game.

Crafting. Vanguards crafting system makes GW2 look like a kids card game, their is no depth to GW2 crafdting. Vanguards crafting is a whole other sphere, it takes just as long to level up as adveturing and iut takes you all over the vast world of telon. Items have player names on them and some crafted items a nearly on par with top dungeon items

Diplomacy    http://wiki.silkyvenom.com/index.php/Diplomacy

Content. GW2 has quite a bit of content but Vanguard has a vast amount of content, so much so that you could not see it all on one character over a two year period.

Races. 

Vanguard 19 

GW2 5

Classes

Vanguard 15 with the some being multiple classes none are copy and paste all are different with 3 different stances.

GW2 8

Housing

Vanguard has open world housing.

GW2 None.

Ships

Vanguard has many different ships.

GW2 None

Mounts

Vanguard has over 40 different land mounts and numerous flying mounts

GW2 None.

Dungeons

Vanguard has over 90 dungeons, all are non instance and some will take you a week to complete because they span many levels.

GW2 has 11 group dungeons and numerous small caves, i actually think it's okay but no where near what vanguard has or as hard and interesting.

Starting Areas

Vanguard has 15 different starting areas although you can staret on the isle or one of the revamped starting areas.

GW2 has 5

PVE Vanguard is a PVE game and has a vast amount of PVE, GW2 does not come close.

PVP GW2 wins

Vanguard if you want a deep content rich old school MMO that you can live in. GW2 if you want a quick fix that get';s boring real fast.

You might want to join us in this game from tomorrow http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/game/749/view/forums/forum/1250/General-Discussion.html

Since Vanguard is F2P, you could just download it and see for yourself. GW2 isn't going anywhere.

Originally posted by Whitebeards

Originally posted by Scalpless
Apples and oranges IMO. It really depends on what you're looking for. For example, if you like getting better stats, GW2 is not for you. If you like PvP, VG is not for you. And so on.

Umm..after the recent changes if you like better stats GW2 is for you. However VG as you said isn't about PVP. 

Nah, it's just a single dungeon. Not worth buying a game for. Besides, they're supposedly making Ascended gear easier to obtain and introducing it everywhere else, so the little gear treadmill GW2 has should dissipate soon enough.

I played both.

GW2 for a week, VSOH for a year.

GW2 was boring and easy, and im casual player (few hours a week).

VSOH was everything i was looking in a game.

Originally posted by Selyse

First: I love this community.  People are helpful without being obnoxiously coddling or foolishly rude.  That's a balance hard to meet. 

Anyway I got soe good suggestions a month or so ago about finding a new game and I think I've narrowed it down to two:

GW2 and Vanguard: SOH.

Watched countless videos of both last night. 

With GW2 being B2P I have concerns that there's an online store where I can have the option to purchase things to better my toon?  I'd personaly just rather pay the monthly subscription fee rather than mess around in a game shop.

Vanguard seems to have a steep learning curve, and I'm unsre of it's player base.

I like a healthy blend of PvP and PvE and like to be able to solo some quests when necessary.

My only requirement is no panda bears. 

I'm a veteran of UO and WoW and spent a few months on other MMOs that didn't hold my attention for various reasons.  I think a huge problem is that I am constantly trying to find a game to replicate the experiences I had in UO which were amazing!

Also UO had no pandas.  ;)

Thanks in advance for the help.  I have two weeks off for holiday break starting Thursday and am anxious to spend some of it relaxing in front of a new MMO. 

-Sel

At this point I would say take the middle road and try EQ2.

The breadth (in terms diversity) and depth (in terms of quantity) of it's content are hard to match and it has a robust sub model that allows you to play with no hassle and even gives you some SC each month to spend on the odd treat from the shop.

It has a great community and caters for solo, small group, and raid play.

I like VG, and even GW2 as a single player RPG, but neither of them are simple as much fun to me as EQ2.

Originally posted by Vesavius

Originally posted by Selyse

First: I love this community.  People are helpful without being obnoxiously coddling or foolishly rude.  That's a balance hard to meet. 

Anyway I got soe good suggestions a month or so ago about finding a new game and I think I've narrowed it down to two:

GW2 and Vanguard: SOH.

Watched countless videos of both last night. 

With GW2 being B2P I have concerns that there's an online store where I can have the option to purchase things to better my toon?  I'd personaly just rather pay the monthly subscription fee rather than mess around in a game shop.

Vanguard seems to have a steep learning curve, and I'm unsre of it's player base.

I like a healthy blend of PvP and PvE and like to be able to solo some quests when necessary.

My only requirement is no panda bears. 

I'm a veteran of UO and WoW and spent a few months on other MMOs that didn't hold my attention for various reasons.  I think a huge problem is that I am constantly trying to find a game to replicate the experiences I had in UO which were amazing!

Also UO had no pandas.  ;)

Thanks in advance for the help.  I have two weeks off for holiday break starting Thursday and am anxious to spend some of it relaxing in front of a new MMO. 

-Sel

 

At this point I would say take the middle road and try EQ2.

The breadth (in terms diversity) and depth (in terms of quantity) of it's content are hard to match and it has a robust sub model that allows you to play with no hassle and even gives you some SC each month to spend on the odd treat from the shop.

It has a great community and caters for solo, small group, and raid play.

I like VG, and even GW2 as a single player RPG, but neither of them are simple as much fun to me as EQ2.

^ Agree with this 100%.  I recently went back to EQ2 and I am reminded how much fun it is and how much other MMO's lack.  Some of it really blows my mind.   The 3 leveling systems (adventure lvlng via the usually killing creatures and completing quests) the achievement system (from discoveries and special quetss) and Tradeskill leveling (from crafting).  The game allows you to have in so many ways, I'm having a blast.  But to be honest, nothing was better then meeting up with old Guild mates and grouping/raiding again.  Fun and friendship, the two things MMO's lack these days, eq2 still has it.

Originally posted by Vesavius

Originally posted by Selyse

First: I love this community.  People are helpful without being obnoxiously coddling or foolishly rude.  That's a balance hard to meet. 

Anyway I got soe good suggestions a month or so ago about finding a new game and I think I've narrowed it down to two:

GW2 and Vanguard: SOH.

Watched countless videos of both last night. 

With GW2 being B2P I have concerns that there's an online store where I can have the option to purchase things to better my toon?  I'd personaly just rather pay the monthly subscription fee rather than mess around in a game shop.

Vanguard seems to have a steep learning curve, and I'm unsre of it's player base.

I like a healthy blend of PvP and PvE and like to be able to solo some quests when necessary.

My only requirement is no panda bears. 

I'm a veteran of UO and WoW and spent a few months on other MMOs that didn't hold my attention for various reasons.  I think a huge problem is that I am constantly trying to find a game to replicate the experiences I had in UO which were amazing!

Also UO had no pandas.  ;)

Thanks in advance for the help.  I have two weeks off for holiday break starting Thursday and am anxious to spend some of it relaxing in front of a new MMO. 

-Sel

 

At this point I would say take the middle road and try EQ2.

The breadth (in terms diversity) and depth (in terms of quantity) of it's content are hard to match and it has a robust sub model that allows you to play with no hassle and even gives you some SC each month to spend on the odd treat from the shop.

The same applies to Vanguard even the SC part.

It has a great community and caters for solo, small group, and raid play.

Yes ill agree with that.

I like VG, and even GW2 as a single player RPG, but neither of them are simple as much fun to me as EQ2.

I would say that Vanguard or EQ2 far outshine anytrhing GW2 has to offer.

Given your description, I'm going to have to go against the grain in this thread and saw that I think GW2 may actually be the better choice.

While Vanguard may be deeper game in some respects, GW2's pvp wins no contest, and I've found its solo pve experience to be far better than Vanguard's. GW2's cash/gem shop is also a non-factor - it's basically cosmetic items, mini-pets, and some marginally useful boosters.

If the virtual world aspect is important to you, Vanguard wins in that category. I won't rehash the reasons - they've been said many times already in this thread.

In my own experience, I found Vanguard too buggy and unpolished to play for any extended period of time.

Edit: Wording changed for clarity.

Originally posted by dreamscaper

While Vanguard may be deeper game in some respects, its pvp wins no contest, and I've found its solo pve experience to be far better than Vanguard's.

I would actually agree with this... GW2 shone as a single player RPG to me.

Depends on what you want...

If you want a casual, flashy game that will keep you few a few weeks to a month or so, go GW2.

If you want more of a traditional, albeit less flashy time-slnk MMO, go Vanguard.