General Discussion

First let me say I haven't played WoW or EQ2 so forgive me if they actually have this combination of features.

I'm looking for a game to match Asheron's Call 1 technically. AC1 was great partly because it had no zones, no instances (at first), and hid the loading screens. I think it was ahead of its time. Too many games these days have all taken a step back.

In AC1 I could walk across the map seamlessly, the only time I was stuck at a load screen was when entering the game and when taking a portal. The load screens weren't even really like load screens because it was a worm hole. The worm hole was always moving and spinning, and it was done with the game engine (see here). It felt like I was always moving forward like I never stopped playing the game thanks to the worm hole effect. Today I see developers just throwing up a static image with a progress bar at the bottom. That is lame, it takes me out of the experience. Until the day loading screens can be removed I want to see clever ways of hiding them. MXO does it well, a bunch of 0's and 1's sweep over the landscape while the scene loads. A good loading system goes a long way, it should feel like it is apart of the game world and there should always be movement.

Then there's the whole concept of instances. It's a copout by developers who don't want to make content. Instead of making other areas for players to go to they just make multiple instances of one area. They say it solves camping, and makes the experience more personal but that is no excuse to use instances. There are two problem types of camping, hunting for xp and loot, and to get a quest item. If camping is a problem because too many people are hunting for loot and xp then players should be able to find other equally as good places to hunt. If there are no other places for players then the developers need to work harder to provide a more detailed game world. If people are camping for a quest item, there should be a timer on when the players can get that item, that way they will leave eventually. I actually like the interaction that comes when tons of players camp a single area when it is just released from an expansion or update. I also enjoy being able to enter an area and run into random people. Instances are boring and it's always with a known group or by yourself.

Are there no others DnL scares me.

No offense
I found AC1 pretty lame. The skill system was interesting but the lack of any real communications (till 2 years later) sucked. As did the way the casting/combat system was implemented. I never really got into it. Liked the skill system though.... As I said.

Did I mention I liked the skill system?

Yah.... good skill system... other than that the game was pretty much a yawn fest. Oh... and the 'no zoning' thing was pretty nice too...

I agree communication wasn't great in AC1, but come on now it was one of the first MMORPG's. Combat, I have to disagree, the combat was fun. It wasn't just point and click, you could play that way but strafing added a lot, especially PK. The skill system is great, more games need to get away from strict class systems.

BUT this isn't what my post is about. I'm NOT looking for AC1 skills, combat, or communication. I'm looking for no instancing, no zones, and disguised load screens.

Well, if you think you got what it takes to face the grind and the open PvP, maybe Lineage 2? I'f been playing for a while, and the World is Huge. I didn't come across any loading screens, not even while teleporting or taking the boat. both WoW and EQ2 have zoning.

 I am looking for that game myself.  Not that AC1 did not have flaws ... it did ... but the first year and a half of the game, the Shadow War, was excellent.

I had actually expected -- crazy me -- for AC2 to be the graphically updated, slick and smooth sucessor to AC1.  *Ahem* It wasn't and the devs should burn in mmorpg hell for making AC2.

The CORRECT sequel should have been a PRE-quel, with the ready-made lore and history already written.

BEFORE Asheron "called" us to Dereth (Auberean I believe was the actual name of the planet Dereth was located on), THAT would have been the right and proper "follow-on" to AC1, with Asheron and the Council of Five (I think) and Ilservian Palacost (spelling?), who was the man driven mad by the death of his son and who went in leaque with the dark powers of "The Great Master" and became the fearful Bael'Zharon (The Hopeslayer) with his five (I think) great Shadow generals.

Imagine this ... before that titantic explosion which created the great crater and the Obsidian Plains and imprisioned BZ in some alternate dimension, play the game as an Empyrean, or as a Shadow follower of BZ, or the Frore Undead, or Dericost people, or one of the other races existing in Dereth which I am sure I have forgotten about.

Empyrean territory, Shadow territory, and a helluva nasty middle zone for PvP (where the phat lewtz are, naturally).  Boom, that gives you your "hook."  Your "reason to play" the game.  Built-in PvP lore.

A chance to play Empyrean (GOOD -- except their harsh treatment of subjugated races -- the Derecost, wasn't it? who later became the Frore Undead? -- did NOT make them "good" in the eyes of all).

A chance to play Shadow (EVIL -- except BZ's motivation to avenge himself on the Empyreans for their cruelty does give the Shadows legitimate claim for vengeance).

A chance to play Undead (SEPARATIST) -- except that although they want to remain in the frozen lands (to preserve their mummified flesh), they also are incredibly paranoid and xenophobic and would secretly like to eradicate ALL the other races and dominate ALL of Dereth.

A chance to play "fill in the blank" (NEUTRAL -- race or races who take no sides, may be your "peaceful crafters" and PvE'ers selling goods to both sides and offering towns where PvP is forbidden, for example -- a demilitarized zone).

Dereth therefore would become:

Empyreans - Eastern Dereth

Shadows - Western Dereth

No Man's Land - between Empyreans and Shadows running north and south, the main PvP zone.

Undead - Northern Dereth, known as Osteth - the frozen lands.

Neutral Races - Southern Dereth.

The Inner Sea - a natural divider between east and west.

The Off-Islands - Expansions.

And, one large, seamless landmass; NO instancing; LOTS of towns but also LOTS of dungeons (good for grouping) and LOTS of wilderness (good for soloing); HARD and LONG to level up to max level, NOT newbie-friendly, with an on-going, slowly-evolving storyline where the major NPC characters "make their moves" on a historical tapestry with PLAYER ACTIONS forming the backdrop, the main gameplay, of the game, thereby creating the chance for players to WRITE THEMSELVES (in a small way) into the vast lore and history of Dereth.

OK - I'll quit now since we are not very likely to see anything like this.

---

Originally posted by Gameloading
Well, if you think you got what it takes to face the grind and the open PvP, maybe Lineage 2? I'f been playing for a while, and the World is Huge. I didn't come across any loading screens, not even while teleporting or taking the boat. both WoW and EQ2 have zoning.

---

Thanks, I'll look into L2.

Vanguard:SoH - No instancing and No zones the world is seemless so no loading

There is just 1 problem .................. its not out yet