Lineage II

It depends on your playstyle. FFXI and L2 are very different games. Like compairing any MMO, aside from technical aspects "which is better" is usually a matter of taste.

FFXI - Group centric almost no solo play, tough grind, very good mission system, lots of depth. Good community. Strange PvP "game". Lots to do, the game has a very good longevity. Pretty grindy. Good graphics, the game is something like 5 years old and it is still ahead of many games. Interface is menu driven.

Its a highly social PvE game.

L2 - You can solo or group effectively, sucky quest/mission system, open PvP, pretty grindy, harsh penalties, average community (better then some like WoW or GW worse then others like EQII) Beautiful world and graphics, lots of "risk vs reward" type gameplay, sort of keeps you on edge when you play. World is player driven with the castle seiges and the impact on the economy. Castle seiges are awsome. 

Its a highly social PvP game with a very heavy element of PvE in its grind.

Farmers and Botters are in all MMO's (see IGE if you like) They are able to more easily hide in many western games because of the fact western games are full of instances, Asian usually are not.(yet) RP is pretty weak in L2 although there are a few RP guilds, you will need to look for them.

Without you being more specific with what you are looking for thats the best I could do off the top of my head.

That's really helpful, but I will try to be more specific. I personally think a good community is essential. I'm more interested in duo or solo groups rather than a completely group-based game. One thing I really love is Role-Play and although I like it, I tire of hardcore PvP quite quickly (Bascially because I generally suck :P). I like the idea of risk Vs. Reward quite a lot. But that system made me quit EvE, but then there were some unfortunate glitches involved in that as well =_=. Anyway, serious PvE doesn't bother me, as I say I like PvP but I will tire of it if I get beaten like a bitch all the time :P. Also, how steep is the learning curve? Am I going to suck at both games until about my 3rd character or so when I really know the game well?

Ok that's all I can think of, thanks again. 

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Originally posted by Drashan

That's really helpful, but I will try to be more specific. I personally think a good community is essential. I'm more interested in duo or solo groups rather than a completely group-based game. One thing I really love is Role-Play and although I like it, I tire of hardcore PvP quite quickly (Bascially because I generally suck :P). I like the idea of risk Vs. Reward quite a lot. But that system made me quit EvE, but then there were some unfortunate glitches involved in that as well =_=. Anyway, serious PvE doesn't bother me, as I say I like PvP but I will tire of it if I get beaten like a bitch all the time :P. Also, how steep is the learning curve? Am I going to suck at both games until about my 3rd character or so when I really know the game well?

Ok that's all I can think of, thanks again. 

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Originally posted by Drashan

That's really helpful, but I will try to be more specific. I personally think a good community is essential. I'm more interested in duo or solo groups rather than a completely group-based game. One thing I really love is Role-Play and although I like it, I tire of hardcore PvP quite quickly (Bascially because I generally suck :P). I like the idea of risk Vs. Reward quite a lot. But that system made me quit EvE, but then there were some unfortunate glitches involved in that as well =_=. Anyway, serious PvE doesn't bother me, as I say I like PvP but I will tire of it if I get beaten like a bitch all the time :P. Also, how steep is the learning curve? Am I going to suck at both games until about my 3rd character or so when I really know the game well?

Ok that's all I can think of, thanks again. 

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Are we still comparing?

L2's PvP is a mixed bag IMHO. Getting "ganked" at lower levels hardly ever happened to me. In fact I saw very little PvP until I got into a large guild. Think I got attacked a handful of times. (played on and off since last Sept) Its more PvE at low levels IMHO. People don't start getting feisty until they start seeing a guild tag. Thats based on my experience with 4 toons. The impoetant thing in L2 is make friends and get into a guild for protection. But once your guild starts getting tangled up in the politics it can get ugly. Most people are actually very cool and if your guild master doesn't stick up for you he ain't worth a poop and quit the guild. (unless you are in the wrong)

Personally I wouldn't even worry about PvP until you get up in levels a bit (maybe 30 or 40 at the earilest???) You just are not high enough to be effective. If someone takes a whack at you, DO NOT FIGHT BACK and he will more then likely leave you alone. (read the PvP rules to understand why) 

I found the FFXI community much more "enigmatic". They have these things called "linkshells" and you can be in more then one. Everyone is pretty nice but there is some cohession missing from the community.

The learning curve in L2 isn't bad at all. The hardest thing going in is getting use to point and click movement(which by the way is sooo much easier to use then WASD I found after 4 years of playing other MMO's) You kill mobs, level up, go see a trainer, figure out how to save/make money, you cant really mess up you character stats wise ---- only your reputation with other players.

The economy is brutal in L2, do your homework....you've been warned....

This page is a good place to start

http://www.lineage2.com/guide/race_human.html 

OK guys, thanks for all the replies. I've read a couple of reviews now, and I'm convinced this will be a pleasant distration for me. So I'm almost definately going to buy it. As we speak I'm DLing the client... I assume there's some sort of free-trial?

So, I'm guessing I'll pick the gameplay and the mechanics up pretty fast, but so as to not waste time... I'm thinking of going Dark Elf Warrior. Good idea or bad? I mean... are there any seriously nerfed classes/races in Lineage 2? (They always seem to be the ones I pick :P)

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Originally posted by Drashan
OK guys, thanks for all the replies. I've read a couple of reviews now, and I'm convinced this will be a pleasant distration for me. So I'm almost definately going to buy it. As we speak I'm DLing the client... I assume there's some sort of free-trial?
So, I'm guessing I'll pick the gameplay and the mechanics up pretty fast, but so as to not waste time... I'm thinking of going Dark Elf Warrior. Good idea or bad? I mean... are there any seriously nerfed classes/races in Lineage 2? (They always seem to be the ones I pick :P)

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Just dont be an Elven Elder whatever you do lol.