I think WvW is something that won't be able to shine until launch, unless you're in a match-up with worlds hosting the larger, more organized guilds and groups. Just a BWE means there's no real commitment to your server, and it's success, not to mention no real grudges or long term goals either. Right now, the less organized players are going for the simplest, most obvious tactic. Give the players time to mature, and for victory to really matter to them, and I think WvW will definitely come into it's own.

For exploring worlds while feeling epic I like to listen to Led Zeppelin ~ particularly...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3HemKGDavw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKOngTfTMs0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfR_HWMzgyc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbrjRKB586s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auDv6cf2PBM

The original Conan OST is also very A+ for a more fantasy theme, also E.S. Posthumus

If the rewards were just titles/costume/fluff that didn't impact stats or gameplay, I would say it's an idea with promise. I would think the thrill/risk/exclusive experience would be more than enough reward for those who chose to take such content on. 

Just saying "we want complexity" is a rather ironic over-simplification. Complexity for the sake of complexity sounds like a terrible idea. Laying out a context and a few tools for potential in-game complexity (be it economy, social structures, world-building) which players can choose to use and build off of, on the otherhand, might be very worthwhile.

Even if getting to max level is easy I honestly can't see myself getting there super quickly. I like to take my time and explore, and I'm happy to get side tracked constantly. Plus the varying personal stories and interesting races will have me making quite a few characters. 

I think indie games have gotten a lot of positive attention lately, and do believe that there will be changes from both devs and publishers across the spectrum in reaction to it. Maybe in small ways, hopefully in large ways as well. However, I don't think you're going to see the results immediately. These games take years to develope, good ones at least, and when you say "MMORPG's Today" they're more like the MMO's built from a base of player desires from several years ago. 

I think its the gingers. Their lack of soul has created a void in mmos which sucks in all your light and happiness until only angry forum comments are left to you. Damn them, damn them all.

Originally posted by GTwander

Originally posted by rissies

Also? Playing a video game doesn't require much actual work or creativity on your part as a player, so it's not like you're able to look down on game devs from some lofty position here.

I'm mining out a dwarven fortress while posting this very message.

/smug

Keyword would be require. 

I find that players who are willing to build and create within games, instead of just expecting to have an experience/challenge/social group handed to them -  are a lot less whiney about games in general.