Ryzom

Hi Everyone,

I've just started the free trial and I'm trying to decide if Ryzom would be right for me. I would really appreciate some advice from long-term players, especially if you have had experience of Lineage 2, EQ2 and WoW

I started mmorpg life in Lineage 2 (played for a year), fantastic graphics and music, I enjoyed the game (initially) despite the seriously hardcore nature of the grinding required, superb variety of areas and mobs, but it was destroyed by chinese "farmers". Got to the stage where you couldn't go near any decent area without being slaughtered on the spot (due to the open PvP nature of the game) within 12 months the starter towns and questing areas were totally deserted other than chinese farmers and bots, so I quit and moved to EQ2 (where I stayed for another year)

What disappointed me about EQ2 was the importance of questing, the fact that all the zones felt very similar, and a lack of any real variety in mobs, I guess I was spoilt with L2's graphics ! But most of all, from about lvl 20 onwards you only realistically had a choice of 2 zones to play in at any given time which made it somewhat boring in the end.

I then moved to WoW (which is where I still am, 14 months so far), and have enjoyed it in general (high percentage of irritatingly immature players aside ...My "ignore" list is full and chat is still flooded with idiots), but now that I have 2 characters at max level I'm getting bored with it, the choices are I can either grind for reputation (very tedious), keep doing high level instances to get all the best gear (fine with my Priest but getting groups with my Rogue is really difficult), or PvP in the battlegrounds (waiting in the queue for over an hour at a time at best before I get in).

I did consider going back to Lineage 2, but from what I've seen, bots and chinese farmers are still a big problem, the starter towns are still deserted, and the community side of the game is sadly lacking as a result.

What I'm impressed with so far here is the mature feel of the forums, and I have no doubt that applies to in-game as well, I have no time at all for immature kids, they wind me up.
I'm not a fan of questing at all, so the lack of quests on mainland sounds very promising ! I like to play solo a fair bit (as long as I have a realistic goal to aim for that won't bore me silly trying to reach it) but also enjoy grouping on a regular basis too.

Any advice on how this game differs from the 3 I've previously played would be appreciated, along with what you think of it having played for a year or more, and whether there's a decent population of Europeans - I play at all hours, but if I'm going to be grouping the best times for me are between 10am and 3pm, and from 9pm to 2am GMT

Thanks

I can't make much comment on the other games you've played, sorry, but there are some insights you might find illuminating in other threads:

A great comparison of WoW and SoR
Some of my own general comparisons from before the new starter island

There's little farming to speak of; there is some stiff competition over some of the Supreme materials available. PvP is essentially consensual being restricted at the moment to 5 regions, player flags, outpost battles and personal duels, so there's almost no "ganking" as you may be used to. The new starter island is apparently extremely lively and by all accounts sees a few more of the player types that irritate you but I can assure you they aren't apparent on the mainland.

The wonderful variety of life and ecosystems will keep you from becoming bored for a very long time, there are sooo many little details when you stop to look closely at things and see how they change from season to season. The flexibilty of the classless skill system allows you to hop backwards and forwards between all regions and find yourself no end of things to do. And to cap that there is Ryzom Ring due to arrive long before you have had a chance to catch your breath

There is a large European playerbase and I think your evening play is about peak time - your midday slot I'd guess will be much quieter.

Welcome to Atys
*hugs*

Thanks for the info, that really helps, I'll have a read through the posts on those links as well

Welcome to Atys qatzer
While you´re at it, have a look at some good Ingame footage *points down*
Maybe you´ll see that L2s Graphics weren´t so good after all *eG*

CU
Acridiel

Thanks Acridiel. I still think L2 is head and shoulders above the rest graphics detail-wise, but graphics alone don't produce a great game !
I'm slowly starting to get to grips with things in-game now but I'm finding a lot of stuff is far from clear. I guess it'll come in time