WoW Longitevity?Follow

That's what everyone has been saying to me in EQ2 when I said I'm going to start playing it for a while. They told me you will get bored with the game once you get near higher levels, and will kick yourself in the pants for ditching EQ2 time. Another thing they said, was that the game is far too linear and simple minded....but I can't see that as being true due to the game's amazing scores in almost every site and magazine.

WoW seems to me that it won't expire fast, but in the run against EQ2, I do think EQ2 will far sastain players interest for more time.

I think most people see MMO longevity as "How long does it take to get *A* class to max level?" So they can then raid and play even longer in raids.

WoW takes a different approach and makes it a little easier to get up in levels (It isn't as easy as booting up the game and POOF! you have a L60, like some would suggest) and has more high end content, which is what people really want.

Add in the fact that yes, you can play several characters, to include a mix from two factions, eight races, and several class combos. This is not like EQ where you essentially get one character to max level then endlessly raid, you have more options here.

It is a different approach, and only time will tell if it works.

Also, while many people dislike PvP, it certainly adds to the gameplay, both while you level, and when you get up high in levels as well.

I honeslty wouldnt worry about longevity or replay value. The fact that the game is not a massive grind is a good thing.

By its very design, its impossible to see, and do everything with a single character. Those who want depth and longevity will have it simply by creating a new character, and taking on things on from a differant perspective. Playing a Night Elf Rogue for instance is a vastly differant experience then being a Tauren Shaman.

Those who dont have alot of time, or dont require as much depth will be able to play there singular character till the endgame and have a very satisfying experience in there own right. Its a nice setup that can appeal to anybody, and more importantly is fun the play.

Seifer, you do know that WoW has a vastly larger audience of PvPers than any other game, although we are still in a small defacit. If you consider something horrible just because something happens once, you are too judgemental. It's also quite amazing that you get agro of all the mobs the rogue had, especially since when someone loses agro on mobs they run straight to their spawn point unless A) someone else has even a small amount of agro, gained by attacking the mob or healing the attackee, or B) there is a mob that they help around them. If you continued to stay near the rogue and continue to kill mobs...what do you expect.

Luckily even when someone does gank you, theres nothing lost other than a run back to your corpse.

As for PvE high end content, there is quite a lot. If you say there isnt because its the exact same thing every other game has...than whats your problem with longevity if no other game has that problem? Or are you saying that because you are required to spend excessive amounts of time grinding(A word that is never mentioned in the same sentance as WoW might I add) other games are more appealing because they force you to spend needless amounts of time "grinding" just so you can get an unproportionate level of fun.

If you play Horde, then play Alliance.

I just started up a Troll Warrior. Already the experience is vastly different from the Dwarf Warrior I played in Open Beta or the Tauren Warrior I also played around with in Open Beta.

There is immense replay value in this game.

And Blizzard has said that they see the game as starting at level 60, not ending. That means they are playing alot of content for that point, not just what we've seen or heard about.

I just don't understand this rationale at all.

WoW has been out less than a month now and people are doubting whether Blizzard has been doing ANYTHING at all. I'm fairly sure that they have NOCs working on the server issues so, and maybe this is somewhat of a leap of faith on my part but, their actual GAME DESIGNERS are most likely working on something else.

Let me pose a question or three to folks who have doubts about the longevity of the game three weeks after its commercial release:

1) How long after its release was City of Heroes first content update?
2) How long did it take for Mythic to roll out "high end content" that didn't center around RvR?
3) How long after its release did EverQuest1 expand their higher end content?

Now, with those answers in mind, let me cite a couple quotes from one of the designers (Jeffrey Kaplan) given in an interview that can be found here:



and




So, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that Onyxia, Blackrock Depths, and Ragneros aren't going to be the only high end content in the game ever. I'm willing to bet real US dollars that WoW is not the MMO equivalent of a "One minute man".

Edited, Sun Dec 12 23:47:41 2004 by Jazheira

WoW has been in retail for 3 weeks now? And you are expecting them to be implementing everything right off the bat? I'm sorry, but i think you should know, Seiferseph, that no MMORPG ever releases a -completed- game.
There's money to be made, and the longer you can keep your customers, the more money you make. i.e. Expansion packs

Edited, Mon Dec 13 01:50:01 2004 by Dreamstar

I think my real point was either overlooked, or i didnt make it clear enough. Probably the second.

In my mind, diablo2 had the most replay value of any game i ever played. Ever.

Im not talking about high-end raids, and high-end content. Thats all well and good, and i dont think blizzard will let anyone down on that count.

Hell i just now did the deadmines for the first time with my guild, and was blown away. (Speaking of, does anyone else think the entire deadmines encounter feels like a tribute to Goonies?)

My point is this. In diablo2 if i wanted to try something different, i could take an outlandish approach to building a character. I could build a sorceress that ran around only using fire wall and meteor. Or i could put 20 skill points into charged bolt (a fairly newbie skill that was suprisingly amusing to pump up, for those who arent d2 vets). There was always something crazy to try, just for kicks.

However in WoW, if you look at 2 level 27 mages, and inspect their gear, youll most likely find pretty much the same stuff, because those 2 players will purchase the best gear available in the auction house. And theyll be equipped with the best blue and green drops from quests and instances. Not to mention the fact that character stat points (int, stamina and all that) dont factor into spell damage besides boosting critical hits. So each of these 2 mages at the same level, will (barring money issues) have bought the same level of spells. And one mages Fireball Rank 5 will do the same damage range as another mages Fireball Rank 5.

My point isnt as much about content as it is about character variation and trying new things. My gnome mage will be pretty much the same as an undead mage, and as far as ive seen so far talents dont really make THAT much of a difference to really change a character.

I agree withn Kithpine in that the skill tree makes a large difference in the game. I am playing a druid and have a group of friends who play with me. Because I am usually in a caster role I have added lots of points into Balance and Healing skills, and not into Feral Combat. My spells cast faster, heal more, or do more damage than other peoples without the skill points.

In reguards to equipment, one can go around and just try to get the best equipment possible and no harm done. I like to be different, I try to collect complete sets of matching armour and what not, just to look spiffy. In fact, during beta, I was some clothes, not for the abilities, but because they looked cool. I am also buying lots of the pets, its kinda funny having a druid running around being followed by cats, rabbits, and hawks.

Full PvP very long term play, and thats not including any patches or hero classes.