The MMORPGs to Watch For in 2016
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Transitioning into a new year wouldn't be complete without a bevy of informative and not-so-informative video game lists sprinkled around the web, though articles like this one on VGU that profiles some of the MMORPGs slated for release later this year at least keep us "in the know" on what to expect over the next twelve months. A sampling:
EverQuest Next was announced back in 2009 with more information becoming available in 2010, and since then information has been drip fed to players. EverQuest Next is not a direct sequel to the original EverQuest series, but a reimaging of the original set in a parallel version of Norrath.
Not much information has been made public but the theme has been focused on mixing up the standard MMO formula and giving players more freedom. One such feature allows players to make decisions which can permanently alter the world, through their choices or the choice of not acting, through a Rallying Call. These are world events which allow players to decide for example, to save a village or leave the Orcs to destroy it. You can also go one step further and support the Orcs' efforts and help destroy the village. The outcome then becomes permanent in the world, unless another Rallying Call is made to change it.
Another key part of the game is the destructibility, that nearly everything in the world can be destroyed. For example, you could blow a hole in the ground, which could lead to a cave for you and your party to explore. Building and other objects in the world can also be destroyed by players and monsters, making buildings no longer a safe zone to hide when a battle gets too tough.
Procedurally-generated quests can come from monsters' unique behaviours which are influenced by Rallying Calls and other actions such as players not being active in a certain area. An example of this would be Orcs that have set up camp along a trade route which players can choose to tackle or leave. Each server will act as a separate world making all choices made by players unique compared to all the other servers. Cities and buildings in one server might not exist or could be destroyed in another.
Classes in EverQuest Next have not been fully revealed but it has been said that classes are streamlined and made to be mixed. From their website they quote (Want to be a teleporting rogue or a backstabbing barbarian? The choice is yours!) indicating that you can fuse class talents together, to create unique hybrid classes rather than sticking to traditional MMORPG archetypes.
