Recommend to me a non-WoW like MMO

I want a game...

1) that I can enjoy even if I don't play more than a few hours a week.

2) that isn't doesn't use the generic "select target, right click to auto-attack, mash 1-9 to use spells, win" formula (WoW, Rift, etc.)

3) that has a heavy focus on crafting/gathering resources in cooperation with others

4) that is a well polished game with a decently sized community

5) that is 100% free OR pay to play (will not play games that utilize microtransactions, it has to be either 100% OR a flat rate fee for everything)

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I didn't enjoy EVE because the game has already been around for too long, and the way the system works, it is literally impossible to "catch up" to people who have been around as long as you. Veterans of the game will tell you that this doesn't matter, newbies can still be an asset, but I don't like knowing that no matter what I do, I can never be on top.

I really really enjoyed a small game called A Tale In The Desert, which is a resource gathering community game set in ancient Egypt. Sole and only problem I had with this game was the complete and utter lack of population.

Not even remotely interested in Minecraft.

I didn't enjoy EVE because the game has already been around for too long, and the way the system works, it is literally impossible to "catch up" to people who have been around as long as you. Veterans of the game will tell you that this doesn't matter, newbies can still be an asset, but I don't like knowing that no matter what I do, I can never be on top.

SaikaiDreams

Check out 'Xsyon'. Official release day is March 15th. I have pre-ordered. Basically a hardcore craftes dream game. I just hope it survives to become something truly great. I will say though the combat is 100% crapola but they are planning on fixing it, it's just a low priority right now.

The beginning will be 'prelude phase'. Focusing on building your tribes and towns. Be warned though. It does not hold your hand even a little bit. No tutorials, no map, no npc's. A real sand box.

I'm not sure you really understand EVE if you feel that way. There's tons of things you can do without having to feel like you need to "catch up". If you want to focus on high level piloting skills and equipment, it just takes some time to learn. People who have been around forever just have tons of cash and can probably pilot and use just about anything. If you specialize in flying a certain type of craft, you're good.

Plus every good PvP team needs people in frigates to catch up to and scramble targets so they don't run away. The money thing can be solved with a good corporation. And if you like mining and such, it doesn't even take that long to learn the skills necessary to use the huge gatherers and mining barges and such.

My other recommendation is Mabinogi. Very different type of combat system that I really enjoyed... fast-paced skills are much less important than choosing the right skill for the situation and using proper tactics depending on what you're fighting. And there's lots of resouce gathering and crafting and such. It almost feels like Ultima in a way with the amount of stuff you can interact with. There's also monster killing and dungeons and such. That one is free to play.

champions online now that its f2p isnt bad but its rpg combat basically comes down to button combo's it feels more like a cross between street fighter and an mmo

First game I think of when I think Gathering and Crafting, is Ultima Online (not sure what you consider polished..). Only other mmo's that I know of that don't fit #2 are gw2 and tera (both tba '11) however I don't think they'd fit #3(at least, to what extent is there 'heavy focus', house building, or just.. normal ish stuff) gw2 may fit #5.

Yeah WoW and Rift are button mashers.

What about Guild Wars? I haven't played it in years, didn't play it long but it was still good.

Xsyon

What about Guild Wars? I haven't played it in years, didn't play it long but it was still good.

sexygirl6t9

is online rpg not mmo

Oh oh I know this one! Pirates of the Burning Sea. Matches all those criteras.

It doesn't have the population of WoW but even tho it's rather low, the chat is always active! It's a mmo mainly focusing on ship combat. The combat is slower and more tactical than the kind of mmo you mentioned. While there is no actual resource gathering, trading is plays a big and interesting role, where you may have to ship your produced materials to another region (and have to look out for players wanting a piece of that), building ships isn't too much of an easy task, so it encourages "cooperation" and stuff... It's really cool actually.

Edit: Check up the reviews on IGN, GS, Gametrailer etc to know more, just keep in mind that it was reviewed three years ago so possibly the good/bad stuff might not be too correct. :p

A little something crazy to maybe try, check out Istaria. Not real sure of its condition, in players etc, or payment or anything. Do recall there was alot of resourcing. From building a character like a dragon that can eventually fly around, (was sorta cool) to building your dragon hold with different levels of crafting machines etc.

Just something that popped in the mind by your description. Believe it can be found under Istaria, or seems like maybe it was also called Horizons.

Sir, what you are asking for does not exisit...

Pretty much all Mmo's on market, that have a decent community, are based or closely based on a WoW style UI, the 1-9 button mashing. Though, I will mention Final Fantasy 14. Good community, gather/crafting play a major role in this game, and playing 2-3 hours a day is perfect game play style. Only current issue with it, is lack of content on the upper levels. If you were to start playing now, I do not see that being an issue as square enix has been pushing out updates 2-3 times a month adding new stuff and polishing.