Everything can be considered a grind if you put it into the right context or situation. When I think of grind I think of sitting in one spot farming something over and over whether it be something for an item or exp or quest update. Some people see a series of quests as a grind, leveling a grind, crafting a grind.
Just a grind to me brought about some of my absolute favorite times in EQ. Grinding Vex Thael keys, grinding AA's, grinding on AC augments, grinding crystals in DoN. I guess what I'm trying to say is just about everything can be considered a grind of some sort. What makes them enjoyable is who is helping you, what they are getting out of it, what you are getting out of it. It was a chore to drag people along to hunt for AC augs as a tank, but I had to have them. It wasn't a chore to get everyone to grind on VT keys or LDoN/DoN crystals because everyone needed them.
Helps a lot when a group doesn't have to grind for one persons benefit. When all can benefit you get more people to come out and it makes it easier and more fun. More chat, more getting to know your commrads. And that to me is what builds relationships and makes a game lasting/compelling. You get in this group, or guild, or group within a guild and you help each other out a lot for various reasons. That's why AA's are what I would consider essential, at least if nothing else people are getting needed experience in the high end part of the game for helping. If you just have a max level and people are capped out what's to keep them playing and helping others? I remember on my Wiz in EQ I had thousands of AA's. I still went and helped people with things even though I was putting AA's into food management 10/10 because it was still something that furthered my character. It was only when I got max AA that I decided to roll alts and play them to pass the time.
Well, there are many different types of grind...
But let me tell, I'd rather crawl/grind into a dungeon for specific objectives, such as rare loot from rare spawn mob; rather than grinding the same god damn daily quests every day.
Daily Quest Grinding is the worst kind of grind the mmorpgs ever invented.
It makes the game feel like a job, and that is an horrible feeling, because it will produce the "I need a break/weekend/holiday" feeling after grinding too much of the same daily quest.
It also produces the boring objective of "completing the daily quest" which is not motivating at all.
In opposition, the objective of getting a Rare Drop from a Rare Mob is motivating (for personal progression or personal wealth) even though it's a grind.
The Rare Mob mechanic is thrilling (like "ooooh yeah he finally spawned ! YEET !), the Rare Drop mechanic is thrilling (like "OMFG IT'S THE RARE DROP"). Everyone loves random surprises.
Daily Quests have zero surprise component. They bring no thrill. They're boring, they make players quit the daily quest job.
And the worst games make the HUGE mistake of making Daily Quests Rewards so good that players feel like they HAVE TO do them or they will FALL BEHIND others.
This is the worst.
Because there are days where you just want to chill out from the daily grind job. And you force yourself into those dailies because the reward is too good to pass. And you end up hating the game for forcing you into something you don't want to do.
Everyone has there own taste but im simple give me an experience like eq one and dont be too hip and want to be like the newer mmos
And please god dont make it so i have to do endless quests as the quickest way to lvl. Im old school give me a camp with 2 to 3 named mobs so we can pull and bs.
Sure i may have a whole lot more to add but if they do this right im down for whatever curve balls they throw for the most part
Thugstomp said:Everyone has there own taste but im simple give me an experience like eq one and dont be too hip and want to be like the newer mmos
And please god dont make it so i have to do endless quests as the quickest way to lvl. Im old school give me a camp with 2 to 3 named mobs so we can pull and bs.
Sure i may have a whole lot more to add but if they do this right im down for whatever curve balls they throw for the most part
Doing rare Camping and BSing - the true definition of a good MMO. :)
Games don't grind, people do, especially people who want to get a goal of whatever kind completed ..and are in a hurry to do so. Up to you if you grind or not. :) I will probably focus on levelling up skills that benefit me ..and the people I team with, along with crafting, harvesting etc. If you are bored and feeling "grindy" go do something else. :)
Cana
Getting error messages when I post..then it comes up as a double post...please fix thanks much. :)
Cana
@Nephele
I agree with what you list on what makes MMORPGs enjoyable; however, I disagree that the grind can't be enjoyable, or is something to avoid in MMORPG development. Vandraad touched on it, but I believe it is one of more important aspects that is lost in MMORPGs today - time investment. Should people play 24/7, of course not, but the attempt to remove the grind and introduce endless "fun" is why I'd argue that a lot of of us are here. It's a discussion that is similar to the death penalty for me - most will agree that the death penalty is necessary while most don't like to be punished or think the mechanics are fun.
If the time investment doesn't lead to any significant reward whether that be loot, socialization, etc. then it's another issue. But, the grind in and of itself is necessary for me to create that living, breathing world. I want people to be able to recognize that X item, or Y faction, or Z quest was a commitment, and to have that sense of achievement myself that I put in the time/effort/blood/sweat tears to earn it - and yes, at some points many would equate that to a grind.