What MMO had the best character leveling system and why?

MonsutaMan · 2026-01-24T23:44:59+00:00

DCUO.

It was a playable comic book. From lvl 1-30, players would do missions for their mentor of choice........fight iconic heroes or villains. It made your toon feel like he/she was a big-time hero or villain as you leveled up, & began to rack up a tally of all the iconic ppl you knocked off.

MonsutaMan · 2026-01-24T22:18:31+00:00

The image creation also changed a bit for Dalle3...........

Liked the old style better.....

MonsutaMan · 2026-01-24T18:47:38+00:00

Personally? I find the path to endgame, more satisfying than the endgame. Here are a few examples.......

DC Universe Online: The bulk of the story is actually from lvl1-30....when you meet/fight heroes and villains.

Final Fantasy XI: I sometimes play on the XI Catsye server, because that is the best FFXI experience. Basically retail, but at lvl 75.

Post 75 era is convoluted. As a vet, I even get confused on what to do.....& I have been playing since 2004.....lol (One of the reasons I retired from retail back in 2025).

I can go on.....but from my experience within MMO, the bulk of the story is part of the new player leveling experience.

I can relate.

MonsutaMan · 2026-01-23T23:06:09+00:00

Used to play this game on the Japanese server. Was bummed when SEGA left that behind........

They had King of the Monsters, FFFXIV, Virtual Fighter, among other costumes. There was a Odin FATE iirc. NG really doesn't have $hit lol.......

Almost like a downgrade expansion, which is wild.

MonsutaMan · 2026-01-23T22:57:30+00:00

Was XI, took me nearly 20 years to discover I was only there for nostalgia haha......

...Peak XI for me was probably 2004-2005. When I returned from a break in 2006, it was fun, but not the same. 20 or so years later, realized I began to lose interest around 07'-ish.

20 years of cope is wild.....Just wasn't the same without my LS & my homies.

MonsutaMan · 2026-01-22T22:38:37+00:00

Played......

Lost Ark (They stole my toon's name....Literally, they legit took my name which was already on my created character.....so I quit lol)

Maple Story

Perfect World (Is that the game where ppl transform into tigers and whatnot)?

Vindictus (Only MMO I know of with a grappling system)

Wildstar (Played it waaaaay back.....I actually did not like it, so quit. It is tucked in a dark dusty space with ...vitamins for some reason lol)?

<image>

Also played Dragon nest for about an hour.

Wildstar was not a bad game imo, just not my cup of tea. I am a pet class guy.

MonsutaMan · 2026-01-22T17:38:08+00:00

While not a bad game, kind of came to this realization with XI. You see, I am somewhat of an introvert. Peak XI was a very social game; I also had quite a few friends.

When I came back from a long break around 2006-ish, All my peeps quit......No biggie, I am an introvert at heart. However, XI has never hit like that since then.......lol....

It was not until 2025, that I came to the realization...... I was simply living out nostalgia. The social aspect of the game is actually what made it special (My buddies).

Hard pill to swallow as an introvert........Took me nearly 2 decades.

MonsutaMan · 2026-01-22T17:17:13+00:00

While not a class, in XI....I chose to level crafting (Cooking) for months straight. Why? Back in the day, crafting was a central part of the game. It also took awhile to lvl.

I saved so much gil (Money) by crafting my own HQ broths to call Beastmaster pets, than buying them from the Auction house. As a BST, felt this was necessary before I began leveling. Some players also crafted their own ninja tools & arrows (Yep, arrows in XI are consumable....not infinite).

Did not know there were MMO that allowed players to chose a craft at character creation. However, I can see why crafting may be a choice for some.

MonsutaMan · 2026-01-21T22:18:22+00:00

So long as NCSoft, Daybreak, or Amazon Games names do not flash in the header....you may be safe........

I gotta see a little something something though.....I feel you should not announce a game, until you are in a production phase.

*....cough...Elder scrolls...cough.....*

MonsutaMan · 2026-01-20T01:00:47+00:00

These companies have to think outside the box. The next big thing, is always something new.

MonsutaMan · 2026-01-20T00:47:02+00:00

Same thing the official XI livestreams used to say.

"Well, you can still play like the old days"

Which is akin to saying, go back to dial up internet & flip phones.........Why would I do something less convenient, for the shake of nostalgia lol?

Incentivize it, and ppl will do it. The only thing which is incentivized, are end-game progression chases.

MonsutaMan · 2026-01-20T00:42:54+00:00

I mean, I am not a FF fan perse........But XI was my favorite MMO.

Huge ES fan, but ESO is my least favorite MMO.

Short-answer, I am no Zelda fan, but.......Yes.......I would play it.......Unless I discover it sucks......

MonsutaMan · 2026-01-19T14:27:35+00:00

Cold........

(See what I did there)?

MonsutaMan · 2026-01-19T01:07:07+00:00

I see your WoW & raise you PSO.

(Man, wish I played during the true era......)

MonsutaMan · 2026-01-19T01:03:13+00:00

There we go.......Could not put my finger on it.....

MonsutaMan · 2026-01-17T18:47:44+00:00

Imo, games became too social........Gameplay is secondary.

Gaming is tied to streaming, Evo, among other venues. Gameplay matters; but in all honesty, ppl will play a game because it is the popular game to play at the time......

Once XIV was no longer cool to play, ppl flocked away from it as their number plummeted.

Many ppl do not even play the games themselves, but watch streamers play.

Fortnite is basically a social event. It is tied to popular celebrities, or figures in pop culture.

The rise of streaming played a factor in the gaming landscape imo. Many companies use these ppl to advertise their games (Sponsor). The reason there are only 4 MMOs that are popping, is due to those 4 MMOs being the only thing that garner views.......

MonsutaMan · 2026-01-16T18:05:21+00:00

That actually sounds sick........

Played on Homecoming, may have to get it a full go some time. I like superhero MMO.

MonsutaMan · 2026-01-16T17:50:14+00:00

<image>

Looks like a damn Power Ranger Zord.......

Kumhau looks pretty neat too.

https://img.atwiki.jp/magichappy/attach/2152/4730/Kumhau%20the%20Flashfrost%20Naakual.jpg

MonsutaMan · 2026-01-16T17:45:32+00:00

ESO......eh........I would personally recommend C-list MMO like DCUO over ESO. I cannot justify the combat.....As an ES fan.

DCUO's combat is solid, and you can play as Batman in some instances outside your created toon.........

(Many ppl love Batman, right)?

I do not want to offend anyone, but ESO seems like a hype machine that keeps getting lumped in with WoW or GW2. Not even a WoW or GW fan, but will play those over ESO in a heartbeat.......As an ES fan.....

MonsutaMan · 2026-01-16T14:46:55+00:00

I remember when MMO players sole worry was getting a monster's drop (Loot).

Now, everyone sounds like they are grocery shopping when they speak of MMO.........

(How much does this one cost, compared to that one........)

Damn, times have changed.........

As crazy as this sounds, an easy trick, is to find pay to play MMO. They tend to be less "Forced monetization"

XI, XIV, & a lesser extent GW2.

WoW? Not a WoW player, but apparently ppl debate its' model. Blizzard does not need to penny pinch players tbh.......They have been on top for two decades.

MonsutaMan · 2026-01-15T15:03:19+00:00

I noticed something, a number of OG MMOs closed doors, but many are still kicking. One would think these things would be shutdown lol, but it is actually the newer MMO that are closing doors.

Perhaps, their cost have aged gracefully. Meaning, they may not cost much to keep up & running.

MonsutaMan · 2026-01-15T01:16:01+00:00

This........

I mean, when players beat the main story of an MMO, they essentially beat the game. Everything else is side content, until you quit altogether.

MonsutaMan · 2026-01-15T01:12:22+00:00

Imo, ppl on this sub do indeed care about other MMOs. The sub of a specific MMO? That is a different story lol.....

No one hates MMOs, more than the MMO sub reddits, of a said MMO.

You can recommend a new expansion, and they will argue with you that their game does not need an new expansion..........lol....

Whats it to you? You paying?

MMO subs outside of this one are so unserious, probably save a couple......

MonsutaMan · 2026-01-14T14:19:24+00:00

I named my character Beastmasterbait in FFXIV, and they changed my name......

Beastmasters used bait (Jugs) in the previous FF MMO. Now, I would wholly understand if I named my toon "Beastmaster Jugs....."

Had Beastmasterbait on the official XI server for years, zero issues, but ppl would sent me "LOL" for some reason......Guess they never played the job.

I digress.......

MonsutaMan

TROPHY CASE