my opinion is on like page 8 or 9 but I'll just put it at the end as well, most disappointing MMO ever. Worst combat in an MMO. Good presentation but that's about it.
Manage your expectations.
Trust me, there are
PLENTY of mmo's with worse combat.
I don't see the combat being much different than all the other MMO's I've tried so not sure how it's "the worst" but whatever. I find it to be...pretty much standard, nothing more, nothing less. I personally wish it was group/party turn based like an actual JRPG. Would actually put some tactics into it. Instead, again, it's like 99% of the other MMO's out there and just a button masher based on your role.
I don't know if a mmo that forced you to group from level 1, every step of the way, would be very profitable.
I suppose they could make it so all your party members are npc's...or let you create all of them. There have been a few thats tried that, in some shape or other. EQ 1 with it's hired mercenaries, guild wars 1, to name a couple.
There was also an mmo called Atlantica Online, f2p. Not sure if its still around anymore. It definately was different in most mmo's, in that you formed your own party. You start with 1 character, and then start unlocking slots. You can then hire mercenaries to go around with you. By the time you're done, you have 12 people your controlling at the same time. Combat was turn based.
I rather enjoyed that game. It did have 140 + levels though. By the time I hit 95, it had gotten insanely grindy, so I eventually quit playing.
Are they resetting chars after this beta?
Pretty sure, unless something changes, you will keep your current characters through open access, and launch.