# is there an MMORPG that I can try without buying anything? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 1, 2004, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-mmorpg-that-i-can-try-without-buying-anything/277473 "2004-12-01T09:18:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Freejooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba8739/32.png) [@Freejooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freejooky)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-mmorpg-that-i-can-try-without-buying-anything/277473/1 "2004-12-01T09:18:53Z")
I’m a nerd, and I know that nerds love MMORPGs. Since I seem to have a ton of time to kill lately, I’d like to give one a try - but I don’t want to just go out and buy something. I thought “City of Heroes” looked cool, but the only way to find out would be to just buy thye $50 game and sign up. Is there anything I can download a demo version of to play a trial? ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-mmorpg-that-i-can-try-without-buying-anything/277473/2 "2004-12-01T09:27:25Z")
Usually only the smaller fringe ones have such trial periods. Which really sucks considering how extremely expensive these games are. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-mmorpg-that-i-can-try-without-buying-anything/277473/3 "2004-12-01T09:39:24Z")
Starwars Galaxies had a trial period offered. I don’t know if they still do. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-mmorpg-that-i-can-try-without-buying-anything/277473/4 "2004-12-01T12:35:53Z")
Everquest had a month’s trial period offer (with free download of the original game and the first expansion) as of about three months ago. I don’t know why they wouldn’t still, but I don’t know for sure, as I’m a paid member now. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-mmorpg-that-i-can-try-without-buying-anything/277473/5 "2004-12-01T12:45:01Z")
If you can find someone who bought the collector’s version of WoW, it comes with a 10 day trial for a friend. ---
**Author:** ![Keweenaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Keweenaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keweenaw)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-mmorpg-that-i-can-try-without-buying-anything/277473/6 "2004-12-01T12:52:03Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Starwars Galaxies had a trial period offered. I don’t know if they still do. The PC gamer I picked up last week - the one with World of Warcraft on the cover had a trial code for Galaxies. 10 days I think ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Dirx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Sir\_Dirx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Dirx)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-mmorpg-that-i-can-try-without-buying-anything/277473/7 "2004-12-01T20:20:45Z")
There’s [Ragnarok Online](http://iro.ragnarokonline.com/), but it’s mostly just a basic “kill, get stuff, level up” type game. You get 15 days free, but it’s still a huge download. ---
**Author:** ![Jayn\_Newell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-mmorpg-that-i-can-try-without-buying-anything/277473/8 "2004-12-01T20:54:19Z")
There’s also [Priston Tale](http://eng.pristontale.com/), also a huge download, since it’s actually the entire game. It’s your basic hack and slash game, so if you want something with more of a point, this isn’t it. Pretty graphics though, and there’s no time limit on the free trial–it ends only once one of your characters hits level 40. (Not that I got that far). ---
**Author:** ![milquetoast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@milquetoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milquetoast)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-mmorpg-that-i-can-try-without-buying-anything/277473/9 "2004-12-01T21:29:46Z")
Okay, I’m not a nerd (or at least that’s my claim, and I’m sticking to it!), so I don’t know what a MMORPG is (see, that’s my proof that I’m not a nerd). However, reading the post, I’m taking a stab that is a **M** ulti- **M** edia **O** nline **R** ole- **P** laying **G** ame. Is that correct? Am I actually a nerd deep down and just don’t know it yet? Thanks, milquetoast ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-mmorpg-that-i-can-try-without-buying-anything/277473/10 "2004-12-01T21:31:06Z")
Close. **M** assively **M** ultiplayer **O** nline **R** oleplaying **G** ame. ---
**Author:** ![milquetoast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@milquetoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milquetoast)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-mmorpg-that-i-can-try-without-buying-anything/277473/11 "2004-12-01T21:34:18Z")
Thanks, **jayjay**! ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-mmorpg-that-i-can-try-without-buying-anything/277473/12 "2004-12-01T21:55:17Z")
I’d definitely try and get the 10 day free trial of WoW. There are several threads, and one of these fine dopers is bound to have bought the collector’s edition. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-mmorpg-that-i-can-try-without-buying-anything/277473/13 "2004-12-01T21:56:09Z")
In the category of “Small game”, there’s also Puzzle Pirates, which has a free 10 use trial. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-mmorpg-that-i-can-try-without-buying-anything/277473/14 "2004-12-01T22:11:28Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Close. **M** assively **M** ultiplayer **O** nline **R** oleplaying **G** ame. You pronounce it Mmum-Or-p-Gup. I do, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![PetW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@PetW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PetW)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-mmorpg-that-i-can-try-without-buying-anything/277473/15 "2004-12-01T22:13:36Z")
If you’re a true nerd, you could check out the many text-based MUDS / MMORPGs online. Dragonrealms is pretty popular, and also Achaea. They both require a lot of time to get good at, especially Achaea, so be ready to get sucked in if you stay with it for a while. I actually had to force myself to quit a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-mmorpg-that-i-can-try-without-buying-anything/277473/16 "2004-12-01T22:37:38Z")
Second life has a 7 day trial and is pretty cool, though not really action oriented. [http://secondlife.com/](http://secondlife.com/) ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2004, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-mmorpg-that-i-can-try-without-buying-anything/277473/17 "2004-12-01T22:43:32Z")
Of course, if you don’t mind actually buying a game, then most of the MMORPG’s come with 30 days for free. Or, you could go on eBay and buy someone else’s account I suppose…many times people sell lesser accounts for practically nothing. Or ask your friends if they have any old MMORPG games laying about. Myself I have copies of UO, AC, EQ, and DaoC laying about somewhere (and I think one or two more obscure MMORPG games). I never plan on playing them again…and there are lots of people in that boat. I’m sure someone would be willing to give you the disk…and then all you’d have to do is reactivate the account for a month to try it out. Personally I’d get WoW myself…but I’m biased as thats what I’m playing atm. 😉 -XT ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2004, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-mmorpg-that-i-can-try-without-buying-anything/277473/18 "2004-12-02T01:16:26Z")
Here’s a free one called [Planeshift:](http://www.planeshift.it/about.html) > [@](#): > > The objective of the PlaneShift Team is to create a virtual fantasy world in which a player can start as a peasant in search of fame and become a hero. We will focus our efforts in the reproduction of a real world with politics, economy, many non-player-characters controlled by the server that will bring to life our world even without players connected! > > We want to give FREE access to everyone, without the need to either purchase the game or pay a monthly fee. Servers and bandwidth will be donated by sponsors. > > Our virtual world is persistent, and this means you can connect to it at every hour of day or night and you will always find players and npcs wandering our realms. You will be able to disconnect and reconnect again, the server saves the actual status of your character including his possessions. > > You will use a client program to interact with our world, that enables you to have a 3D view of the surroundings. > Here are 10 reasons why you should become a player and a fan of PlaneShift: > > Planeshift is a great place to find new friends from all over the world! > PlaneShift is a virtual world where you always dreamed of living > PlaneShift is the first 3D MMORPG to be free for players > Thanks to our open development process, the game will be expanded endlessly for years to come > Planeshift is a game made by roleplayers to bring you all the immersion you need from a virtual world > A unique setting, realistic combat rules, great magic system with hundreds of spells > No budgetary constraints will stop development of the world or prevent the addition of new ideas > You can build your house, your castle, your realm > You have the option to live as an adventurer or as a normal citizen, both paths rewarded in game > You can submit comments, ideas, bugs and the dev team will take those into account in future releases