Looking for good, low key Multi-Player RPGs. Something along the lines of EQ, WoW, Runescape, Final Fantasy (Online or traditional), Etc.

I want to do LAN-Style group play tho in a controlled environment with friends/family. So I'd prefer to be able to setup and run my own server/clients.

I've found Crossfire and think it might be along the lines of what I want. (http://forum.metalforge.net/) I'm having troubles getting it working properly (Probably my fault, but I'm still fiddling with it).

Graphics aint' really a driving issue. Runescape is fine, although if there is anything with graphics around Warcraft or NWN2, I'd be willing to pay for server/client.

Hope I'm giving enough info for this, because I just started searching and was wondering if anyone here had good suggestions for games I may not heard of or found.

Kriis

Uhmm you could try neverwinter nights, it lets you do LAN games with keeping the single player story i think.

Hmmm Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles? it's multi player but you need to connect Gbas i think.

I'm leaning more towards a persistent world that I can host on a server I'm getting ready to build. I have varied friends/family, some of whom are semi-strict in religion and don't want family members exposed to the miscreants that can't be avoided in MMORPGs.

Friends/family that I want to invite to 'my' server live in vaired locations (I'm in Delaware, one brother is in Missouri, another brother is stationed in California after just getting back from Japan, etc) So games like Crystal Chronicles aren't really an option. We all have and play with our Wii's (Hyuck hyuck) but the online presence isn't really there yet for that, much less Gamecubes.

I'm looking at games like UO, World of Warcraft, Everquest, Runescape... and variations of 'imitation' servers + 'official clients'.

I'm also looking at games like
http://crossfire.real-time.com/ (Open source game similar to Nethack with usable graphics if a bit quirky)
http://minions.prairiegames.com/ (Minions of Mirth. 30$ per copy for a game that reviewers seem to love... or hate)

While I'm also leaning towards NWN, I don't think it has the persistent world that I'm looking for. Is that something I'm missing? If I'm at work, and my brothers want to get on - I don't want them to have to wait on me.

I'm not 100% stuck on Fantasy either. If there happens to be good sci-fi type games, I'd be interested in that.

There's just SO many games out right now, I'm just kinda overwhelmed. Sure I can find MMORPGs. I can find solo RPGs. Even Multi-player types. I've never looked into running my own server. I don't wanna spend a ton of money trying a hundred different games when maybe someone has some good idea's for what I might be looking for :)

I appreciate any idea's thrown my way and hope this 'novel' wasn't to much to read. :)

Kriis

guildwars series

Guild Wars just got an offline Emu (LAN), you can find it on www.elitepvpers.de I think.

DAoC also got an Emu which is easy to setup.

You can actually try any Emulator.

i love that game i've beaten it over 30 times on story mode:p

Baldu's gate 1 and 2