Why can't I get into this game?

Vidan

I really don't understand it. I love the graphics, I love all the EQ1 references, and I love a couple of the classes. But for some reason the game just doesn't grab me, and I don't really understand what it is that I don't quite grasp. I've played on and off since release, but have only put in significant time since the release of Faydwer.

 

There are things that bug me about the game, though. I dislike the "encounter" system, and I think that it is slightly disconnecting. This isn't a huge deal though, as there are plenty of single-pull monsters out there.

The AA system is pretty meh. EQ1 will forever have the superior system, and I hope they integrate it here eventually.

And, for some reason, the armor models (Gis aside) just don't impress me. Leather and cloth look very much the same, and most plate is kinda boring too.

 

Still, this shouldn't be enough to prevent me from getting a character past level 15 or so. Can someone recommend something that really just draws you in and hooks you? Or share a story about what got your attention so much. Because I'd really love to find a permanent MMO home after so many years of wanderlust.

 

 

 

ronan32

i tried many times to get into eq2, but with the empty towns and boring combat i just couldn't stick with it...the highest lvl i got to was 30. i just think the combat is very dull but everything else about the game is great.

Vidan

Combat isn't much different than any other MMO to me. I dislike how dual-wielding is handled, and the animations that go with it are rather suspect, but overall it's decently enjoyable. If anything I dislike how skill-based it is. Less clicks would be better, I think.

I think if anything, the game doesn't seem to have a guiding direction to it. I don't enjoy being led down corridors, but having a general idea of where to go when is comforting. The land is so large that I always feel a little lost.

Kyleran

 

Originally posted by Vidan


Combat isn't much different than any other MMO to me. I dislike how dual-wielding is handled, and the animations that go with it are rather suspect, but overall it's decently enjoyable. If anything I dislike how skill-based it is. Less clicks would be better, I think.
I think if anything, the game doesn't seem to have a guiding direction to it. I don't enjoy being led down corridors, but having a general idea of where to go when is comforting. The land is so large that I always feel a little lost.

Maybe you need a change in genre?  After many years of playing fantasy MMORPG's (DAOC, Lineage 1/2, Shadowbane, WOW, GW's etc) I found myself playing LotRO earlier this year..... and growing quickly bored with it. I couldn't really fault the game,it had elements that I enjoyed in previous games, so I couldn't put my finger on what was wrong.

 

On a lark I gave EVE a free trial about 3 months ago....and got instantly hooked.  I now have two accounts, am in a 0.0 stealth corp and hard at work earning ISK and materials to build up our little piece of universe.

I'm not saying EVE is the perfect game for you, but consider trying some other games out of the fantasy realm, like City of Heroes/Villians or maybe get into the Tabula Rasa beta and see how that is. 

 

Sunder

I could not stick with this game either.  It really does not have enough to offer.  For me, I think it fell into the growing trend of catering to the cry baby players who always want everything handed to them in the game, and as a result offers no real challenge to the rest of the player-base who are not idiots, and want something to play for longer than a month.  My wife and I played this game for all of a month and a half, (About the time they added the expansion with flying carpets etc) and in that time had done most everything the game had to offer.  Until companies ball up, and dedicate to their product's longevity, rather than the short term money vacuum, there won't be many games that will hold my love, or even attention.  This one just happened to be one of the worste... for me.  I have friends who love it, but they are also the ones who enjoy the over monotonous and redundant grind.

Vidan

Originally posted by Sunder


I could not stick with this game either.  It really does not have enough to offer.  For me, I think it fell into the growing trend of catering to the cry baby players who always want everything handed to them in the game, and as a result offers no real challenge to the rest of the player-base who are not idiots, and want something to play for longer than a month.  My wife and I played this game for all of a month and a half, (About the time they added the expansion with flying carpets etc) and in that time had done most everything the game had to offer.  Until companies ball up, and dedicate to their product's longevity, rather than the short term money vacuum, there won't be many games that will hold my love, or even attention.  This one just happened to be one of the worste... for me.  I have friends who love it, but they are also the ones who enjoy the over monotonous and redundant grind.

I don't entirely agree. The game is coming up on it's third anniversary, and by all accounts has been made into perhaps the premier PvE-focused MMO going right now. Like you, the original three iterations of the game didn't do much for me. EoF, however, was completely different. Even just flying around the starting Fae area is initially breathtaking. Some of the best lighting effects I've seen in recent games (if a bit too much bloom), neat looking beasts to fight and plenty of little nooks to explore. Kelethin as well is very well done, and even evokes a little bit of the EQ1 feel.

I find it odd that I advocate for the game whenever I can, but I can't really get into it myself. I want to change that simply to see what Kunark has to offer. I hope beyond hope that epic zones like Chardok, Sebilis and Karnor's Castle can be revived and made into even fleeting vestiges of their former glory. I'd love to have a character to explore those zones with.

Now that I think of it, I think that I'm burned out on my playstyle. I haven't grouped hardly any at all since EQ1, nor have I been in a guild that felt cohesive and really like friends. I think that's probably what I look back on EQ1 with the most fondness. I think that I'll resub for a month to this, roll up a character that's group friendly and really try to find a guild of people that I can enjoy the game with. Hopefully that might revive my taste in MMOing.

 

Bigfoot

I agree with the models as far as armor goes.  Nothing looks amazingly cool or anything(as far as I've seen anyway).  People need eye-candy.

Johnhost

Originally posted by Vidan


I really don't understand it. I love the graphics, I love all the EQ1 references, and I love a couple of the classes. But for some reason the game just doesn't grab me, and I don't really understand what it is that I don't quite grasp. I've played on and off since release, but have only put in significant time since the release of Faydwer.
 
There are things that bug me about the game, though. I dislike the "encounter" system, and I think that it is slightly disconnecting. This isn't a huge deal though, as there are plenty of single-pull monsters out there.
One of the complaints about EQ1 was that you couldn't take on multiple mobs without getting killed quickly.  So when they designed EQ2 they thought, "hey, wouldn't it be better to be able to attack multiple mobs at once, yet still maintain the same difficulty of a single mob, their solution was the "encounter system". 
The AA system is pretty meh. EQ1 will forever have the superior system, and I hope they integrate it here eventually.
The only difference I can see is there is a general abilities tab in EQ1 which gives you more stat increases and run speed increase.  Those are nice, but also means that high end content REQUIRES AA's to be successful.  So really EQ2 is simply keeping the game balanced.
And, for some reason, the armor models (Gis aside) just don't impress me. Leather and cloth look very much the same, and most plate is kinda boring too.
Everyone agrees with you.  That is why SOE is working on new skeletal models.  The problem right now is they can't produce new art assets without it taking a huge long time.  Remember they have to make it for large, small and amphibian races.  Plus for women also.  So imagine one set of new armor has to be created 60x or something.  Makes the process slow.  Additionally with these skeletal models it's near impossible to get animations for them to sit and lie in furniture.  Again because an ogre couldn't use a normal sized chair.  With the new skeletal models (uni-model skeleton) we hope it will be possible.
Still, this shouldn't be enough to prevent me from getting a character past level 15 or so. Can someone recommend something that really just draws you in and hooks you? Or share a story about what got your attention so much. Because I'd really love to find a permanent MMO home after so many years of wanderlust.
The trick is getting involved in the community, which is concentrated at the higher levels.  I have noticed that players prefer the universal chat channels for groups, communication, etc.  So even though they aren't all in the same zone, they do tend to feel connected to the community.  I do miss the EC tunnel days, but players don't seem to want to go that route as much.  I suggest trying various guilds.  Once you have a friend or two in game, keep grouping with them.  And here is some other activities I recommend:

• The Arena:  Grab some guildies or friends and head to Maj'Dul.  Go to the palace and there is a guy who will give you a free Arena Champion.  The Arena Champions are monster forms that essentially make you a certain class.  For example the ice skelle is a wizard/nuke class.  You can then play games like CTF, FFA, etc.  Lot's of different arenas to choose from too.  I am not sure, but I believe you can start an arena battle in Qeynos Harbor as well.
• If in Qeynos go to the mage tower in South Qeynos.  Up at the top are books lying around.  Some you can click on and receive books for your house, as well as lore you can read up on.  There is a tomb dedicated to the system of time keeping in EQ2.  It details the seasons, days of the week, etc
• Sometimes it's fun to gamble, there is a gigglegibber goblin gambling game...slot machine.  There is one in Iron Toes East and one in Sayers Cabin in QH.
• Soon there will be Legends of Norrath Card game you can play from within EQ2. 
• Get a copy of Everquest II Atlas.  Or install the EQ2 maps which will show you locations of mobs and special instances. 
• One thing I did for fun was just explore every inch of Antonica.  For example if you remember in EQ1 Qeynos newbie yard they had the klicnik queen.  Well EQ2 has these as well, you can solo allot of it, and some of it is group content.  They are to your left as you head out of Qeynos.  And there are tunnels where they live. 
• Many unused zones which are fun to do (with a map helps).  One is Qeynos Catacombs and Vermin Snye.  I believe they even brought back the geletinous cubes from EQ1.
• Blackburrow has two entrances and is allot fun with a well balanced group.  There are writs you can get and quests for blackburrow which makes it pretty nice for rewards in crawling it.  Also quests are available deep inside.
• Sometimes it's fun to see how the upper half lives.  Go to South Qeynos near the statue of the man there is guild housing.  Right Click on the door and choose a name then click visit.  You can walk through the place and see their stuff, and their pets.  Watch out sometimes they have a scary surprise for you!
• Exploring can't be beat as well.  As you level up try exploring more places.  Scout classes can travel through many dangerous places undetected.

Overall it can still be fun to find a group and go crawl a dungeon.

 

 

matraque

OP, i used to think the same.

 

But i re-subbed recently (a month ago) and it's fucking good.

Vidan

I went ahead and resubbed for a month today. Started a high elf mystic in Faydark. This time I think I'm more content to take it slow and see more of the world rather than seclude myself away and grind wolves until I burn out. I'm up to level 7 now!

It seems the game lacks 1h spears, though. Or at least ones that don't cost way too much. Oh well, I guess I can use a club.