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My Opinion of EQ2X
DeStrukChun
Member Posts: 18
So I figured I would let some people know of my recent experience with EQ2X. This is my opinion, giving those who were thinking about trying EQ2X or those who may want to try some positive insight on what EQ2X is like IMO. This is coming from someone who has played EQ2 in past times and just couldn't get into it for different reasons. Feel free to comment.
--A bit of a long read--
First off, I think EQ2X is a good and bad idea. Obviously the most important thing being that it is F2P, of course with some limitations. I will speak on my experience and opinion of the RMT/F2P subscription model and my experience with it. It is a great idea especially for newer players.
The whole idea of being able to play a game that once had a subscription excites me and this is why I decided to try it again. The first thing I noticed was there were several different "subscription" methods and of course a RMT system in place now. The first "subscription" method being the regular F2P with the most limitations. Second being a one time payment of $10 or 1,000 Station cash. Anyhow I won't speak much on the technicalities of their subscription methods etc. So I first opted to just simply play the with the regular F2P "Bronze" account to see what changes have been made and to see if I would be interested in playing again.
Initially I expected severe limitations, simply because the game still has a regular subscription based model in place on their various other servers;yes there is a separate server for EQ2X. Anyhow, I expected limitations like not being able to venture into certain zones or being restricted in leveling to a certain point. The actual limitations on the different accounts and "subscription" models are actually very limited. Probably the biggest limitation is not being a able to play the class or race you want right away. This however can be quickly changed if you really want to play a certain class or race by simply purchasing that class via the Station Cash RMT shop. They did however, make what I believe to be the main classes of the game available. Classes like the Guardian/Beserker, Wizard/Warlock, Brigand (Rogue class), Templar/Inquisitor. The races are a bit more limited but of course it is only a matter of preference as to which race you want.
I'm going to speed things up a bit with sort of a summary of my experience/opinion. PS. My main reason for leaving Eq2 before was nothing more than there not being enough people/community at the lower end levels for me. I hate playing MMOs and feeling like I'm the only one playing; there are a number of players across all levels mainly because everyone is consolidated to one server so there are plenty of people playing all the time.
So IMO the limitations are not very limiting at all, at least very different from what I expected. Essentially you have a choice to pay for things that you may or may not want. You are not forced to buy anything, and no the game is not unplayable because you choose not to buy everything in the station store. The main limitations are minor conveniences like not having all your bag slots, or not being able to use the broker all the time to trade items. To me paying for all the features for $15 a month most of which I probably will not be using on a regular basis is somewhat of a waste. If I only like 3 classes out of all that are available then why should I have to pay for all of them? Anyhow, all I'm saying is I think it is a great idea for the most part. I can play anytime I want and retain all the same features on my account that I want via purchases them from the Station Cash store.
FYI: If you are interested in returning or playing for longer than a week I would suggest you please subscribe to a "Silver" account, it is only a one time purchase of $10 and is so much less limiting than for what they did with the "Bronze" account.
Also if you have had a account in the past and want to sign up for the EQ2x check your station cash balance! You may have some free station cash! Of course I haven't played in so long, so it might just be me? Thanks for reading!
Comments
I prefer eq2x over eq2. however, I wish that gold memberships had access to all the races like eq2 does for the same price but it is one of the better F2P models out there.
It's funny how many people complain about a free client. The only thing you need to know is if you really want to pick a specific class or race DO NOT put a dime into it. Just subscribe. Otherwise you'll do this:
Step 1
Drop 10 bucks to pick the class you want
Step 2
Drop 10 bucks to pick the race you want
Step 3
Drop 10 bucks for silver because you want access to more features
At this point SOE has extracted 2 months worth of subscription money out of you and there's still a ton of features you're missing out on.
It's a good way to preview the game if you're completely new to it and its probably how most MMOs will work from here on.
My youtube MMO gaming channel
Bingo.
That list you provided is precisely what they hope people will do. They count on people thinking, "Well, the game is free, so it's okay if I spend $10 here.. $10 there... $5 here..." Before you know it, they've spent more than they would on even the box of a retail game and a monthly sub, and they've only purchased a small % of what a normal sub would get them.
This is a variation on the typical F2P/Cash Shop schtick that, it seems, many don't ever notice. They continue believing they're getting a superior deal to a traditional P2P setup, while being nickel and dimed for more than they'd ever pay on a P2P game... because after all "the game is free! And besides you don't have to spend any money!"
Yes. Of course, you can do the other route of farming for the points to by-pass spending real money in a number of F2P games. But then that kinda defeats the point of one of the conveniences cash shops are supposed to provide: the ability to bypass the grind people complain about in some P2P games. Yet, flash the word "free!" in front of them and suddenly grinding - potentially *more* than in a P2P MMO for comparable results - is perfectly acceptable! And besides, you don't have to grind!
It baffles me how some people don't recognize how these F2P setups are really set up to work.
and the cash shop selling asphalt..." - Mimzel on F2P/Cash Shops
Reality check guys: developing and mantaining a game costs money to a company, they *need* to get money from it, you can't just expect people to work for free for your plesure. Plus, no one gives anything for free, ever.
I find eq2x f2p system to be much better than the standard usual f2p game from gPotato.
If you make stupid expenses it's just your fault, you should think before spending.
Games exist to make money. Can you download the game, install it, and do quests? Yes you can, so it is Free2Play. Now, can someone tell can I buy only bagslots?
I just started playing as I wait for the world's greatest game to launch ( Rift ) and find myself having lots of fun. It's deeep with fun quest lines, good crafting, and collecting stuff. The player models and mob models look great though the environment looks bad in most places and decent at best here and there.
The leveling is fast....very fast. To lv 24 anyways, cause that's where I'm at. Took about 5 hrs of game play to get there and I've only died once and only because I tried to take on a boss mob solo.
It's a major system resource hog too..with a new, decent rig (6core and 8gig ram with 1gig vram)...I only average about 20-25fps on the very high graphics setting. I get about 10-15 fps on the highest. Mind ya, I bought an over the counter rig, so take that for what it's worth. A bonifide gaming rig may get a bit more
I've heard the game runs a lot off the processor speed and doesn't take avantage of the multi core technology.
I don't understand the free to play thing though. Personally...It's always been my opinion if one can't afford to pay a $15 sub, a game then one should be out looking for a better job and not playing mmorpg's till they can afford the 50 cents a day. That's just me though.......
Yes and after 2 months have passed you can still log in and chat to your friends and play for free something I can not do on Live.
Chi puo dir com'egli arde é in picciol fuoco.
He who can describe the flame does not burn.
Petrarch
Just doing the completely free model and I think it will make a nice, alternate game for me. If I were planning on playing it as my main game I would consider subbing perhaps. Not really ready to throw out a opinion yet as I have only played to level 5.
I miss DAoC
I still think if anyone starts on EQ2X, and then realizes that the Gold subscription is what they want, then they should switch to EQ2 Live and have no restrictions what-so-ever because it's a waste on X otherwise. And the OP recommended Silver which is ok, but I'd be upset due to the Legendary & Fabled restriction. Just pick a popular server like Antonia Bayle or the open pvp server (sorry forgot the name of it). There's never issues of no lowbie groups there.
I agree with this as a veteran player of the REAL game (since Feb 2005). The only thing I would add is that limited bag space and the lack of access to SELL on the broker are more annoying than the lack of access to some gear, at least for me. It's very hard to make in game money on the "silver" plan and you're limited to how much they "allow" you to make. If you find some rare collection piece....too bad. This is BEYOND obnoxious to me.
IMO, EQ2X is only a "good deal" if you simply cannot afford a subscription on the live servers. To me....to sub on the Freeport server is a waste. There are other busy servers where you aren't limited if you're willing to shell out the 15 bucks a month. If you sincerely just cannot afford to do so....then EQ2X is a good deal since you aren't limited on levels and can really still enjoy playing through all the quests (unlike LotRO). You also still have player housing without limitations, and EQ2 has the best player housing in existence, in my opinion. Good luck affording fuel though for your crafting at high levels. Pity that. The best deal will always be a sub on the live servers, if you ask me.
Oh..on the crafting...fuel at high levels costs five to TEN TIMES what you are "allowed" to make per level for each stack of fuel and a stack doesn't last long. When you have to shell out 2 platinum for a stack of fuel.....if you aren't subbed.....you're done crafting because you're not "allowed" that much money due to restrictions.
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