Is it Worth it?

fawd

Hello all.. I played EQ2 for about a month after launch and I must say that it was NOT very fun.  But, once again, I have re-fallen in love with the graphics and hope to make my return in a month or two.. ((Ordering new gaming computer))  I have a few questions.. Has EQ2 changed for the better?  How is the game play now?  and finally, Is it worth the extra $15 dollars a month?

Thank you so much for the feedback

Fawd

Zona

To me it is worth it. I intend this to be the last mmorpg that I play.
There has been alot of recent changes, crafting isn't as dependant (or not at all dependent) on other crafters as it once was. There is alot more solo content, people are still forced to group up for big things, but being in a guild helps. Alot more npc's have voices now too. Oh oh, and the best..... harvesting is easier now, and goes much faster. People can now sell when they are offline, or while out hunting. There is also a mail system where you can send your other charectors, or friends, Items or gold.

Right now there is this plauge event going around where folks get sick and throw up alot, but it doesn't affect fighting ability or anything.

Noubourne

You didn't think playing the game was fun but you're coming back because of the graphics?

The graphics haven't changed. Gameplay hasn't changed that dramatically imo. I like all the new changes to be sure, but if you were more specific about why you quit the first time (like list a reason, for instance), then it might be easier for people to give advice.

fawd

In reply to the last post.. I quit because of the lack of "stuff to do"  EQ2 was great for the first month.  But after that, the game got borring really quick.  The content in the game was limited.. but that may just be me... 

Sorry for not being accurate on my beginning post.

FawD

Enigma

Any and every mmorpg can become "boring" to any player no matter how he or she is dedicated to the game initially.

It is a very much part of gameplay of a mmorpg. Breaks are always a necessasity (sp) when playing mmorpgs no matter how good (or bad ) they are.

I am sure you'll be refreshed when joining back up and then run into a "rut" later on. It's perfectly normal for any mmorpg. Since you took a break from it I would say you would like the new additions and changes to the game.

Billius8

Is EQ2 worth it?  Of course, it depends upon the player.  EQ2 had many things going for it, mostly in terms of next generation MMORPG graphics.

However, EQ2 has a few game-breakers for me that I simply will not tolerate (and I really did try):

1.  Two-city linear world.  The layout of the game world shattered any sense of mystery that I had hoped to find.  In the old EQ, you could look at a crude map and see several places you might want to visit, and have to make a decision on direction and find your own way.  In EQ2, it's either go East (if you're Qeynosian) or West (if your from Freeport).

2.  Heroic opportunity wheel.  An absolutely contrived and senseless game feature.  Turns the game into a button mashing grind.  I hear that many players ignore it now, even to their disadvantage.

3.  Contrived skill system.  Every class gets one (sometimes two) new abilities at each level.  Of course, for the sword-swingers they receive duplicated abilities (there may be more than one way to swing a sword, but not 50!), so the whole thing is a confusing mess.  Something makes me think this is the last thing they completed before release and had a big time crunch.  "Just create and code an ability for each level for this class.  Make something up."

4.  Lack of racial distinction.  If ARAC means "all races all classes", then we need a term for "all races are really the same" (ARRSE?)  Being a troll doesn't mean you start with regen, being a halfling doesn't mean you can hide.  Whatever you play, it all feels the same.

5.  Crafting system.  They originally planned for separated artisan and adventurer classes and therefore both play much the same (i.e., crafting can be somewhat like combat).  I suppose the intention was to satisfy artisan players who couldn't go out and adventure because Sony decided they couldn't go out and adventure for whatever brilliant reason.  Before release, they changed that so aventurers can craft, but still the leftover crafting system is very much like combat.  Want to take a break from combat by crafting?  Sorry, it's all the same.

6.  Annoying, untouchable NPC's.  Get used to your Ogre knight being insulted by NPC bakers and tailors, and being able to do nothing about it.  I cannot stand Freeport because of this, but would have based a character there had this not been so.

7.  Overall contrived forced gameplay with many artificial barriers.

Now EQ2 has other flaws such like too much zoning, but these are mostly forgivable.  But for the above listed reasons, I simply cannot play this game any more.  And I waited for it for three years!  I could have been playing DAOC or EQ during that time.  (Maybe that's a win and not a loss.  Gaming time is always wasted time.)

I think the EQ2 development team simply shut out the customer, because I cannot think of any player, if asked during the last three years during development what he or she might think of the above listed game aspects, would approve of any of them. 

Wouldn't we all want a game world with more than two cities and options to travel in different directions?  Wouldn't we all want some sort of distinguishing racial characteristics for our characters?  Wouldn't we all (or some of us) want to be able to smack that rude NPC baker (whether we got beaten down by the guards or not)?

The customer was NOT involved in the design of this game.  The customer is being listened to now, but it's sort of late.

[Camping out for Vanguard, perhaps.]

 

 

Nihilanth

yes, i think it is worth coming back and trying again. if you don't like it you lost $15, big deal, so IMO its worth a shot.

my suggestion however, i notice a lot of people who say EQ2 has little content past higher levels. this really does depend on 1 thing. are you in a guild? ive said in numerous posts that guilds are a huge part of eq2 because they are. there are soooo many things out in the game that a guild can help you with and you can do together. guilds become almost a requirment past lvl 38, because this is when you can group with lvl 50s without mentoring and people generally start raiding here. you cant raid very well or very often without a guild, but if you do have an active one it makes life a LOT easier. my old guild (Defenders of Qeynos) recently merged with another guild (Legionairres of Light) and we raid 1-2 times DAILY. theres ALwAYS things to do in my guild, weather its getting help from a guildmate, helping them yourself, raiding, or just chatting. its even better because my guild is on teamspeak, but this isnt a requirment.

so basically, join a guild and you'll have more fun

NOTE: sorry if this is a bit incoherent, its late and im tired. night

Noubourne

Yeah they did add about 1100 new quests, and several new zones since you last played.

I can't say I can agree with your content criticism in the first place, but maybe those things will tip the scales.

I suggest trying the other city this time. If you started in Qeynos, start in Freeport this time, and vice versa. Maybe there's something about the path you got into in whatever city you started in that made you feel that way that you might be able to avoid in the other city. They both have the same number of quests though.

fawd

Wow! thanks for all the great feedback       I am definately looking forward to making my return to EQ2.  And if it isnt great now, it wil change for the better just like SWG.    ((Star Wars Galaxies was the WORST game at launch.. Now it has a rating of 7.5 and rising, every patch adds TONS of content.  The devs in SWG are truely deticated))  EQ2 is like this now from what I hear.  It will only be a matter of time before EQ2 becomes a greater game than the origonal EQ (or so we all hope)

Fawd

Thanks again