Agreed 100%. I posted in another thread about interdependency, I thought I was the only one who tfelt that way. Twinking was awesome, I almost forgot about it with all of these other MMOs that are built against that. Raids suck - small groups all the way. Exploring was definitely a huge part of what made EQ what it was I think. I remember swimming to the bottom of the Oasis to find out there were like 40 goblins down there, lol good stuff. End game is garbage, in WOW especially the fun doesn't really begin until you are the highest level or at least higher in level.
Good post!
Originally posted by brostyn
Many things that made classic EQ so fun for me are being discarded by next gen MMOs. Here are a few things:
1) True interdependency. People need to be brought together. Soloing needs to be limited, or a goal to attain. Everyone shouldn't be able to solo right out of the box.
2) TLC. God, I hate TLC. I really had fun farming greens, and selling the loot.
3) Level required gear. Sorry, but I love twinking. It's good for the economy, and rewards people who further their toons.
4) Raids. EQ fell victim to this. Games are too heavily reliant on raids. Groups is what made classic so fun. Not the lame raids. EQ was able to build a 500k subscriber base, because we all grouped together. Not because we all raided together. Look we they are now. Less than 175k subscribers.
5) Exploration. EQ rewarded you for exploring areas. Some areas had better exp. than others. Some had better loot. That rare wandering mob dropped something neat.
6) Too much emphasis on the "end game". Since when is the "end game" the most important part of a game? Very screwed up concept.
Played: EQ1, EQ2, Lineage II, DOAC, WoW, UO, Guild Wars, FFXI Currently playing: Nothing Looking forward to: AOC and WAR
Everquest had something magical about it, not because it was a "first" but because it was breath taking, exciting and challenging.
All MMOS out now, ALL OF THEM. Take short cuts. They list all the things that EQ had done correctly in there eyes and eliminate the rest. Well I'm sorry to say, but EQ1 was wonderful with ALL of its features. You cant cut out the downtime, cut out the need to group, cut out the corpse runs, the boats, the waiting, the TOWNS, and all that made the game feel like a REAL WORLD. Yeah, Real life has those moments that make you wait. If you want to play a game that doesnt require time or patience play WoW. but why is it that every MMO out features that same bland, boring, repetitive gameplay? We want something that is as if we're in a world within a world. EQ1 had that, it was the only one to me that felt that way. Some games got close, such as Daoc and swg. Still very short of the mark compared to EQ1.
I mean, EQ1 had the racial cities you could travel to, that in itself was an adventure....questing and experiencing by killing monsters was another, sitting in a tavern and chatting with fellow players was another, boat rides to different continents was another. Saving up cash to buy those spells or that new weapon was another., EXPLORING in sewers, plains, ice mountains, thick forests, dark caves, evil dungeons, mega big castles, giant forts, and sandy deserts. Everquest 1 was magicial and it wasnt simply because it was the first. It was because when it was done, it was done right. I dont understand why so many people need to change what was done correctly the first time.
An example of what im discussing?
EQ1 had the same magical effect on me the day progression servers came out, it ended the second people flew through the content. If Everquest opened a classic server with kunark and velious I would pay 25.00 a month for it. Because I know it would hold my attention for quite a while, and no other game can do that for me.
Well said
Played: EQ1, EQ2, Lineage II, DOAC, WoW, UO, Guild Wars, FFXI Currently playing: Nothing Looking forward to: AOC and WAR
I too loved EQ1, have played most games on the market, and had been seeking that old nostalgic EQ1 feeling. I found it again in Vanguard: Saga of Heros. Not everyone felt this way but then... not everyone liked EQ1 (even in its heyday). Many people today who rant about the greatness of EQ1 wouldnt actually like the game if they went back and played now (its just to dated technically). VG for me is a technically updated EQ1.
I too loved EQ1, have played most games on the market, and had been seeking that old nostalgic EQ1 feeling. I found it again in Vanguard: Saga of Heros. Not everyone felt this way but then... not everyone liked EQ1 (even in its heyday). Many people today who rant about the greatness of EQ1 wouldnt actually like the game if they went back and played now (its just to dated technically). VG for me is a technically updated EQ1.
Where can I get whatever it is that you're smoking? If you can hook me up, then I too can enjoy VG and feel like it's classic eq?
I have a grand idea, let's take our destiny in our own hands and stop letting SOE ruin your desperate attempt to reclaim your glory days of eq bliss.
EQ, like heroin is best the first time around they say. With heroin, you body chemically is altered after your first HIGH as a defense mechanism. This way, your body is more "prepared" for the next "invasion" of the drug. Due to this, the uberl33t HIGH you got the first time will never, and can never be duplicated. This however, does not stop people from trying anyways. It's called "Chasing the Dragon" syndrome.
Thus, I propose all that seek a 'classic eq server' log onto the Combine server and start new toons on 6/1/07. This will give us time to spread the news. We will form 2 of the most active and passionate guilds, and I suggest we call this guild "Chasing Vox" and "Chasing Nagefen" or something to that effect. The guild you join would be Vox if your new toon will most likely xp in Blackburrow (my favorite zone OF ALL TIME). Those that would most likely xp in.... that other newbie zone closer to Freeport that I currently can't recall the name of... would join Nagefen. Once we all get past lvl 10 or so, we can have pvp, guild vs guild type play on the weekends, while weekdays would be more layed back and casual.
We would have to all agree to a strict limitation on zones we would travel/xp/loot in. We would also need to have a hard lvl cap of 52 so we can kill Naggy/Vox.
Now to be totally honest and upfront, I started playing eq just before OoW expansion, and I'm not the eq expert on old skool eq, so please forgive any lack of knowledge and/or errors that i've made. I did start 2 boxed toons on Sleeper server, and while it was fun, i eventually went back to Povar around lvl 50ish (after i killed Nagefen iirc).
I teach school and have LOTS of time to play this summer, and would be up for this IF enough ppl join (would only need 100, 50 for each guild, or so imo). And if those ppl were disiplined enough to STRICTLY abide by the rules. Perhaps having the 2 guilds be pvp tagged would be a good idea? Open for suggestions?
First step would be someone who is internet/website savy enough to start up a guild website
Step two is to find 2 guild leaders that are KNOWLEDGABLE, ALPHA MALES and have the charisma and patience and STAYING POWER to see this thru.
Step three would be for ppl to stread the word
Step FOUR is to SHOW UP on 6/1/07 (which is a Friday), and NOT to have a lvl 10 toon that wants to join on 6/1/07.
There never was a classic EQ for me I'm afraid, I tried EQ and DAOC as part of my first foray into MMORPGS and found DAOC to be much more fun and have a less cliquish user base. Needless to say neither EQ2 or Vanguard have stirred much interest in me even though i did take part in the VG closed beta (At noob level the game showed promise although that rapidly disappeared).
The game(s) i'm waiting for (and the wait seems to be extending on all three) are COS,AOC and WAR.
No, there will never be a game that recapures the magic.
Eeverquest was something new and unique and the community of games today will never match that of the original EQ (even EQ2 falls short in that aspect).
***disclaimer (before all the flamers get geared up) - This in not to say the community in current games suck or lack any substance.
The old EQ community was what made it the success it was. That togetherness started to fall off as more and more MMO's came in to being which opened up the market for different play styles and opinions on how things should be done. That's not to say there aren't people who can't play well together out there in other games, it is just not as game wide as old school EQ was.
Knowing you weren't going to get that named froglok in Guk without making friends created a friendlier, more helpful gameplay between players. Yes, there were some imature boneheads, what game doesn't have those, but they seemed to be few and not around for very long.
Also the fact that it was the first major game that you have to pay a monthly fee to play kept away alot of the more "inmature" players. Now, it's the norm which brings in all types of players.
There is something about EQ that captures your soul, to the point that years go by and you still have it installed and patched "just in case " you need a break from your current game your playing. Meet my family of 3 generations of EQ.
At 2 years old my grandaughter sat on my lap and watched me play while I struggled to keep alive in North Karana running from the Griffons. She was hooked on EQ from the moment she sat and watched me. She knew how to run from zone to zone because she didn't quite know how to type to ask for "a port"
At 3 years old she'd level up her Mage to 20 and at 4 switched over to DAOC! (by now she knows how to type and can make her own emotes)
At 5 years old she came back to EQ ( and "hails" everyone she meets) and at 6 I bought her EQ2.
At 7 years old she went back to EQ and played some WOW.
Now 9 years old she is checking out LOTRO with me, but still loves her EQ
Neither WoW nor EQ2 do it for me, and I'm not holding out for Vanguard.
No it will never happen again. EQ didnt have that affect on you because of how good of a game it was. It had that affect on you because that was your first time experiencing something like that. If eq2 or WoW were released when eq was then this post would be titled "Will there ever be a game that recaptures of the magic of classic WoW?" Nobody seems to understand this though. I have a few friends who never played EQ. They entered the MMO world with FFXI. About a year ago they both decided to play EQ just to see what it was all about. Now if it was the actual game that gives people this mmorgasm then both of those friends would have been mezmerized by the game and would still be playing....but they tried to play it and just couldnt do it because it was so bad (compared to todays games). Go back and think about all of your firsts. The first time you do anything that you find amazing will always be the best time and it will NEVER happen again. Geez im really venting, I just hate this topic so much. None of this is an attack at you by the way, I just dont understand why people insist on reposting this same thought over and over again
Your point isn't really valid because EQ1 has changed so much since the early days, it's not recognizable anymore. Only the people who played EQ1 pre Planes of Power understand.
Sadly I suspect no game will capture that early EQ1 experience, but I'll still keep looking.
/Agree
I understand completely, started when Kunark was released and have never touched anything like EQ ever again, sadly.
There will be no other experience like it since every other mmo is a clone of each other now, That is why I am looking forward to TCoS in hopes that it will feed my need for a new style of game. If done correctly it may be the next EQ for me.
I'm glad to see this thread is still active. The outlines that some people have given is extraordinary, well articulated and definitely captures the essence of what EQ was and what current MMO's are lacking. If a new game came out today that adopted the original methodology of EQ it would only appeal to about 20 to 35% of the gaming community.
The Old Timers Guild Laid back, not so serious, no drama. All about the fun!
www.oldtimersguild.com An opinion should be the result of thought, not a substitute for it. - Jef Mallett
I think Vanguard is a good candidate if they can keep this momentum going by fixing bugs, improving performance, and adding fun and interesting content.
I just recently resubscribed to the game, and I was a big-basher of it for its early release, but it is making a remarkable turnaround. I think many people still hope for Vanguard. It certainly has the vast world , classes, and other features for it.
Vanguard doesn't have a soul like EQ did. As in Beta they openly admitted there was no 'hook'. People need a sense of belonging, purpose and a meaningfulness to their game play. Vanguard was completely void of substance, I felt like my character was just existing and adventuring was a series of collecting from a vendor to then get some reward pellets. The crafting system was laughable, it was overly elaborate for no other reason than to be overly elaborate. A good crafting system does make for a interesting game, I liked their efforts, however it was just silly.
I never liked diplomacy, never fooled with it, seemed liked a half baked trade skill to plug an area of game play. Vanguard had so much potential, but due to Brad falling off the wagon of reality the game just crumbled.
The Old Timers Guild Laid back, not so serious, no drama. All about the fun!
www.oldtimersguild.com An opinion should be the result of thought, not a substitute for it. - Jef Mallett
Neither WoW nor EQ2 do it for me, and I'm not holding out for Vanguard.
No it will never happen again. EQ didnt have that affect on you because of how good of a game it was. It had that affect on you because that was your first time experiencing something like that. If eq2 or WoW were released when eq was then this post would be titled "Will there ever be a game that recaptures of the magic of classic WoW?" Nobody seems to understand this though. I have a few friends who never played EQ. They entered the MMO world with FFXI. About a year ago they both decided to play EQ just to see what it was all about. Now if it was the actual game that gives people this mmorgasm then both of those friends would have been mezmerized by the game and would still be playing....but they tried to play it and just couldnt do it because it was so bad (compared to todays games). Go back and think about all of your firsts. The first time you do anything that you find amazing will always be the best time and it will NEVER happen again. Geez im really venting, I just hate this topic so much. None of this is an attack at you by the way, I just dont understand why people insist on reposting this same thought over and over again
Your point isn't really valid because EQ1 has changed so much since the early days, it's not recognizable anymore. Only the people who played EQ1 pre Planes of Power understand.
Sadly I suspect no game will capture that early EQ1 experience, but I'll still keep looking.
/Agree
I understand completely, started when Kunark was released and have never touched anything like EQ ever again, sadly.
There will be no other experience like it since every other mmo is a clone of each other now, That is why I am looking forward to TCoS in hopes that it will feed my need for a new style of game. If done correctly it may be the next EQ for me.
damn, if starting at Kunark is a reference to an old skooler, than i am ancient. i started my first ranger 2 weeks after release. and i didnt play for long after the plains expansions came out. i loved that game more than any other game i have played since. and i never even made it to a raidable level. i topped out at 42 with my ranger, and mid 30s with a few other alts. spent alot more time doing things other than PLing and camping spawns. that was the great part of the game. man, i would pay a pretty penny to get access to a new classic EQ server. killing snakes and rats outside the city gate again. drooling as a pack of level 12s ran past on their way back to blackburrow
Neither WoW nor EQ2 do it for me, and I'm not holding out for Vanguard.
No it will never happen again. EQ didnt have that affect on you because of how good of a game it was. It had that affect on you because that was your first time experiencing something like that. If eq2 or WoW were released when eq was then this post would be titled "Will there ever be a game that recaptures of the magic of classic WoW?" Nobody seems to understand this though. I have a few friends who never played EQ. They entered the MMO world with FFXI. About a year ago they both decided to play EQ just to see what it was all about. Now if it was the actual game that gives people this mmorgasm then both of those friends would have been mezmerized by the game and would still be playing....but they tried to play it and just couldnt do it because it was so bad (compared to todays games). Go back and think about all of your firsts. The first time you do anything that you find amazing will always be the best time and it will NEVER happen again. Geez im really venting, I just hate this topic so much. None of this is an attack at you by the way, I just dont understand why people insist on reposting this same thought over and over again
You are very right I think you might be on to something. We will always be spoiled by the first time we went into the land of norrath and no other game will ever compare for the simple fact they all are quality graphics and games im sure wow gets old cause i was told but that dont mean when you first walk into it that its old. We are spoiled from Everquest its the best stay there everyone knows its the best just some ppl are mad and in denial i know i was.
Comments
Played: EQ1, EQ2, Lineage II, DOAC, WoW, UO, Guild Wars, FFXI
Currently playing: Nothing
Looking forward to: AOC and WAR
Played: EQ1, EQ2, Lineage II, DOAC, WoW, UO, Guild Wars, FFXI
Currently playing: Nothing
Looking forward to: AOC and WAR
FINBAR
-------------------------------------------
I have a grand idea, let's take our destiny in our own hands and stop letting SOE ruin your desperate attempt to reclaim your glory days of eq bliss.
EQ, like heroin is best the first time around they say. With heroin, you body chemically is altered after your first HIGH as a defense mechanism. This way, your body is more "prepared" for the next "invasion" of the drug. Due to this, the uberl33t HIGH you got the first time will never, and can never be duplicated. This however, does not stop people from trying anyways. It's called "Chasing the Dragon" syndrome.
Thus, I propose all that seek a 'classic eq server' log onto the Combine server and start new toons on 6/1/07. This will give us time to spread the news. We will form 2 of the most active and passionate guilds, and I suggest we call this guild "Chasing Vox" and "Chasing Nagefen" or something to that effect. The guild you join would be Vox if your new toon will most likely xp in Blackburrow (my favorite zone OF ALL TIME). Those that would most likely xp in.... that other newbie zone closer to Freeport that I currently can't recall the name of... would join Nagefen. Once we all get past lvl 10 or so, we can have pvp, guild vs guild type play on the weekends, while weekdays would be more layed back and casual.
We would have to all agree to a strict limitation on zones we would travel/xp/loot in. We would also need to have a hard lvl cap of 52 so we can kill Naggy/Vox.
Now to be totally honest and upfront, I started playing eq just before OoW expansion, and I'm not the eq expert on old skool eq, so please forgive any lack of knowledge and/or errors that i've made. I did start 2 boxed toons on Sleeper server, and while it was fun, i eventually went back to Povar around lvl 50ish (after i killed Nagefen iirc).
I teach school and have LOTS of time to play this summer, and would be up for this IF enough ppl join (would only need 100, 50 for each guild, or so imo). And if those ppl were disiplined enough to STRICTLY abide by the rules. Perhaps having the 2 guilds be pvp tagged would be a good idea? Open for suggestions?
First step would be someone who is internet/website savy enough to start up a guild website
Step two is to find 2 guild leaders that are KNOWLEDGABLE, ALPHA MALES and have the charisma and patience and STAYING POWER to see this thru.
Step three would be for ppl to stread the word
Step FOUR is to SHOW UP on 6/1/07 (which is a Friday), and NOT to have a lvl 10 toon that wants to join on 6/1/07.
Now is the time to SHOW UP or STFU!!!
Peace,
Aces
The game(s) i'm waiting for (and the wait seems to be extending on all three) are COS,AOC and WAR.
<p align=center><a target=_blank href=http://www.nodiatis.com/personality.htm><img border=0 src=http://www.nodiatis.com/pub/20.jpg></a></p>;
No, there will never be a game that recapures the magic.
Eeverquest was something new and unique and the community of games today will never match that of the original EQ (even EQ2 falls short in that aspect).
***disclaimer (before all the flamers get geared up) - This in not to say the community in current games suck or lack any substance.
The old EQ community was what made it the success it was. That togetherness started to fall off as more and more MMO's came in to being which opened up the market for different play styles and opinions on how things should be done. That's not to say there aren't people who can't play well together out there in other games, it is just not as game wide as old school EQ was.
Knowing you weren't going to get that named froglok in Guk without making friends created a friendlier, more helpful gameplay between players. Yes, there were some imature boneheads, what game doesn't have those, but they seemed to be few and not around for very long.
Also the fact that it was the first major game that you have to pay a monthly fee to play kept away alot of the more "inmature" players. Now, it's the norm which brings in all types of players.
There is something about EQ that captures your soul, to the point that years go by and you still have it installed and patched "just in case " you need a break from your current game your playing. Meet my family of 3 generations of EQ.
At 2 years old my grandaughter sat on my lap and watched me play while I struggled to keep alive in North Karana running from the Griffons.
She was hooked on EQ from the moment she sat and watched me. She knew how to run from zone to zone because she didn't quite know how to type to ask for "a port"
At 3 years old she'd level up her Mage to 20 and at 4 switched over to DAOC! (by now she knows how to type and can make her own emotes)
At 5 years old she came back to EQ ( and "hails" everyone she meets) and at 6 I bought her EQ2.
At 7 years old she went back to EQ and played some WOW.
Now 9 years old she is checking out LOTRO with me, but still loves her EQ
Your point isn't really valid because EQ1 has changed so much since the early days, it's not recognizable anymore. Only the people who played EQ1 pre Planes of Power understand.
Sadly I suspect no game will capture that early EQ1 experience, but I'll still keep looking.
/Agree
I understand completely, started when Kunark was released and have never touched anything like EQ ever again, sadly.
There will be no other experience like it since every other mmo is a clone of each other now, That is why I am looking forward to TCoS in hopes that it will feed my need for a new style of game. If done correctly it may be the next EQ for me.
Playing: EVE
and you better care
The Old Timers Guild
Laid back, not so serious, no drama.
All about the fun!
www.oldtimersguild.com
An opinion should be the result of thought, not a substitute for it. - Jef Mallett
I never liked diplomacy, never fooled with it, seemed liked a half baked trade skill to plug an area of game play. Vanguard had so much potential, but due to Brad falling off the wagon of reality the game just crumbled.
The Old Timers Guild
Laid back, not so serious, no drama.
All about the fun!
www.oldtimersguild.com
An opinion should be the result of thought, not a substitute for it. - Jef Mallett
Your point isn't really valid because EQ1 has changed so much since the early days, it's not recognizable anymore. Only the people who played EQ1 pre Planes of Power understand.
Sadly I suspect no game will capture that early EQ1 experience, but I'll still keep looking.
/Agree
I understand completely, started when Kunark was released and have never touched anything like EQ ever again, sadly.
There will be no other experience like it since every other mmo is a clone of each other now, That is why I am looking forward to TCoS in hopes that it will feed my need for a new style of game. If done correctly it may be the next EQ for me.
damn, if starting at Kunark is a reference to an old skooler, than i am ancient. i started my first ranger 2 weeks after release. and i didnt play for long after the plains expansions came out. i loved that game more than any other game i have played since. and i never even made it to a raidable level. i topped out at 42 with my ranger, and mid 30s with a few other alts. spent alot more time doing things other than PLing and camping spawns. that was the great part of the game. man, i would pay a pretty penny to get access to a new classic EQ server. killing snakes and rats outside the city gate again. drooling as a pack of level 12s ran past on their way back to blackburrow
You are very right I think you might be on to something. We will always be spoiled by the first time we went into the land of norrath and no other game will ever compare for the simple fact they all are quality graphics and games im sure wow gets old cause i was told but that dont mean when you first walk into it that its old. We are spoiled from Everquest its the best stay there everyone knows its the best just some ppl are mad and in denial i know i was.