EasyQuest II, first impressions

Arclan · August 2007

Aug 2, 2007

I logged into EQ2 for the first time last night. First impressions? I loved the introduction video; the graphics looks amazingly lifelike. And Sir Lucan, my nemesis in EQ1, looked tougher than ever.

My entry into this world placed me on a Qeynos Isle. Graphics looked good. And I loved the targeting arrow. I was turned off a little by the npcs wandering by because they had an entire dossier written in text above their head. Um, ok, if you want to give me that info, I’d rather target the npc to get it. Moving right along, I noticed an ocean not far away, and since that is always a draw, I walked towards it. The water was fantastic, and the beach and crabs were appealing to look at. I gasped when I noticed the school of fish. What great detail. A weathered but seaworthy ship was docked nearby, and I walked up to study it. Quite a vessel.

Since I know EQ, I skipped all the tasks/quests that are meant to introduce you to the game. But prior to leaving the isle, I thought I’d look around first. So I walk past an archway and see guards fighting splitpaw gnolls. The graphics of the gnoll impressed me. But the guard moved at warp speed to attack it. Ok that was a turn off to see the guard move so ridiculously fast. I wandered a bit further out and saw the deer and birds. Fabulous graphics, I thought. But I yearned for combat. I attacked one of the incoming gnolls and combat was joined. Zooming out to see the fight in 3rd perspective, I was impressed by the animations. But viola, in a moment the gnoll was dead. And there was NOT ONE scratch on me (cleric).

That was all I needed to experience. This game obviously holds zero challenge. I want something that engages my mind; that makes my heart beat a little faster; that makes me worry; that makes me cheer. This did none of that. It was, in fact, quite boring. Like watching a boring fight scene in a movie; you just wish it’d be over with. Where are the days of EQ1? Where a newbie like myself had a 50 50 chance of success when fighting a level 1 bat or skeleton? Some of us like to earn our place in the world rather than being spoon-fed.

I was pondering what this easy game reminds me of. Aha, the instant gratification, low-risk pleasure of console games! That’s it. The console market is huge now compared to 1999. Everyone has a console. And I assume MMO makers want a piece of that action. But if they want a piece of that action they should make friggin console games and not MMOs.

Tallor, 70th Cleric, Cazic Thulle (Brell Serilis)

Arclan, 70th Paladin, Cazic Thulle (Brell Serilis)

Add Arclan's EQ Progression Server Poll to your sig! --> http://66.242.136.195/EQprogressionpetition/

tylerwick · August 2007

So ... did you even go past new island? Newb island was MADE to be easy... Obviously, its an introduction.. Name another game that you go into the newb field/island and are challenged... Correct me if I'm wrong but the newb Dungeon and even newb areas outside tows in EQ1 were easy... what rats? Little spiders with no challenge....

nepulas · August 2007

i think no one wants to read your impression from your lvl 1 toon fighting some lvl 2 mobs in antonica.

btw even on the qeynos beginner isle is a VERY challening mob , u can make im spawn after u feed him 5 skeleton skulls , but if eq2 is so easy then... uhm your right , u will one hit that mob.

btw if u want to lvl fast u can do this in less then 10 days playtime , so if u re 70 come back and tell us that everraid1 is more challening then eq2 ...

cptnj4 · August 2007

That was all I needed to experience. This game obviously holds zero challenge. I want something that engages my mind; that makes my heart beat a little faster; that makes me worry; that makes me cheer. This did none of that. It was, in fact, quite boring. Like watching a boring fight scene in a movie; you just wish it’d be over with. Where are the days of EQ1? Where a newbie like myself had a 50 50 chance of success when fighting a level 1 bat or skeleton? Some of us like to earn our place in the world rather than being spoon-fed.
I was pondering what this easy game reminds me of. Aha, the instant gratification, low-risk pleasure of console games! That’s it. The console market is huge now compared to 1999. Everyone has a console. And I assume MMO makers want a piece of that action. But if they want a piece of that action they should make friggin console games and not MMOs.

Yes, it OBVIOUSLY hold zero challenge since you didn't even make if off the starter island. Give me a break. Don't you have a bridge to hide under or something?

kinglog123 · August 2007

Yeah, maybe you need to try and get off the island. Like the previous post, it is made to introduce you to the game... once you actually get off the island it gets harder

Pemolis · August 2007

As I walked away from my mother's home. I saw a roach, and stepped on it.

From that point on.. I knew that This World Was NO Challenge..

Viva Microbrain!!!

Caldrin · August 2007

LOL thats pretty funny.. because he killed the first type of mod he comes accross really fast he thinks the hole game will be like that..

Just try it for a whiel you wil lsoon realise its not like that at all..

Also play through the beginers island as u can get soem nice quest loot..

madonvibes · August 2007

Wonderfully written, but the OP obviously didn't do enough playing to actually figure our wonderful game out.

5 minutes play time is not enough to judge any game.

lomiller · August 2007

Solo mobs are designed to be easy, especially early on in the game. At no point should you ever be loosing to a single even con solo encounter. As you advance there is more and more social aggro, and you get tougher and tougher varieties of solo mobs.

If you want a greater challenge, some lower level heroic content is designed to be soloable to a skilled and well equipped player. Exactly what you can solo depends somewhat on your class.

jposavatz · August 2007

The OP just staggers my mind...

The whole point of the newbie island is to teach game mechanics to newbies... it's not about giving you a challenge, nor is it intended to provide you with a complete picture of the game experience or "end-game" complexity.

Geesh.

(And this is from a former EQ2 player...)

Bravado · August 2007

This has to be a joke. No rational person would make such a judgement after killing one mob. So either:

1. You are a rational person and joking.

or

2. You are irrational personal and serious.

Pick one.

Arclan · August 2007

Originally posted by lomiller

Solo mobs are designed to be easy, especially early on in the game. At no point should you ever be loosing to a single even con solo encounter. As you advance there is more and more social aggro, and you get tougher and tougher varieties of solo mobs.

If you want a greater challenge, some lower level heroic content is designed to be soloable to a skilled and well equipped player. Exactly what you can solo depends somewhat on your class.

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I think this isn't my game if some mobs with even con are meant to be beatable 100% of the time. I mean, what's the point of it being even con?? Does not even mean 50-50 chance of either one winning? It should. If two competitors are evently matched in a sporting event, do you expect one to win 100% of the time? If so then I guess they wouldn't be evenly matched.

I have heard the term heroic, but I'm not sure how it affects gameplay. Are there specific heroic mobs? Or do I have to turn some "heroic" setting on?

Thanks

Riho06 · August 2007

Please tell me this is a joke, someone did the starter Island and decided that an entire game is far too easy to justify his time spent....

dalevi1 · August 2007

Really, I played EQ2 for a few months, not long, but long enough to know that newbie isle is not the measure by which NPCs in the game are measured. It did, very much sound like you yearn for old EQ, and mor power to you for that. It is a very well supported and played by many people. It is a good game and you should play it. As for this post, it seems nothing more than an excuse for you to return to your first love. I don't knock you for this by the way. Go play it and enjoy. If you are not ready to give something else a fair shake, you *should* stick with what you like. Best! and good hunting.

Flem · August 2007

Originally posted by Arclan

Originally posted by lomiller

Solo mobs are designed to be easy, especially early on in the game. At no point should you ever be loosing to a single even con solo encounter. As you advance there is more and more social aggro, and you get tougher and tougher varieties of solo mobs.

If you want a greater challenge, some lower level heroic content is designed to be soloable to a skilled and well equipped player. Exactly what you can solo depends somewhat on your class.

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I think this isn't my game if some mobs with even con are meant to be beatable 100% of the time. I mean, what's the point of it being even con?? Does not even mean 50-50 chance of either one winning? It should. If two competitors are evently matched in a sporting event, do you expect one to win 100% of the time? If so then I guess they wouldn't be evenly matched.

I have heard the term heroic, but I'm not sure how it affects gameplay. Are there specific heroic mobs? Or do I have to turn some "heroic" setting on?

Thanks

Not all even con mobs are 100% beatable, even con named mobs for instance always put up more of a challenge and their are no guarantees you will win.

As for heroics, these are defined by the toughness of the mob and are indicated in one of two ways. I use the old setting so for me it appears as arrows with the mobs name above its head. If the arrows point up they are harder and can be one, two or three arrows. Beating a 3^^^ mob can be a challenge in itself especially if its a named. Arrows can also point down indicating they are easier for their level, these are mostly found grouped.

Moirae · August 2007

rofl... Arclan.. so you didn't even experience a single level of the game and you think that you can judge? Its the Isle. The first 10 levels move incredibly fast because they are meant to teach you the game. Lvels 10-20 still move at a fair pace, but they really start to slow down after that. And you will die many many times in this game.

You haven't even started the game yet. If you're willing to give up so easily, then you might as well go elsewhere because the rest of the players would rather actually play with someone willing to give the game a chance.

Oireg · August 2007

Originally posted by Arclan

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I think this isn't my game if some mobs with even con are meant to be beatable 100% of the time. I mean, what's the point of it being even con?? Does not even mean 50-50 chance of either one winning? It should. If two competitors are evently matched in a sporting event, do you expect one to win 100% of the time? If so then I guess they wouldn't be evenly matched.
I have heard the term heroic, but I'm not sure how it affects gameplay. Are there specific heroic mobs? Or do I have to turn some "heroic" setting on?
Thanks

That early in the game even con encounters you should always win 1vs1. You can not make judgment on balance while still on the trial island, it was not designed to be a challenge. It is designed to get players familiar with the game...the quests, combat, crafting, the ui...etc, etc. Leave the trial island, you will find challenges pretty early on in EQ2.

Heroic, think elite mobs in WoW. EQ2 has different levels of heroic mobs, some only require a small group on up to a full raid. You can tell which type by how the mob cons.

Edit: typo

[Deleted User] · August 2007

The user and all related content has been deleted.

Arclan · August 2007

Originally posted by Moirae

rofl... Arclan.. so you didn't even experience a single level of the game and you think that you can judge? Its the Isle. The first 10 levels move incredibly fast because they are meant to teach you the game. Lvels 10-20 still move at a fair pace, but they really start to slow down after that. And you will die many many times in this game.

You haven't even started the game yet. If you're willing to give up so easily, then you might as well go elsewhere because the rest of the players would rather actually play with someone willing to give the game a chance.

Moirae this confirms what I suspected. EQ2 places no value on the 1 to 10 game; even the 1 to 20 game. I'm not interested in a game which "gives" you 20 levels and then starts to pose a challenge. But hey I'm glad you guys like it...

Thanks to the few who had constructive replies. And also to the trolls, because comic relief is always welcome.

vingvega · August 2007

Originally posted by Arclan

Originally posted by lomiller

Solo mobs are designed to be easy, especially early on in the game. At no point should you ever be loosing to a single even con solo encounter. As you advance there is more and more social aggro, and you get tougher and tougher varieties of solo mobs.

If you want a greater challenge, some lower level heroic content is designed to be soloable to a skilled and well equipped player. Exactly what you can solo depends somewhat on your class.

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I think this isn't my game if some mobs with even con are meant to be beatable 100% of the time. I mean, what's the point of it being even con?? Does not even mean 50-50 chance of either one winning? It should. If two competitors are evently matched in a sporting event, do you expect one to win 100% of the time? If so then I guess they wouldn't be evenly matched.

I have heard the term heroic, but I'm not sure how it affects gameplay. Are there specific heroic mobs? Or do I have to turn some "heroic" setting on?

Thanks

You didn't even get off the noob island? I bet WoW was your first MMO huh? Your post get 10/10 for stupidity.

lomiller · August 2007

Originally posted by Arclan

Originally posted by lomiller

Solo mobs are designed to be easy, especially early on in the game. At no point should you ever be loosing to a single even con solo encounter. As you advance there is more and more social aggro, and you get tougher and tougher varieties of solo mobs.

If you want a greater challenge, some lower level heroic content is designed to be soloable to a skilled and well equipped player. Exactly what you can solo depends somewhat on your class.

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I think this isn't my game if some mobs with even con are meant to be beatable 100% of the time. I mean, what's the point of it being even con?? Does not even mean 50-50 chance of either one winning? It should. If two competitors are evently matched in a sporting event, do you expect one to win 100% of the time? If so then I guess they wouldn't be evenly matched.

I have heard the term heroic, but I'm not sure how it affects gameplay. Are there specific heroic mobs? Or do I have to turn some "heroic" setting on?

Thanks

Even con (white, no arrow) is based on handcrafted equipment and apprentice II spells. Technically most of the early encounters are slightly below even because they have a single down arrow.

Non epic (raid) mobs range from three down arrows vvv to single up arrow ^. Weaker and stronger mobs can be linked together to provide similar challange. I.E. five vvv mobs are roughly as strong as a no arrow or ^ mob.

Any single mob with more then one up arrow will have a heroic flag. They are normally designed as group content but that could be anything from 3 poorly equipped players to 6 well equipped players. The “group” requirement isn’t strictly enforced though, and there was a deliberate effort to make it so a well equipped and well played character can solo green/blue heroic encounters. Some classes can do even better then that.

A heroic encounter can take many forms, from a couple dozen weak vvv mobs all linked together to three linked ^ mobs to a single ^^ or ^^^ mob and even a ^^^ named mob with friends. They all hit hard, however, so you’d be advised to test your limits on weaker mobs before going after them.

At your level most solo encounters are equivalent to one v (single down arrow) mob which means you are a little stronger then them. There are a few no arrow mobs and even some ^ mobs. beware of these, unless you have gear and spell upgrades you will have a lot of trouble with a yellow ^ mob. Without some serious upgrades you probabaly will not be able to handle heroics yet, but some clsses do better then others.

Caldrin · August 2007

"Moirae this confirms what I suspected. EQ2 places no value on the 1 to 10 game; even the 1 to 20 game. I'm not interested in a game which "gives" you 20 levels and then starts to pose a challenge. But hey I'm glad you guys like it...

Thanks to the few who had constructive replies. And also to the trolls, because comic relief is always welcome."

Nope the game does not give you 20 lvls you will die many times getting to this lvl..

I guess your not even willing to try so there we go..

cupertino · August 2007

Originally posted by vingvega

Originally posted by Arclan

Originally posted by lomiller

Solo mobs are designed to be easy, especially early on in the game. At no point should you ever be loosing to a single even con solo encounter. As you advance there is more and more social aggro, and you get tougher and tougher varieties of solo mobs.

If you want a greater challenge, some lower level heroic content is designed to be soloable to a skilled and well equipped player. Exactly what you can solo depends somewhat on your class.

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. I think this isn't my game if some mobs with even con are meant to be beatable 100% of the time. I mean, what's the point of it being even con?? Does not even mean 50-50 chance of either one winning? It should. If two competitors are evently matched in a sporting event, do you expect one to win 100% of the time? If so then I guess they wouldn't be evenly matched.

I have heard the term heroic, but I'm not sure how it affects gameplay. Are there specific heroic mobs? Or do I have to turn some "heroic" setting on?

Thanks

You didn't even get off the noob island? I bet WoW was your first MMO huh? Your post get 10/10 for stupidity.

Hey dont blame WoW for your EQ2 troll.. you made him you keep him.. not our fault.

cptnj4 · August 2007

Moirae this confirms what I suspected. EQ2 places no value on the 1 to 10 game; even the 1 to 20 game. I'm not interested in a game which "gives" you 20 levels and then starts to pose a challenge.

A. The game does not give you anything. It is still up to you to figure out where to quest, where to go for mobs, where to find the correct npcs, where to find crafting supplies, etc. You will die before you reach level 10 most likely.

B. You just disqualified virtually every mmo on the market since the beginning levels 1-10 are meant more as a learning curve than anything else.

C. Making any statement about gameplay after the little time you have put in is completely idiodic. You killed what, 1 mob? And it was most likely the training mobs that don't even fight back so that complete noobs can understand how to target mobs and control their skills. You have made too many assumptions about the game. Yes it is easier to gain levels in the beginning, yes there have been many changes since release that made this game more casual/solo friendly, but it is still a great game.

If you have not tried it, try eve. Completely different style, but maybe more up your alley.

WSIMike · August 2007

Umm... wow.

I'm not one to knock people for finding a game isn't for them, however, this is a clear exception.

To the OP:

I notice you're only responding to the posts that you feel (after putting your own twist on them) "justify" your not playing the game, because it's not worthy of your sense of challenge or something, but you seem to completely avoid all the comments that accurately state the truth:

The starter isle is intended to do one thing - Introduce you to the game. It gives you the chance to get used to the controls, the interface, the combat system, seeking out and finding NPCs then interacting with them, doing quests, doing collections, crafting and so forth. That is the ultimate goal of the starter isle.

I'm not sure what you were expecting... an epic clash of biblical proportions against a level 1 or 2 mob?

That said, the starter isle does pose some challenges and you may well find yourself either running for your life or dying on your feet more than once before you leave there, especially when you start to take on group encounters of 2 or more mobs. There's at least two different fights I can think of that, at equal level, will give you one hell of a challenge and almost require a party to complete.

Ask people who try to do some of the questlines even pre-20 where the entire party wipes because of the challenge if they think the game is too easy.

The catch is... You have to actually give the game enough of a chance to experience that. And this seems to be your problem. You give the game a "one mob" chance and then decide that the entire game is on easy mode based on that. Believe me... it is *not* an easy game. Of course, it can be as easy or difficult as you choose to make it.

Like I said, I respect anyone's decision to not play a game because it's just not what they're looking for. However, in this case, the ridicule you're getting is not entirely uncalled for. Your reasoning, your complete refusal to give the game a fair trial and your presumption to know what the entire game is like based on killing 1 mob is rather absurd.

observer · August 2007

OP is lying, because there aren't any gnolls on the island of refuge. Maybe he mixed them up with goblins, but i highly doubt it.

Just another troll, just another day.

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