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Would like the thoughts and ideas from EQII players.
nolf
Member UncommonPosts: 869
For some reason, my interest has been peaked for EQII. I've got the fantasy hankering, and I wanted to lay out my gaming preferences, and ask a few questions to get some opinions from EQII players. I never played EQ, so I'm not 100% sure what to expect.
Right now I feel like roleplaying in the fantasy realm. I've been playing mostly sci-fi mmorpgs, and I do enjoy them, but lately, they have left me wanting. I do like the prospect of getting lost in the world I am playing, trying to become a "part" of it during the times I play.
In order to feel immeresed, there are obviously some things I need for that. The community may be the single most important aspect for me. If I log in, and just see a bunch of jerks running around trying to make life miserable for everyone playing, I won't get into the game. I played SWG for about 8 months off and on, and this was the straw that broke the camels back.
In an honest light, how is the EQII community?
I like to journey. To feel like my character is part of an epic. What kind of ongoing story/world does EQII offer? What is the backdrop for whats going on? I have a hard time roleplaying or feeling immeresed without a storyline in the backround. Like I said, I never played EQ.
What is going on in the world of EQII that my character would care about?
I don't need a PERFECT game, but the flaws shouldn't take away from the fun. The game should have content content content. Not a bunch of different dungeons that are all essentially the same, or just different MOBs to kill. I need to feel like I'm taking part of the world, and that means there needs to be a lot to do, big and small.
What can I expect from EQII in this respect?
I've got the crafting hankering again. I do enjoy a good crafting system (SWGs was great), but I can't necessarily dedicate 40 hours a week to the game.
Is there crafting in EQII? If so, how much time should I expect to invest towards it in order to have fun with it?
My last concern, is more specific to this particular game. I am EXTREMELY hesitant to invest any time or money into a game run by SOE. I lived through the debacle of SWG, and lets face it, SOE doesn't exactley have the best reputation for when it comes to customer service, or not running games into the ground.
Reputations aren't everything, I'd just like your thoughts on SOEs handling of EQII.
Thanks ahead of time for your thoughts. I do look forward to being able to partake in the fantasy world again with good people, and just kick back and have fun.
I really hope that *insert game name here* will be the first game to ever live up to all of its pre-release promises, maintain a manageable hype level and have a clean release. Just don't expect me to hold my breath.
Comments
The community is FANTASTIC alot better then most games i have played (Yes, including WoW) and the few jerks you do see, can be added to the ignore list for all time
I wouldn't do too good explaining the story, someone else can get that
It has a ton of content, when i login i try and decide what i want to do, get a group and go grind a bit, work on some of my many quests that are pileing up, do some crafting (more to come) go exploreing, or just screwing off
As for crafting, it takes about as much time as leveling, you are two classes in this game, you choose your adventuring class, monk,warrior whatever, and you can also choose your crafting class, the crafting system is a bit more indepth then other games, as you cant be all the classes with one character, making you need the crafting community, (if you make a stack of A for me i will make a stack of B for you..) and so on, the crafted goods are actully as good if not better then the goods you get as loot, so crafting is a huge aspect in this game (my guild has more crafters then adventurers..)
SOE is doing an allright job, customer service is ok, still a few bugs, nothing too drastic though, all and all it is a very immersive fun MMORPG, allthough it does take alot more time then some other games.
Calamities are of two kinds: Misfortune to ourselves and good fortune to others
Thanks for the reply Ducky. I'm glad to hear that crafting is a big part of the game, and that you can craft even with a fighting character. That's a HUGE plus in my book!!
Thanks again, duck!
Can't wait to hear some good posts about the immersion and RP factors as well. Keep 'em comin!
I really hope that *insert game name here* will be the first game to ever live up to all of its pre-release promises, maintain a manageable hype level and have a clean release. Just don't expect me to hold my breath.
EQ2 is, in my opinion, like SWG with content. Yeah, that says it.
Plusses
Nice graphics
Stats are simple, few and well-thought out
Combat is fast
Spell/skill upgrade through use of scrolls is pretty cool
Talking NPC's
Quests more easily accessed
Cons (again, in my opinion)
Quests are too easy and rewards too trivial in many cases. Perhaps fewer, more meaningful quests would have been better
Talking NPC's (I found Freeport's NPC's too over-the-top to tolerate. In a city full of armed mercenaries, would an unarmed baker be rude to a customer carrying a two-handed sword? I think not. They should react with fear and obedience, if anything. Instead they come off as jaded New Yorkers from a TV sitcom)
Only two cities to start from: Qeynos and Freeport (might as well call them POK I and POK II)
Linear zone layout (sure some side dungeon zones exist, but mostly it's Isle of Refuge, then Qeynos, then Antonica, then Thundering Steppes, then it opens up a bit more)
No racial abilities (other than some minor options to select some at higher level)
Combat is too fast (think DAOC combat turned up a notch)
Shared Group Death Exp Penalty (some tanks like this, but I ate 8 deaths of other people the other night. One group I joined, someone died before I even got to where they were, and I got an exp penalty for that. I quit the qroup immediately. The idea behind this is that everyone works to keep everyone else alive and the tank doesn't suffer all the burden of a bad encounter. The actual practice is after one or two deaths, disgruntled group members split up and go their separate ways.)
Music (a con for me. Well-orchestrated, but has none of that magic the early EQ midi tunes had. Still hoping we hear the Kelethin tree music or the Halas arena music again. Heck, even Crystal Caverns had a nice gnomish type tune).
GRIND (it's back and now you work at hit instead of being able to get up and grab a cup of coffee)
Summary
If you're a MMORPG addict like me, you're going to play something. This game has some challenge to it. But to me, it's like sitting down to a dinner you don't really like, but you're hungry anyway.
I wish:
They had redone EQ with these graphics and mechanics. Five hundred years later doesn't have to mean a "Shattering". They could have ditched the moon and POP, and assumed through wars the races retreated to their home cities, then started to span out and reexplore again.
I've been thinking there are two types of fantasy buffs (and gamers). Those who liked the Lord of the Rings with its dark majesty and "times are passing" sort of feel, and those who preferred The Hobbit with it's whimsical beauty, adventure and fun feel. The first seems like EQ2, the latter like good old pre-Luclin EQLive.
I like the breakdown on the pros and cons, thanks billius!!!! Its great to hear both sides of the story!
You able to fill me in on the EQII world/story at all?
Thanks again bill!
I really hope that *insert game name here* will be the first game to ever live up to all of its pre-release promises, maintain a manageable hype level and have a clean release. Just don't expect me to hold my breath.
Sure. They have more detail on their website; a series of chapters that link together. But the just of it is the high level players from EQLive bashed and trashed the Gods' avatars and planes too much and ended up angering the greater powers. Punishment was in order, and the Snow Orcs trashed Halas and sent their people running through Black Burrow to get to Qeynos. The Crushbone Orcs rose up and challenged Kelethin, and the Gnomes and Dwarves came to the rescue, and there were a few epic battles. The Froglocks were trapped in Guk, etc.... The moon blew up and "shattered" the world. Some continents sank, some were broken. All-in-all, surviving races took refuge in either Qeynos or Freeport. Qeynos = good races, Freeport = evil races.
There's more too it, but those are the basics as I understand them. Some of the "old world" may still exist.
SPOILER
I have done searches in-game and spotted folks who tell me Rivervale still exists, but it is small and with few Halflings left. So some of the old world is around. Other parts have been overrun and turned into havens for undead and such.
The whole set-up for the game is logical, my main beef is with everyone starting at the same home. I sort of liked how in EQLive, I made a Barbarian and never knew what an elf looked like until I ventured out. Trekking to different cities and cultures is kind of a staple for fantasy adventure tales. But, they (Sony) did what they did, and until EQ3 comes out, I'll likely play EQ2.
Billius, thats EXACTLEY what I was lookin' for!
Thanks a million! I think I'm gonna go get the game this afternoon.
Info was much appreciated!
I really hope that *insert game name here* will be the first game to ever live up to all of its pre-release promises, maintain a manageable hype level and have a clean release. Just don't expect me to hold my breath.
In the vein of Ditech commercials
Wow employee " Doh We lost another one to EQ2"
lol. I most certainly considered WoW, because I do enjoy PvP (but dont NEED it). But after scoping each game's forums, I couldn't help but think how much WoW's community reminded me of SWG's, which I didn't enjoy.
Each one has its pros and cons of course, but yeah, I went with EQII in the end.
In fact, the wife ran out to get it for me as a Christmas Eve present, so I should be on in an hour or two!
I really hope that *insert game name here* will be the first game to ever live up to all of its pre-release promises, maintain a manageable hype level and have a clean release. Just don't expect me to hold my breath.
mom got it for me for christmas as i had a huge star by it on my list and it seems theres a box that resembles the apperance size...plus i think i'm gonna return this Spellforce:Order of Dawn game...anyone know about it?
Anyhow thanks for the insight as well...love going to posts like this and it has all the info i need...
See ya all in the world.
Oh and another question about leveling...can anyone tell me how the leveling features work in the game?
I wouldnt dismiss WOW because of community...
It is in fact a solid game with beautiful world graphics and miles of style. If it is community you are looking for and especially if you plan to RP you should check out the RP server. There is a great community there and the devs do a good job at policing it and keeping it RP centric.
Just my 2 cents. EQ2 is probably good too but I cant feel immersed in a game that has potential for conflict but no PVP.
Alright listen up you primitive screwheads.....This is my BOOMSTICK!
Critical thinking is a desire to seek, patience to doubt, fondness to meditate, slowness to assert, readiness to consider, carefulness to dispose and set in order; and hatred for every kind of imposture.
Thanks for all the info everyone, I've been playing all evening, and I'm 100% impressed and having fun.
ATM, I'm on the most highly populated RPing server, Antonia Bayle (not 100% sure of spelling).
I pretty much joined that out of lack of reason to join anywhere else.
Where does everyone play on here?
I really hope that *insert game name here* will be the first game to ever live up to all of its pre-release promises, maintain a manageable hype level and have a clean release. Just don't expect me to hold my breath.
I play on Najena, and that server is pretty full too.
Not much of an RP'er though, so dunno what to tell you about that stuff.
Wish you the best of luck. Best advice I can give is to talk to other people, find others who like to play the same style you do, join their guild or create one with your friends, and you'll have a great time.
FYI, SWG is, in my opinion, the worst game SOE ever put out. Glad you're having fun with EQ2.
Habit is not to be flung out the window by any man, but coaxed down the stairs one step at a time. - Mark Twain