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Is there any role playing in this game at all?
Ixil
Member Posts: 10
I am still struggling to find any inspiration to play this game.
First, my friend and I are on a role playing server. For me to play a role I need some motivation. In WoW it is simple. You have the horde who has some land and the Alliance who has the other bits. Each one is trying to destroy the other. THAT my friend is motivation for me as a troll to kill any dark elves lurking around the Barrens. It is the reason the horde is busy trying to cut down all the damned trees in Avondale forest... and the reason that the dark elves are trying to prevent us from doing that hehe.
EQ had racial animosity. That was motivation. But in this new EQ? What is the threat? Why is there good and evil if they do not impact each other in any meaningful way? Why are there races when they do not seem to affect anyone's skill either? I am just muddled by the fact that you can not really get all hyped up about some natural disaster.
For me, it has always been myself bringing my enjoyment to the game. But... in order to do that I need to have at least some smattering of framework to hinge my story on.
Game dynamics have never really mattered to me one way or another as long as there is a story. I know that most people don't seem to care much about the story but I do.
Can you help me see what I am missing here?
Thanks
Comments
Just dont play the game then.
The only PvP I like is open PvP, that gives me a motivation to become better and do better. I really wouldnt want to be in a contested area, like in WoW, and a group of hordes come in on our group while we are in battle and they kill us.
I really dont care about the story, I think EQ2 has a different type of roleplaying then WoW. In this game if you want to roleplay, you actually role play. Like dungeons and dragons, if you dont like that then dont play this game.
EQ2 Qeynos Guild- http://www.imperium-arcanum.com
So for you PvP is your roleplaying motivation? Part of roleplaying is using your imagination, and leading by example in game. The only difference between WoW and EQ2 for the roleplay flavor is PvP.
In EQ2 you have good vs evil, you have the betrayal quests to change faction, yeah you dont get killed, if your good or evil, and visit the opposite city. Have you read the EQ2 storyline? Read the journals on eq2player prior to the game launch telling the story of how the moon went boom, the Gods being pissed at the mortals humbling them. That can be the stuff of roleplay.
I wanna say this first because it's been brought up before but I always forget to say something about it. *I* think that the reason why the races are all so similar is because there are just sooooo many people who like to cry and complain if someone has an advantage that they don't, that they finally decided to just throw out all differences altogether so that no one could cry about their Human who doesn't have ultravision, their gnome who can't regen like the trolls, their level 18 warrior who can't swim as fast as a newborn Iksar. People have spent so much time crying about "special abilities" that they finally made a river a tears and washed all the differences away. But that's just my opinion, so take it or leave it if you may.
As far as the being motivated part, I can definitely feel you there. After almost 2 months of playing I am finally starting to feel the burnout on this game, although I still very much enjoy it. I remember way back when reading ads from Sony about how "your actions will impact players!" and all that. I haven't seen anything like that at all. Not even an event of some sorts to try and support it either. Of course my 2 toons are both only mid 20's so it is too soon for me to complain about things like that. I'll assume for now that they are waiting for me at a higher level. I know my necro has already picked up some prestige points or whatever they are from his society.
The only thing that has kept me motivated really though is that I play this game with a bunch of my friends over teamspeak, so it's playing a good game AND hanging out with my friends who have moved to different parts of the country, who I don't get too see too often anymore. Playing on teamspeak also makes it a lot easier to execute some good group ability HO's.
If you can't find any inspiration to play this game, then don't. If you like the horde vs. the alliance setting, then switch to WoW. I mean, you're right in that so far there has been basically zero story in this game. So just move to one that has it. And since you said game dynamics don't matter as long as there is a story, it should be no problem for you to switch to WoW.
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No.. PvP is one motivation for role play.
I think part of my problem is that I did enjoy some of the role play in EQ and it was largely based on the racial conflicts. I would like to find some rationale to base my story on before I get too involved. And yes, I did read the story on the EQ page but it left me wondering more than giving me some inspiration.
I do enjoy PvP though as a female and an older gamer I really am terrible at it.
I have tried to get into some of the quests but maybe I have been unlucky in finding those that have any real interest.
I am not someone who likes to haggle and bargain and crafting just seems too time consuming for someone who really likes to explore. (being stuck in a basement sort of reminds me of all the poor years I spent actually living in one...)
I would prefer some framework for establishing my goals other than just killing poor helpless creatures over and over again.
Sorry if I offend anyone. I am just asking for help here.
Ixi
God does no one read about the story of EQ2, how can you say there is NO story at all??? There is a huge story line, you just need to get the right quests of even go on www.everquest2.com and read about them.
And you can impact the world, you can do epic quests. The froglock is a locked race until someone discovers the area or item or completes the quest to save the froglocks from their doom. If you are in your mid 20 levels, do you think you will change a massive world as a newbie? You actually have to get to those higher level places and discover more. Im so sick of people saying this game sucks when they only have a lvl 10 or 20, you know nothing about any game at that point. I made a mistake to quit L2 at lvl 23 because I didnt like the game that much, when later on the castesiege and PvP really looked fun.
So my advice to you is to keep playing the game, and be competitive. Go out in Norrath and make a difference. I really dont care, I just play the game lol. But it seems that you guys do.
EQ2 Qeynos Guild- http://www.imperium-arcanum.com
I am playing WoW. But the problem with WoW is that while there is great motivation for role play... most of the players seem to be Diablo preteens. Finding friends has been a real chore.
WoW is a very fun game but I will be playing EQ to be with a special friend who won't play WoW with me unless I play EQ with him!
I must lack imagination to come up with motivation.
As a drama minor in college I learned that conflict is the basis of drama. You can base your emotional motivation on conflict be it personal or group etc.
Thanks for the comments... I hope this will stimulate some reasonable conversation and not flame wars over which game is best.
Both seem to be able to attract followings. That is something.
Ixi
I just wrote a big post, but it got deleted
The site says you have a rare chance of this happening, but it happens alot.
Well anyways, there is alot of quests that you can do to impact the world, like you can save the Froglocks so people can start to play that race. You jsut have to figure out how to do it.
Ixil, what level are you. I have a feeling you are a low level. You cannot judge a game and its content at lvl 10 lol. Give the game some time and get over lvl 35 and see what you think.
You can impact the world, and at lvl 20ish you wont do it. Im sick of people bashing a game that they have hardely played. SoE isnt going to let you change the world at lvl 10, and they wont just give you a quest to do so. You need to get out in Norrath and discover the secrets.
EQ2 Qeynos Guild- http://www.imperium-arcanum.com
What??? MY post wasnt deleted lol. I looked here 5 mins ago and it was gone. Sorry if I restated some stuff in my last post.
EQ2 Qeynos Guild- http://www.imperium-arcanum.com
I've heard people say this before about other games, and I disagree entirely. I think you can judge a game and its content at lower levels. In fact, a game's content has to be engaging from the get go or it's going to suffer. If the game is a dud until level 35, then why they hell am I playing at all?
I think EQII is loaded with content for all levels and has a ton of quests, but if people aren't enjoying the game at low levels, they have every right to criticize. Just because they haven't powergamed their way to 35+ in a month doesn't make their opinion any less relevant.
I recently submitted a review of EQII that will be published shortly, I was only able to take my character to 19 because of time restrictions. In that time I got a great overall feel for the game. You may disagree with my opinions - that's fair, but to say that because I didn't play for 10 hours a day I don't understand the game is ludicrous.
The bottom line is how fun is a game? If people aren't having fun in their teens, what will motivate them to stick around to their mid thirties? Not much that I can see.
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You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike.
MMORPG.com Staff
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Old timer.
Well.. you are right of course... I am a level 13 currently. I found this progress to be so tedious that I was ready to quit and uninstall on the spot. The irony of course is that I spent as much time as possible during the days following the 'big crash' when the experience was doubled. And that worked against me cause I was so discouraged that when I thought of how long it would take with experience at regular levels I just foundered.
I played EQ from open beta and was a guide even. I quit just before the first expansion came out largely because I grew to hate the fact that I was always having to make new groups of friends who constantly out leveled me. My primary server was Rallos Zek btw. Not that it means anything but at least there was a hella lot of conflict!
Thanks for the input btw. It all helps.
Ixi
Yes you can judge a game for some of the content, but not all. He is talking about ROLEPLAYING, you cannot see how you will impact a world at lvl 15. If you didnt make a difference in the world by lvl 20 and get pissed off at the game, thats stupid. The actually hard quests come later on just as all other games do. You get the kill x amount of mobs and you will get this reward that much at lvl 35.
EQ2 Qeynos Guild- http://www.imperium-arcanum.com
EQ2 just doesnt sound right for you then. If you think its hard to level and dont like to, then why should you play? I havent found it to be hard at all, im a lvl 16 warrior and I have thought all of my groups have been very fun. You are grouping right? I didnt like in WoW having to solo all the time and do endless amounts of quests, and thats why I dont play that game. Maybe you shouldnt play EQ2.
EQ2 Qeynos Guild- http://www.imperium-arcanum.com
I will be very interested in reading your review.
For now the reason for me staying is the love of my friend. I can hang some story around that even if he is a smelly little dorf and I am a snooty high elf.
If it gets him to play WoW every other day without gritting his teeth over the juvenile humor (actually some of the humor in WoW is pretty sophisticated) and getting upset when he gets ganked... then I will have achieved something I guess. (again... I am not turning this into a WoW vs EQ discussion as they both are very different games.)
People are at the heart of why I play MMORPGs to begin with.
Ixi
I had this probem with my old friend who I used to play mmorpgs with. He would end up getting mad at the game we would play and he would switch to another game. All my friends now play Tibia, but its kinda nice not play with them in EQ2. You have more freedom to do what you want to do. If I was playing with my friends I would have my 10 character by now lol. When I did play with them, too much gossip would go around or backstabing and pking eachother. Maybe its just because im 15 heh.
EQ2 Qeynos Guild- http://www.imperium-arcanum.com
Does anyone actually roleplay anywhere. I can go for years and about all I ever see is some ogre speaking ogrespeak. Do you really kill people because they're evil or good, or just because they're the guys trying to kill you. Yeah let's all go defend that pixel city on the left.
Ixil, have you tried to make new friends on the server you play on, to help make the game more fun, and something to look forward to ? If you only have a friend or two to enjoy the experience with , and there not on to play, then yeah, I can see you game losing a bit of the luster.
Most mmorpgs imho are best enjoyed with a group of friends, to help role-play, support, and experience the joys, and the pains the game offers. Kinda of hollow when you don't have that.
Ok... well that one posted.
Yes, my friend joined a guild and they are all really nice people who have gone out of their way to help me get started. That being said... they do not role play at all in guild chat and since they all are in their 30's already I do not see much of them in game.
I also feel like my feelings towards EQ are a betrayal of their friendship.
My problem stems I think from the fact that I was a beta tester in EQ and loved it until Sony bought out Verant, invented the nerf... and perfected the 'ding'. I just feel like I have entered the twilight zone every time I log in.
I do prefer the saturated colors and the expressive characters in WoW. I just wish there was more of a community that I could relate to there. I have moved to a rp server in WoW. Maybe this will give me more of what I am looking for.
My friend and I have agreed to try to play EQ and WoW every other night for a bit and see if that works.
I would have to agree with you mostly on that. I will admit even for me its hard to roleplay in an MMORPG. For one half the time you do it the non roleplayers are at ya, plus half the time the recipient wont roleplay back.
Not to mention its hard to stay roleplay in a game and still be efficient and social in group talk and such. I have a hard time switching from speaking in character to telling everyone I need to be right back, I gotta make a run to taco bell. MMORPG's just do not put me in the mood to roleplay like Pen and Paper games have since I started playing them a long time ago.
Most of your in character stuff is talk back and forth with an NPC and that has slowly degraded roleplay in MMO's over the years. EQ 2 as great as it may be probally tears roleplay down another few notches because it does it all for you in that respect.
Now I understand completely that you have to do the roleplay, you have to start it, you have to create it, but to me trying to roleplay in an MMORPG anymore is like walking into a doctors office and roleplaying AD&D there, it just don't fit.
I can roleplay very well with the best of them, but I can't just switch in and out, I can't get myself into the mood or the character that way.
- Fadeus Hawkwood
- Scaris
"What happened to you, Star Wars Galaxies? You used to look like Leia. Not quite gold bikini Leia (more like bad-British-accent-and-cinnamon-bun-hair Leia), but still Leia nonetheless. Now you look like Chewbacca." - Computer Gaming World
I would have to agree with you mostly on that. I will admit even for me its hard to roleplay in an MMORPG. For one half the time you do it the non roleplayers are at ya, plus half the time the recipient wont roleplay back.
Not to mention its hard to stay roleplay in a game and still be efficient and social in group talk and such. I have a hard time switching from speaking in character to telling everyone I need to be right back, I gotta make a run to taco bell. MMORPG's just do not put me in the mood to roleplay like Pen and Paper games have since I started playing them a long time ago.
Most of your in character stuff is talk back and forth with an NPC and that has slowly degraded roleplay in MMO's over the years. EQ 2 as great as it may be probally tears roleplay down another few notches because it does it all for you in that respect.
Now I understand completely that you have to do the roleplay, you have to start it, you have to create it, but to me trying to roleplay in an MMORPG anymore is like walking into a doctors office and roleplaying AD&D there, it just don't fit.
I can roleplay very well with the best of them, but I can't just switch in and out, I can't get myself into the mood or the character that way.
- Fadeus Hawkwood
Well... my characters all have animal needs. When I need a break I say I need to find a spot behind a tree or such... or I need a wash up in a nearby stream. Same with eating etc. If I lose connection... I faint or my soul takes flight... AFK and someone says something... oh... I was just day dreaming.
I don't really get this criticism, but then I played D&D a lot when I was younger.
Read the lore, if that doesn't do it for you, maybe the game isn't for you.
As far as motivation to roleplay, I just don't get it. Roleplaying is more about interacting with other players and the stories they have made up than it is about interacting with the game. But all the races do have roots in EQ and the lore that went with it. Maybe you should check some of that out to help you think of stuff.
Habit is not to be flung out the window by any man, but coaxed down the stairs one step at a time. - Mark Twain
I really don't think you got what I was saying, I answered most of what you said before you even said it in my post, as for EQ, I have been playing it since release, I know all the histories. That was not my point.
I sat and put a whole paragraph in on player interraction, maybe you should read my post again.
- Fadeus Hawkwood
- Scaris
"What happened to you, Star Wars Galaxies? You used to look like Leia. Not quite gold bikini Leia (more like bad-British-accent-and-cinnamon-bun-hair Leia), but still Leia nonetheless. Now you look like Chewbacca." - Computer Gaming World