Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
EQ2 or WOW while Solo
NasMan
Member Posts: 7
I've been playing EQ2 since release. I'm a level 27 wizard and have enjoyed playing the game. It does have good graphics, interface and quests etc...The only problem I'm having with the game is that it is totally geared toward groups.
Throughout all my levels, there's only been a small number of things I can fight (solo) to gain xp at that particular level. Sure I can group up and fight tough mobs and get good xp, but most of the time I like to solo. With the exception of just a small number of mobs, I can't beat anything by myself. If the mob is level 18 (grey to me) I can be it. But even a grey mob level 20 with 2 up arrows beats me. Most every mob seems to be either 1 or 2 up arrows or is grouped with others so they are very hard to beat solo.
I've got a pretty good robe and most all Adept 1 spells.
I can't even explore unless I'm in a group because everything is so tough to me. Everyone knows that it is tough to explore or do what you want to with a group.
I guess my situation is...I like to primarily solo in a game. I've heard that WOW is good for soloing, but I haven't heard anything much as far as how WOW stands up to EQ2 in graphics, interface...quests or just plain fun.
Could someone that has played both games please give me an unbiased evaluation so that I don't waste another $50.
Please...no Fanboi stuff...
Thanks
Comments
this is more of a personal question than anything. while WoW is deffinitely better for soloing, its really a personal decision whether you like its style or not. personally, I think the graphics are great. They aren't as photorealistic as EQ2's, but they arent MEANT to be. its more of a cartoony look, but they did it very well. it really flows with the warcraft style. also, there arent zones like there are in EQ2, its just one big open world. also, the animations are very smooth, they dont require as much nearly power to render well, and the environments all just as beautifully made as EQ2's. for the interface, I personally prefer EQ2, but WOW's is still really good. the ONLY thing (seriously, the ONLY reason) i like EQ2's more is because you can have more than one hotkey bar. its actually quite similar to EQ2's in every other way except it has a minimap because the main map takes up the whole screen. as for the questing, heres another thing i would give to eq2, but the questing in WoW is still very very fun and it can be more rewarding at times. and for the fun factor, yeah, WoW was meant to be fun, and it is.
as i said its really a very personal decision, but seeing as you prefer soloing i would suggest wow. but don't take my word for it, try the game out yourself before you buy it if you can.
hope that helps!
Schutzbar - Human Warrior - Windrunner Alliance - World of Warcraft
Nihilanth - Kerra Paladin - Blackburrow - EverQuest II
XBL Gamertag - Eagle15GT
I would tend to agree. If soloing is important to you, WoW is definatley the better choice.
I have to chime in here since I've been playing EQ2 since launch and just recently bought WoW.
First off as far as the interface goes, I found an add-on called Cosmos (cosmosui.org) that will let you customize the not-so-customizable WoW interface. It lets you add extra hot bars, shows item buffs, timers, etc. It's great!
So that rules that part out.
Next, I really like EQ2. and I really like WoW. I really like to solo a lot...coming from being a primarily console rpg player and these being my first mmorpgs.
I have a powerful computer so the EQ2 req's are not an issue for me, so I wont go into that aspect of the game. I think the grfx are amazing, but I have recently hit lvl 22 and am reazlizing a few things about EQ2:
-I like to explore too! that's a big part of RPg's:exploration. But I'm starting to see that there isn't a whole lot to the world. At first it seems like there's a lot to see, but honestly, doing the same dungeon for several levels and then going to the next one which looks just like with higher level mobs is NOT my idea of exploration (Down Below to Vermin's Snye). The same with BlackBurrow: way too small and not a whole lot to it. There really isn't a whole lot of "nooks and crannies" to find within the world as you're walking around.
-Soloing: this is a heated topic on the EQ2 boards. I have been able to solo and take on higher than me level mobs only because I'm a Fury, so I have my personal healing spells. I want to try a mage class, but I just don't want to spend a lot of time grouping with *gasp* "strangers" and have to do what *they* want to do. They say they're going to add more solo content, so we'll see exactly what they add. What NEEDS to be done is to add more solo mobs and screw the whole 2 up/down arrows crap.
I'm blabbing, let me get to the point: I find that you can solo quite easily in WoW. The quests are fun and pretty much standard (kill x amount of time,etc), but you also get a little story with stuff and some also that pertain to your class. In EQ2, you can solo if you pick some kind of healing class (Druid,etc). The whole group thing is awful I think. In WoW, all mobs are solo and they are everywhere: what I mean is- I have never found a shortage of something to kill, and they always respawn quickly...even named mobs!! (what a concept!) Even in the noob areas when there's lots of people, it seems like the game adds more mobs, and keeps respawning stuff, so you never have to wait for more than a few small minutes.
In EQ2, there is not enough of the solo mobs, and some take forever to respawn, and that's not even talking about the named ones! And even the solo mobs with the arrows up are too powerful.
What I found is that leveling up is pretty darn quick in WoW, whereas in EQ2 I feel like it's r-e-a-l-l-y sloooooowwww. I bought WoW, because I felt like I had hit a wall at 20 in EQ2. It was becoming more harder for me to log in. I still love the game, and I even bought the CE and paid for 6 months, so I don't plan on quitting it. But I just needed something for a "quick fix". In WoW, I can go in, do a few simple things and feel like I accomplished something. Heck I even crafted my first item today and it was a snap! In EQ2 just to craft 1 item (Elm Strong box) took forevah! (the many steps,etc)
And it IS fun to play WoW. EQ2 is fun too, but in a "you gotta sit at the computer for a long while to get something done" kinda fun.
Combat is fast too. Death is quick and easy to get back on your feet. Character customization is a little slightly limited, but not as bad as FF11.
Phew! Sorry, didnt mean to spew all this out, but I just had to get my say in.
Bottom line: WoW is fun and defeintely for solo people (like me and you). EQ2 is good if you can get a good group or guild, otherwise it's very slow moving up.
I hope that helps!
WOW for solo play. EQ2 for group. Neither as a long-term MMORPG. Waiting for Vanguard to come out. Need challenge, freedom and immersion in a MMORPG. WOW will give you freedom, EQ2 will give you challenge, and neither will really, in my opinion, give you immersion or that magical feel that the game world of EQ1 had (and still has to some degree).
WoW has been geared toward solo play, so you can get all the way to the top soloing. If you like to solo, you'll probably like it.
Try reading a bit about a game before you buy it next time, instead of faulting EQ2 for your own lack of initiative. Anyone from the beta could have told you it was group-focused, and that information was available long before it hit the shelves.
Habit is not to be flung out the window by any man, but coaxed down the stairs one step at a time. - Mark Twain
And another thing; I explore all the time. I have a 25 Templar and I've been all over Nektulos forest wandering around checking stuff out. Yes it's dangerous, very much so. But I haven't died doing it yet. I have died in TS exploring, though. Some people call that excitement. You whine that it's too hard. There's another EQ2 critical post on here complaining that the game is too easy. Don't bother telling us what's wrong with the game if you've got some weird personal issue of what you want in an MMO and EQ2 doesn't have it. EQ2 has covered a lot of bases. You CAN solo, but no, not everywhere, and no, it's not meant to be the focus. Why every problem has to be the game's fault is beyond me.
WoW is a great game, most of my friends play it. I happen not to like it based on personal taste, but I'm not going to sit around and complain that I wasted money finding that out when I could very well have read the beta journals to see if what I wanted out of it was in it.
You can solo Fable all the way through too. You should check that game out.
Habit is not to be flung out the window by any man, but coaxed down the stairs one step at a time. - Mark Twain
Yep if you want to solo and your choice is WoW or EQ2 then go WoW I say.Soloing is much easier there.And there is more mobs geared towards the solo player there for sure.
Though you do have games like SWG where you can solo even better then both of this games and basically do everything ingame solo if you pick the right combo.
Thanks everyone for all the helpful info...
Noubourne, I did read extensively about EQ2 before buying it my friend. I kept up to date with it for months before buying. Most every review I read said that you could easily solo up to lev 20, but level 20 was about the highest reviewer level I was able to find. No other reviewer I found was higher than than that.
Also, supposedly Sony was going to put in additional solo content. Yes, I knew the game was geared toward grouping, but imo it's about 90% geared toward grouping...more than what I initially read.
You've misconstrued what I'm saying...I'm not faulting anything. I'm not whining. I'm not complaining about EQ2. I like EQ2. I'm describing it through my eyes in order to find out information on WOW.
Describing...big difference.
Chill...
Yep I think you made a good post.
They are adding solo content but you should remember EQ series is geared towards high end raids and exploring high level zones thru co operation.
I mean sure SoE said you can solo till 50 and they did not lie to be fair.There is the ability to solo to 50 here.
But most of the fun in EQ2 lies in same way as EQ1 which is raids/groups.
So really I doubt you be happy in EQ2 in the long run if you want to focus on soloing.
I will not go into a lenghty debate which game is better EQ2,EQlive,WoW,SWG,DAoC etc etc.
But for the pure fact you want to spent mst of your time just soloing then i highly recommend first SWG because you can see the high content and kill the high end mobs solo and pretty much do everything the game has to offer solo .
Then WoW because you can easily solo till 50 .
There is no reason to bash someone's playstyle.
I think it really comes down to your play preference. If you like
complex involve (time comsuming) games, then EQ2 is the way to go. If
you like fast, simple (at least on the surface) and you don't have alot
of time, go with WoW. I play EQ2 mainly because all my friends do, but I
still maintain that WoW is the best MMORPG ever made.
I agree. Nothing has sparked that "magic" for me since the passing of Ultima Online of EverQuest. I just hope that it will eventually return, but, I honestly don't know if Vanguard will return that.