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As the title says... what game do you think is worth my time?
Pro´s and con´s are welcome.
I played Vanguard at launch and want to return to that kind of game. I am sick of the standard themeparks the devs are throwing at us but the same time dissapointed in the Sandbox games out there. Their level of graphics seriously ruin my immersion.
I never tried the EQ series so let me know guys!
Comments
Both are very good, but EQ2 gets more updates so i would reccomend it. Vanguard does have a 14 day trail though you might check it out also.
MAGA
Vanguard is F2P, been a few months now.
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Are combat really that bad in EQ2?
And i know Vanguard does not have any PvP at all (Played on the FFA PvP server back then) but does EQ have it?
I love the world of Vanguard, but to be honest the games offers nothing - you can just quest and that's it. No additional goals to achieve. Housing serves no purpose. All players from the same class are basically clones, as there are no talents/alternative advancement.
EQ2 has much more fun, additional stuff to do, the alternative advancement system is very deep, no other MMO gets close. PVP is relatively fun, as it is open world and you may loot money from people, so there is some adrenaline to it. BUT there is one big issue, which to me is instancing.
Both games have terrible populations if you want to PVP. PVE servers seem fine in EQ2, but for me theyre not as fun.
In my opinion, VG combat is much better than EQ2s. VG is more tactical, EQ2 is more zerg button pushing.
In VG it matters when, if, and where you use your powers in a fight, EQ2 is push all your buttons as fast as you can.
I'm sure there are folks that would argue with that - but it is how I see it.
Okay....
So i got the two patchers but none of them work....eh... I login with my SOE account and they both start downloading BUT then they close for some reason. Both of them. And no they are not running at the same time.
Anyone knows what is going on ?
If you want a glimpse into what the golden age of MMOs are, Vanguard.
It's a gem.
If you liked Vanguard, return to it.
EQ2 is probably the best themepark (and it was technically the first themepark), but its still a themepark. I think its easily better than VG, but it sounds like you would enjoy VG more.
EQ2 does have the best housing in the genre, a great race and class selection, and tons of multi-stage quests involving dungeons (and raids if thats your thing). And the population is much healthier than VG, but the VG server i think is fairly active these days since f2p and the new raid.
Ummm, you do realize that Vanguard is a Sony product ? Also F2P. I'd go Vanguard it's the true successor to EQ.
Vanguard:
Pros:
best crafting, cardgame called diplomacy that when played and won against npcs u and all others in that area get buffs of all sorts.
Huge world with no instances It's all open no loading screens.
Best classes I have ever seen (personal opinion)
Dev team is asigned to Vanguard so expect more updates in the future
Oldschool feeling with plenty of dungeons.
Great and funny tactical combat
Cons: Still somewhat buggy at some places but not gamebreaker ones
butt ugly character models
low pop althou it is rising.
Everquest 2:
Pros:
Intresting classes
Great crafting not as good as VG but better than the rest of resent themeparks MMO
Plenty of expantions over the years.
Old school feel althou EQ2 has been dumbed down during the years.
Great and funny questlines
Healthy population
Cons:
Loading screens
badly optimized engine even a great PC can struggle on max settings.
Compare combat to VG, EQ2 is poor and boring but against other MMOs its ok.
For personal pref I would pick Vanguard over EQ2.
If it's not broken, you are not innovating.
Played both last year, liked Vanguard a lot more, and was rather disappointed with what EQ2 has turned into.
EQ2 certainly is more populated, but you spend most of the game doing solo quest hubs at this point. Previously difficult dungeons are now soloable with whatever buffing/changes they apparently made to all the gear in the game.
I'd say Vanguard is more group friendly, and open ended. Yes it has quest hubs, but they're much more open ended in that they largely don't hold your hand from one area to another, you can pick a direction, go that way, and see what kind of quests/dungeons you run into.
Crafting and Diplomacy is also fun, if you are looking for alternative gameplay beyond killing stuff.
If anything I feel Vanguard is currently more true to vanilla EQ/EQ2. I guess the changes in those games are due to the playerbase largely being top heavy. It makes it easier for new players to catch up/solo their way to end game stuff.
edit: In all fairness though both games are free now. Best way to decide is to probably spend an evening on each and see which one you had more fun with.
Hunter Nullail Destruction - 85 Ranger. Bristlebane (Solusek Ro) - EQ
Knight-Captain Nullail - 60 Hunter. C'Thun - Pre TBC - WoW
Nullail - 80 BE Hunter.Kor'Gall - WoW
Hunter Nullail - 55 Ranger. Telon - VG
Nullail Destruction - Archer/Bard - Cerberus. FFXIV
I tried both side by side and ended up taking EQ 2 off my computer.
EQ2 has a lot of content, not as much "creakiness" a decent community, lots to do.
Still, I didn't like how the world was made, design of the zones, the cutseyness "mr. puddlewick has lost his hammer, and needs your help!" the odd running animations that make it look like a bad version if a 1920's movie, etc.
Vanguard seems less cute, I prefer the open world, I like the classes better Though i truth I enjoyed both dark knight versions and both paladin versions in each game.
Vanguard has more creakiness, bugs, etc.
It's a bit more "hardcore" or "old school" as far as death penalty.
I enjoyed wandering around Vangaurd far more.
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
EQ2.. for so many fine reasons.
The biggest being that while Vanguard has a massive world.. it has A LOT less content than EQ2. It's all good and well having such a large (deceptively) open world.. but most of it is just empty space or massive mob spawn areas.
I say deceptively because you will still hit zone borders which causes you to load. If one person is on one side of the border and one on the other, you can't see each other.
I found that to be a plus.
Vanguard's world is more about it being a world than just a lot of quest hubs. Of course it has those but I don't do quests if I can avoid them and I found that it was very nice just wandering around and exploring in vanguard. I would say that if one wants a steady stream of quests "EVERquest 2" would be a good choice.
I also preferred the open areas without mobs as, again, it felt more like a world and less like constant fields of mobs.
There are "borders" where you hit a chunk or area and can get a slight hiccup or slight loading (in vanguard that is). Could be a deal breaker for some. I didn't mind it (though would prefer not to have it of course).
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
Both are good, both are free, and both offer lots of content. THough EQ2 has many many more expansions and the combat to me is better. If you just buy one expansion from EQ2 you get all the older ones as well. So the value for both is there as well. And both have cash shops but if i remember right they are mostly cosmetics.
Been playing EQ2 since " Original Activation Date: November 19, 2004" And has kept me occupied on and off over the ages. My personal preference is EQ2. Try them both, or even spend the 19.99 for SOE all access pass and try all the games
Somebody, somewhere has better skills as you have, more experience as you have, is smarter than you, has more friends as you do and can stay online longer. Just pray he's not out to get you.
experiences vary - but ive always had solid SOE support for EQ2
the only issue I have w SOE support is its closed on weekends
EQ2 fan sites
Heres my two cents worth:
EQ2-Very much a theme park on rails game.....Theres some exploration if you like that but most is just go from here to there and quest quest quest till your brain falls out....End game raiding isn't too bad and the housing and crafting systems are nice....It is f2p but it is very restrictive.
Vanguard-Always had technical issues with this game....It seems for some of us it just never runs well and others have no issue....The crafting is fun and it has a huge world to explore...Not as much of a theme park as EQ2......End game is not as good as they only have a couple raids...Its f2p and pretty much similar to EQ2 in taht regards.