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My recent return to Everquest II
Johnhost
Member Posts: 146
So I have dabbled, even bothered to rave about this game. I wrote the features thread stickied here. I think Everquest II is in the best place it's ever been. The game is mature, the community is brilliant. The numbers are pretty good compared to any other MMO except WoW. There is allot to love here.
What are EQ2's strengths?
The community, it's number one asset. It's a great community and full of awesome people. The feeling is that people want to play how they want to play. They try and help you and guilds are willing to step in and take new members. It's easy to get along with most people.
The graphics, still after 4 years the game looks good. The engine is getting more and more tweaks to allow dual-core proc, graphics card usage, etc. The game handles better then ever before. Some people say WoW or LoTRO is better graphics. But I would say, if your into unique avatars and realistic graphics, then EQ2 is the very best. Vanguard has more color and variety, but EQ2 with all settings on is a beautiful game.
The gameplay. EQ2 isn't doing anything revolutionary, but it's got the core stuff done solid. Quests are good, and some are amazing. Combat is visceral and kenetic. The animations are awesome and the tools for groups, looting, etc...very very good.
The thing is, EQ2 has focused their game experience on three areas:
1) soloers: these players can find solo grounds everywhere in open land areas. Soloing is rewarding and can be done completely by questing or just grinding mobs or both. Soloing from 1-cap is possible with all classes.
2) 6 man groups: This type of play is generally focused in dungeons. This is your typical EQ1 experience where you crawl through a dungeon and find phat lootz. Since each archtype can preform his/her job equally well, you don't need a specific class in that archtype to fill a role in the group.
3) Raids: There are various levels of raids, and brilliantly you can know exactly what you need in terms of numbers by seeing the /con information of the mob. Raids go from 2x groups to 4x groups. Raids can be instanced or in real time zones. Raids can be pickup or guild based, but no matter what EQ2 has your classic raids down pat.
Everquest 2 does have some unique things most people never know about or care about.
- Pig Racing (in the Fallen Dynasty Adventure Pack)
- Slot machine type gambling (Gigglegibber)
- PVP Arena (become a monster and play CTF or FFA or play as your avatar in level based combat)
- Legends of Norrath Collectible Card Game in your game client (play a very complexed card game)
- Player Housing (LOADS to collect and do with these)
- World quests, holidays, etc.
Everquest 2 has loads to do, but if you think WoW or LoTRO is going to give you better, I suggest trying this game. It has everything they have except maybe flying mounts and PVP on PVE servers.
Comments
Although I am not an SOE fan, I have to (begrudgingly) admit that EQ2 is keeping pace.
I just started playing the "14 day free trial" and have to say it has improved since I last played it back in 2006, the multi-core support has vastly improved gameplay, although graphics are 4 years old, they still look good on "High" and "very High" settings, the music is haunting and seem to match the mood of the zone you are in, it is some of the best music in a MMO.
The OP should be prepared for the coming posts claiming nothing he says is true. He says it well and EQ2 is all that he claims and more.
The one thing about EQ2's graphics that WoW and LoTRO lack is the solided 3d feel EQ2 has. While some of the art may not be as flashy as those games, it feels more real and 3 dimensional. The movement of the characters and the way the landscapes move as you travel through them makes the world more virtual then any other mmo I play. The characters almost seem alive in EQ2. They are more then just a vehicle to move through the game world. While I love the cartoon art direction of WoW it never feels alive to me. That "alive" feel EQ2 has is what keeps me coming back.
I've always felt that EQ2 graphics were ok at best. I also think the Art and and Gear design is very uninspiring, your characters doesn't have that epic feeling like in some other MMO's. And the character design I really don't like. I would much rather have the Vanguard character design then what EQ2 has now, along with the art and gear design.
What a truly great post outlining EQ2's strengths.
I couldn't agree more.
Hmm I might try the trial out. OP you should put a link up for the trial, actually don't you'll look like viral marketing then. It better be just as good as you say...or I'll punch you in the face.
edit: I meant an affectionate punch to the face, like a love tap. Please don't take it as a threat to his person and ban me.
Watch Led Zeppelin, Darkfall Tribute
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Can you play on regular servers with the trial? Or do you get your noob instanced world like in wow.
Watch Led Zeppelin, Darkfall Tribute
Watch Johnny Cash, Darkfall Tribute
What a truly great post outlining EQ2's strengths.
I couldn't agree more.
Agreed. Great read.
Lol, I'm puting in my "agreed" also. Been in EQ2 since day one and agree that this game offers more to their players than any other game out there. Even the Halloween event this year seems like it will be more fun than usual with the new Haunted Mansion in Loping Plains - and the new expansion trailer looks really awesome.
SOE fan or not, Sony has given the MMO masses that don't want to play in the equivalent of avatar based chat rooms a stable, realistic and graphically superior world to play in.
(one note: Vanguard had the possibility of becoming something very similar, but unfortunately the problems were too much to overcome quickly in a fast paced MMO world and the new games flooding out this year and next have pretty much assured VG will never catch on - it's a shame).
Yes and no. If you start in Qeynos or Freeport you begin on a seperate island then go to mainland. However if you start in Gorowyn, Kelethin, or Neriak you start on the mainland. None should be considered a seperate newbie area since they all reflect the game you play not a tutorial type experience only.
I quit AoC because my entire raiding guild pretty much vanished, tried WAR for a week and thought it was jut far to shallow to keep my interest so my buddy said he was going back to EQ2 and I followed. Thank the MMO gods that I did. I am loving my return to this game and all it has to offer. Yes the PVP may lack for some but the sheer amount of PVE things to do in EQ2 are incredible.
I love working on all of my Lore & Legends, language, heritage, heroic, signature, and collectoin quests. YES I LIKE SHINYS !! I also love the housing. Call me a geek but for some reason I love setting up my home and gather as many collectibles and or crafted items for it. Its just another thing to work on when you do not have a ton of time to invest in raiding or a dungeon crawl.
Clearly one of the best things about my return to EQ2 has been thee player base/community. A great majority of the people are helpful, they congratulate other guilds when they advance, and that certain air of teen age wit and or lack of it does not over whelm the chat.
What a truly great post outlining EQ2's strengths.
I couldn't agree more.
I as well would like to Agree with the OP here.
After down right disappointments in AoC, then Warhammer but not as much (basically due to my colour blindness making the map useless), I decided to go back to EQ2 on the Permafrost Server to my old level 57 Wood Elf Ranger Friday Evening. GOD! How I ever left this game almost 18 months ago is a Mystery to me? This game has everything I always wanted in an MMO especially the questing which I added to numerous times this weekend especially in the Desert of Flames area where new quests were present and you could actually buy your Flying Carpet now with DI.R.T.Y. money that is. There is still quite a thriving Community (not as much as when I left though), but still I managed to find several PUGs and I had tons of fun. Anyhow I also brough a rl friend over and he was more then impressed. So maybe I have found my game once more and it was right under my nose. Now to add to my 600 or so quest total.........
Its worse to actually think about doing something then actually doing it!!!
I think a lot of people might have the same experience as Radiick if they would just try or return to EQ2 for themselves. The biggest opposition to EQ2 seems to be players who view the changes to EQ2 as "WoW like" or "dumbed down". They liked the game, then SOE changed the game not to their liking. Not that many people who have tried EQ2 have just out right hated it. The game has changed since it's release some say for the worst but many say to the better. I am a 10 year mmo vet and loved some of the old hardcore play but I still love EQ2 in it's current state.
Great post OP and I agree theer is a lot to love in EQ II.
Now lets all wait for ste2000 to come along and tell us how flawed the game is and how dumb we all are for digging it..... cause there isn't a positive EQ II post he won't troll. /rolleyes
Yup, he has suggested I am a viral marketer for SOE because I like the game and post about it. I post about WoW, LoTRO, Silkroads, SWG, Guild Wars, LoTRO, WAR and others. However I am never accused of being a viral marketer for those other games I like. People should try the EQ2 free 14 day trial and find out for themselves. Opps there goes my marketing again glad SOE is paying me.
I agree 100%!! Although, I think the terrain, dungeons, creatures, and cities look phenominal.. I never was a fan of the player art with weapons, armor, and spell animations. I would love to see some of the art style in weapons/armor from WAR be transferred over to EQ2. That would make the game perfect. To me, there's nothing more thrilling, satisfying, and exciting than recieving a new rare epic chestpiece or new sword than seeing what it looks like when you first try it on! But in EQ2, 99% of the armor and weaps look dull, even hard to get fabled and long quested legendary items.
This is one reason why I quit the game a few times. Now, it's a great Pve game, but the entire art team who work on player armor/weaps, and spell animations need to be fired. And SOE should hire some extraordinary talented artists with amazing imaginations!
Rallithon Oakthornn
(Retired Heirophant of the 60th season)
It's easy to get a unique look in EQ2. An end-game WoW raid can easily have everyone looking the same. I still lagged a bit in EQ2 last time and played EU servers which are getting very baron - Now I've got another new rig and Im trying atonio bale xD
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Note: PlayNC will refuse to allow you access to your account if you forget your password and can't provide a scanned image of the product key for the first product you purchased..... LOL
in before the "omg SOE is a rip off / station cash ruined my life" posts
But I agree with you OP. EQ2 is maybe one of the most overlooked MMOs out right now, probably due to it's horrible launch time (beside WoW). I have little write-up going on on my blog where I give a few MMO free trials a go, and EQ2 is the one holding my interest the most.
Iwinbutton.com | Gaming / MMO Blog
I played EQ2 from launch week and for a good 3 years , 2 years in the same guild too but i play LOTR now and my only complaint about EQ2 was armor design which is horrible hated them all even the robes all looked the same i still wish they would work on that .
Beside that everything was great just like the OP said .
Too bad sony now added cash shop in eq2 dumbest move ever , either make it free to play with cash shop or pay to play no cash shop , never both ever
Five days of mining to get 9 Feysteel for a level 32 MC armor/weapon/shield set. Only shiny armor (without buying status armor) in the game, and it's comprised of OVEN MITTS...
It at least isn't as bad as the Paladin class hat (don't even get me started on that one)!
.:| Kevyne@Shandris - Armory |:. - When WoW was #1 - .:| I AM A HOLY PALADIN - Guild Theme |:.
Ah, yes.
But they're shiny oven mitts.
I'd say that only negative to eq2 for new people is that it is too easy at lower levels. I recently had a buddy of mine try the game who has been playing wow. He made a character on kunark and in a couple days leveled upto 20. His comment was that the game was too easy and leveling was so fast. Also compared to wow there just don't seem to be many people around.
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Ethion
in fairness, you could say this about most mmos
EQ2 fan sites
1-20 is easy, most especially in Kunark. It was designed to be that way in order to help funnel new players as soon as possible into the end-game content, which is where Sony seems to be putting much of their development time into.
His other comment, however, hinges on the fact that he does not see a lot of people hanging around any one certain spot, I suspect. In WOW, the hot-spots are the brokers (when I played there was one in each town). In EQ2, there are brokers in several zones in the cities, and players can also access the broker to an extent from their homes. There truly is no need for players to gather at any one spot (except for live events, for example there were 5 instances of the Frostfell celebration running on the LDL server the other night)
I suspect that as we move along, we will see more and more effort put into getting players past the 1-40 or so range, and into the end game content currently being developed.
We'll see.
Yep, you got it.
Solid post by the OP. I would add that some of what is mentioned can be found in other games (I'm currently playing LoTRO.) Every game has small details that make it unique. The overall experience of EQ2 is a good one. My only major disappointment is that in order to experience the deepest lore in-game you must raid, at least to some extent. There's nothing wrong with that, but if you don't have the resources (including a lot of time) to raid at least somewhat consistently then you will miss the overall story.
Yes, you can find many many stories and quests throughout the rest of the game. But after playing EQ2 for three & a half years I had had enough. I moved on to LoTRO which was the home I had been missing in EQ2.
So I would say: anyone who is interested should try out EQ2; from a former EQ2 player I can echo the OP and say it's worth it.
If you are MMO shopping then definitely try the trials for EQ2, LoTRO, or whatever else you would like to compare. After a few weeks on each game you'll know where you belong.
Good Journeys...