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First MMO experience
ormstunga
Member Posts: 736
Hellu!
So this weekend, while checking out FFXIV, I finally got my wife to try an MMO with me and my brother. As it turns out, I probably cant run FFXIV satisfactory on my laptop doh! She was really looking forward to the whole FF thingy, so I've been looking into FFXI also but I just dont want her first mmo experience to be "looking for group". So now I'm turning to EQ2 or maybe VG. These both seem like solid games that could keep us occupied for some time. The issue here is population really. Will there be enough ppl around the lower levels? Will 2-3 of us manage to get things done?
Or is there perhaps a game I've overlooked? It has to be in a fantasy setting, and themepark-ish. We run a small business IRL and there is simply no time for sandbox games anymore. Quick and shallow enjoyment ftw 
(we will not be trying WoW or Rift, for different reasons)
Many thanks for any input!
ps. also posted in EQ2 forum
Comments
Vanguard is amazing, but i really dont know if you will be able to find a group lower levels.(it will take you a bit of time to get a group, but with 3 people you can accomplish alot actually, just outlevel a particular place alittle adn ull have no problem) on the other side if you will start EQ2 you will have no problems with anything. Populations are sky rocketing, but the servers are still down due to hackers
Vanguard can be a great game if you have a group of 2-3.
Make sure you grab a healer, tank and DPS ( lots of choices for each type. ) and you should be able to do most all content at lower levels. You might have to outlevel a few places by a bit ( go into a dungeon with lvl 15 enemies at lvl 16-17 ) but everything can be done.
I'm not sure VG serves as quick and shallow entertainment though. It's quite a deep game and while it certainly can be played casually without any problems it is a big world where some time has to be spend travelling.
If you're the type of player that enjoys the journey and doesn't mind taking it in small steps ( due to your playtimes ) then VG is worth a try I'd say.
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Just remember that Sony's service is down so you won't be able to start just yet.
Either game will do ya. I would say EQ 2 has a larger population.
I hate to say it but I would probably lean more towards EQ 2. I prefer Vanguard but it doesn't have a large population and is still a bit "creaky".
Having said that I feel the world is LEGIONS above the world of EQ 2. Also, EQ 2 is a bit "precious" for my taste but that's "my taste".
And EQ 2 does have a lot of updates.
For a first mmo experience my thought is EQ 2. Which is a shame because as I said, Vanguard is more my speed.
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I remember EQ2 being very solo friendly.. and the storyline and graphics were pretty good.
Lots of stuff you can do in a solo or duo...
I haven't played the game in a few years though and I'm not sure what the new content is like.. and i never really got into the endgame on EQ2..
I spent most of my time doing the thousands of quests they had and random storyline events.
Lots of fun to be had solo / duo.. but I can't speak for endgame
VG is a great game and IMO, much more fun than EQ2, but it has a tiny and dwindling population and is by far the buggiest MMO I have played in the last 12 years. Last summer when I resubbed for a bit, they were down to one dev, which is not a good sign for any game, especially one in such poor shape.
EQ2 is the more casual friendly, solo up to max level themepark, but it has much more dev support and not surprisingly, a higher population.
Hmm I dont remember that many bugs in the end.
And about making a group of 3, thats trivial. Just pick your favorite tank, healer and damage dealer class and you can do pretty much anything in Vanguard.
If you need a recommendation, I would just pick the three best solist classes of the game - Dread Knight, Disciple and Necromancer. So you'll always be able to play even if you log on alone. Just remember to make a brotherhood so the other two will get xp as well.
Alternatives:
Paladin deals less damage than Dread Knight, and gets no uber area lifetap ability, but is a decent solist too, even if not as strong as the Dread Knight.
Disciple is a great class, but also the most complicated in the game. Very low on partybuffs, too. Can be skilled for damage dealing with +4 Str, +4 Dex, +2 Vit or not much weaker +4 Str, +2 Dex, +4 Vit on levelup and then focus on Yin abilities to heal the tank.
Cleric is the most simple to play healer. Not completely trivial, but very straightforward. Also best general buffs, but nothing fancy. No less than 5 subclasses so you have something to think about.
Shaman is a bit more complicated, but only because they get so many buffs, debuffs, etc, and because they have to rely on direct and reactive heals instead of simple heal over times and a rare big heal in between, not because it would actually be complicated. Gets 3 subclasses (Bear, Wolf, Phoenix). The Bear can be played as a summoner class like Necromancer. The other two however can NOT keep aggro with their summon, which makes it a superflous feature for them. They have better dps though. A major problem with the shaman is the lack of a deaggro skill.
Blood Mage is quite complex already and can deal insane damage. A well played BM will never run out of mana unless they really have to chain heal without pause. However, in my experience, the Blood Mage reacts more sensible to their gear than the other healer classes. In top notch mage gear, the BM is crazy good in healing and will deal lots of damage, too. With not as good gear, a Disciple will substantly outperform the BM.
About damage dealers, there are too many options to list all their advantages and disadvantages, but I should really list the Bard. Not such a good solist, but a great dd in group and nothing short completely overpowered once you reach level 40+ and get a full group with pickups.
Last time I was in VG, which was probably a year and a half ago now, it wasn't very buggy at all. That may be me recalling the launch era when the bugs were epic, and the last time I was in seeming clean by comparison, but I felt at the time that it was no buggier than World of Warcraft.
As for the population, it's small, but there is plenty of solo content. There's a lot of group stuff, too, but if you want to see that - which I highly recommend - you'll need to be proactive about finding groups. The in-game social tool works well for this, but you'll want to be sending tells out to people. Or you can land with the right guild - I'm hearing good things about Twighlyte Song.
Populations appear to be up for now, and likely to remain so for at least the next month as people capitalize on the free time being offered by SOE. It doesn't seem to be booming or anything (I'm not playing now but I plan to invoke my free time in a couple of weeks after spring quarter ends, and I'm keeping my ears open for chat about the game) and buzz is definitely rising a bit.
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My suggestion is the following games:
1. Lotro: it is relatively free at first and very solo and 2-3 player friendly, beautiful and huge world, health population, very much alive. The draw back is beside the two cash needed class not many class are fun to play, and you will going to spend money sooner or later.
2. Vsoh: Huge and beautiful world in another way, very fun class, the only one in which craft make sense. It is free for 30 days. But low population and not many love from SOE
3. Guild wars: Great class and combat, world is impressive in an art manner. Great PvP and solo and 2-3 player friendly. buy to play. But it is highly instanced, that means beside your friends you may not talk to anyone else when pve.
EQ2 graphic is too old for me, and because I hate SOE, I will not suggest you that one.