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Casual Gamer - EQ2 or LOTRO?
Hooahman
Member Posts: 5
Whats up everyone. I have been out of the MMO market for a while now and am trying to decide which game to buy to get back into it. I was originally going to get Vanguard, but after going over to a friend's house to check it out, I don't want anything to do with that game. It crashed multiple times over the span of 2 hours among other problems, I would rather get a more "finished" product. I have narrowed my search down to Lord of the Rings Online and Everquest 2. I managed to get into the LOTRO beta a month or so ago and got to level 9 or so, then school got busy and I haven't played it in a couple weeks. This weekend I tried EQ2's 7 day trial and it seems pretty good so far. I am a casual gamer (less than 10 hours a week), so does anyone have any suggestions on which game would better suit me? Thanks for your time and if there is another thread similar to mine, I'd appreciate a link (did a search, but didn't find much).
EDIT: Should also add I play PvE mostly. I like to PvP now and then, but I am mostly a PvE player.
EDIT: Should also add I play PvE mostly. I like to PvP now and then, but I am mostly a PvE player.
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Playing: EQ2
Retired: WoW, CoH/V, Vanguard
Comments
LOTRO for sure.
Not much to screw up with that route
EQ2 - best mature MMORPG out there.
LOTRO = perfect for Tolkien fanboys.
WoW = perfect casual MMORPG for people who don't fit the above two descriptions, and for some that do as well.
MMO games played or tested: EQ, DAoC, Archlord, Auto Assault, CoH, CoV, EQ2, EVE, Guild Wars, Hellgate: London, Linneage II, LOTRO, MxO, Planetside, SWG, Sword of the New World, Tabula Rasa, Vanguard, WWIIOL, WOW, Age of Conan
I've also noticed the current new mmorpg team fad evolving. Not that I don't mind team play but it seems gaming companies are now forcing this on us. Games like Stargate and Startrek, Tabula rasa and Vanguard are like this to name a few. I for one like to have the option to solo whenever I want. Sometimes after a long day I like to be anti social.
For now I'm keeping my eye on Fallen Earth which looks somewhat promising. I may also give in and go buy Eq2.(still thinking about it).
Currently I broke down and gave in to the harassings of a coworker and started playing......maplestory. (waits for the laughing to end) I know its a cheesy game,but its either that or I contribute to the rest of the naive beta paying testers out there....( ok I'm stopping here before I begin to rant.) lol
At any rate those are my thoughts on the subject.
Right now I'm leaning towards EQ2, but I have heard that the server populations are really low right now (aka, game is dying). Is this true? I also heard it becomes a huge grind at the later levels. Hearing the game has a mature community is a plus though, thanks for mentioning that.
Things that are putting me off LOTRO is the lack of true PvP at all and the fear it will become like WoW community-wise
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Playing: EQ2
Retired: WoW, CoH/V, Vanguard
Imo, Everquest 2 is the best purchase right now (out of those two). if you buy the latest expansion, you will get the full game + all expansions. thats a lot more value and content then Lotro can offer you.
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Playing: EQ2
Retired: WoW, CoH/V, Vanguard
EQ2 is great if you are going to level to max level and do raids.
IMO I would go with either WoW or LOTRO if you are looking for a casual friendly game. If you are a player that hits endgame though I would go with LOTRO. Seems to have the most casual friendly endgame of any of them. Plus it is the newest of the bunch.
Currently playing:
LOTRO & WoW (not much WoW though because Mines of Moria rocks!!!!)
Looking Foward too:
Bioware games (Dragon Age & Star Wars The Old Republic)
Currently playing:
LOTRO & WoW (not much WoW though because Mines of Moria rocks!!!!)
Looking Foward too:
Bioware games (Dragon Age & Star Wars The Old Republic)
EQ2 truly is a gem. It is most evolved PVE MMO , with bigest amount of content and best mechanics.
But the sad truth is EQ2 is a dying game. It was dying since the day it was released.
On other side LOTRO is just about to be born. And they have more than million people playing open beta. If only half of those
go for retail, it will be biggest game after WOW.
So here you have rather clear choice in any MMO
If you have to choose between MMO wilt low player base or high, always go for the high.
Second PVP in EQ2 is insane. It is far more evil than even PVP in Shadowbane or Lineage. It is so chaotic that even hardcore PVP people avoid it -> LOTRO has a thing called MONSTER PLAY that is FUN pvp , with its own special rules and huge battleground area.
LOTRO beats EQ2 in graphic department and atmosphere
LOTRO beats EQ2 in solo playing and casual playing
EQ2 beats LOTRO in shear size of content , but if you are casual player it doesnt mather for you since you go trough it slowly and LOTRO is going to expand fast...
My advice , go for the new horse
"Before this battle is over all the world will know that few...stood against many." - King Leonidas
EQ2 mate use to play that lacks people now a days LOTRO is a good one to try
d.manners
While LOTRO is not really my cup of tea, based on my experience in the beta it appeared more casual friendly than EQ2.
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Past MMOs- Planetside, WoW.
Current MMO:
Current Games: L4D, Skyrim
Tried- ATITD, EQ2, SoR, Vanguard,SL,LOTRO,SotNW,SWTOR.
Anticipating- GW2, Planetside2
In EQ2, you get a game that has been around for 2.5 years now, has several expansions, and therefore a lot of content. Much of that content is for higher level characters, and it will take you some time to get there with a casual schedule (longer than it would take in WoW, for example). The game is now pretty well done with most of the bugs worked out of the system. However, the game is also on its way out, without question. It's 2.5 years old, there are newer games coming out this year that will seep more subs away from EQ2, and to be honest while you can still certainly find people to play with, it's not nearly as populated as it once was.
LOTRO, on the other hand, is somewhat faster (and therefore more casual friendly), and of course has a tremendous setting and storyline. It will have a good deal of subs out of the box, as well. I don't expect that this will mean an immature subscriber base -- there are a lot of mature LOTR fans out there! However, I think if you are not a big fan of LOTR, the gameplay of LOTRO is essentially the same as most other MMORPG's in most areas -- it just works well, is quite polished, and has that great setting. The content is smaller than EQ2's with its expansions, considerably smaller, but if the game does well (which seems likely), it's likely that quite a bit of content will be added in the future because some key areas of Middle Earth are not (yet) in the game -- so there's a natural growth direction for the game.
Honestly if I were you, I would pick LOTRO. It's a game with a much brighter future than EQ2, and also one that is slightly more casual friendly.
You've played LOTRO, so you know its PvE based and solo friendly to level 30 or so, and has the rested XP bonus.
I haven't played EQ2.
My advice: Learn to make decisions for yourself and accept the responsibility for the choices in life that you make. In the grand scheme of things, choosing a MMO is trivial, but use this as an opportunity to start making decisions for yourself and stop doing what the crowed thinks is cool.
"Don't corpse-camp that idea. Its never gonna rez"
Bladezz (The Guild)
With my new rig (weapon) at hand I dl'd Eq2 isle trial, I played it till lvl 10 (all the time I had atm). I then logged and loaded up the Lotr open beta and played it till my toon made lvl 10. Both games had settings maxed! Lotr tho made my game very slightly lag in populated areas and with 2 gig of ram I found that to be surprising. Also I should mention that during my Eq2 experience I took my fury over to an area which I knew I would get ganked by a social group of skeletons(5 of them), this was the only way to test a populated spot for now. I never noticed any stuttering or any lag, nothing..it went smoothly.
Graphically from my point of view I found Eq2 graphics to be better. The shading effects and character models seemed to me to be a little more crisp and better moving. Spell effects are very nice and I found it neat that my toon would dodge on his own from attacks. Crafting in Eq2 was entertaining,I spent a good hour hunting down materials and went on a crafting spree. OK I was entertained by this.. I admit that. lol
I also found that the environment was more detailed then Lotr, Although the textures (fur) on the wolves could have been done better; it's not bad but could be better. Swimming underwater was amazing! I even found a quest to do underwater! A first for me! The underwater effects are very well done although there was no seaweed or coral where I was. Just sand and rocks and ruins....and...well I won't say more you'd have to see for yourself.
For Lotr, Crafting was about the same but I was not as entertained by it as I was in Eq2.To me it seemed dumbed down...actually it reminded me alot of Wow's crafting(unfortunately). Lotr characters models did'nt seem as crisp or flowing in there movement. I felt as if I was playing a WoW toon...(rubbery body movements). The buildings and enivroment did'nt seem as well done as Eq2. This all could be because of it being a beta mind you. Lotr DID have better looking furry animals. lol (On a side note I only played the WoW trial and do not consider my self as a WoWfanboi..)
Both games have quests to be done (what game doesn't?) But from my Lotr experience I became frustrated with incorrect directions given by npcs and the constant running from one end of the given map to the other. Getting a horse was not an option as that you can only go from stable to stable from town to town. So you'd end up spending an hour roaming the forest looking for some npc which would not be where he/she is supposed to be because the quest giver should have said go east instead of west. Also in some cases someone else may have killed your potential target and that would leave you wondering if you where in the correct location this time around or not... Meh, It wasn't that it was difficult but for me I was'nt having fun.
For Eq2 even tho I was on a small island, I did'nt have any troubles with quests. Tho once I'm off the island this may change I'm not sure.
To make a long story short, I had more fun with Eq2 then I did with the Lotr beta. Perhaps when Lotr is offically released experiences will change, but for now I find eq2 more appealing graphically and game play wise. The only thing that still bugs me is that SoE is behind it. My personal "catch22"
I personally suggest to anyone who reads this and is wondering which way to go, to play the trials offered and make your own choice. Both games above imo are good but it's the personal preference of ones own gaming style that will be the deciding factor.
playing eq2 and two worlds
Extremism in the defense of Liberty is no vice.