What kind of server is that? And what's the population like? Also, since I've never been able to get beyond level 5, I think (I know, I know, bad me), what's the game really like anyway? What do you do in it? (And I don't need crafting information; if that's not important to gameplay, then I typically avoid it altogether)
YOu can get to level 5 in about 30 minutes........lol.
There are 3 spheres of advancement, adventuring, diplomacy and crafting. You can do one without having to do the other two. If you do all 3 spheres then it becomes a huge time sink.
The game is a normal MMO which has a huge amount to do, the playing area is probably unrivalled and it's immense. Many quests and much of it is different to what you would normally find.
It's hard to explain, you need to play it. There are no instances however, all dungeons are open to whoever is running through.
If you don't do crafting then those high level items are going to be very expensive.
Seradon is a PvE server and is the one that most of the Aussies went to when the servers were merged.
P.S. I personally believe it's the only game to replace EQII and deserves its place right along side that game. It's a true RPG unlike WoW.
I can see your opinion. I'd like to get into some games that I admire, but can't seem to do so. EVE's combat bores the heck out of me. But I really don't think I'd enjoy the diplomacy or crafting spheres of Vanguard. Just not my bag.
I want to point out that EQ2 had several expansions and max level is now 80(?). VG is still on level 50.
One of the traps of level based mmorpgs selling an expansion with level increase is, that the time to reach max level doesnt change. For example as I started to play EQ2 I reached max level 50 in 2 months. I bought an expansion and I needed again 1 month to reach max level. And so on. Now if you today start EQ2 you would, by this theoretical numbers, need 5 months to reach level 80. Thats not the case. The xp gain on lower levels today is much faster then in higher levels. That translates for me that a level 10 in VG would be around level 20 in EQ2.
Personally I hate level increasing expansion. They are sold as additional content which is IMO more or less a lie. In reality the increased xp rate will let you burn through the now lower level content in a much higher speed, until you reach the level range the designer just implemented. So there might me theoretically more content, practically you outlevel it insanely fast and you have to make an effort to experience this former, now old, content. Every expansion is more or less a reset to 0, the item grind starts again, you do 100 damage more (to compensate the mobs have 10k more life), instead +10 you get items with +12 and so on. But nothing really changes.
Thats IMO one of the reasons VG got a better score in this test as EQ2. The levelgain in VG is still original, no expansion came out and distorted it. It just "feels" more in line with the content compared to the turbo charged EQ2 one.
Sadly in the near future there will be a level increase in VG. Moderately (+5) but still I fear it starts the usual level treadmill like in all other level based mmorpgs.
I want to point out that EQ2 had several expansions and max level is now 80(?). VG is still on level 50. One of the traps of level based mmorpgs selling an expansion with level increase is, that the time to reach max level doesnt change. For example as I started to play EQ2 I reached max level 50 in 2 months. I bought an expansion and I needed again 1 month to reach max level. And so on. Now if you today start EQ2 you would, by this theoretical numbers, need 5 months to reach level 80. Thats not the case. The xp gain on lower levels today is much faster then in higher levels. That translates for me that a level 10 in VG would be around level 20 in EQ2. Personally I hate level increasing expansion. They are sold as additional content which is IMO more or less a lie. In reality the increased xp rate will let you burn through the now lower level content in a much higher speed, until you reach the level range the designer just implemented. So there might me theoretically more content, practically you outlevel it insanely fast and you have to make an effort to experience this former, now old, content. Every expansion is more or less a reset to 0, the item grind starts again, you do 100 damage more (to compensate the mobs have 10k more life), instead +10 you get items with +12 and so on. But nothing really changes.
Thats IMO one of the reasons VG got a better score in this test as EQ2. The levelgain in VG is still original, no expansion came out and distorted it. It just "feels" more in line with the content compared to the turbo charged EQ2 one.
Sadly in the near future there will be a level increase in VG. Moderately (+5) but still I fear it starts the usual level treadmill like in all other level based mmorpgs.
Yeah, I didn't think they were going to add levels in the rumored expansion. Oh well. Perhaps in a few years that same design will have been outmoded.
Watch two movies for ten minutes each and then decide which one that should get the Oscar.
Do you see my point?
You don't spend a month getting to the end of a movie. You will often spend a month getting to the "endgame" of most current MMORPGs.
No one asked you to max out your char and do endgame, but to really feel EQ2 you would need to try 20 levels, not 10 so you at least had the opportunity to try a group dungeon.
That you should be able to do in 3days at least, while you do 10 in one.
I didn't expect that but in the end why play any of them when you could play WOW? lol.
Watch two movies for ten minutes each and then decide which one that should get the Oscar.
Do you see my point?
You don't spend a month getting to the end of a movie. You will often spend a month getting to the "endgame" of most current MMORPGs.
You just made Jefferson point even more accurate, would you watch a movie for 2 minutes and then judge it?
Everquest 2 and Vanguard are NOT only just about end game, both game are about the voyage aswell (and their community agree) with the mentoring system, EQ2 is even more about the voyage, community and group experience.
As a MMO , Everquest 2 is superior, (much) more content, stabilished community, deeper character development etc, but in the end what matter is personal opinion, so a person could enjoy EQ2 or VG and its open world, but no one would be able to judge it withing the first 2 hours of gameplay, we are talking about MMORPGs, progression, know the community, experience and not play for 3 days and then forget about it.
Just a side note, today Everquest 2 has a much more active community/grouping than Warhammer, AOC and newer games, Vanguard is growing aswell, so if a person really enjoy a mmo-RPG, and just want group experiences with deeper classes, lore, dungeons than WoW and recent games, I would suggest, try both Everquest 2 and Vanguard.
It is amazing how animations and spells in Everquest 2 still more complex than WoW, War and sometiems even AOC, another good aspect is, for today PCs Everquest 2 and Vanguard are not demanding, but are gorgeous games both in technical side and artsyle.
To the OP, WoW is not for everyone who enjoy RPGs, I know a lot of people that would say, why play WoW if you can play GW, EQ2, L2 ... see you just got your opinion and spoke as universal truth, and please, dont use popularity as justification, some people just dont want to watch the movie Titanic, some people would prefer something like Cronenberg´s or Aronofsky´s movies.
Well this 10 lvl test certainly opened my eyes again to Vanguard. I've been a fan of the EQ series since 1999 however I have moved on and tried out various MMO's since. I tried Vanguard becuase it was on sale for £5 infact I bought 2 copies, 1 for my teenage son, needless to say that copy remains within its security wrapping due to WoW. So I found myself inside Vanguard, now personally speaking if an MMO doesn't grab my attention within 10 minutes of playing (Harsh I know but thats me) then it usually means doom for the game and I have to be quite frank the graphics immediately put me off as did the the NPC voices and the oh so irritating background music (I do enjoy keeping the music on in games). I certainly felt no immersiveness when walking around the starting isle, must have missed that falling tree aswell, infact the whole area looked rather bland. However after reading the 10 lvl test I think to myself that perhaps I'm treating this game like I do all of the other MMO's out there, as a single player MMO on easy mode, I didn't give the game enough of a chance becuase I had too many hang-ups about graphics/sound/UI etc, basically I have been spoiled by the likes of EQ2 and WoW. So I'm thinking that perhaps I should dust off my Vanguard account and give this game another chance and ignore my 10 minute rule and really play this game, however that thought will have to wait as I'm currently playing a Witch Elf in WAR and enjoying my time dishing out death to ickle Dwarves . However Vanguard is back on my todo list again. Oh and yes the reviewer was spot on about guilds in EQ2, lots and lots and lots of mindless "Grats" every 5 mins and then nothing but silence, not what you call an ideal enviroment to nurture a community into a well oiled fighting unit.
So you feel the graphics of Vanguard are bland compared to the cartoon that is WoW? The music in Vanguard is annoying compared to that of WoW?
Are you serious? Really?
I am being serious that I didn't like the Music in the starting area and that I personally didn't get on with the graphics straight away, thats MY choice not yours to make, however I have said that this review has opened my eyes again to Vanguard and that I might try it again later on once I am done playing with WAR.
We all have very different tastes in art and music, I don't enjoy some of the music my wife listens to but I'm cetainly not going to tell her is she "Serious" about listening to that band as thats her taste and not mine, what a boring world we would live in if all our likes and dislikes where exactly the same.
Also I made no comparisons of the graphics to EQ2 or WoW. I mentioned that I had been spoiled with graphics/sound/UI etc meaning that the UI of WoW is easy to handle, the graphics of EQ2 are very smooth and polished the sound of both games is exciting and immersive the lighting is atmoshperic at times etc etc, forgive me but again these are all my own personal tastes, also I believe WoWs graphics are cartoony but it suits the game mood and I would love to see that type of graphics used for EQ1, doubt it would ever happen but I would still like to see it.
Well this 10 lvl test certainly opened my eyes again to Vanguard. I've been a fan of the EQ series since 1999 however I have moved on and tried out various MMO's since. I tried Vanguard becuase it was on sale for £5 infact I bought 2 copies, 1 for my teenage son, needless to say that copy remains within its security wrapping due to WoW. So I found myself inside Vanguard, now personally speaking if an MMO doesn't grab my attention within 10 minutes of playing (Harsh I know but thats me) then it usually means doom for the game and I have to be quite frank the graphics immediately put me off as did the the NPC voices and the oh so irritating background music (I do enjoy keeping the music on in games). I certainly felt no immersiveness when walking around the starting isle, must have missed that falling tree aswell, infact the whole area looked rather bland. However after reading the 10 lvl test I think to myself that perhaps I'm treating this game like I do all of the other MMO's out there, as a single player MMO on easy mode, I didn't give the game enough of a chance becuase I had too many hang-ups about graphics/sound/UI etc, basically I have been spoiled by the likes of EQ2 and WoW. So I'm thinking that perhaps I should dust off my Vanguard account and give this game another chance and ignore my 10 minute rule and really play this game, however that thought will have to wait as I'm currently playing a Witch Elf in WAR and enjoying my time dishing out death to ickle Dwarves . However Vanguard is back on my todo list again. Oh and yes the reviewer was spot on about guilds in EQ2, lots and lots and lots of mindless "Grats" every 5 mins and then nothing but silence, not what you call an ideal enviroment to nurture a community into a well oiled fighting unit.
So you feel the graphics of Vanguard are bland compared to the cartoon that is WoW? The music in Vanguard is annoying compared to that of WoW?
Are you serious? Really?
I am being serious that I didn't like the Music in the starting area and that I personally didn't get on with the graphics straight away, thats MY choice not yours to make, however I have said that this review has opened my eyes again to Vanguard and that I might try it again later on once I am done playing with WAR.
We all have very different tastes in art and music, I don't enjoy some of the music my wife listens to but I'm cetainly not going to tell her is she "Serious" about listening to that band as thats her taste and not mine, what a boring world we would live in if all our likes and dislikes where exactly the same.
Also I made no comparisons of the graphics to EQ2 or WoW. I mentioned that I had been spoiled with graphics/sound/UI etc meaning that the UI of WoW is easy to handle, the graphics of EQ2 are very smooth and polished the sound of both games is exciting and immersive the lighting is atmoshperic at times etc etc, forgive me but again these are all my own personal tastes, also I believe WoWs graphics are cartoony but it suits the game mood and I would love to see that type of graphics used for EQ1, doubt it would ever happen but I would still like to see it.
Yeh Vanguards character creation screen looks very ugly and the music is terrible there and just doesn't do anything to WoW you.
I see I've now fallen into the "WoW" trap, should never have made any mention of WoW at all in my post as this just detracts from my response.
I'll make this very clear, I no longer play that other game, left it months ago to play other MMO's which I normally do as I have been playing them since finding EQ1 in 1999.
I will probably give Vanguard another go as I certainly did not get deep enough into the game at the beginning due to playign earlier MMO's that offered me something that I was looking for at the time which is a more singular playing experience, I'm now after more of a challenge and thats why this 10 lvl test got me interested.
In my own household my oldest son plays that other very popular MMO has done from the start, my other son plays DDO and my daughter is anxiously waiting on Freerealms to release so you can see we have a broad spectrum of MMO's covered and amazingly none of us argue over who's is better, I even take a look at how my kids are doing in their games from time to time and they always like to show me when they are up to something challenging.
So to finish I will give Vanguard another shot and try to go at it with no pre-conceived ideas of how the game should work and just let the experience take me.
They are not basing the contest on content or dungeons or character models they are basing it on how fun the games are in their opinion. No one reading these forums are going to be swayed by this contest because we all know what we like and dislike about both these games already. These reports are not for MMO vets they are for people who don't buy a game based on what the level 35 dungeon raid for glowing boots of power has in it.
I have played both games, EQ2 have a level 55 barbarian, Vanguard a 30something cleric, both games are fun but I think vanguard wins.
I have left behing EQ2 forever, but seriously, anyone saying VG is better than EQ2 does not know what he is talking about. Seriously, VG is SO behind the complexity, depth and advancement of EQ2 in almost every way. Comparing the first 10 levels to make a suggestion what to play is outright hilarious, btw, espcially since VG's first ten levels with the Isle of Dawn are totally so NOT like the rest of the game. Ridiculous.
People don't ask questions to get answers - they ask questions to show how smart they are. - Dogbert
This would have really been a neat thing if they had only added a few more people. Have 2 more people do the same and see what they uninstalled, would really add something to it other than one persons opinion.
I would play EQ2 over VG because although VG looks better it feels like it's empty while EQ2 is small (compared to the feel of VG) but it has more activity. I like WoW raiding better though. So, if they did EQ2 with WoW raiding and VG graphics then i'd play a game like that.
More than anything the review shows how your opinion can change If you stop at level 5 or 10 or 15 etc. But from what friends say VG does have the edge over EQII in terms of combat and making you feel you are achieving something.
Comments
Level 10 in EQ2 is quick, not so much in VG. How about a 12 hour /played comparision or something.
That's pretty cool. What server do you play on?
Seradon.
What kind of server is that? And what's the population like? Also, since I've never been able to get beyond level 5, I think (I know, I know, bad me), what's the game really like anyway? What do you do in it? (And I don't need crafting information; if that's not important to gameplay, then I typically avoid it altogether)
YOu can get to level 5 in about 30 minutes........lol.
There are 3 spheres of advancement, adventuring, diplomacy and crafting. You can do one without having to do the other two. If you do all 3 spheres then it becomes a huge time sink.
The game is a normal MMO which has a huge amount to do, the playing area is probably unrivalled and it's immense. Many quests and much of it is different to what you would normally find.
It's hard to explain, you need to play it. There are no instances however, all dungeons are open to whoever is running through.
If you don't do crafting then those high level items are going to be very expensive.
Seradon is a PvE server and is the one that most of the Aussies went to when the servers were merged.
P.S. I personally believe it's the only game to replace EQII and deserves its place right along side that game. It's a true RPG unlike WoW.
So it's pretty much about finding folks and doing the said open dungeons? Not, "hur hurr I'm max level, me want guild to raid for loots and gears"?
I guess for some people it can be like that. But I think overall with the 3 spheres of advancement that most people don't focus on that too much.
It's a different game, people are mature and there isn't anymore spamming. The game is involving and has a bit more depth.
I can't imagine a better game right now (but I know other people would argue that point).
I can see your opinion. I'd like to get into some games that I admire, but can't seem to do so. EVE's combat bores the heck out of me. But I really don't think I'd enjoy the diplomacy or crafting spheres of Vanguard. Just not my bag.
Watch two movies for ten minutes each and then decide which one that should get the Oscar.
Do you see my point?
Watch two movies for ten minutes each and then decide which one that should get the Oscar.
Do you see my point?
You don't spend a month getting to the end of a movie. You will often spend a month getting to the "endgame" of most current MMORPGs.
I want to point out that EQ2 had several expansions and max level is now 80(?). VG is still on level 50.
One of the traps of level based mmorpgs selling an expansion with level increase is, that the time to reach max level doesnt change. For example as I started to play EQ2 I reached max level 50 in 2 months. I bought an expansion and I needed again 1 month to reach max level. And so on. Now if you today start EQ2 you would, by this theoretical numbers, need 5 months to reach level 80. Thats not the case. The xp gain on lower levels today is much faster then in higher levels. That translates for me that a level 10 in VG would be around level 20 in EQ2.
Personally I hate level increasing expansion. They are sold as additional content which is IMO more or less a lie. In reality the increased xp rate will let you burn through the now lower level content in a much higher speed, until you reach the level range the designer just implemented. So there might me theoretically more content, practically you outlevel it insanely fast and you have to make an effort to experience this former, now old, content. Every expansion is more or less a reset to 0, the item grind starts again, you do 100 damage more (to compensate the mobs have 10k more life), instead +10 you get items with +12 and so on. But nothing really changes.
Thats IMO one of the reasons VG got a better score in this test as EQ2. The levelgain in VG is still original, no expansion came out and distorted it. It just "feels" more in line with the content compared to the turbo charged EQ2 one.
Sadly in the near future there will be a level increase in VG. Moderately (+5) but still I fear it starts the usual level treadmill like in all other level based mmorpgs.
didnt liked those 2. WoW was like love at the first sight haha. i hope blizzard can make another mmo as good !
Yeah, I didn't think they were going to add levels in the rumored expansion. Oh well. Perhaps in a few years that same design will have been outmoded.
You don't spend a month getting to the end of a movie. You will often spend a month getting to the "endgame" of most current MMORPGs.
No one asked you to max out your char and do endgame, but to really feel EQ2 you would need to try 20 levels, not 10 so you at least had the opportunity to try a group dungeon.
That you should be able to do in 3days at least, while you do 10 in one.
Watch two movies for ten minutes each and then decide which one that should get the Oscar.
Do you see my point?
You don't spend a month getting to the end of a movie. You will often spend a month getting to the "endgame" of most current MMORPGs.
You just made Jefferson point even more accurate, would you watch a movie for 2 minutes and then judge it?
Everquest 2 and Vanguard are NOT only just about end game, both game are about the voyage aswell (and their community agree) with the mentoring system, EQ2 is even more about the voyage, community and group experience.
As a MMO , Everquest 2 is superior, (much) more content, stabilished community, deeper character development etc, but in the end what matter is personal opinion, so a person could enjoy EQ2 or VG and its open world, but no one would be able to judge it withing the first 2 hours of gameplay, we are talking about MMORPGs, progression, know the community, experience and not play for 3 days and then forget about it.
Just a side note, today Everquest 2 has a much more active community/grouping than Warhammer, AOC and newer games, Vanguard is growing aswell, so if a person really enjoy a mmo-RPG, and just want group experiences with deeper classes, lore, dungeons than WoW and recent games, I would suggest, try both Everquest 2 and Vanguard.
It is amazing how animations and spells in Everquest 2 still more complex than WoW, War and sometiems even AOC, another good aspect is, for today PCs Everquest 2 and Vanguard are not demanding, but are gorgeous games both in technical side and artsyle.
To the OP, WoW is not for everyone who enjoy RPGs, I know a lot of people that would say, why play WoW if you can play GW, EQ2, L2 ... see you just got your opinion and spoke as universal truth, and please, dont use popularity as justification, some people just dont want to watch the movie Titanic, some people would prefer something like Cronenberg´s or Aronofsky´s movies.
...
Watch two movies for ten minutes each and then decide which one that should get the Oscar.
Do you see my point?
You don't spend a month getting to the end of a movie. You will often spend a month getting to the "endgame" of most current MMORPGs.
You don't understand the point.
I will just say like Doctor Phil did at one episode of his show: "You are not smart enough for me to be talking to".
So you feel the graphics of Vanguard are bland compared to the cartoon that is WoW? The music in Vanguard is annoying compared to that of WoW?
Are you serious? Really?
I am being serious that I didn't like the Music in the starting area and that I personally didn't get on with the graphics straight away, thats MY choice not yours to make, however I have said that this review has opened my eyes again to Vanguard and that I might try it again later on once I am done playing with WAR.
We all have very different tastes in art and music, I don't enjoy some of the music my wife listens to but I'm cetainly not going to tell her is she "Serious" about listening to that band as thats her taste and not mine, what a boring world we would live in if all our likes and dislikes where exactly the same.
Also I made no comparisons of the graphics to EQ2 or WoW. I mentioned that I had been spoiled with graphics/sound/UI etc meaning that the UI of WoW is easy to handle, the graphics of EQ2 are very smooth and polished the sound of both games is exciting and immersive the lighting is atmoshperic at times etc etc, forgive me but again these are all my own personal tastes, also I believe WoWs graphics are cartoony but it suits the game mood and I would love to see that type of graphics used for EQ1, doubt it would ever happen but I would still like to see it.
So you feel the graphics of Vanguard are bland compared to the cartoon that is WoW? The music in Vanguard is annoying compared to that of WoW?
Are you serious? Really?
I am being serious that I didn't like the Music in the starting area and that I personally didn't get on with the graphics straight away, thats MY choice not yours to make, however I have said that this review has opened my eyes again to Vanguard and that I might try it again later on once I am done playing with WAR.
We all have very different tastes in art and music, I don't enjoy some of the music my wife listens to but I'm cetainly not going to tell her is she "Serious" about listening to that band as thats her taste and not mine, what a boring world we would live in if all our likes and dislikes where exactly the same.
Also I made no comparisons of the graphics to EQ2 or WoW. I mentioned that I had been spoiled with graphics/sound/UI etc meaning that the UI of WoW is easy to handle, the graphics of EQ2 are very smooth and polished the sound of both games is exciting and immersive the lighting is atmoshperic at times etc etc, forgive me but again these are all my own personal tastes, also I believe WoWs graphics are cartoony but it suits the game mood and I would love to see that type of graphics used for EQ1, doubt it would ever happen but I would still like to see it.
Yeh Vanguards character creation screen looks very ugly and the music is terrible there and just doesn't do anything to WoW you.
I see I've now fallen into the "WoW" trap, should never have made any mention of WoW at all in my post as this just detracts from my response.
I'll make this very clear, I no longer play that other game, left it months ago to play other MMO's which I normally do as I have been playing them since finding EQ1 in 1999.
I will probably give Vanguard another go as I certainly did not get deep enough into the game at the beginning due to playign earlier MMO's that offered me something that I was looking for at the time which is a more singular playing experience, I'm now after more of a challenge and thats why this 10 lvl test got me interested.
In my own household my oldest son plays that other very popular MMO has done from the start, my other son plays DDO and my daughter is anxiously waiting on Freerealms to release so you can see we have a broad spectrum of MMO's covered and amazingly none of us argue over who's is better, I even take a look at how my kids are doing in their games from time to time and they always like to show me when they are up to something challenging.
So to finish I will give Vanguard another shot and try to go at it with no pre-conceived ideas of how the game should work and just let the experience take me.
I can't say fairer than that.
They are not basing the contest on content or dungeons or character models they are basing it on how fun the games are in their opinion. No one reading these forums are going to be swayed by this contest because we all know what we like and dislike about both these games already. These reports are not for MMO vets they are for people who don't buy a game based on what the level 35 dungeon raid for glowing boots of power has in it.
I have played both games, EQ2 have a level 55 barbarian, Vanguard a 30something cleric, both games are fun but I think vanguard wins.
I have left behing EQ2 forever, but seriously, anyone saying VG is better than EQ2 does not know what he is talking about. Seriously, VG is SO behind the complexity, depth and advancement of EQ2 in almost every way. Comparing the first 10 levels to make a suggestion what to play is outright hilarious, btw, espcially since VG's first ten levels with the Isle of Dawn are totally so NOT like the rest of the game. Ridiculous.
People don't ask questions to get answers - they ask questions to show how smart they are. - Dogbert
This would have really been a neat thing if they had only added a few more people. Have 2 more people do the same and see what they uninstalled, would really add something to it other than one persons opinion.
What raids have you done in eq2?
More than anything the review shows how your opinion can change If you stop at level 5 or 10 or 15 etc. But from what friends say VG does have the edge over EQII in terms of combat and making you feel you are achieving something.