f13.net

I need something MMO.  Since I do not know how to set up a poll I will do this the ol' fashioned way- hand ballot, natch.  Feel free to list pros and cons, but please make clear what your vote is for.  At the end I will get one of those 2 games with all expansions and begin on a server lacking f13 members. 

This could be fun!  Note if you are interested in joining the winning game.  Arbitrary random date for all votes will be 1/10. 

 :drill:

EVERQUEST 2:   1

WORLD OF WARCRAFT:   1

Everquest 2.  I dont know anything about you, but I'm hoping your the kind of guy who enjoys the process and not the destination. If you dont try and rocket to the top, but you do the quests to get your AAs and your armor quests and the myriad other things to do, you'll really have a great time. EQ2 isnt about barreling to the top - it's about the exploration and fun on the way there.

New Poll is right next to New Topic, n00b.

I vote for either, they'll definitely be better than the tripe you usually play.  But if I have to pick one.. I pick:

WoW.  Just to even the score.

PS.  If you want, start a new Poll and I can nuke this topic. 

You are green, I am pink.  All I have is a new topic option.  No biggy, it gave me a reason to create a CARNIVAL type appearance.  Plus I love editing the first post, it boosts my self esteem. 

This could be fun; hopefully we get others to jump on the bandwagon and form a new f13 crowd to invade another game (not holding my breath).

WoW.  If you like class/level/ding it's teh win.

Elf Online. Then a frontpage review of the beta.

Both are fine games; however I have a personal preference, which, lacking much information about your tastes is what I will foist off on you. Despite a more extensive list of cons, I find that EverQuest 2 is a more enjoyable game because it has a little more substance and is a little easier to play as a somewhat casual, but experienced MMO gamer who can maintain patience in achieving longer term goals. I would recommend WoW to either the very casual player, or the competitive raid gamer (read: person with gobs of time on their hands.)

WoW has a very slick presentation, the content gives you a constant direction (I’ve heard it described as running on rails, but I don’t agree,) has good PVP with several options, and offers up interesting raid game challenges. The game’s community is essentially the MMO equivalent of reading Youtube comments though, but you can mitigate that effect somewhat by joining a good guild.

EverQuest 2 is surely rougher around the edges, especially when considering the older content. Just about anything you will find in “Echos of Faydwer” and “Rise of Kunark” is worth doing. Look very critically at anything older than that before attempting it, especially original content.

A major annoyance is that at upper levels, with all your skills, macros and a serviceable amount of consumables and hot swap buttons, your hotkeys can take up at least 4 rows (each with 12 hotkeys.) 48 (or more,) buttons you will use in nearly every play session. It’s not challenging, just tedious.

EQ2 Raid gaming is not as compelling as it is with WoW, but it does sustain raiding populations that range from fairly casual to hardcore. This borders on being a pro for me, as there is less incentive to chase “teh ubar.” Raids are there, they’re doable, somewhat rewarding, but not extremely varied in terms of objectives and methods for accomplishing them.

As far as PvP though, stab your cock now and get it over with. It’s not a PVP game, and never will be. SOE introduced “PvP Arenas” (blatant WoW rip off,) with the Kingdom of Sky expansion - there’s no point in using them as they’re not rewarding or fun. But don’t worry – nobody does use them. The PvP servers are not much better, severely hampered by zone-line topography, fast travel abilities, instant zone abilities, class imbalances, and level locked twinks.

And now that I’m done being so critical, you might ask why I’d recommend this game at all. The reason is that the content, within the previously defined band of newer offerings, is more open ended, varied, and personally satisfying – especially if you were a fan of EQ1.

I also prefer the look of the semi-realistic graphics when played on higher settings, which most people should be able to do here in 2008.

Lastly, the community is overall more mature. It’s still the intardnet though, so don’t be shocked, amazed and offended if you happen to meet someone who chips a tiny piece away from your respect for humanity. http://www.eq2flames.com/hall-flames/14725-keigo-had-irl-sex-my-wife-ab-server-drama.html

WoW.

City of Heroes/Villains.  Yeah, I know ... ZOMGZNOENDGAME.  If you're sick of dragons and raiding and inventory tetris, CoX might fit the bill.  CoX is more about the journey to max level, rather than what happens after you hit max level.

Some people find it grindy.  I don't at all.  In fact, after 3 characters to level 70, I think WoW is grindier.  Full bias disclosure:  I've never played EQ2, because I will never play another SOE game.  Ever.

WoW, because it can run on even the crappiest of work laptops.

sb.exe

Yah, I had it running on a Pentium M 1.6 Ghz laptop which only's saving grace was that it had a gig of RAM.  Some 32 meg graphics card and the game itself was on an external hard drive connected with a USB cable.  I even raided with that set up. 

I voted "other" and wasn't really a fan of either of the elf simulators you had as your voting options.

The write in I'd put in the other category is Pirates of the Burning Sea, and it's probably as far from the typical fantasy MMO as can be had. Innovative, yet maybe a little un-polished, but still an overall good game, with PvP ship combat, crafting and questing.

Well I have been dicken around in wow hoard, blood elf side. Until it got so bad that I had to start a priest. Only because soloing a priest before the shadow talents is nearly as much fun as gouging your eye out with a dull plastic spork.

You know where this is going.

So if you want to be followed by your own personal mute buff and heal bot you will join me in wow.

My name is Hal, will rez for food!!

Realistically, I have not checked out the new expansion in EQ2. And I would wager that it is good based on the quality that Neriak and related zones are. So let us know what you decide.

Don't you already own both games?

I sold my WoW account.  I figure I would start fresh with a new account and all; if I revive my old EQ2 account it would be tempting to log into one of my old characters for stuffs.

That's one man's opinion. A lot of people totally disagree.

Let's start with the level-locked twinks part. Level-locking (assuming he means for the purpose of maximizing AA points to be overpowered) is something that a) anyone can do b) not against the spirit of the game and c) just a smart thing to do if you plan to PvP. PvPers have always looked for an edge. And what they're doing is maximizing their use of the content. Whereas in WoW you'd be hard-pressed to stop and smell the shit-smeared roses...in EQ2 you're actually rewarded for exploring the topography, getting into the content and so on. One of the ways you're rewarded is with AA points (Technically not their name but it's a holdover from EQ1).

Fast travel - this really doesnt hurt PvP at all. Sure it sucks when someone you're attacking jumps on a carpet or gryphon to fly away but that hardly ever happens during combat. As for it making it easier to get around PvP, Id say that's a wash because you can almost always find someone coming off a tower to attack...so it's a static place to kill folks (Thundering Steppes is a great place to kill Q's). Perhaps I missed the word abilities in your wording. Horses and carpets got you down? Well PvP is about tracking people down in my estimation. People arent just there for your amusement. The satisfaction of a good PK requires a little effort. Sorry 'bout that.

zone-line topography - eh? care to elucidate your point?

EQ2. That game has changed. WoW really has not.

But I'm pretty sure you were in EQ2 with me around the biggest change (pub 19 with the new class system and crafting), so not sure if EQ2 has changed enough. Doesn't matter anyway, since the only substantive change to WoW is the more speedy XP to get you to the endgame that is the same as it was pre-BC.

I played EQ2 off and on for ages.  It simply doesn't motivate me much anymore.  You experienced the ibg changes when you last played... I remember because I was there.  It's an good game with a shit load of "meh" in it.  A bunch of f13'ers have started over on some pvp server in WoW.  I don't play that often, because, again... too much of the "been there, done that" feeling.  Hopefully it'll just be a placeholder for something better.  I know, everyone says that but we still like to look cute and hopeful.

As far as PvP in EQ2 goes... Darksign is wrong and everyone who disagrees with him is right.  Honest.

Try EvE!  14 days free and you get to blow shit up.  Its more fun when your magic missile lacks magic and has missile.

If you are determined to play fantasy though, I would recommend EQ2 for reasons which have already been enumerated.

EQ2, broke me of my wow addiction.

Play WoW. Get a 60 day game card, plus a 10-day trial. Play it, enjoy the questing and levelling, don't worry about the dings or the getting to max level. If you're still interested after 70 days, buy another card. If not, go the EQ2 for a little while.

I usually last for about 1 1/2 60 day cards before taking a break for a month or three. Works well.

If you can't decide on one, I'd say LotRO. An intermediate diku with plenty of fun + polish. :-) It has worked well as a middle-ground for many of my WoW/EQ2'ing friends.

I havent been around here very long, but head over to the EQ2 boards and they'll back me up. Honest.

Puzzle Pirates.

I played EQ2 for a pretty long time and I've read those boards right up until my sub ran out a week or so ago and they're all wrong.  EQ2 PvP really does suck.  Lots and lots!  Really!  :-)

WoW has battle ground daily quests now. You get gold and points for killing elves. What more could you want?

I respect your opinion, especially because I played very seriously at EQ2 PVP when Nagafen launched - I was one of the first people who had the Dreadnaught title, and I had a lot of fun getting it.

I played a Brigand, and it was just about the ideal combination of PvP ability: stealth, tracking, massive damage, instant zone ability and knockdown/stuns. I knew even at the time how broken it was. But I didn't mind because I was having so much fun. If I had 20 minutes to spare, I knew I could zip over to qeynos hills or thundering steppes and rack up a few kills by popping into stealth and tracking around until I located a viable target. I started to solo hunt groups. I could take out a group of even cons if I got their healers and see invis folks in the first pass - then I could commence popping back and forth into stealth and stalking the stragglers. What I really liked to do though, was smuggle a whole group into the middle of an enemy group and finish them in one gulp. It made me feel proud and good. Like a man. (Nothing sexist intended, just a "Rounders" quote.)

Of course that fun didn't last. After a while it felt like shooting fish in a barrel. So I'd look for more and more challenge, but what I found were cheap tricks:

Zoneline topography: People would wait in places with many nearby zone lines and if trouble came, they would just zone repeatedly to escape it.

Fast Travel Abilities: Everyone has a sprint ability, which lasts an amazingly long time if you don't engage in combat and use good drink, and a horde of pursuers would be necessary to take down one pest using hit and run tactics. It was especially bad vs. a dirge or bard who could regen themselves faster and run much more quickly than other classes.

Instant Zone Abilities: Outnumbered and being killed? Hit that escape button, stand next to the level 70 guards in your city, go AFK for 20 minutes, come back, rinse, repeat as necessary.

In the end it felt like "Benny Hill Online" with everyone running around in circles at hyper fast speeds, and popping in and out of doors.

As I mentioned before, my brigand had the long end of the stick as far as class imbalances go. Conversely, some classes are just very very lame for PvP - Guardian comes to mind immediately.

I understand that some of these problems may have been addressed since I played, but they can never be completely removed, and new problems are appearing as new features are introduced. For instance, what I mean by level locked twinks: people get to a certain low level, then lock their adventuring exp. They buy up all the best spells, armor and weapons, and get as many AA as they can, then destroy newbies who have no chance of fighting back. May as well not even bother with a level cap.

You might be able to put up with all that, and more power to you, but I don't think that Joe/Jane Q. Public is up for it. And anyways, Signe agrees with me in principal, and the dark Tinkerbelle avatar is hot, so I feel validated.

PS: One of the best kills I ever had was my first kill. When the servers came up I immediately got a few easy levels, then went all the way over to the Qeynos newbie yards. As I'm standing invis on the dock in some fruity forest zone wondering how I'm going to get past the guards at the end of a tunnel infront of me, this prissy high elf paladin comes trotting out. Backstab, knockdown, dizzy spam ensues, and when I loot the body I find 1 gold, which back then was a big deal. I recalled back to my city and hoarded my ill gotten wealth like the dirty little ratonga brigand I was.

EQ2 because everyone is going to vote for WoW. Duh.


But honestly, I did the 3 day trial of Tabula Rasa, and I suggest that one. Unless you aren't in a sci-fi mood. In which case, whatever.

I vote for Dwarf Fortress.

Dwarf Fortress is a great choice.


If you really need an MMO, and like the chafing of other people's drama, try Eve.  No running per se, but lots of grinding with killer attitude. 

Disclaimer:  I don't play it anymore.

EQ2, 'cause WoW blows muppets.

I'd play a Dwarf Fortress MMO. :awesome_for_real: Well, it might need something better than ASCII graphics.

Start off as a dwarf in one of a few computer run fortresses and focus on your skills of interest through automated quests, learning the game and developing a basic level of competence, but this would only be viable to a certain point. Then you either journey out to adventure or join up with an existing player fortress, or pick up and start your own fortress with a group of friends.

The leader(s) of that fortress would then create their own quests by issuing orders, but instead of AI following the orders it would be some player with the appropriate skill doing it for a specified reward.

It would need to integrate a strong adventuring aspect though, which should be viable without participating in fortress building.

Hot damn.  :pedobear:

EQ2 especially if you've played WOW before. WOW is the same every time, EQ2 has a lot more diversity and its changed a lot. (After several months of 5 nights a week raiding, I can't bring myself to log in to EQ2, but it's a great game.)

Your opinion is fine, but...

 if you were to post here that Vanguard is a great game, you could also then post that anyone who disbelieves you should head over to the Vanguard boards and they'll back you up. Honest.

WoW

Definitely WOW.  COME JOIN US ON VENTURE CO!!!!

I can only vote once.  How is that fair?  (http://www.buzzlife.com/forums/images/smilies/sad.gif)

You just need to know the trick.  Get a magnet and a Blackberry.

You sound like Macguyver. :drill:

I think your poll should be weighted based on number of people playing. Let's see, EQ2 has 200k Subs and Wow has 8Mill... so that's around 97% for EQ2

Shadowbane. Let's form a Guild. It's free, fast and crap-looking nasty peeveepee.

Or, EverQuest 2. Which is expensive, slow and candy-coated carebearish. But it's what I voted here, and played for 2 years.

Yes. Please. I still have numerous accounts with almost level capped characters.

I still go back once in a while.

I am weak.   :oops:

Not me.  I'll never play SB again.  Why do that to myself?  I went back once, killed one of those HORRIBLE spiders and received sb.exe as loot.  Never ever ever again.

But that doesn't happen anymore, Signay. Don't you secretely miss that sweet and ever-changing female casting animation audio sample?  :awesome_for_real:

I'd only go back as serious F13 push, like a couple dozen of us.

I would totally be in for that if ever got going. Still easily the best guild experience I have ever had.

I'd give it a shot to try it out; I missed Shadowbane when it first released, and as a result I don't get any of these sb.exe references around here. :uhrr:

Ched,

If you want a fun trip to the endgame WoW is a better choice.  If you want a more immersive world (housing, crafting, collection quests, etc) EQ2 is the better choice.  Both are good games. 

I'd definitely be part of a return to Shadowbane.

if it's the first time you're playing both games, I'd say take WoW. You can see more stuff in a short time, have a nice lore tour and have fun.

I'm splitting time between UO and WoW as the mood strikes me.  So far I'm really digging the buffs to the lowbie game in WoW.  Decreased XP requirements per level?  Yay.  Increased quest XP?  Double yay.  Increased loot in low-end instances?  HOLY FUCKING SHIT ITS RAINING BLUE ITEMS YAY!

"Sb.exe as loot".


Genius.

Giggle.

If you can go into the game with a clean slate and no preconceived agenda try SWG on one of the populated servers like Bria.

Did that to myself recently. I puked bile.  :ye_gods:

See, I'd rather have an interesting lowbie game rather than a faster track through it. Not that EQ2 is moving in that direction, either.

The problem with "interesting" is that it's a relative term.  The new newbie zones in WoW are more interesting.  They still haven't approached the realm of great literature, though.

Even the old midlevel zones are probably interesting the first time through.  It takes some discipline not to spoil it for yourself or trivialize it.

I'd wager that most MMOGs are like that, but it's just too easy to trivialize it with everyone's eye on the end prize.  Which MMOGs have the best backstory is probably the subject of a whole new thread.  AC1 gets my vote, with WoW a close second.  UO gets the booby prize for eviscerating all the "virtue" and other Ultimaness right out of it.

Facing the same quandry as Cheddar, a while  back I re-upped both EQ II and Wow to see which would stick.

A lot had changed in EQ II, as even my old well-travelled areas in terms of quests and some of the layouts seemed fresh.  Many of the classic areas have been revamped with new quest lines.  There is also  a huge amount of new content and areas to explore with the new expansion  as well as the areas I never got to in the previous ones.

WoW, on the other had was pretty much exactly the same as when as left it. Thinking one of the  new character races would spice things up, I unfortunately found the gameplay as stale as the old Dorito I found under the couch last week while vacuuming. YMMV though as I am definately looking at this from a PvE perspective.

So I chose EQ II and am still playing.

I must concur with Falconeer.

JTL was still fun, but not enough to hold my interest past earning two more pilot profession badges.  Thanks to the profession respec kits I was able to RE three houses full of space loot to make some good parts.

I tried it out for Beast Mastery though.  I even hit it near a new publish where they fixed a large number of complaints about the system.  Then their mini-publish follow-up promptly reverted all those changes and made them worse than before.  New devs, same old crap.

Web Sudoku is more entertaining.

I am going to close the voting - WoW seems to have won by a large margin.   :drill:

I will post my server when I get back from the store, people are welcome to join me!

Why not play with the group that recently restarted?

WoW - Venture Co. server, Horde side.  That's where everyone is.

How many is everybody?

I want to say 19 in guild with about 5-7 playing every night.

And by night you mean?

I think you're just pulling my leg.  It's an American server. 

Sorry, EST makes for bad gaming buddies.  Was just wondering since this is a bit appealing to me, and I could toss my L63 mage over to lord my shinies over all the plebs.  Or, I could bring my L30 Hunter that I always enjoyed playing over.  Or my L22 Priest.  Or..

I think that the most diehard of the people playing are CST and MST.  It changes nightly and is a VERY casual crowd save about 4 of us. 

Cool, maybe I'll float over there sometime next week.

I've been playing on another server for a bit.  I want to finish the quests in the cute, blue and well-hoofed area and they won't let me do that on the same server.  After that, I'll probably play my Bloody Elf rogue again.  Or maybe a Cow druid like everyone else.  (http://groups.teenhelp.org/images/smilies/cows/Banger-Cow.gif)

Or hunter!!  You can collect cute pets with weird Signe-names!!