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Title: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Draegan on February 04, 2009, 08:18:08 AM
I just dropped my WOW sub because I accomplished everything I really wanted before catass mode kicked in.  My buddy did the same and he went back to playing EQ2, a game he played for quite a while.

So I decided to give the game a go.. again.. and picked up the new expansion.  It was on sale at Best Buy.

Anyone play this game?  It actually looks really good on my new PC with everything turned to Extreme Quality.  I never got passed level 20 though in previous endeavors.



Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: tazelbain on February 04, 2009, 08:20:30 AM
Try not to start in Qeynos or Freeport.  (unless they have been totally redone while I wasn't looking.)


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Nebu on February 04, 2009, 08:37:16 AM
Nektulos is a great place to start in terms of questing and first tier gathering, but the graphics can be a real hog if your system isn't current. 


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 04, 2009, 09:43:56 AM
Yeah, if you tweak your graphics settings, save it as a profile. Then when you go into a newer city like Kelethin or Neriak, load up a low graphics setting and tweak it up to bearable performance and save that as your city profile. Then you'll need one later on for raiding, probably, because each low setting has specific needs.

But when you can crank it high, the graphics are really nice.

If you want the best newbie gear, you need to start in whatever the kunark city is called. Newbie gear there is insane, but I hate the city itself.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Draegan on February 04, 2009, 10:36:50 AM
My system can handle everything EQ2 can throw at me, so I'm not worried about that.  My previous rig could not.  They actually optimized the engine to take advantage of double core cpus.  I also run two 4850s in crossfire and have 4gigs of ram.  It runs nicely.

My friend is helping me and he's all mythical geared out or whatever it's called and I started in the newest newbie area.

So anyone play in the later game? Around max level or so?  How is it?


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 04, 2009, 11:28:00 AM
Just about everyone but me plays the late game. I haven't played in a year now, but I'm about 95% solo. To me, max level means go play something new or start over :)


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Draegan on February 04, 2009, 12:48:29 PM
Just about everyone but me plays the late game. I haven't played in a year now, but I'm about 95% solo. To me, max level means go play something new or start over :)

What I mean by late game is the new stuff before you hit max level.  Like the leveling/dungeon stuff from the last few expansions.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Lantyssa on February 04, 2009, 02:01:15 PM
If you play multiple characters but want the interface of one copied over:

/save_uisettings (on the character you have set up)
/load_uisettings (on the character you want to duplicate it)


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: sigil on February 05, 2009, 02:03:45 PM
I've been playing with a friend who got me sucked in since early December. I have a level 53  Fury/ thirtysomething carpenter and a slew of  mid teen alts, all on Butcherblock

I've really never had to reduce graphics yet,  but the biggest thing I've done  is a six man Deathfist . Neriak is beautiful but makes me nauseous


Timorous Deep, Particularly the town with its freaking elevators fills me with loathing, though. That and the Sarnak make me want to slap them around a bit.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Numtini on February 05, 2009, 02:10:02 PM
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who dislikes Timorous.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: dusematic on February 05, 2009, 03:50:30 PM
This game is decent.  I'm not sure why I never tried it at launch.  A while back they were offering like, 6 months free gametime, with access to every expansion.  So I took the bait.  Got to level 30 or so.  Solid experience.  I was a an old gnarly looking bandit with balding white hair. 

I have to say though, even a AAA title like EQ2 is lackluster in the "polish."  What exactly I mean by that is hard to effectuate into words, but you really appreciate just how fucking slick WoW is, and Blizzard games are in general.  They're fucking psycho in their attention to detail and level of professionalism. 


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Bandit on February 05, 2009, 06:04:27 PM
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who dislikes Timorous.

Horribly designed starting area - avoid at all costs.  Kethelin is pretty good I thought, but your limited in race and class....it would be torture to play to 80 with a Fae (or Arsai for that fact).


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Lantyssa on February 05, 2009, 08:41:35 PM
I rather like my Arasai.  Queen Cristinos dotes all over us, too.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Numtini on February 06, 2009, 05:52:00 AM
I'm pretty sure you can start other good and neutral races in Kelethin. Plus, it has the easiest betrayal in the game. Just kill orcs for about 45 minutes. If you time the level right, you can even grind xp while you do it.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Bandit on February 06, 2009, 05:56:35 AM
Yeah you can definitely start with other good/neutral races in Keth....I believe just not humans/barbs/dwarves? I took a wood-elf to 80 out of Keth, and it is definitely a good place to base as a home - much more organized than most other starting areas with no loading.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 06, 2009, 07:43:12 AM
My high elf paladin started in Kelethin. I really liked teh atmosphere there.

The reason I suggested Tim Deep was the loot. It's /so much/ better than other newbie loot that you pretty much have to start there or be gimped for your level. However, if he's getting twinked up it probably doesn't matter at all.

Damn, now I'm starting to feel the urge again. And the program I'm in right now demands you reward yourself for progress, and I hadn't been able to think of a cheap reward...(surprise, I have classic AD/HD!).


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Modern Angel on February 06, 2009, 01:06:03 PM
My brother has been making noise about checking this out sometime soon. I read something in another thread about some high-res texture pack... what's the skinny on this?


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Numtini on February 06, 2009, 01:29:15 PM
I think you're thinking of LOTRO. EQ2 is the one where all the graphics are high and still bring any machine to its knees if you turn them all the way up.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Modern Angel on February 06, 2009, 02:23:54 PM
Naw, man. Was in some thread here on f13. I just can't recall where.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 06, 2009, 08:47:08 PM
Try the LotRO forum  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Strazos on February 07, 2009, 04:06:26 PM
I have a 62 Illusionist now, on Butcherblock. Still fun, and lots of stuff to explore.

Too bad my PC is a PoS.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Nebu on February 07, 2009, 09:55:33 PM
Played a brigand, warden, inquisitor, and a defiler into the 50's.  I love what EQ2 was trying to do, but just couldn't ever stay with the game more than a month or two at a time.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 09, 2009, 12:03:20 PM
Over the weekend I resubbed. I usually take a lowbie out for a test-drive so I can get warmed up to the UI and whatnot, so I deleted my RoK launch character (I liked my monk better than that bruiser anyway), rolled up a Zerker (Bartolomeus the Barbarian Berzerker!). Then I deleted my very first EQ2 character, a crappy necro who was on LDL, finally got around to booting him for good. It's hard for me to free up spots because of my crafters, I'd like to ditch my guardian but he's level 60 something provisioner...

Anyway, rolled up a brigand and he seems pretty cool. Might actually tradeskill him up as a chemist so I can delete my ranger. Until I get going, I have the worst case of indecision with picking a class. I like my SK and Wiz (who is lvl 66, didn't know I had him that high), and my monk and necro are reserved for super-twinking some day.

Thought about playing my Illu, but a Coercer sounds fun, too. The Illu is my jeweler, though, so I guess it's all about him. My paladin is on the chopping block, but I like him from an RP standpoint, even if I gave up on his weaponsmithing at lvl 30, metals are just too ridiculous to level up both weaponcrafting AND armorcrafting, and my SK needed armor. I've also got a fury/woodcrafter in the wings to play someday.

Maybe I should just buy the new expansion and check it out with my wizard once I relearn him.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 11, 2009, 07:12:59 AM
Coercers are wicked fun to play! Wish I had tried one years ago.

When thinking about rolling a new alt, I was checking the whine forums and it looks like the SK is the overpowered fotm? Unless you read the SK official forum, of course. Maybe it's time to dust off my SK for a bit.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Nebu on February 11, 2009, 08:09:45 AM
I have to say that the most fun I had in the game was playing my brigand.  Played to its potential, you could use stuns and positionals to kill really tough single targets.  I enjoyed having to time my hits and maneuver around while getting the most out of my debuffs.  Sadly, when it came to killing groups, I wasn't so effective.  Maybe that's because my weapons and poison were the only things I upgraded religiously.

If I had a regular group of people to game with, EQ2 is the title I'd be playing.  Lacking that, it's just not very fun solo. 


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 11, 2009, 09:34:35 AM
What is regular?  :awesome_for_real: I usually play for an hour or so a night at 11pm EST or so. When we were running the BC trio last year it was a lot of fun, I forget the classes...I was playing my wiz, plus Trag and gimpy who were a zerk and....I forget. Tough because it wasn't an optimal group, but fun. Being able to do group content is a revelation for me :)

I had a lot of fun with my brigand, even though he's supernewb. I bet with brig stuns + coercer stuns you could do one hell of a stunlock.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Nebu on February 11, 2009, 10:13:31 AM
What is regular?  :awesome_for_real:

I just mean a group a people I like chatting with playing maybe a day or two a week.  The best part of EQ2 are the dungeon crawls and I refuse to do them with a pug. 

I have a RL friend that I used to play a bit with, but we eventually got tired of only being able to experience a small part of the game without involving a) random quality players or b) a drama-filled guild. 

I've been dabbling in CoH for this reason.  Great game for solo/duo play.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: SnakeCharmer on February 11, 2009, 10:34:49 AM
I really want to like EQ2.  And I *do* like it.

I messed around with a trial a couple weeks ago and walked away pretty damn impressed.  And I generally, as a rule, don't like fantasy games.  And like Nebu, my biggest problem is finding consistent people to game with.  Most of my old regular crew are 2 hrs behind (I'm CST, mostly playing 9pm to 11pm or so) or in Europe, and quite frankly, I've lost touch with most of them.

But anyway.  Yeah. 


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 11, 2009, 12:28:33 PM
I have little rants now and again about grouping or the way modern mmo sets up dungeons with elite/heroic mobs, but in reality I've made my peace with the way it is. EQ2 has a LOT to offer solo players, and in fact with proper class choice and intelligent playing, you can overcome some of the limitations, though it takes longer and probably isn't worth it for sane people. I've been playing EQ2 since launch and my highest is 66. To say I take the road less traveled is an understatement.

And I do enjoy grouping, but not with any random player. There's just way too much variation in skill, not to mention most people in my level range are alts who often have garbage gear (because it's not worth 'wasting' money on when you'll blow through a tier in a few hours) and the players are real demandy because they come from the high-end environment where things are stricter and demandier. It's also why I don't want to raid, I can't tell you if I'll be around this saturday night, let alone have some set schedule to play the game in perpetuity.

I have a bunch of teen-20 alts and my 45 SK and 66 Wiz, my coercer will get combat-xp-locked around 22-23 but I plan on playing him for a while. That's another issue, I level slow as fuck (intentionally), so it makes it difficult to group regularly, even with mentoring. I've little interest in leveling quickly, in fact it's counter-productive to my playstyle.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Nebu on February 11, 2009, 12:32:52 PM
I guess I could just have an alt that I only played when a group was around.  That way I would get to a) experience the dungeon crawls and b) not outlevel the group.  Maybe I'll fire this back up and create an alt on your server (if you would be interested in grouping on odd occasions). 

EQ2 does have a lot for the solo player.  I just enjoy the grouping dynamic and often get bored if I don't have someone to at least chat with while running quests.  Could be that I also play too long during my play sessions.  If I just played in shorter bursts, I may be able to hang on longer.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 11, 2009, 12:48:25 PM
Yeah, I've found sticking to an hour (or two!) a night is great. Sometimes I might play on a weekend morning, if my fiancee is working. Anyway, if you want to roll up an alt on Oasis, I can invite you to BC and we can see about some twinkage. I can't do a lot, but at low levels you don't need alot. Once you hit 20 I can make you up some t3 armor and spells or whatever, especially if you harvest :)


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Strazos on February 11, 2009, 04:22:18 PM
You should all come to Butcherblock and join my fledgling guild. We even have access to 2 Chinese farmers who play like it's their jobs and have lots of crafters.

Ok, so the two Chinese guys are personal friends of mine. They still play like fucking yerrow gold farmers.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: SnakeCharmer on February 11, 2009, 05:49:50 PM
Heh.  What's the overpowered class right now?  I ask, because I fully admit to sucking hind tit at MMOs anymore and I need the crutch.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: SnakeCharmer on February 11, 2009, 07:39:20 PM
Also, what are the worthwhile mods for this game?


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Numtini on February 12, 2009, 06:26:07 AM
Also, what are the worthwhile mods for this game?

Profit UI Reborn for a complete UI makeover. This can be a shock, but once you get used to it, it's absolutely amazing.

Advanced Combat Tracker for a non-integrated parser. This is simply the best parser I've ever seen in any game. You can customize your miniwindow--even toss it on the miniscreen of a G15 keyboard. It has an amazing mode that lets you replay the combat in diagram form to analyze things.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: SnakeCharmer on February 12, 2009, 06:48:51 AM
I grabbed ProfitUI last night.  Was a bit of a shock, but it was SO much better than stock.  I need to learn everything about it though.  In many ways, its giving me more information than I really need.

Is there ANY way to resize the health/stamina/mana bar windows?  On my 24 inch widescreen, they are only about 2 inches wide.  I would LOVE it if I could stretch them the width of the monitor, or at least halfway.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 12, 2009, 06:55:55 AM
Blah, the default UI is pretty flexible/scalable. I don't raid often, so I don't bother with raid UIs. ACT is a fun diversion now and again, but I dislike parsers because so many demandy people use them to be douchebags.

I was reading that SKs are overpowered for some reason right now. Surprises me, they're always whining pretty hard about being gimpy and un-needed. I like my SK, but he wasn't overpowered when I was playing him last year. I guess it depends on your playstyle, solo group or raid. And what you want to do within that, for soloing you can be straight solo content or you can farm nameds. The SK was a bit weak at named farming because of his slow FD, tough to travel the zone, whereas my monk could leave everything but the nameds and their encounters alive. Most classes are a compromise like that, which I think is pretty great. And then your preferred class style, finger waggly, hidey, bashy, etc.

I played the coercer again last night, got to 16 or 17. Really fun class, the charm and CC is an interesting change to the way I've always played the game. Trying to remember my pet skills, I played a Necro in EQ1. Last night I was experimenting with caster pets, setting a mage pet to /pet ranged seemed to really burn them out of power pretty fast, so I had high turnover as I'd ditch them when they were oop. Cleric pets seemed better at this level range, a few hostile spells but they also self-heal which was nice.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: SnakeCharmer on February 12, 2009, 07:17:43 AM
Rolled up a warlock.  Was pretty damn fun.  Jacked the settings way up to max, and man oh man, did it bring my computer to its knees when I was in a populated area.  First game that's ever done that...


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 12, 2009, 07:33:09 AM
Yeah, I was about to comment that things had gotten better on that front, but then I had to run around fucking Gorowyn (srsly, what brain-damaged moron designed that layout?) and had a CTD last night. Got the fuck out of dodge and it runs great (as usual). Just save a graphics option profile with lower settings for Gorowyn, Neriak and Kelethin.

Warlock should be a pretty easy mode. My highest level guy being a wizard (single target focus, 'lock is AE focus of the same class) I know a bit about playing them. Basically, get over dying and the class is a lot of fun. But you'll die alot. You're only as healthy as your last root. Master your root and big nuke after level 20 or so, depending on how fast you plan on levelling, maybe after level 30. Other than that, the usual advice: get good food, use charm dolls, yada.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Numtini on February 12, 2009, 07:47:25 AM
Quote
I was reading that SKs are overpowered for some reason right now. Surprises me, they're always whining pretty hard about being gimpy and un-needed

That's probably the difference between raiding and non-raiding. The one thing SOE has never managed to do is find a real purpose in raids for something other than a guardian as MT and a pally or zerker as OT.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Draegan on February 12, 2009, 12:55:34 PM
So I've only played 2 nights since I bought this game.

I hate when life gets in the way of games.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 13, 2009, 06:40:05 AM
And I've been staying up an extra hour playing the last couple nights. Damn games. But I do love when you get into the gaming zone, it happens so rarely for me anymore. As I was saying, it's pretty cool when a class can kinda change the way you approach a game. With the coercer I'm starting to look at things in a different light, experimenting with pet classes, had a hoeran (sp) zerk last night who was just slicing through stuff, then I made a detour to get the cleric skellie I had the night before.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: shiznitz on February 13, 2009, 01:15:17 PM
Maybe I should just buy the new expansion and check it out with my wizard once I relearn him.

No reason to buy the expansion if you don't have an 80.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Strazos on February 13, 2009, 05:26:45 PM
To be fair, you can get to 80 pretty quickly if you want.

I rolled a Warlock recently, and after coming off my Illusionist....wow. Not accustomed to casting spells that slowly, and not having a combat pet that random debuffs stuns and roots.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: SnakeCharmer on February 14, 2009, 06:43:01 AM
Rolled up a SK to play around with last night.  Lots of fun.  Much more fun than the warlock.  Feels overpowered with decent ranged attacks and good strong melee attacks.  Ding'd 11 I think. 

Anyway, name is Garrus, on Oasis.

Oddly enough, playing EQ2 makes me think I should be playing WoW instead...That if I am going to play fantasy diku on rails, I may as well play the best.  But EQ2 has some features that WoW doesn't (housing, etc), so there's that.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Numtini on February 14, 2009, 01:21:31 PM
Sort of funny, I'm finally raiding in WoW and it just makes me nostalgic for EQ2.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Kirth on February 15, 2009, 05:27:32 AM
I was thinking about this game the other day. It's basically the only game since WoW came out that I played for more then a month (WAR, AoC, LotRO, EVE). That being said, after reading this thread I'm patching the client now  :awesome_for_real:



Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 15, 2009, 11:51:25 PM
So I got the Coercer to 22 and drove him down to my newbie testing grounds, WC. My monk has farmed the everloving shit out of that dungeon, so I'm pretty familiar with the mobs and layout. Went for the first named, Soulspike, and led off by charming one of his adds. Whole cave of greys jumps me, run for the door.  :oh_i_see:

Jumped on the monk and went over to BB and messed around in there, a bit tougher than WC due to tons of linked groups packed into tight rooms around the nameds, but goddamn if feign death isn't my favorite thing about EQ (I played a necro and monk in EQ1). Monks just rule for farming.

So I dunno. I like the coercer, lots of fun and charming different classes and having named pets is cool and all, but I've already got a lvl 66 cloth dps. Not sure if I'll put much more time into the coercer.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: SnakeCharmer on February 16, 2009, 10:49:25 AM
I've been tempted to roll a Monk.

Before that, let me ask you (or anyone else that wants to chime in) this:  I like something that plays fast.  I'm not so much concerned with leveling speed.  By playing fast, I mean fast attacks, quick cooldowns.  I get bored fast with classes that have long wind ups and cool downs.  I don't care if it takes me 2 attacks versus 1 for something else, just as long as it feels...well...fast.

Does any of that make any sense?


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: sigil on February 16, 2009, 11:55:37 AM
well if you don't mind smashing button to keep yourself alive as well as beat bad guys,  it's hard to beat a fury for the mix

although in groups people want me to heal only and frankly that sucks ass. All through runnyeye I never looked at the screen, just targeted falling health bars and boosted them.  Deathfist citadel as well.  but stick me with a duo and it's great.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: SnakeCharmer on February 16, 2009, 11:58:31 AM
I don't mind the button mashing, in fact, that's what I prefer.  Its more interactive.

Holy cow the Monk was painful.  Does it get better at higher levels...For instance...5?  Jeeze it was slow.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Hawkbit on February 16, 2009, 06:19:00 PM
Monk is slow, but 20+ gets a little better.  Plus you can solo a ton of stuff.  Self heal, invis, FD all that jazz.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 17, 2009, 07:20:45 AM
Monk has good haste, but after the opening burst, it's usually a wait for timers to refresh. I open with about a dozen or 14 abilities, then have to wait for them to refresh, that's the biggest challenge fighting ^^^, surviving the refresh. But you've got FD and mend. With FD, monks are just sooo good. And the spell FD doesn't compare. With AAs, I have my SK's FD down to 2.5min from 5min refresh.

As an example, I run into a dungeon with my monk. Train my way down to the named, FD at his feet. Mobs all go home. Target the weakest mob in the named's group or other group that might aggro when I stand up (or any healer mobs). Stand up, kill the targeted mob. If I'm still jamming on health, kill off a second target. When I start getting low on health or all the adds are down, FD. Rinse and repeat until all adds dead. Stand up and take down named. If things go badly, take a dive and heal up, the stand up and try again.

I'm amazed monk FD hasn't been nerfed to hell, honestly. Which is great, because it's the main reason I like the monk, and he's not overpowered otherwise imo. But to contrast with my SK, I tried soloing a dungeon and with the 2.5min refresh on FD vs 10 seconds or whatever, think about how the above scenario plays out with the SK:

Train my way to the named, FD. Wait for FD to refresh, 2.5m. Stand and take down add, FD. Wait 2.5m. Stand and take next add, FD, 2.5m. Respawn will fuck you every time with the spell FD. Not to mention if you fail FD (mine is master and around 74%, but I fail way more than 26%!), you're probably going to die rather than having another dice roll  for FD.

My little FD rant. My monk is level 23. You can't make a call on ANY class before level 20 imo, and even then sometimes you're still missing class-defining abilities. Went back to my wizard and did all of level 66 (dinging 67) in about two hours of BURNINATION of KoS.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: SnakeCharmer on February 17, 2009, 08:10:02 AM

-Lots of good info snipped to avoid a massive wall of text-

My little FD rant. My monk is level 23. You can't make a call on ANY class before level 20 imo, and even then sometimes you're still missing class-defining abilities. Went back to my wizard and did all of level 66 (dinging 67) in about two hours of BURNINATION of KoS.

Which is freaking retarded as hell. 

I've never understood this design decision.  Every freakin' class should be fun as hell from to max, and your 'class-defining abilities' clearly presented early and often - as in the first 5 levels.  Having to quest/grind for a few days or weeks before you get to the fun and find out whether or not the class you're playing is for you is beyond stupid.

That said, I ran out of patience with the Monk last night at 14 or so.  Cycling through the attacks then waiting...waiting...waiting...to continue the assault is nothing but a snoozefest.

Maybe the problem is me.  Maybe I've been playing too many single player RPGs and shooters.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Nebu on February 17, 2009, 08:36:45 AM
Maybe the problem is me.  Maybe I've been playing too many single player RPGs and shooters.

Not you.  People like what they like.  Perhaps EQ2 just isn't your style. 

On a similar note, I had been playing a defiler the last time through EQ2. I enjoyed the class but found that solo I sucked unless I blew my mastery stuff on offense... then I was worthless to groups.  So I was forced to choose if I wanted to be a solo toon or a group toon.  Even in groups, I was tertiary in role at best and mostly just shielded and debuffed. 

Not sure what I'd play if I resubbed again.  Necro was fun, but I get bored watching my pets do everything.  Enjoyed the brigand, but found groups kicked my ass.  Tanks were alright, but you go broke keeping your gear current. 

Maybe I'll try CoH again. 


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Lantyssa on February 17, 2009, 08:59:20 AM
When I duoed with a Fury, my Bruiser was a lot of fun.  It was way too easy to drain my power so I had to sit around regening though.

Solo I loved my Shadow Knight (using a legendary halberd) and Brigand the most.  The SK is just a beast unless I'm getting swarmed and the Brigand is incredibly deadly against a single target with all her stuns.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 17, 2009, 09:05:46 AM
Yeah, I'd really like to play my SK some more, but I want to get my wizard to the cap so I can twink him a little bit. SK is probably my overall favorite EQ2 class, can't count how many times I've surprised people with my skill, saving situations that people thought were wipes. I used to like that in EQ1 with my necro, once the cheap necro heal saved our tank from dying and I laughed my ass off. It's mostly paying attention and knowing how to use all those little side abilities that rarely get dusted off. Like my wizard's mez, I totally forgot I had that spell until last night when I was womping some heroics in Bonemire.

My SK's gear is pretty meh, though. Life of a soloer, I am almost all MC gear that I made, plus a MC club as my main weapon :| Not nearly enough masters, though I do have a fabled shield I bought. So...burninate to 80 and twink! Of course, this plan has been in the works for three years now and I'm level 67...


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: SnakeCharmer on February 17, 2009, 09:20:51 AM
Not you.  People like what they like.  Perhaps EQ2 just isn't your style.

I like the game.  It has a lot to offer.  But damn.  I suppose I'm just finding it hard to put up with this sort of crap anymore.  I don't mind slow leveling.  But the gameplay pace has to be there.

Maybe it's late onset adult ADHD.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 17, 2009, 09:42:33 AM
Can't be, I've got the ADHD in a bad (good) way. Not sure what you mean about slow leveling, if I didn't take my time (and I do), I could probably hit 20 in a couple hours with the new amusement park style newbie zones (which I dislike, I feel a lot of the vibe is missing). If you're bored by level five, which is maybe ten minutes? Dunno, man.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Lantyssa on February 17, 2009, 12:53:43 PM
Neriak has been the only newbie area to keep me entertained.  I think the large amount of collector items on the ground might have something to do with it though...

The others on Team Evil were only worth one trip through for something new to see.  I've only do the Fey area on the other side, and it's okay, but still only worth going through once.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 17, 2009, 12:56:58 PM
I just do TD for the phat lewtz. After running my coercer through, I made him some lvl 22 MC armor and only used a couple pieces because the +spell dam stuff on the quest gear was just too good vs quite a bit more int on the MC stuff. Also beats out the legendary stuff you can get in the old world (because my monk just got a legendary drop in BB that sucked compared to MC or TD quests.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: SnakeCharmer on February 17, 2009, 01:15:21 PM
Can't be, I've got the ADHD in a bad (good) way. Not sure what you mean about slow leveling, if I didn't take my time (and I do), I could probably hit 20 in a couple hours with the new amusement park style newbie zones (which I dislike, I feel a lot of the vibe is missing). If you're bored by level five, which is maybe ten minutes? Dunno, man.

Didn't mean to imply about slow leveling, it's actually quite fast (at least up to the high teens).  Edit:  I don't mind a slow leveling curve as long as I'm doing cool shit and killing shit in a cool way. 

By pace, I mean the rate(s) at which you attack, your spell/special attack timers and when you can use them, that sort of thing.  I'm not looking to nuke a mob in one hit - although that sort of gameplay is wicked fun.  Hell, 3 or 4 attacks is more than fine.  But what grinds my gears is the rate at which you can use them.  It makes the pacing feel awfully slow to me.  A monk would be awesome for real fun if everything were faster.

My attack (with a monk anyway) to an equal con mob consists of cold fist, start the heroic op thing, frontal punch (I think?), stare, then kick, and something else.  By that time, I'm STILL waiting on special timers to rotate back around and the mob has half health - despite I just unloaded 5+ attacks on it.  I tend to wait to use the AoE attack until I need it since it's such a LONG recharge timer.

Maybe I'm doing it wrong.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: SnakeCharmer on February 18, 2009, 12:05:30 AM
So I rerolled another 'toon, a Bruiser human, starting in TD.  Not sure if it's just the familiarity coming to play or what, but I've been steamrolling through mobs/npcs.  A good bit more fun than it was before.  I'm now look like a bastardized version of the Green Lantern or a slightly more masculine Robin Hood.  Green tights with silver boots.  Awesome.

I keep waiting on my guy to break out into showtunes or something.

Is there anywhere to get up to date info?  EQ2flames is fairly worthless, and the EQ2 official forums bring a new meaning to the word worthless.  The bruiser forums FAQ sticky over at the o forums hasn't been updated in 4 years, and the last post in it was 9 months ago.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Numtini on February 18, 2009, 04:27:41 AM
One of the things I found most frustrating about EQ2 was that since the game has changed so much so many times and there were so many zombie sites that current information was very hard to come by. I found EQ2 flames was about the best spot with the official forums being about equal.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Kirth on February 18, 2009, 04:37:46 AM
So I rerolled another 'toon, a Bruiser human, starting in TD.  Not sure if it's just the familiarity coming to play or what, but I've been steamrolling through mobs/npcs.  A good bit more fun than it was before.  I'm now look like a bastardized version of the Green Lantern or a slightly more masculine Robin Hood.  Green tights with silver boots.  Awesome.

I keep waiting on my guy to break out into showtunes or something.

Is there anywhere to get up to date info?  EQ2flames is fairly worthless, and the EQ2 official forums bring a new meaning to the word worthless.  The bruiser forums FAQ sticky over at the o forums hasn't been updated in 4 years, and the last post in it was 9 months ago.

http://eq2.wikia.com/

Layout can be confusing but there are some gems.



Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 18, 2009, 06:34:33 AM
I usually use the official boards and flames to read about popular builds, AA and whatnot. Most people are much higher level so I don't care about most of the posts about raiding some jackmob or whatever high-end ability. The official boards = whiny and the flames = jerkoffs, so there's not a whole lot of good discussion of EQ2 without a lot of crap.

The wikia is my homepage for the ingame /browser. Since the last time I played they restructured and added some stupid ad that covers up part of the page. I mostly just use it if I'm stuck on a quest step, I used to use it a lot more for the timelines, but the last few times I just got fed up with the new layout, which really sucks.

Also, I'll add a token gripe about making dungeons so group-oriented, especially for older content. I had four city tasks that required me to go deeper into dungeons than I could comfortably solo with my 67 wiz. I might've been able to swing it after a bunch of dying to clear the mobs, but I said fuck it and deleted the tasks rather than have a frustrating night and massive repair bill. It only took me about a week before that got to me! :) At least we get AA for grey quests now, so it's not a total cockblock, but it does suck not getting the named mob AA, too.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Nebu on February 18, 2009, 06:38:56 AM
This is the primary reason that I left EQ2 and WoW.  Great games with a dedicated group get reduced to an amusing pastime for the solo/duo.  I understand why they do this, but it sure would be lovely if you could zone into a dungeon and complete quests/tasks solo albeit for a lesser reward.  The splitpaw method of selecting difficulty would make implementing this nearly trivial. 


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 18, 2009, 07:09:07 AM
Well, I won't beat the horse about my idea for that, I forgot they did something similar in splitpaw. Though even with the harclave buff I got whomped with my sk...

But I disagree about a lesser reward. Soloing != easier. Just less cat herding. In fact, I'd say soloing should get MORE rewards, because you don't have the safety net of healers, tanks and dps  :why_so_serious:


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Nebu on February 18, 2009, 07:45:46 AM
I'd be fine with that, but how do you calibrate it by class?


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 18, 2009, 07:55:51 AM
I wouldn't, really. I see it as more players calibrating themselves by the class they choose. I can solo amazingly with a couple classes, decently with others, and poorly to nil on the rest. Since I don't like to group, it never occurs to me to play a Guardian or Templar.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Nebu on February 18, 2009, 08:09:37 AM
I wouldn't, really. I see it as more players calibrating themselves by the class they choose. I can solo amazingly with a couple classes, decently with others, and poorly to nil on the rest. Since I don't like to group, it never occurs to me to play a Guardian or Templar.

I agree with your fundamental, but my defiler really messed with my head.  I like to solo and I like to group.  It was fun to play a class that could solo if I needed and was also useful and fun in a group setting.  Were an instance set for a SK or Necro to solo, there's no way in hell my Defiler would stand a chance.  If they made it easier so that some classes could solo it as well, then the strong solo classes would find the dungeon trivial. 

I guess the conclusion I'm coming to is that game designers really need to give more thought to classes and class balance.  If they made every class able to solo AND attractive to groups, then it would open the door to tons of playstyle options (including this suggestion). 

Just an aside.  I don't mean to come off as argumentative.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Numtini on February 18, 2009, 08:23:34 AM
Defilers are for 80s, you need to level as a melee mystic and respec at 80 for raiding.

Sadly, no green.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Lantyssa on February 18, 2009, 09:15:24 AM
I guess the conclusion I'm coming to is that game designers really need to give more thought to classes and class balance.  If they made every class able to solo AND attractive to groups, then it would open the door to tons of playstyle options (including this suggestion). 
There is a reason I suggest more work is done on making mobs' abilities and statistics dynamic to be able to adjust to the players.  I know it won't be easy, but it would be nice if one area could scale itself to the players involved.  Which is incidentally why I'd like to see more work done with Left 4 Dead's AI Director.

An adaptive AI combined with scaling creatures ala CoX's giant monsters could provide challenges for a wide range of players.

/daydream


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 19, 2009, 09:24:29 AM
So I'm bumming around trying to think of what to do next. I think, "Hey, what about that ^^^ wizard in DoF I need to kill for the carpet?" Not that I need the carpet (40%), I've got a warg (45%) and the SoW potions I craft myself (which bring me to 48% without dicking around with a mount).

So I go down and die pretty quick the first time, but I'm just gauging tactics, really. Head out for try #2 with a plan, start the chain off and some guildtard tosses me an invite, throwing off my chain, I get ice cometed because I missed an interrupt due to the popup obscuring my view, die. Fucker. Disable group invites and head back down, run through my chain again and still almost died, had to use a Sol Ro blessing (BLAM) for the quest update. To a grey mob in his 50s, I'm almost 70.

Then I run to the next part of the quest, a green ^^^ djinn and two adds. Blam, blam, evac. Fuck this noise, logout. Guess I'll ty to solo it when I'm 80.

The part that gets me is that it's trivial for any decent guild to twink out its newer members with carpets, you see them all over. But even a competent soloer gets smacked around trying to do the quest when it's greyed out and is obsolete due to having better travel options anyway.

Just had to vent about that one. Did some work around the house instead.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: WindupAtheist on February 21, 2009, 12:58:51 PM
You know Sky, given the sort of rambling anti-powergaming solo-happy way you tend to play (the same way I play UO, and WoW when I'm being smart about it) I've always sort of boggled at EQ2 being your poison of choice. The way you talk about it, it seems to actively hate your playstyle and you just kind of play in spite of it.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Nebu on February 21, 2009, 01:04:41 PM
EQ2 has a lot going for it despite being a diku mmo.

1) Character customization is wonderful with the addition of the appearance window.  You have armor for stats and a suit for looks.

2) Lots of content and quests

3) Large amount of solo play

4) Collection quests when you get bored of killing.

5) Interesting harvesting tied to crafting for when you tire of quests

6) Feels like a world

7) Player housing that you can fill with collected and player-made stuff.  Fun minigame.

Yes it's a grind.  There's enough other stuff to do that if you play casually, there's always something to dabble with.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: WindupAtheist on February 21, 2009, 01:15:08 PM
Customizable clothing, and housing. Yum. Okay, that's a good enough explanation for me.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Strazos on February 21, 2009, 07:02:23 PM
I like my Illusionist. I really hate that Heroics in the upper 60s now smack me for above 2k. And my Armor is all MCed.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 21, 2009, 08:48:24 PM
I like the game alright. Some good classes, decent world, decent amount of content. The reason it's my mmo of choice is because all of the genre pretty much sucks, so I go with the one that I have invested time in already. LotRO seems nice, but has the same kind of group-oriented stuff in it, ditto WoW. Actually, I found WoW to be worse, I can do better soloing some group content in EQ2. But you can pretty much copy my rants to any game and it'd be valid.

Most of the time I enjoy the game but occasionally I run into the barriers and get ranty about it, but it's more of a problem with the genre than EQ2 in particular. Until someone pulls their head out of their ass and makes a game without cockblocks for solo players (elite/heroic mobs, raids), I'll stick with EQ2 instead of learning a whole new system and set of classes and grinding just to hit the same cockblocks.

Straz: you're a cloth class, I don't really see that as a valid gripe. MC doesn't mean shit for caster mitigation, you're better off rounding out with AGI jewelry for avoidance. The point is not to get hit. I gripe about a lot, dying isn't really one of them. Wizard = dying a lot. Only as good as your last root.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Strazos on February 22, 2009, 09:06:08 AM
Not so much a gripe as general lamenting.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 23, 2009, 06:41:15 AM
I played a wiz and necro in EQ1, so I guess I'm kind of used to it. Probably more odd for me to play my SK and not be beholden to how I can keep a mob off me. Srsly look into avoidance, though. A while ago I started focusing on STA and AGI to good effect, had more health than mana for a while and my avoidance was like 66%, but I've outlevelled all my MC gear and haven't put together an alternative from quested gear yet.

Dinged 70 last night, go go Kunark exp rate. Scored a master 1 ice nova for 15p on the vendor, pretty good timing. With the ridiculous +spell dam gear from Kunark quests, I should be maxing over 10k per opener now.

And no EQ2 post would be right without a gripe, so I'll throw one in for mounts (again). Tying the good mounts to ridiculous guild levels is teh sux. Bat Country is 23, iirc, the good mounts start at guild level 50, which simply isn't going to happen. Typical mmo mindset of rewarding the people who already get the most rewards. Ah, well.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Nebu on February 23, 2009, 07:40:00 AM
Here's my gripe: Reading this thread is making me want to resub. 

I think I'm going to try LotRO for a month or two.  If that doesn't scratch the itch, I'll try EQ2 again.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 24, 2009, 06:31:37 AM
Bought some new music, so last night I went out harvesting and then crafted for a bit. Scored five rares for wizard t7 spells! I vaguely remembered not to use a crafting xp potion, and now I remember why. My Sage/Wizard levels too fast for them to be worth much. Two levels from pristine combines and he's out of rest xp bonus. Noticed there's NO level 61 roots on the broker, so I made a second and see if it'll sell for a few bucks. Maybe I can make back what my master 1 nuke cost me, bought the rare for just under 2p and selling the adept3 for 5p, though I probably could charge the moon.

So I was going to go into crafter mode for a while to chill out soaking in my (great!) new albums, but I guess it's back to finger waggling.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: shiznitz on February 24, 2009, 08:15:38 AM
Weapon appearance slot is coming - but you have to match weapon types to what you actually use. If the actual weapon is a sword, you cannot appear to have a club/dagger/spear/staff/axe.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 24, 2009, 08:24:09 AM
Stupid pvp servers. Close em down already!  :oh_i_see:


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Lantyssa on February 24, 2009, 08:24:54 AM
YES!

That is great news for when I pick this up again.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Numtini on February 25, 2009, 04:49:09 AM
I'm with Nebu, I hate you all. I really thought after my last stint I was done with this game. That I had come to accept that the mainstream game was no longer interesting and the raiding game no matter how much fun was just too intensive for my lifestyle. Now, you're making me want to play it again.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 25, 2009, 05:55:55 AM
Re: Shiz's gripes about the tank revamp...looks like they are leaving it in the oven and bumping GU52 up to GU51, so the next update is a Lavastorm revamp with new group and solo quests, 2 new instances (raid, eww), new drops. High and mid level content, the mid level is 45-55, which is pretty cool for my 45 SK. Hope the high level stuff isn't all raid. New crafting zone?

http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?start=0&topic_id=442673#4934703


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Lantyssa on February 25, 2009, 08:30:34 AM
I'm with Nebu, I hate you all. I really thought after my last stint I was done with this game. That I had come to accept that the mainstream game was no longer interesting and the raiding game no matter how much fun was just too intensive for my lifestyle. Now, you're making me want to play it again.
The raiding groups you encounter will just make you hate it.  They're idiots who take it too seriously but don't know what they're doing and will not appreciate your skill.  Your class leader will be a moron who things he's the best the server has ever seen but in reality can't even tie his own shoelaces.

Does that help?


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Numtini on February 25, 2009, 09:20:32 AM
Quote
Your class leader will be a moron who things he's the best the server has ever seen but in reality can't even tie his own shoelaces.

Does that help?

That describes the shaman leader who took over after I left when they moved raids to later in the evening. They moved them back, I came back, and I lasted all of a week of his moronic nitpicking during raids--some of which I had done 20 times before he ever joined the guild. And yeah, he knew his class well too--I told him what my masters were on debuffs and suggested we split duty so he could concentrate on healing but we'd still have all masters and he "educated" me that they all stacked so I should cast them all.



Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Nebu on February 25, 2009, 10:18:58 AM
Thank you for reminding me why I hate the endgame in every PvE MMO.  Maybe I need to go back to CoH.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Lantyssa on February 25, 2009, 11:41:31 AM
I know, Numtini.  That's why I was reminding you. :-)


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 25, 2009, 12:14:01 PM
Ah, fuck raiding and the douchebags who dominate it. It's just too bad the game is set up to reward that kind of gameplay. I'll never understand it. If half the time spent setting up raid encounters went into making cool and interesting solo dungeons, do you have any idea how many more people would experience that content? I guess getting the best bang for the buck hasn't made it into mmo yet.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Numtini on February 25, 2009, 12:22:56 PM
Ah, fuck raiding and the douchebags who dominate it. It's just too bad the game is set up to reward that kind of gameplay. I'll never understand it. If half the time spent setting up raid encounters went into making cool and interesting solo dungeons, do you have any idea how many more people would experience that content? I guess getting the best bang for the buck hasn't made it into mmo yet.

The thing is that they have gone to all that trouble for group instances. The raiding game is just on top of that and generally speaking, the raiding game isn't about uber poopsocks, it's very accessible.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 25, 2009, 05:15:31 PM
Not for Bat Country, it isn't.

Anyway, I think you underestimate the time investment needed to get a raid guild up and running.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: shiznitz on February 26, 2009, 08:22:15 AM
On Permafrost, there are PUG raids quite often - several times a week. The rub is that a PUG raid is going to be pickier about classes. When my guild raids, we might have 4 or 5 tanks.  That would never happen in a PUG raid.  If you want to PUG raid, roll a dirge.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Numtini on February 26, 2009, 08:38:11 AM
I have always seen lots of PUG raids, at least on AB. There were two posted ahead of time in the last couple of weeks, and there are usually people recruiting in the 70/80 channels. That's more of what i was thinking of.

If you do put together a raiding guild, it's possible to fill in a quarter or half the raid with PUGs, screw around, have no requirements, and still touch all but the top end content. We managed to blunder into MMIS and VP in their day and we were arguably the worst raiding guild in the history of EQ2.

(BTW I resubbed, you all suck.)



Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 26, 2009, 09:01:35 AM
I've been on a couple pick up raids. Really a total waste of time, never got anything out of it and it takes forever because there's no organization, people drop out after the first wipe, etc. The most fun I had in one raid was joking with someone else in BC (forget who) about how lame the gameplay was. When I'm soloing, I'm always out doing something, when I've tried raiding it's a whole lot of sitting around doing nothing. Not exactly winning me over on that playstyle.

Also, pick ups might be nice if they dovetailed with my playtime, but that's happened a grand total of three or four times in four years. I don't think there's going to be many situations where a pickup is needed that is going to wrap up in an hour from login to logout.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Lantyssa on February 26, 2009, 11:12:24 AM
Sorry, Num.  I tried to tell you how horrible it will be. :sad:


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Numtini on February 27, 2009, 06:02:51 AM
So far it's not at all horrible, actually quite pleasant. I need to go back and do a few hundred million quests though. Only 125AA as my main started before the AA system and has chronically been behind. I think you can do grey quests now?


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 27, 2009, 06:27:05 AM
Yep. No named aaxp, but all those old quests will give you some. My wiz started before the aa system, I've only got 98aa at level 70.

I think my best character in terms of AA for his level is going to be my monk, who is a named killin mofo, though he's still level 23.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Murgos on February 27, 2009, 10:26:44 AM
The best way to do pick up raids was to do it yourself.  If you have a decent group it's simple to just spam for warm bodies for the rest of the slots.

Do a slightly easy raid first to warm you up and get everyone in the groove and then try something harder.

One of the best things about EQ2 raiding was that there were raids you could do that would only take 30-40 minutes if you were familiar with it and it was slightly under leveled for your group.  Yeah, you won't get the top end stuff that way but the stuff you do get's not bad.  Everyone loves getting masters.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on February 27, 2009, 11:04:01 AM
I apologize for continuing to sound whiny about this issue, as it's not really the big deal it seems :) But assumptions continue to be made which are not true: I do not have a decent group, I am not familiar with raid content to lead the raid. That's why I brought up the underestimation of the time involved. At the least I'd have to have time to put together a group, at best I'd have to invest the time to learn enough raid content to lead raids (without getting into the personnel issues of cat-herding).

You guys have a different playstyle, and that's cool. But it does lead to a misunderstanding on what goes into raiding or even dungeon crawling for a true solo player. Even when I have the inclination to group, like the past couple nights, I generally don't have enough time to make it worthwhile, and I don't think it's fair to a group to show up and leave after a half-hour.

Not to mention the old point about not being a slave to the game. If I'm playing a game and ~anything~ calls me away irl, whether it be my cat wanting to play, a cool idea to try on guitar, or something actually important, the game always waits for rl. Which doesn't go at all with mmo raiding or most groups.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: shiznitz on March 02, 2009, 07:20:20 AM
Message boards are atwitter with talk that Aeralick, the guy behind the tank changes, has been sidelined/demoted and the changes are on hold.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on March 02, 2009, 07:55:07 AM
I don't read eq2flames often because the signal:noise sucks, but they must be dancing right now. They have a serious hate-on for that dude.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Shatter on March 02, 2009, 10:02:34 AM
I tried EQ2 2 times over the last 2 years and never really got past level 30.  While I did like it, I just had a hard time getting "into" it.  I wouldnt mind trying again but at this point I feel too far behind :(


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Hawkbit on March 02, 2009, 11:16:55 AM
What server is Bat Country located on?  How many are playing there?

@Shatter:  If you get someone to Refer a Friend you, I think you both get like 3x XP when grouped in the same zone or something.  It really wouldn't take too long to power up to the big stuff.  Not that I'd play that way myself, but you can do it. 


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on March 02, 2009, 12:09:16 PM
Oasis, active members: me.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Nebu on March 02, 2009, 12:39:20 PM
All my toons are on Butcherblock.  Were I to reactivate, I'd join you Sky.  I'm going to see how my venture into LotRO plays out.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Strazos on March 02, 2009, 04:54:03 PM
Butcherblock? That's where my Illusionist is.

COME PLAY WITH US.  :grin:


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: sigil on March 03, 2009, 05:23:17 AM
lol, All mine are on butcherblock :)


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Surlyboi on March 03, 2009, 08:28:01 AM
I actually still play, but I moved over to Bloodlust. It's an epic guild with all the perks that entails.

Of course, I still haven't progressed past 74, but I do still play.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on March 03, 2009, 11:16:50 AM
Yeah, I made an earlier gripe about guild levels. Looks like we may make level 25 with BC, thanks to doing some crafting writs over the weekend. We'd already be 24 but I can't invite two of my crafters into the guild. I don't blame anyone who has ditched BC for greener pastures, guilds don't mean shit (ingame) until guild level 30. Even then, looking over some city vendor stuff, there isn't much use for guilds until level 50. And the high level guilds have some pretty fucking awesome stuff.

I'm so going to outlevel shirley bob!

Nebs: I'd check out LotRO if it weren't for the retail investment. I can safely skip the current 'uber' EQ2 expansion.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Nebu on March 03, 2009, 11:18:36 AM
Nebs: I'd check out LotRO if it weren't for the retail investment. I can safely skip the current 'uber' EQ2 expansion.

Best Buy had the original game AND the expansion for $20 including a free first month.  That was enough motivation to give it a try.  I have to say that I really like both the world and the diversity among the classes.  Granted, I haven't played since beta... but I'm pleased with my first two nights back. 


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: schild on March 03, 2009, 12:15:27 PM
Yeah, I made an earlier gripe about guild levels. Looks like we may make level 25 with BC, thanks to doing some crafting writs over the weekend. We'd already be 24 but I can't invite two of my crafters into the guild. I don't blame anyone who has ditched BC for greener pastures, guilds don't mean shit (ingame) until guild level 30. Even then, looking over some city vendor stuff, there isn't much use for guilds until level 50. And the high level guilds have some pretty fucking awesome stuff.

I'm so going to outlevel shirley bob!

Nebs: I'd check out LotRO if it weren't for the retail investment. I can safely skip the current 'uber' EQ2 expansion.
Are we still on the same server in EQ2? Is my toon still the leader? If so, I can invite your two crafters.

Edit: And you are! I'll reinstall it. Should be done by tomorrow. Haha. Seriously though.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: schild on March 03, 2009, 12:23:38 PM
Haha, looked at the guild roster. Leader tis not me. I can do nussing.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on March 03, 2009, 12:35:46 PM
Anyone can invite unless I shifted you to Vacationer status, which I probably did. The intention is that nobody disbands the guild in a fit of pique or mischief. I may not play all year long, but I've put by far the most status points into our little BC, so that's why I'm the only top level officer.

Everyone else in BC can do anything but demote me, so effectively you are all guild leaders and recruiters, not that anyone plays. I did take over a couple of the banks for some extra storage, but I will move my stuff out and open them back up if there's ever active interest in the game again.

Schild, if you decide to play and need crafty stuff, let me know. I'm broke but I can make some stuff if you supply the materials, I could swing most non-rares if you're broke, too. Rares are a pain in the butt, dern farmers.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: schild on March 03, 2009, 12:41:46 PM
My characters weren't even on the guild roster. Does Vacationer not show up?

Hell, my characters weren't even listed under EQ2 Players despite my active account.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Numtini on March 03, 2009, 02:28:21 PM
I'm having a blast as usual, but it's never been the game that drove me out, it's always been people issues. Even found a guild of ex-cat-asses who are working towards a couple of short raids a week. And better they're doing lowbie HQs and crawls, so I can mentor down (which is insanely OP but in a fun way) and work on my AA deficit since I was level 50 before there were AAs.

The client performance is incredible in comparison to the past.



Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on March 03, 2009, 06:25:46 PM
Schild, your lowbie necro was the only one I saw in the list, forget the name. Shirley Bob has a whole bunch of alts in there sitll, too.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Surlyboi on March 04, 2009, 09:54:28 AM
Yeah, i plan to leave them there and contribute to the guild from time to time still.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on March 04, 2009, 01:20:46 PM
I was goofing off in New Tunaria last night, I guess I kinda missed out on a few named kills in there. Just stumbled across it when I was tooling around, did the two collections in there and killed a couple of the later nameds before you get to the castle. Got the one quest where it says put some flowers in front of the castle...but there are aggro heroics in pairs all the way across the bridge :|

I probably could've made it across, but it would've taken forever and I would've leveled up doing it. Then I notice this five-boxer was moving that way, so I invis'ed and hung out while he worked his way across. It was so funny watching how crappy a five-box group is, extremely inefficient. They were all low 60s, and I'm 71, but they were getting absolutely pasted by every low 60s heroic they took on. I think it was Pally/Templar/Fury/Illu/Troub. I watched them take on four mobs before they gave up, at least one death per fight.

I lol'd, good entertainment. I was just hoping they'd have cleared the bridge so I could've finished that quest.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: shiznitz on March 04, 2009, 02:07:46 PM
Illy and Troub are NOT easy additions to a 5 box.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Strazos on March 04, 2009, 03:59:36 PM
Targeting is so goofy at times, Illusionist by itself can be a bitch.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Numtini on March 04, 2009, 04:51:07 PM
It could be the animations and not los or whatever, but my illusionist pet I swear only attacked half the time. It was very annoying.

Trouble and Illusionist tho I think are there as buffbots.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Strazos on March 04, 2009, 08:15:34 PM
It's goofy LOS with minor rises and falls in terrain, especially if you shrink your pet.

And sometimes my pet randomly runs off, sometimes into melee range. And since I put Dynamism/etc on myself, my pet grabs agro for me if I am not going at 100%. Which means dead pet at times.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Numtini on March 05, 2009, 04:17:59 AM
I wanted a "desired" class that wasn't a healer. I eventually just gave up and started a dirge, and I'm running into a massive disconnect between the "hard to solo a dirge" reputation and my actual experiences which are that between speed and stealth, it's the easiest I've ever levelled.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on March 05, 2009, 07:00:30 AM
Well, depends on who is talking about soloing. I don't consider soloing to be just solo mobs. Soloing for me includes hunting nameds, farming masters, doing heroic quests. A lot of people just consider soloing to be taking solo mobs, which anyone could do in almost any gear. My wizard doesn't bother keeping solo mobs rooted most of the time, because they're not going to pound on him hard enough to bother.

Solo mobs are also a waste of time as far as gear or xp goes, but if that's how you define soloing, I can't imagine how bad a class would have to be to not take on yellows easily.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Numtini on March 05, 2009, 07:07:39 AM
Having played a mystic before the combat AAs (which is still the fate for defilers), yes, soloing on regular mobs is an issue. I've never had a class I felt comfortable soloing group mobs on, my understanding is the game is designed for that to not be possible.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Nebu on March 05, 2009, 07:12:02 AM
Having played a mystic before the combat AAs (which is still the fate for defilers), yes, soloing on regular mobs is an issue. I've never had a class I felt comfortable soloing group mobs on, my understanding is the game is designed for that to not be possible.

My brigand can take a blue ^^^ if I play it perfectly with positionals and stuns.  My problem is that 3 green standard mobs will kill me.  Funny class, I handle a single target well but numbers crush me. 


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Numtini on March 05, 2009, 07:46:56 AM
From memory isn't it swash=AOEs and brig=single target? Plus the fact that you can't tank or heal obviously.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on March 05, 2009, 07:55:22 AM
I stick mostly to green heroics, though I bet my wizard could take low blues pretty easy. I was slicing through stuff in New Tunaria all right, even handling an add a couple times (low to high greens, 61-65, my level being 71). But for encounters it's a whole nother story. That's (imo) what makes or breaks a class for being completely screwed as a solo player. Wizard has the encounter root, which is nice to snag most of them right off the bat, then apply the single-target root as needed.

That's also where my monk shines, even at level 23. Being able to use FD to whittle down heroic encounters (healers first, then in order from weakest to named) is amazing, also being able to traverse dungeons full of see-invis mobs.

With the SK, I usually get screwed on encounters. With two, I try to keep one knocked down with kicks/stuns, but it's very tough, and three or more mean I'm probably toast. He does get one FD, but it's on a 2.5min timer (with AA, 5min normally), so it's not anywhere near as good as a monk's, especially if the first try fails (I think it's 74%). Basically useless for traversing a dungeon, too slow to recast.

Coercer looks like it might have some of the wizard's encounter control, but part of what makes the wizard work is my 10k+ ice nova and a 4kish ball of lava. Coercers are also nice in that they can instantly take out one of the encounter with charm. But I mentioned earlier I tried my dungeon soloing gauntlet (named farming WC) with my coercer and he got stomped. I might try again to learn the class better, but I really have to be in the mood for the whole test-die-repeat thing.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Lantyssa on March 05, 2009, 08:34:25 AM
I found my SK to be able to handle groups.  They could be tough fights, so I usually prefered to be a level or two ahead (not hard in EQ2), but she could take a lot of damage with all the health taps I could get going.  I tried to stay in level-appropriate master crafted gear.  Using that legendary halberd from Nektulos through my 30s probably helped, too.  (And I was tough enough to get it around 33-34 solo...)


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on March 05, 2009, 10:56:15 AM
Just to clarify, I'm talking heroic groups. Normal groups aren't a problem for my SK, Nebu was addressing normal groups. Stupid anti-solo game design :P


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Strazos on March 05, 2009, 03:38:50 PM
I can juggle some pretty obnoxious stuff with my Illusionist, including encounters...though it's been getting a bit more difficult since I'm getting towards 70 now.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Hawkbit on March 05, 2009, 03:43:54 PM
It's a damn shame that it costs $50 per toon to transfer.  Looks like we've got a lot of solo players across different servers.  No way I'll pay to transfer, but if it were free we could get Bat Country up off it's feet again. 


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Nebu on March 05, 2009, 05:39:32 PM
I wouldn't mind rerolling as long as I had people around to chat with. 

Oasis?


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Numtini on March 05, 2009, 05:58:22 PM
Don't forget, it's SOE, you don't need to be on the same server just to chat. if all you want is to talk, /join oasis.f13 then go into chat options and make sure it's turned on for whatever window. Should work.

I'm antonia_bayle.kathy


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on March 06, 2009, 06:45:21 AM
Yeah, I think I'm still logged into the Oasis f13 channel with Caviglia (my 71 wiz). Not sure what my chat handle would be, though.

I've also got a spot I try to keep open to reroll alts. There's a brig on there, but he's disposable at this point. My other two spots are filled with an Inq and a Coercer, but I've taken a shine to both of them. My Paladin is probably my next decent character on the chopping block, now that getting to lvl 30 weaponcrafter wouldn't be so awful (because my lvl71 can harvest faster). I've got a lot of lowbies, my low teens Fury (but lvl 60 woodcrafter!), stuff like that.

I'm usually on for an hour or two a night, or until I get bored (after 10EST). Tues and Wed usually a little more, as the old lady works late those nights.
Quote
we could get Bat Country up off it's feet again. 
:awesome_for_real: BC has always been off its feet. Though it was fun when Trag, gimpy and I were able to get a trio going. Which was only a handful of times in the six months or so we were all playing...I think we were fury, zerk and my SK.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Hawkbit on March 06, 2009, 09:42:51 AM
Maybe I'll roll a toon on Oasis then.  Your playtime matches pretty much with mine so at some point we might be able to group.  I'm super casual though.  I'll likely roll a tank of some sort, it's the only archetype I enjoy really.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on March 06, 2009, 09:58:56 AM
If you want to tank, I'll roll with my Inq and Nebs can do dps, if he still wants to play brig or something.

I need to look into getting an AA mirror for my pad (and a bigger pad, but the bigger places aren't as convenient imo). I doubt my most writ-grindiest character has 40k faction, though...


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Nebu on March 06, 2009, 10:34:17 AM
I'm game with Brig/Swash or even and Inq or a fury/Mystic

I just need a few days to reinstall the behemoth and patch.  Ugh. 

My thoughts of rerolling were fueled by my enjoyment of the writs, crafting, and the collection quests.  I'd LOVE to see some of the dungeons even if it's infrequent.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Kirth on March 06, 2009, 12:23:29 PM
I might pop over and get in on this, what time do people normally play? I can roll up whatever.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on March 06, 2009, 12:26:21 PM
Since you like crafting, I can make you up a set of harvesting tools. They seem lame at first, the lvl 20 set is only .5 second reduction...but it adds up. Caviglia is using the lvl 50 set that reduces by 2 second, but my woodworker can't make the final level 70 set that reduces by 2.5 seconds.

Also, not sure how long it's been since you've played, but I recommend starting in TD if you can for your class/race. Or at least navigate yourself there to run the newbie quests, the rewards beat old world legendary gear, and it's all class-appropriate. Downside is, no dungeons or really much need to group up for the first 20 levels.

As far as class goes, I leave it up to you, since all my guys are on Oasis, you should really pick something you want to play the most. As I said, I could do Inq, as I'm kind of interested in playing one and already have mine at lvl 15 (in TD). If you fill the heal slot, I could either play the coercer (also in TD, lvl 22) for cc/dps or I've been considering betraying my 22 ranger to assassin. Or I have one open slot to roll whatever.

Kirth - I'm usually on sometime between 10pm-midnight EST. Weekend mornings around 11am for a little bit until spring thaws for outdoor projects.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Kirth on March 06, 2009, 12:30:01 PM
Sarnaks get a harvesting cast time bonus as well that stacks with the harvest tools.

10pm ETS on a weekday is 11:30 pm for me so I might not be around as much on weekdays, weekends are always good for me. I'll get a char going and get him in BC and see who I can hook up with on weekdays.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on March 13, 2009, 09:21:50 AM
Ran into a guide last night, did a little fetch quest for a sprig of mistletoe for my house. Had more fun just interacting before I went out to fetch, though, and she was gone by the time I got done with the quest.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Lantyssa on March 13, 2009, 10:36:19 AM
During the holidays a guide showed up in the winter village.  He turned us all into reindeer and then gave us a holiday item for our houses.  Having two dozen reindeer prancing about was a lot of fun.

Since I was an Arasai with the glide talent, it was extra fun.  It looked like I really was a flying reindeer, and the huge cliff at the entrance made it that much better.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on March 13, 2009, 11:33:27 AM
We've got a couple on Oasis that are somewhat active, but I always forget to check the forum to see if they're around. This one was unannounced, though, just chilling out by the Mage Tower in S Qeynos. I saw the odd quest feather and was confused for a second, first one I've seen and I've been playing off and on since launch.

I love my erudite's snooty voice when I'm doing emotes!


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on March 26, 2009, 01:18:59 PM
http://roseknights.yuku.com/topic/24


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: shiznitz on May 20, 2009, 10:27:32 AM
I didn't know where to put this, but

MYTHICAL!   :awesome_for_real: :heart: 

I was close to just paying to get the last kill but my guild committed to an extra night of VP so 6 of us got Mythicaled last night. Everyone told us that once we got past Druushk and Nexona, the mobs were cakewalks and they were right.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on May 20, 2009, 10:32:59 AM
If I ever got my shit together, there's a guild on Oasis that was filling out their weekly raids with PUGs (no charge?  :uhrr:) to help casuals get their myths. Probably be tired of doing that by the time I get back and worked through the prelim stuff. I figure the good stuff is just stuff they don't want me to have, goddamned mmo.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: shiznitz on May 20, 2009, 10:36:54 AM
Like most things MMO, the anticipation exceeded the reward. Still, our guild was kind of stuck on some of the TSO raids so 6 mythicals last night and a few more tonight means our dps just went up 20%, probably. DPS cures a lot of problems in diku raiding...


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Nebu on May 20, 2009, 10:43:31 AM
If I ever got my shit together, there's a guild on Oasis that was filling out their weekly raids with PUGs (no charge?  :uhrr:) to help casuals get their myths. Probably be tired of doing that by the time I get back and worked through the prelim stuff. I figure the good stuff is just stuff they don't want me to have, goddamned mmo.

If you ever decide to play again after the summer, PM me.  I'd be happy to roll a healer/buffer to help you progress through the game.  Even sporadic play with someone that knows how to play would be a welcome change from soloing. 


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Yegolev on May 20, 2009, 11:44:30 AM
Sporadic.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on May 20, 2009, 11:44:59 AM
You'll probably start playing LotRO again, ya bum.

I'll let you know when I get active again. It's not an if, just a when. I usually play EQ2 from fall through spring. Not like we'd be much more effective as a duo over a strong solo class, but it is fun to play with folks you know. Check out the Classes thread for where I left off, I'll probably come back to the wizard to hit the cap and regain the pp I spent on a couple Masters for him, then twink my Inq (heh) and get him to 45ish to hang out with my SK.

Or I might just re-up the single account, no clue at this point. More interested in getting down the rest of Jessica and maybe start recording some stuffs.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Nebu on May 20, 2009, 12:24:57 PM
Sporadic.

Slow day at work? 


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Yegolev on May 20, 2009, 12:37:54 PM

You'd think so, but quite the opposite.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: ghost on May 20, 2009, 06:38:51 PM
I think it would be cool to just have someone to shoot the breeze with other than the weirdos that seem to populate some of the MMOs......


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Cheddar on May 23, 2009, 04:21:25 AM
I guess I will be moving back to Oasis - its driving me up the wall not being a part of a guild.  Feels like these writ quests are going to waste!



Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on May 23, 2009, 11:08:27 AM
Nobody in BC is playing right now (basically me).


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Cheddar on May 23, 2009, 12:35:19 PM
Nobody in BC is playing right now (basically me).

Well shit.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on May 26, 2009, 06:38:26 AM
If you want to subscribe to my posts, I could always re-activate. A sub to Sky's posts is only $15/mo!  :why_so_serious:


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Nebu on May 26, 2009, 06:45:34 AM
If you want to subscribe to my posts, I could always re-activate. A sub to Sky's posts is only $15/mo!  :why_so_serious:

Hey... that's something for something!   :why_so_serious:


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on May 26, 2009, 08:44:44 AM
For a limited time only, I'll give subscribers a FREE invitation to Bat Country in EQ2!!


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Xurtan on May 31, 2009, 11:45:04 PM
What a great offer.  :oh_i_see:

Anyone messed around with the most recent expansion much? I have an 80 Dirge on AB that I stopped playing right before it came out.

Do you people have acrophobia from EQI Kelethin?  I love Gorowyn. You can even jump up and walk across the elevator wires; no waiting required!  :awesome_for_real:

But I also know where everything is, so its only a few seconds travel time generally. Meh.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Kitsune on June 01, 2009, 11:37:07 PM
So, I guess it's time for my yearly check on EQ2's status quo.  Have they livened things up from the original 'pick a fight, hit a button, watch a little electric jolt hit the monster, repeat for five minutes until monster dead' combat?  Between taking forever to run everywhere and taking forever to go through a fight and taking forever to level, the game had a feeling of WoW being played at 1/10th speed, with crappy spell graphics.

Great models, and I still adore the player housing system, which beats out every other 3-D game ever.  Being able to hang your quest rewards up as trophies is a grand idea that vastly improves the sense of accomplishment.  But it hasn't been enough to keep me subscribed in the past, because the gameplay keeps rubbing me the wrong way.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Tale on June 02, 2009, 05:36:58 AM
My multi-game guild of 9 years, about which I kept saying in this forum "they're all still playing EQ2 and enjoying it", has just quit EQ2 after two years of endgame raiding, in favour of LotRO.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on June 02, 2009, 06:13:05 AM
Between taking forever to run everywhere and taking forever to go through a fight and taking forever to level, the game had a feeling of WoW being played at 1/10th speed, with crappy spell graphics.
I'll give you the crappy spell graphics, but the rest isn't really my experience with the game. Of course, I don't raid, so ymmv.

Two years of end-game raiding and they still want to play mmo?  :awesome_for_real:


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Numtini on June 02, 2009, 06:34:35 AM
Quote
Between taking forever to run everywhere.

Wow. I can see a lot of criticisms of EQ2, but slow travel isn't one. It's a fast travel mecca compared to WoW. Teleport bells everywhere, guild hall druid portals, fast flights when you're within a zone. I can be anywhere in Norrath in less than five minutes.

Leave two years of endgame raiding for LOTRO sounds like a big mismatch of styles since LOTRO has only a token "raiding endgame."


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Lantyssa on June 02, 2009, 08:15:09 AM
Sounds like burnout.  It doesn't matter how good a game is, most everyone will need a change of pace eventually.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Sky on June 02, 2009, 08:25:36 AM
That's why I take summers off. By the time October rolls around, I'm usually ready for some more EQ2. Although with Dragon Age coming out at the end of October...

My main is still not at the cap (Cav is 73 Wiz), and I still enjoy playing every winter. Running the SK/Inq and Necro/Warlock combos was fun a couple months ago, not sure if that's how I'll play this winter, though.

For me, most of these fantasy mmos end up being pretty much the same once you've gotten into the systems and the honeymoon wears off. I got tired of learning all the new quirks of each title only to find the same underlying game, so I just stick with EQ2. When I get tired of that, not sure what the heck I'd do, but none of the games out there right now are appealing. Conan sounds cool if they can fill in the content, SWTOR might be up my alley.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: shiznitz on June 02, 2009, 12:51:25 PM
My multi-game guild of 9 years, about which I kept saying in this forum "they're all still playing EQ2 and enjoying it", has just quit EQ2 after two years of endgame raiding, in favour of LotRO.

In favor of LotRO raiding or just LotRO?


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Numtini on June 02, 2009, 03:26:39 PM
Quote
Sounds like burnout.  It doesn't matter how good a game is, most everyone will need a change of pace eventually.

No that part I understand completely and I certainly can sympathize with. It's just that for a raider type LOTRO doesn't offer much.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Lantyssa on June 02, 2009, 06:23:00 PM
My comment wasn't really to anyone in specific, just an observation.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Tale on June 03, 2009, 02:55:34 AM
My multi-game guild of 9 years, about which I kept saying in this forum "they're all still playing EQ2 and enjoying it", has just quit EQ2 after two years of endgame raiding, in favour of LotRO.

In favor of LotRO raiding or just LotRO?

Back in 2000 we were Australia's first major EQ1 raiding guild. Nation with a small population in a lonely time zone, so if you raided in GMT+10 you either joined us or became nocturnal (our progress was about 6 months behind the well-known uberguilds). You had to keep up with guild expectations, but within reason - to get kicked out, you had to miss everything for months.

The guild founders all left EQ1 in 2003ish and played the DAoC PvP endgame, running it much the same way. Later we had a well-organised SWG guild through beta that flopped five months into live, then two attempts at WoW raiding guilds, various short-lived chapters in the other MMOs as they launched and died.

Various other Aussie guilds are actually renamed spin-offs of our failed chapters. Finally our EQ2 chapter was a big success. The EQ1 guild died in early 2008 so more of our old players joined EQ2. They ran it like an EQ1 raiding guild and progressed through content faster than other guilds in our time zone, until they had their fill (I skipped EQ2).

They've played LotRO before to level 50 and ran out of content. Therefore it makes sense to go back and do Moria until they get bored, and hope something else comes along. It's an endless nine-year obsession with well-organised MMOG guilds. Doesn't really matter what game, it's just about enjoying it and doing it well.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Kitsune on June 04, 2009, 10:11:17 PM
Part of my problem with EQ2 is that it can be fairly impenetrable.  I leveled my characters up shortly after release.  Then bailed for a couple years.  When I came back, they had completely different spells, different sets of special abilities to choose from for their levels, and not a single clue about what to do.  All of the resources I could find for my conjurer were outdated and inaccurate, the official class message board was covered in cobwebs, there was no indication of which choices of the level-based special abilities would be useful or wise to pick, everything was just wretchedly confusing.  A few hours of roaming the net for info, a few hours of bumbling around in-game, then uninstalling.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Numtini on June 05, 2009, 06:14:38 AM
Part of my problem with EQ2 is that it can be fairly impenetrable.  I leveled my characters up shortly after release.  Then bailed for a couple years.  When I came back, they had completely different spells, different sets of special abilities to choose from for their levels, and not a single clue about what to do.  All of the resources I could find for my conjurer were outdated and inaccurate, the official class message board was covered in cobwebs, there was no indication of which choices of the level-based special abilities would be useful or wise to pick, everything was just wretchedly confusing.  A few hours of roaming the net for info, a few hours of bumbling around in-game, then uninstalling.

It was pretty bad for a while, google would turn up all the commercial sites and they hadn't been updated really since launch. I remember that--going from site to site to site trying to find updated info. It's a lot better now, at least I think so.  While a lot of stuff with tactics and who's good at what have changed, I don't think they've done any major overhauling since before Kunark. They were going to do fighters, but it got binned.

eq2.wikia.com has pretty much taken over everything for quests and reference materials. And I've been able to find good threads on master 2 choices on the official boards or eq2 flames.

Conjurors really get the shaft in the end game--itemization is all about +spell damage and it doesn't apply to the pet.



Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Hawkbit on June 05, 2009, 06:44:02 AM
They definitely seem to have pigeonholed classes into solo/raid roles and they don't seem keen to fix it.  Part of the issue is that there's simply too many classes.  Then a long standing stigma gets attached to certain classes and players that won't think outside the box don't allow them to perform their intended role.  W/e.  I could go on all day about it. 

I just reupped my account last night.   :grin:


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Numtini on June 05, 2009, 08:05:28 AM
I don't think it's so much the old "solo classes must be punished by having shitty groupability", a lot of solo friendly classes are quite desireable in raids. It's more just what's in favor at the time. Before the +spell damage era, summoners were the best DPS spellcasters, and I remember raids with three or four summoners and the whinging from the warlock/wizard community was monumental. And they're still desired for raids, my guild is currently recruiting for both, but with the nerfs a lot of people have abandoned them because they don't "feel" as useful or powerful.

I like the extra classes, but I think they probably should have focused on flavor rather than core abilities. I thought they did well with that in the necro/conjuror twins. But there's way too many classes with mandatory abilities and a few that are just significantly weaker than their counterpart--berserker/guardian for example.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Hawkbit on June 05, 2009, 10:31:05 PM
Vitality is a funny thing.  Subbed last night, just started lvl38.  Just logged tonight after about 2 hours playing midway through 40. 

What's kinda the best way to level from here?  I'm in the middle of Steamfont quests, but I'm guessing by 42 they'll be gone.  Then it looks like Everfrost got a quest revamp recently... is that decent now?  After that Lavastorm for a bit?


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Numtini on June 06, 2009, 07:26:34 AM
Check the solo timeline (http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Solo_Timelines) and it will let you know where the ranges are.

In your lower 40s you can usually snag some groups at the Temple of Cazik Thule. Turn on the 40something channel and watch for people lookingto start groups. They're usually good for a level every 45 minutes or so.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Hawkbit on June 06, 2009, 09:20:03 AM
Yeah, I found the solo timeline but was just wondering if the zones were decent I suppose.  I wasn't very impressed with Zek or the halfling zone, they seemed too broken up and dull.  Steamfont is pretty cool though.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Numtini on June 06, 2009, 11:52:15 AM
I personally found Steamfont to be the best in that range. The rest are mostly rebuilt zones with the quests added in and they don't quite fit as well. Lavastorm was just rebuilt and I haven't been through it yet, it has a 40/50s timeline and an 80th one as well.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: shiznitz on June 08, 2009, 10:28:19 AM
Vitality is a funny thing.  Subbed last night, just started lvl38.  Just logged tonight after about 2 hours playing midway through 40. 

What's kinda the best way to level from here?  I'm in the middle of Steamfont quests, but I'm guessing by 42 they'll be gone.  Then it looks like Everfrost got a quest revamp recently... is that decent now?  After that Lavastorm for a bit?

Enchanted Lands and Zek are still good. Not sure when Lesser Fay is appropriate but I enjoyed that zone as well. Do 60-70 in KoS and then head to Kunark.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Numtini on June 08, 2009, 12:41:29 PM
I hated Zek with a passion, enchanted lands is fine. And doesn't KOS go down in the 50s? Around 50ish watch for Klak'Anon groups. That and CT are some of the very few old dungeons that get regular use.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Hawkbit on June 08, 2009, 03:45:12 PM
I don't get a chance to group much in games anymore.  Puppy+wife+4yr old daughter+work+etc... I just hit 43 and finished up about what I could solo in Steamfont.  Off to Everfrost tonight, I think. 


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: shiznitz on June 09, 2009, 08:29:10 AM
I hated Zek with a passion, enchanted lands is fine. And doesn't KOS go down in the 50s? Around 50ish watch for Klak'Anon groups. That and CT are some of the very few old dungeons that get regular use.

Zek was revamped a bit. I don't remember when and I don't know when you last experienced it. EL is still better, though.  You can start KoS in the low 50s, but then you will finish it before you hit 70 unless you can find groups to do the endless Scaleborn dungeon questlines.


Title: Re: I just Grabbed EQ2
Post by: Numtini on June 13, 2009, 07:37:46 AM
I'm just grinding through the lower level lavastorm for AA and they're quite good. Very few navigation issues. Clear and reasonable.