EQ2 Goes Free to Play too

[Sky]

I had no problems when I re-newbed for a month. I was using an old install that just had to patch up. The old launcher worked perfectly.

[Numtini]

Supposedly both the old launcher and the station launcher are going away and the new one will be the only launcher. It's the worst of the lot and won't auto-load a character.

As others have said "SOE"

[HaemishM]

I don't think you play the F2P EQ without the shittastic launcher.

[Chinchilla]

The streaming launcher client is ass on every conceivable level.

That's the one I was using. Craptastic graphics.

[shiznitz]

The launcher is the first thing the customer sees when they want to play. Amazing that so little attention is paid to it.

[HaemishM]

SOE's launchers look pretty but they are godawful. The DCUO launcher never worked for me during beta, ever, so I never got a chance to test the game. The EQ2X launcher freaked out on me a few times, and I often had to shut it down and restart it to get it to let me into the game.

[Numtini]

It would help if they just stuck with one, but they keep changing and they keep getting worse.

[Rokal]

I don't think it would hurt them any if they did a pass over all the abilities, and rolled a good many of them together, or just got rid of some of them.

They actually already did a few years ago. What you see now is the 'condensed skills' version  

This is one of my two main complaints with EQ2. Too many skills that are barely different from each other. I'd have liked fewer skills that felt more distinct. My other complaint is that every spell seems to have a giant obnoxious spell effect, which means group combat is like watching a fireworks show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11NyIV6fIsA

Combat starts around 35 seconds in, good example of what I mean around 1:15. Music is pretty bad, so muting is advised. It's like the artists made the spell effect for every skill in a vacuum. I remember doing some level 20-30 content in a group with two other players, and it was like we were calling in airstrikes on any minor enemy we fought.

[Numtini]

They reverted a bunch of graphics for the F2P version and the result was a lynch mob looking for developers, so they relented and turned them back. I "get" all the issues people have with EQ2, but these aren't just things that EQ2 players don't think are a problem, but things we actually see as the attractive parts of the game. Maybe we're wrong and trying to wow it up more would be the answer, but I think after the SWG NGE, they're reluctant to give up on dancing with the ones who brought them.

[Phred]

They reverted a bunch of graphics for the F2P version and the result was a lynch mob looking for developers, so they relented and turned them back. I "get" all the issues people have with EQ2, but these aren't just things that EQ2 players don't think are a problem, but things we actually see as the attractive parts of the game. Maybe we're wrong and trying to wow it up more would be the answer, but I think after the SWG NGE, they're reluctant to give up on dancing with the ones who brought them.

Why do you insist on calling this wow'ing it up when EQ1 had a similar philosophy re: spells? It seems like yet another way that eq2 tried and failed to break new ground.

[Stabs]

I wandered back in for the first time in 6 months and the harvesting and tradeskills have had quite a shakeup. Particularly there's a talent now that gives you 1% bonus chance to find rares. Since before your chance was something like 0.05 +1 is actually amazing. I've already found 13 Ebon clusters in 2 evenings (I think I'd found about 2 before in 7 years).

It's made crafting really absorbing for me.

[Lantyssa]

That's a nice talent.  I remember making it through entire tiers where I was able to make all of one item.

And every time a node yielded a rare loam I screamed.

[Sky]

I hated that while leveling, because the standard armor sucks and there's no reason to make it. You're there to make the rare armors, otherwise quests give better rewards.

So between that and the rarity making them a valuable commodity, the lower-level areas are filled with hoovering flying carpets (or whatever the fotm is), so appropriately-leveled characters questing in the area get a few table scraps. And most of the people doing the hoovering are total retards who can't comprehend the way the resource spawn table works and just cherry pick the hard metal nodes. If you harvest /everything/, including shinies, you'll end up with far more metal than if you just harvest metal.

Frustratingly passive-aggressive bullshit.

[Simond]

Patch Notes

Posted on: October 06, 2011
 
DUNGEON FINDER
Dungeon Finder is a matchmaking system designed to make it easier for groups to get together for dungeons.   The system requires a minimum of six people to be using the system to create groups.

To use the Dungeon Finder, click the "Dungeon Finder" button from the EQII menu on your XP bar. (Or open the "Zones" menu by using ALT+Z.)
You can queue solo or as a group (only group leaders can queue a group) for any dungeons you qualify for (based on level, critical mitigation requirements and if you have the required expansion on your account)
You can either queue for a Random Dungeon (and get a +25% XP bonus while playing that dungeon) or you can queue for specific dungeons by only clicking the checkboxes next to their names. (NOTE: You don’t get the +25% XP bonus if you queue for specific dungeons.)
If you leave the dungeon, and your group stays within it, you can use the "Return" button to zone back to your group without travel time.   Note:  PvP Groups:  If you zone out of a DF instance and your alignment doesn’t match that of the leader you are disbanded from the group.
If your group isn’t full, the group leader can use the ‘Reinforce’ button to allow more players, currently queued in the Dungeon Finder (and who qualify), to join the group.
If your group finishes a Dungeon Finder dungeon, the group leader can queue for another dungeon immediately (without needing to leave the dungeon the group is currently in). This should result in almost no wait time for the next dungeon as long as you still have a full group.
Note: The zones offered in the Dungeon Finder are based off your character’s actual level (not your mentored level). Mentored level has no effect on Dungeon Finder matchmaking.

[Rendakor]

Good to see they've finally implemented it, although not being able to use it while mentored is shitty. If I didn't have a ton of stuff on my plate already I'd resub for a month to check it out. There's no mention of role selection in there; do you get to pick what role you would like to do, or is that automatic based on your class (aka can a Fury queue as a DPS)?

[Numtini]

I look forward to never having to speak again in EQ2.

Mentoring is already OP for power levelling. If you were going to let people randomly queue mentored, you might as well just add the Level 90 button.

[Numtini]

Seriously, even by the standards of my already low expectations from WoW and Rift, this DF is a complete and utter disaster. One group has a not-a-tank but DPS pushed into tanking. the other has three healers, a tank and 2 dps. And I just got dragged into one--I'm a raid ready 90 and I'm in a 87-89 group with no tank.

It seems to have no understanding of role or gear. It doesn't even get to the usual grievances of a LFG system. It can't even muster that.

[Rendakor]

Sounds like the early WoW meeting stone days.

[Dren]

I've mainly ignored this game until this weekend when I decided to give the F2P a shot.  Tell you what, it is a damn good game so far.  I'll play a bit more to determine if I want to upgrade to Silver (one time fee,) but so far it is looking like that's my direction. 

Now, this is from somebody that has no idea what happened before, what to compare against (normal servers, etc.,) nor really cares.  From the standpoint of finding something to occupy my gaming time for awhile, this was a great choice.  From a F2P perspective, it is the game.  Sure I'm limited in many areas, but I have not found a single point where I've HAD to buy anything.  My biggest issue is probably bag space, but that's minor so far (I'm lvl 14 by the way.) 

I really like the harvesting, crafting, collecting aspect of the game so far.  Very different from other MMO's, in that regard.  If I get anything from this, is another perspective on how an MMO could do crafting.  It's great that I can collect anything really.  I've always hated being limited on that in other MMO's. 

I absolutely love that there is housing.   Yes, I have housing on my F2P account. 

The biggest turn-off for me so far is the much debated character art.  Count me as one that just finds them to be creepy looking.  Don't try to make people look realistic, because it always falls short.  If anything mimic the super hero MMO's and just make people crazy over the top.  For some reason, my mind accepts that more than what they did in EQ2.

[shiznitz]

Can you still see your own character's eyeballs if you zoom all the way into first person?

[Surlyboi]

Yup, sometimes some tongue and teeth too.

[Hawkbit]

For realz this time:

http://kotaku.com/5858413/everquest-ii-fully-commits-to-free+to+play

No more split servers, it appears.  This looks to be, at face value, what I wanted from the start.  I might actually have to check this out again.

[Simond]

I'm thinking the ridiculous numbers surge for DCUO made someone go "Wait a second...."

[Hawkbit]

Yet they are still limiting spell tiers.  WTF, Sony.  Don't limit the power of the player.  No choice but to sub if you want to do max dps.

[Numtini]

Yet they are still limiting spell tiers.  WTF, Sony.  Don't limit the power of the player.  No choice but to sub if you want to do max dps.

Or heal or tank.

It's still levels of subscription with the game massively gimped if you don't buy a full subcription. Maybe the grid is different, but it's deck chairs on the titanic from my point of view.

[Hawkbit]

I mean, the precedence for this kind of decision is in SOE's history.  But I still just cannot wrap my mind around the fact that they are so utterly blind to what makes this work.  Hell, even if they wanted to make the upper tiers a one-time unlock for $10, that I could understand.  They fundamentally don't understand that F2P success is directly linked to not limiting the player power level. 

Someone has a gigantic morning hardon for subscriptions still, even flying in the face of all the extra cash they could get doing F2P properly. 

[koro]

I wonder if they still sell class unlocks as part of a "pack" only, with ridiculous prices.

[Numtini]

It would be easy enough to require a "Master Spell Enablement Shard" to combine with the spell so you could learn it. Available for the low price of 50 station cash or somesuch. That also pushes you into repeated purchases of SC, which is what you want because with SC burning a hole in your pocket, suddenly buying the glowing green robe looks like a good idea. The subscription model just pushes you to avoid SC transactions. It makes no sense.

[Hawkbit]

^ This.  It's perfect. 

[Merusk]

I wonder if they still sell class unlocks as part of a "pack" only, with ridiculous prices.

Check the link, for the player matrix off to the side.   Classes are still only unlocked if you agree to sub for 14.99/ mo.   Free version remains 4 races 4 classes. Races can be bought classes require a sub.

Calling it "Fully commits to F2P" is another marketing line in a long string of them.  The good stuff is still only available to the subs, with no chance of buying it for cash and there will still be "Frequent Pop-Up Upgrade Reminders" for anyone not paying their $15/mo.

[koro]

Ah, I misread that. I knew they offered some unlock in a pack of 3-4 that you had to buy to get what you wanted. It was probably races, then, which is still pretty stupid.

[Dren]

Regardless, I reccommend the game as F2P especially if you have never played it before.  You get way more than enough to start you off and allow you to know if you like the game or not.  I paid the one time fee thing to get silver (I think it was called,) and I come back from time to time.  I probably won't sub, but I also don't care about having everything I can in the game either.  I'm extremely casual with this one.

[HaemishM]

It's extremely good as a F2P game. The content is... well, it's MMOG quality, but there's a shitload of it, even as a free player. The worst part of the free thing is the class restriction to me, but even then it's like 8 classes not 4. But yes, SOE is still trying to get people to subscribe instead of micro-transact. It's SOE. They haven't met a good idea they can't fuck into oblivion.

[Merusk]

I played before during free trials enough to know how things work.  However, the only classes I'm interested in are Shadowknight & Druid - which requires a sub or not playing. Guess which I'll choose!

As Haemish said.. it's a good idea being fucked up as is SOE's ususal MO.

[Lantyssa]

I bought SK (and Arasai) with the initial f2p.  I don't think it'll be sub-or-nothing.

What I do find interesting is it seem SOE keeps giving me bits of Station Cash.  Last I knew I had 400-ish points.  When DC Universe went f2p, I had 1400-ish.  At this rate I'll never have to pay for the stuff I want if I play their games judiciously.