Kaeros = semi-retired (no cheering please)

[Jay]

<DIV>Hiya friends,</DIV> <DIV>I've barely touched these forums or logged into EQ2 in about three weeks; maybe closer to a month. A couple of reasons - busy at work, out of town, been sick, etc... but the main reason is that I've just gotten plain old bored with the game. I've lost a lot of the enthusiasm and motivation to play, for now. I'm not quitting or cancelling my sub; if nothing else, I'm waiting to see what the expansion brings. But for the time being, I'm on hiatus, semi-retired, on sabbatical, whatever you want to call it.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>It's funny, b/c I'm not terribly unhappy about anything; the ongoing ammo woes are a frustration, but that's nothing new. I'm in a great guild with really cool people, I was raiding 2-4 times a week, I have a ton of friends in the game, and my class isn't so horribly broken as to be unplayable. It's just gotten repetitive and monotonous lately, I guess; I've by no means gone everywhere and done everything, but the stuff on my To Do list doesn't inspire me to complete it. Maybe it's just that I'm a casual player at heart and I'm at the point in the game where you need to be pretty dedicated to advance; I'm not really sure. I do know that lately I've been a lot more aware of the headaches, obstacles, and time-sinks in EQ2 than ever before.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Anyway, this isn't a goodbye or anything like that; I'll still peek in from time to time to arrogantly reprimand someone for un-rangerlike behavior. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  (I've really been a pompous [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn] sometimes, haven't I?) But I've known many of you for WAY too long (and been way too active on this board) to just disappear without some explanation. Seriously, the experience I've had with you folks in this community over the past couple years has been unlike anything I've known before. Thanks for that.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I'll see you all around and I'll definitely be back in the saddle when EoF rolls out. Till then, may your arrows fly straight and true. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  Excelsior! </DIV>

[Issara]

well im sorry to hear you leaving.  I just finally started posting on the boards, although I have been reading them forever.I almost quit th egame too, but I was re-inspired to continue my 70 ranger on Nagafen by this....http://www.jeffmaloneshirtlesspvp.com/He reminded me why I played this game.  For the pure fun, adventure, and excitement.<div></div>

[Prandtl]

<P>We'll see you back here soon enough Kaeros. Hothing can keep a good ranger away for very long.</P> <P>In the meantime...</P> <P>Can I borrow your stuff?  :smileywink:</P>

[Huntress Jellica]

<font color="#6699ff">I feel you, Jay. Lately it's been a struggle to log in.. Take care, and drop in to say hi. I've always loved reading your advice and comments! <span>:smileyvery-happy:</span> </font><div></div>

[TerriBlades]

<P>I have been wondering where you were at Jay. Guess this explains it huh? Well don't be a stranger... er well no stranger then you already are :smileytongue: With EoF just a few weeks away, its prolly not a bad time to take a break. Hope to see you around a bit more after EoFs release.</P> <P> </P> <P>Oh and Prandtl, you'd be better off asking for my stuff... you wouldnt have to server transfer. :smileyvery-happy:<BR></P>

[Shaulin Dolamite]

See u in the expansion, I have a feeling the same thing is happening to alot of people., but hope to see most of them return soon : ) Its not goodbye just see you later <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[xandez]

later!++Xan<div></div>

[Zholain]

<font size="2">We'll definitely miss you while you're gone Kae.  Just from what I've seen, there are a lot of people who are feeling the same as you, including myself.Please keep in touch, and I hope we'll see you back in game soon.</font><div></div>

[jarlaxle8]

<P>Well, I know how you feel, sometimes I feel like 'well, should I REALLY log in tonight' too. Probably happens to a lot after a while. Taking a bit of a break will normally sort that out. :smileyhappy:</P> <P>I wish you a nice break :smileyhappy:</P>

[Teksun]

OK, so this is the guy that was giving ME hell for not being on while I moved... /sighWheres the luv?? You are SUCH a slacker <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />I fully expect to see you in mid November. I'll show you where my ancesters come from =)<div></div>

[Jay]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Teksun wrote:<BR>OK, so this is the guy that was giving ME hell for not being on while I moved... /sigh<BR><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P>Yeah, cuz I had to pick up all your shifts while you were gone... you know how Cele and Fey crack that whip. <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </P> <P>So now that you're back, you can fill in for me. Notice how the guild took down Vyemm in record time right after I went on vacation? If I stay away long enough, you guys will have Deathtoll beat no problem. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </P> <P>Anyway, yeah... I'll be back, no worries there. You all keep well and have fun.</P>

[Deml]

You'll be missed bud.  Go pick up Final Fantasy 12 next Tuesday and play that for a bit to take your mind off this stuff.  Enjoy the break and I think you'll enjoy a lot of EoF once it's released.

[KnightOfTheWo]

It's odd but I've felt exactly the same for several weeks now. Real life has beckoned, but at the moment I also struggle to login. So to echo Cat above, you're in good company. <span>:smileyhappy:</span>  See you at EoF launch, till then safe journeys.<div></div>

[Kiori]

Good luck and see you once again when the new horizon arrives.Been sometime since I posted on these boards( ranger is now an alt, but still gets time ), funnily enough I feel the same way about my inqui main, been playing my ranger and monk more lately.Soon enough EOF will arrive and hopefully everyone will be full of enthusiasm again, till then, take care.

[TheStormrider]

<DIV>I didnt play EQ2 for almost a year.  When I returned,  I had to unlearn everything I knew,  and then come up with new strategies for everything I wanted to do.  I had 0 aa points,  old gear,  and most of my friends had moved on.  Mind you when I left it was only for a week or two, and then I would be back.   </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>It took 9 months and my step son bugging me to re-install and re-activate.  <BR><BR>It was a wirlwind of frustration,  and excitement as I had new things to accomplish.  I made some new friends,  found out who my true older-friends were, and settled in.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>This was 11 days ago.  Im level 68 now almost 69.  I have completed every solo quest that is possible to do (at least that I could find) in the outdoor KOS expansion zones as well as FD.  Im beginning to feel the reason I left in the first place.  I figured I would add it to this post,  so that it helps explain it to anyone that would wonder (DEV's especially<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV>------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</DIV> <DIV>Playing EQ2 is an investment.  You invest $40 + 20 + 20 + 7.99 .....  well I am sure you get the monatary point,  but theres a time investment.  Every time I log in,  im investing time away from my life.  Which is a good thing,  usually,  when its fun.  It is supposed to be an escape.  A time when you can be 'Tippo,  defender of the realm,  slayer of Vox, feet of the journeyman,  wielding the short sword of the yakisha!'  Not tippo,  the waiter for pops,  killer of placeholders,  grinder of exp,  low man on the parse list'</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>So sometimes the choice gets difficult.  You have two hours.  Your wife wants to watch a movie later,  or your friends want to watch the game,  should you bother getting started?   Whats on my list that sounds fun.  I donno lets go through it!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1.  Run to every lowbie zone,  and find runes,  so you can finish that damned speak of a dragon quest' so that you can start killing placeholders in the next quest.</DIV> <DIV>2.  Harvest a bunch of things.  </DIV> <DIV>3.  Finish that hat quest,  for the hat that isnt as good as the one Im wearing.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Now,  Im actually having fun playing right now.   havent capped at 70,  but the tinges of these things above ache at the back of my eyes every time I have to make the dedcision to 'play,  or not to play'.  We always know that is the question.   </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The interesting thing about this game,  is that you want to accomplish something.  'I am,  because I play' sort of thing.  But at a point,  love of the game aside,  we make decisions to invest our time and money somewhere else.  And after the first week of withdrawals,  irritability,  and sense of abandonment go away,  were usually happy doing something else with our time.  And the longer we stay away,  the better escape the game becomes when we finally return!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The question is how long does it last each time you return?   It varies.  I can assure you that.  I quit at 35.  And came back when DoF was being released.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I pushed straight to 60 then quit when the time investment was too big,  only to come back,  as I said earlier 11 days ago.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I am pushing to 70,  and maybe my aa's,  and hoping that the expansion offers me more than the current expansion.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>To sum it up,  Everquest 2 is still a great game.  But it obviously lacks the fun and excitement factor that keeps you coming back forever.  Quest lines that interest you end.  Content comes scarcer and scarcer.  The same gear drops (or doesnt) over and over.  More importantly,  the game dynamics force you to stop doing what you want to do,  'for the good of the game'. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> For instance there was a quest I did over and over from 55 60.  I did it i estimate 100 times.  It gave me 1% each time i turned it in.  I did it in 6-15 minutes each time.  Every time I couldnt find a group or I only had an hour.  I did it.  Its been removed.  Why?  Not good for the game.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The exp was about what you would get in a good group,  I made next to no money on it,  but It helped me through boring times.  And it got removed because game designers didnt see it as a 'good use of my time leveling'.  My point on this particular tangent is,  if I decide with my $14 thats what I want to kill, why wouldnt they let me?  There were other people leveling as fast or faster doing other quests,  doing table,  poets etc,  but they had different lives,  with different investments to think of. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Im going to end my ranting,  and not touch upon things jay mentioned like consumable ammo/poisons costing a considerable amount,  or the fact that we have to get the best gear in the game now,  to be 'adequate',  those rants are from another time or place.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> I would love to keep investing in it forever,  but at some point Ill walk away again,  in order to bolster that feeling Ill get,  when I return again.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>In closing Jay,  I hope you invest wisely,  and make a fortune in returns!  I hope to see you back,  with a renewed vigor,  and most importantly,  I hope you send me all your stuff!  (J/K were on different servers).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Safe Travels to you and yours.</DIV> <DIV>Ciao </DIV> <DIV>Tippo Twodaggers</DIV> <DIV>Grobb Rangers FTW! (For the win,  not F#@* the world<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>PS 1 thing to remember,  is that when I came back I had 0 vitality.  I had to begin my levleing ladder with none.  And I received no reason why from contacting sony.  So if any of you decide to deactivate,  plan ahead!<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV>

[Raahl]

<DIV>You'll be back!  They always come back.  :smileyvery-happy:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I took 6 months off and came back and the game became new and exciting again.  Hope to see you around in the future.</DIV>

[Teksun]

He can come back AFTER I get all the good raid drops <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />Seriously furball, get your butt back in the game already!!<div></div>

[KnightOfTheWo]

<div><blockquote><hr>Teksun wrote:He can come back AFTER I get all the good raid drops <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />Seriously furball, get your butt back in the game already!!<div></div><hr></blockquote>See <strike>furball</strike> Kaeros, you have a fanclub. DO NOT DISAPPOINT US! <span>:smileywink:</span></div>

[TaleraRis]

<P>Sorry to see you go, but you'll be back for EoF so I can't be too sad <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </P> <P> </P> <P>See you then</P>

[Teksun]

<div></div><font size="7">The TRUTH:<font size="5">I took this pic of Kaeros, I just thought you'd like to know what he's REALLY been doing:<img src="http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/Teksun/kitty.gif"></font></font><div></div>

[xandez]

ROFL!!! <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />Thats a pretty nice lookin furball, aye... HAHAH++Xan<div></div>

[Phylok]

<DIV>We look forward to your return sir.</DIV>