Devs Read -Game heading in Wrong Direction

[pillb]

<DIV>I had more hope for EQ2 than any other MMORPG but lately it's turning more and more into a console game<img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><BR></DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>People quit Wow once they reach 60 and now in EQ2 it's the same thing. Players are making a plat a day in high level zones and it takes little effort to get 50 soon everyone will have the same armor and people will quit because no one is unique and at 50 theres nothing except an empty end-game.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Half my friends quit...I'm not 50 yet</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>With the increased rare drops, rares from chests, and exaggerated chest drops, Rares are no longer Rare <SPAN></SPAN><STRONG></STRONG>Nothing is fun because nothing is Rare... </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Most players wanting a lasting gaming experience don't want to just 'beat EQ2' and quit like some console game. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Loot drops are too high for a MMORPG wheres the reward for the risk?</DIV> <DIV><BR>Some suggestions:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>-Fix loot so players feel rewarded for their exp session but not so much as they can now make a plat a day selling high-stat armor from overdone chest drops.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> <DIV>-Get an end game or AA's and soon. People are quiting because they arent being rewarded for time spent and don't want to roll an alt. Make raiding at level 50 fun!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> <DIV>-More unique items that match the skill level they require to attaine.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>-Give players who've been saving for rares a chance to enchant their recently bought gear so they dont feel like they've wasted a fortune on outdated armor. Most the player-base in 40's were forced into attunement and in the next update told their attuned armor was non-enchantable. <DIV> </DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV> <DIV>-Introduce big mobs that could spawn in random spots in common zones once every 3-7 days with unique loot players can fantasize about and give lower level players also something to talk about. Seeing Sand Giants or even mobs like Lodizal  the awe factor is something missing in EQ2  if done right could be fun.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>-edit-<!--StartFragment --> Most people who respond I expect to disagree with my post as most are at work and Xtrme-casual. I play 20hrs a week and not 50 yet and I can see dissapointment coming if you just give everyone what they want because they ask. Players will gladly will take 100 plat in their bank account but that just leads people to quit sooner. The lack of seperation of players is closer than you think if you look at the numbers and how fast chests and armor are droping. Loot drops are a little too high.</DIV><p>Message Edited by pillbub on <span class=date_text>03-22-2005</span> <span class=time_text>10:31 AM</span>

[Mol]

<P>The game is going in the right direction, by making it more fun for the casual player and less of a Ubers Vs casual thing. Lets face it casual players are where the money is at and SOE has cottoned on, other then making raid content challenging it's only in SOE's interest to make gear achievable without investing 4 weeks of hardcore work (ie the VT access quest from eq1).</P> <P> </P> <P> </P>

[Kizee]

<DIV> <DIV>/shrug</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>What do you expect when you rush to 50 in a brand new game. There isn't a whole lot to do there at this time.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>As for the other things... I actually like that they are making things easier to get... then I don't have to be in some uber guild with annoying little pukes to get the good stuff. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></DIV></DIV>

[Siltha]

I think it was bending over to the power gamers and dishing out endgame expansion after endgame expansion that killed EQ1 after all. The gap went too big - while even those expansions didn't satisfy the hardcore base. It just became a grind where casual players had no chance to keep up.So now people who grinded to 50 instead of playing the game are getting bored? Bad for them. But I honestly don't feel too much pity

[pillb]

I'm not even level 50 and don't see why I should keep playing if I'll be the same as everyone else in a month. If people are making over a plat a day from cranked chest drops its time to go try Wow or something else 1 pp per day is a little too much. <div></div>

[Davitt]

<P>I think the direction of the game is heading in the right direction. I think SOE took the time to listen and create the game to its audience. They add content geared toward the average lvl of player. As that rises you will see more higher lvl content. As more content is added you will see more uniqueness(sp?). Take for instance in EQ1, all higher lvls ran around with either an oracle robe or rubi armor, but as Kunark and other expansion came out you started to see the individuality for players. I for one love looking unique, my high lvl enchanter was dress up to look exactly like a cleric in plate with a shield.</P> <P> </P> <P>"Introduce big mobs that could spawn in random spots in common zones once every 3-7 days with unique loot players can fantasize about and give lower level players also something to talk about. Seeing Sand Giants or even mobs like Lodizal  the awe factor is something missing in EQ2  if done right could be fun."</P> <P>I do agree with this statement, some challenge needs to be added. Make the dragon in Ant occasionaly take off flying around the zone to go hunting for food. Food might be that morsal of a gnome playing with those snakes down below. I loved it in South Ro I would be hunting and had to run for my life from a Sand Giant or the big huge spider. It made it all the more statisfing when I came back at a high lvl to enact my revenge.<BR></P>

[Day]

<P>This is why expansions like the one due out this fall should be aimed 60% at expanding high end content, and 40% at expanding the game at all levels.</P> <P>Remember that some 85% of your player base is the casual gamer, most of them are around 25-35 level now. </P> <P>I think EQ2 is going in exactly the right direction, keep it up.</P> <P> </P> <P> </P>

[pillb]

<div></div>Most the people responding now will disagree with the original post seeing as most people are posting from work, thus fairly casual. I play about 20 hrs a week and If there is a such thing as too consol-ish then EQ2 IS heading that way and that's not a good thing. Why don't I just buy a xbox if I want a temporary game and if in one months time everyone will be the same level and with the same gear? What's the point in playing? <div></div><p>Message Edited by pillbub on <span class=date_text>03-22-2005</span> <span class=time_text>10:03 AM</span>

[Kizee]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> pillbub wrote:<BR> Most the people responding now will disagree with the original post seeing as most people are posting from work, thus fairly casual.<BR><BR>I play about 20 hrs a week and If there is a such thing as too consol-ish then EQ2 IS heading that way and that's not a good thing.<BR><BR>Why don't I just buy a xbox if I want a temporary game and if in one months time everyone will be the same level and with the same gear? What's the point in playing?<BR> <P>Message Edited by pillbub on <SPAN class=date_text>03-22-2005</SPAN> <SPAN class=time_text>10:03 AM</SPAN><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>:smileyvery-happy:</P> <P>Ummm no. </P> <P>People that post for work are adults that need to work for a living... It doesn't mean that they are casual or hardcore.</P> <P>I work 40 hour weeks and play more than you do and I am only level 38.... I am taking my time and enjoying the ride.</P> <P> </P> <P>Wait for a few expansions and people will start to look different. I remember when EQ1 came out and there wasn't a whole alot of different looks.</P><p>Message Edited by Kizee on <span class=date_text>03-22-2005</span> <span class=time_text>10:16 AM</span>

[Ellendi]

Just go play EQ1/Live - fits your description perfectly. <div></div>

[aeio]

<span><blockquote><hr>Siltha wrote:I think it was bending over to the power gamers and dishing out endgame expansion after endgame expansion that killed EQ1 after all. The gap went too big - while even those expansions didn't satisfy the hardcore base. It just became a grind where casual players had no chance to keep up.So now people who grinded to 50 instead of playing the game are getting bored? Bad for them. But I honestly don't feel too much pity<hr></blockquote> I agree with this whole-heartedly.. And they have said they want to make EQ2 for the people who didn't like EQ1 or stopped playing it. Personally I just hit level 40... I am in no real hurry to get to 50... I would like to hit 50 around the time the first expansion comes out, which I won't expect will be out for 3-5 months.  So I have plenty of time to get those last 10 levels.  I would guess the significant portion of the playerbase is in the low to mid 30s at this point and will be a while before they hit 50. That all being said, I am not sure the original poster was protesting for an uber game environment  I think he was just asking for more to do at the end.  I think they have added content at a signifcant pace so far, and have appealed to the bulk of the players.  Those out ahead of the curve are simply going to have to wait for the rest of the players and the game to catch up.  I suspect in the next few months you will see more content in the free updates for the 40s and even 50s and we will probably have another adventure pack and an expansion in the next 3-5 months as I mentioned. </span><div></div>

[Aegori]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> pillbub wrote:<BR> Most the people responding now will disagree with the original post seeing as most people are posting from work, thus fairly casual.<BR><BR>I play about 20 hrs a week and If there is a such thing as too consol-ish then EQ2 IS heading that way and that's not a good thing.<BR><BR>Why don't I just buy a xbox if I want a temporary game and if in one months time everyone will be the same level and with the same gear? What's the point in playing?<BR> <P>Message Edited by pillbub on <SPAN class=date_text>03-22-2005</SPAN> <SPAN class=time_text>10:03 AM</SPAN><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P><BR>heh.</P> <P>I'm lvl 43, play about 20-25 hours a week, manage a guild, coordinate events, etc. I'm not "hardcore" in the respect that i power level myself to end game, but i sure am hardcore in terms of what i accomplish in game. All this while holding down a very lucrative job. Every patch, we've seen free content and/or expansion. Along with that, we've seen HUGE additions and changes to make the game fundamentally fun in the eyes of the community. Just about everything we've asked for, they've found a way to give it to us (and are in the process of giving us more). </P> <P>Is there a lesson to anyone in this situation? Maybe. </P> <P>The expectations of your hardcore leveling friends were not met simply because they did not take the time to experience all the content that EQ2 had to offer on the way to 50. My suggestion to them: Mentor some low level players and complete all the lower lvl raids and instances you may have missed. Also, as soon as they get out of the mentality that MMOs are all about their advancement and manage to help others outside their friend groups, they will find the experience much more fulfilling. I rarely find myself in groups with the goal of achieving something for myself. It's definitely part of the experience to help your guild and the community around you to achieve their goals along with your own. You would be correct in saying it's not possible to force a person into a mentality when playing a game, but people really should keep in mind that games like these evolve greatly over time and it will take time for any MMO to get where they expect it to be... 1, 2, even 3 years down the road.</P> <P>Did SOE learn a lesson? Perhaps, but history and MMO experience should serve them well. At release they offered a limited end game content which they've expanded with each patch and will continue to expand. I would go as far as to guess that even the first major expansion, while offering some end game features, will not focus on the end game. They focus on their customer base, which isn't even close to majority power gamer. As a business, i think they are taking the right direction. </P> <P>It's all perspective, and i've found my gaming experience with EQ2 very fulfilling so far. It's just differing mentality... the unfortunate part for your friends tho is that a majority of the mentality isn't focused on end game... both players and developers.</P> <P>-Aeg</P><p>Message Edited by Aegorian on <span class=date_text>03-22-2005</span> <span class=time_text>03:08 PM</span>