Old Idea, Please SOE Take a look

[[sp00k]]

<DIV>So I was thinking.  (Yes, wow I can think =) )  As it stands now mobs lock on players and you can not attack or help players in trouble.  Running pass mobs will agro mobs and they will chase you for a set distance and then return.  You can as it stands now train in any zone, dungeon or area in the game.  I think this makes the game very trival and very unfulfiling.  Part of the fun and stress of EQ 1 was you had to becareful where you go and how you get somewhere.  I think the current system in place trivializes the game more than anything else.  Now all you people out there remember lower and upper guk right.  Thats what I'm talking about.  It gets fun and intense.  Very exciting having to worry about the 20 mobs heading your way.  Also you had to have very good players to pull mobs.  As it stands now anyone with half a brain can pull mobs.  There is no challenge what so ever with the way the current system is.  NONE.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Okay, now I understand the reason behind the system.  You are trying to eliminate greifing, power leveling, and mob stealing.  I understand.  However currently you can still greif someone if you choose too.   I think these factors are not worth hurting the gameplay of EQ 2.  So I plead with you to reconsider your view and your topology of EQ 2 and make it fun again.  To throw out an idea regarding Power Leveling which I know would be big on your list of things regarding this issue, is to prevent players from casting any spells on anyone lower than 10 levels of your current level unless mentored.  Problem solved no power leveling.  Also with regards to power leveling your current spell system would prevent power leveling anyway (to a certain extense) because buffs are group based.  You can not buff someone outside of group.  The thing would be heals.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I think you SOE, can do this and should do this.  Lets get this game where it should be.  Face it, look you have servers with 300 plus level 50's running around and the game is only 8 months old.  So you know the game was too easy.  Don't cater to your 2 month player base that quits.  Cater to your loyal customer base that will be with you for the long haul.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Thanks,</DIV> <DIV>Whipem  </DIV>

[Sunrayn]

<P>Although I do agree with you on the thrill of hearing 'Train to Zone', remember, EQ2 is not EQ1.</P> <P>EQ2 was designed for people like me with time constraints, job, house, kids, 2 dogs, 3 cats, car payment, etc.  Does that make me a 'two month' player?</P> <P>Sure, there are a bunch of level 50s running around 8 months in.  Those are the ones that have more time to play.  I have been playing since mid March and my highest character is only 25.  It is me and people like me that will keep EQ2 going and will be the dominant player base.  Why?  Because we dont eat up content.  We always have something to do and another level to gain and no reason to move to another game because we still havent seen all there is to see in this one, and probably never will.</P> <P>Contrary to popular belief, it isnt the casual player that jumps games, it is the power gamer, the one that reaches the end, gets bored,  and moves on to something else.</P>

[wr4ithd0]

<DIV>While I agree with both of you in some degree I have to say that yes, the game was way too easy.  Getting to 50 was really a piece of cake...been playing since november, sometimes alot during holidays but most of the week i barely get on at all.....and I know this isnt EQ1, but there werent this many level 50s this soon for that.  Now I think SOE has done a pretty decent job hepling balance between casual and hardcore, yet, i do not see how a train is going to ruin a casual gamers time any more than the hardcore.</DIV>

[Kirotaan]

Agreed I do not believe trains are helpful to players.  I kind of like the peace and quiet of not having to worry about trains.  Pulling is still an art form in EQ2 by the way.  There was a really good post by Mooreguard (or blackguard too many guards) that explained the view of encounters.  I am also way happy that encounters lock.  This means less greifing and once you have it no one can come by and steal it.  If they got it first then they were obviously ready for it.  I have yet to say I have something "camped" or "hey that was mine" because I simply have not needed to worry about it.  Mobs respawn. <div></div>

[Sunrayn]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> wr4ithd00d wrote:<BR> <DIV>.....and I know this isnt EQ1, but there werent this many level 50s this soon for that.</DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV>How many games like EQ1 were out there when EQ1 came out?  In EQ2, you can draw upon past experience to level quickly, couldnt do that in EQ1.</DIV>

[Kizee]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Sunrayn wrote:<BR> <P>Contrary to popular belief, it isnt the casual player that jumps games, it is the power gamer, the one that reaches the end, gets bored,  and moves on to something else.</P> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P>Acutally...the casual gamers get everything changed so that is too easy for the hardcores...the hardcores bet bored and leave...then the casuals get bored and leave because they dont have an autolevel 50 and equip toon with full fable button when they create thier character.</P> <P>On topic... I do miss the trains from EQ1. Not having them in EQ2 takes the fear away from traveling thru a nasty zone.<BR></P>

[[sp00k]]

<DIV>I agree with some of the responses.  However I think some people are missing some of the points I am making.  I do not want to bring back the hard grind that was in EQ 1.  Which means the experience earned per kill (plus vitality) is a lot higher in EQ2 vs EQ1.  this is fine.   This keeps the casual player in mind and allows the people who can only play a couple hours a week the chance to level up with moderate speed while power gamers will blow through levels with ease.  But if training and the threat of being trained and the threat of dieing because of training was implemented then the power gamers will have a more challenging effort to level.  (This should not affect casual players either.  They have wide open playing fields and a large number of different dungeons and instances to play in)  However if the casual player steps up to a more difficult area it will present more fun and challenge to them.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I feel the progression of the game is to lax and needs to be way more difficult.  Remember this is a GAME.  If all games where easy and a walk in the park then giant companies would be out of business.  No one wants to play a game that isn't challenging in some fashion.  I know EQ2 is not EQ1, its not DAoC, SWG, or any other MMORPG.  However EQ2 concepts, gameplay, game style, and asthetics all come from other games and past games.  I think the Dev's need to take a step back, look away from their current concept think of the future of EQ 2.  In its current state and atmosphere the game will not last long.  This is fact.  Even casual players will begin to leave because there is no future for them once they are 50.  I'm not saying there is a lack of content or anything of that nature.  However the current difficulty in the game is to easy.  (Lets say your playing Quake 3 Single Player, and your on easy mode and your playing for a while and just owning the BOTs.  Well after a while your gonna crank it up a notch because its just to easy.  You never die and that gets boring.  Now if you couldn't crank up the difficulty of the game then you would stop playing all together because its to easy.&nbsp<img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  Its human nature to compete and to overcome challenges and problems presented to them.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>All I'm asking is to reconsider the concept implemented.  Greifing sucks, mob stealing sucks, and trains sucks but its what made EQ 1 fun and challenging.  Its what made you watch your surrounding and be more attuned to whats going on.  (For the person who said pulling is not easy and requires skill your wrong.  A 5 year old can pull mobs in this game just fine.  Or perhaps you missed the concept of mob spliting and the roll monks played.&nbsp<img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  There are very few sociable mobs in EQ 2.  You can pull a group of mobs by another group and not have to worry about agroing them.  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>/rant off</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>GAME:</DIV> <DIV>1) <B>:</B> a physical or mental competition conducted according to rules with the participants in direct opposition to each other (2) <B>:</B> a division of a larger contest (3) <B>:</B> the number of points necessary to win (4) <B>:</B> points scored in certain card games (as in all fours) by a player whose cards count up the highest (5) <B>:</B> the manner of playing in a contest (6) <B>:</B> the set of rules governing a game (7) <B>:</B> a particular aspect or phase of play in a game or sport <a football team's kicking <I>game</I>></DIV>

[Sunrayn]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> Kizee wrote:<BR><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <P> </P></BLOCKQUOTE> <P>Acutally...the casual gamers get everything changed so that is too easy for the hardcores...the hardcores bet bored and leave...then the casuals get bored and leave because they dont have an autolevel 50 and equip toon with full fable button when they create thier character.</P> <P>On topic... I do miss the trains from EQ1. Not having them in EQ2 takes the fear away from traveling thru a nasty zone.<BR></P> <BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <DIV>Nope, that would be the ADD bunch.  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  Casuals like me just play and enjoy what is there.</DIV>

[Nibbl]

<DIV><FONT size=2> <P>Sp00k,</P> <P>I concur with you, the challenge is definitely missing, especially when compared to EQ I. A large majority of encounters seem very cookie cutter. It appears the combat/mob/spell/skill/etc revamp is going to change this, only time will tell!</P> <P>Trains were not that big of an issue in EQ I, just don’t hang out at the zone lines. If you saw and ooc "Train to zone x", just step away from the area. Once I learned to watch my back I rarely died from them. Made for lots of excitement though, especially when viewed from a distance. Nothing like watching 30 mobs wiping out all the knuckleheads hanging out a the zone line <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> I’m sadistic, I like watching needless toon death.</P> <P>Changing aggro so mobs follow until either one of you is dead would be a good change IMHO. I hate clearing an area for a node or collection item just to see a lower level nub run up and farm it while I’m engaging the last mob. My friend calls this ninjing <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Anyhow, changing aggro so mobs follow you iindefinitely would certainly make zones more challenging, as well as prevent most of the node ninjas <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <P>Pulling mobs in EQ II is mindless and requires absolutely no skill at all. Picking a group or single mob to pull is easy, no need to worry about adds on pulls, very little pull strategy is required. I have found very few social mobs in game. However, making mobs social would require a restructure of the zones, cant have them all standing together in a nice tidy group like they are now, who wants 30 mobs on a pull <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <P>The only improvements that I see in EQ II over EQ I thus far are the graphics and majority of the quests. However, I am willing to give SoE some time to work things out. This is a sequel to the original EQ right?</P> <P>This is not EQ I, yea I know… It should be better <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P></FONT></DIV>

[ReturnOfMadness]

no trains? <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> lol u should party with me just once than lol...u will learn the true meaning of a train <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> <div></div>

[Naughtesn]

<P>I have 2 level 50s and I really don't play that much - and one of my 50s is a 41 jeweler too... <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></P> <P>Too easy definitely...</P>