Being forced to a server near you EverWoW

[MountainFl]

<div>It's very simple; If I wanted to play WoW, I would quit EQ and play WoW. Why do the Dev's feel that they need to re-shape EQ to feel and play like WoW.</div><div> </div><div>Rant off. Now for my observations on the test server.</div><div> </div><div>1. Tradeskill system is way too simple now. Please use 2-4 combines as the norm over the proposed 1 combine system.</div><div> </div><div>2. Have a generic Mage, Fighter, Scout and Healer class to lvl 5 on Island. Have quests on island that are sub-class specific to allow players to experience each sub-class. At lvl 6 have the choice for final class.</div><div> </div><div>3. Bring back Spirit shards. Death has no meaning in the game right now. XP Debt is a joke and is not a penalty for death. Also bring back the Spirit Shard retrieval vendors and locate them with mendors, don't play the "unofficial" vendor game. Price for shard retieval can be simple lvl/20 in Gold. IE Lvl40 Shard will cost 2g, Lvl 58 Shard will cost 2.9g</div><div> </div><div>I ask the developers to please stop dumbing down the game.</div>

[Coastwatcher]

<div></div>Not to get too off topic here but if the Houston Texans see the Colts and Patriots having much success do they tell themselves " Let's just leave everything as is. It's better to go 2-14 every year than see what's working for the good teams and try to apply some of their ideas to us " . :smileyindifferent:

[Daxtyr_AnnonTuri]

<div></div><p>these are actually good idea's ... i can't flame you about anything ... NOT</p><p>why do people compare evrything done in EQ1 or 2 to WoW ...</p><p>WoW is nothing more then a rip of EQ/ SWG/ AO / well everything and its cartoonish so they have no trouble with color's (thier programer's are color blind)</p><p>please remember that EQ is and always will be the trend setter for ALL MMORPG's</p><p>so get off the WoW kick you have awsome idea's but ............ when you kick it off with a wow slam they won't even read it.</p><p>-Dax</p>

[selch]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>Daxtyr_AnnonTuri wrote:<div></div><p>why do people compare evrything done in EQ1 or 2 to WoW ...</p><p>WoW is nothing more then a rip of EQ/ SWG/ AO / well everything and its cartoonish so they have no trouble with color's (thier programer's are color blind)</p><hr></blockquote>Because it is trendy nowadays and "in their little minds" they try to threaten developers. And mostly those type of people never played other MMO's or just a few not enough to make comparison

[SalBlu]

<div></div>The server mergers need to happen.  You have practically dead servers out there with small populations that people are not joining.  Instead, they run to Antonia Bayle and Lucan D'Lere because of the population.  The only problem I see with the mergers is that people are going to lose their character names.  That really sucks, but I am glad they are merging things up.  Maybe people will stop crowding onto my server.

[Tomanak]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>MountainFlyr wrote:<div>It's very simple; If I wanted to play WoW, I would quit EQ and play WoW. Why do the Dev's feel that they need to re-shape EQ to feel and play like WoW.</div><div> </div><div>Rant off. Now for my observations on the test server.</div><div> </div><div>1. Tradeskill system is way too simple now. Please use 2-4 combines as the norm over the proposed 1 combine system.</div><div> </div><div>2. Have a generic Mage, Fighter, Scout and Healer class to lvl 5 on Island. Have quests on island that are sub-class specific to allow players to experience each sub-class. At lvl 6 have the choice for final class.</div><div> </div><div>3. Bring back Spirit shards. Death has no meaning in the game right now. XP Debt is a joke and is not a penalty for death. Also bring back the Spirit Shard retrieval vendors and locate them with mendors, don't play the "unofficial" vendor game. Price for shard retieval can be simple lvl/20 in Gold. IE Lvl40 Shard will cost 2g, Lvl 58 Shard will cost 2.9g</div><div> </div><div>I ask the developers to please stop dumbing down the game.</div><hr></blockquote><p>Point 1. Agree. I leveled 2 crafters one to 60 and the other to 50 using the old system. Tedious yes, but this change is too extreme</p><p>Point 2. This does not dumb down the game. Removal of the sub classes is a good change. Playing a generic toon x1 doesnt teach me anything about playing my final archtype. Removal of the pointless class quests doesnt dumb down anything.</p><p>Point 3. Dont really care. I still try not to die because dying means I fked up and thats a detriment to my belief in my own uberness. Played with shards, now playing without shards. I dont need some ingame penalty to make me play to the best of my abilities.</p>

[Maroger]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>MountainFlyr wrote:<div>It's very simple; If I wanted to play WoW, I would quit EQ and play WoW. Why do the Dev's feel that they need to re-shape EQ to feel and play like WoW.</div><div> </div><div>Rant off. Now for my observations on the test server.</div><div> </div><div>1. Tradeskill system is way too simple now. Please use 2-4 combines as the norm over the proposed 1 combine system.</div><div> </div><div>2. Have a generic Mage, Fighter, Scout and Healer class to lvl 5 on Island. Have quests on island that are sub-class specific to allow players to experience each sub-class. At lvl 6 have the choice for final class.</div><div> </div><div>3. Bring back Spirit shards. Death has no meaning in the game right now. XP Debt is a joke and is not a penalty for death. Also bring back the Spirit Shard retrieval vendors and locate them with mendors, don't play the "unofficial" vendor game. Price for shard retieval can be simple lvl/20 in Gold. IE Lvl40 Shard will cost 2g, Lvl 58 Shard will cost 2.9g</div><div> </div><div>I ask the developers to please stop dumbing down the game.</div><hr></blockquote><p>1. The combines for tempers and washes are a waste of time -- they should sell them on the wholesale merchants. Personally I don't think it dumbs TS down - you can still mess up and come up with stuff way less than Pristine. In WoW - you always succeed. Doubt if you know what you are talking about here.</p><p>2. I think that is not too bad an idea -- of couse you can try a ton of classes on the outposts -- doing them isn't that time consuming.</p><p>3. Like the system the way it is now. I had spirit shard retrieval. Leave the system as it is now. I still try not to die -- but I don't want to be punished by losing many hours of game play because of it. If you want to die and lose XP play EQ1 -- at level 70 you will lose 6% without a 96% rez. -- and don't get a rez!</p><p> </p>

[your savior]

<div><span><blockquote><hr>MountainFlyr wrote:<div> </div><div>1. Tradeskill system is way too simple now. Please use 2-4 combines as the norm over the proposed 1 combine system.  <font color="#ff0000">Only going to be less time at the crafting tables.  That isn't bad.  </font></div><div> </div><div>2. Have a generic Mage, Fighter, Scout and Healer class to lvl 5 on Island. Have quests on island that are sub-class specific to allow players to experience each sub-class. At lvl 6 have the choice for final class.  <font color="#ff0000">Nah, choosing your class from the begining is far better.  I didn't think it would be until i tested it.</font></div><div> </div><div>3. Bring back Spirit shards. Death has no meaning in the game right now. XP Debt is a joke and is not a penalty for death. Also bring back the Spirit Shard retrieval vendors and locate them with mendors, don't play the "unofficial" vendor game. Price for shard retieval can be simple lvl/20 in Gold. IE Lvl40 Shard will cost 2g, Lvl 58 Shard will cost 2.9g  <font color="#ff0000">Yawn! No shards please.  Nothing more boring then shard retrievals.</font></div><div> </div><div>I ask the developers to please stop dumbing down the game.  <font color="#ff0000">So they remove three boring parts of the game and you call it dumbing down?  There is nothing exciting about making washes and inks for making a spell.  There is nothing exciting about having to go through 20 levels of generic classes to specialize in what you want.  It always sucks to go back to the place you died to get your shard; if it killed you once it's probably gonna do it again.</font></div><hr></blockquote>Nothing wrong with what they are doing.  In fact, they should keep up the good work.</span></div>

[Jayces]

<span><blockquote><hr>Daxtyr_AnnonTuri wrote:<div></div><p>these are actually good idea's ... i can't flame you about anything ... NOT</p><p>why do people compare evrything done in EQ1 or 2 to WoW ...</p><p>WoW is nothing more then a rip of EQ/ SWG/ AO / well everything and its cartoonish so they have no trouble with color's (thier programer's are color blind)</p><p><b>please remember that EQ is and always will be the trend setter for ALL MMORPG's</b></p><p>so get off the WoW kick you have awsome idea's but ............ when you kick it off with a wow slam they won't even read it.</p><p>-Dax</p><hr></blockquote>Many features seen today in MMORPG's existed in UO before EQ was around.</span><div></div>

[Aegori]

This thread is almost as good as everyone who quit EQ2 to move to WoW once attunement was implemented.-Aeg

[infernus006]

<i>"</i><i>I am glad they are merging things up.  Maybe people will stop crowding onto my server."</i>But what about those of us who chose our server because of lower population?  Now we are being forced to merge so we can have a higher population like you.  Maybe not everyone wants that.  Fortunately I'm on a server that's not being moved but I am still having another server's people dumped into mine.  Can't say I'm too happy about it.<div></div>

[Steelswo]

<div></div><font color="#00ccff">1. Even though I like the feeling of accomplishment the old system gave me, I can understand this change.  I like the easier path to finished products and how they extend this to other trades as well.</font><font color="#00ccff"></font><font color="#00ccff"></font><font color="#00ccff">2. Having a good band of alts on test, I can say I love starting out the class I chose!  Instead of being a Level 10 Warrior > Level 10 Crusader > level 1 Shadowknight at level 21, I am a nasty, evil Shadowknight from level 1 on, with neat, unique, class specific abilities all along my characters advancement.</font><font color="#00ccff"></font><font color="#00ccff"></font><font color="#00ccff">3. I don't mind the penalty the way it is, you still got to repair stuff, which can add up, and take a long trek back to where you were (unless you get a res).  I don't miss shard recovery at all.But comparing this game to WoW?  I have played both a lot over the last year.  I like EQ2 better.  WoW is way too raid-centric and a linear grrrind to the level 60 raid ceiling with nothing else to do from 1-59 but grind quests for lousy loot, grind faction, and XPs.  EQ2 has more chances for lateral progression like adding things to your house (even upgrading where you live!), book quests, writs, and leveling your guild even, among a bunch of other things to do every day you log on.WoW tends to be more Macro (arcadey PvP instances, big group raiding, heavy amount of gear dependancy) where EQ2 is more Micro (group and small group raids, focused more on the individual contribution and small guild support) in scope.  But I like it that way.</font><div></div><p>Message Edited by Steelsword on <span class="date_text">02-01-2006</span><span class="time_text">12:12 PM</span></p>

[Shmogg]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>SalBluee wrote:<div></div>The server mergers need to happen.  You have practically dead servers out there with small populations that people are not joining.  Instead, they run to Antonia Bayle and Lucan D'Lere because of the population.  The only problem I see with the mergers is that people are going to lose their character names.  That really sucks, but I am glad they are merging things up.  Maybe people will stop crowding onto my server.<hr></blockquote><p>If the <a href="http://www.eq2census.com/servermove.jpg" target="_blank">post-merge</a> <a href="http://www.eq2census.com" target="_blank">EQ Census</a> data even comes close to reflecting reality, then AB will drop to 9th place and LDL will be 14th. Now there isn't much difference in the top 10, but LDL? Looking like a low-pop server to me. Ummm, in a relative post-merger sense, of course. :smileyvery-happy:</p><p> </p><blockquote><hr>Aegorian wrote:<div></div>This thread is almost as good as everyone who quit EQ2 to move to WoW once attunement was implemented.-Aeg<hr></blockquote><p>Yeah, that was a silly reason since WoW had their version (Bind on Equip) in from the get-go.</p>

[Etherium]

<div></div><p>If you want a low population server and a friendly, cooperative attitude, then come to test.</p><p> </p>

[AbsentmindedMage]

There is nothing wrong with removing unnecessary time sinks like you list.  The stipulation though is that they must continue to make the game challenging.  Personally, I think they are succeeding for the most part on both.The subcomponents have never had a purpose beyond being a way to take up time.   Their quality never affects the final products quality.   I would much rather gather the resources and make the final product.   They could balance this out by making it take longer in the crafting process to make the final product.<div></div>

[Bhagpuss]

<span><blockquote><hr>infernus006 wrote:<i>"</i><i>I am glad they are merging things up.  Maybe people will stop crowding onto my server."</i>But what about those of us who chose our server because of lower population?  Now we are being forced to merge so we can have a higher population like you.  Maybe not everyone wants that.  Fortunately I'm on a server that's not being moved but I am still having another server's people dumped into mine.  Can't say I'm too happy about it.<div></div><hr></blockquote>I chose Steamfont at launch because it was one of the later servers to come up and I wanted the lowest population one I could find. It still has a relatively low-level population. Shame to have to move, but these things happen.As for the general changes, EQ2 as it played in the first 6-9 months wasn't difficult, it was dull. There's a huge difference. I started in beta during September 2004 and lasted until April 2005 before the sheer tedium of EQ2's gameplay drove me back to EQ1.The major changes that have been made so far have already pulled EQ2 back to be much more in line with EQ1 gameplay. The removal of locked encounters, allowing healing and rezzing out of group and the major changes to the length of fights and accuracy of conning have all been great improvements, in my opinion, and far from making the game easier these changes have made it more subtle, fluid and complex.The upcoming removal of the Archetype system, the increasing emphasis on raiding and the streamlining of the crafting system come close to completing EQ2's morph into EQ1 with better graphics, which is basically the only strong marketing card it ever had to begin with, once SOE had made the disastrous decision to name the game "EQ2".I find EQ2 a lot more entertaining to play than it ever was before, and I think all the changes are going in the right direction. There is still a shortage of tactical solo combat options, due to the obsession devs in general, not just in EQ2, seem to have with preventing any playstyle that doesn't involve direct melee, but it's a lot better than it was.Shard recovery was a silly, artificial punishment for dieing and i am glad to see the back of it, along with the unbelievably bad design choice that was shared xp debt. This game is definitely going in the right direction, and that direction isn't "easier" it's "more entertaining".</span><div></div>

[Aedos]

Crafting is [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn] boring atm. Good thing they are trying to make it better.Get to lvl 30 to know how your class plays, was the worst system ever.Agree about the death penalty though as in there is no death penalty atm.

[Sulas]

I agree too.  I'm really disappointed with the extremity of the change to tradeskilling ( as I'm reading it, havent tried it).  I'm happy to be done with all the WORTS, but I DO NOT like the idea of just dropping raws in a sack and magically having a shield.Make it so I make the 3 pieces of the shield, then combine for the shield.  That's a nice compromise that retains some level of complexity/ realism.<div></div>

[SalBlu]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>Shmogg wrote:If the <a href="http://www.eq2census.com/servermove.jpg" target="_blank">post-merge</a> <a href="http://www.eq2census.com/" target="_blank">EQ Census</a> data even comes close to reflecting reality, then AB will drop to 9th place and LDL will be 14th. Now there isn't much difference in the top 10, but LDL? Looking like a low-pop server to me. Ummm, in a relative post-merger sense, of course. :smileyvery-happy:<hr></blockquote>That's fine with me, and as stated in the GM Development thread on the matter, all servers getting merged are being retrofit with "new equipment" to handle larger server numbers.

[Xi]

I love these posts that say "Oh noes!  EQ2 is becoming WoW"... WoW had 10x the subscribers as EQ1, and probably more than that for EQ2.  However, that doesnt matter.What matters is all MMORPGs rip each other off, and thats a GOOD thing.  We get an evolving genre.  WoW set the precident that people will no longer tolerate things like "Vex Thal" keys.  The guy who invented the "Vex Thal" key should be condemned to a lifetime of suffering for what he unleashed on us.  Uber-long, Uber-rare camps can go the way of the dinosaur.  I dont think any *SANE* person would lobby to get them back.  Tradeskilling in EQ2 was innovative, but had a taste of grinding to it.  It ISNT fun to spend a half hour making nearly trivial subcombines.  Removing them is GOOD.  Keeping the 'Crude, Shaped, Normal, Pristine' system is also GOOD.  Death penalties exist in every game.  In Everquest1 the death penalty was absolutely *tragic*.  If you didnt have a cleric to ressurect you, you could lose more than a day of experience particularily in the earilest stages of the game.  When you have the potential for logging on one day, doing poorly and acually being further behind than if you had not logged on at all, this is a *bad* thing.  The death penalty is overbearing at that point.  There is always a penalty for death in any game.  In WoW and EQ2 there is a cash penalty.  The problem with all cash penalties is that it hurts some people more than it hurts others.  If you have 1000s of gold in WoW or 10+ platinum in EQ then your cash loss for dying is pretty nominal.  Not every single person is that wealthy tho.  I lose about 1.5g per death in repairs.  Thats about 20% of a nights take for me (I play a couple hours a night).  I'd say thats a penalty from my perspective.  Not only do you get fined money, you also lose time.  You now have to run back to where you were, and try again.  So in essence, there is enough penalty that Im not going to intentionally get myself killed.  Even if there was no penalty at all there is still a small time cost in rebuffing and running back to wear you need to be.  I'm fine with death the way it is right now.  I'm happy death in MMORPGs has 'evolved' to a 10-15 minute penalty rather than a multi-hour penalty EQ1 started.Oh yeah, and EQ2 has an *awesome* class system.  16 unique classes, for the win!  I didnt *hate* the subclass system (Fighter -> Crusader -> Shadowknight) that wasnt bad.  But I'm in the camp that starting out as your choosen class is better.  Have you played the LU19 Newbie isles?  IMHO they are very well done now.  I was very happy with my experience testing it.In summary, EQ2 and all other MMORPGs are evolving.  EQ2 is making positive changes based on learning from the mistakes and successes of their competitors.  This is how it should be.<div></div>

[Flor]

<div></div><p>Being a former WoW player and an EQ2 player, I must disagree with the OP about the games being similar.  EQ2 has a totally different feeling, different game mechanics, and so many things to do that it blows WoW away in that department.  Although I really enjoyed my time in WoW, EQ2 has that long term feel for me.  I don't see these changes as the end of the world.  They got rid of the irritants and timesinks that were there before.   In spite of what you may think, incredible timesinks in a game don't make you one of the "elite" gamers.  It just means that you have much more time on your hands to camp, do access quests, go get those pesky shards, etc.  I hope that SOE attracts more and more players to the game with the positive changes they are making. </p><p>With that said, I'm neutral about the upcoming changes.  I like the game as it stands now.  I don't really mind what's coming down the road either.  It's not the end of the world and doesn't equate to dumbing down a game.  </p><p>For the "hardcore," I hope that future titles such as Vanguard will appeal to you.  But I have a feeling that over time, a game such as Vanguard will become more like the new generation of MMORPGs that we are seeing here.  In 6 months after release of the next new MMORPG, people will be complaining about the new titles becoming like WoW.  WoW has become the red headed stepchild of MMORPGs it seems....:smileyvery-happy:</p>

[Igu]

<div></div><p>I think the subclass thing was a mistake from the beginning.</p><p>There might be another reason for doing it though. Adding a new class would be much easier now. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[geldonyetich]

It's both too early and too late for these suggestions.   Too early because you'll want to play with the changes for a couple weeks until you're sure they're really as bad as you think.  Too late because they're rolling this patch live <i>tommorow</i> - did you honestly think you could stop an entire developer team at the last minute with a single post?But, fret not, if there's a massive surge of <b>well-reasoned </b>disapproval after the changes roll live, I'm sure the developers will listen.<div></div>

[OperationsX]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>your savior wrote:<div><span><blockquote><hr>MountainFlyr wrote:<div> </div><div>1. Tradeskill system is way too simple now. Please use 2-4 combines as the norm over the proposed 1 combine system.  <font color="#ff0000">Only going to be less time at the crafting tables.  That isn't bad.  </font><font color="#ffff00">That's asinine , that's like them moving all the raid targets to the start of the zone and removing all 'trash' mobs and then a crafters saying 'Only going to be less time you have to go for the raid target you are after, that isn't bad'.. were at the crafting tables to CRAFT, that is what we do, your out killing mobs to ADVENTURE, that is what you do, no matter how you justify it its dumbing down, its taking time otherwise that would be spent to achieve your goal, no matter WHAT environment it is in.</font></div><div> </div><div>2. Have a generic Mage, Fighter, Scout and Healer class to lvl 5 on Island. Have quests on island that are sub-class specific to allow players to experience each sub-class. At lvl 6 have the choice for final class.  <font color="#ff0000">Nah, choosing your class from the begining is far better.  I didn't think it would be until i tested it. </font><font color="#ffff00">I do have to disagree with the OP on this one, this isn't really 'dumbing down' in all shapes and forms, and it definately isn't "WoWfying' infact its more like "EQ1-yfing" more than anything</font>. <font color="#ffff00">I'd precieve it as definately taking away what was special to this game specifically.</font></div><div> </div><div>3. Bring back Spirit shards. Death has no meaning in the game right now. XP Debt is a joke and is not a penalty for death. Also bring back the Spirit Shard retrieval vendors and locate them with mendors, don't play the "unofficial" vendor game. Price for shard retieval can be simple lvl/20 in Gold. IE Lvl40 Shard will cost 2g, Lvl 58 Shard will cost 2.9g  <font color="#ff0000">Yawn! No shards please.  Nothing more boring then shard retrievals. </font><font color="#ffff00">Again no matter how you justify that its dumbing down, death is a joke in this game compared to MANY other MMORPG's. I hope they do make it a little more challanging in the future, no not bring back spirit shards but do something jez, death doesn't come close to phazing me and that's wrong.</font></div><div> </div><div>I ask the developers to please stop dumbing down the game.  <font color="#ff0000">So they remove three boring parts of the game and you call it dumbing down?  There is nothing exciting about making washes and inks for making a spell.  There is nothing exciting about having to go through 20 levels of generic classes to specialize in what you want.  It always sucks to go back to the place you died to get your shard; if it killed you once it's probably gonna do it again.</font></div><hr></blockquote>Nothing wrong with what they are doing.  In fact, they should keep up the good work. <strong><font color="#ffff00">Translation:</font></strong>  <font color="#ffff00">Nothing wrong with them making things easier so I can master things with little dedication and time compared to others and boast about how uber I am with xxx less time!</font></span></div><hr></blockquote>

[Giral]

<div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>1 ) what they should have done is make Tradeskilling More involved , Expanded it , made it challenging and Fun , instead they made it take Less time and just another trivilized part of the game . Lot's of people like tradeskilling , i myself don't , but still other player's do , shouldn't they have tried to make it Better instead of Faster ?</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>2) i think making the Begining of the game Jump into your class is a good idea Since they Screwed up level progression and now you have level 60's in a month that don't know JAck : ( , hopefully they will tweek the rest of the game to SCale according to level and make the game get more interesting,challenging, And Submersive , currently the game is just one big Timesink form 20 to 60 the game doesn't change at all AND DOF is easier than some other places lol ; (</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>3) you will be happy to know that Death Penelties are at an Intermediate step , they are working on a new death penelty ,  Here is the Post by the Lead Coder DOn Neufeld  : : : : :</div><div> </div><div><div><a href="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/view_profile?user.id=113" target="_blank"><span><font color="#ffcc33">Silverfrost</font></span></a><span>CoderPosts: 227Registered: 11-07-2004 </span><img src="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/i/p.gif" width="150" border="0" alt="" height="8"><a target="_blank" href="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/view_profile?user.id=113"></a></div><p><span>Reply <a target="_blank" href="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=testfeed&message.id=38077#M38077"><font color="#ffcc33">18</font></a> of 52 </span><img src="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/i/p.gif" width="1" height="6"><span>Viewed 2386 times</span></p><div><img src="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/i/p.gif" width="1" border="0" alt="" height="1"></div><blockquote><hr>mioss wrote:Yes, That's it. you said it yourself. The only thing that Death does now in this game is to 'hurt the pride'. Since that change the game has lost all it's meaning to me. There's almost no difference between success and failure. When you succeed, you just have to go on. When you fail, you just have to go on.<hr></blockquote><p>Don't expect the death penalty to remain in its current state forever.  What we have now is an intermediate step to a final goal, a goal that has some very large things that need to be developed before it's done.</p><blockquote><hr>mioss wrote:P.P.S.: I wan't Verant back in the staff.<hr></blockquote><p>I've been here since we were Verant <img src="http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/i/smilies/16x16_smiley-wink.gif" width="16" border="0" height="16"> In fact, a good number of the folks who developed EverQuest II were part of the group that spun off from Sony to form Verant in the first place.</p><p></p><div>Don NeufeldLead Live Programmer, EverQuest IILead Programmer Emeritus, Planetside</div><p> </p><div><span><span class="date_text"><font color="#756b56">12-13-2005</font></span><span class="time_text">06:47 PM</span> </span></div><div><span></span> </div><div><span></span> </div><div><span></span> </div><div><span>SO anyway , yeah death is coming back to EQ2   he/she  just had a little vacation </span></div><div><span></span> </div><div><span></span> </div><div><span></span> </div><div><span></span> </div><div><span>P.S. even with all the over simplified changes that they have made , i don't see subscription's blowin thru the roof, i do see server merger's : ( , What i do see in the forum's is that No matter how easy , no matter how much they cater to the Easy Ultra casual's they still wan't More more more, i see request's on forum's for Solo Fabled drop's ; ( , request's for No camping at all , even see people complaining about armor repair cost's ; ( Geezzzzzzzzz, </span></div><div><span></span> </div><div><span></span> </div><div><span>IMO the dev's need to make the beginning game More accesible ( and i hope they did with the new system ) BUT They need to make the rest of the game have a compelling reason to wan't to play for year's and year's, the Current game is in Super fast mode everything is way to Easy, quest icon npc's , show reward's, ogaming walk thru for quest's, griffen tower's , increased run, faster tradeskilling , yeah faster faster faster faster BLAH <<<<<<<<<----------Mistake they should have made thing's MORE Fun , Not Faster , More interesting ,NOT faster , More creative , NOT faster, More Submersive, NOT faster ,          the 1 thru 20 Re-vamp show's that Creativity is More important than FASTER,  FASTER, FASTER, i don't like alt's i prefer to play 1 MAIN character , but i will create another Alt to check out the new stuff , Sadly i will be lvl 20 in 2 day's : ( and again FAster = a waste of all the creativity that has gone into redoing the begiining game Once again Player's will Out level ALL of the CONTENT and the Dev's say the FUN is in the content But then They Speed you thru it : ( </span></div></div><p>Message Edited by Giralus on <span class="date_text">02-01-2006</span><span class="time_text">05:02 PM</span></p>

[ValValline]

<blockquote><hr>OperationsX wrote:<font color="#ffff00">Nothing wrong with them making things easier so I can master things with little dedication and time compared to others and boast about how uber I am with xxx less time!</font></span><hr></blockquote><hr>Funny (as in ironic)...The only people I see boast are the ones who DON'T want things made less tedious. They wear their masochistic dedication to the most tedious aspects of the game like some sort of badge of honor. Calling themselves "hardcore" and labeling anyone who doesn't agree with tham as "casual" or "WoW players". These are the same type of people who in EQ1 demanded that book-meditation not be removed, because if they had to suffer through 35 levels staring at a static screen, then everyone who came after them had to as well. Screaming high and low how actually getting to see what is going on around you durring downtime was "dumbing down" the game. If I had a nickle for every time I have read "dumbing down" in response to a change in an MMORPG, I would be richer than Bill Gates.No matter how stupid and/or ridiculous that a game mechanic was/is these people will champion it's cause, because in their minds to change it invalidates their sacrifice to the gods of tedium.So go ahead and complain, threaten to quit, or tell us all how great Vanguard or the next MMORPG will be. It's the same old song with the same old lyrics we have heard all these years. The rest of us will continue to play and enjoy the game. Adapting with change and growing along with the game as it evolves over time.

[Dazzler_Twodir]

<div></div><p>This tradeskilling change is going to suck.</p><p>First you're going to have an explosion in the prices of raw harvests on the broker due to more people trying out crafting.</p><p>These were the lazy folk who would rather have the EQ1 crafting.</p><p>They will get bored and quit or just bot thier way to 70.</p><p>The market will get flooded over and finished goods prices will sink like a rock.</p><p> </p><p>The only winners here will be the bot harvesters and plat sellers.</p><p> </p><p>Kinda strange how almost every extreme change to EQ2 benifits the cheaters, farmers, and plat sellers the most.</p>

[OperationsX]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>Dazzler_Twodirks wrote:<div></div><p>This tradeskilling change is going to suck.</p><p>First you're going to have an explosion in the prices of raw harvests on the broker due to more people trying out crafting.</p><p>These were the lazy folk who would rather have the EQ1 crafting.</p><p>They will get bored and quit or just bot thier way to 70.</p><p>The market will get flooded over and finished goods prices will sink like a rock.</p><p> </p><p>The only winners here will be the bot harvesters and plat sellers.</p><p> </p><p>Kinda strange how almost every extreme change to EQ2 benifits the cheaters, farmers, and plat sellers the most.</p><hr></blockquote>For the first time I 100% agree with you, but I've always less than 3'ed you anyway :smileywink:

[OperationsX]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>ValValline wrote:<blockquote><hr>OperationsX wrote:<font color="#ffff00">Nothing wrong with them making things easier so I can master things with little dedication and time compared to others and boast about how uber I am with xxx less time!</font></span><hr></blockquote><hr>Funny (as in ironic)...The only people I see boast are the ones who DON'T want things made less tedious. They wear their masochistic dedication to the most tedious aspects of the game like some sort of badge of honor. Calling themselves "hardcore" and labeling anyone who doesn't agree with tham as "casual" or "WoW players". These are the same type of people who in EQ1 demanded that book-meditation not be removed, because if they had to suffer through 35 levels staring at a static screen, then everyone who came after them had to as well. Screaming high and low how actually getting to see what is going on around you durring downtime was "dumbing down" the game. If I had a nickle for every time I have read "dumbing down" in response to a change in an MMORPG, I would be richer than Bill Gates.No matter how stupid and/or ridiculous that a game mechanic was/is these people will champion it's cause, because in their minds to change it invalidates their sacrifice to the gods of tedium.So go ahead and complain, threaten to quit, or tell us all how great Vanguard or the next MMORPG will be. It's the same old song with the same old lyrics we have heard all these years. The rest of us will continue to play and enjoy the game. Adapting with change and growing along with the game as it evolves over time.<hr></blockquote><p>/stretch /yawn</p><p>If you were referring to me you would be 100% inaccurate, I play maybe 10 hours at max a week which 2/3 of that time is spent raiding/heritage grouping. So I hope getting all that out felt good for you and stuff.</p><p>If you weren't referring to me kindly don't quote me, thanks!</p>

[your savior]

<div><span><blockquote><hr>OperationsX wrote:<div></div><blockquote><hr>your savior wrote:<div><span><blockquote><hr>MountainFlyr wrote:<div> </div><div>1. Tradeskill system is way too simple now. Please use 2-4 combines as the norm over the proposed 1 combine system.  <font color="#ff0000">Only going to be less time at the crafting tables.  That isn't bad.  </font><font color="#ffff00">That's asinine , that's like them moving all the raid targets to the start of the zone and removing all 'trash' mobs and then a crafters saying 'Only going to be less time you have to go for the raid target you are after, that isn't bad'.. were at the crafting tables to CRAFT, that is what we do, your out killing mobs to ADVENTURE, that is what you do, no matter how you justify it its dumbing down, its taking time otherwise that would be spent to achieve your goal, no matter WHAT environment it is in.  <font color="#6666ff">It is not the same.  Combat functions differently to crafting; asinine is drawing an analogy between the two.</font></font></div><div> </div><div>2. Have a generic Mage, Fighter, Scout and Healer class to lvl 5 on Island. Have quests on island that are sub-class specific to allow players to experience each sub-class. At lvl 6 have the choice for final class.  <font color="#ff0000">Nah, choosing your class from the begining is far better.  I didn't think it would be until i tested it. </font><font color="#ffff00">I do have to disagree with the OP on this one, this isn't really 'dumbing down' in all shapes and forms, and it definately isn't "WoWfying' infact its more like "EQ1-yfing" more than anything</font>. <font color="#ffff00">I'd precieve it as definately taking away what was special to this game specifically.  <font color="#6666ff">This is really just one of those things that people will think differently on.  In the end it isn't a great change to the game from what I've played.  A few more spells and a different title.</font></font></div><div> </div><div>3. Bring back Spirit shards. Death has no meaning in the game right now. XP Debt is a joke and is not a penalty for death. Also bring back the Spirit Shard retrieval vendors and locate them with mendors, don't play the "unofficial" vendor game. Price for shard retieval can be simple lvl/20 in Gold. IE Lvl40 Shard will cost 2g, Lvl 58 Shard will cost 2.9g  <font color="#ff0000">Yawn! No shards please.  Nothing more boring then shard retrievals. </font><font color="#ffff00">Again no matter how you justify that its dumbing down, death is a joke in this game compared to MANY other MMORPG's. I hope they do make it a little more challanging in the future, no not bring back spirit shards but do something jez, death doesn't come close to phazing me and that's wrong.  <font color="#6666ff">I don't want to die in this game; in SWG I used it as transport.   Instead put in a system where your equipment becomes less effective when you die for example.  Just do something new.  Suggestions and ideas will help; not rehashing the past.  When you get your shard a thousand times it's nice to see that part of the game go.</font></font></div><div> </div><div>I ask the developers to please stop dumbing down the game.  <font color="#ff0000">So they remove three boring parts of the game and you call it dumbing down?  There is nothing exciting about making washes and inks for making a spell.  There is nothing exciting about having to go through 20 levels of generic classes to specialize in what you want.  It always sucks to go back to the place you died to get your shard; if it killed you once it's probably gonna do it again.</font></div><hr></blockquote>Nothing wrong with what they are doing.  In fact, they should keep up the good work. <strong><font color="#ffff00">Translation:</font></strong>  <font color="#ffff00">Nothing wrong with them making things easier so I can master things with little dedication and time compared to others and boast about how uber I am with xxx less time!  <font color="#6666ff">I've worked for everything I've got and I'm passed this stage where I'll benifit from putting less time in for the same outcomes.  For new players; at least they won't have to make stupid washes when crafting or have to go get their shard.  This isn't dumbing down; it was just plain dumb to start.</font></font></span></div><hr></blockquote><hr></blockquote>New IoR is harder than it was before LU19.  Pre LU 19; Made a new alt, another mage, one hit kills until I was killing level 4 mobs.  Now they're all a challenge.  Some things will be easier and some things are getting harder. Only thing I don't like about LU 19 is the attempt at solving the farming problems and thats just OT <span>:smileytongue:</span></span></div>

[Sevewe]

<div></div><div></div>i think the traidskill move is good reasons why...when i need somethign crafted for a alt no one wants to do it couse tis not present tier...with this change now i can bring the harvests and they can make it and i can pay them for there time and fuel costs...people seem to miss the whole big pic of things......not for nothing but if you look at it the players that play causauly take up more then hardcore players thus part of why WoW is so big...couse you can level so easy and does not require you to sit behind your PC 24/7 to get somewhere...this is whats big now...people dont want t ocamp mobs for 10 hours anymore..they dont want to grind for 15 hours....they want to make progress and have time for there daily life.....reason it so easy for hardcore players is couse thats what there used to playing a lot and takeing a long time...now they fly threw stuff couse its set for the player that does not play everyday......and from what i hear vangaurd is gettin dumbed down everyday as well .....it may be eq1 days of gameing  are over :smileysad:.....and this is whats hot so game companys are gonna go on that.....and you can all thank WoW pretty much for the new standerds of MMOs<p>Message Edited by Seveweyn on <span class="date_text">02-01-2006</span><span class="time_text">10:34 PM</span></p>

[ValValline]

<blockquote><hr>OperationsX wrote:</blockquote><p>/stretch /yawn</p><p>If you were referring to me you would be 100% inaccurate, I play maybe 10 hours at max a week which 2/3 of that time is spent raiding/heritage grouping. So I hope getting all that out felt good for you and stuff.</p><p>If you weren't referring to me kindly don't quote me, thanks!</p><hr>?????I quoted what you posted, so obviously I was referring to the post you made. That is after all how this format works.You made the assertion that causal players "boast" when they get things easier as the game evolves. I countered your assertion with my own personal observation that it isn't the causal players who are doing the boasting.If you don't want your words quoted by someone that takes issue with your point of view, then don't post them. It's pretty silly to expect your post to go unchallenged or unquoted when presented in this format.

[Xellistemp]

Ok while i understand why u might be bothered by some of those things, this is still nowhere like WoW, I played WoW for a year almost. This is everquest2 and they have their ideas for the game anyway.Spirit shards -  they add no challenge, they are just annoying, a waste of time, and rediculous.Generic mage, fighter, scout and healer. No. And subclass quests are irritating, once again not challenging and a waste of time. Especialy if you can read.Tradeskill system -  WoW's tradeskill system was [expletive haxx0red by Raijinn]. lolAnyway nice ideas and ur adorable ahve fun<div></div>

[Lyasa]

shards = annoying, for instance made a run for naggy, at end of nite, spend 20 minutes walking all the way down, riding elevators, hoping i don't lag on those glass bridges, all the while dodging see invis flamestalkers to have one pop on me in the last area they can be. i let that shard rot. yes, i probably shouldn't have been running it solo, but sometimes no one's available to spend 30 minutes running to the bottom of sol eye, even less will come down just to pick up a shard.(plus one time i died on one of the elevators and the shard vanished) i'm glad they got rid of the shards, personally. if you want a hefty penalty suggest they up the exp penalty to 5% a death,  that'll be fairly hefty.as for crafting, as a 60 jeweler, i think i'll like the changes, as now i won't have to sit around doing math for the first 5 minutes figuring out how many studs, spikes, ornaments an order will take and how many tempers and resins that will require.  while i think the current system has it's merits, in time spent vs rewards, i don't mind it if the time spent per item is decreased. (and i'm not one who believes everyone will start a crafting alt and no one will buy anything anymore, some people just don't have the play time to do it)as for the subclass at level 1, i like it. currently have a 21 necro on live, and until level 20 nothing about the character said "i'm a necro!" instead it was basically " i'm a generic magic user" then "i have a pet!" now at level 1 you get a minion, sounds more menacing than "recruit", as well as DoT's that deal in disease damage, rather than plain magic damage. all in all, i rather like that, you get a feel for the class early on, and while some classes have it easier than others, isn't that just like lv 20 - 60 now?<div></div>

[Flor]

<div></div><blockquote><hr>ValValline wrote:Funny (as in ironic)...The only people I see boast are the ones who DON'T want things made less tedious. They wear their masochistic dedication to the most tedious aspects of the game like some sort of badge of honor. Calling themselves "hardcore" and labeling anyone who doesn't agree with tham as "casual" or "WoW players". These are the same type of people who in EQ1 demanded that book-meditation not be removed, because if they had to suffer through 35 levels staring at a static screen, then everyone who came after them had to as well. Screaming high and low how actually getting to see what is going on around you durring downtime was "dumbing down" the game. If I had a nickle for every time I have read "dumbing down" in response to a change in an MMORPG, I would be richer than Bill Gates.No matter how stupid and/or ridiculous that a game mechanic was/is these people will champion it's cause, because in their minds to change it invalidates their sacrifice to the gods of tedium.So go ahead and complain, threaten to quit, or tell us all how great Vanguard or the next MMORPG will be. It's the same old song with the same old lyrics we have heard all these years. The rest of us will continue to play and enjoy the game. Adapting with change and growing along with the game as it evolves over time.<hr></blockquote><p>Val, you couldn't have said it better.  These are my sentiments exactly.  I think that the majority of the population will see these changes as a good thing.  Removing tedium from a game is not a bad thing.  I had to chuckle at your "badge of honor" analogy.   I've read many posts that would like to make this game so darned tedious that it would drive away but the most hardcore.  I've shaken my head at some of the former EQ1 players who are looking towards another EQ1 experience and remember their times in EQ1 making naked corpse runs fondly, long boat rides, taking hours to get where you need to go, etc.  Frankly, although I heard wonderful things about EQ1 and I'm not one to bash other games, I just couldn't stomach this type of time sink in a game.  Sure, I spend hours and hours doing my favorite hobby.  But the hours I spend are enjoyable ones adventuring, chatting with guildies, crafting, etc.  They are not mindless hours doing shard runs or other tedious timesinks like that. </p><p> I see SOE trying to tweak things and making this into a fun, fun, fun game.  So what if they "borrow" from popular titles like WoW?  I bet after everyone griped about feathers over quest giver's heads being "like WoW," you actually like this change now.  Heck, I sure do.   It's sure nice in Sinking Sands for instance, to see those feathers glowing over quest giver's heads.  I love it.  How many of you "hardcore" folks have turned off this option so that you can keep immersed in your MMORPG and not succomb to WoWification?   I wonder how many players really liked shard run?  I bet it was a small percentage who are vocal on the boards.  Not the vast majority.</p><p>Regardless of what others say on this board, I've always felt that WoW is an excellent game.  WoW is just so much fun, fun, fun (at least until you get to end game and all you do is do instance runs for your gear).  WoW captured the "fun" aspect in a MMORPG.  From the moment you log in, you have a blast.  The "warts" in WoW become more apparent as you play that game and really get a true appreciation of the less than mature community.  But while you play WoW, it sure is fun.  EQ2 has WoW beat on the complete immersiveness of the world and so many things to do.  They are constantly coming out with new expansions, fun seasonal events, great crafting systems, etc.  EQ2 sure isn't WoW.  There will always be so much more complexity in the EQ2 world.   I see SOE trying to make EQ2 on a par with the "fun" factor of WoW and I'm really glad they are doing so.  Way to go SOE.</p>

[Frigid2000]

<div></div><p>I think Floria said it best.</p><p>EQ2 = long term.</p><p>WoW = Unless you're in a 60+ member guild that are all hardcore, boredom at level 60.</p><p>I have a level 43 Troubadour.  I have SO much to do, it boggles my mind.  I haven't even hit the first expansion yet.  Just joined a guild, ableit a small one, but that just opens up more things to do!</p>

[Xev]

<span><blockquote><hr>Floria wrote:<div></div><blockquote><hr></blockquote><p>Val, you couldn't have said it better.  These are my sentiments exactly.  I think that the majority of the population will see these changes as a good thing.  Removing tedium from a game is not a bad thing.  I had to chuckle at your "badge of honor" analogy.   I've read many posts that would like to make this game so darned tedious that it would drive away but the most hardcore.  I've shaken my head at some of the former EQ1 players who are looking towards another EQ1 experience and remember their times in EQ1 making naked corpse runs fondly, long boat rides, taking hours to get where you need to go, etc.  Frankly, although I heard wonderful things about EQ1 and I'm not one to bash other games, I just couldn't stomach this type of time sink in a game.  Sure, I spend hours and hours doing my favorite hobby.  But the hours I spend are enjoyable ones adventuring, chatting with guildies, crafting, etc.  They are not mindless hours doing shard runs or other tedious timesinks like that.</p><p><font color="#ffff00">I agree.  There seems to be a mindset among a lot of people that just because there were such tedious aspects to MMORPG's originally, that is exactly how they should still be.  The thing is, I dont' know anyone at all that enjoys tedium, but yet lots of people are upset when the tedium is removed...why?  Again, the only reason I can think of is just because that is how things were for so long and how people expect things to be.</font></p><p>I see SOE trying to tweak things and making this into a fun, fun, fun game.  So what if they "borrow" from popular titles like WoW?  I bet after everyone griped about feathers over quest giver's heads being "like WoW," you actually like this change now.  Heck, I sure do.   It's sure nice in Sinking Sands for instance, to see those feathers glowing over quest giver's heads.  I love it.  How many of you "hardcore" folks have turned off this option so that you can keep immersed in your MMORPG and not succomb to WoWification?   I wonder how many players really liked shard run?  I bet it was a small percentage who are vocal on the boards.  Not the vast majority.</p><p><font color="#ffff00">I agree with you again.  I think that Blizzard had some great ideas that really helped streamline the experience so that players can get to the fun parts of the game.  I'd much rather know what NPC's have quests than have to look around talking to every NPC to find them.  The game is just too large to do that, it takes too much time to go from NPC to NPC when in the new system, you can get straight to the quests which are the fun part and get you involved in the story.</font></p><p>Regardless of what others say on this board, I've always felt that WoW is an excellent game.  WoW is just so much fun, fun, fun (at least until you get to end game and all you do is do instance runs for your gear).  WoW captured the "fun" aspect in a MMORPG.  From the moment you log in, you have a blast.  The "warts" in WoW become more apparent as you play that game and really get a true appreciation of the less than mature community.  But while you play WoW, it sure is fun.</p><p><font color="#ffff00">I agree with you overall.  I think that the design of WoW was wonderfully done.  The environments are spectacular and very imaginitive as is the armor.  The classes are generally fun to play and easy to pick up, although over time, most of them don't really have that much depth to them and they tend to get boring. </font></p><p><font color="#ffff00">I do feel as though the "warts" as you put it, tend to start showing up earlier than endgame.  For your first character that you level to 60, it isn't such a big deal, but for every alt it becomes pretty tedious doing the same quests over and over.  But the problems apparent, to me at least, prior to 60 mostly are due to the ease of leveling.  Leveling is so easy in that game that a person can get to max level with virtually no effort.  I know for myself, even if I was soloing, up until my 50's I could get out 2 levels a day and only be playing for a few hours. </font></p><p><font color="#ffff00">With it being so easy and the majority of classes coming down to just using the same few abilities and their upgrades over and over again, i felt that it got pretty boring.  I like the EQ2 combat much better.  It is by no means perfect, but I at least feel like the characters here have more depth to them.  I find myself using more abilities on them because it makes sense to do so and can have a big impact on how well you do, whereas in WoW it really didn't matter so much (ie. Warriors spamming Mortal Strike/Hamstring). </font></p><p><font color="#ffff00">And also like you mentioned, the community here is far superior and much more mature than WoW's.  The players there are so unbelievably immature that having a sense of community there was next to impossible, and with the players there, personally, I would never want to be a part of "their" community.</font></p><p><font color="#ffff00">As for the end game of WoW...it's terrible.  Nothing but 40 man raids essentially and because of the difference in effectiveness of raid gear vs non raid gear, more casual players really are left out of PvP too, which would be the only other thing to do end game and the only non-raid way to advance your character.  I'm very glad EQ2 doesn't force players to raid at 60 in order to stay competitive.  While raid gear is generally superior to crafted gear, the crafted is still close in quality and allows casual players to remain competitive.</font></p><p>EQ2 has WoW beat on the complete immersiveness of the world and so many things to do.  They are constantly coming out with new expansions, fun seasonal events, great crafting systems, etc.  EQ2 sure isn't WoW.  There will always be so much more complexity in the EQ2 world.   I see SOE trying to make EQ2 on a par with the "fun" factor of WoW and I'm really glad they are doing so.  Way to go SOE.</p><font color="#ffff00">Very well said <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  I pretty much see it that way as well.  When i came back to this game after playing WoW for almost a year, it was largely because of the big changes and improvements they had made, along with the announcement of PvP.  They seem to be taking the good things from WoW and incorporating them into their game while leaving the bad elements of WoW alone. The only thing i'm hoping for now is more creativity and imagination used in the environements and armor and weapons.  It does look like they are moving in that direction with KoS as the environments at least, seem more like fantasy than realistic environments, which is just what this game needs.  If they add new armor sets, graphics and weapon graphics soon too and do so in a way that helps make higher level characters actually look different and more powerful than lower level ones, this game is going to be in great shape and should really start to grow.  I'm very pleased with the direction they are heading and love the game.  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></font><hr></blockquote></span><div></div>

[Flor]

<div></div><div></div><p>Great discussions here.  Just wish that I could log on and play EQ2 right now but unable to get in.</p><p>Regarding Xevik, your comment about customizing armor and weapons stuck a chord here with me.  Did anyone play the ill fated Horizons?   I did for about 6 months before getting so utterly bored with lack of game content that I quit.  But lets talk about some brillant aspects of Horizons (IMHO).  I loved that you could customize gear such as weapons with a unique look.  One of my characters had a player crafted mace, crafted to my specifications.  I loved that.   In the original advertizing, they boasted that every piece of crafted armor/weapon could be minutely customized.  I would love to see SOE make tweaks to the game so that every bit of crafted gear could have a very unique look along with stats tailored to what you were looking for.  I also would love to see dyes introduced into the game but that has been an ongoing discussion.  One of my big gripes is that armor just looks hideously dull in the game.  After checking out a level 60 player decked out in all legendary/fabled gear,   the words "dull" and "drab" came to mind.  I'm not looking for armor as colorful as WoW.  Some of my armor sets in WoW made me look like a damnn Jo-Jo Circus Clown.  All my dwarf needed was a red ball on my nose and the ensemble would be complete.  Even though there was a great deal of variation in WoW weapons/armors, I didn't care for the graphics that much.  In EQ2, just looking for a bit more customization and uniqueness.</p><p>I am sure that with time SOE will continue to tweak this game.  Give us so many darned options that we will be engrossed in EQ2 for a long, long time.  One of the strengths of EQ2 is the crafting system.  I will reserve judgement on the changes until I try it.  But right now as it stands, there is a great deal of depth to crafting and I like it. </p><p>Now if SOE could just rip off some great ideas from others games and continue to incorporate, I would be a happy camper.  I miss the days of my beloved AC1 with SIKs (Sturdy Iron Keys) and the goodies that one of those could lock.  Come on SOE, just us some chest spawns  (outside of dungeons and named creatures) as well that could be opened for treasures....hint, hint..........:smileywink:</p><p>Message Edited by Floria on <span class="date_text">02-02-2006</span><span class="time_text">12:40 PM</span></p>