Can not choose....

[Mellani]

Ok so ive played this for nearly a month and World of Warcraft for nearly 3 months and i love both games but i really cant decided which i want to stick with, i really cant choose please help me on my decision i dont know which to stick with WoW or EQ2.  Rather want opinions from people who have played both games <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Isisalthea]

Well as this is the Everquest 2 board, I am going to tell you to choose it.  I have not played WoW so have no comparison.  I do know that EQ2 is rich with content, has lots of story lines and has a fantastic community. 

[Spyderbite]

I tried WoW and it held my attention for all of 2 hours. I tried EQ2 and have been playing non-stop since September. You do the math for this biased equation.. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Alythara]

<p>I played WoW for about 4 months.  Been playing EQ2 for around 2 months now (albeit somewhat off and on up until the last week or so, so I'm still pretty new to the game).  My opinion is that WoW is rather shallow in comparison.  I know I haven't been playing long, but my opinion is based off the research I've done as well as what I've seen in this game.   And WoW's community is horrible - that's the #1 reason I couldn't stand it longer than I did.</p><p>I'm facing a similiar dilemma with CoX, which I also play currently.  Its repetitiveness is starting to get to me, but I still love the combat and powersets there.   Biggest problem there for me is that my husband is unwilling to give it up and doesn't like EQ2 (yet - I'm still working on him!).</p>

[kellan123]

Game mechanics aside, if you look at the fact that there are a fraction of players in EQ2 as opposed to WoW, I see this: There are more people that you'll meet in EQ2 that play EQ2 than the people you meet in WoW that play WoW because everyone else plays it. I guess what I'm saying is, in the 10 years or so I've "been in" Norrath and the 5 months that I played WoW...I saw more quality people in EQ2 rather than the quantity of people in WoW. I hope that makes sense. Having said that, EQ2 has less PvP focus (changing slowly) and smaller raids, but those are both good things for me.

[Didi]

Well, nobody but you can really decide what you prefer!  I have played WoW only very briefly, as it really didn't captivate me.  Both are good games, and clearly both appeal to many people, so it comes down to what you personally like most. Things I think WoW offers: <ul><li>specifically designed for PvP balance and content </li><li>very polished look and feel</li><li>consistent and striking graphic style </li><li>lots of high level raiding content</li></ul>Things I think EQ2 offers: <ul><li>more dynamic content (in the time WoW release one expansion, EQ2 had released 3 plus several adventure packs and content revisions/additions)</li><li>more innovative approaches - I found WoW had taken many ideas from EQ1 and Ultima Online and made them smooth and polished, but didn't really seem to try anything new - whereas some of the design approaches the EQ2 team has tried have been more innovative and new</li><li>a wider range of content for all levels -- you don't have to raid all the time when you get to high levels, if you don't want to, and there's solo/quest/craft/group/raid content consistently available at all levels</li><li>crafting can be independent of adventuring, you don't have to adventure at all to be a crafter</li><li>housing!  (OK, I'm a carpenter, I like furnishing people's homes in game)</li><li>much more realistic graphics and customizable character appearance</li><li>a choice between PvE or PvP </li></ul>Clearly different games appeal to different people and different play styles, I can't tell you what your play style is, but I suggest you have a think about how you like to spend your time and what you like to do in game, and see which game provides the most of that content.

[Jes]

I have played World of Warcraft for two years.  Got to 60, did all the end game available, then got to 70 and so forth. When it comes down to it, both games are about the same stuff.  The difference is how they approach it.  If you like the feel of big raids, taking down the big bad boss at the end of a dungeon, then both games offer the same thing.  More or less.  World of Warcraft recently brought down their maximum raid capacity from 40 to 25. The end game in World of Warcraft is very raid-centric.  It's raid or reroll.  A lot of people fail to notice that the low level zones in World of Warcraft are not full because they have new subscribers, but because many of their current subscribers are making new characters.  I can't speak from personal experience, yet, in EQII, but in World of Warcraft when you reach level 70 you have, relatively speaking, finished the game.  The percentage population that raids in WoW is small compared to the total number of players. In World of Warcraft, at level 70 your choices will be the following: <ol><li>Do Burning Crusade Heroic Dungeons, over, and over and over again.</li><li>Get two tradeskills to 375.</li><li>Do Player vs Player if you like it.  One of the strong points of World of Warcraft is that all classes are viable and well balanced in player versus player.</li><li>Raid if you are in a guild capable of it. </li></ol> The main advantages that I feel WoW has over Everquest II are these: <ol><li>Classes are much more focused.  There are only 9 classes in WoW, but each one is completely different from another.</li><li>The system requirements in WoW are extremely forgiving.  You can play the game at maximum settings with 2 year old hardware.  Does the game look better than Everquest II at maximum settings? No, it doesn't.  However, the difference in art quality between one game and another does not justify EQII monster system requirements to run the game at full settings.</li></ol>Please note that I did not mention art direction, ease of play or Player vs Player.  These are individual aspects that are objective to the player.  You may either like them or hate them. Having said all that, let me follow by saying that I have recently cancelled my World of Warcraft account and started playing EQII.  The reason is the raid or die situation.  World of Warcraft servers are ghost towns.  The good raiding population is concentrated on the old release and post release servers.  All the new servers that have been launched over the last year and a half are devoid of any players interested in raiding.  There are players, but in order to keep playing you need to raid to challenge yourself.  You need to raid because there simply isn't ANYTHING else to do once you reach level 70 and have done the same heroic 5-man instances a hundred times.  That, or you can reroll and start over with a different character, but that isn't my thing. I wish that I could develop about Everquest II the same way I just did about World of Warcraft, however, my experience in this game is only to level 13.  Make no mistake, Everquest II has it's shares of flaws, just like World of Warcraft does.  What it comes down to, is which set of flaws you are more confortable with. Jessa

[shadowdragon665]

WoW is a joke, and a cartoonish lil' kiddy joke at that. I have only been in EQII for about 3 hours and I already know this is a far better game

[Chirpaa]

<p>I've played both and I've enjoyed both.</p><p>I would recommend EQ2 if you are looking for a game that provides a rich playing experience to engage you from levels 1 to <level cap>, if you like to RP, if you like questing, if you like a lot of variety in character choices, or if you like to adventure in a world with very rich lore and history.</p><p>I would recommend WoW if you are looking for a game that is quick and easy to get to "the end" so you can partake in huge raids and spend the rest of your play time working to get more and better gear. </p><p>Not that EQ2 doesn't also offer that last bit, but that is what WoW ends up being all about which means it is very, very easy to get into raids at the end game...because everyone pretty much has to do them, or start a new toon.  It makes WoW a better choice if that's your primary interest, just mho.  Just keep in mind that being "easy to get in raids" does not mean the raid you get in will be particularly good.... </p><p>My personal preference is EQ2, by a mile.    EQ2 is a more in depth game that is still friendly to casual players.  WoW has very little depth, and only seems friendly to casual players, they learn otherwise once they reach the end game.  At which point it is nothing but raiding and rep grinding.  ughh.</p><p>DOH! I had to edit because I forgot PVP.  I personally think WoW does PVP a lot better, but I've not actually actively participated in PVP in EQ2, so this is only based on what I've read.  WoW PVP is the ONLY thing left about that game that I actually still am a fan of, so I'm biased in that.   But I'd say go WoW if PVP is your thing; pvp needs people who pvp.. and WoW has them in droves compared to EQ2.   People who've done both generally say WoW is also more balanced for PvP.</p>

[oduth]

<p><i> </i>I've played WOW for 2years and now im playin EQ2.</p><p> I was in need for a deeper game and EQ 2 has satisfied that need. </p><p> Granted i have only been playing for a lil over a week but i can already tell EQ2 is a much deeper game.</p><p>  I loved playing WOW i think its a good game.  </p><p>  The way i see it is they are both chocolate ice cream but EQ2 is Rocky Road.</p><p>   And thats my 2 copper.</p>

[Kannibal]

<p>Okay, this is my opinion, so no flaming please.  (lol)</p><p>I played WoW for close to a year, developed a few higher level toons, created a guild with some good friends, and had a lot of fun.  But once I got to end-game, there was nothing left to do.  Yeah, sure, I could run around on my mount helping out lower level groups and raids, but that was about it.  I didn't see any need to quest for good armor, because, to be honest, what I completed the game with seemed to work pretty [Removed for Content] well as far as I was concerned.  </p><p>I loved WoW like a new puppy for the longest time, but just as in life, eventually the puppy grows up .... and gets lazy.  To me, I was so happy to see the BC expansion come out because I thought it would give me a new goal to work towards and offer me a ton of opportunities to do new things.  Unfortunately, I was wrong.  It was basically the same old song and dance, running through another 10 levels and then hitting a brick wall at the end.  Like a previous poster said "Your options are basically grind rep or re-roll".</p><p> Now, I haven't been playing EQ2 for very long (I'm a recent convert), but I can say for a fact that EQ2, for all of it's flaws,  is a much better game that offers alot more in terms of gameplay and story.  I'm not going to go on and on about the better graphics or anything like that, because everyone has a different taste in the way they like their game to look.</p><p>For me, the obvious choice will always be EQ2, simply because it appeals to me more in terms of gameplay and story depth.  Not to mention that the people on EQ2 are alot more helpful and the guilds are alot more focused and friendly as well.  </p><p>That's just my opinion ... take it or leave it.</p>

[Mellani]

Wow thanks for the replys did not think i would get a response so quickly. Ive read all the posts and theres one thing i want to know when you become level 70 on EQ2 what is there to do that is end game content lets leave WoW to one side just what is there to do on End game on EQ2? Edit:One other question is how come WoW has over 7 million players and released only one Expansion but EQ2 has not even got 6 million players and released 3 expansions? I dont mean to attack EQ2 im just wondering.

[Tyrani]

<cite>KillerHam wrote:</cite><blockquote>Wow thanks for the replys did not think i would get a response so quickly. Ive read all the posts and theres one thing i want to know when you become level 70 on EQ2 what is there to do that is end game content lets leave WoW to one side just what is there to do on End game on EQ2? </blockquote><p> At level 70 there are still quite a few quest lines that are geared for a level 70 and you can't really do beforehand easily.  Also, there is the raid content and tons of group instances to go through.  Not to mention getting 100 AA.</p>

[Kannibal]

<cite>KillerHam wrote:</cite><blockquote>Edit:One other question is how come WoW has over 7 million players and released only one Expansion but EQ2 has not even got 6 million players and released 3 expansions? I dont mean to attack EQ2 im just wondering. </blockquote><p> Because, WoW had gotten lazy and was resting on the fact that it's had so many players.  EQ2 knows that it has the lesser number of players, but wants to reward them for playing, so they give more (and in my opinion better) content to their players.  At least, that's the way I see it.</p><p>EDIT:  Also, I'm pretty sure that SOE cares more for their players than Blizz does, but thats just my opinion too.</p>

[StonyStratford]

<p>Hi KillerHam! </p><p>I have played both games, and to me the choice is like choosing between ham or cheese. It simply depends on your taste. You may get sick of one, and prefer another for a while too. Good luck on your choice!</p><p>What interests me is have you posted the same question on the other games' boards? If so please post a link of the replies you received. I would find that litmus test quite revealing. </p>

[Mellani]

<cite>StonyStratford wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Hi KillerHam! </p><p>I have played both games, and to me the choice is like choosing between ham or cheese. It simply depends on your taste. You may get sick of one, and prefer another for a while too. Good luck on your choice!</p><p>What interests me is have you posted the same question on the other games' boards? If so please post a link of the replies you received. I would find that litmus test quite revealing. </p></blockquote> I would on the WoW forums but i cant as you need to be currently subscribed to post on the forums <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Finora]

<p>I actually currently play both games.</p><p>I adore EQ2 though, it is what I consider my main game. It holds my interest for far longer than WoW or any of the other ones I have access too in a play session.</p><p>I enjoy WoW but when I play it, despite the number of people you will see in the world, it feels more like a single person game. It is worth noting I am not in a guild and play at odd hours since like I said before EQ2 is my main game. I also haven't gotten a character past 20 yet (short play times and I love making alts etc etc). Even when I was playing with people I know it played like a single person game. In the end game I know it's different with raiding etc.</p><p>I can't speak at all for PVP, I haven't done any in either game.</p><p>Both games are fun. EQ2 just seems to have more substance. That is of course my opinion. </p>

[Mellani]

Thanks ive decided to stick with EQ2 Mainly because of this :/ <a href="http://forums.wow-europe.com/thread.html?topicId=221432141&sid=1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://forums.wow-europe.com/thread...32141&sid=1</a>

[Norrsken]

<cite>KillerHam wrote:</cite><blockquote>Wow thanks for the replys did not think i would get a response so quickly. Ive read all the posts and theres one thing i want to know when you become level 70 on EQ2 what is there to do that is end game content lets leave WoW to one side just what is there to do on End game on EQ2? Edit:One other question is how come WoW has over 7 million players and released only one Expansion but EQ2 has not even got 6 million players and released 3 expansions? I dont mean to attack EQ2 im just wondering. </blockquote>First, the endgame in EQ2 offers: Instances and raids. You can also grind faction, which is boring. You can also go poking around in the incredibly, and I mean incredibly, vast lore this game has. You can also mentor down to buddies that followed you over here, but are lower in levels, and do stuff with them. Because, lets face it. EQ2 has too much content to see it all in one pass thru to 70. You can reroll 5-6 toons and still not do the exact same zones as you did the before. So, mentoring down and playing with buddies actually work. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> You can craft, or do huge questlines. (And do read the quest text, its quite fun most of the time. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> ) If you are on a pvp server, you can also get into pvp fights, they are quite alright, and most classes have been balanced out, with the swashy sticking out as a sour thumb atm, but I am quite sure this will be amended. Second, WoW is big because it has the two words Blizzard and Warcraft on the box. Those two words made everyone wanna get it, and since everyone got it, everyone else got it too, because that was the place to be. I remember the advent of wow way back, and my buddies were like horny teenagers. They simply would not even discuss another mmo. It HAD to be WoW because it was the latest and greatest title from Blizzard, the great god. I had played EQ2 before WoW came out, so I gave WoW a try and quite fast returned to EQ2. For all its kinks, EQ2 has more depth. And its not full of immature leets. If you ask a question int he chat channels ingame you get 3-4 helpful replies and on the odd occasion the leet (which gets pummeled into silence for being a [Removed for Content]). In wow, I got 50 or so L2P noob lol Ipwn U! replies. And as far as expansions, I have no idea why blizzard didnt get of their fat [Removed for Content] and push an expansion faster. Not to mention, why they pushed an expansion thats contentwise the equivalent of an adventure pack in EQ2, I mean, in 2 years, they should hav ebeen able to release pretty much twice as much content, if not more, as there already is in game.. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> whereas EQ2 has pushed 3 expansions (One of which have been hailed as one of the best exp packs in MMO history, take that with a grain of salt. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> ) and 3 adventure packs.