Expansions - Needed or Not till later?

[ModeSix]

Hi Everyone, I notice there are a number of expansions for EQ2 and have a general question about them.  Is it recommended to have the expansions when you start a new character?  Is the new content from the expansions required to really enjoy the beginning of the game? What major features won't I be able to access without the expansions as a brand new player, that make the game that much better? I have been playing WoW for a few years now, and have plenty of MMO experience before that (about 7 years of MMO's), and am wondering if the EQ2 expansions add to the end-game content like in WoW or if it supplements the game from level 1 on up. Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions for me <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[ke'la]

<cite>ModeSix wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Hi Everyone, I notice there are a number of expansions for EQ2 and have a general question about them.  Is it recommended to have the expansions when you start a new character?  </p><p><span style="color: #ff0000">No you really don't <i>need</i> them however any Box you get at the retail store that has "Includes Echos of Faydwar" along the top, and sells for ~$40 will include all the expaintions so you don't have to buy them indivisually. </span></p><p> Is the new content from the expansions required to really enjoy the beginning of the game?</p><p><span style="color: #ff0000">Again not really however at lvl 10 with EoF you can start Earning AAxp and starting to earn it as soon as your able to does help you latter in game, and save you grinding time.</span> What major features won't I be able to access without the expansions as a brand new player, that make the game that much better?</p><p><span style="color: #ff0000">Fist you will not beable to goto Faydwar wich is just about the best set of zones in game, and they have great questlines, you will also not have access to the KoS or EoF AAs wich you can start earning at lvl 10(with EoF) or lvl 20(with KoS). Also without the expaintions you will not beable to lvl beyond 50.</span> I have been playing WoW for a few years now, and have plenty of MMO experience before that (about 7 years of MMO's), and am wondering if the EQ2 expansions add to the end-game content like in WoW or if it supplements the game from level 1 on up.</p><p><span style="color: #ff0000">It depends on what the Lore of the expaintion is, for both DoF and KoS the lore was all about going to New and more Dangous places therefor there was a lvl cap increase and mainly focused on people near the cap, Echos of Faydwar was about revisting a lost land and as such it was a 1-70 expaintion. Rise of Kunark is kinda a cross between the Two as you can both Start there and it is a more dangerous place(the lore for this is you are basicly in Hidding and your goal is to get strong enough to get back to Mainland Kunark and retake it from the Iksar Empire, while players not starting there are going there to Defeat the Iksar Empire befor it attacks the current Cities). For Kunark its going to be 1~20 and 65-80 for the most part.</span> Thanks for taking the time to answer these questions for me <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </p></blockquote>My recomendation is to get the $40.00 all in one pack either from a Retailer or from Direct 2 Drive. What ever you do, DO NOT get the Expaintion Packs or core game from the SoE store you will end up paying about $100 for what would have cost you $40ish from retailers.

[ModeSix]

Well thank you for taking the time to enlighten me about the expansions. I have purchased just the core game so far, and I will definitely look into the All In One pack from a retail store. Thanks for the tips <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Winterborne]

The all in one pack is a good buy and how I ended up going. And you can use the serial number to upgrade your existing account if you have characters made you love, or you can create a whole new account with it if you choose. Just fyi.

[Dewlix]

<p>Just to clarify the expansions...Desert of Flames (DoF) is for levels 45+; Kingdom of Sky (KoS) is for levels 55+; and Echoes of Faydwer (EoF) is for levels 1-70</p><p>As stated above, you don't need the expansions, but it is highly recommended that you get the EoF Retail Box (which includes all the expansions) so that you can start earning AA xp at level 10.  And as of the beginning of July you can now Digitally Download the EoF retail version from the Sony Store page.</p>

[Woland]

40$ for the Faydwer retail pack is a GREAT buy. Unfortunately for myself I've had EQ2 since it came out so I already purchased all of the expansions & EQ2 separately but still it was a great buy for me because now I have all the expansions and the game on 2 DVDs without having to redownload everything if I reformat my PC. Plus Faydwer standalone expansion is $38 anyway which doesn't include a hard copy of the game nor the expansions and the download is a pain even on my 8Mbit cable.

[bobbydole]

that's not a bad deal either... There are is a ton of stuff to do in the $10 pack too.

[ModeSix]

Any opinions on the adventure packs as well? They seem kind of interesting, and I understand they open some new instances for people to explore? Anyone had experience with those?

[Kari]

As far as adventure packs go, the Splitpaw Saga is quite good; it is for levels 20-50 and scales with your level. If you are living in Kelethin it can be convenient for transportation because you can quest for a Splitpaw Shard that can teleport you to Thundering Steppes in the old continent.