Lonely times proving yourself

[RottenApple82]

<p>Just a random rant...I come and go from EQ2, I'll play for a couple months then leave for a couple and come back again...I've noticed that once your character reaches mid 30's on up, it is great, very easy to find groups and make friends...but at the lower levels...it is such a pain...I came back this time wanting to try some new classes out, my highest from before were fury and a monk...and it seems no one really wants to group up for anything, or even getting an invite to a guild when you're below lvl 20 is impossible, and even then, I am now 24 on this new character I made a couple days ago...and still no luck finding a guild...</p><p>even if I offer to apply on a website with a full resume, it just seems they dont want you until you're much higher lvl, and by then the frustration has set in, feeling like I have missed so much content on the way up...</p><p>is this just a bad server I am on or what? I mean I am sticking through it all and going forward doing quest and solo activities...but I'd really enjoy grouping and doing some dungeons, and they are just plain empty...any servers thrive better than Najena?</p>

[firza]

<p>this is due to some development mistakes made.</p><p>Solo exp with questing, especially for AA's, is so fast that there is no reason at all to find groups at lower levels.</p>

[RottenApple82]

<p>I see, kinda makes sense. I dunno when most of that changed, I always thought killing all the named in a dungeon was good AA, but I guess that does make sense...</p><p> I also noticed the otherday I saw a bruiser with the tiger sifu title, and when I asked her she told me she turned exp off at lvl 10 and just did writs...I didnt really believe her...I thought it had to have been something else like buying collection quests...but I mean...is that the name of the game now?</p>

[Shadowfox426]

RottenApple82 wrote: <blockquote><p>I also noticed the otherday I saw a bruiser with the tiger sifu title, and when I asked her she told me she turned exp off at lvl 10 and just did writs...I didnt really believe her...I thought it had to have been something else like buying collection quests...but I mean...is that the name of the game now?</p></blockquote> Pardon my complete newbieness, but what does that mean?

[RottenApple82]

<cite>Shadowfox426 wrote:</cite><blockquote>RottenApple82 wrote: <blockquote><p>I also noticed the otherday I saw a bruiser with the tiger sifu title, and when I asked her she told me she turned exp off at lvl 10 and just did writs...I didnt really believe her...I thought it had to have been something else like buying collection quests...but I mean...is that the name of the game now?</p></blockquote> Pardon my complete newbieness, but what does that mean?</blockquote> Tiger Sifu means she has like 24 AA spent in her brawler tree at lvl 10

[Orsham]

<cite>RottenApple82 wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Just a random rant...I come and go from EQ2, I'll play for a couple months then leave for a couple and come back again...I've noticed that once your character reaches mid 30's on up, it is great, very easy to find groups and make friends...but at the lower levels...it is such a pain...I came back this time wanting to try some new classes out, my highest from before were fury and a monk...and it seems no one really wants to group up for anything, or even getting an invite to a guild when you're below lvl 20 is impossible, and even then, I am now 24 on this new character I made a couple days ago...and still no luck finding a guild...</p></blockquote>You're complaining because you can't find a guild on a character you created two days ago? As this indicates, levelling up to 20 is so quick it hardly matters.

[RottenApple82]

<cite>Orsham wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>RottenApple82 wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Just a random rant...I come and go from EQ2, I'll play for a couple months then leave for a couple and come back again...I've noticed that once your character reaches mid 30's on up, it is great, very easy to find groups and make friends...but at the lower levels...it is such a pain...I came back this time wanting to try some new classes out, my highest from before were fury and a monk...and it seems no one really wants to group up for anything, or even getting an invite to a guild when you're below lvl 20 is impossible, and even then, I am now 24 on this new character I made a couple days ago...and still no luck finding a guild...</p></blockquote>You're complaining because you can't find a guild on a character you created two days ago? As this indicates, levelling up to 20 is so quick it hardly matters.</blockquote><p> Contrary to popular belief, people do play MMO's for the social aspect.</p><p> Edit* Also, guilds are a great way in most games to find people around the same levels to group with. Hence their importance when it is becomming more increasingly difficult to find a group as the game ages and the level curve does as well.</p>

[xOnaton1]

There are a lot of different style guilds for different play styles. You should post on your server forum and say what your play times are and what type of guild you are looking for. During busy times I think there are still pick up groups in low levels, but the overland zones up to the 20s are almost entirely solo now so groups will mostly go to dungeons. Pick up groups can be challenging because you never know if everyone in your group will match your play style. A lot of old-time players have stopped joining pick up groups because they don't want to be troubled with them. I normally add people to my friends list if I enjoyed grouping with them so that I can ask them to group again when I see them logged on. Othesus - Dirge - Lucan DLere Vaspar - Fury - Lucan DLere

[zaneluke]

Get your higher level player into a guild that allows alts then get your alts in. There are lower lev guilds also. And some high lev guilds have alt guilds. Have you used the LFG tab? That actually does help. But also be fore warned it is summer and there is usually a large influx of school age kids who play during the days. I have a 9 y/o who is a tank and it is quite comical to watch him lead a group into a lower lev zone sometimes. He stops to pick up shinnies, rolls on no trade red item ect ect.   <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Femwhispers]

<cite>RottenApple82 wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Just a random rant...I come and go from EQ2, I'll play for a couple months then leave for a couple and come back again...I've noticed that once your character reaches mid 30's on up, it is great, very easy to find groups and make friends...but at the lower levels...it is such a pain...I came back this time wanting to try some new classes out, my highest from before were fury and a monk...and it seems no one really wants to group up for anything, or even getting an invite to a guild when you're below lvl 20 is impossible, and even then, I am now 24 on this new character I made a couple days ago...and still no luck finding a guild...</p><p>even if I offer to apply on a website with a full resume, it just seems they dont want you until you're much higher lvl, and by then the frustration has set in, feeling like I have missed so much content on the way up...</p><p>is this just a bad server I am on or what? I mean I am sticking through it all and going forward doing quest and solo activities...but I'd really enjoy grouping and doing some dungeons, and they are just plain empty...any servers thrive better than Najena?</p></blockquote><p>Hmmm......I have a different take on it I suppose.  I'm coming from a different game in which I played for almost 4 years. Co-led a very successful endgame linkshell and had accomplished just about everything there was to do; leveled 3 jobs to cap with many *sub* jobs.  Everything was organized and planned on a daily basis. </p><p>Helped many, many, players reach *endgame* during that time and enjoyed every minute of it; but as in all things, there comes a time to try something new.   The hardest part was leaving the friendships made during that time; many of whom I'm still in contact with! <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>Coming from a game where you could hardly *solo* anything without a group other than maybe one job; I find this absolutely wonderful! I love wandering around, doing quests, finding things randomly, and being *solo* for a change.  I like being *new* and not knowing anything, or alot of things (if you can believe that). I enjoy logging on and not being bombarded with requests and tells and planned events every day. It's like a vacation! <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>At level 22, I'm seriously starting to think about a guild now - more from a standpoint of learning how to play my job more effectively in a group, as well as define myself more as I level up - I have alot to learn lol.</p><p>I do see where you're coming from with wanting some group interaction; and it does seem like in the *low* level areas there aren't alot of players to group with; but maybe for now you should try and enjoy the solitude!</p><p> p.s. you didn't say what server you're on - but if it happens to be Butcherblock send me a tell - I'll group with ya! <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[rumblepants]

<cite>RottenApple82 wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Shadowfox426 wrote:</cite><blockquote>RottenApple82 wrote: <blockquote><p>I also noticed the otherday I saw a bruiser with the tiger sifu title, and when I asked her she told me she turned exp off at lvl 10 and just did writs...I didnt really believe her...I thought it had to have been something else like buying collection quests...but I mean...is that the name of the game now?</p></blockquote> Pardon my complete newbieness, but what does that mean?</blockquote> Tiger Sifu means she has like 24 AA spent in her brawler tree at lvl 10</blockquote> Theoretically its possible if the character builds a massive XP debt so the XP one attains from Collections/Quests won't level you. Is that the name of the game now? No. A portion of people level lock themselves (PVP aside) to accumulate achievement points at lower levels and a portion of others could really care less.

[Runestone]

I think most of your guild finding issues are due to the server(s) your playing on. I don't think I've gone 15 minutes on Antonia Bayle without seeing someone looking for more members of any level (during prime hours).

[Drokmed]

Heya rotten, I've been playing over a month now (I'm level 27), and still have the same problem... can't find people to group with!!!!!!!  I have about a dozen heroic quests in my journal, and can't do any of them solo!  It's hard to find groups at this level. I've been taking my time leveling, wanted to learn all aspects of the game: now 27 sage, setup shop on broker, etc.  I've made sure I know how to play my inquisitor both solo and in a group. I've gone through three guilds now, and still can't find people to group with.  Two of the guilds are "veteran" max level, and all they do is raid, and maybe once a week, mentor a low level for an hour.  It's very frustrating.  I'm tempted to start a guild, but I've run guilds before, and it takes a HUGE commitment to run a successful guild.  I'm now looking for a new small guild, run by people my level, preferably eq2 experienced, but not required at this point. Two days ago, I rolled a new toon, something I can solo with (wizard), have it up to level 10, everything is one or two shot kills so far <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  I think I'm going to find a new guild created by new players, all of course are hopefully low level. Instead of reading my server forums (used to do that, all generic info, can't tell levels/zones), and checking the online looking for guild screen (used to do that, same thing), my strategy now is to LOOK around me, observing guild names in my area.  If I'm going to find people to group with, I've decided to find a guild that has people in my area at my level. For example, if I see a bunch of people from guild "example", I'll type:  /who all example That shows me all the people in that guild, who are logged in, and in my zone.  If there's more than a few, I'll chat them and try to get a group going, to see how they are.  I'm going to give myself a few days checking out guilds, making my list, chatting with people, etc.  I'm hoping my new strategy will give better results then my past ones.  My thinking is a new small guild will need help leveling the guild, so they should be organizing groups to bang out heritage quests, etc.  I need those quests too! I'm sure some of the veterans reading this will give me crap for only being level 27 for after a month, but my response to them is HEY!  I wanted to learn the [Removed for Content] game, not just crank through it!  I've been doing all the quests, enjoying the game at each level... I shouldn't have to ignore the first half of the game to get to the better half... Good luck finding groups, I'll let you know if my new strategy is any better...

[rumblepants]

<cite>Drokmed wrote:</cite><blockquote> I'm sure some of the veterans reading this will give me crap for only being level 27 for after a month, but my response to them is HEY!  I wanted to learn the [I cannot control my vocabulary] game, not just crank through it!  I've been doing all the quests, enjoying the game at each level... I shouldn't have to ignore the first half of the game to get to the better half... Good luck finding groups, I'll let you know if my new strategy is any better... </blockquote> Indeed. I started this character 8 months ago and I'm only level 35. I spend alot of time tradeskilling, and also just experiencing all available content of each tier. I can't offer any advice unfortunately because I don't group at all and mostly duo with my brother. I'll lend my services most of the time if someone needs help with an encounter to finish a quest but those days of XP grinding in dungeons for me are over. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> I agree with the earlier posts though about being a local server issue. For example on LDL, I see guilds looking for players of different tiers all the time.

[Deyaneyra]

<cite>Drokmed wrote:</cite><blockquote>I'm sure some of the veterans reading this will give me crap for only being level 27 for after a month, but my response to them is HEY!  I wanted to learn the [I cannot control my vocabulary] game, not just crank through it!  I've been doing all the quests, enjoying the game at each level... I shouldn't have to ignore the first half of the game to get to the better half... </blockquote> I fully understand your point here Drokmed. Took me 1,5 years to level my mystic up to 70 because I enjoyed looking around, finding new zones, doing quests and everything. The goal in this game should not be to reach level 70 in 4 weeks, its all about fun and playing the playstyle which matches you - and only you - best. Finding the right guild could be hard these days, there are lots of raiding guilds out there. But there are still people on every servers that are willing to mentor or play lower level alts, that are willing to help out on finishing quests also for lower level members. The hard part is to find the right home. If anyone from these people here who are in need of help are from Butcherblock server, just send Jaidee or Violeth a tell if you me online. I also have lower level alts or can mentor, maybe I can help some of you finishing your quests or can help you find a group. To all the others, don't give up, there will be players you enjoy grouping with. Also lots of new players started now after this free offer for Vanguard players, new people coming from other games start up every day. Hope all your experiences are getting better soon and you can start to enjoy this game and groups.

[bobbydole]

<cite>DamnLag wrote:</cite><blockquote>I think most of your guild finding issues are due to the server(s) your playing on. I don't think I've gone 15 minutes on Antonia Bayle without seeing someone looking for more members of any level (during prime hours). </blockquote> I was going to post the same thing. I recently started up eq2 again and decided I wanted a RP server and picked Antonia Bayle and I was quite surprised with the increased activity over my former server. Also I would look in the server forums for a guild that may suit you. Another thing about locking in on a lvl, the last time I played I sped though the lvls pretty fast and I was disappointed in missing out on some of the content. So now i'm taking it slower. Doing more tradeskills, quests, and I'm really liking it right now..

[VizP]

Servers are starting to fill up - EQ2 definitely has a population boom and servers like Antonia Bayle are feeling it first. Ill give you an example - 12pm GMt - 7am EST I go into Sinking Sands to find 60 ppl no less there. This is completely off peak in an area for the first expansion?! Whereever I go there is a bunch of people across the entire game and on peak times the place is literally teeming. Either you can go to one of the packed servers atm or just wait a little bit because it seems lots and lots of people are starting EQ2 or returning. Looks like its the place to be <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Orsham]

<p>I have been invited to join guilds in the teen levels on Splitpaw. I wouldn't say it was very busy but I don't know what it's been like in the past. I certainly see people around wherever I go. </p><p>Typically, I'm not looking to join a guild quite yet! Perhaps players who have already levelled up characters find this more frustrating. I'm quite happy to explore EQ2 alone right now.</p>

[Runestone]

Yes, AB seems to be filling up past capacity and I don't want it to change. Sure it can be laggy as hell, but finding a group is awesome.. last night (1am) I did the Scarecrow King in Antonica.. now I am a new player but from what I understand this is not something that happens very often (especially on other servers).. I missed out on a group the other day too for Windstalker Rumbler (sp?).. All I can suggest is to find yourself a nice full server. Honestly when I log in there are so many groups forming I have to really think about where I want to go. I realize I am not helping the lag of AB by posting this.. But there is nothing worse then not being able to play the content you pay for.. So if I have to deal with a little more lag.. so be it.

[Leatherneck]

<cite>RottenApple82 wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>I see, kinda makes sense. I dunno when most of that changed, I always thought killing all the named in a dungeon was good AA, but I guess that does make sense...</p><p> I also noticed the otherday I saw a bruiser with the tiger sifu title, and when I asked her she told me she turned exp off at lvl 10 and just did writs...I didnt really believe her...I thought it had to have been something else like buying collection quests...but I mean...is that the name of the game now?</p></blockquote><p> I don't think she just did writs.  Quests maybe.</p><p>Some people prefer to turn off their exp and hit all the quests their level, then turn on exp again and turn it off at the next spot and do all the quests their level.  It isn't about maxxing their AA as soon as possible, but about getting to see all the content before it greys out.</p><p>Actually that sounds like fun.</p>