Nostalgics Anonymous

[steelbadger]

I realise this viewpoint is possibly becoming outdated, with the new direction EQ2 has taken in recent months but it is nevertheless something I'd like to throw out there.Am I alone in my belief that 20-50 is the best fun to be had in EQ2?  Don't get me wrong, I have raided extensively in EoF but still feel that all the new releases lack a certain something.  A certain something that is not lacked by zones like Stormhold, Fallen Gate, Solusek's Eye or Runnyeye.Being unexpectedly jumped by Archiovianix the Scion of Darkness (yes, written from memory) while killing Lord Androus.  Having the Sword of Thunder drop from a sentry in the first hall.  Fighting two Blacksmith Brigg clones in close succession.  What about attempting to pull Quiora T'Las without clearing the rest of the room first?  Or getting endless goblins run at you from unseen hidey holes?  Carefully shimmying around Lady Vox.  Reading the dreaded "Ummm..." when the healer just ran off the pathway in Solusek's Eye.All those things are what make them special.  I can't really place it but, for me at least, none of the new zones achieve that feeling.  Sanctum feels like a shopping centre, Living Tombs doesn't seem t know what it wants to be, Palace of the Awakened is just a bunch of circular rooms with parrots wandering about, Castle Mistmoore was fun, I'll admit.  But it had far too stringent gear requirements for you to have the fun.I wont deny that the non-release dungeons are fun, but they just aren't the same.  I have been to Stormhold a thousand time, I know where every named spawns, I know where every mob spawns, I know the loot tables for most of them and I can find my way between all of them without so much as glancing at the map.  Despite this is doesn't get old, Sanctum did, PoA did, Mistmoore Catacombs did.Likewise in Fallen Gate.Likewise in Ruins of Varsoon.Likewise in Runnyeye.Likewise in Permafrost.Likewise in Solusek's Eye.And all the others.I don't know what it is, specifically, but I do know when I have fun.  And I know I don't have fun in RoK, I don't know if I'll ever get to 80 because I simply cannot face soloing.  Ever since I started playing online games it has been about the social aspect for me, about meeting people, about that random element introduced when you get 6 complete strangers together.  I'm not going to complain that RoK sucks/Soloers suck or that anyone else sucks.  I'm simply saying that I don't have as much fun in the new zones.  I have barely played since RoK was released, because I find soloing boring, easy and repetitive.  There is no random element, there is no social element, there are no unexpected surprises.  Its unfortunate, I would like to play with my friends who did manage to grind through the solo quests but it is looking increasingly unlikely, every time I log to my assassin I look at my possibilities, think 'why bother, its not fun' then log off again.Suggestions, thoughts or comments are welcome, I am interested to see how other people view the game.  For me there is no fun like a lowbie group with real new players, but for you maybe it is something different.

[The-Plethora]

I agree, I would love them to give options for high level versions of old zones like Nek castle at 35, 50 and 70, such well designed places work well still.I wish they would do a high level version of soluseks eye, the best looking zone in the game and people only seem to see it on the way to nagafen for quest updates, very few groups in that zone.High level version of poets palace also welcome :p

[Mareth]

Spot on to the op :)

[dawy]

<cite>Mareth wrote:</cite><blockquote>Spot on to the op <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />" /></blockquote>100% agreement from me, RoK does nothing for me and i find i spend most of my time in the old world rather than Kunark and i find that a shame really

[Aquittas]

<p>I'd have to agree with you, though I have done this enough to know that part of the reason you (and I, and I'm sure many others) feel this way is that those zones were the zones we sharpened our teeth on.  RoV was THE hot spot, as was RE, as was Sol Eye; each for its own level range.  </p><p>Ruins of Varsoon was THE PLACE where i learned how to tank effectively (as an ogre paladin), and Runnyeye was where I perfected it.  After dozens upon dozens of runs through those places, learning something new every time and still managing to be suprised occationally, I'm not really suprised that I still try to put together groups on my alts (its obviously much harder now, since the loot blows compared to anything in EoF and almost noone groups at those levels anyways anymore)</p><p>By the time DoF came out, I had learned almost everything I had to learn about the game.  Sure each expansion added a  new element, but for the most part, most of us were veterans at our classes, if not by EoF, then definately by the time RoK was released.  </p><p>So for me, thats why.  Its because RoK has done nothing to expand my knowledge of my class or how to play the game since I originally went through the "old world", and unless there is a drastic overhaul of some core systems (akin to LU13 in terms of skope), I don't forsee any expansion bringing that experience back.  I am waiting expectantly for Velious, in hopes that they have a revamped Crystal Caverns, Sleepers Tomb, TOFS, etc, but for now I simply make alts, twink the hell out of em, and then run through the old zones either soloing all the old quests, or when I can, finding a group and running some newbies through THEIR first time dungeons. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[shogun007]

I agree with you. I didnt start with Beta like you guys. I started with KOS when it was released. I kinda loved and still love old zones. 4 huge zones filled with iksar doesnt impress me. ROk zones are similar with the small exception of Skyfire near VP. I have tons of alts atm and i quest/grp and farm mostly in old zones atm. My first MMO was Warcraft and i had similar feeling as i had in EQ2 when i was passing by a zone/dungeon once famous and crowded with people and now lonely and empty. A sad feeling. Soluzek Eye was the first instance to deserve a WOW reply from me.Vox in permafrost , yeah good times.. Now SOl and Perma grps are really uncommon, everyone rushes to get to 80 to see new zones. well they are good but i feel like they took a step in wrong direction. When Burning Crusade was released i returned to WOW for a couple of months. I have noticed that Eq2 xpac is very similar to WOW. It is nice but very unrealistic.  Ohh well. I know one thing , when game is released for the first time , its the real game. Months and years pass , new addons and xpacs get released , but u never ever can get that same feeling , that u had in original game. EQ2 Has Changed , lots of things changed it is not same MMO that released in 04, and its not going back . Just as our life -) U must forgive a drinking person on Saturday night <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" /> , but seeing this topic made me write all those things i felt for quite sometime.

[Cele]

I have to agree.  Back in the day, TS was my all-time fav zone, and I LIVED for RoV crawls.   To this day, every time I bring up an alt, even an "evil" one, I cant WAIT to whack Varsoon!

[Thunderthyze]

<cite>Algazeed@Runnyeye wrote:</cite><blockquote>Reading the dreaded "Ummm..." when the healer just ran off the pathway in Solusek's Eye.</blockquote><p>This had better not be a reference to me!</p><p>I was on autorun and my mouse batteries died OK?!?  <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" /></p><p>Seriously though.......yes....those were/are the good days of EQ2. Nowadays you can easily bypass these zones in the sprint to level cap. Hell, last time I was in Perma doing the statues I went up 2 levels!! </p><p>The other problem is that the majority of people only go through those dungeons with a view to levelling. level, get out, move on......with the result that they no longer get to know the zones to the degree we once did. It is actually quite depressing when the really nice piece of armour you win at say level 40 greys out on you within a week or two of playing.</p><p>Some time ago I wrote a thread basically suggesting that EQ2 has come to the end of its natural life and is only being kept alive by ever more of the same old thing being bolted on to please those for whom the race to cap/epic/mythical is the be all and end all. This thread only goes to confirm my thoughts that EQ2 was up to level 50. Anything thereafter is a pale facsimile and dilutes the experience evermore.</p><p>Maybe the answer for us old grognards is to start up on a new server so that twinking isn't an option  and level lock our characters at predefined points. I wonder how much interest there would be?</p>