Questions about Everquest 2 [Archive] - EQ2 Forum Archive @ EQ2Wire

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Demdadar

07-17-2008, 08:52 AM

Hello all. As soon as Everquest 2 was launched I bought it and joined up, but due to personal issues I had to quit after a few months. Luckily, now everything is solved and i'm looking towards starting a new "virtual" life at a MMORPG where I can spend a few hours daily and disconnect from the real world. However I'm quite exigent with these kind of games and I'd like to ask a few questions to the community before renewing my subscription: 1)Is this an open-style mmorpg? (Like Ultima Online, for example) or is it all about level grinding? Is there something to do besides KILLING? Is the storyline lineal, or do your decisions count? In other words: Do you make the story or the story makes you? 2)Are you FORCED to group in order to advance? Are you able to solo, even if you don't get access to the BEST content / go slower? (Human Dirge) 3)Can you enjoy the classic game without expansions at least for a few weeks before deciding to buy them? 4)How is the roleplaying situation at the European servers? If i'm not wrong, there are 2 euro-servers and none of them is classified as roleplaying. Will I be pointed as a freak if I try to roleplaying having my /rp flag on? 5)Can you enjoy PvP in a non-PvP server? (Duels?Arenas?) 6)Now a personal question: How do you feel with SOE's work between you and them? Do you feel they do care about their loyal community and they worry about you to enjoy your gaming experience...? I'm asking this because I have given a glance to LON and it looked too much like a $ business.Thank you in advance and sorry for my english...!

Souta

07-17-2008, 09:19 AM

<cite></cite>1. Well, there are quite a few things you can do besides killing. Many quests are available, and there is an excellent crafting system. There are also many places you can explore and collect various items. Your decisions don't affect most quests, but there are betrayal quests where you can betray your home city and work on your reputation with the other.2. You are absolutely not forced to group to advance. Most classes can solo fine, just some better than others. Personally, I love grouping to max level .. but you can solo it just fine. 70-80 is mostly solo questing instead of grouping.3. I'd really reccomend buying Kunark to get all the content. The game could be enjoyable with just the base game, but it would be much better with all expansions. The starting areas in Kelethin and Timirous Deep are amazing and much better than the starting isles.4. I'm sure no one would consider you a freak. I know on my server, which is not RP, there was a small guild of people who roleplayed all the time when they were on.5. There are arenas where you can PvP with other people, but they are almost never used.6. I feel that the SoE devs and the players are very close. The devs will look for insight and the players are more than happy to give some. And when someone brings up a suggestion or an issue they might have, it's addressed. I know a lot of ideas that were born here on the forums have made their way into the game.Hope that helps.

Seidhkona

07-17-2008, 09:55 AM

<cite>Demdadar wrote:</cite> <blockquote>1)Is this an open-style mmorpg? (Like Ultima Online, for example) or is it all about level grinding? Is there something to do besides KILLING? Is the storyline lineal, or do your decisions count? In other words: Do you make the story or the story makes you?</blockquote> EverQUEST 2 is called that because there are TONS of quests (well over 5,000 at present). There are some "Kill 12 whatevers" quests. But there are many more that involve complex lore and storylines. Quite a lot give you little hints and clues that allow you to puzzle them out if you wish... and if you need help, there's always the <a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2.wikia.com/" target="_blank">EQ2i wiki</a>, which can provide more info (bookmark it now!)EQ2 is not linear. A console game such as Neverwinter Nights forces you to progress along a single path towards each mini-boss and the final game "win". EQ2 provides you the option to select what quests you do or do not wish to do. Your leveling is not dependent on any specific quest... you get experience (XP) for killing, but much more XP for quests completed (and, of course, usually there's some killing along the way).You CAN choose to do nothing but slay, and some folks do (although the whole idea is anathema to me personally!) but quests are MUCH better for actual character advancement and general XP gain. Not to mention so much more fun! <cite>Demdadar wrote:</cite> <blockquote>2)Are you FORCED to group in order to advance? Are you able to solo, even if you don't get access to the BEST content / go slower? (Human Dirge)</blockquote> Nope. You can solo any class all the way to 80, if you so choose. Even if you primarily solo, chances are that you'll want to group at least some of the time. A Dirge shines truly in a group, where all those songs you know can boost the abilities of your group members. I think you'll enjoy soloing when you feel like being on your own, and have a blast in groups when your dirge's presence makes all the difference to the whole group. <cite>Demdadar wrote:</cite> <blockquote>3)Can you enjoy the classic game without expansions at least for a few weeks before deciding to buy them?</blockquote> Sure. Although you mentioned that you'd played before, so you should check out the <a rel="nofollow" href="http://livinglegacy.station.sony.com/everquest2.vm" target="_blank">Living Legacy promotion</a>... you may very well discover that you're entitled to all the expansions free during the promotion. <cite>Demdadar wrote:</cite> <blockquote>4)How is the roleplaying situation at the European servers? If i'm not wrong, there are 2 euro-servers and none of them is classified as roleplaying. Will I be pointed as a freak if I try to roleplaying having my /rp flag on?</blockquote> I can't speak for the Euro servers... I'm in the US myself. I think that most people are cool with people RPing on any server. Even being on a RP server doesn't mean you WILL get RP from everyone (hah! I could wish!)Lucan D'Lere and Antonia Bayle are the designated "Roleplay preferred" servers, which means that there are more people on these two servers that are interested in RP. For me, the fun in RP is doing it with others, so my choice was Lucan D'Lere. LDL has less people, but is a thriving community. We do have folks on line during Pacific Coast times, and I know for at least a while we had a Euro raid guild going. Antonia Bayle is probably the highest population server of all EQ2, which may mean that there are more people available during your peak playtime.My suggestion... pick the day and time that is typical of when you'll be playing the most. Create an alt on either LDL or AB (or both). Check out the activity level on that server at your preferred time and see if it's worthwhile for you to play there. But you should be OK on your local server as well. <cite>Demdadar wrote:</cite> <blockquote>5)Can you enjoy PvP in a non-PvP server? (Duels?Arenas?)</blockquote> The PVE servers have both duels and arenas. I have never been to the arena and frankly don't have a clue how it works. But on LDL at least, from time to time people will set up and duel for fun in Qeynos Harbor, and I've seen guilds organize dueling competitions in Sinking Sands with a fat prize to the winner. <cite>Demdadar wrote:</cite> <blockquote>6)Now a personal question: How do you feel with SOE's work between you and them? Do you feel they do care about their loyal community and they worry about you to enjoy your gaming experience...? I'm asking this because I have given a glance to LON and it looked too much like a $ business.</blockquote> ALL gaming companies are there to make money. That being said, my personal experiences with SOE have been good... I'm still here playing years later.The Technical Support Reps in the <a rel="nofollow" href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/forums/list.m?category_id=45" target="_blank">Support Forums</a> (particularly Jason) are VERY good.In-game support comes via using the /petition tool, and while the tool itself is a pain to use (it opens a browser window in-game but seems slow and kludgy) once I have gotten my question posted, usually issues have been resolved very quickly.As for the overall game direction and development, most of the devs play the game. For the shining example of what I wish every software developer would be in terms of caring about the product and the customers, I'd point to <a rel="nofollow" href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=419064" target="_blank">Domino, the tradeskill dev</a>... and I wish I could clone her and have several working in the software shop that employs me!

StormCinder

07-17-2008, 12:33 PM

<cite>Demdadar wrote:</cite><blockquote>Hello all. As soon as Everquest 2 was launched I bought it and joined up, but due to personal issues I had to quit after a few months. Luckily, now everything is solved and i'm looking towards starting a new "virtual" life at a MMORPG where I can spend a few hours daily and disconnect from the real world. However I'm quite exigent with these kind of games and I'd like to ask a few questions to the community before renewing my subscription: 1)Is this an open-style mmorpg? (Like Ultima Online, for example) or is it all about level grinding? Is there something to do besides KILLING? Is the storyline lineal, or do your decisions count? In other words: Do you make the story or the story makes you?I've not played UO. As others have described, EQ2 is not so linear as single player games. However, there is a general path that you follow to level, based initially on your character creation. But once you hit your 20s those difference fall to the wayside. There is some factioning based on quests you choose to complete or mobs your choose to kill, but for the most part everyone has access to the same quests, regardless of previous conduct. There is the overall story-arc/lore but your characters participation in that is not required, nor does it affect it in any way. 2)Are you FORCED to group in order to advance? Are you able to solo, even if you don't get access to the BEST content / go slower? (Human Dirge) 3)Can you enjoy the classic game without expansions at least for a few weeks before deciding to buy them? If you buy the box, you play the entire game for 30 days. <strike>As far as I know, there is no demo or trial version. </strike>Corrected below.<strike></strike> 4)How is the roleplaying situation at the European servers? If i'm not wrong, there are 2 euro-servers and none of them is classified as roleplaying. Will I be pointed as a freak if I try to roleplaying having my /rp flag on? 5)Can you enjoy PvP in a non-PvP server? (Duels?Arenas?)I did this once. It was basically a Counter-Strike/HALO deathmatch competition with EQ2 classes. Not the reason I play EQ2, hence I don't use them. 6)Now a personal question: How do you feel with SOE's work between you and them? Do you feel they do care about their loyal community and they worry about you to enjoy your gaming experience...? I'm asking this because I have given a glance to LON and it looked too much like a $ business.Every interaction I've had with EQ2 staff has been positive. I feel no doubt or hesitation each year when I renew my subscription. Any bad times I've had in-game are generally due to other players, not EQ2 staff.Thank you in advance and sorry for my english...!</blockquote>SC

Demdadar

07-17-2008, 06:23 PM

Thank you very much for these awnsers <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> I'm going to give it a try for sure! At least people like you prove that the community is excellent <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Seidhkona

07-17-2008, 07:16 PM

<cite>StormCinder wrote:</cite><blockquote>If you buy the box, you play the entire game for 30 days. As far as I know, there is no demo or trial version.</blockquote>Actually, there certainly is a trial version of EQ2 called <a href="http://everquest2.station.sony.com/en/promotions/playthefae/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Play The Fae</a>.

Spyderbite

07-17-2008, 10:34 PM

<cite>Demdadar wrote:</cite><blockquote> 5)Can you enjoy PvP in a non-PvP server? (Duels?Arenas?)</blockquote>I suppose it can be enjoyed if you are able to get enough people to gather and do it on a regular basis. Its basically limited to duels and the arena on the PvE servers.However, you get 7 character slots, so why not role one toon on a PvP server and try it out? Personally, I won't play anything but PvP because I enjoy the added challenge. But, these days, most don't share that thrill so you'll find the PvP activity on the PvE servers very sparse.Play PvE to your heart's content. And, in your spare time.. come to the dark side and give it a try. For a less "hard cored" experience you can roll on Venekor. Or, if you want a more "in your face" PvP experience roll on Nagafen which has a higher population and thus more targets.. and of course, many more attackers. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Ragecaller

07-18-2008, 12:00 PM

<cite>Demdadar wrote:</cite><blockquote> 1)Is this an open-style mmorpg? (Like Ultima Online, for example) or is it all about level grinding? Is there something to do besides KILLING? Is the storyline lineal, or do your decisions count? In other words: Do you make the story or the story makes you? 2)Are you FORCED to group in order to advance? Are you able to solo, even if you don't get access to the BEST content / go slower? (Human Dirge) 3)Can you enjoy the classic game without expansions at least for a few weeks before deciding to buy them? 4)How is the roleplaying situation at the European servers? If i'm not wrong, there are 2 euro-servers and none of them is classified as roleplaying. Will I be pointed as a freak if I try to roleplaying having my /rp flag on? 5)Can you enjoy PvP in a non-PvP server? (Duels?Arenas?) 6)Now a personal question: How do you feel with SOE's work between you and them? Do you feel they do care about their loyal community and they worry about you to enjoy your gaming experience...? I'm asking this because I have given a glance to LON and it looked too much like a $ business.</blockquote>1. Everquest 2 was from the ground up designed to be significantly different from Everquest Classic which is indeed at its heart a camp and grindfest with many different flavours of grind and where you really only quest to get special items. EQ2 is very highly quest driven (just like in WoW the quests direct you trough your grinding and it is quite possible to level up trough quest experience alone), has a much deeper crafting system (and an item hierarchy in which crafted items play a very important role) and is more accomodating to roleplaying, especially considering the player housing that is an integral part of it. Still, it remains a combat MMORPG and as such you will continue to advance by killing things or by helping others kill things. I doubt you could find a level based MMORPG that doesn't revolve around combat in one way or another. Storylines are branching, but are still narrative. World shaping is really a feature that is better suited to single player games than MMORPG's, because any change you make in the world will affect the gameplay of other people.2. I keep wondering why people on one hand want to play a multiplayer game but on the other hand don't want to take advantage of the unique cooperative gameplay such a game offers. Anyways, yes. In EQ2 it is quite possible, with some care in your choice of opponents to level all the way to the end game without ever requesting the assistance of a single other player outside of the market (you will want to buy item and spell upgrades). EQ2 is highly balanced in that any class can solo (albeit at different paces and using different tactics) and every class can contribute meaningfully to a group or raid that isn't dead set on sticking to a cookie cutter makeup (but that should not concern you if you intend to solo as much as your question suggests)3. The original game is quite complete. You'll miss out on the good items found in Timorous Deep, the Fae and Arashai(sp?) races and the ability to become a citizen of Neriak, Kelethin or Gorowyn, but Qeynos and FP offer a lot of content to explore themselves.4. I am not sure but i think that most people are receptive to roleplayers provided they don't mind them playing the game as a hack and slasher themselves. Pretty much the only difference between a regular and a RP server is the fact that RP is actually enforced on the RP server. There are no constraints on gameplay.5. Unfamiliar with that. I have other more PvP centric games for that fix. EQ2 is a pure PvE experience for me.6. I think the relationship between SOE and the EQ2 players is pretty much on par with that of other succesful mainstream MMORPG's. A love/hate relationship where there are always more complaints than answers but where the devs mean well and try their best to make well thought out improvements to the game as a whole without falling prey to knee jerk reactions whenever someone yells that the game is imbalanced because their pet spell just stopped being an i win button or they lost a tenth of a percentage in a damage parse.