Back from WoW

[Mion da Peon]

<p>Hello everyone,</p><p>Canceled my WoW sub, and activated my EQ2 for a month.  I'm going to give EQ2 one more chance to prove that not all mmos are stale bread.</p><p>When I left EQ2 nearly 9 months ago I was hoping for some balance and content updates.  MMOs are good as long as they provide intriquing content and interaction between the players (as different classes).  To get this right for say a raid of 25 characters takes alot of well planned work on behalf of the creators.  Kudos to them if they get it right !  Their success depends on it ! </p><p>For all those people who solo through the easymode MMOs of today : shame on you.  Your distracting the developers from what really matter; content that focuses on player interaction.  To a certain degree this is what I felt was wrong with WoW.  Tons of players that were forced to solo (quest) through all their levels make interactions at higher levels anonymous and devoid of meaning.  This has even crept into the relations of our real life guild making the game a real borefest.</p><p>That being said how does TSO measure up to previous EQ2 expansions, is there added raid content, are Sins still our dps overlords, and how are non-guardian tanking classes rounding out?  Hrm maybe I'll roll a warden</p>

[erin]

<p><cite>Mion da Peon wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>For all those people who solo through the easymode MMOs of today : shame on you.  Your distracting the developers from what really matter; content that focuses on player interaction. </p></blockquote><p>Well thanks for letting us know what an MMO should be.  The devs can throw away everything they've gathered to tell them what an MMO should be to make money (which is after all what they are in BUSINESS to do) and just listen to you.  Fantastic!</p><p>Guess what?  Many many players seem to want solo content.  And yup,many seem to want it to be easy.  They want a fantasy world where they can have little and big successes.  The games, all of them, are catering to that.  You may not like it, and many don't, but that doesn't make it "shameful".</p>

[Mion da Peon]

<p>The difficulty isn't really an issue if it keeps people engaged.  So that comment wasn't really a "it should be harder" one.</p><p>MMO's by definition shouldn't be a solo experience, the only reason the devs cater to it is because it widens the audience and nets more $.  This is also fine.</p><p>What <strong>isn't </strong>fine is when they make solo content more advantageous than the group stuff.  Also it is fun to see your character progress.  If everything is soloable in low quality gear and levels whats the point to upgrading?</p><p>The developers of many MMOs have stressed solo content as a way of getting out of their real responsibilities while still netting the dollars.</p><p>In conclusion, if you want a solo game go play Fabled 2 or somthing else that was designed for it.</p>

[Amise]

<p><cite>Mion da Peon wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>For all those people who solo through the easymode MMOs of today : shame on you.  Your distracting the developers from what really matter; content that focuses on player interaction.</blockquote><p>Lol. You're all HI EVERYONE I'M BACK and then proceed to insult a big chunk of the playerbase because they don't fall in line with your perception of what an MMO should be. That's cute.</p><p>I don't care whether or not you enjoy the game, so meh.</p>

[Gisallo]

<p><cite>Mion da Peon wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Hello everyone,</p><p>Canceled my WoW sub, and activated my EQ2 for a month.  I'm going to give EQ2 one more chance to prove that not all mmos are stale bread.</p><p>When I left EQ2 nearly 9 months ago I was hoping for some balance and content updates.  MMOs are good as long as they provide intriquing content and interaction between the players (as different classes).  To get this right for say a raid of 25 characters takes alot of well planned work on behalf of the creators.  Kudos to them if they get it right !  Their success depends on it ! </p><p>For all those people who solo through the easymode MMOs of today : shame on you.  Your distracting the developers from what really matter; content that focuses on player interaction.  To a certain degree this is what I felt was wrong with WoW.  Tons of players that were forced to solo (quest) through all their levels make interactions at higher levels anonymous and devoid of meaning.  This has even crept into the relations of our real life guild making the game a real borefest.</p><p>That being said how does TSO measure up to previous EQ2 expansions, is there added raid content, are Sins still our dps overlords, and how are non-guardian tanking classes rounding out?  Hrm maybe I'll roll a warden</p></blockquote><p>Well SOE seems to have taken the following mind set.</p><p>A) "people want to get to 80 as quickly as possible so we will make soloing easier so people can get to end game easier.  This is both a means to an end for the end game raiders AND a way to make soloers happy."</p><p>  Sorry to burst your bibble but though I am NOT a soloer I also understand that an MMO must cater to multiple tastes, its a question of finding balance.</p><p>B) "we will alternate the focus of expansions.  1 expansion solo focused, the next group focused.  This way, while all of our customers are not happy ALL of the time, they see there is light at the end of the tunnel for their particular niche and will probably still hang around."</p><p>  TSO is the "group/raid" expansion btw.</p><p>C) "we know that in order to make money we need to keep MOST people happy and that the "purist" will be PO'd, but the "purist" is in the minority and anyway will likely stioll hang around as long as we occassionally throw them a bone in a LU."</p><p>In short its about money and while pure Soloers will likely not hang around, pure groupers will either deal with it or have NO game to play.  I can't think of a single Fantasy MMO that REQUIRES grouping, but there are plenty of solo games.  Kinda means if you are a "pure" grouper you take what you can get or you get nothing.</p><p>as far as tanking classes they are ALL screaming, or at least depressed.  Only people who are not screaming are those who are not tanks and do not understand the classes as a whole.  Go to the In Testing forum or any of the tank forums for many a thread on this issue.</p>

[Mion da Peon]

<p><cite>Amise wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Mion da Peon wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>For all those people who solo through the easymode MMOs of today : shame on you.  Your distracting the developers from what really matter; content that focuses on player interaction.</blockquote><p>Lol. You're all HI EVERYONE I'M BACK and then proceed to insult a big chunk of the playerbase because they don't fall in line with your perception of what an MMO should be. That's cute.</p><p>I don't care whether or not you enjoy the game, so meh.</p></blockquote><p>moo</p><p>(meaning your a cow content with chewing the cud of solo content)</p>

[Mion da Peon]

<p><cite>Gisallo@Lucan DLere wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite></cite>Well SOE seems to have taken the following mind set.</p><p>A) "people want to get to 80 as quickly as possible so we will make soloing easier so people can get to end game easier.  This is both a means to an end for the end game raiders AND a way to make soloers happy."</p><p>  Sorry to burst your bibble but though I am NOT a soloer I also understand that an MMO must cater to multiple tastes, its a question of finding balance.</p><p>B) "we will alternate the focus of expansions.  1 expansion solo focused, the next group focused.  This way, while all of our customers are not happy ALL of the time, they see there is light at the end of the tunnel for their particular niche and will probably still hang around."</p><p>  TSO is the "group/raid" expansion btw.</p><p>C) "we know that in order to make money we need to keep MOST people happy and that the "purist" will be PO'd, but the "purist" is in the minority and anyway will likely stioll hang around as long as we occassionally throw them a bone in a LU."</p><p>In short its about money and while pure Soloers will likely not hang around, pure groupers will either deal with it or have NO game to play.  I can't think of a single Fantasy MMO that REQUIRES grouping, but there are plenty of solo games.  Kinda means if you are a "pure" grouper you take what you can get or you get nothing.</p><p>as far as tanking classes they are ALL screaming, or at least depressed.  Only people who are not screaming are those who are not tanks and do not understand the classes as a whole.  Go to the In Testing forum or any of the tank forums for many a thread on this issue.</p></blockquote><p>Thats good news about TSO.  I'm excited to try it out.  Is there any raid content in TSO? (download @ 28%)</p>

[erin]

<p><cite>Gisallo@Lucan DLere wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p> while pure Soloers will likely not hang around,</p></blockquote><p>You base this on what exactly?  I know a number of players who generally solo, rarely group, never raid, who've played since launch.  I know a few players who raid a lot, and have left the game several times.  I don't base anything on these personal experiences, they might be one-off.  But unless you have something to back up your statement, I vehemently disagree.  So does SOE by the way or they wouldn't keep producing a ton of solo content.  And while TSO is group/raid focused, there's still a ton of stuff for soloers (and a ton of stuff for crafters, which is generally a solo activity).</p><p>Why would SOE keep catering to people who "likely will not hang around"?</p>

[Oh]

<p>I almost hate to say this is almost the typical WoW player.. Oh bash everyone that isn't like me.. Ok maybe not typical but still. My first suggestion is state your opinions as opinions they are NOT facts. Fact is alot of folks Solo in MMO's there are many reasons for it, no need to try and enumerate them simply because I'm sure there would be more then I'm aware of. Fact is alot of folks like to group in MMO's, fact is alot of folks like to Raid in MMO's, fact is alot of folks like to do small/medium group content in MMO's. The MMO's the last the longest usually tend to cater to the whole gambit so that they can keep as many folks as possible. Kind of what SoE is doing with EQ2.</p><p>As to TSO content, as stated before there is solo, group, tradeskill, and raid content in this expansion. You do need to be level 80 thou to do the raiding content in TSO, and probably 77ish or so to do the solo content in TSO. Although the tradeskill content you can start earlier (unfortunatly I don't know what is the minium level for it).</p><p>So if you like to group alot (which by your opening statements i would assume is true) there are lots of missions you can run over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again for rewards and ap xp. (yes I repeated that over and over again on purpose once you start doing it you will completley understand the why)</p>

[Mion da Peon]

<p><cite>Ohiv wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I almost hate to say this is almost the typical WoW player..</p></blockquote><p>a) played EQ1 before ROK through POP</p><p>b) played EQ2 release through new ROK</p><p>c) played WoW casually from BC</p><p>d) I'm over the age of 24 [edit] <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" /></p><p>If my anti-solo play comments stem from anywhere its EQ1.  I'm really discouraged by the way mmos are being run now adays.  That being said solo play is a good addition as long as it is auxillary to group content.</p><p>Obviously this is a touchy subject so I won't go there anymore.</p><p>How's the new raid content in TSO?  Have other melee dps classes gotten flurry (like sins)?  Are mage dps up to snuff now adays?  Whats up with the tanking rebalancing?  How is healing balance (never really looked into this before)?</p><p>Did double attack, haste, dps, crit get changed over to ratings instead of straight %?</p>

[Tary]

<p>What a foolish post.</p><p>I commend the OP for his (her?) complete lack of understanding on the subject of MMOs, and why people play them.Also, the level of elitism <span style="font-style: italic;">over a video game, and how one plays it</span>, is incredible.  Well done.</p>

[Gisallo]

<p><cite>Mion da Peon wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Thats good news about TSO.  I'm excited to try it out.  Is there any raid content in TSO? (download @ 28%)</p></blockquote><p>Yes but there is NO way you are going to just dive into it.  You will need to do the RoK raid content to get your mythical and then either have farmed the heck out of those zones for the best raid drops for your class or take part in the shard grind to get the better fabled drops from the TSO instances and get tier 2 shard armor.  Without a change in the level cap they introduced mobs critically hitting to add a new challenge so you itemization is no longer King, its now the Emperor.</p>

[Maroger]

<p><cite>Mion da Peon wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Ohiv wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I almost hate to say this is almost the typical WoW player..</p></blockquote><p>a) played EQ1 before ROK through POP</p><p>b) played EQ2 release through new ROK</p><p>c) played WoW casually from BC</p><p>d) I'm over the age of 24 [edit] <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" /></p><p>If my anti-solo play comments stem from anywhere its EQ1.  I'm really discouraged by the way mmos are being run now adays.  That being said solo play is a good addition as long as it is auxillary to group content.</p><p>Obviously this is a touchy subject so I won't go there anymore.</p><p>How's the new raid content in TSO?  Have other melee dps classes gotten flurry (like sins)?  Are mage dps up to snuff now adays?  Whats up with the tanking rebalancing?  How is healing balance (never really looked into this before)?</p><p>Did double attack, haste, dps, crit get changed over to ratings instead of straight %?</p></blockquote><p>Try Vanguard - that is a forced grouping game and should appeal to someone like you a great deal. By all means you should be playing Vanguard NOT EQ2</p>

[Mion da Peon]

<p><cite>Gisallo@Lucan DLere wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Yes but there is NO way you are going to just dive into it.  You will need to do the RoK raid content to get your mythical and then either have farmed the heck out of those zones for the best raid drops for your class or take part in the shard grind to get the better fabled drops from the TSO instances and get tier 2 shard armor.  Without a change in the level cap they introduced mobs critically hitting to add a new challenge so you itemization is no longer King, its now the Emperor.</p></blockquote><p>You mean like this?</p><p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2players.station.sony.com/characters/character_profile.vm?characterId=208298202" target="_blank">http://eq2players.station.sony.com/...terId=208298202</a></p><p>Should be ok to start them... I'll be glad if there is some progression to the TSO zones</p>

[Mion da Peon]

<p><cite>Maroger wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Try Vanguard - that is a forced grouping game and should appeal to someone like you a great deal. By all means you should be playing Vanguard NOT EQ2</p></blockquote><p>Has vanguard gotten better?  I heard it was rather bugtastic?</p>

[montor]

<p><cite>Taryth wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>What a foolish post.</p><p>I commend the OP for his (her?) complete lack of understanding on the subject of MMOs, and why people play them.Also, the level of elitism <span style="font-style: italic;">over a video game, and how one plays it</span>, is incredible.  Well done.</p></blockquote><p>Kind of stupid huh but what can ya expect from a WOW'zer</p>

[Rahatmattata]

<p><cite>montor wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Taryth wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>What a foolish post.</p><p>I commend the OP for his (her?) complete lack of understanding on the subject of MMOs, and why people play them.Also, the level of elitism <span style="font-style: italic;">over a video game, and how one plays it</span>, is incredible.  Well done.</p></blockquote><p>Kind of stupid huh but what can ya expect from a WOW'zer</p></blockquote><p>I guess you didn't notice he's been playing eq2 from launch through RoK. Kind of stupid huh?</p><p>It's dumb to have soloing as rewarding if not more rewarding than grouping. People will come here and get all offended about it and then cry they can't find groups. If I wanted to solo to level 80 I'd play..... idk but I'd play something else.</p><p>You haven't been gone that long, not much has changed. But warriors got nerfed, shadowknights are stupid overpowered, fighters are about to be revamped, no epic prismatic type questline in TSO, you will need to upgrade your gear for TSO raiding unless you don't mind dying a lot. Honestly, you would find out a lot more info if you'd just read the game update notes yourself and visit the developer round table.</p>

[Gisallo]

<p><cite>Mion da Peon wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Gisallo@Lucan DLere wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Yes but there is NO way you are going to just dive into it.  You will need to do the RoK raid content to get your mythical and then either have farmed the heck out of those zones for the best raid drops for your class or take part in the shard grind to get the better fabled drops from the TSO instances and get tier 2 shard armor.  Without a change in the level cap they introduced mobs critically hitting to add a new challenge so you itemization is no longer King, its now the Emperor.</p></blockquote><p>You mean like this?</p><p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2players.station.sony.com/characters/character_profile.vm?characterId=208298202" target="_blank">http://eq2players.station.sony.com/...terId=208298202</a></p><p>Should be ok to start them... I'll be glad if there is some progression to the TSO zones</p></blockquote><p>With that kind of gear you would be set to start going into the easy to medium instances and with a good raid guild do the first couple of names in Tomb and/or PotoA.  To move on though your crit mit is going to have to come up and you are going to need that mythical.  My suggestion would be to look for the pick up raids.  Believe it or not there are A LOT of PU raids clearing VP now because a lot of the raid guilds just want to progress and not go back.  while you are doing that grind shards my friend.  There are maybe only one or two pieces you have that T2 legendary shard armor would not be an upgrade for and that includes some of your fabled.</p>

[Mion da Peon]

<p>Thanks for the constructive replies!  I'll try that stuff out.</p><p>Hrm WoW releases death knights, SK get crazy buffed...  <span style="font-size: medium;"><span >coincidence?</span></span></p><p>Kinda lame if you ask me.  EQ2 is good enough to stand on its own w/o trying to copycat.</p>

[Chanaluss]

<p><cite>Mion da Peon wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Hrm WoW releases death knights, SK get crazy buffed... <span style="font-size: medium;"><span>coincidence?</span></span></p></blockquote><p>yes.</p>

[sokil]

<p><cite>Mion da Peon wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Canceled my WoW sub, and activated my EQ2 for a month.  I'm going to give EQ2 one more chance to prove that not all mmos are stale bread.</p></blockquote><p>IMO pve gets stale no matter which game, Move to a pvp server and its seldom stale. When you get bored of pve you have pvp.</p>

[Mytilma]

<p><cite>Mion da Peon wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>You mean like this?</p><p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2players.station.sony.com/characters/character_profile.vm?characterId=208298202" target="_blank">http://eq2players.station.sony.com/...terId=208298202</a></p><p>Should be ok to start them... I'll be glad if there is some progression to the TSO zones</p></blockquote><p>That's ok early RoK gear, but honestly, the first trash mob in tomb will probably already oneshot you. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" /> (Yep, we have trashmobs that AoE!) Critical mitigation gear is a must to even start TSO raiding. Grind shards for your starter gear, and even more important, grind AA. You'll want that last line in the new shadows tree maxed asap. I don't know swashies very well but what classes I have seen so far, it's awesome everywhere. Need ~173 AA for that, 172 if you're rich. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p><p>What concerns gear, heed what Gisallo said. Oh, and enjoy the new instances. The harder ones already are like mini raids.</p><p>What concerns some of the earlier replies in this thread... well... I guess it's the best proof, that there is no reason for the EQ2 crowd to take moral highground over the WoW crowd.</p>

[Terron]

<p><cite>Mytilma wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Mion da Peon wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>You mean like this?</p><p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://eq2players.station.sony.com/characters/character_profile.vm?characterId=208298202" target="_blank">http://eq2players.station.sony.com/...terId=208298202</a></p><p>Should be ok to start them... I'll be glad if there is some progression to the TSO zones</p></blockquote><p>That's ok early RoK gear, but honestly, the first trash mob in tomb will probably already oneshot you. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" /> (Yep, we have trashmobs that AoE!) Critical mitigation gear is a must to even start TSO raiding. Grind shards for your starter gear, and even more important, grind AA. You'll want that last line in the new shadows tree maxed asap. I don't know swashies very well but what classes I have seen so far, it's awesome everywhere. Need ~173 AA for that, 172 if you're rich. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>That is better gear than I had when I first went to tomb with my swashie, except that I had my mythical, a second fabled weapon (from SOH) and a fabled belt from OK. I was mainly making up the numbers when my guild's raid force was short, but I also provided an AE blocker. She has 155 AA now and 5 pieces of T1 shard armour.</p><p>The TSO instances tend to come in threes - easy, medium, hard, 3 in ef, 3 in ls, 3 in lp etc.</p>

[Mytilma]

<p><cite>Terron@Splitpaw wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>That is better gear than I had when I first went to tomb with my swashie, except that I had my mythical, a second fabled weapon (from SOH) and a fabled belt from OK. I was mainly making up the numbers when my guild's raid force was short, but I also provided an AE blocker. She has 155 AA now and 5 pieces of T1 shard armour.</p><p>The TSO instances tend to come in threes - easy, medium, hard, 3 in ef, 3 in ls, 3 in lp etc.</p></blockquote><p>Ah yes, I forgot about the swashie's amazing AE blocking skills. People love you for it, not only in raid instances. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" /> I play a troub and can't be bothered to BD spec (too long recast even with JCap), however I have the basic turnstrike and thus, laugh about all those jousters. If Turnstrike lands, that is. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /> Which it often does not. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/499fd50bc713bfcdf2ab5a23c00c2d62.gif" border="0" /></p><p>Besides, the first named in tomb already drops the forearm set piece and the second decent scout shoulders that drop like sweat, so don't waste shards on those. The snake after that drops set boots, a decent off hand weapon and a quite nice wrist.</p>

[Femke]

<p><cite>Mion da Peon wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>For all those people who solo through the easymode MMOs of today : shame on you.</p></blockquote><p>Shame on you for determining what a game should be like? You have a degree in how MMO's should be made or something?</p><p>The nicest thing of EQII is that there is room for all. And it should stay that way...</p><p>And oh, not all solo-ers go easy mode or whatever you like to call it. My character Leetha was created in Januari 2005 and I am just level 73 by now. And yes, I solo a lot and I play her very regular....</p>

[agnott]

<p><cite>Mion da Peon wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>The difficulty isn't really an issue if it keeps people engaged.  So that comment wasn't really a "it should be harder" one.</p><p>MMO's by definition shouldn't be a solo experience, the only reason the devs cater to it is because it widens the audience and nets more $.  This is also fine.</p><p>What <strong>isn't </strong>fine is when they make solo content more advantageous than the group stuff.  Also it is fun to see your character progress.  If everything is soloable in low quality gear and levels whats the point to upgrading?</p><p>The developers of many MMOs have stressed solo content as a way of getting out of their real responsibilities while still netting the dollars.</p><p>In conclusion, if you want a solo game go play Fabled 2 or somthing else that was designed for it.</p></blockquote><p>The business decisions that mmo's make is a complicated process ...you will understand it better when your 16 or 17.</p>

[Maroger]

<p><cite>Mion da Peon wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Maroger wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Try Vanguard - that is a forced grouping game and should appeal to someone like you a great deal. By all means you should be playing Vanguard NOT EQ2</p></blockquote><p>Has vanguard gotten better?  I heard it was rather bugtastic?</p></blockquote><p>Actually I has gotten a lot better and SOE has been fixing it and adding new content. It is much, much better than it was at launch.</p>

[Oh]

<p><cite>Maroger wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Mion da Peon wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Maroger wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Try Vanguard - that is a forced grouping game and should appeal to someone like you a great deal. By all means you should be playing Vanguard NOT EQ2</p></blockquote><p>Has vanguard gotten better?  I heard it was rather bugtastic?</p></blockquote><p>Actually I has gotten a lot better and SOE has been fixing it and adding new content. It is much, much better than it was at launch.</p></blockquote><p>/shakes head...</p><p>IF what you say is true, I realy would have hated to play the game at launch. I mean yea there are still some anoying bugs still in the game, but it is very playable. THe only time I get anoyed with the bugs is when you are forced to log out and back because of "UI" types of bugs. (note I run with default ui one would think that would be the most reliable, atleast it is for all of the other MMO's that I've played)</p>

[scruffylookin]

<p><cite>Mion da Peon wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>In conclusion, if you want a solo game go play Fabled 2 or somthing else that was designed for it.</p></blockquote><p>Antonica, Commonlands, Gfay, TD, Darklight, Thundering Steppes, Nek forest, Butcherblock, Zek, EL, Steamfont, Everfrost, Feerot, Sinking Sands, Pillars of flame, Lesser Faydark, Loping Plains, Kylong Plains, Fens, Kunzar Jungle, and Innothule Swamp....</p><p>Off the top of my head, that's 21 large, substantive zones that are now there for the expressed purpose of solo questing.</p><p>What makes you think EQ2 isn't a game that is currently "designed for" solo play? And group play. And Raiding. And I am incredibly thankful for it.</p><p>To tell soloers to go play a game that's "designed for" solo play is very literally telling them to stay and play EQ2... because very large portions of it <strong>is</strong> designed for solo play.</p>

[Mytilma]

Vanguard could have been an awesome game in a breathtaking world. I loved it when it was released, despite the million bugs. I hated it two months later, because of the still game breaking bugs. I left it 3 months after release because I could bear it no longer. Today, I hear, the bugs are gone (even though some say the opposite), but there's hardly anyone still playing it. A good modern MMORPG should cater to all playstyles equally. While the 2 M's imply group play, not everyone can group everytime. First, because for some classes it's harder to get groups. And second not everyone has always time to group. My typical sunday morning slack mode is, go get some quests, kill 2 mobs, stop - wife wants something. Kill 3 more mobs, stop - phone rings. Kill another mob, stop - there's someone at the door. Kill some more, stop - breakfast is ready. I call that semi-afk. I would really hate to have nothing to do for times like this. And I also hate people who join groups, knowing they have only like 10 minutes time.

[Terron]

<p><cite>Mytilma wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Besides, the first named in tomb already drops the forearm set piece and the second decent scout shoulders that drop like sweat, so don't waste shards on those. The snake after that drops set boots, a decent off hand weapon and a quite nice wrist.</p></blockquote><p>I am not a regular raider so I can't rely on getting such things, so I fully intend to get the shard shoulders (currently the only t1 piece I don't have).</p><p>There are no shard forearms.</p><p>Yesterday the football team I support was on television - a rare event. So I was soloing whilst watching.</p>

[Nighrbringer]

<p><cite>Mion da Peon wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Maroger wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Try Vanguard - that is a forced grouping game and should appeal to someone like you a great deal. By all means you should be playing Vanguard NOT EQ2</p></blockquote><p>Has vanguard gotten better?  I heard it was rather bugtastic?</p></blockquote><p>It was at launch, it is running much more smoothly these days.</p>

[erin]

<p><cite>Mytilma wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>What concerns some of the earlier replies in this thread... well... I guess it's the best proof, that there is no reason for the EQ2 crowd to take moral highground over the WoW crowd.</p></blockquote><p>Never felt "morally superior" to the WoW crowd.  I have plenty of RL friends that chose that game over EQ2.  Mature adult gamers that chose WoW over EQ2.  *gasp*</p><p>However, in this thread, the OP came across with attitude, what do you expect him to get back?</p>

[Mytilma]

<p><cite>erin wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>However, in this thread, the OP came across with attitude, what do you expect him to get back?</p></blockquote><p>Your response was snotty at best, which may or may not have been deserved, who am I to judge? I give snotty replies as well. The really rude replies came from others, I was not talking about you.</p>

[Oh]

<p><cite>Mytilma wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>erin wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>However, in this thread, the OP came across with attitude, what do you expect him to get back?</p></blockquote><p>Your response was snotty at best, which may or may not have been deserved, who am I to judge? I give snotty replies as well. The really rude replies came from others, I was not talking about you. </p></blockquote><p>This comment makes me think of</p><p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iry_pnsYT8c" target="_blank">Gunpowder & Lead</a> <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>