Left WoW for this game

[Stormz]

<p>So finally after hearing dreadful stories about how addictive this series is, I decided to give it a try. So far I enjoy it, I do hate the lack of new players in the starting zones, but this is not a shocker either. Most people are in cities in other places. So I was wondering, did I join the party too late? </p><p>WoW wasn't even this much fun leveling up in starting areas, but then again its wow. I only played because of my friends and fear of this game because I heard marriages were destroyed etc. </p>

[Elwin]

<p>First, welcome to EQ <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p><p>Press U in game and it will bring up a list of guilds recruiting and give you contacts for online players. Chat with a few until you find one with lower level toons or ppl that have lower level alts that play often.</p><p>Then go into Marketplace. There is a promotion going at the mo and I'm sorry I can't remember what it's called but it's for returning players.You can claim a free flying mount for the duration of the promotion. It does disappear if you die or dismount but you can claim it again. (all players all levels can claim this)It's only on for a week and I'm not sure what day we're up to now but you'll probably see more ppl in the air than on ground at the mo <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" /></p><p>It's like any game, once you settle in and find a guild you'll be set.</p>

[Bawang]

<p>Not that we want you to go to "the other side" <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />, but there's a F2P version of EQ2 called EQ2 Extended.  A lot of people play there because they say there are lots of low level toons they can play with.  Eq2x has all kinds of limitations if you insist on playing for free though, so I'd recommend at least a gold level membership to have an experience somewhat equivalent to regular Eq2.</p>

[Vlahkmaak]

<p><cite>Stormz wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>So finally after hearing dreadful stories about how addictive this series is, I decided to give it a try. So far I enjoy it, I do hate the lack of new players in the starting zones, but this is not a shocker either. Most people are in cities in other places. So I was wondering, did I join the party too late? </p><p>WoW wasn't even this much fun leveling up in starting areas, but then again its wow. I only played because of my friends and fear of this game because I heard marriages were destroyed etc. </p></blockquote><p>The only marriages endanged by this game were those of the same type of people that would have been destroyed by drugs, gambling, or some other fix.  Addictive personality disorders aside all three of my wives love the game.  Welcome aboard.</p>

[Zorastiz]

<p><cite>Stormz wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I only played because of my friends and fear of this game because I heard marriages were destroyed etc. </p></blockquote><p>You must mean EQ1!</p>

[MurFalad]

<p><cite>Stormz wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>So finally after hearing dreadful stories about how addictive this series is, I decided to give it a try. So far I enjoy it, I do hate the lack of new players in the starting zones, but this is not a shocker either. Most people are in cities in other places. So I was wondering, did I join the party too late?</p></blockquote><p>Basically yes, although for most servers on most MMO's you need to join the game within 3-6 months of it launching to be in the overcrowded/buzzing starting areas, so your about 5 1/2 years too late for that <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </p><p>But on the plus side its a much much better game since then, and there are a lot of players still at all levels (plus the mentoring system can put some odd level groups together, although if someone is very much higher level they will be very OP when mentored down).</p><p><cite>Stormz wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>WoW wasn't even this much fun leveling up in starting areas, but then again its wow. I only played because of my friends and fear of this game because I heard marriages were destroyed etc. </p></blockquote><p>I used to play WoW myself (starting at TBC), but I've always found EQ2 offers more places to adventure and more involving things to do, from the heritage and multiple expansion arcing signature line quests, the tradeskilling too is a seperate (but entirely optional) class in its own too.  If you do take up tradeskilling I'd definitely recommend you do the quests with it, especially the level 50 and 60 tradeskill quests. </p><p>You will find that outside of the newer areas that the gear is nigh on random now, although if you experienced WoW before the latest expansion you'll know have experienced this before anyway <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>Enjoy, I wouldn't worry about the addiction thing, some people take things to excess, but EQ2's design is still pick up and put downable like WoW, so you don't feel you have to log in every day or lose everything.</p>

[Amitee]

<p>I had a friend introduce me to WoW for the first time last July.  My comp broke down and I couldn't play my fav MMO until I got other one.  WoW is older comp friendly, so gave it a go.  I blew through all the content and expansions, including the latest one in about... 7 months.  I did RaF, so I was max level in a month, and the rest was just exploring, achieving, etc. I didn't like raiding and I hated how rude people were in find a dungeon.  So I did all the achievements I could and when I missed just -one- achievement on Christmas and it blew me getting that year mount for a full year, I just went "meh" and put the game down and didn't look back.</p><p>And of course by then I had my new comp and went back to my old MMO (SWG).  I still play that game because I love the crafting, housing and RP tools there.  But EQ2 is a close 2nd and is something I play a couple times a week, in which I just muck around with housing, collecting, exploring, etc at my own pace.  EQ2 has -alot- of depth.  I'm always uncovering something new to get involved in or to do.</p>

[Gungo]

<p>What server are you playing on the largest servers are the ones in the bottom of the list.Join a heavy load server such as antonia bayle or crushbone. They also run on the best hardware. So you also get the best play experience that way.</p><p>With more people on these servers it also means more people to level up with. This game is also so big now that the population is not overcrowded either so a heavy population is a good thing.</p>

[thesiren]

<p>Antonia Bayle and Crushone, like the other servers, are populated by mostly capped level 90 characters though.  The only server that has still got masses of players in every level range even in its 8th month since launch is the free EQ2 Extended server. </p><p>If you can get into a guild here on live that actually has some players leveling alts, you may be able to find someone to team with as you level.  And  you can earn veteran rewards here on live if you stick around over time; they don't yet have those on Extended (probably because some of the cash shop items mimic veteran rewards, like XP pots and other potions, and as there are a lot of free players there, Sony would rather nudge players into buying those things to help keep that server cluster running instead of giving them out free, lol). </p><p>If you stay on live, over the years you'll get some cool vet reward stuff like a box for the broker that cuts your selling fees way down, items that renew your rest XP for fighting and crafting once a week if you burn through them, and various potions, etc.</p><p>Personally I bought copy tokens from the station cash shop and copied several of my live toons to Extended, not only so I'd have my mains in a busier environment but so I'd also have my vet rewards there too.</p><p>If you don't find live to have enough players to team with as you level, EQ2 Extended is overrun with players of every level range, and as it's sole server cluster, Freeport, is an international server, it's pretty much busy 24/7; it's hopping morning, noon and night.  You can also play through all the content for free right through the 2nd newest expansion, Sentinel's Fate, which goes right to the cap of 90. (There are 24 classes in EQ2 but they only give you 8 for free, though.)  You could just pay the one-time fee of $10 to go "silver" on Extended to try EQ2 (which flags you as a real player and not a gold farmer, so that you can use the world chat, carry more gold, get lots more storage, and buy from the auction house-- which in EQ2 is called the broker). </p><p>If you like it and want to stick with the game, you could pay $15 a month there for a "gold" sub there which is pretty much unrestricted access, about the same as a sub here on live content-wise, except that you get all the races free here on live versus having to pay for some of the more exotic ones on Extended. </p><p>If you peruse the forums of both Extended and live here, you'll see a bit of vitriol going back and forth; many on live were quite angry when the free server went up.  However, in-game, I'm happy to say that in day-to-day gaming, the crowds really are a lot more alike than different.  The servers mostly have nice people wherever you go.</p><p>Personally I wish they'd make all the servers Extended and get it over with.  Then all this  "$25 to copy one toon over to extended" (which until lately was $35) stuff would stop, no one would have to leave the guilds/friends they have on live just to be on a much more heavily populated server, and all the live servers would get a much-needed continual injection of players at every level range.</p><p>At the very least, RMT EQ2 live servers Bazaar (PvE) and Vox (open PvP) should get converted into Extended servers.  The lone free Extended server cluster, Freeport, is PvE with the only PvP being a few instanced battlegrounds.  An open PvP EQ2 Extended free server has been about the # 1 request amongst Extended players since launch.</p>

[tmancan]

<p>I'm a recent beginner, I rolled on Antonia Bayle, and I joined a huge guild. I never had any problems. I think you will generally solo the first 15 or so levels as the group quests don't really start until then. Since that point, I never had any issues finding group members - regardless of the fact that my entire guild is full of 90s. And I noticed that there were a lot of players around to play with. You just have to actively seek groups. Then the whole mentor program allows you to tap into the higher level of players for help as well (without them blowing through the content for you)</p><p>But yeah, I just wouldn't expect hundreds of people everywhere you look. You'll never be lonely though that's for sure.</p>