I hate double xp weekends..

[Ragtag]

<p>For a lot of you, double XP weekend is great, a time to beef up your aa's and double box and alt, so it seems.</p><p>However, I have been playing the game few a few months, maybe three. Now, for me, double xp weekends means that every time you try and find someone to quest, grind or whatever, there will be a level 90 powerleveling their alts or their friends through that area, blowing past you, killing everything in sight and totally ignoring you.</p><p>You can't get groups, you're generally just ignored. This means that I can't take advantage of double XP weekend at all as every area within the game is just toally camped and overcrowded by people who have been playing the game a lot longer.</p><p>Anyone else feel like I do?</p>

[DamselInDistress]

<p>Well, people are not going to change the way the play just because you don't like it.</p><p>SOE designed the game this way, you actually lose xp if you group with someone, so son't blame the people. Everyone plays by the rules.</p><p>Your choices are simple, continue like now and completely miss everything, or find a place to grind and join the xp bonanza.</p><p>All group instances are 90 minutes reset so you can just do them over and over.</p>

[Ragtag]

<p>I think you totally ignored the part of my post which says people don't want to group. Also you mentioend group instances and then claimed yourself that people don't want to group. Pick one.</p>

[hoosierdaddy]

<p>Yeah, I usually avoid playing on double-exp weekends for the reasons you mention.</p><p>I'm not an alt-aholic and have no desire to power-level or be power-leveled.</p><p>Here's an idea: how about enjoying the holiday weekend and finding something to do besides play EQ2? <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" /></p><p>Let the people who want to grind the hamster wheel do so, and you'll be off on your own and no worse off.</p>

[DamselInDistress]

<p><cite>Ragtag wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I think you totally ignored the part of my post which says people don't want to group. Also you mentioend group instances and then claimed yourself that people don't want to group. Pick one.</p></blockquote><p>Read my reply again and see why people don't want to group anywhere.</p><p>We do group instances solo, I think this is where you got confused. You basically pick an instance you outlevel, mentor down to the perfect level so all mobs are green and just mow them down.</p><p>I said group instances yes, but I never said you need a group for them <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />.</p>

[DamselInDistress]

<p>just remember that, at this point in time being in a group actually cuts into your xp, people lose xp by grouping. I am not saying this is a smart move, but this is what we have in this game.</p>

[Ragtag]

<p>Apart from that fact that I can't do that because I'm not "uber" like all the people that have been playing longer.</p>

[DamselInDistress]

<p><cite>Ragtag wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Apart from that fact that I can't do that because I'm not "uber" like all the people that have been playing longer.</p></blockquote><p>At this point in time you don't need to be uber. Anything under lvl 90 is simple. </p><p>You didn't say what level you are, but there must be an instance you can solo. If not, that's ok, keep leveling and you can do it next time there is a double xp event.</p><p>I am not going to tell you where my favourite spots are, daft people tend to get them nerfed so it's better if they are not mentioned at all, but any instance you can solo will do. Quested gear is fine.</p><p>I'll give you an example, yesterday I went into Crushbone with my lvl 32 Zerker. He had whatever gear he got from quests.</p><p>Any triple up kill in there netted 25% from an AA level. I got him to 37 and about 70 AA before I got bored. I realise Crushbone is an open instance but for some reason it was almost empty.</p>

[DamselInDistress]

<p>Here's an idea for you so you don't hate these xp days any more.</p><p>Go to the broker and buy all cheap collections you can find, there are quite a few cheap ones. I did it yesterday on 3 guys spent a few plat and got them all about 50 AA just by turning in those cheap collections. That should give you a nice boost. You can even use an xp potion if you have any in your /claim. That bonus applies to collections as well <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />.</p>

[redwoodtreesprite]

<p>Or you can do I did.  Realized that most of the level 90s would be busy power leveling themselves or others.  And chose then to do the Bristlebane quests that are usally a pain, like finding 10 rats 3 times, or doing the candy grab when there aren't 4 others doing it.  <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>Plus there are lots of ways to bring up one's AAs soloing.</p>

[DamselInDistress]

<p>Of course, if you only have 1 char you will get less xp than other people are getting, but it's still a lot more than you would normally get. Do not do any quests, seriously, no quests. this is where many people go wrong. Just grind mobs somewhere, it's much more effective. Preferably double or triple ups and names <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />.</p><p>I am getting 530% bonus on these days. 120% from having 6 lvl 90's. 110% from a /claim xp potion, 200% vitality, 100% server bonus.</p><p>Without my bonuses you can still get 300% ( just from vitality and server bonus ) which is not something to sniff at.</p><p>I don't know if you got the welcome back packs, those give you 2 vitality potions you can use.</p>

[S_M_I_T_E]

<p><cite>DamselInDistress wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Well, people are not going to change the way the play just because you don't like it.</p><p><span style="color: #ff00ff;">SOE designed the game this way, you actually lose xp if you group with someone, so son't blame the people. Everyone plays by the rules.</span></p><p>Your choices are simple, continue like now and completely miss everything, or find a place to grind and join the xp bonanza.</p><p>All group instances are 90 minutes reset so you can just do them over and over.</p></blockquote><p>As much as they try to get people to socialize more and group with itemization at end game you'd think adjusting <span style="color: #ff00ff;">this </span>to NOT be true on a fun faceroll powerleveling weekend like this where cooperation would be valued over competition that they'd change the code for something so fundamentally broken.</p>

[DamselInDistress]

<p><cite>S_M_I_T_E wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><strong><em></em></strong></p><p>As much as they try to get people to socialize more and group with itemization at end game you'd think adjusting <span style="color: #ff00ff;">this </span>to NOT be true on a fun faceroll powerleveling weekend like this where cooperation would be valued over competition that they'd change the code for something so fundamentally broken.</p></blockquote><p>Not everyone powerleveling is lvl 90 already and they still don't want to group. I think that pretty much sums it up <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Peogia]

<p><cite>S_M_I_T_E wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>DamselInDistress wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Well, people are not going to change the way the play just because you don't like it.</p><p><span style="color: #ff00ff;">SOE designed the game this way, you actually lose xp if you group with someone, so son't blame the people. Everyone plays by the rules.</span></p><p>Your choices are simple, continue like now and completely miss everything, or find a place to grind and join the xp bonanza.</p><p>All group instances are 90 minutes reset so you can just do them over and over.</p></blockquote><p>As much as they try to get people to socialize more and group with itemization at end game you'd think adjusting <span style="color: #ff00ff;">this </span>to NOT be true on a fun faceroll powerleveling weekend like this where cooperation would be valued over competition that they'd change the code for something so fundamentally broken.</p></blockquote><p>If Sony wanted people to group up they would add a nice <strong><span style="font-size: small;">big</span></strong> XP/AA Bonus for (Each Player) you had in group but instead they would rather penalize grouping by degrading the XP amount to nothing to deter players from wanting to group up</p>

[yohann koldheart]

<p><cite>Ragtag wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I think you totally ignored the part of my post which says people don't want to group. Also you mentioend group instances and then claimed yourself that people don't want to group. Pick one.</p></blockquote><p>because you really dont have to group anymore.</p><p>hire a merc , and you can clear a good bit of the heroic overland content, and most instances with exception to the harder ones.</p>

[Alenna]

<p><cite>DamselInDistress wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Of course, if you only have 1 char you will get less xp than other people are getting, but it's still a lot more than you would normally get. <strong>Do not do any quests, seriously, no quests.</strong> this is where many people go wrong. Just grind mobs somewhere, it's much more effective. Preferably double or triple ups and names <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" />.</p><p>I am getting 530% bonus on these days. 120% from having 6 lvl 90's. 110% from a /claim xp potion, 200% vitality, 100% server bonus.</p><p>Without my bonuses you can still get 300% ( just from vitality and server bonus ) which is not something to sniff at.</p><p>I don't know if you got the welcome back packs, those give you 2 vitality potions you can use.</p></blockquote><p>And that is so wrong this is Everquest and grinding mobs even on none bonus xp weekends still levels you and gets you aa faster.</p><p>don't get me wrong I do the grind especially on bonus xp weekends but as I said the game is called EverQuest not EverGrind.</p>

[Katz]

<p>Everytime we have a double xp weekend people someone starts a thread to <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">whine</span> complain about it.   You know it is just a few days that people can level some toons a little faster, or get aa's a little faster. They don't happen that often, and they don't last that long.   What is the point in complaining about it?   It's like complaining that your brother is getting cake for his birthday and playing with his friends that were invited over to his birthday party and not you.   Kind of comes off as selfish.</p>

[Tigress]

<p><cite>Ragtag wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>For a lot of you, double XP weekend is great, a time to beef up your aa's and double box and alt, so it seems.</p><p>However, I have been playing the game few a few months, maybe three. Now, for me, double xp weekends means that every time you try and find someone to quest, grind or whatever, there will be a level 90 powerleveling their alts or their friends through that area, blowing past you, killing everything in sight and totally ignoring you.</p><p>You can't get groups, you're generally just ignored. This means that I can't take advantage of double XP weekend at all as every area within the game is just toally camped and overcrowded by people who have been playing the game a lot longer.</p><p>Anyone else feel like I do?</p></blockquote><p>it is hard to get a group on double XP bc of the grouping penalty <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />.  here's what i do...  either play with my son or hire a merc and pick a zone that i can solo with the merc. </p><p>i dont go to the open zones, only instances so there isnt competing PL'ing ppl killing the mobs.  it may not be the best XP, sometimes the closed instances do give great XP, but at least i can still play.</p>

[Cloudrat]

<p>Make toons on several servers and check out the guilds that are recruiting during your usual playtimes.  Join some get to know people, make friends  find the right fit for you .  A nice bunch of friends goes a long way to making things more fun.  This kind of environment is best when it's a shared experience. Find the right people to share your experience with.  Might take a little longer to get a good start, but once you find the right guild you will be amazed how much more fun it is.</p>

[DamselInDistress]

<p><cite>Alenna@Guk wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>And that is so wrong this is Everquest and grinding mobs even on none bonus xp weekends still levels you and gets you aa faster.</p><p>don't get me wrong I do the grind especially on bonus xp weekends but as I said the game is called EverQuest not EverGrind.</p></blockquote><p>The only thing that matters is efficiency and that only matters to the vets. New players could just play the game normally and not come here to complain. They could, for example quest ...</p>

[MrWolfie]

<p><cite>Alenna@Guk wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>And that is so wrong this is Everquest and grinding mobs even on none bonus xp weekends still levels you and gets you aa faster.<p>don't get me wrong I do the grind especially on bonus xp weekends but as I said the game is called EverQuest not EverGrind.</p></blockquote><p>I don't grind. Ever.</p><p>When the expansion goes in ALL of my level 90 characters will have over 280 AAs. Some are already well over it. And barely any of them have stepped inside a DoV instance, so next time there's that to look forward to.</p><p>I spent this double XP weekend duoing Chapter 5 on my Wizard, who is like my 7th alt. Of course, he'd never been in most of the dungeons and hadn't done any of the side-quests. Guk alone must've netted me 30+ AAs. I was getting 30% XP from just completing a daily shard mission.</p><p>All questing. No grind.</p>

[Yimway]

<p><cite>Ragtag wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>For a lot of you, double XP weekend is great, a time to beef up your aa's and double box and alt, so it seems.</p><p>However, I have been playing the game few a few months, maybe three. Now, for me, double xp weekends means that every time you try and find someone to quest, grind or whatever, there will be a level 90 powerleveling their alts or their friends through that area, blowing past you, killing everything in sight and totally ignoring you.</p><p>You can't get groups, you're generally just ignored. This means that I can't take advantage of double XP weekend at all as every area within the game is just toally camped and overcrowded by people who have been playing the game a lot longer.</p><p>Anyone else feel like I do?</p></blockquote><p>Blame SOE.</p><p>They keep removing all the places for these people to go grind mobs privately in instances and are forcing them out into the areas of the game your trying to play in.</p><p>SoE created this problem.</p><p>I logged in some toons Friday thinking I might enjoy the double xp thing again.  However, I got bored with it extremely fast.  After 2 hours of denying almost everyone else in Seb the chance at killing mobs I logged and found something else to do with my weekend.  I realized I simply didn't care anymore if my troub and conjy had max aa.  And I got tired of having to gank other players all weekend in order to do it.</p><p>I'm quite sure though, as soon as I left, another power boxer came in and did the same thing.</p>

[shots01]

<p>Ragtag, I don't hate them.  I use them to help left crafters for instance.</p><p>Otherwise, I just run quests.  I stay out of instances because of all the rude people.</p><p>I have never seen where grouping cuts into your own xp, unless you are lvl say 60 with a lvl 65 in the group, then yes, you are losing xp.</p><p>For the most part, I just use the double xp's for crafting or questing.  I try and stay out of dungeons or instances.</p>

[Geothe]

<p><cite>shots01 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Otherwise, I just run quests.  I stay out of instances because of all the rude people.</p><p> I try and stay out of dungeons or instances.</p></blockquote><p>You do know, dont you, that instances are private, heh.</p><p>Open dungeons, yes, double XP weekends you probably wont be able to get a nice spot in SoS, Seb, The Hole, etc.</p><p>However, instances are all your own, and now they just have a 90 minute reset so you can tear through those as much as you want with zero competition.  Depending on your Level/Class/Gear you can do rounds through 2-4 instances pretty much non stop.  Get insane XP, and have the mobs all to yourself.  KoS group instances seemed to work nicely a couple of loops I did this weekend.  Like Den, HoF, etc. </p>

[CoLD MeTaL]

<p><cite>Geothe wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>shots01 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Otherwise, I just run quests.  I stay out of instances because of all the rude people.</p><p> I try and stay out of dungeons or instances.</p></blockquote><p>You do know, dont you, that instances are private, heh.</p><p>Open dungeons, yes, double XP weekends you probably wont be able to get a nice spot in SoS, Seb, The Hole, etc.</p><p>However, instances are all your own, and now they just have a 90 minute reset so you can tear through those as much as you want with zero competition.  Depending on your Level/Class/Gear you can do rounds through 2-4 instances pretty much non stop.  Get insane XP, and have the mobs all to yourself.  KoS group instances seemed to work nicely a couple of loops I did this weekend.  Like Den, HoF, etc. </p></blockquote><p>Funny that XP in instances seems to be far inferior to 'open zones'.  Honestly $OE needs to stop with the bull and get rid of all the 'hidden' modifiers that are trying to push people through where they want them. </p><p>But to the OP, even with all the suckage around a double XP weekend, I am still glad we get them.</p><p>The grouping penalty needs to go and go yesterday.</p>

[shots01]

<p>Okay what is an instance?</p>

[shots01]

<p>Or rather what specific instances do you refer to?</p><p>Maybe it is my confusion between instance and dungeon.</p>

[Dawnstrike]

<p>There is a list of outdoor, shared dugeons and instances here:</p><p>I go into the instances during double xp days to have the zone to myself and whomever I am grouped with to grind mobs.</p><p><a href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Zones_By_Level" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Zones_By_Level</a></p>

[Raffir]

<p>Define "grind"...for some people, Questing is a mind numbing grind.  As much as normal grinding in instances as we race for level cap.  Dbl XP just lets us smash half as many buttons in a given period for twice the amount of AA or XP. So we can join in quicker on higher level groups playing new material with a new class other than the ones we've grown bored with.</p><p>I prefer solo questing as opposed to "grinding" on dbl XP weekends.  But thats my way of using these kinds of events.  Outside of taking a break to go help someone with a Boss or something.  Its not like I'm ever "alone" in any case...guild voice (or even text to some extent) lets us know what everyone else is up to.</p><p>Raf</p>

[CoLD MeTaL]

<p><cite>shots01 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Or rather what specific instances do you refer to?</p><p>Maybe it is my confusion between instance and dungeon.</p></blockquote><p>Instance is something you do with your group/raid AND NO ONE else can be in the zone.  Anathema, Ice Shard Keep, Pools, Halls of Fate</p><p>a 'shared' dungeon is one where multiple people can be in it at the same time and 'fight' over who gets to kill mobs.  The Hole, Kael, Sebelis, Sanctum of Scaleborn, Wailing Caves are examples.</p>

[shots01]

<p>Okay thank you both.  I was more looking for lower level instances.</p><p>I won't be quoting anyone anymore since I got accused of trolling. (</p>

[shots01]

<p>That's what I do too Raff.</p>

[bks6721]

<p>so I took my last 3 90's to 320aa this weekend.  I was done by Saturday morn so i spent the rest of the weekend on my 70 and lower characters.</p><p>I avoided open dungeons simply because fighting over mobs is futile.  I rotated through Evernight Abbey, Mistmyr Manor and Ravenscale.  By the time I finished the 3rd the first would be unlocked again thanks to the 90 min timers.  I averaged 10-13aa per zone using an aa potion and my 200% vet bonus.</p><p>3 of my level 70's gained 100+ aa just soloing KoS instances ONE time each. i don't consider it 'grinding' to only run a zone once. Questing during double exp is silly if gaining aa is your goal.</p><p>While I was doing all that, my wife solo'd her Inq from 174aa to 275aa and her SK from 200aa to 265.  She only played about 6 hrs each day.   Yet people still claim "I've played since 2004 and only have 170aa.."  well, they aren't trying very hard.</p>

[bks6721]

<p><cite>CoLD MeTaL wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Geothe wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>shots01 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Otherwise, I just run quests.  I stay out of instances because of all the rude people.</p><p> I try and stay out of dungeons or instances.</p></blockquote><p>You do know, dont you, that instances are private, heh.</p><p>Open dungeons, yes, double XP weekends you probably wont be able to get a nice spot in SoS, Seb, The Hole, etc.</p><p>However, instances are all your own, and now they just have a 90 minute reset so you can tear through those as much as you want with zero competition.  Depending on your Level/Class/Gear you can do rounds through 2-4 instances pretty much non stop.  Get insane XP, and have the mobs all to yourself.  KoS group instances seemed to work nicely a couple of loops I did this weekend.  Like Den, HoF, etc. </p></blockquote><p>Funny that XP in instances seems to be far inferior to 'open zones'.  Honestly $OE needs to stop with the bull and get rid of all the 'hidden' modifiers that are trying to push people through where they want them. </p><p>But to the OP, even with all the suckage around a double XP weekend, I am still glad we get them.</p><p>The grouping penalty needs to go and go yesterday.</p></blockquote><p>Evernight Abbey gave the lowest of the 3 zones I was cycling through.  Only about 6500 per kill. Ravenscale was about 9000 per kill on average.  I gained 60+ aa on 3 level 90's before noon on Saturday.  I solo'd most of it and used a merc in zones that I needed too.   My chars are just in Rygor gear and don't group at all in DoV, I wouldn't call them Uber.  lol</p><p>My level 40 brig gained 100+ killing Rivervale.  I couldn't believe that I never saw more than 4 people in the zone considering I play on a heavy pop server, Freeport.</p>

[MrWolfie]

<p><cite>Raffir wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Define "grind"...for some people, Questing is a mind numbing grind.</p></blockquote><p>Grinding is killing mobs, over and over, non-stop. Quantity is the only factor involved, and spots where lots of mobs respawn very quickly are the places where "grinders" would be hanging out. You can grind for XP or faction, but any quest updates gained during a grind are usually purely coincidental.</p>

[Sunscour]

<p>I have a character on a really empty server (Oasis), I go there on those weekends. Just me and a few others. I hire a merc and off I go.</p><p>It's like my cabin in the woods.</p>

[Rahatmattata]

<p><cite>Alenna@Guk wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p> the game is called EverQuest not EverGrind.</p></blockquote><p>If the developers followed your logic, the game would be called Soloquest.</p>

[Yimway]

<p><cite>Malevolencexx@Nagafen wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Alenna@Guk wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p> the game is called EverQuest not EverGrind.</p></blockquote><p>If the developers followed your logic, the game would be called Soloquest.</p></blockquote><p>Anyon who gives the EverQuest vs EverGrind arguement never actually played EverQuest.  Cause there were very little quests in it, and it wasn't remotely the mechanism for advancement.</p><p>It really wasn't until Scott Hartsman and RoK release that EverQuest shifted from a grinding to quest focus for advancement.</p>

[Alenna]

<p><cite>Atan@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Malevolencexx@Nagafen wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Alenna@Guk wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p> the game is called EverQuest not EverGrind.</p></blockquote><p>If the developers followed your logic, the game would be called Soloquest.</p></blockquote><p>Anyon who gives the EverQuest vs EverGrind arguement never actually played EverQuest.  Cause there were very little quests in it, and it wasn't remotely the mechanism for advancement.</p><p>It really wasn't until Scott Hartsman and RoK release that EverQuest shifted from a grinding to quest focus for advancement.</p></blockquote><p>Guilty as charged I never did play Everquest and came to Everquest2 just before RoK. and love questing friends better then soloing or grinding even though I will grind when needed(on bonus xp weekends to get the last few AAs I need to be vialble to my raid force and such). and yes solo quest when I can't find groups but grouping wiht friends with goals in mind in the way of questlines are still my favorite to do. meh, to each his own. lets just have fun.</p>

[Hardain]

<p>Or maybe the whole game is the quest, gaining max level, getting pricious item or discovering world.</p>

[shots01]

<p><cite>Pauly@Befallen wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>so I took my last 3 90's to 320aa this weekend.  I was done by Saturday morn so i spent the rest of the weekend on my 70 and lower characters.</p><p>I avoided open dungeons simply because fighting over mobs is futile.  I rotated through Evernight Abbey, Mistmyr Manor and Ravenscale.  By the time I finished the 3rd the first would be unlocked again thanks to the 90 min timers.  I averaged 10-13aa per zone using an aa potion and my 200% vet bonus.</p><p>3 of my level 70's gained 100+ aa just soloing KoS instances ONE time each. i don't consider it 'grinding' to only run a zone once. Questing during double exp is silly if gaining aa is your goal.</p><p>While I was doing all that, my wife solo'd her Inq from 174aa to 275aa and her SK from 200aa to 265.  She only played about 6 hrs each day.   Yet people still claim "I've played since 2004 and only have 170aa.."  <span style="color: #ffcc99;">well, they aren't trying very hard.</span></p></blockquote><p>I resent that statement.. based on the fact that I am just now finding out after years of playing that there are many things I did not know about.  Evernight Abbey.  Never heard of it.  Ravenscale.  Never heard of it.  I don't know where your wife went but I AM trying.  Otherwise I wouldn't be asking you all.  The person who linked the wiki page for solo instances, that will be a great help but I was not able to utilize it over the weekend.  I focused on trying to help my husband level.  We quested.  We went into PoA once and it was a joke.  My 68 lock and his 63 necro were only able to go so far before it got too hard for us.</p><p>Neither of us believes in mercs and never of us will ever use them.  That is our choice.  So yes we are trying VERY hard with our own set playstyle.  And NO I don't whine about the lack of aa.  I just like to know where you all go to see if its something I can do with my husband.</p>

[shots01]

<p><cite>Alenna@Guk wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Atan@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Malevolencexx@Nagafen wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Alenna@Guk wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p> the game is called EverQuest not EverGrind.</p></blockquote><p>If the developers followed your logic, the game would be called Soloquest.</p></blockquote><p>Anyon who gives the EverQuest vs EverGrind arguement never actually played EverQuest.  Cause there were very little quests in it, and it wasn't remotely the mechanism for advancement.</p><p>It really wasn't until Scott Hartsman and RoK release that EverQuest shifted from a grinding to quest focus for advancement.</p></blockquote><p>Guilty as charged I never did play Everquest and came to Everquest2 just before RoK. and love questing friends better then soloing or grinding even though I will grind when needed(on bonus xp weekends to get the last few AAs I need to be vialble to my raid force and such). and yes solo quest when I can't find groups but grouping wiht friends with goals in mind in the way of questlines are still my favorite to do. meh, to each his own. lets just have fun.</p></blockquote><p>LOL what you said.  I am only solo as everyone left my guild and went back to games they enjoyed more.</p>

[shots01]

<p><cite>Pauly@Befallen wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>CoLD MeTaL wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Geothe wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>shots01 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Otherwise, I just run quests.  I stay out of instances because of all the rude people.</p><p> I try and stay out of dungeons or instances.</p></blockquote><p>You do know, dont you, that instances are private, heh.</p><p>Open dungeons, yes, double XP weekends you probably wont be able to get a nice spot in SoS, Seb, The Hole, etc.</p><p>However, instances are all your own, and now they just have a 90 minute reset so you can tear through those as much as you want with zero competition.  Depending on your Level/Class/Gear you can do rounds through 2-4 instances pretty much non stop.  Get insane XP, and have the mobs all to yourself.  KoS group instances seemed to work nicely a couple of loops I did this weekend.  Like Den, HoF, etc. </p></blockquote><p>Funny that XP in instances seems to be far inferior to 'open zones'.  Honestly $OE needs to stop with the bull and get rid of all the 'hidden' modifiers that are trying to push people through where they want them. </p><p>But to the OP, even with all the suckage around a double XP weekend, I am still glad we get them.</p><p>The grouping penalty needs to go and go yesterday.</p></blockquote><p>Evernight Abbey gave the lowest of the 3 zones I was cycling through.  Only about 6500 per kill. Ravenscale was about 9000 per kill on average.  I gained 60+ aa on 3 level 90's before noon on Saturday.  I solo'd most of it and used a merc in zones that I needed too.   My chars are just in Rygor gear and don't group at all in DoV, I wouldn't call them Uber.  lol</p><p>My level 40 brig gained 100+ killing Rivervale.  I couldn't believe that I never saw more than 4 people in the zone considering I play on a heavy pop server, Freeport.</p></blockquote><p>Give me a shout sometime maybe we can do something.  Rivervale is interesting.  I have a lvl 50 monk that needs to go in there and do her gathering obsession.  There's tons of discovery spots in there along with my favorite.. the nightbloods hehe.  Cupcakes of Doom is my guild i am on 5:30 pm pdt on and work days.  Weekends I am in game.</p><p>I still would like to know where those two areas are LOL.</p><p>You know what is funny.....If i group with anyone.. doesn't matter who.. and enter a dungeon or instance on my own and attempt to play it.. I am fine.  I just hate going in.......alone...and dying.. alone.. with no one to see my haha acts of bravery before I finally bite the dust.</p>

[bks6721]

<p><cite>shots01 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Pauly@Befallen wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>CoLD MeTaL wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Geothe wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>shots01 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Otherwise, I just run quests.  I stay out of instances because of all the rude people.</p><p> I try and stay out of dungeons or instances.</p></blockquote><p>You do know, dont you, that instances are private, heh.</p><p>Open dungeons, yes, double XP weekends you probably wont be able to get a nice spot in SoS, Seb, The Hole, etc.</p><p>However, instances are all your own, and now they just have a 90 minute reset so you can tear through those as much as you want with zero competition.  Depending on your Level/Class/Gear you can do rounds through 2-4 instances pretty much non stop.  Get insane XP, and have the mobs all to yourself.  KoS group instances seemed to work nicely a couple of loops I did this weekend.  Like Den, HoF, etc. </p></blockquote><p>Funny that XP in instances seems to be far inferior to 'open zones'.  Honestly $OE needs to stop with the bull and get rid of all the 'hidden' modifiers that are trying to push people through where they want them. </p><p>But to the OP, even with all the suckage around a double XP weekend, I am still glad we get them.</p><p>The grouping penalty needs to go and go yesterday.</p></blockquote><p>Evernight Abbey gave the lowest of the 3 zones I was cycling through.  Only about 6500 per kill. Ravenscale was about 9000 per kill on average.  I gained 60+ aa on 3 level 90's before noon on Saturday.  I solo'd most of it and used a merc in zones that I needed too.   My chars are just in Rygor gear and don't group at all in DoV, I wouldn't call them Uber.  lol</p><p>My level 40 brig gained 100+ killing Rivervale.  I couldn't believe that I never saw more than 4 people in the zone considering I play on a heavy pop server, Freeport.</p></blockquote><p>Give me a shout sometime maybe we can do something.  Rivervale is interesting.  I have a lvl 50 monk that needs to go in there and do her gathering obsession.  There's tons of discovery spots in there along with my favorite.. the nightbloods hehe.  Cupcakes of Doom is my guild i am on 5:30 pm pdt on and work days.  Weekends I am in game.</p><p>I still would like to know where those two areas are LOL.</p><p>You know what is funny.....If i group with anyone.. doesn't matter who.. and enter a dungeon or instance on my own and attempt to play it.. I am fine.  I just hate going in.......alone...and dying.. alone.. with no one to see my haha acts of bravery before I finally bite the dust.</p></blockquote><p>The zones I mentioned scale from 70 to 90 based on your level and are located in a crypt in Loping Plains.</p>

[MrWolfie]

<p><cite>Atan@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>Anyon who gives the EverQuest vs EverGrind arguement never actually played EverQuest.  Cause there were very little quests in it, and it wasn't remotely the mechanism for advancement.<p>It really wasn't until Scott Hartsman and RoK release that EverQuest shifted from a grinding to quest focus for advancement.</p></blockquote><p>I played EQ1 from launch to PoP. I know what grinding is. I know what camping is. yada-yada. I think that we only started "grinding" after they introduced AAXP. Before then it was questing and camping for equipment upgrades. Again, it depended on your approach to the game, if all you wanted was a max level character immediately, then grinding mobs was the way to go. I always roleplayed my chars and took quests that were appropriate to their class...etc. Only my warrior was max level, max AA...etc, and she was the one that went raiding.</p><p>However, I have to disagree with you in respect of your final comment, I think that EQ2 was touted as anti-grind/anti-camp/casual-friendly from the very beginning (not just from RoK onward), with quests for advancement straight from the off on the isles.</p>

[shots01]

<p>ahh ya the crypt in the cemetary?  I've been in there once with Guggulam</p>

[Raffir]

<p><cite>Aemm@Splitpaw wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Raffir wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Define "grind"...for some people, Questing is a mind numbing grind.</p></blockquote><p>Grinding is killing mobs, over and over, non-stop. Quantity is the only factor involved, and spots where lots of mobs respawn very quickly are the places where "grinders" would be hanging out. You can grind for XP or faction, but any quest updates gained during a grind are usually purely coincidental.</p></blockquote><p>That was a rhetorical statement, Aemm.  That said, any word can have multiple meanings.  I think the "grinding" implies a mind numbing process of advancement over and  over...be it your description...or by questing.</p><p>When the fun has gone out of the game for you...all of it is a grind.  I'm not to that point yet though.</p><p>Raf</p>

[Yimway]

<p><cite>Raffir wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>When the fun has gone out of the game for you...all of it is a grind.  I'm not to that point yet.  And when I get to that point, I'll another game.  </p><p>Raf</p></blockquote><p>For me, and I'd say the vast majority of players I play with, the act of leveling up a new toon is long beyond being nothing but an annoying grind.  However, the real game start when you get 90/320, and that game we still find fun to play.</p>

[Raffir]

<p><cite>Atan@Unrest wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Raffir wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>When the fun has gone out of the game for you...all of it is a grind.  I'm not to that point yet.  And when I get to that point, I'll another game.  </p><p>Raf</p></blockquote><p>For me, and I'd say the vast majority of players I play with, the act of leveling up a new toon is long beyond being nothing but an annoying grind.  However, the real game start when you get 90/320, and that game we still find fun to play.</p></blockquote><p>Yeah...I could see that mindset if you had been playing since the game threw the doors open.  But I haven't run every questline or instance yet.  Working on it though.</p><p>Raf</p>

[MrWolfie]

<p><cite>Raffir wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>That said, any word can have multiple meanings.  I think the "grinding" implies a mind numbing process of advancement over and  over...be it your description...or by questing.</p></blockquote><p>Well, you'd be wrong, then. In an MMO grinding has a very specific meaning. As specific as terms such as soloing, grouping, raiding...etc, which outside of an MMO may have multiple meanings. It's irrelevant whether you "feel" that anything else is a "grind". I took your request for a definition at face value simply because you then went on to define it incorrectly aka in terms of how you felt about certain parts of the game. They may be a "grind" to you, but not to many others and to utilize a pre-exisiting term to refer to your specific experience is only confusing for people who both understand the term and those who do not.</p>

[Raffir]

<p><cite>Aemm@Splitpaw wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Raffir wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>That said, any word can have multiple meanings.  I think the "grinding" implies a mind numbing process of advancement over and  over...be it your description...or by questing.</p></blockquote><p>Well, you'd be wrong, then. In an MMO grinding has a very specific meaning. As specific as terms such as soloing, grouping, raiding...etc, which outside of an MMO may have multiple meanings. It's irrelevant whether you "feel" that anything else is a "grind". I took your request for a definition at face value simply because you then went on to define it incorrectly aka in terms of how you felt about certain parts of the game. They may be a "grind" to you, but not to many others and to utilize a pre-exisiting term to refer to your specific experience is only confusing for people who both understand the term and those who do not.</p></blockquote><p>Wow...someone needs to get out more.  <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/2786c5c8e1a8be796fb2f726cca5a0fe.gif" border="0" /></p><p>But the above is your opinion only....considering that the word "grind" used in conjunction with MMO (a slang synonym)  is yet another slang term.  And as a "slang" term is open to interpretation based on any number of factors.</p><p>My interpretation is looser than yours.</p><p>Raf</p>

[shots01]

<p>In deference to anyone else...</p><p>My opinion of the word "grind" is what you make of it.</p><p>Game is only a "grind" if you choose to think it is.  I choose not to look at it in that light therefore, the game is NOT a grind for me.  Going after xp or aa's is NOT a grind for me because I have FUN.</p><p>Solo or not, I still have fun going out and slaughtering baddies.</p>

[Tyrus Dracofire]

<p>i tried to get in group, and got ignored by guild, keep saying sorry group full and they stay same characters all weekend in same group, so i tried soloing, it is lot slower and gave up.</p><p>so i just did reformated my PC, and attemp to fix with fresh drum ui, and it isnt easy reading when i am sick, and decided to drop from that guild that doesnt help, and went back to non-hardcore, friendly-family no-drama guild and less stressful. there too much misunderstandings with current leader i just left.</p><p>i know, it's hurts and it better to leave previous guild if they seem dont want you because of handicap and medical situations.</p><p>so i hope my new current guild got plans for next bonus xp events so i can get in group.</p>