SF leveling question

[whytakemine]

I've been trying to be patient and wait for the NDA to lift so I could ask a question about SF, but with the expansion two weeks away I'm getting a bit antsy.  I would like to decide if I'm going to buy the expansion before it's too late to pre-order it, so I'm hoping either the NDA was lifted and I missed it or my question can be answered without breaking the NDA.

I'm not a fan of either questing or leveling.  What I like are the instances and dungeons.  It used to be that getting in a group and killing heroic mobs was a viable way to level, and I'm wondering if it will be again in SF or if it's going to be another solo quest grind to 90.

So, will running instances and dungeons be similar xp over time as doing quests, or is it going to be like RoK again? 

Also, will there be a decent way to earn AA by running instances?  Currently the shard mission quests award a fair amount of aa xp, which is how I got my characters to 200 AA in TSO.  I'm hoping a similar option exists in SF.

To those who would reply, "Why do you play a game called EverQUEST if you don't like to quest?" or some other equally tired response, please resist the urge to reply.  I play the game for the things I enjoy, you are free to play it for the things you enjoy.  All I want to know is if the expansion is going to be fun for me so I know whether or not to continue playing.

[Shareana]

Kiara has been giving info out about the zones periodically.  Have you read them? 

Sentinel’s Fate Preview - Erudin Royal Palace

Sentinel’s Fate Preview – Erudin Research Halls

Sentinel’s Fate Preview – Erudin Library

Sentinel’s Fate Preview – Vasty Deep: The Vestigial Cella

Sentinel’s Fate Preview – Vasty Deep: The Abandoned Labs

Sentinel’s Fate Preview – Vasty Deep: The Conservatory

Sentinel’s Fate Preview – The Hole

Sentinel’s Fate Preview – The Stonebrunt Highlands

Sentinel’s Fate Preview – The Sundered Frontier

[whytakemine]

Thanks for the links.  I hadn't seen them, and it is pretty cool to see some of the new zones, but it doesn't really answer my question.  Now I know there is a large dungeon and a few instances where we could level assuming the xp is worthwhile, but I still don't know if the xp is worthwhile.  After all, even RoK had 3 dungeons and half a dozen instances, but I don't know of anyone who went there for xp.

At least my thread wasn't instantly locked, so I'm guessing it wouldn't be an NDA violation for someone to answer my question?

[Yimway]

I can't comment on my observations from Beta.

However, I can comment on what devs have already posted on these forums.   There will be enough heroic content and quests to be a valid progression path in SF.  You will be able to get to 90 doing something other than soloquest.

Beyond that, I can't really comment, yet.

[feldon30]

The dungeons range in level from 82-90, with a surprising amount of them available in the mid-80's and doable by 3-4 players. Now whether you'll get to 90 with 250 AAs just by doing dungeons, I don't know.

[schizolic]

not in beta, but what i know from previous posts, lots ofquests or people, and the current scaling instances will scale up to 90, plus the new instances and dungeon.

[Crickett]

whytakemine wrote:

I've been trying to be patient and wait for the NDA to lift so I could ask a question about SF, but with the expansion two weeks away I'm getting a bit antsy.  I would like to decide if I'm going to buy the expansion before it's too late to pre-order it, so I'm hoping either the NDA was lifted and I missed it or my question can be answered without breaking the NDA.

Pssst!

http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/...topic_id=463545

Beta signup

[Grobi]

posting the beta sign up is kinda silly that does not mean you get in to the beta at all. im enrolled in beta since day one from the sign ups and still not in

[Crickett]

Grobi wrote:

posting the beta sign up is kinda silly that does not mean you get in to the beta at all. im enrolled in beta since day one from the sign ups and still not in

In that case you both have my appology.

Oft times though, the silly is overlooked, like accepting the nda agreement.

[Grobi]

im realy not sure if i signed the nda when i was applying , but if not there is no way to do it now. all i get when i go to the sign up page now is a confirmation that im enrolled .

[Tuvogg]

You just need to keep your fingers crossed. As for levelling paths, i would suggest it is entirely up to you. If you run the same dungeons enough times you are going to end up capped just the same as if you do all the quests as well. Just a question of how many hours you are prepared to grind really.

Whatever floats your boat but there is a big hint in the name Ever"Quest"

[Maebus]

Tuvogg@Splitpaw wrote:

You just need to keep your fingers crossed. As for levelling paths, i would suggest it is entirely up to you. If you run the same dungeons enough times you are going to end up capped just the same as if you do all the quests as well. Just a question of how many hours you are prepared to grind really.

Whatever floats your boat but there is a big hint in the name Ever"Quest"

I think he is asking will the game be like 1-70 where you had lots of different content to do dungeon runs and heroic quests or like 71-80 where you were forced to solo quest grind.  Since the game plays like two different games currently we would all like to know which game the next tier would be like.

[Rattfa]

Why do you play a game called EverQUEST if you don't like to quest?

[Maebus]

Squeeeek@Nagafen wrote:

Why do you play a game called EverQUEST if you don't like to quest?

Maybe you are new so i will give you the benefit of the doubt, but if you played this game before a couple years ago you had the options to make your own quests and were not forced down a path of solo questing.  I think this is the same case as EQ1.  Maybe I am wrong and the game was called Ever back then and they added quest to the title when they flopped on the playstyle?

[Rattfa]

Maebus@Antonia Bayle wrote:

Squeeeek@Nagafen wrote:

Why do you play a game called EverQUEST if you don't like to quest?

Maybe you are new so i will give you the benefit of the doubt, but if you played this game before a couple years ago you had the options to make your own quests and were not forced down a path of solo questing.  I think this is the same case as EQ1.  Maybe I am wrong and the game was called Ever back then and they added quest to the title when they flopped on the playstyle?

R U SRS???

[Thunderthyze]

Squeeeek@Nagafen wrote:

Maebus@Antonia Bayle wrote:

Squeeeek@Nagafen wrote:

Why do you play a game called EverQUEST if you don't like to quest?

Maybe you are new so i will give you the benefit of the doubt, but if you played this game before a couple years ago you had the options to make your own quests and were not forced down a path of solo questing.  I think this is the same case as EQ1.  Maybe I am wrong and the game was called Ever back then and they added quest to the title when they flopped on the playstyle?

R U SRS???

Irony, sarcasm and gibberish, all in the same post. This thread wins on so many levels.

[Yimway]

Squeeeek@Nagafen wrote:

Why do you play a game called EverQUEST if you don't like to quest?

I suggest you go catalogue the number of 'quests' in Everquest at launch before making such statements.

Questing was not a means of progression in the game for which that name was originally given.  In fact group grinding was the predominate means for advancement.

It is not unreasonable that players who have been with the product for the 10+ years it has existed expect a progression path that is not quest dependent.

It is more accurate to say for the majority of the products life cycle, questing has either been not viable as a means of progression, or was the slower method of progression.  It is only in the past 2-3 years of the product's life has it been such.

[Rattfa]

Oh lordy, not again

[Alvane]

This game is about choices. You can choose to solo quest the content. You can choose to duo/trio/grp the content through dungeons. You can even choose to level up through collections, disco and killing sprees. You can box an army of peeps through several accounts - as many as you can handle both financially and through dexterity. Or you can choose to play one character on one account or one character out of several characters on one account.

Quests are a guide to lore which you can choose to read and understand how the world of Norrath grew and tore apart. The roles the gods played, and how the various cultures have been discovered, their history and their abilities to slowly - ever so slowly learn to tolerate each other. Or you do not have to choose and read the questlines and the information presented.

Leveling in SF? Well, I suspect it will be however, you wish it to be - fast, slow or moderate. Solo or with a full grp or partial group. I suspect you can level through quests, collections, disco, dugeons, instances, raids - what ever suits your playstyle.

If you hate quests, then don't do them - level up by other means. If you love quests, then go for it. Or perhaps you prefer a combination.

And that is what makes EQ2 a game to enjoy - you have choices. Many choices. Choose wisely so you can meet your goals.

[Maebus]

Ultani@Unrest wrote:

This game is about choices. You can choose to solo quest the content. You can choose to duo/trio/grp the content through dungeons. You can even choose to level up through collections, disco and killing sprees. You can box an army of peeps through several accounts - as many as you can handle both financially and through dexterity. Or you can choose to play one character on one account or one character out of several characters on one account.

Quests are a guide to lore which you can choose to read and understand how the world of Norrath grew and tore apart. The roles the gods played, and how the various cultures have been discovered, their history and their abilities to slowly - ever so slowly learn to tolerate each other. Or you do not have to choose and read the questlines and the information presented.

Leveling in SF? Well, I suspect it will be however, you wish it to be - fast, slow or moderate. Solo or with a full grp or partial group. I suspect you can level through quests, collections, disco, dugeons, instances, raids - what ever suits your playstyle.

If you hate quests, then don't do them - level up by other means. If you love quests, then go for it. Or perhaps you prefer a combination.

And that is what makes EQ2 a game to enjoy - you have choices. Many choices. Choose wisely so you can meet your goals.

Except that with RoK they removed the choices of content and gave us only solo questing.  You can use that content however you want but before RoK they gave you solo quests, heroic quests, and dungeons you could use to level and get decent XP.  So with RoK they removed choice and we are hoping they bring it back with SF.

[Alvane]

Maebus@Antonia Bayle wrote:

Except that with RoK they removed the choices of content and gave us only solo questing.  You can use that content however you want but before RoK they gave you solo quests, heroic quests, and dungeons you could use to level and get decent XP.  So with RoK they removed choice and we are hoping they bring it back with SF.

Don't know about you, but RoK had plenty of dungeons, instances, tradeskilling, epics, fables, mythicals, faction earning and so on. Solo questing? Only if you choosed. In KP, I mostly solo'd quest but did group quest several of them. Fens, I and my friend enjoyed our duo team as we worked through the faction quests and formed groups to get the harder end mobs of some of those heroic quests att.

Let me see - there was chardok.... fun place - I loved it! KC, the mines, Seb - the place everyone loved to hate! Quite a few raid (Thuuga, Pawbuster, PR, Kor-Sha, VS, Levi, VP, Trak) zones, too - and JW - MC, VoES, Chel, Dragonslayer, CoA, the infamous CoK, Skyfire and ring events - and then there was - oh, hello there Bert, Karana, Tribunal....Oh, my....

And the rush to start characters in TD - ah... remember the Sarnaks? Did you miss all the contested Mobs? Trak Rex, Tangrin, the Dominus 4, .....

Ya, ur right - nothing but solo quests in RoK...... no choices at all....

[Maebus]

Ultani@Unrest wrote:

Ya, ur right - nothing but solo quests in RoK...... no choices at all....

From 71 to about 75 there is almost no heroic content.  KC was deadly to any normal 6 man group until the later levels.  All of the Heritage and Signature quests they used to start at the beginning of the tier were at 80 only.  All of those other dungeons you mentioned are for 78-80 as well.  So yes, nothing like the previous tiers.  It is still evident to this day as you get people complaining that they grouped to 70 then suddenly could not get groups and are told to go solo quest.  If you are new to the game you may not realize it but RoK provided us with a very different experience than previous provided for better or worse.

[Yimway]

Ultani@Unrest wrote:

Don't know about you, but RoK had plenty of dungeons, instances, tradeskilling, epics, fables, mythicals, faction earning and so on. Solo questing? Only if you choosed. In KP, I mostly solo'd quest but did group quest several of them. Fens, I and my friend enjoyed our duo team as we worked through the faction quests and formed groups to get the harder end mobs of some of those heroic quests att.

Let me see - there was chardok.... fun place - I loved it! KC, the mines, Seb - the place everyone loved to hate! Quite a few raid (Thuuga, Pawbuster, PR, Kor-Sha, VS, Levi, VP, Trak) zones, too - and JW - MC, VoES, Chel, Dragonslayer, CoA, the infamous CoK, Skyfire and ring events - and then there was - oh, hello there Bert, Karana, Tribunal....Oh, my....

And the rush to start characters in TD - ah... remember the Sarnaks? Did you miss all the contested Mobs? Trak Rex, Tangrin, the Dominus 4, .....

Ya, ur right - nothing but solo quests in RoK...... no choices at all....

Lets see: Dungeons that required level 76 except for KC, Check.

Fables and myths that required level 80, Check

Factioning that required questing, Check.

You solo'd soloquests, and you grouped soloquests, but you still completed quests designed to be solo'd, Check.

You formed groups to kill a few of the harder mobs that others just solo'd, Check.

You ran instances that had a minimum effective level of 76, Check.

You ran raids that required level 80, Check.

Now, what did all that have to do with leveling speed, and content styles available to you for leveling?

I leveled 70-75 in KC at launch.  I assure you I saw no one else that did cause the killrate / xp conversion was horrendous, so much so that the community in general agreed it wasn't even viable.  Had I not been 6 boxing, the path wouldn't have even been available as I would not have had the grouping opportunity to try it.

The thread, and the question being asked here is what means of leveling will exist, and will they be required to consume soloquests to advance at a reasonable pace.  It's reasonable question, one that even though it doesn't impact your playstyle, doesn't deserve to be mocked just cause you personally don't find merit in it.

[feldon30]

Ultani@Unrest wrote:

Maebus@Antonia Bayle wrote:

Except that with RoK they removed the choices of content and gave us only solo questing.  You can use that content however you want but before RoK they gave you solo quests, heroic quests, and dungeons you could use to level and get decent XP.  So with RoK they removed choice and we are hoping they bring it back with SF.

Don't know about you, but RoK had plenty of dungeons, instances, tradeskilling, epics, fables, mythicals, faction earning and so on. Solo questing? Only if you choosed. In KP, I mostly solo'd quest but did group quest several of them. Fens, I and my friend enjoyed our duo team as we worked through the faction quests and formed groups to get the harder end mobs of some of those heroic quests att.

Let me see - there was chardok.... fun place - I loved it! KC, the mines, Seb - the place everyone loved to hate! Quite a few raid (Thuuga, Pawbuster, PR, Kor-Sha, VS, Levi, VP, Trak) zones, too - and JW - MC, VoES, Chel, Dragonslayer, CoA, the infamous CoK, Skyfire and ring events - and then there was - oh, hello there Bert, Karana, Tribunal....Oh, my....

And the rush to start characters in TD - ah... remember the Sarnaks? Did you miss all the contested Mobs? Trak Rex, Tangrin, the Dominus 4, .....

Ya, ur right - nothing but solo quests in RoK...... no choices at all....

Are we REALLY doing this crap again?

Do all of those dungeons. How many levels and AAs do you get? Give up? ZERO Less than 1 level and less than 1 AA point.

So think before posting. kthxbye

[ke'la]

feldon30 wrote:

Ultani@Unrest wrote:

Maebus@Antonia Bayle wrote:

Except that with RoK they removed the choices of content and gave us only solo questing.  You can use that content however you want but before RoK they gave you solo quests, heroic quests, and dungeons you could use to level and get decent XP.  So with RoK they removed choice and we are hoping they bring it back with SF.

Don't know about you, but RoK had plenty of dungeons, instances, tradeskilling, epics, fables, mythicals, faction earning and so on. Solo questing? Only if you choosed. In KP, I mostly solo'd quest but did group quest several of them. Fens, I and my friend enjoyed our duo team as we worked through the faction quests and formed groups to get the harder end mobs of some of those heroic quests att.

Let me see - there was chardok.... fun place - I loved it! KC, the mines, Seb - the place everyone loved to hate! Quite a few raid (Thuuga, Pawbuster, PR, Kor-Sha, VS, Levi, VP, Trak) zones, too - and JW - MC, VoES, Chel, Dragonslayer, CoA, the infamous CoK, Skyfire and ring events - and then there was - oh, hello there Bert, Karana, Tribunal....Oh, my....

And the rush to start characters in TD - ah... remember the Sarnaks? Did you miss all the contested Mobs? Trak Rex, Tangrin, the Dominus 4, .....

Ya, ur right - nothing but solo quests in RoK...... no choices at all....

Are we REALLY doing this crap again?

Do all of those dungeons. How many levels and AAs do you get? Give up? ZERO Less than 1 level and less than 1 AA point.

So think before posting. kthxbye

The first time though those zones you should have gotten about 10-15AAs total between first kills and Disco AAs, the second time though and from then on, you got about 0.5AAs total if you hit all those zones. Though your right you only got about half a level no matter what in those zones... assuming you could get in them below the cap.

[Celestian_]

Squeeeek@Nagafen wrote:

Why do you play a game called EverQUEST if you don't like to quest?

If you had actually played EverQuest on release you'd know how laughable that statement is.

[Alvane]

It's still choices.... I hit 80 before I even finished KJ - and my AAs were 130 something. I hit 140 btt I was raiding VP. I didn't pwr level or do anything special. I did complete all the factions of the expansion including tradeskilling.

Once again - it 's choices. You do it how ever you wish. Other peeps do it differently than you. There is no right, no wrong way of working a game. I know peeps who pwr level mains, alts, several accounts... they cap at XP, then grind for AA. That's their choice and they enjoy doing instances 50-100 times over. They go for the money making items they can get that way... gather hundred of void shards with TSO for their armies of alts who basically are on follow or parked at entrance until they are geared enough for raiding. And yeah.. they did hit 200AAs in TSO as they did 140 in RoK without any problem. They have a game plan to meet their goals. Apparently RoK provided that - even for peeps who hate solo questing or even any questing that is labeled "solo".

Once again - it's choices - how you play the game.

[Rijacki]

As much as I like questing (and I do, I really do), I would like to see XP with the kills, too. THAT was what was missing in RoK, there is almost zero XP per kill in overland zones and, at launch, only a slight increase of kill XP in dungeons or instances. The only true XP gain was on turning in quests (and then in the Fens even the quest turn-in XP was abysmally low). THAT is what people mean when the refer to the 'requirement' of solo-questing in RoK.

Seeing appreciable XP gain on kills in the instances and overland zones of TSO (for a character below 80) and an increase in the AA gain in those instances does give me hope SF will be better since the same team that put XP in SF (and even increased the XP gain in RoK zones) is the same team, for the most part, that's working on SF.

The complete and utter lack of XP for anything but questing was under a different producer.

[Obadiah]

I've always thought that was one of the things this game did better than other MMOs was offer those choices about gameplay/style/etc. But at various points in the game although you *technically* had a choice with respect to how to level up it was somewhat foolish to choose, say, grinding solo mobs in PoF over grinding Cyclops in PoF.

Or grinding solo mobs in TT once you completed all the tasty baskets vs. grinding heroic mobs on BG or dungeon crawling in SoS.

Or grinding KC mobs in RoK vs. grinding solo quests in KP/Fens/KJ/JW.

Choice, sure. Like choosing between a filet at Morton's or a slider at White Castle. Like choosing whether to fly from New York to Paris or to swim. This expansion marks the first time they've actually *stated* that you should be able to level reasonably either way, which would lead me to believe it's the first time they've actually put *focus* on making sure you could level either way, which would leave me optimistic that you really aren't shooting yourself in the foot by trying to do so solo vs. grouping or vice versa.

I think, going back to the original point of the thread, that SF will be well worth the OP's while.

[whytakemine]

Thanks for the replies everyone.  Or at least those that made useful replies.

The fact that a dev said they would make it feasible to level multiple ways gives me some hope, although I confess I'm pretty pessimistic.  I suspect even if they made the adventure xp equivalent equal whether questing or grouping, you'll end up screwed on the aa xp if you don't quest.

Ultimately I just decided to hold off on buying the expansion.  If a few days after it's out people are forming groups to level I'll buy SF.  If not, I guess I'll find something else to do.  Not like that's hard this time of year.

I *think* squeeek was trying to be funny, but if not....

Why do you play a massive MULTIPLAYER online game if you want to solo?

See, I can do it too.  And it's just as worthless.