I’m like a junkie needing his fix. First the cravings, then the uncontrollable cravings, then the physical trauma, and then the irresistible urge to write about how much I need an MMO.. yep, I’m moving along nicely. I quit LOTRO and still even though I crave a MMO I totally do not miss middle-earth. I’m having true fun playing Team Fortress 2, Neverwinter Nights 2, and a few other games, but it’s not the same as that glee I receive from a massively multiplayer game. So here I am now staring at a list of MMORPGs trying to decide which one I want to play. Oh, and I’m in a few betas at the moment but I can’t really play them too much more for fear of burning out.
Looking around the first MMO that catches my eye is definitely EQ2. I’ve been on and off again with this little gem 3 or 4 times now. I pick up the game, play it for a month, and give it up again. I’ve never really stuck with it or seen the end-game which is something I truly want to see. Graev tells me I would be making a huge mistake by going back to Norrath but I digress; I actually have fun playing EQ2. I would like to see some of the nifty end-game stuff but aside from that I have no real urge to join a hardcore guild or raids. I just want to have lots of fun. The decision should technically be easy then, right? You’d think that but it’s not.
I know that Kevin from The Server is Down is giving EQ2 a try and a few other blogs I read daily have either gone back or never stopped playing. That’s actually been part of my motivation lately to give it another shot. The other half of my urge to play is that Kunark, my absolute FAVORITE EQ1 expansion, is making its first appearance in EQ2. I really, REALLY, want to give the Sarnaks a try and see what it’s like in the “new” Kunark lands. I have this vision of what it will look like in my head and I’m probably filling it full of delusions of grandeur but the idea of hunting the Lake of Ill Omen, The Overthere, City of Mist, gah I’m getting all excited now.
Can anyone think of any reason that I should not give it another shot? Heck, I’ll take pros as well as cons on this one.
The only thing I can say is that if you keep starting and stopping your subscription, there is probably some fundamental flaw in the game (at least in your eyes) so to me that would be wasting your time. I recently tried EQ2 again, and while I enjoyed it for about a month, I realized there was just something about it that prevented me from getting completely immersed and addicted. Going back to WoW, I feel that again after my six month break, and it’s awesome. I’m not saying WoW will provide the same sort of feeling or that EQ2 won’t, but again, if you keep cancelling EQ2, there is probably some reason and you should really consider that.
P.S. Don’t play through a whole game you aren’t enjoying just to get to end game, it’s a waste of your time no matter how interesting end game is or seems 🙂
This is my third time back now and the only game I’ve returned to more than once. Most games I only last a few months anyway, so my leaving EQ2 is nothing new. But what is it that keeps me coming back? And I really do enjoy myself when I do come back. Let’s see if the third time is the charm.
See that’s the same with me Aspendawn. EQ2 is the only game I’ve returned to as much as I have. For some reason it has this appeal that no other game has had.
For myself..I left LOTRO, and went to EQ2…as a new player, it is quite an experience. I can see how you may go away for a bit…so I have actually turned it into my casual game…maybe 1 or 2 hours a day or take a break for one day…and play my single player stuff..
That way I get my MMO, and my Action game fix all in one
And it works..(luckily EQ2 is WAY better than LOTRO…the snorefest)
For me, EQ2’s primary appeal is its cinematic visuals and audio. I used to put it in letterbox, turn off the HUD whenever I could, and blare the music (which was excellent, if sometimes repeated too often). I’m the sort of player who likes to really imagine myself in the world, and EQ2’s environments let me do that.
But I won’t go back to it until I buy my next (better) PC and have some free money for the subscription.
Ya know, EQ1 is still around, has a completely new newbie experience, a new race (the Drakken, they have breath weapons), can level from 1-75 without ever stepping foot outside the Serpent’s Spine expansion, and the old world is still around. Of course, it’s largely empty, but if you’re nostalgic for old EQ, actually playing old EQ might be satisfying in a way. I’m sure one or more of the servers can still support new players (maybe Firiona Vie or Combine). The experience grind has been streamlined; you level far faster now.
Once you’re up past level 60, EQ1 is still busy and vibrant, as their zone design has concentrated the players such that you can always find something to do, if not the same things you might have done six years ago…
I don’t think I could return to EQ1, but EQ2 I think I could return to again. You play EQ2 a lot Tipa (I read your blog daily). Would you say it’s an okay time to go back and give it another shot? Kunark appeals to me most.
Hey, ever heard of Fury?
http://www.unleashthefury.com
MMO with only PvP, no PvE elements.
I would suggest waiting for Kunark would be a good idea if you wanted to play a Sarnak. I find the best way to get into a game is to just focus. Being a Sarnak *main* will be something pretty special — the same as Fae were the first few months (and still are kinda unusual at the level cap).
EQ2 is a fantastic game and I do play every day. There’s a million things to do, and for someone who has played EQ1 — or has played WoW and is looking for a more mature, slightly more relaxed experience — EQ2 is a fantastic choice.
But like *any* game, EQ2 is most enjoyable when you play with friends. It’s a social game, and lone wolves just won’t enjoy it as much. My son plays, he (like I) has two 70s and we’re now in the same guild. How great is that? Pretty awesome.
For a really great newbie EQ2 experience, I’d make a Qeynos character on the Nagafen PvP server and join my friend Lishian’s guild, Viral Rage. They do whole guild events all the time and provide a lot of support for new players — and of course, a lot of Freeps die when they’re around. You only need to be level 15 to join, as they are a level-capped guild. Can’t beat that for a vibrant, new player experience. Able to try out new classes in a fun, raid environment against and with other real players for an investment of a couple of nights leveling.
Hi! My guild, Viral Rage on Nagafen, is excellent for new players! We are currently moving to level 17 and we will lock there until everyone has killed enough freeps to buy PvP gear at t3. We level slow in order to maximize Achievments for our level. This allows everyone to catch up and we get to see more content. There is always enough folks on to find a group and we PVP just about every night in a raid. It’s very typical that we are sending freeps home crying with our x2 or x3 raid of level 12 to 17s in Darklight Woods or Commonlands. We also quest together and we help eachother get the good gear (as long as you are making an effort to gear yourself as well). Thursday nights we do writs and heritage quests and every other night is PvP night. Starting fresh on a PvP server can be very rough… We make it fun! Most folks are on from 7pm EST to as late as 4am EST, but there are a few folks that seem to be on 24/7… I don’t ask… We have 40+ unique members in the guild and at least 1/3 are on at the same time. Give anyone a yell from Viral Rage and we’ll get you hooked up in our guild if you decide to come to EQ2 Nagafen. My main toons there are Valdalia and Systematic.
I just resubbed to EQ2 last night after deciding that I wanted to play casually to fulfill my desire for a MMO. I have a few characters on Antonia Bayle but since I do not know anyone there I think I am definitely going to come try out PvP and see if Nagafen is a good server match for me. 🙂 I’ll message one of your characters when I get on!
Cool… I’m not usually around on Friday’s (if i am it’ll be pretty late in the evening), but I’m sure one of the officers will be.