Avian Gamers Network

OK, so, I'm about done with HLII, and, I was thinking about maybe picking up EQII, or, at least start reading about it a bit. I played EQ for about a year, on and off, but, never really "got" into it. It's hard to explain, but .. since I don't play but about 2 - 3 hours per evening, at most, I did not level that quick, and, everyone I ended up playing with would always get so high I would not be able to do anything with them. Never the less, I had lots of fun, but, never experienced any great raids or anything because I was not a "power leveler" because I didn't have the time.

My question is -- is this basically EQI with new graphics, quests, and the such? Meaning .. is it a die hard, play all night or don't get the good stuff, type game? Campers paradise?

I did enjoy EQI, but, it seemed like there were always those people that would be completly decked out with all the high end gear .. just powerleveling. I guess my question is .. how, or has, the game changed any?

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Nasiobo Aprillis
Star Wars: The Old Republic | Jedi Consular (Nasiobo)
Slicing, Scavenging and Cybertech

That's a tough one to answer. I would just like to say that EQ2, IMO, is a difficult game. There is a lot going on, and a whole lot to do. Dying is pretty easy, and the XP gain is rather slow. If you want to be able to make substantial progress while only playing a few hours a week, don't play EQ2.

You pretty much have to group once you get to level 10 to be able to advance in XP and do the rewarding quests. I would say that logging in for 1-2 hours will not be very helpful in gaining you XP, just b/c it takes a while to get where you want to hunt and to find a good group. Once you get that group, you will want to stay with it b/c the best XP and rewards generally comes deeper into the caves/areas you hunt, and the group gets better as they work together longer. You can gain some XP in that time, but don't expect to get a level a night or anything. There are, however, lots of different areas you can fight in, so it's not like you will be stuck in one area fighting for a month.

All that said, EQ2 is a very fun game, and there is so much cool stuff to do/see. If you're worried about falling behind your friends... I think that in any game like EQ or WoW, if your friends play more than you, they will get farther than you, and EQ2 is no different in that regard. The only cool thing WoW implemented to balance that out, is that if you log out in an Inn, you get rested, and the next time you log back in you gain XP at a faster rate. IMO if you want to be able to log in for an hour or 2 and make substantial progress, I think WoW is a better fit than EQ2. I'm really not sure how WoW gets beyond level 20 though as I haven't been that far.


It is a lot like EQ1, but it is also a lot different. To name a few differences:
more options for fighting, totally different zones (some of the same names are there, but they all look totally different and are laid out differently), no PvP, pretty advanced artisan system. The quest system allows you to have a lot of quests at once, and you can find very rewarding quests in lots of random places aside from NPCs (one advantage EQ2 has over WoW imo), like looking behind a shield or examining a ring you loot off a mob.

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TheMole
Section 5
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Now Playing: WoW
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One additional note on the levels thing...everyone in your group gets xp as long as you are within 6 levels of each other.

Mole is right that you'll need a group to really churn xp, etc...but I have never had a problem finding players to group.

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You CAN get things done in a an hour or two, especially if you have a good group of friends that you can hop in with for a few hours and kill some baddies..

The difference between EQ2 and WoW, in my humble opinion, is easily summed up in this statement:

"In EQ2, you are your character, it is scarey, and exciting. In WoW, you are playing a really neat game.. but thats it, its a really neat and cool game."

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SW:TOR - Mantison Gunslinger, Ironmant Trooper, Manni Jedi Knight
WoW - Dalaran - Manni 85 Mage, Ironmant 83 Warrior, Mantison 80 Hunter
SWG - Chilastra Retired Mantison, Commando / TKA Master aka Trogdor !!!!

I'm visiting some other forums for reading now ... but, one more quick question (I've not see yet, but I'm sure a newbie has asked) ... In EQI after a good fight I'd have to sit down for, at the time, seemed like a LONG time to regain mana and health. Is that about the same here? It seems like .. fight, sit a long time, fight, sit a long time .. etc.

Thanks guys! I may end up trying it out. I just remember last time I said that I ended up playing for a year because it was so much fun

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Nasiobo Aprillis
Star Wars: The Old Republic | Jedi Consular (Nasiobo)
Slicing, Scavenging and Cybertech

Health and Power regen in EQ2 are WAY WAY faster than in EQ1..

There is combat regen and non combat regen... so you regen faster while not in combat, and you don't have to sit to get the best Regen rate, so you can regen your stats while traveling to your next encounter...

And food and drink help.....

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SW:TOR - Mantison Gunslinger, Ironmant Trooper, Manni Jedi Knight
WoW - Dalaran - Manni 85 Mage, Ironmant 83 Warrior, Mantison 80 Hunter
SWG - Chilastra Retired Mantison, Commando / TKA Master aka Trogdor !!!!

I don't quite get this quote. I think i know what you are trying to say, but not sure... care to elaborate?

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TheMole
Section 5
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Now Playing: WoW
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To me, and this is only for me...

WoW feels like a cute and cool game... graphics are really cool, gameplay is fun and easy to pick up on... but thats where it ends... its just a cool game I can play with friends...

EQ2 is an experience. I am scared to look around that corner in the TS because I very well may die a horrid and fast death, and that death hurts a bit... The graphics are more my taste, realistic vs. cartoonish. The game is complex, and it challenges me to master it...

Thats the difference, I can invest myself into EQ2 and escape...

I only play WoW...

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SW:TOR - Mantison Gunslinger, Ironmant Trooper, Manni Jedi Knight
WoW - Dalaran - Manni 85 Mage, Ironmant 83 Warrior, Mantison 80 Hunter
SWG - Chilastra Retired Mantison, Commando / TKA Master aka Trogdor !!!!

I agree with Mantison on his comparison of the two games.

Regretfully, with a kid and wife and house and job and trying to learn new tech stuff... phew... I'm realizing now, it is completely unrealistic for me to think I can even attempt to play both games.

Because of my sporadic playtime, I need to cancel my subscription to EQ2. It honestly pains me to do this because I know this will limit my interaction with a number of Avians I like and respect but my real life must take precedence here and I can satisfy RL demands if I'm only playing WoW. I fully intend on getting back into EQ2 someday but for now, Liro the Crusader is entering a monastery indefinitely.

/salute

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Liro
"The english language is not a wedding gown, it doesn't get better the more lace you add. It is instead a thong. Less is more." From /.
I need to remind myself of this regularly.