I have to echo the apples to oranges distinction on the WOW/EQ2 comparison. Someone criticizes WOW for its raid content--a valid criticism--but the same can be said for EQ2. If I judged every game on whether or not raiding was a requirement at a certain point, I wouldn't have anything left to play. Sad, but a matter of fact currently.

As for the expansion itself and some of the more relevant criticisms, though: Even though all the subscribers would love things like armor tinting, more characters, and more developed class identities, those aren't going to get new subscribers. Let's be a little cynical here--that doesn't mean the game isn't doing well in some areas, but we just have to accept that the driving forces are going to be the ones that have the potential to increase new subscriptions--not just encourage current ones. As long as no one's quitting over those issues, they'll go on the bottom of the priority list.

The Fae got numbers up, coupled with the return of GFay. I have to admit, even for myself, those were big selling points, coupled with the combat changes and, frankly, the absence of Moorgard and friends. The best thing the franchise can do for itself right now is distance itself from the name SOE has made for it. That can be accomplished in large part by tending to those elements which would have preferred a different game in the first place. That is--bringing back EQdead.

Next expansion, my prediction is Odus. I'd say we'll see Paineel, the Hole, and Erudin. If it's not the next expansion, then it'll be one soon after that. Kunark should be making its way back soon as well. In any case, the other thing I can count on is a new race or two. About the time the new is wearing off the Fae, there'll be a new race, probably an evil one, to take up the novelty and hope to emulate EOF's success.

Statistically, expansions don't cause subscriptions to rise. --not really; marginally sure, but no game on a downslope has ever been able to turn itself around by an expansion. I'd like to hope that EOF marks the beginning of an end to this trend though. I know SOE isn't talking, but if they could get me to play again, they could probably get anyone. To that end, this game might end up being competitive yet. Whether or not it can stand up to the likes of Warhammer, however, has yet to be seen.

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Originally posted by Ironman2000

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Originally posted by martinj63

Every time some Dimwit bandies about the 8 mil WOW subscribers I point out that’s also the average Jerry Springer show demographic, both are about as equally educated and usually live in the same Trailer park.

SOE has done many things right with EoF, and it has paid off in increased subscribers, but its beyond that SOE is giving EQ II something WoW lacks and that’s depth and a soul. Numbers mean jack in my book. EQII gets better almost daily, can't say that about raidordiecraft.

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And everytime someone makes a comment like this you can pretty much guarantee they have never played WoW EVER. I play both games and I really hate to say, so many things in EoF were taken from WoW (which i'm not even going to start listing here).

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While I don't entirely agree with your statement about him not playing wow I will agree with EQ2 taking some WoW ideas. It's not a bad thing if they are good ideas. The opposite can't be said about WoW.

I play both games and enjoy them a lot... my really frustrating irritation with WoW is their complete retarded take on a LFG system. At first they didnt even have one, then added a chat channel. Now they got a almost useless LFG system and no chat channels anymore. If they'd just steal EQ1 or EQ2's LFG system it'd be great but they insist on this retarded feature of "you can only LFG for here, here and here" crap. You can't just LFG for anything nor can people just list everyone LFG and list them by class and level.

This is probably entirely off topic but oh well.