Everquest II

Hey :]

I've been playing WoW for the passed 3 years, and absolutely loved the PVP pre-2.0. That is, the ladder ranking system. I grinded to High Warlord once, Field Marshal once, and General once more. I had/have a decent amount of time on my hands, and I really enjoyed it. My gear was on par with the best in the game, and better for PVP (Pre-AQ40/Naxx gear that is). Now that BC came out, I leveled to 70 and I can't seem to find any decent players to PVP with. I absolutely hate being forced to group to do anything at all... especially if you aren't 'the right class'. Most of the good PVPers have teams already, and have awesome class combinations (Warrior/Paladin, Warrior/Druid, Shadow Priest/Warlock, etc).. and if you aren't one of those desired classes, its hard, if not impossible to find a good team.

/rant..

For end game, I loved just being able to PVP. in BGs to grind, and world pvp after, it was fun. Going against even geared players (other GMs/High Warlords) in duels/world PvP was fun and challenging. My question for EQ2 PVPers is.. are there some sort of high-end PVP rewards that you can get from PVPing end game, like the High Warlord/Grand Marshal gear in WoW? Can you PVP solo and group, while being successful in both? (1v1 or GroupvsGroup)

I'm planning on probably rolling a Templar on the PVP server... just interested in hearing some opinions from other PVPers who are playing EQ2.

Thanks,

Cow

I played a level 70 Templar on Nagafen for a good while.  I've also played a WoW priest to 70 on a PvP server so I think I have a good perspective here.  I'll warn you that WoW is currently my game of choice, but I'll try to be objective as possible.

First of all, you said you don't like fighting in groups - Templar is the absolute worse class for solo PvP.  Sure, our heals are great - but we have the worse damage out of all the classes.  I've been in healer vs healer fights that have gone on indefinately.  We could have fought each other forever, it was a stalemate.  This is one of the many reasons EQ2s PvP is kind of crap unless you're playing some of the better classes.

I only ever got kills on my Templar from abusing the out-of-healing combat bug, or using my hammer smite to knock people off cliffs, or fighting people who weren't that good at PvP. 

The problem stems from EQ2s illusion of options.  You see all those classes and think "Cool, this game has soo many options".  The truth is that EQ2 simply dilutes the roles over many classes.  So individual classes have fewer roles.  The Templars role is healing, and not a fat lot else.  This isn't like WoW where a priest can do meaningful DPS, Templars are crap solo.   In groups, they're pretty good, with the group reactive heal, and ok buffs, but being a plate tank with low avoidance you'll get hit more often, giving you less chance to heal.

The absurd thing about healing in EQ2s PvP is that you have to stand still.  There are fewer insta-cast spells and wards, you have to cast spells and you can be easily interrupted.  The way fighters can taunt players off you is very well done, but in group combat, group-wide interrupts and stuns are plenty - reducing your potential for healing.  In contrast to WoW, healers are sitting ducks and are useless when under attack.  As you can tell, I think WoW's priest is probably the best implemented healing class in any MMO I've played to date.  You can just do so much 'on the move', that you can't do in EQ2.

From what you've said, and speaking as a fellow WoW veteran, I would suggest going for a scout.  They're overpowered in pretty much every way for PvP,  they can track players down, stealth, evac, and have many other survival utilities.  The other classes are better suited to group fights, and whille 6v6 group fights are AWESOME when it's even, they're not as frequent as I would like.  Plus too many people in this game camp the zone lines and thats one area where EQ2 really fails with its terrible zoning mechanic.

If you want good PvP opponents in WoW, do the Arena ladders.  People often criticize WoW's PvP but it is simply miles better than EQ2s tacked-on implementation.  EQ2 is first and foremost a PvE game.  EQ2's PvP is really a combination of PvE - you're fighting each other over PvE resources  (named mobs, good grind spots).

I can understand that you're bored of WoW after all that time, and I'm sure EQ2 will be a decent substitute.  Just avoid the Templar.  If you want to be a healer, I suggest a Warden.  It's not like the WoW Druid where the healing isn't very good - all healers in EQ2 have equal healing potential.

In answer to your question about gear.  Yes there are PvP merchants in the main cities that sell gear.  It works in a similar way to WoW, they just have different names for things like honor and reputation.  You'll find people are overly protective of their titles and will avoid combat at all costs unless they have a clear advantage.  This leads to a cat and mouse style of gameplay, that, while interesting in its own way, can leave you desiring the constant carnage an visceral competition of WoW's battlegrounds.

EQ2s PvP arenas are cheesy, and nobody ever plays them.  The arena champions feature is hardly ever used, die hard PvP veterans are just interested in World PvP ganking.  This is more to do with the anti-PvP attitude that has been fostered in EQ2.  When PvP was announced for EQ2, the community went up in arms because of this 'unsavoury' element being introduced to the game.

They shut down a couple of PvP servers recently due to low population and merged them.  Stick with EQ2 for now then come back to WoW when they implement outdoor PvP Battleground-Zones, Seige Engines and Destructible Buildings in Wrath of the Litch King.

i rerolled not long ago from splitpaw (Eu pve) to Vox (us pvp).. and to be realistic, it whas goining from extreme boredom to real fun.

played eq2 long time on eu pve server (didnt know i could play on us server, acturly) but when i figured out.. i used a little time to understand what to be expected, so i whas mentaly motivated for the pvp in eq2.. (it dosnt help complaining when being ganked, because that is what happens on pvp servers.. and those who whine and complain about it, has nothing to do on a pvp server)

EQ2 pve & EQ2 pvp is the same game, but you cant think the same way..( because the rule sets is totaly different) so in a way it becomes a different game!

sad story  is that some people that comes to pvp servers, only think about titles & gear, and when you meet them, they are simply the biggest chickens ever (afraid of loosing titles?) they dont even deserve having a title.. this isnt pve for good sake.. getting killed is something you will be all the time, its never safe.. safe zone = pve servers..

this is acturly a little standard, people want pvp, but only when they want it themselfs, they want to be able to kill outhers without being able to be killed.. so they can feel like they are a god, with cool armor/weapon and a big title.. (hallo, pvp is not RP) and everytime they get killed by a more skilled player, they begin to ask for class changes, because they want that "i win button".. and really dont understand that its nothing wrong with the class. and to arrogant to understand that they arent a skilled player.

i cant see whats unfair about 3vs1, it is pvp after all.. 1vs1 has nothing to do with pvp, thats dueling..

if compered with WOW..  wow is more a kind of pvp where you have absolutly nothing to loose.. (played wow for 2 years myself)

where in EQ2 pvp, if you die, you get xp penalty, people can loot items you have in your inventory, and something like 60% or your money!

PVP is not - the right to kill outher players... PVP is acturly - you have given the right for outher players to kill you!!

when it comes to gear, there is a pvp-set (only on pvp servers) that is acturly better than the pve gear.. but it is not easyer to get than the pve gear.. although it really depends on the player ofcause!