EQ2 looks good and I was talking to someone I work with. He plays but was on the cusp of quiting. I was asking some questions about it and his biggest 2 complaints were:

1. Total Lack of armor variety.
(Biggest one having him going to wow again.)

2. Much of EQ looks like a medieval ghetto instead of high fantasy.
(Not that big of a complaint but didn't like it.)

EQ2 sounds cool but I'm not really feeling like jumping into another SoE game where no graphics are updated. EQ1 hasn't made a graphics change since SoL,.. EQ2 was trying to make hats I believe but I don't think they ever finished.

Are they doing something about this? I know SoE has a habbit of saying alot but never delivering, espcially with graphics.

Originally posted by Shot5000

EQ2 looks good and I was talking to someone I work with. He plays but was on the cusp of quiting. I was asking some questions about it and his biggest 2 complaints were:

1. Total Lack of armor variety.
(Biggest one having him going to wow again.)

2. Much of EQ looks like a medieval ghetto instead of high fantasy.
(Not that big of a complaint but didn't like it.)

EQ2 sounds cool but I'm not really feeling like jumping into another SoE game where no graphics are updated. EQ1 hasn't made a graphics change since SoL,.. EQ2 was trying to make hats I believe but I don't think they ever finished.

Are they doing something about this? I know SoE has a habbit of saying alot but never delivering, espcially with graphics.

Well I don't know what he means by this. Armor is armor and you get what is the best armor at your level you can get. You do this in WoW im sure of too so. And from what i have been told you can make your armor look like whatever you want and still have the gear you need on. So if he wants to goto WoW dont mean to diss your friend but he just like simple stuff and EQ2 will be better off without him. He needs a better reason then armor to hate EQ2. Or is he just complaing that he has to work to get his armor in eq2 vs wow its given to you?

at level 20, you have access to the appearance tab

that gives you flexbilitiy to wear what you want for show  (despite the armor you are using)

eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Appearance

LOTRO is the only other mmo that supports this since Chapter 12

ok about armor variety, there are only a limited number of armor models, but the devs made a lot more out of it with different textures... There class heads were finished long time ago so each class has the option to use a hat that has a special look and differentiates it a bit form the other classes.

Weapon modesl exist also in high amounts, its just the models for amor and the devs stated that with current character models system they have to make each armor model a few times for different races. But they keep adding other graphics with time.

eq2 world is more realistic from the looks than wow, different cities have different looks. you decide if you want to live in a good city where everyone watches over the others and everything looks happy and nice, or if you prefer a city where you  can visually see that some people are poor while others in the noble parts of the town are rich...

they are constantly working on the gfx engine when its needed at least,  but that said the engine could use a rewrite or some serious changes to improve performance on newer computers.

My personal opinion is that the art direction on the armor sets is spotty.  Some sets look really horrible (to my tastes).  For example when I got my final piece of light blue pajama armor in TD, I honestly thought it was put there to force you to learn how to use the appearance system [though to be fair some players do like it].  Others look a lot better.  For example the blackended iron armor is one of the coolest looking plate sets I've seen in an MMO.

Regardless, you will probably like at least some of the armor sets.  Since you can set anything you want to your appearance slots the sets that look like they were designed for blind rodeo clowns aren't a problem.  Just get one nice looking set together and you are good to go.  Becuase of the apperance options it's also a lot less common to meet someone that looks exactly the same as you post 20 (compared to WoW).  I think it's a good system overall.  I'm pretty happy with how most of my toons look, and I'm pretty obsessive on character appearance.

SOE should really hire a texture artist. Even if its a part time job. Their textures are horrible. With a good UV-mapping program a 15yo can do it better.  Especially boots are a nightmare.

The good thing is the fashion tab. Since that i even did a few old quest just for the look ot the item. That way its doable to look decent (what ever someone thinks that is ;)) and have good stats on the armor.

OP:

Armor IS incredibly dull and un-variating even with the "closet command".

I am a Warlock, and there basicly only exist 2 different looking types of clothes to wear to me!!! TWO!!! All others are just THE SAME robe with different colors / patterns.

I either look like granny with a colorful robe -OR- I look like I'm wearing a bullet-proof vest (the only option I have but to wear the silly robes.

Plate armor can look good though. And they even drop as sets in places only for looks.

What this game still needs is a profession that makes clothes ONLY for looks! But since looks is such a low priority on the devs "to do list" we probably ever will see great variety in accessories in this game... ever.

The reason for this is because when they make a model, they have to make it for every single race in the game.  They are currently working on a skeletal revamp that would solve their problems so they would only have to make it once.  Once this comes out, you will see a tremendous improvement in appearances.  It is just a shame it is taking them this long.  The really cool looking stuff doesn't come out until higher levels though, so you kind of have to drudge through it.