Everquest II

AOC isnt doing it for me....its another single player online game much in the vein of WOW (tho its my fault i should have known this)  Looking to possible buy this game after playing the trial for a couple hours, i like the combat and graphics are nice enough.  My question is how easy is it to find a group.....i come from FFIX and COH crowd and would like to group 100% of the time after maybe the 1st few levels, is this possible or is this a solo game w/ instancing like wow? Also, since iam new is it worth getting all the expansion for $30 or would i be fine with the starter pack for $20 (up to echoes expansion),  Thanks for reading and answering.

The problem in EQ2 isn't the amount of group content, it's the amount of people looking to group at a certain level.  The newer starting zones such as Neriak, Kelethin, and Timmorous Deep are all pretty solo-centric for the first several levels, but it doesn't take very long before grouping becomes not only viable but preferable.  The thing is, because EQ2 has been out for almost 4 years now, the amount of people at lower and mid-range levels is significantly lower than those at upper levels or capped.   That's not to say that there aren't people running around on lowbies, in fact, I've seen a pretty big jump in the amount of people on lower level toons since the whole 2 months free "come back" program started.  But I don't think the game will ever return to the number of people it once had running around the world.

In short, there's A LOT of group content for all levels, but you may be somewhat hard pressed to find people to group with.  My best suggestion would be to find a helpful guild early (there's a pretty nice in-game tool to help with that), because people are much more apt to help a low level character get groups if they're in the same guild.

So far I haven't needed to group at all.  Level 8 now.  If memory serves the 'need/desire' to group really doesn't start till around 10th or 11th level.   That may have changed... I'm just coming back for the first time since the year the game released.  It seems better now.

Originally posted by 4Renziks

AOC isnt doing it for me....its another single player online game much in the vein of WOW (tho its my fault i should have known this)  Looking to possible buy this game after playing the trial for a couple hours, i like the combat and graphics are nice enough.  My question is how easy is it to find a group.....i come from FFIX and COH crowd and would like to group 100% of the time after maybe the 1st few levels, is this possible or is this a solo game w/ instancing like wow? Also, since iam new is it worth getting all the expansion for $30 or would i be fine with the starter pack for $20 (up to echoes expansion),  Thanks for reading and answering.

EQ 2 is a great game, now my response lol. The grouping is almost non-existant in EQ2, it reminds me of AOC in the sense that alot of classes can solo 1-80 which isnt a bad thing.  But if you are like me and prefer groups then eq2 is probly not a good idea unless you join a guild. there isnt alot of people in eq2 anymore except on certain servers and only during certain times of the day.  EQ 1 had the best grouping requirements...mainly if you wanted to level unless you were twinked beyond belief and very skilled you had to group to level.  Right now the best grouping game out there is either EQ1 and WoW that I know of.  Im not sure about Lineage two, I have seen videos of groups in Warhammer and Aion but I don't know how that will play out.  I am assuming that Aion and warhammer will be more group focused because they do focus primarily on pvp.  Back to the OP though, my experiance with eq2 = very very little grouping untill end game content.

Thanks alot guys for taking the time to post, looks like i will pass then, iam done with solo games and will not play a new MMO unless grouping is the focal point.  someone said WOW is a good grouping game, i dont know it was far to easy and i didnt like it.  Pretty much every since ive quit final fantasy 11 iam having trouble enjoying an mmo more than a month.....i get bored because i feel no sense of accomplishments or dont meet new people.  maybe its me , iam playing EVE now and love the complexity, but again it looks like another solo online game where its rare to do anysort of teamwork (i could be wrong i only been playing for 5hours).  This might be the wrong place to ask this but instead of making a new thread, is there any other game on the market besides EQ( never played it and i think iam a wee bit behind lol) FFIX (ive played for a year and i might go back if i cant find a new home soon) or CoX(I just stop this game, played for over a year....fun times , just wish it was more complex) where leveling and teamwork is needed to progress in the game.  Thanks again

Maybe it's because of the server, or the living legacy promotion, but I'm on Lucan D'lere, Level 30 Inquisitor and I've already done tons of group content. I usually just travel to the dungeon/ area I want to do and usually pick up a group pretty fast. I've learned to ignore the LFG and Chats, and just try and group with people around. Maybe I'm lucky but it works perfect for me.

Originally posted by 4Renziks

Thanks alot guys for taking the time to post, looks like i will pass then, iam done with solo games and will not play a new MMO unless grouping is the focal point.  someone said WOW is a good grouping game, i dont know it was far to easy and i didnt like it.  Pretty much every since ive quit final fantasy 11 iam having trouble enjoying an mmo more than a month.....i get bored because i feel no sense of accomplishments or dont meet new people.  maybe its me , iam playing EVE now and love the complexity, but again it looks like another solo online game where its rare to do anysort of teamwork (i could be wrong i only been playing for 5hours).  This might be the wrong place to ask this but instead of making a new thread, is there any other game on the market besides EQ( never played it and i think iam a wee bit behind lol) FFIX (ive played for a year and i might go back if i cant find a new home soon) or CoX(I just stop this game, played for over a year....fun times , just wish it was more complex) where leveling and teamwork is needed to progress in the game.  Thanks again

Originally posted by 4Renziks

Thanks alot guys for taking the time to post, looks like i will pass then, iam done with solo games and will not play a new MMO unless grouping is the focal point.  someone said WOW is a good grouping game, i dont know it was far to easy and i didnt like it.  Pretty much every since ive quit final fantasy 11 iam having trouble enjoying an mmo more than a month.....i get bored because i feel no sense of accomplishments or dont meet new people.  maybe its me , iam playing EVE now and love the complexity, but again it looks like another solo online game where its rare to do anysort of teamwork (i could be wrong i only been playing for 5hours).  This might be the wrong place to ask this but instead of making a new thread, is there any other game on the market besides EQ( never played it and i think iam a wee bit behind lol) FFIX (ive played for a year and i might go back if i cant find a new home soon) or CoX(I just stop this game, played for over a year....fun times , just wish it was more complex) where leveling and teamwork is needed to progress in the game.  Thanks again

EVE doesn't force you to group but unless you join a corporation and get involved in gang warfare you will never truely experience what EVE has to offer.  Even joining a corporation and doing level 5 missions in a gang with other players blows anything you can do alone in EVE away for 'fun factor'.

Also from what I recall you are selling EQ2 short.  It has a great deal of group content and, in fact, several aspects of the game can ONLY be done in groups/guilds/raids.  You CAN solo, and many do, but the focus of EQ has always been grouping.

I see your playing DDO, iam about to try the trial because i read that it is group based.....how are you liking it ?