Everquest II

as an old school Everquest player, I thought I would return and engage in some nostalgia with EQII.  Soe was nice enough to invite me back for an extended free trial.  It looked like a good deal in print, but it hinges on being able to enter the game, which I can not do.  Gamma ramp issues that they say are caused by my OS (Windows Vista DX 10).  Strange, since I can play SWG, EVE, AoC, Oblivion, Wow, Voyage Century, Jumpgate and Doom III just fine.  I am soooo tired of SOE's lackadaisical approach to tech support.  SOE needs to grow a pair and accept responsiblilty for their programming issues that cause these kinds of problems.  So, to answer your question, no, I don't play EQII any more.

As an EQ1 vet, I played EQ2 when it first came out and really wanted to like it. And while I agree with some of the comments about the grahpics and the feel of the world not being quite right, I really didn't think it was too bad except for one thing.

Locked encounters.

Do I understand why they did it? Of course. But for me it was a game killer. I built my EQ1 druid's reputation on being the guy who comes over the hill, sees you in trouble, and can get you out of that trouble without KSing.

One can make a lot of friends that way. People don't forget. I sure got my sorry arse saved a number of times by people whom I had helped in the past.

Locked encounters took all that away. Hated it.

That's not to say that it was a bad game, just not the game for me.

So... does the game still have locked encounters? If so, it would be silly for me to try the game again. I know up front I just would not like it.

Encounters can be either locked or unlocked thru options, the choice is up to the player. Funny how the old, Im an old school eq1 player, gets me ever time i see a post on EQ2. This aint ur daddys eq1 its a different game and one i find very enjoyable. I mainly solo and dont give a hoot about uberness, all i want is a game that I can log into and have some fun without waiting for others. I have soloed 3 toons to 80 and had a blast doing it. Tried AOC, LOTRO, WOW , then came back to EQ2. Tradeskills are awesome got 5 with tradeskill epics.  I am having fun and thats what its all about but thats me.

Well, more power to you.

Whatever your opinion of EQ1 players, I took pains to be polite and not bash your beloved game.

Obviously, you felt no need to respond in kind, with that tone.

I think I prefer my daddy's EQ1 to children, but that's just me.

Yeah Brad Mcquaid and John Smedley have opposite views on MMOGs.

When Brad created EQ1 and was in charge of it's direction, the game focused on socializing, keeping all avenues open for all playertypes,  a seamless world and anti RMT stance. Smedley wants instancing, locked encounters, linear design, forced raiding for endgame, and now microtransactions and RMT as well.

Originally posted by UNATCOII

 

 

 

Thirdly, the UI sucks. It's a space hog, and I'm not some 15 year-old to view 80+ 16px icons to cram them all in, so I can have even a 640x480 window to fight through.

 

I totally disagree with you on this.  I love EQ2s interface.  It is so customizeable compared to TR, AOC, VG,.   EQ2s interface is the best interface I have ever played on that came stock in an MMO.

Originally posted by Smilex0311

Originally posted by UNATCOII

 

 

 

Thirdly, the UI sucks. It's a space hog, and I'm not some 15 year-old to view 80+ 16px icons to cram them all in, so I can have even a 640x480 window to fight through.

 

 

I totally disagree with you on this.  I love EQ2s interface.  It is so customizeable compared to TR, AOC, VG,.   EQ2s interface is the best interface I have ever played on that came stock in an MMO.

I have to agree with Smile. EQ2's interface is the most customizable there is. You can move everthing or hid everything.
 

But back to topic, EQ2 is still strong. Crushbone, Anotino Bayle and the PvP server are full all the time.

I actually got friends who left WoW for AoC, didn't like what they found and went to EQ2

to his/her their' own

I'm on Splitpaw and there's always people on that....the local chat is always buzzing

Just finished rerolling a fury to 27 and using up my tradeskill vit across all my characters. I'm on the wb 30 days but something doesnt feel right. The game is hard work and I havent seen anything to really motivate me.

yeah it's ok not what i used to remember it by but my guild is chilling in it just more for socal and screwing around but hey it's fun and passes time till war comes out.