There are too many quests that either require a group or are much too complicated. WOW, for the most part, does this right,  I would estimate that about 90% of their quests are solo friendly. There are very few complicated quests. In fact, most quests are single steps. I would strongly advise simplifying most quests.

Seconly, inculcate the AA system that EQ1 uses. This allows for even more customization and keeps people playing. Having access to 500 Advanced AA skills adds a LOT of content and makes the game much more compelling.

Third, add a LOT more types of stat armor and make much more armor solo friendly. Having to raid isn't in the cards for many people, as WOW has demonstrated. Casual friendly is not only "in," but is the key to success.

Originally posted by taxguy

There are too many quests that either require a group or are much too complicated. WOW, for the most part, does this right,  I would estimate that about 90% of their quests are solo friendly. There are very few complicated quests. In fact, most quests are single steps. I would strongly advise simplifying most quests.

I personally think there is a good mix of quests, take a look at my sig below, see the amount of quests completed, well most of them were done solo.   Theres some great quest lines out there.  And if you want a comlicated quests, do the claymore.

Seconly, inculcate the AA system that EQ1 uses. This allows for even more customization and keeps people playing. Having access to 500 Advanced AA skills adds a LOT of content and makes the game much more compelling.

While i would disagree with using EQ1's system, i agree for more customisation.  Who knows, hopefully the Rise of Kunark expansion will add something to the AP system.

Third, add a LOT more types of stat armor and make much more armor solo friendly. Having to raid isn't in the cards for many people, as WOW has demonstrated. Casual friendly is not only "in," but is the key to success.

 Agreed, i have very rarely gotten a solo quest  armor reward that i could actually use.  Most quests rewards are useless to a soloer.  Nearly every piece i own is bought which sucks, i wish i could get a decent reward as a soloer.

I agree that eq2 should borrow some elements from eq1's AA system. lets face it, the AA system in eq1 is just down right SEXY. You can either have 10%, through 100% of your xp go to AAs and at end-game they lvl up really, really fast. and there are SO MANY to choose from. The AA system in eq1 is way better than any other form of alternate advacement in any other MMO.

But as for the quests... I disagree with what you have to say about the rewards. I remember that about half of the quest rewards my toon got I put to good use. I didnt really bother with brokers that much because questing was fun and usually rewarding if I just stuck to quest gear. Maybe this left me at a disadvantage but i didnt really care :-p

More solo quests is always a want for those of us that have to play casually because of work and stuff. Different paths of advancement like aa's would also be good specially if you could start them at lower lvls.

EQ2 was envisioned as a forced grouping game. Thats why its success has been so limited..even after they added ...grudgingly.....more solo content. Still has instanced housing ...no clothes dyeing.Even hardcore VG recognizedthe need for real housing ....custom clothes etc .

I just started up again and I do have to say one thing. As it is not hard finding solo quests anymore I have problems with the amount of crap you have to do for a solo quest. For instance in Nektulos Forest you for Kleron's Armor, each individual piece requires you to kill like 50 mobs and run around the zone to 3 different locations (little exaggeration). It took me about an hour and a half to finish a level 22 quest, which gave boots that were horrid for the work. Plus they require you to kill level 27 mobs...at 22 only a few classes can do that.

For those of you that say that the solo quests have no reward, do you have your exp turned off or something?   Solo quests are easy and I think some people expect the best gear from them anyway.  It's amazing what people will complain about.  They are supposed to be there to compensate for those who do not have a lot of time to sink into the game sometimes and want to do something anyway.  But I suppose if people complain about it too much they will make them tougher, to provide something else to get upset over.

Originally posted by fawdown

For those of you that say that the solo quests have no reward, do you have your exp turned off or something?   Solo quests are easy and I think some people expect the best gear from them anyway.  It's amazing what people will complain about.  They are supposed to be there to compensate for those who do not have a lot of time to sink into the game sometimes and want to do something anyway.  But I suppose if people complain about it too much they will make them tougher, to provide something else to get upset over.

 

But really.. It would be much more fun and rewarding if quests gave you gear that you actually could use and not some "HAH I laugh at your face nanana"-kinda gear.

Originally posted by mo0rbid

 

Originally posted by fawdown

For those of you that say that the solo quests have no reward, do you have your exp turned off or something?   Solo quests are easy and I think some people expect the best gear from them anyway.  It's amazing what people will complain about.  They are supposed to be there to compensate for those who do not have a lot of time to sink into the game sometimes and want to do something anyway.  But I suppose if people complain about it too much they will make them tougher, to provide something else to get upset over.

 

 

 

But really.. It would be much more fun and rewarding if quests gave you gear that you actually could use and not some "HAH I laugh at your face nanana"-kinda gear.

There are quests that give you good gear.  You have to work for the good stuff.  Going out and killing 10 black bears should not get you a legendary piece.   That would make the game too easy.

The solo quests in the new expansion give some good stuff, but they are somewhat more involved.

Originally posted by fawdown

There are quests that give you good gear.  You have to work for the good stuff.  Going out and killing 10 black bears should not get you a legendary piece.   That would make the game too easy.

The solo quests in the new expansion give some good stuff, but they are somewhat more involved.

You're right, in a fact it;s smt like: go out, and kill 15 black bears

I am finding plenty of pure solo-quests so far. On the other hand I'm almost always able to find a player or two that will join up for some monster bashing through tougher areas. I am a veteran at role-playing games, but would be considered a casual player in terms of MMORPG's where many others play them as many hours a day as I work (and then some). 

For me the big test is if a game is fun. It's not simply a means to get good equipment. Since none of the equipment, experiences, combat, etc...is real (hello, computer game people?), the most important thing is if I'm having a good time. EQ2 is really fun to me. I love the environments, the myriad of characters you can play and see running around, the monsters and the graphics. To me there is far more variety in this game compared to many other online games.

Agree with the OP. Sure, the new zones are solo friendly but the old zones have terrible solo quests, and on a PVP server like Nagafen you are often limited to one older zone(ex., too much ganking in BB Mtns and obviously Thundering Steppes, so as a Freep I had to quest in Nek Forest). Even if you are on a non-pvp server, you would still want to quest in the old zones which do have some fantastic music and atmosphere.

Originally posted by taxguy

There are too many quests that either require a group or are much too complicated. WOW, for the most part, does this right,  I would estimate that about 90% of their quests are solo friendly. There are very few complicated quests. In fact, most quests are single steps. I would strongly advise simplifying most quests.

Seconly, inculcate the AA system that EQ1 uses. This allows for even more customization and keeps people playing. Having access to 500 Advanced AA skills adds a LOT of content and makes the game much more compelling.

Third, add a LOT more types of stat armor and make much more armor solo friendly. Having to raid isn't in the cards for many people, as WOW has demonstrated. Casual friendly is not only "in," but is the key to success.

 

OMFG ... get out .. eq2 is so much solo friendly ... i loved the way it was until the 2nd expansion , and know we can nearly solo our rok fable timeline , need 2days max for every class to get a myth weapon lolz... claymore was ok but there starts the time where eq2 becomes wowish ...

yeah agree eq1 aa would be better and raiding isnt the key to sucess ... but never ever say eq2 ist not casual and solo friendly ... man u can solo every class in a few days to 80 ... in eq2 classic i can t even solo to lvl 10 as an illusionist .. that was great there was an MMO feeling but now the only thing u do some grouping are a few 6man instances when they are new and the raids ... everraid ...