If you played EQ (and if you are here, you probably did) ... you really should concider trying out EQ2. Tonight playing through the Shard of Fear (EQ2s version of the Plane of Fear, for 5 people) is quite the trip down memory lane - including getting attacked by scarlings before you finish zoning.

Rise of Kunark comes out in a week, and for $40 you get the full game, every expansion (including the new one), and 30 days to play. Lots of people will be rerolling as the new Sarnaks, so you won't be the only newbie. And your higher level friends can always /mentor down to your level and help you.

You've come full circle Kelraz I remember when you used to hate on EQ2 ;)

I'm actually considering firing it up again as I'm bored and am curious to see Kunark.

It was pretty weak compared to WoW in the beginning. But the content development for EQ is vastly superior to Blizzard's, and their raid system is a lot more forgiving. One game had a lot of growth, the other is just the status quo and I'm not waiting another year for the next WoW expansion to play something new in the game.

Neriak, Darklight Woods (now newbie area that was once part of Nektulos Forest), Unrest, Fear, and the soon to be released Hate are all free additions to the game that took place in the past year since the last expansion. Compare that to the only addition to WoW since the expansion ... the Black Temple.

You've come full circle Kelraz I remember when you used to hate on EQ2Kelraz has undergone a thorough re-education and is one of us now. I tell him there are five lights, and he nows that there are, in fact, five lights.

Come, be one of us...

one of us

one of us

one of us
(oh, and play pvp - preferrably on the nagafen server - i need some more kills)

Even managed to kill Dracoliche in my first time in Fear :) We didn't get the golem Terror though (who is the boss of the shard, a small portion of the zone)

I can attest to the coolness of EQ2. The mentoring system alone makes it worth a try. You can group with anyone at any level and you'll even get bonus xp. :spade

EDIT: One thing that I will say is that finding groups is much harder than it is on WoW. I'm not sure of my exact server poopulation (Everfrost), but at certain level ranges it is simply desolate. I spend far more time LFG than I would like to. During the mid-high 50s I actually just quit for a couple of months because I'd log on for hours and not be able to get any groups.

I too can attest that EQ2 is fun. And to be honest it took me no time to get to 70. The toon was not a twink and just a little help from my friends here and there. There is a bunch of old AyRo people in Prism on Everfrost. We tend to have a good time =)

Gah you guys have me wishing I had the time to come back to this now.

I have to agree with Shorty

:( same

Same :(

But this year I don't really have the time to wipe my arse, let alone spare a few hours for EQ2.

I'll play it through you guys here though :P

To be honest, its not as time consuming as EQ1. Since it has the mentoring system implemented, it is something you can play casually and still hang out with your friends. Also a lot of the group instances are fast and fun. The "grind" really isnt noticeable. I think the key to playing casually is not to be in a "raiding guild". I think that was the major time sink in EQ1 for the most of us.

Prism is a great example. It's a bunch of old school Ayro players that raid Friday nights and Sat nights. If you can make the raid, great, otherwise no biggie. And you got people like Thormir, Kelraz, Wein, me and others to help you along the way!

Ogan has been playing casually a mere 70 hours a week or so without any trouble at all -- an excellent addition to Prism's zombie hordes.

EDIT: One thing that I will say is that finding groups is much harder than it is on WoW. I'm not sure of my exact server poopulation (Everfrost), but at certain level ranges it is simply desolate. I spend far more time LFG than I would like to. During the mid-high 50s I actually just quit for a couple of months because I'd log on for hours and not be able to get any groups.

This is true, and there are several likely causes:
- a bunch of small guilds who group mainly with other guildmates. You don't need a huge guild in order to do the end game content any longer. With raids limited to 24 people, smaller guilds can be fairly insular and still be successful.
- at the end of an expansion's life, lots of people have been through the content more than a few times, are max level and AA and so they slow down on their playtime. I'm guilty of this, since I'm primarily a one toon person.
- LFG is no worse than it was in EQ1 in terms of dead times.
- most classes can solo well enough to make progress. It is often boring, but it does allow you to log in for an hour and make visible progress forward.
- unorthodox groups can be successful. We've taken groups with a healer and 3 tank classes through the upper end zones. Yes, it takes longer than if you're stacked with high DPS classes, but you don't /need/ specific classes to have success in most of the zones.

That said, PRISM is looking for a few more folks to with which to tear shit up. DPS classes are always welcome, and we could use another dirge, a coercer and a paladin.

'And you got people like Thormir, Kelraz, Wein, me and others to help you along the way!'

- Is that supposed to be enticing? :D

For you we have level 70 livestock.

Wait, I hear you say you need a paladin?!? I have a level 66,67,or 68 paladin from before I left the last time but I'm on Kithicor...how much is the transfer cost?

Though, I was thinking of starting over with an ugly sarnak. :D

Time really isn't a factor. I play whenever I have time. This week that hasn't been at all. Next week I might play 30+ hours. If you roll and start leveling you'll have the bonus of having a guild who is gonna be able to mentor you through shit and get you leveled up quickly (Well, the expansion is coming out. Maybe not as fast as usual). EQ2 basically took the easy solo quests from WoW, added some new ones (Collections and stuff), and then kept the same grouping system from EQ1. There are some instances, but there is a lot of non-instanced content as well. If you log on for an hour you can get a lot finished. It's definitely worth a shot.

'For you we have level 70 livestock.'

- Lol. Well it sure sounds fun. Perhaps when research slackens after Christmas I'll try and give it a shot. Would be nice to play with some Aro'ers again.

Does it cost anything right now to switch servers?

I don't know; and no one answered me either :(

I think it costs $50 to transfer.

(edit) It doesn't take that long to level up. If you grind EQ1 style, you'd max level in a month or less. However, grinding doesn't net the best rewards XP Wise- combinding a grind with quests is the best.

Well I'm pissed at gamestop... can't get RoK till tomorrow. :( assholes.

Actually in the RoK release patch notes it seems they are upping exp gain from 1-70 from quests.

God damn you guys... now I may pick the game up. I don't know which server I would play on though...

Prism is on Everfrost and has a few A.Ro types in it. We're not at all hardcore, though.

We're also picky. Obviously not too picky -- we let Kelraz in! -- but somewhat picky.

Everyone loves the Drunk Monk, don't try to deny it.

Except for Samanusuke, but he's a dick anyhow.

Don't listen to Esbat - I rock hardcore like nobody's business.

pvp!!!


that pve shit is boring :(
come play on nagafen !!!

I started a pvp character when pvp came to EQ2 I think I got to level 29ish before I said meh. Besides if playing pvp is like reading the nagafen boards on eq2flames omg no way :p

But just started back to EQ2, and the above posters are right. It's alot more fun now than it was when it first came out. ALOT easier to level now imho. I'm on permafrost trying out different toons atm till i decide which one i like the best so if any old ayonae are there, say hi if you want.

Realli 21 Gnome bruiser
Lowand 20 Gnome coercer
Catemia 21 Kerran Inquisitor
And a host of others......

I recently rolled on everfrost and joined up with Prism. The game is alllot better now then when I quit playing in "06". Maybe its the folks that actually will take the time to mentor down and help you out(Go Prism!)but leveling is pretty easy and the game is pretty fun!

Shorty xfer over you dildo or at least roll a toon and look me up as Souljah.

Yeah Shorty xfer man!! You will have fun! =)

But not me, I've been absolutely worthless in helping people lately ... :( I need more free time!