The good old days: My Everquest storyFollow

I started playing the game opening day. Wolfrick went through a few prototypes, but within 3 days of the release of Everquest I had already realized the druid was the way to play. I was the ultimate powergamer. I had awaited the release of EQ for 2 months a chilly winter in Kentucky. This time period cost me a very nice girl friend I had invested 3 years with. I had already alienated her with my early UO power gaming, but EQ was clearly the latest and greatest in computer rpgs.
I had chosen the druid because in early class guides coming from beta players druids were described as wizard/ clerics being a watered down variation of both classes. Of course they are much more than that. They can even tank until other tactics become viable. Everyone knows this is true, however the early going for a newb druid was never so rosey. Wisdom and mana is pathetically low in the beginning. Healing spells are almost a joke. Certainly not a reason for the young druid to be sought out as a groups healer. The druid does however have a nice offensive slant as a priest type. For that matter so does the shaman whom I was occosionally envious of.
My fondest memories of EQ are of growing up around Rivervale and Misty Thicket. I would go out killing beetles and bats and eventually save enough cash for another peice of leather armor. Don't you remember the days of "Banded Armor for sale/trade". Banded armor was made from commmon animal furs and was a bit better than cloth armor. I was usually too engrossed in lvling and stacking bat wings and such to pay much attention to trade skills and the like. I did try out a bit of fishing because I found I could fish while medding which help alleviate the boredom just a little bit. I sort of discovered the fishing skill was silly(maybe this has changed since I quit but I doubt it). Fishing was silly because I could summon food, forage food, buy food or fish.
As I completed my armor the only thing to fear in Misty Thicket were the Young Kodiaks. Having unsuccessfully looked in High hold and E Commons I found my way to W Karana. I gradually learned that a druid was not an ideal member of a large group because the cleric filled the role of healer MUCH better than I could. Also offensive mages of any sort are superior. Even though we all know the druid is a bit OP he is truly watered down ultimately. But I found a small group such as a monk w/ druid or especially a necro w/ druid was a very compact and powerful package. My Necro friend, Shidisu, and I leveled for days maybe weeks in the Karanas ( Later I would learn that Oasis was much better, but I couldn't quite get there). The geography was so much more imposing in those days inspiring real feelings of absolute terror.

To be continued ..... (Yes I'm waiting on a very long download to begin playing again)

I like the part where you dropped your girlfriend to pursue "power gaming"

You need a doctor. Of course, that was seven years ago ... so now you probably need a team of doctors.

You gave up reproduction opportunities for a computer game? Hmmm. Sad. I would've boinked her and then got back to my game while she slept.