Hey! I was thinking of picking up Everquest 2 sometime soon, my only worry is people have been telling me that you have to be a hardcore gamer to get anything done in this game. I know World of Warcraft is saposed to be very casual, but I don't really like the theme and story of Warcraft, to the tolkinish fantasy sytle of Everquest. I was just wondering if it is possible to get stuff done in this game as a casual gamer? On weekdays I have 0-2hours of time I could probaly play this game, with much more on fri through sunday, especially in evenings.
Will this work for me? Of what I've researched so far this game has lots of solo abilities that would be good to take advantage of during times when I can't log on very long, and group when I can...
Thanks for you opinions/suggestions =)
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Hey ddtemplar, I play about the same amount of time as you. 0-2 hours on workdays and 2-4 hours on off days. I usually try to get in a little time crafting before work.. ~30minutes or so, and in the evenings if I get to play I try to get a group. Just so you can see here are my characters.
1. 17sorcerer/8artisan
2. 15sorcerer/9artisan
3. 7 priest/4artisan
4. 4 scout
So, yes a casual gamer can still play.
1. 17sorcerer/8artisan
2. 15sorcerer/9artisan
3. 7 priest/4artisan
4. 4 scout
So, yes a casual gamer can still play.
It depends on what you want out of the game.
EQ2 is a bit over a month old and there are already level 40+ toons running around and level 30+ Artisians busily crafting things for them. In fact, SoE had to specifically address the high level players by giving them more non-grey mobs to fight- I honestly don't think they expected players to be that far along this fast.
If you just want a diversion from the real life (that's me as well), then you could do alot worse than EQ2. There are plenty of things that you can do in just a couple of hours- many Quests, with decent rewards, take less time than that. You can head out and harvest resources to make a bit of coin. You can, provided you pick the right class, solo a bit for xp and loot. You can, if you pick the right classes, get a group and make some decent xp in that timeframe. By 'right classes', I mean fighters or healer-types. Those solo most effectively and usually get groups in a hurry of they're so inclined.
I play a bit more than you do and have managed a 20 Necromancer (that I loathe) and a 14 Bard/13 Outfitter (that I love) in that time. Aside from a few, albeit major, problems I have with the game (lack of soloable content and the atrocious player market system), I >do< enjoy the game and think it's well worth the time and money invested.
EQ2 is a bit over a month old and there are already level 40+ toons running around and level 30+ Artisians busily crafting things for them. In fact, SoE had to specifically address the high level players by giving them more non-grey mobs to fight- I honestly don't think they expected players to be that far along this fast.
If you just want a diversion from the real life (that's me as well), then you could do alot worse than EQ2. There are plenty of things that you can do in just a couple of hours- many Quests, with decent rewards, take less time than that. You can head out and harvest resources to make a bit of coin. You can, provided you pick the right class, solo a bit for xp and loot. You can, if you pick the right classes, get a group and make some decent xp in that timeframe. By 'right classes', I mean fighters or healer-types. Those solo most effectively and usually get groups in a hurry of they're so inclined.
I play a bit more than you do and have managed a 20 Necromancer (that I loathe) and a 14 Bard/13 Outfitter (that I love) in that time. Aside from a few, albeit major, problems I have with the game (lack of soloable content and the atrocious player market system), I >do< enjoy the game and think it's well worth the time and money invested.
honestly I think it's great for the more casual player.. I've also got 4 characters.. one of which is approaching 20th level and I really don't play all that often..
typically if a quest isn't solo'able to me now, I just go off and do something else and come back to it in a few levels and it's not quite so bad.. I've noticed that your ability to solo depends on your class, however, all classes CAN solo.. it's just a question of what you'll be most able to beat up on..
my predator at 15th can effectively take white cons and the occassional yellow..
my Summoner at 15th (now 17th level) could effectively take yellow and some orange cons...
since all classes can solo pretty well and the fact that there's quite a few quest in the game that can be done solo with more on the way is a good thing for the more casual player.
typically if a quest isn't solo'able to me now, I just go off and do something else and come back to it in a few levels and it's not quite so bad.. I've noticed that your ability to solo depends on your class, however, all classes CAN solo.. it's just a question of what you'll be most able to beat up on..
my predator at 15th can effectively take white cons and the occassional yellow..
my Summoner at 15th (now 17th level) could effectively take yellow and some orange cons...
since all classes can solo pretty well and the fact that there's quite a few quest in the game that can be done solo with more on the way is a good thing for the more casual player.
Yay :D. This has made my decision to buy this game! People I know who have bought Wow have been trying to influence me to buy it :/... but as I said above I like the theme of Everquest better. Also I've heard ppl in WoW have already hit the limit... and it hasnt been out to long..
Anyways thanks for the advice :), I only hope this game still works ok on an old 1.4ghz processor T_T
Anyways thanks for the advice :), I only hope this game still works ok on an old 1.4ghz processor T_T
ya.. 2hrs or so is more enough time get thigns done.. some quest and such. If you mange make some good steady online friends. You will probly not be able get on enough though have any stable party's as they probly lvl faster then you.
Most longer quest you could possibly get done on weekends. So far at least this has been no FFXI to me.. no waiting WEEKS to get party.. to do a quest. Defently try a melee class though.. their funner then they were in EQ1 imo..
I had high lvl warrior in Eq1.. and i can say so far warrior is better now. No more just hack slash.. on auto fight hehe.
Most longer quest you could possibly get done on weekends. So far at least this has been no FFXI to me.. no waiting WEEKS to get party.. to do a quest. Defently try a melee class though.. their funner then they were in EQ1 imo..
I had high lvl warrior in Eq1.. and i can say so far warrior is better now. No more just hack slash.. on auto fight hehe.
Best game I've come across for the casual gamer. Especially if you pick up a healer archtype which is always in demand. Don't pick an enchanter class. It's really pitiful to see this enchanter or that illusionist crying by the zone entrances, entreating piteously for groups....
You can solo at any level [as far as I can see, but it's a lot more faster/efficient if you're in a good group of course] and there are hundreds of quests. Only game where I've done more quests is FFXI [on that note, I wish EQ2 had FFXI style cutscenes, voice-overs only go so far] and I've played that for over 2 years. I've almost matched the number of quests already, if only they were more up to FFXI's standard...
You can solo at any level [as far as I can see, but it's a lot more faster/efficient if you're in a good group of course] and there are hundreds of quests. Only game where I've done more quests is FFXI [on that note, I wish EQ2 had FFXI style cutscenes, voice-overs only go so far] and I've played that for over 2 years. I've almost matched the number of quests already, if only they were more up to FFXI's standard...
There is tons to do. Once you get to your main city (Qeynos or Freeport), asside from all the "busy work" stuff, the most important things to do for remaining competative are: upgrade your spells/abilities, upgrade your armor and weapons, and make some food and drink.
Sounds weird, doesn't it? But even if u can summon food and drink, don't. Player made food, when eaten, gives u a health regen buff that's noticeably good compared to all other food - drink does the same for power.
Use this site's quest guide to "cluster" quests - to do them more efficiently. And make getting a good new weapon and new armor a high priority. This can go pretty fast.
Visit the scribe shop or trainer in your town right away. Buy "apprentice lvl 2" upgrades for your main spells or abilities if you can. If not, start saving for these right away. App lvl 3 is better - and is player made. Find a broker and see if u can afford these in key areas. Joining the trade society (a trap door - ask npcs at these until u find the one who will let u join) lets u access a broker - u can use him to buy from other players. Or you can use the market board in your apt to find stuff - and go to those players to buy. Upgrading spells/abilities makes them to more (more damage, or more healing - or they buff more, whatever).
The ranks are apprentice 1, 2, 3, Adept 1 and 3, and Master 1. U get app 1 automatically. U can buy app 2 from scribe /trainer. App 3 is player made. Adept 1 and Master 1 drop off monsters. Adept 3 is player made. You don't have ot buy in order. If you see an adept u can use for cheap, u can buy it and scribe it and use it, skipping app 2 and 3.
Knowing these basics will help u keep up, even if u don't have much time. GL
Sounds weird, doesn't it? But even if u can summon food and drink, don't. Player made food, when eaten, gives u a health regen buff that's noticeably good compared to all other food - drink does the same for power.
Use this site's quest guide to "cluster" quests - to do them more efficiently. And make getting a good new weapon and new armor a high priority. This can go pretty fast.
Visit the scribe shop or trainer in your town right away. Buy "apprentice lvl 2" upgrades for your main spells or abilities if you can. If not, start saving for these right away. App lvl 3 is better - and is player made. Find a broker and see if u can afford these in key areas. Joining the trade society (a trap door - ask npcs at these until u find the one who will let u join) lets u access a broker - u can use him to buy from other players. Or you can use the market board in your apt to find stuff - and go to those players to buy. Upgrading spells/abilities makes them to more (more damage, or more healing - or they buff more, whatever).
The ranks are apprentice 1, 2, 3, Adept 1 and 3, and Master 1. U get app 1 automatically. U can buy app 2 from scribe /trainer. App 3 is player made. Adept 1 and Master 1 drop off monsters. Adept 3 is player made. You don't have ot buy in order. If you see an adept u can use for cheap, u can buy it and scribe it and use it, skipping app 2 and 3.
Knowing these basics will help u keep up, even if u don't have much time. GL
Thanks for info :)
I heard soloing isent that great at higher levels :(.. but with quests when you don't have tons of time is there stuff you can do for decent exp still??
However I may be worrying about nothing. Used to Final Fantasy 11 where you could wait from 30mins-2hours waiting for parties, and then it breaking up!
(also side note, in ff11 you needed like a perfect party setup to get anything done in a party. Is everquest 2 at least a bit more flexible? In ff11 not much but hte perfrect party, all full would work T_T)
Sorry for taking up your time :(.. thanks for your patcience with a newbie ;)
I heard soloing isent that great at higher levels :(.. but with quests when you don't have tons of time is there stuff you can do for decent exp still??
However I may be worrying about nothing. Used to Final Fantasy 11 where you could wait from 30mins-2hours waiting for parties, and then it breaking up!
(also side note, in ff11 you needed like a perfect party setup to get anything done in a party. Is everquest 2 at least a bit more flexible? In ff11 not much but hte perfrect party, all full would work T_T)
Sorry for taking up your time :(.. thanks for your patcience with a newbie ;)
One nice thing about EQ2 for the casual gamer is the way that death penalties are treated. In other MMORPGs, when you died, the standard was a mandantory xp loss. This could get very crippling as you got higher in levels. The way it is handled in EQ2, is that you gain an xp debt. You will never lose xp, only gaina debt beyond what you have. So, if I am, say, at 40% xp towards level 15, and I die, I may get a 5% debt. So, I'll still be at 40%, but I will only be gaining half the xp from 40% to 45%, at which time the debt is payed. But, the nice thing about this system for casual gamers, is that the debt slowly disappears when you are logged out. So, if you had a bad night, by the time you had enough time to log back in and join another party, you will probably have a clean slate. I think this is great for the casual gamer!
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I am in the same boat as far as time restrictions and I have a level 21 assasin (almost 22). I have only grouped a few times in the entire time I've played that character. Even if I only have a couple of hours I can get to my hunting ground within 10 minutes of logging in, kill baddies for an hour and 50 minutes, and then transport home.
well as for me i am now a lvl 23 pali and have soloed most of the time and partied with friends at time from ffxi, have had no problems and a blast. Sometimes i just log on for 30 minutes to craft or spend 12 hours on my day off exsploring (which you get xp for too!) and really having alot of fun doing it. There is so much eye candy in the game it is scary, the quests can be very intreauging especially the book quests. Some of em offer history others are stories that resemble grim fairy tales. So anyway game as little or as much as you want no one will knock ya because you are doing what you want, for afterall it is a game and ment to be fun not work.
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