considering returningFollow

Hi, I played for 8 months or so when eq2 launched and am thinking about trying it out again.
I'm wondering how the community has aged. Sounds like content is much better, but is it easy to find pugs and guilds that like to group while leveling up to the cap, or is grouping pretty much something that happens just for the end game raids.
I like to solo, but I left eq2 last time because the good friends that I liked to play with all quit, and it got pretty lonely and boring. I prefer small groups to larger ones, raiding has appeal to me, but it is limited. I just don't like the long delays that seem inevitable while waiting for 40 players to meet, strategize and synch to a mission with rather inflexible standards. So I have always played more alts than raids.

Just wondering if you think eq2 would fit well with my preferences, any comments you can offer would be appreciated.

I've just come back after a year's absence. This is my 3rd time playing; I also played when the game first came out. And I'm having a blast. So much has changed, it's much "easier" now and also solo friendly. I haven't grouped yet (unless you count DSD mentoring me, hah) but I haven't had to. A lot of the mobs and quests that were group only can now be done solo. And if I'm not off killing stuff, I'm running around looking at all they've added. (and getting stepped on by heroic mobs that see through stealth )

Getting pick up groups seems to be fairly easy, especialyl at lower levels. ITs every day almsot at any time you see people LFM for lvl 15 to 45ish content. Since Ihave hit lvl 50 it has gotten a tad more difficult to find pick up groups. I don't know if its just a lack of players in my level range or if people are starting to get that high level snob attitude. I know in EQ1 it seemed like the higher end players got an attitude that they didn't want to group with you unless you was their best friend and/or in their guild.

I can see the point in people being afraid of pick up groups. I have had my shared of bad ones. However I have found in eq2 even the crappiest pick up groups are generally better then no group at all. Heck I Remember a couple of weeks ago I had a permafrost group and the tank complained saying it was too hard to find his taunts. While the tank acted like a Ebay newb we all still got exp and quest updates for a good couple of hours. I could see in eq1 being afraid of PUG, there is alot can be lost such as exp, time, etc. Heck a group wipe in eq1 was a really big mess. But in eq2 your group wipes and within a few silver and a few minutes you pretty much back on track.

Anyways I think eq2 would be good for you, sounds like you have about the same attitude as I have. I used to love eq1, but like I say the attitude of higher levels in that game has turned me away. Pretty much any class can solo, and pick up groups are generally pretty easy to find. I don't know much about end game content as the highest I have ever played it lvl 57, however raiding doesn't seem to be a requirement like some games seem to be.

The game IMO has become alot better then what it was 8 months after release. Alot of those access quests have been removed for starters. Also you no longer need a group to complete a quest just to reach lvl 20 like you used to. Crafting is easier now as the subcombines have been removed. When you die you no longer have to find your shard, you lose durability on your gear and get some exp debt. If you played a Conjuror or Necro before you will be happy to know their pets can now actually hold aggression and tank somewhat. Also necro and conjuror spells no longer overwrite each other like they used to. In fact if you have a group of 6 necro's they can all cast their spells and the mob will just have 5 dots of the same type on them now.