Should I play?Follow

I haven't been kicked to the desktop in many months. The game has probably changed a lot since you played. Check out the Trial of the Isle demo to see if you like it.

Scroll down and read some of the MANY posts asking the same question. I'm sure you'll find many answers there.

For a game that's been active for 5+ years? I'd hardly call that bailing.


Not sure if you're playing the same EQ2 I am. Maybe your server population has declined over time.

Not sure what you mean by poor group play. Groups are the best way to take down tough mobs. Heroic Opportunities are an additional way for group cooperation to do more damage or get a battle buff.

Weak player skills? I think everyone brings something to the group. And the ability for any class to solo, that tells me that players have good skills - each one does it differently. DOn't expect a mage to melee a mob in his tissue-paper armor.

Resources for tradeskills - I can either harvest items in the field, buy them at a vendor, or buy them from other players.

No market for trade products - sorry, but player-made items are the best to own and they are affordable at all levels. SOE took some items away from the merchants to encourage players to buy from other players. The economy is still stable. Sounds like a good market there.

Lame housing? How about no housing in EQ1. In EQ2 you at least start with a basic room, and can upgrade to larger houses. Don't expect a free-construction zone where people can build. That's not part of this game so don't look for it.

PvP was probably on their plan for a while, just not at launch. Since the game is primarily designed as PvE, it's a delicate process to now change all PvE skills to PvP. They have adopted 2 skill rules when you use either PvE or PvP.

Player support - I've submitted several petitions and reports. I received a response within just a day or two. I don't expect a GM to come swooping in the very second I yell help.

If you can't find a group, then go solo. If you don't want to solo, then ask a few folks to join you with a /tell. You'd be surprised how many people will drop their soloing to go help or join a group. There are plentiful supplies of solo mobs for anyone to grind out.

Tinkering will happen and will always happen to any game. EQ1 still gets fixes even after 5+ years. I don't know of any game that is bug/fix-free.

About the only thing I'll agree on is the community. Because of the many city zones, there is no central area for people to gather like PoK in EQ1. However, prior to PoK or Nexus there was no central place for anyone. With the EQ2 boat bells available to transport folks to distant places, there is no need to go somewhere to get buffs for adventuring. Additionally, the game used to have locked encounters, forbidding casting in from the outside.

The mindset was, "If I can't help anyone, why should I try?"

However there has been a step in the right direction. Locked encounters have been changed. Now players can cast spells into a group or even do damage into the encounter. A higher level healer can stand outside the group and cast helpful heals or buffs. A fighter can taunt the mob to him so a group can kill it, staying safe. Buffs like SoW can be cast on anyone, allowing them to run faster without staying near the caster.

I frequently take my 27 Warden around and see if there is anyone needing help, heals, or buffs. I've even seen a higher level fighter in Oakmyst Forest offering to tank a named mob so the lower level group can kill it and get credit.

A tour through the game aisle does not produce any game that is perfect. The good news is that if you don't like it, you don't have to play. EQ2 is not for everyone. Best thing to do is try this and see for yourself. Keep in mind that it's just the tip of the iceburg. The real adventure awaits. :)

I use to play FFXI and got bored with it.. everything was the same over and over again... when you go to lvl a second job for the same charicter.. just got old.. I've read up on this and there are soo many diff things you can do, diff weapons, tons of quests to keep you busy.. Plus find a good guild and it wont get dull, i'm in one and there is always something to do weather its having them help you with your quests or helping them with theirs or just going out and slaying everything you can.. Over FFXI and DAoC, EQ2 is by far much better.. :D