Imagine toiling all day long deep in the bowels of a dungeon, illuminated in florescent light, plugging away for eighty hours a week and eagerly awaiting the hour when you can log in to Everquest II only to find that all of your friends have surpassed you in every possible way. Now imagine that you could buy experience potions to keep up with your friends' experience gain, or you could buy appearance armor so that you could look as cool as your fully equipped comrades. To put this simply, I am in love with Station Cash. If it were physical money I would collect as much as I could and fill a giant vault with it that I might fulfill my childhood dream of being Scrooge McDuck, diving gracefully headfirst into an endless sea of gold coins for recreation. For those who may not know, Station Cash works so that one credit of station cash is equivalent to one United States penny and can be purchased with a credit card. It is redeemable for items that you can buy in game on the station market, which can be found through the main EQII drop down menu.

What I spend my Station Cash on is the Equipment in EQ II. Although I have no qualms about my sexual orientation (ladies I am available) I do enjoy playing dress up. My character is sporting a “Freethinker's Abomination Hunting Hat” and, as I am writing, he is high on an experience potion, both of which were bought through the station market. The only issue I have is when I look through my monthly bank statements. I am already spending thirty dollars a month for my station access subscription, in addition to what I spend on Legends of Norrath. I also spend hours working endlessly to enhance my character with stat-friendly gear when, by all physical appearances, I am wearing what I spend in Station Cash.  I know that, as an American, I am filled with an urge to buy and consume (such is the lifeblood of our economy); however I really believe that, as a player, I should have more than one option on how to receive these items, whether it is by spending extra dough or extra time in game. Either way I would get what I want and Sony would get what they work hard for: the adoration of its public.

There are also many individuals who cannot afford to get station cash in addition to their monthly expenditure on the game itself. An example would be children who are not spoiled by their parents and, let's face it, there is not much choice to be had when it comes to free appearance armor. Sure, as a fan of dress up, I have found a lot of gear in game that will give me a decent appearance but, by all that is holy in the eyes of Marr, I cannot find anything that looks as awesome as that Indiana Jones reminiscent “Freethinker's Hat”.

All I am suggesting is, instead of developing these awesome items that can only be gotten through station cash purchases, why not make similar items available for people who are able to spend time in the game to work for them but may not have extra money. Maybe even throw in an extra quest line to help a league of the freethinker's hunter find his hat, but wait... this is not his hat, he forgot he left his hat at home. I guess you get to keep the one you found. An unexpected reward, but one I certainly would be more than happy to walk away with. I am also quite sure my wallet would appreciate having a little bit of its thickness preserved.

Why not also add something more for Tailors to play around with other than the old appearance chest slot pieces. All that exists is the same exact clothing with different colors and fancy names. Throw in a little diversity once in a while. Just a couple of extra recipes for an appearance chest slot that makes you look like Aragorn when our hobbit friends first meet him, or maybe something as complicated as a knightly-looking purple vestment with golden brocade along the shoulder seams and possibly a matching cloak to make your character look like you can attend a ball in Bayle's Court.

All I am saying is, maybe allow hardcore players the opportunity to spend the hours it may take to look the way they want, whatever that look is. Within reason, of course; no one wants to see a Neo look-alike halfling swashbuckler running around in the Kunzar Jungle. Then again, it might be refreshingly comical to see a paladin waving a sword wearing his night-gown and floppy bed-cap with fluffy slippers.

Billy Hall

Guest Editorialist

Guest Editorialist Billy Hall plays EQII as a Paladin on Oasis Server. His online gaming background began with Everquest in '00 and he now uses Station Access to play many SOE titles, including an Elder Bounty Hunter on Starwars Galaxies, a Monk on Vanguard: Saga of Heroes and his original warrior on Everquest. He is currently attending college for a degree in Literature with an Emphasis on Lit Theory.