I’ve always heard good things about EQ but never bothered to pick it up. So I’m at Bestbuy yesterday and see EQ2. I figure, what the hay, I’m going to see what all the fuss is about. All I have to say is WOW!!! I’ve haven’t played that much, but the graphics are beautiful, the battles fun (almost killed several times - thank goodness for the sprint ability), and so far the content/quests are very good. I started playing this morning at 4 a.m. and before I knew it, I was about to be late for work a few hours later. I can see how this game can become very addictive. Anyone else pick this title up yet? What do you think about it?
I’ve got my scout up to lvl 6, and played for about an hour after I got out of Newbieland.
I died once so far in Newbieland. My party got a treasure map which spawned a pirate ghost. Me and another guy tried to fight it and we got our asses kicked. We then got a group of 6 and ripped him a new one. 
I won a sword which wasn’t much better than my newb gear.
I like it so far, except the vocal NPCs can be annoying. Everytime you run by them they start up, and after you hear the same thing a dozen times it gets a little boring.
I picked it up last night too, I had played in Beta, so I knew pretty much what to expect, although, there were some new things that weren’t there before.
I am waiting for a friend to get back home from his business trip so I just started an evil character last night (he wants to play good) in the meantime.
I think you can turn off the repeat NPC vocals too - under sound options I believe, something like “first time only” or something.
It’s been fun so far, will be more fun when my friend gets his copy.
Concerning, good vs. evil characters - are there any actual difference in playing these in the game or is it just a RPing thing? For example, can evil characters have PvP combat? Do NPC react differently to your alignment? Do you get different quests bases upon your alignment? Also, does the race you choose really make any significant difference since any race can be any class? At the beginning, it looks like it would, but as advancement continues, those initial differences look to become less significant.
In EQ2, from what little I know (played beta for 3 days, and now have an ogre mage starting live yesterday), alignment determines your starting city. If you choose a good race, you start in Qeynos, a happy shiny city full of hugs and bunnies.
If you choose an evil race, you start in Freeport where it seems like it is always raining, and the streets are so dirty, they make their own gravy.
Once in your city, you are ‘stuck’ there until you hit level 15ish and you undergo a LENGTHY betrayal quest to switch sides. In the wilderness, you can group and hunt together with those of opposite alignment, but you best stay away from the city gates.
As of the moment, EQ2 has no PvP and there are no scheduled plans for them. Alignment wars would be a novel idea in time, at least in a limited scope (an arena perhaps like in the original).
Otherwise, you are limited in the class you select based on alignment. Both sides have access to the four base classes (priest, mage, warrior, scout), as well as the three subclasses within them (once you hit level 10). Once you hit 20, the final subclass will vary: for example if you are evil you can be a summoner or necromancer. If you are good, you can be a summoner or conjurer. There is some overlap in spells, but the ‘flavor’ of them will vary (necromancer summons skeletons, conjurer summons elementals).
I’ve not had the displeasure of hunting or grouping with a ‘goody good’ yet, but I am sure I will roleplay a little bit once I meet up with them =)
Bamthwok - level 9 ogre mage (training for Necro)
As for whether the game is enjoyable, I give a resounding YES! It is not going to be as solo friendly in the long run as Worlds of Warcraft, but the immersion, graphics, and huge list of quests make it fantastic!
Is there an additional subscription cost for the online play? If so, how much is it? This game looks great and I’d love to try it out, but if it’s too cost prohibitive I’ll be forced to pass.
The first 30 days are included. After that I think it is $12-13/month.
EQ I player here for many years. I just picked up EQ2 on Tuesday, and yea I like it, just not sure I love it. The graphics and everything are amazing, no doubt there. It just seems to me they have dumbed it down ALOT, but im only lvl4 now so perhaps I just need to get out more
You say it seems pretty group oriented? Is it possible to play without grouping very much?
This is how it starts. It ends with three guys naked in a bathtub, arguing about who’s going to go out to get the new subscription card. Don’t say you haven’t been warned.