Run away! Run away!
I’ve seen so many lives ruined from addiction. It isn’t worth the risk.
10 dollars a month is the cheapest you will ever pay for so much entertainment.
Everquest is a strange phenomenon. Many people simultaneously love it and hate it.
If you like the idea of a fantasy online roleplaying game, you have 3 choices so far: Everquest, Ultima Online, and Asheron’s Call. Of these, EQ is generally considered to be the best - an opinion supported by number of subscribers (300,000+ and climbing).
It’s hard to explain why I play this game - if I had to give a justification to someone who doesn’t play, I’m not sure that I could. It’s just fun - though it can be frustrating if you let it get that way. It all depends on what you’re trying to accomplish during your game time.
As for me -I was in their public beta test, then started playing as soon as the game went live, buying the game on the way home from work. (March 16, 1999 - I remember it well…).
I don’t have as much time to put into it as some others (with the wife, nwe baby, house to take care of, etc) -so I take a very casual attitude when playing. In over 2 years of play time, my main character is only level 30 (halfway to the max of 60). (Of course, I play a wizard, so I came pre-nerfed).
So, in that time, I’ve spend about $250 on the subscription fees. Seems like a lot, but in that time I’ve purchased maybe 1 or 2 other games. I’ve probably saved money, rather than spend $40-$50 every couple months on a new game.
The reason it’s pay-to-play, instead of free like Diablo, etc - is that the world is persistant. It doesn’t turn off, reset, or go away (except for maint. periods). Their hardware (server) and ISP connection costs are huge, so most of the money goes to support the infrastructure.
Anyway, I probably didn’t give a very good explanation of the game - mind is drifting. Despite the complaints though - it is a very good game, with a very large number of (mostly) satisfied players. It’s definitely worth a shot if you’re interested in that sort of thing.
One last note: If you’re not in a hurry, keep your eye on this game: http://www.darkageofcamelot.com
It’s due for release by the end of the year - supposed to be very similar to EQ in all the good ways, while fixing up some of the persistant problems from EQ, etc. It will be a 2nd generation game (if you consider EQ, UO, AC as first generation), so should improve on the current crop of games quite nicely.
Anyway, hope that helped somehow…
Everquest is a strange phenomenon. Many people simultaneously love it and hate it.
If you like the idea of a fantasy online roleplaying game, you have 3 choices so far: Everquest, Ultima Online, and Asheron’s Call. Of these, EQ is generally considered to be the best - an opinion supported by number of subscribers (300,000+ and climbing).
It’s hard to explain why I play this game - if I had to give a justification to someone who doesn’t play, I’m not sure that I could. It’s just fun - though it can be frustrating if you let it get that way. It all depends on what you’re trying to accomplish during your game time.
As for me -I was in their public beta test, then started playing as soon as the game went live, buying the game on the way home from work. (March 16, 1999 - I remember it well…).
I don’t have as much time to put into it as some others (with the wife, nwe baby, house to take care of, etc) -so I take a very casual attitude when playing. In over 2 years of play time, my main character is only level 30 (halfway to the max of 60). (Of course, I play a wizard, so I came pre-nerfed).
So, in that time, I’ve spend about $250 on the subscription fees. Seems like a lot, but in that time I’ve purchased maybe 1 or 2 other games. I’ve probably saved money, rather than spend $40-$50 every couple months on a new game.
The reason it’s pay-to-play, instead of free like Diablo, etc - is that the world is persistant. It doesn’t turn off, reset, or go away (except for maint. periods). Their hardware (server) and ISP connection costs are huge, so most of the money goes to support the infrastructure.
Anyway, I probably didn’t give a very good explanation of the game - mind is drifting. Despite the complaints though - it is a very good game, with a very large number of (mostly) satisfied players. It’s definitely worth a shot if you’re interested in that sort of thing.
One last note: If you’re not in a hurry, keep your eye on this game: http://www.darkageofcamelot.com
It’s due for release by the end of the year - supposed to be very similar to EQ in all the good ways, while fixing up some of the persistant problems from EQ, etc. It will be a 2nd generation game (if you consider EQ, UO, AC as first generation), so should improve on the current crop of games quite nicely.
Anyway, hope that helped somehow…
Everquest is a strange phenomenon. Many people simultaneously love it and hate it.
If you like the idea of a fantasy online roleplaying game, you have 3 choices so far: Everquest, Ultima Online, and Asheron’s Call. Of these, EQ is generally considered to be the best - an opinion supported by number of subscribers (300,000+ and climbing).
It’s hard to explain why I play this game - if I had to give a justification to someone who doesn’t play, I’m not sure that I could. It’s just fun - though it can be frustrating if you let it get that way. It all depends on what you’re trying to accomplish during your game time.
As for me -I was in their public beta test, then started playing as soon as the game went live, buying the game on the way home from work. (March 16, 1999 - I remember it well…).
I don’t have as much time to put into it as some others (with the wife, nwe baby, house to take care of, etc) -so I take a very casual attitude when playing. In over 2 years of play time, my main character is only level 30 (halfway to the max of 60). (Of course, I play a wizard, so I came pre-nerfed).
So, in that time, I’ve spend about $250 on the subscription fees. Seems like a lot, but in that time I’ve purchased maybe 1 or 2 other games. I’ve probably saved money, rather than spend $40-$50 every couple months on a new game.
The reason it’s pay-to-play, instead of free like Diablo, etc - is that the world is persistant. It doesn’t turn off, reset, or go away (except for maint. periods). Their hardware (server) and ISP connection costs are huge, so most of the money goes to support the infrastructure.
Anyway, I probably didn’t give a very good explanation of the game - mind is drifting. Despite the complaints though - it is a very good game, with a very large number of (mostly) satisfied players. It’s definitely worth a shot if you’re interested in that sort of thing.
One last note: If you’re not in a hurry, keep your eye on this game: http://www.darkageofcamelot.com
It’s due for release by the end of the year - supposed to be very similar to EQ in all the good ways, while fixing up some of the persistant problems from EQ, etc. It will be a 2nd generation game (if you consider EQ, UO, AC as first generation), so should improve on the current crop of games quite nicely.
Anyway, hope that helped somehow…
Everquest is a strange phenomenon. Many people simultaneously love it and hate it.
If you like the idea of a fantasy online roleplaying game, you have 3 choices so far: Everquest, Ultima Online, and Asheron’s Call. Of these, EQ is generally considered to be the best - an opinion supported by number of subscribers (300,000+ and climbing).
It’s hard to explain why I play this game - if I had to give a justification to someone who doesn’t play, I’m not sure that I could. It’s just fun - though it can be frustrating if you let it get that way. It all depends on what you’re trying to accomplish during your game time.
As for me -I was in their public beta test, then started playing as soon as the game went live, buying the game on the way home from work. (March 16, 1999 - I remember it well…).
I don’t have as much time to put into it as some others (with the wife, nwe baby, house to take care of, etc) -so I take a very casual attitude when playing. In over 2 years of play time, my main character is only level 30 (halfway to the max of 60). (Of course, I play a wizard, so I came pre-nerfed).
So, in that time, I’ve spend about $250 on the subscription fees. Seems like a lot, but in that time I’ve purchased maybe 1 or 2 other games. I’ve probably saved money, rather than spend $40-$50 every couple months on a new game.
The reason it’s pay-to-play, instead of free like Diablo, etc - is that the world is persistant. It doesn’t turn off, reset, or go away (except for maint. periods). Their hardware (server) and ISP connection costs are huge, so most of the money goes to support the infrastructure.
Anyway, I probably didn’t give a very good explanation of the game - mind is drifting. Despite the complaints though - it is a very good game, with a very large number of (mostly) satisfied players. It’s definitely worth a shot if you’re interested in that sort of thing.
One last note: If you’re not in a hurry, keep your eye on this game: http://www.darkageofcamelot.com
It’s due for release by the end of the year - supposed to be very similar to EQ in all the good ways, while fixing up some of the persistant problems from EQ, etc. It will be a 2nd generation game (if you consider EQ, UO, AC as first generation), so should improve on the current crop of games quite nicely.
Anyway, hope that helped somehow…
Everquest is a strange phenomenon. Many people simultaneously love it and hate it.
If you like the idea of a fantasy online roleplaying game, you have 3 choices so far: Everquest, Ultima Online, and Asheron’s Call. Of these, EQ is generally considered to be the best - an opinion supported by number of subscribers (300,000+ and climbing).
It’s hard to explain why I play this game - if I had to give a justification to someone who doesn’t play, I’m not sure that I could. It’s just fun - though it can be frustrating if you let it get that way. It all depends on what you’re trying to accomplish during your game time.
As for me -I was in their public beta test, then started playing as soon as the game went live, buying the game on the way home from work. (March 16, 1999 - I remember it well…).
I don’t have as much time to put into it as some others (with the wife, nwe baby, house to take care of, etc) -so I take a very casual attitude when playing. In over 2 years of play time, my main character is only level 30 (halfway to the max of 60). (Of course, I play a wizard, so I came pre-nerfed).
So, in that time, I’ve spend about $250 on the subscription fees. Seems like a lot, but in that time I’ve purchased maybe 1 or 2 other games. I’ve probably saved money, rather than spend $40-$50 every couple months on a new game.
The reason it’s pay-to-play, instead of free like Diablo, etc - is that the world is persistant. It doesn’t turn off, reset, or go away (except for maint. periods). Their hardware (server) and ISP connection costs are huge, so most of the money goes to support the infrastructure.
Anyway, I probably didn’t give a very good explanation of the game - mind is drifting. Despite the complaints though - it is a very good game, with a very large number of (mostly) satisfied players. It’s definitely worth a shot if you’re interested in that sort of thing.
One last note: If you’re not in a hurry, keep your eye on this game: http://www.darkageofcamelot.com
It’s due for release by the end of the year - supposed to be very similar to EQ in all the good ways, while fixing up some of the persistant problems from EQ, etc. It will be a 2nd generation game (if you consider EQ, UO, AC as first generation), so should improve on the current crop of games quite nicely.
Anyway, hope that helped somehow…
For those that issue warnings about having seen peoples lives ruined because of an addiction to EQ, that isn’t the games fault. You cannot blame a game for someone screwing up their priorities in life.
I’m hardly an advocate of EQ, I personally hate the game, but it’s tiring to keep hearing how the game is to blame for so and so neglecting his job/wife/family/whatever.
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What’s the format of the game? Is it just like D&D on the computer, with electronic character sheets instead of paper, graphic displayed maps instead of graph paper, random character generators instead of dice? Is there any action in the game, like in the battles or spell-casting?
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The format is similar to AD&D in regards to statistics being a major part of what a character can or cannot do. It is dissimilar in that stat scores span from negatives to over 200. A few points difference in AD&D would make a huge difference, in EQ a few points has very minimal effect. Also, there is a tremendous crutch on magical items. They are the only way to raise stat scores and resistances, other than some short lived spells.
This of course forces many people to sit at one spot in an attempt to get that one awesome item everyone wants, which of course leads to people fighting over who has the right to “camp” the item, and attempts at stealing the rightful campers spawn.
The action in the game is pretty minimal. There isn’t much in the ways of variety or strategy. Fighters hit A to autoattack and press the corresponding kick hot key whenever it pops up, clerics sit back and heal hurt party members, wizards alternate between their most powerful spells and hope that the baddies don’t latch on to them, so on and so forth.
The fact that the game is called an RPG is pretty misleading as roleplaying is pretty much absent from the world. Some people do RP, admirably, but there is no reward for it and the majority are just out to pad their stats and look good wearing their armor.
The persistant world is static in that there are quests that you can perform, and though they bring you money and experience, they do not alter the world at all. For example, the town of Qeynos (sonyeq backwards, how clever) has a problem with gnolls. Talk to such and such the NPC and he sets you with the task of killing such and such a gnoll. You bring back proof of finishing the monster, and are rewarded with some minor experience and money, but the gnolls still trouble Qeynos. In fact, you could do the same quest over and over. Other than the GM run special events, the world does not change, and in those events the circumstances and exact changes are preplanned out, there is no way to affect the world through your actions.
If you want some semblance of strategy, PvP is the way to go, but those servers are so filled with cheaters and bug exploiters that it quickly loses its fun.
Also unlike AD&D, or any pencil and paper game, is the sheer number of people to interact with at any one time, and of course their behavior. Some people are genuinely nice, but the anonymity of the internet allows for many to express their sadistic and cruel side without fear of retribution.
To sum it all up, no it isn’t like AD&D other than in principle and the medieval setting. If you want AD&D minus the pens and paper, wait for Neverwinter Nights to come out.
Hmmm…
IMHO, I consider EQ more of a fantasy FPS then an MMORPG (which, by the way, is the “politically incorrect” term. They like to be called MMOGs now…go figure).
Personally, I’m waiting for NeverWinter Nights, Horizons, and AnarchyOnline. Waiting is the hardest part, though.
Yeah, if you are into pen and paper D&D you might want to wait for Neverwinter Nights. It will have a single-player game so you don’t HAVE to go online, and it will include tools so you can design your own dungeons, towns, adventures, etc., make them available to online players, referee them in real-time (you can type in NPC dialogue on the fly if you like if you are the DM) and link them with other people’s creations. My current DM is salivating over this element of the game.