Everquest

EQ was the first MMORPG game I tried. I didn't like it so I moved to UO and played for years.

Several months ago I found a copy of  EQ in the game store bin for $9.95 with 6 or 8 weeks of time. Being more experienced I decided to give it another try.

I spent an EXCESSIVE amount of time in the beginner area to be sure I was ready for the real world.  When I left Noob-world, the game told me who to talk to for my first quest.

Off I went glad to be playing the real game. Pow! within two minutes I was dead! Hmmm. I tried again, taking a different route and in 20 seconds I was destroyed by an uber-mob.

After trying, and dying, several more times I asked myself the question "Which devs think that this is fun?" Most games -- of all genres -- make the first hour or so easy to the point of idiocy so that you can learn the geography/tricks, etc.

Needless to say, I uninstalled EQ long before my time ran out.

So--are there any EQ2 players out there who agree with my assessment. If so, I would like your take on EQ 2. Same? Easier? Tougher? Better or worse?

Much much easier on newcomers. It is a complex game, but EQ2 easies you into it.

I prefer EQ2 but...

If SOE launches a new server again (like Progression server from summer 2006)

thats the time to play to EQ1 -- tons of people in newbie zones, tons of fun

to the OP,

EQ2 is a VERY different game than EQ1

some people like EQ2,  some people think EQ2 is too easy or WOWlike

Everquest 2 is a lot easier than the original Everquest. In Everquest 2, you can pretty much solo any class all the way up to 60. I really hate how they are adding those online card games to Everquest and Everquest 2. I would rather have content updated, but thats IMO. If i would choose between Everquest or Everquest 2, I would choose Everquest because it has alot more content and alot more things to do.

I would like to know what character you started out as and what newbie zone you started in when you went back to Everquest 1. EQ1 can still be very confusing and dangerous to explore in if your alone and its your first time playing. Even with maps you may still run into Guards that will want to kill you, especially if your in Freeport. In the commonlands you may run into Griffons or even a giant that will kill your lvl 10 character with one, two hits. EQ2 is more newbie friendly. But both games are still group orientated. So try and get into a group or make a partner with someone who is experienced if you can. I myself am trying to come back to both games.

I had a very similar experience about two weeks ago with this game when I was thinking of coming back to it. I managed to die about 4 times in under an hour. Ugh, that was not any fun. I was playing as a halfling at the time too.

Now I am trying EQ2 but just the trial. I recommend giving it a shot. It won't hurt any!

EQ2 is easier than EQ1 for new players.

On the server I was in EQ1, starting cities are empty. This is sad. It's more like Everraid than Everquest now. That is sad too.

Personnaly I prefer how quests are done in EQ2. I think you will have more fun in Eq2.

I love EQ1 AND EQ2, but they are completely different games.

It sounds to me like you'd enjoy EQ2 a lot more. In some ways, it is both easier and more fun as a newbie, and I really loved the newbie experiences in Greater Fay and Neriak, for easing into the game but still feeling like you were doing something "meaningful"  via quests (even if they were still the basic sort of quests you find in every game).  Death doesn't hurt much in EQ2 either.

re: EQ1, for any other newbies out there:

 The newbie experience in EQ1 is vastly different and VASTLY EASIER from what it used to be. There's one, universal newbie city (post-tutorial)  now, which you can stay in til level 20 or so if you want without ever leaving the zone... And that's pretty much exactly what you should do. There are quest givers with level ranges floating over their heads all over the city, and if you kill for the quests appropriate to your level, you'll level pretty quickly. Also, group a lot. Start groups if you have to. It will greatly increase your chances of survival. (Despite what people say, I didn't have much trouble finding partners or groups in Crescent Reach and then Blightfire as a newbie cleric on Bristlebane-- but I will admit that being a cleric helped with that a lot.)

 /consider (or just right click on the monsters... or just click on them and look at the targetting ring at their feet) before you run up to them, and don't just go running around willy-nilly. Generally speaking, red is bad. If you were killed by an elevator in Crescent Reach... My sincere apologies. Been there, done that. I'd advise looking straight down (to minimize your lag) until the elevator stops and you can get off safely.

I would play EQ if the movement and the UI were like EQ2s