Hey! Returning player, wondering quite a lot about the game!

ARCHIVED-Atnas · Aug 8, 2012

Hello everyone!

I used to play EQ2 a long time ago with my brother. After a while we lost interest (we never did hit max level, but the areas we came into were so devoid of other people that it was hard to find groups for things and that was the most fun. Note, I'm from EU). I've been tempted to come back a bit though to relive a bit of the nostalgia and perhaps a bunch of the new content?
But whoa, it's F2P! And not only that, it has a ton of expansions and things, battlegrounds I hear, and... I don't know, a new class I think? That's nice, probably!
I quit the game around the Echoes of Faydwer expansion. I'd really appreciate if someone could tell me some of the following

- How is the population on EU? Can I get groups for things, are people around low-mid level areas?
- How long time does it take to reach max level? If I do, can I do any raiding... or will I have to grind for gear? Will I be too behind the curve, so to speak?
- How is that Beastmaster class? Worth getting the expansion over to spice up the gameplay a bit, or is it very similar to other classes?
- I can't start in Qeynos anymore? I see a ton of new starting places, I'm so confused!
- Are there any big changes to the game I ought to know about? I heard there were battlegrounds, and that you could start out on lv20... but that seems weird?
- What class would be good to roll if not Beastmaster for a good mix of soloing, group and "PvP"?

I may post more questions, but those would be the most pressing Thank you!

ARCHIVED-hexalobular · Aug 8, 2012

Hi,
I can't really answer most of your questions, being an inveterate soloer but regarding the starting areas,
Kelethin and New Halas are Good, like Quenos and the other two Evil as Freeport.
If you start as Good there's nothing stopping you from heading to Quenos as soon as you find the transprotation bell, if you want to be a Quenosian citizen you have to find the Quenosian ambasador (or something like that) in your home city to change citizenship. I don't know that citizenship makes much differance though, you can do quests and buy houses in any city of your alignment.

ARCHIVED-Atnas · Aug 9, 2012

Thank you for the reply! If forum activity is to be judge for game population however, I'm not quite sure I'd like to go back. Maybe I ought to post it in a different section of the forum?

ARCHIVED-bluja000 · Aug 9, 2012

Atnas wrote:

“- How is the population on EU? Can I get groups for things, are people around low-mid level areas?
The best way to handle searching for an active server, log in during your ideal playtime. Keep in mind, this is an old game, and therefore the servers will ALL be top heavy (level 90+), but you can always attempt to start groups. Not many people try to start groups, but there are generally bored level 90s willing to join a group that's low level, for the aa or just to relieve the boredom.
- How long time does it take to reach max level? If I do, can I do any raiding... or will I have to grind for gear? Will I be too behind the curve, so to speak?
A dedicated player can reach level 90 pretty quickly. Each level 90 that you get will give you an additional bonus of 20% toward exp/aa, up to a maximum of 200%, in addition to vitality and potential server bonuses. During double xp weekends, people have gone from level 1-90, but usually they take advantage of xp potions and veteran bonuses. Even a laid-back player can gain levels fairly quickly, if they aren't locking for aa. Gear is important at the endgame, but skill is, by far, far more important. Too many people simply power level to the end, and don't really understand their class enough, and it takes time for them to learn. Someone who takes their time to play, and learn, their class is going to be in demand, especially if they have gear as well.
- How is that Beastmaster class? Worth getting the expansion over to spice up the gameplay a bit, or is it very similar to other classes?
Beastlord has a different mechanic than the other classes, and some find that mechanic to be difficult to understand and play. Others love the new mechanic, and enjoy the beastlord class immensely. I'd suggest reading about it to make the final decision for yourself. However, beastlord class is by NO means the only reason people buy the feature pack, theres also the mercs and other features. Mercs are by far the biggest feature that people use, they help reduce the need for grouping for most people.
- I can't start in Qeynos anymore? I see a ton of new starting places, I'm so confused!
When they removed the starting islands, they changed the starting cities as well. You have a choice of several evil/neutral/good cities, but Qeynos/Freeport are no longer intended as starting cities. You still want to visit them, there are some really good quests that you want to run through as you level (they scale). You can choose to start in a neutral city, but just be aware they will determine whether you are seen as good (Halas) or evil (Gorowyn).
- Are there any big changes to the game I ought to know about? I heard there were battlegrounds, and that you could start out on lv20... but that seems weird?
I haven't explored the pvp in the game, there's been entirely too much for me to even think of that yet. However, it's designed so that everyone from level 30-89 can fight together, the 90+ will fight in their own sub section. Be aware that the lower your level, the less available spells/combat arts you will have access to, although your compareable stats should be about what everyone else should be. From what I understand, it sounds like everyone is lowered to the lowest common level, but the higher levels don't lose access to spells/combat arts they normally have (so a healer may have a healing pet that's only available in the 80's).
There is another feature available to everyone, called player made dungeons. You gain dungeon marks for killing mobs that players place in custom created dungeons, as well as experience, which is given when you leave the dungeon. You can play as either an avatar, which has limited spells/combat arts, or as yourself. If you don't have the expansion, you won't be able to create your own dungeons, and you can't use your dungeon marks to purchase anything from the marketplace. If you do, then there are items available in the marketplace for sc or marks, the mark cost is generally a little higher than the sc cost. You will also receive mob drops outside of the player made dungeons, which give you additional avatars/mobs to add to your player made dungeon arsenal. Those can only be used if you have the expack, but can also be sold. Be aware, so many drop, it's unlikely you will find one worth selling on broker.
- What class would be good to roll if not Beastmaster for a good mix of soloing, group and "PvP"?
I enjoy a variety of different classes, so can't advise you on what may be good. I don't play very well, I play more for the fun than anything else, but I do enjoy my necro and sk. The necro has tons of different spells that are great for soloing/grouping, and I'm assuming they would be fairly useful in pvp as well. The sk is fantastic at soloing and is my power leveling toon for helping my husband and I get our other toons to max level. We both has a max level sk, and the swiftness of the kills still surprises me at times.

I may post more questions, but those would be the most pressing Thank you!
I noticed you posted regarding the amount of forum activity. Not too many people actually post in the forums, because they are rather slow and buggy. I'd suggest that you check the wiki and Zam for some really good information about the game.”

Hope this helps answer some of your questions.

ARCHIVED-Aanwiel · Aug 16, 2012

Since you have been playing the leveling cap has increased. With that comes new areas, meaning the old areas being more or less emptied. Also with mercs in the game solo play has become abit more frequent.
I loved the game when it was released, it went from group play to solo to raid level then group. If you dont have friends that your bringing to the game it will, and let me be honest feel lonely at times. Try to find a meaningful guild to you, game friends and the game becomes alot more fun.
I hate to say it but some of the servers arent as heavy populated as others and for some its perfect meaning they can get stuff done faster, but be sure to determine what server you play on.

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