EQ2 or WoW?

[loveme4whoiam]

So, here it is. The battle lines have been drawn. European (sorry my American cousins, but if its not available to me, i don't want to hear about it) servers have been launched, and already the rat population of the Internet is trembling. And it is here, my friends, that the great debate will be decided; not in numbers of players, but in this thread, since it is only our opinions which matter.

 

I want to know which you people are playing, and why you havent chosen the other. If, like alot of you I'm sure, are playing both, vote for the one you play the most and think is the best (not necessarily the same thing though). Or perhaps, if you have scorned both of them in favour of another game, tell me why i should buy that instead. I want to know which is better because, frankly, i don't know which to pick myself.

 

I'm drawn towards EQ2 because of the PCZone review of it, stating that it is the most n00b-friendly to MMORPG gaming. However, WoW does look good, and the same authority on matters gaming have said that it too is supremely good. I also have a leaning towards City of Heroes, simply because i like the novelty of it.

 

So vote, my online brothers, and sway my decision. You have the power over my petty cash supply.

[Dark0ne]

EQ2 for crisp, realistic, beautiful graphics and hardcore gaming, very group orientated (6 people in a group, normally 2 fighters, a cleric, a rogue and 2 mages preferably).

 

WoW for soloing and easy play, disney land graphics and quick levelling. WoW is definately easier, but less rewarding IMHO.

 

EQ2 would be my choice to begin with. The game is very group orientated so you tend to play for longer, and enjoy playing because it doesn't matter if you're camping the same monster respawning for hours on end..you're having a laugh with other people. In WoW you'll find it a lot harder to get groups and people are a lot less willing to play for fun, IMHO WoW players play to get to level 60 ASAP. In EQ2 it takes so long to get to level 50 that players relax and enjoy themselves more, because they know they have a long wait.

 

EDIT: As far as graphics go, I'd comment that if WoW came out 2 years ago, noone would have been amazed by the graphics, except maybe some flame effects and view distance. EQ2 is beautiful, and only the very very very best machines at the moment can run it at optimum without dieing. You may think thats a bad thing but it's not -- it means that in two years time, when you have a better system, EQ2 will still look amazing. WoW, however, will look dated as spin-off games emerge with similar graphics which support the latest hardware spectacles.

 

Tradeskills in EQ2 is a lot more specialised -- you can't do it standing around waiting for a group like in WoW, you have to go to special buildings complete with forges, clothiers, alchemist tables etc. which I find a lot more appealing (and makes more sense). People who can make good items are far rarer in EQ2, which makes it more special.

 

WoW should be your choice if you want to level every other day, solo, not take things seriously and enjoy cartoons. EQ2 is more hardcore, level once a week, beautiful scenery.

 

I've heard great things about City of Heroes but haven't played it. Wish I'd played Eve Online, but 2 years in, I'd find joining now not only difficult (steep learning curve) but also pointless.

[FlightlessBird]

Well, as some people may know, I am a fan of the Warcraft games, so when I heard about World of Warcraft, a game that allows me, A flightless bird, to explore a world I really like, I was intrigued.

 

Now that I've played it, I've become very fond of it. In fact, I'm going to go play it after this post.

 

I've never played EQ2 before, But I hear alot of good things about it, so I wont go off on any EQ2-bashing rant. One thing I've heard about EQ2 is that it is newbie friendly, so if you want to start new on a game and still understand it, I'd recommend EQ2. However, If you've managed to play at least Warcraft 3 or its expansion, I reccomend you try WoW. As far as graphics go, I havent seen much, if any, EQ2 screen shots, but I bet they're pretty good, as far as MMORPG graphics go. WoW's graphics are also very nice, but I have nothing to compare them to. (Excluding Runescape, which, if anyone has ever played... ha!)

 

Dark0nes right about leveling up thing. Levels go by very quickly in WoW

 

So I voted for WoW. I would also like to play EQ2 though, but money doesnt grow on trees.

[loveme4whoiam]

PCZone have just released a two week free trial for Eve Online to mark the Exodus expansion. I'll have a bash at it, but i don't expect to stay on afterwards as i too am daunted by the steep learning curve, and the politics within the game is a little scary to new-comers.

 

You have stated exactly why i am liking EQ2 so much. I'm very much a single-player person in most games, but i feel that ina MMORPG there is little point in playing like that in what is a community experience. What is also interesting is that next month a two-week trial of EQ2 is on the Zone coverdiscs, so i'll get to try that as well. Hopefully they'll keep this trend up and give me a try at all the popular MMOs.

[Dark0ne]

In favour of WoW, however, is it's huge landmass. Much larger than EQ2. There's lots to explore and also PvP -- something many people seem to be interested in (except me). I'd say WoW is about 5 times bigger than EQ2 in landmass. Overcrowding, however, does not occur in EQ2. It uses a special zoning system by which 200 people populate one zone -- so there can be 5 zones of 1 piece of landmass.

 

I'm sure I'm not making any sense, but its late and I'm tired.

[Slaiv]

WOW Screen

 

EQ 2 [3D Screen - Quicktime required]

 

I wasn't particularly impressed with WOW during the final beta [which was essentially the finished game.] It's been one of the better MMORPGs I've played recently, but nothing amazing.

 

I have long been part of the Evercrack-hater group, but as I've never played it, I can't comment. I can say that EQ2 has some of the best graphics available today, and that's saying something, considering that most MMORPGs sacrifice graphics for steady framerate. EQ2, on the other hand, is absolutely beautiful. I'm not sure about the gameplay, but if you're judging based on graphics, go with EQ2.

 

If you want a simpler game thats more of an entertaining, for all ages type of game, get WOW. If you want a more complex game that's for serious gamers, get EQ2.

 

Or, mug a rich person and get both.

[Switch]

I'm all for WoW. As has been said, it's nice and easy, laid back, and you can solo and still easily make it to level 60. Sure, it's not hardcore, but that's the point! Hardcore isn't necessarily fun. Some people find it enjoyable, but after playing a number of "hardcore" MMORPGs, WoW is a refreshing breather. It's by no means completely easy however, there are still decent challenges later on for more hardcore gamers such as instance dungeons (some of those bosses are NASTY), raids, and getting the blue/purple items. It is newbie friendly too, you can ask questions in General Chat and usually they'll get answered. It's not that difficult to get a group either. If you can solo the quest, sure it'll be hard to get a group. If you can't, there are bound to be lots of willing members.

 

I haven't played EQ2, mainly because I played the first one and found it extremely sub-par and pathetic compared to other MMORPGs. I don't trust the creators to do much better with 2. Graphics aren't everything, after all.

 

WoW may not have all the fancy pixel shaders and bump mapping of EQ2 but you can actually run it smoothly with full graphics with a decent card. I sincerely doubt you could say that about EQ2. Besides, WoW graphics are nice in their own way, they're a real work of art. I think "Disney Land" is a little bit over-exaggerated. :tongue2: It's also a very atmospheric game, you get a real feel for areas. EQ2 looks a little... plasticy to me.

 

Basically, as has been said, you like grouping and lots of challenge, EQ2 would probably be for you (either that or FFXI). You like being able to solo whenever you want and have a generally very non-frustrating experience, get WoW.

[loveme4whoiam]

I've just read that the first set of expansion packs for both games are being planned. SOE are making veiled hints at "new game features never before seen in an MMO", while Blizzard are being slightly more definite, and heres where it gets interesting.

 

They are planning new Battlefield locations, where online battles between Alliance and Horde players can take place. They want large-scale skirmishes, and are designing the expansion to make this more accessible, they say in order to get back to the roots of Warcraft (ie, the RTS's).

 

This clouds the issue somewhat, as although EQ2 offer group quests and soforth, it doesnt have anything to compare to this. WoW will grab a lot of members when this feature comes out. What do you guys think of this?

[Abramul]

Rubies of Eventide for me. Free game, and they even have a role-playing server! (It has an OOC channel. 'nuff said.) I saw a post on the ES fora referring people to it, figured I might as well try it. Now it seems that the college network I'm on may not like it, but ah well. It seems to stay pretty close to D&D, although I don't know if my Dwarven Druid has infravision. (or is it something else?)

url is cyberwarrior.com

[_Atti_]

wow..and it doesnt ven look too bad..

as soon as i have time i will try that Rubies of Eventide out..however it looks too good to be true..and of course to remain free for long...

 

btw here is another free mmorp project..howver the current version is far from playable.. www.planeshift.it