Everquest II: Why I Like It
Well, I'm past the trial, bought myself a game card to continue, and am enjoying Everquest II massively. I'm trying to work out some of what makes it entertaining, particularly in comparison to other games, and WoW in particular.
First and foremost, it's not guided to death. If I have a question, my best source of information is my guild, and the second-best is to explore and find out for myself. There are guides out there, but there aren't the hundreds that exist for WoW, and some of them are out of date or otherwise inaccurate. Hitting Google for solutions is not always an option, and that's refreshing.
Second, the stories are interesting. The possibility of giving different responses in the conversations with quest-giver NPCs is great, and I find myself genuinely interested in the stuggles between the Sarnak and their various avian foes. I particularly liked a point where, in the build-up of quests to what looked like a final win, the plan was cancelled by the boss of the guys I'd been working for, and I was given an explanation as to why - because it was like a plot twist in a tabletop RPG. I'm finding the stories more personal, more comprehensible, and, in many cases, a lot more immersive.
Thirdly, I love the crafting/housing/economy end into little bits and back together. There's an actual effort involved, there are hundreds of things you can make, and most of them are actually useful. My house is mostly furnished with stuff I've made myself. And last night, I got my total cash up to 1 platinum, and fully expect to keep that trend going. I do have some quibbles with the way the brokers work, but I'll write more about that later.
Ephrator Ephrasis is on the Lucan DLere server, and is happy to talk to his elders and betters. While, of course, secretly plotting to destroy them.
Posted by Drew Shiel at May 27, 2009 1:18 PM
