The Grind

[Lyion]

Has become a reality in the 30s. The 50% exp modifier was nice yesterday, but really levelling seems very tedious and EQ-like.

Anyone else get the feeling they're driving sometimes ingame after hours in Varsoons or another spot just killing?

[Martrae]

If they ever get around to putting in the 'big' patch with all the goodies, it may help that some.

[kaharthemad]

i would rather they wait...take their time...and not have a cluster fornication like they did last friday.

[Lyion]

I agree. Also, since my usual partners are not levelling bizarre non DPS, non healing, non tanking classes anymore I may actually be able to do more things easier, without the evil AzN crowds that populate highkeep!

[Diekan]

Yes - the more I play EQ2, the less eager I am to log on the next day... Getting tired of grinding - even at level 20 it's a slow and pain-in-the-ass process. Have to kill three and some times 4 things just for ONE exp percent point. Combine this with the several hours (combined) needed to boost up trade skills to MAKE your own freaking spells - and wala - BOREDOM.

EQ2 plays smooth - has the best graphics I have seen in a PC game... BUT - it's turning out to be one long and boring road to "success." I went to log on this morning - but just couldn't do it. Instead I played ESPN 2k5.

I dunno - I was caught up in the hype... but now I am thinking I probably wont renew at the end of my month.

[Lyion]

The trick to levelling is a good group, killing red elites in dungeons. I get almost 1% per kill in my 30s, Diekan.

The problem is getting that good group together, and having the 'old' EQ fun. I despise pickups, and I'm at the point I won't do them.

EQ2 needs a set group for fun, IMO.

[Tossica]

The trick to levelling is a good group, killing red elites in dungeons. I get almost 1% per kill in my 30s, Diekan.

The problem is getting that good group together, and having the 'old' EQ fun. I despise pickups, and I'm at the point I won't do them.

EQ2 needs a set group for fun, IMO.

I've fallen far behind my core group of gamers and am probably playing a completely different game than they are. They are grouped constantly and are advancing quite nicely, finishing hard quests and exploring new areas. I am stuck doing the pick up thing which blows. I want to get a regular group together one night a week.

[Mhila]

The trick to levelling is a good group, killing red elites in dungeons. I get almost 1% per kill in my 30s, Diekan.

The problem is getting that good group together, and having the 'old' EQ fun. I despise pickups, and I'm at the point I won't do them.

EQ2 needs a set group for fun, IMO.

I've fallen far behind my core group of gamers and am probably playing a completely different game than they are. They are grouped constantly and are advancing quite nicely, finishing hard quests and exploring new areas. I am stuck doing the pick up thing which blows. I want to get a regular group together one night a week.

I'm in the same boat you are. I had a great core group that i played with every night for a while but they can stay on about 3 hours longer every night then I can. They have long since left me behind so now my killer group is off searching the Zek's and Enchanter Lands for fun and excitment while I shout for groups in nektulos forest. It doesn't help that the Necro class is probably the most under appreciated class in EQ2 so I end up soloing 3/4 of the time.

The game is still infanitly more fun then EQ1 but the grind is seriously starting to suck. I was in a Pick up group in Thundering steps last night that refused to kill any mob they didn't have a quest for. Thankfully noone realized you could click the group tab in thier quest journal and see what quests other people had. I really got tired of sneaking past blue and white ^^ group mobs so we could kill a green solo mob to advance someon's kill xx mobs quest and get them thier 68 copper reward... Pure XP groups are a thing of the past....

[Lyion]

The trick to levelling is a good group, killing red elites in dungeons. I get almost 1% per kill in my 30s, Diekan.

The problem is getting that good group together, and having the 'old' EQ fun. I despise pickups, and I'm at the point I won't do them.

EQ2 needs a set group for fun, IMO.

I've fallen far behind my core group of gamers and am probably playing a completely different game than they are. They are grouped constantly and are advancing quite nicely, finishing hard quests and exploring new areas. I am stuck doing the pick up thing which blows. I want to get a regular group together one night a week.

Let me know, Toss. I'm willing to do a good run once a week. Lets get that group together.

[Tossica]

Let me know, Toss. I'm willing to do a good run once a week. Lets get that group together.

I've got a 20 necro and a 15 Warrior on Mistmoore currently. Both are Freeport aligned.

[Lyion]

Has Mistmoore dwindled in population? I really don't want to go into a hugely crowded server, which is why I moved to highkeep.

If we're doing a set group, we should go Guardian, Templar, Defiler, Scout Class, Extra Melee, Enchanter

[Coates]

I was bored in the early 30's but now loving it again. Owning things in Feerott and Cazic Thule is pretty fun.
Getting all your adept 3 and looking for masters realy improves the "fun".

Be nice to hit 40 today, then the exp really slows down. A good portion of my guild is 42+ and they say its pretty dam slow.

Naggy and Vox will die soon~!

[Tossica]

Has Mistmoore dwindled in population? I really don't want to go into a hugely crowded server, which is why I moved to highkeep.

If we're doing a set group, we should go Guardian, Templar, Defiler, Scout Class, Extra Melee, Enchanter

I haven't noticed any population problems at all. There are usually 2 or sometimes 3 instances of each of the lower level zones I frequent.

[kiral]

Why are you still in varsoons at your lvl.......... I just hit 37 and I dont think it's slow ;/

[Tanatus]

Here is 101 guide for fast leveling
First and foremost you need to know few things
a) EQ2 much like DAOC have anti-camp code - so camping same area more then 30-60min lead to great exp reduction per kill
b) EQ2 much like DAOC have exp cap per kill - if you solo there is no point kill anithing above orange and below yellow cons. If you are in group and killing something that more then 9 lvls above lowest lvl member in group - whole group suffer exp penalties. Ideal target for group is pack of yellow conned monsters or orange conned mob ++
c) EQ2 much like DAOC have exp distribution ~ lvl - aka high lvl in group = exp hog (I am guity of that lol using it shamelessly)
d) EQ2 on countary EQ1 produce HUGE exp bonus for completing quests .... specially collection quest. To give an example completing such cheap and simple quest like petrified dwarf eye at lvl 34 net 7% instant. So to speak exp gain from quest depend on type of quest and con of quest. Red conned quest net at very least 14% exp (up to 50% for access quests), Orange conned quests usually net 10-14% upon completion, Yellow conned quests net 5-9%, white conned quest 4-7%, Blue and below usually not worth completion unless you are interesting in reward. Also general observation - the hard quest to get to better reward (nothing to do with fact how hard quest to complete). An example rare drop from low lvl yard trash in Nek forest can open for you quest "Bear Eye" - at lvl 20 it will red con to you its repeatable - req kill 10 bears lol - reward was almost 20% instant exp. Moral = if you want lvl fast twink buy this notes from ppl who hunt in that area - so to speak killing 50 bears (providing fact that you have enouth quest starters) will net you full lvl
e) Freebee exp for exploration. Learn to LOVE it do it as soon as you able hide from local monsters for safe travel. At lvl 32 just traveling within waypoints in tier 4 zones (EL/Zeks) will net you 5-7% instant exp per way point. Explore full zone and gain almost lvl - simple like that

[mofish]

a) EQ2 much like DAOC have anti-camp code - so camping same area more then 30-60min lead to great exp reduction per kill

Please provide a link backing this claim up. I never experienced this in-game, nor heard anyone else say this exists.

[Tanatus]

Camping rats in RV....
First 60 min I have 0.4% per blight 0.6% per fetid
From 61 min to 120 min I have 0.25% per blight and 0.4% per fetid
From 121 min I have 0.15% per blight and from here camping em pointless for a day

[mofish]

Thats what I thought, anecdotal = doesnt prove anything. Funny, Ive never heard even another player claim this, much less a developer.

[Tanatus]

Well feel free do same....
As I said take rat camp in RV and grind it for over 2 hours
Alternatively take Nightblood camp in EL and grind over 2 hours you'll get same results

[mofish]

Ill check it out. If its true it sucks

[Tanatus]

Keep also in mind group lvl play a lot role
If your highest lvl con everything white and below = exp suck donkey ball
If your lowest lvl con everything 6+ lvl = exp sucks too
I am talking about mid-high 30s groups
Currently playing lvl 37.6 coercer ... and charm suck donkey balls too

[mofish]

Yeah I knew charm was going to be weak. Though not sure why. Since individual mob strength is a lot lower in EQ2 than EQ1. Maybe make charm a 5 point concentration buff, so if you want to charm no buffs?

[Tanatus]

Nah charm work but here is a deal...
if it brake while target alive .... rofl mobs will continue to fight each other but no matter who win you wont get any loot. So to speak it can be used if shit hit fan but you should clear understand consequence.... Charm = no loot