Family or EQ??

[fuji]

So I have been playing p1999 for about a week now, but I cannot concentrate on playing it at all and I am forced to leave groups in a seconds notice if needed. It mainly comes down to my life now having a wife and kid, but does anyone here have a family and somehow balances playing EQ and RL stuff? How do you explain to your wife that you need 4-6hrs in the evening to play an old game from 1999 that you use to be addicted to?

[Frankee]

I had the same issues with you before. I got a significant other that shares my interests of video games. Was not worth it for me to have a relationship with someone that didn't understand my love and desire for Video games.

Of course your situation is different...

Best bet is to explain to your Wife you enjoy playing the game and try to work out a schedule or something so you can play, if thats possible.

Aside from that, play a class you can solo as. That way if you have to leave at a moments notice its not that big of a deal.

[Kainzo]

I haven't played P99 in about two or three weeks. My girlfriend plays with me when I do but she really isnt all about the game so I'd rather play a game she would more enjoy. I'm sure when Kunark launches it will be a little more lively and enjoyable for both of us. In short, Family > P99... if you have to ask, you know the answer already.

[VictoryARC]

I play when they sleep. Max 3x per week. You deserve to have a hobby, but don't let it take away from family time

[Tronjer]

10 years ago I split up as well with my ex gf over EQ. Didn't even realize her move out, as I was raiding at this time. But then again we were not married and had no kids.

Once you got a real family, you have obligations and shouldn't devote 6h per day to a videogame anymore.

[Toony]

So I have been playing p1999 for about a week now, but I cannot concentrate on playing it at all and I am forced to leave groups in a seconds notice if needed. It mainly comes down to my life now having a wife and kid, but does anyone here have a family and somehow balances playing EQ and RL stuff? How do you explain to your wife that you need 4-6hrs in the evening to play an old game from 1999 that you use to be addicted to?

Like this.

I need 4-6hrs in the evening to play an old game from 1999 that I used to be addicted to.

[Mournblade]

I play while i'm at work. I kill a few mobs, find a safe spot to regen, rinse, repeat. I'm a monk, so I can now FD in emergencies. Makes boring meetings less boring. But I don't touch EQ when my wife is home in the evenings.

[Fryhole]

Do you really need 4-6 hours? I think you should just concede to being a casual player and not taking it too seriously. Your character is free, and won't be going anywhere unless the project is terminated by the devs. (given all the drama that's going on, people seem to forget this little gem)

[Dantes]

I set one night a week aside so it's scheduled and we can plan for it. I don't have any kids but my wife isn't into video games and has no desire to play so she pretty much hates the game. So I tell her, "Get a hobby." She can go out with the girls or do something. I need at least some time to relax and be a dork, one night a week isn't much to ask. If I weren't playing this I would probably want to go do something else on my own once a week anyway.

None of my friends who started up with me seemed to be able to keep that moderation thing going. Oh well. Now that they are high level, they can hook me up with cool shit.

[Berktin]

Ok here is what worked with my wife....I moved my computer into the family room so while i'm on it i can take small afk's to help with the kids. also i can interact with them while I'm playing my daughter will sit and watch me play. My wife once told me she thought I should spend more time with her like hop of the game to watch tv with her. I told her You watch TV all day my video games are just a different type of entertainment plus it's interactive so I actually get something for doing it. Since then we have come to a compromise 1 night a week we turn off the TV,computer, consoles, go to the park , a walk, dinner, a movie. play a board game whatever.. works good for us might not work for others though

[mirko]

Play when they go night night. Sleep is for the weak, you don't need it.

[Chicka]

10 years ago I split up as well with my ex gf over EQ. Didn't even realize her move out, as I was raiding at this time.

OMG this made me LOL.

[Overcast]

Ok here is what worked with my wife....I moved my computer into the family room so while i'm on it i can take small afk's to help with the kids. also i can interact with them while I'm playing my daughter will sit and watch me play. My wife once told me she thought I should spend more time with her like hop of the game to watch tv with her. I told her You watch TV all day my video games are just a different type of entertainment plus it's interactive so I actually get something for doing it. Since then we have come to a compromise 1 night a week we turn off the TV,computer, consoles, go to the park , a walk, dinner, a movie. play a board game whatever.. works good for us might not work for others though

^^ This

What 'balance' you need to come to, is between you all - but communications is the key and compromise.

From day one - yes, 19 years ago - my wife knew I was a gamer. Told her there's a couple things I just 'do' - and gaming is one. She was kinda a gamer too... then she got into Quake 2 and became a all-out gamer.

Then a year later *she* talked me into playing EQ... Now she plays sometimes, but she played EQ longer than me... I was surprised she did, she always said she was 'burnt out' on EQ.

Last night, I played most of the night - she played the SIMS 3.

Kids... I just throw things at them and they leave. So that's easy.

Just kidding... they are teenagers, so they don't require the same kind of attention that younger ones do - they just want money now.

[Overcast]

OMG this made me LOL.

Me too, that was funny.

Almost warrants use as a sig... LOL

Edit: HAHAHAH I see I wasn't the only one who thought that!!!

[Majuna]

Last night, I played most of the night - she played the SIMS 3.

Hahahaha, awesome. Isn't it amazing how advanced that game has become? I can't even run it on full graphics on my laptop.

[Overcast]

Hahahaha, awesome. Isn't it amazing how advanced that game has become? I can't even run it on full graphics on my laptop.

Yeah, I've been playing it off and on too. I like building mostly, lol.
I upgraded earlier this year so I can crank it up now.

I'm not a PC 'bragger' - I'm usually way behind the curve. Still am, but it does good enough now.

Best upgrade was the 24" LCD... such a big jump up over my 19" CRT. They are cheap now, the 24" was only $240.00

[Volga]

I have a very busy home as well - I normally have free time during they day as I work from home but the evenings it's dinner, homework, baths, wife's honey do this honey do that..

I play a necromancer - so I'm not group dependent. I can kill a mob or 5, afk for 30 minutes and no one misses me.

So my suggestion would be to play a very soloable class and when you can contribute to groups great, but when you can't you can still get some you time in between family needs =)

[Theldios]

My wife works night 2 of my 3 kids are grown and my 3rd is 7 so he sits on my lap and plays with me when he wants to :P
Muuuaaaaa + my wife could care less what i do even when she is home as long as i do not interfere with her TV time
ahhahaah man i got it good

[ribaldron]

10 years ago I split up as well with my ex gf over EQ. Didn't even realize her move out, as I was raiding at this time.
I've had this exact experience. FOUR TIMES. Over video games. Quite a few more times over other things. I have a very addictive personality. :rolleyes:

[Molitoth]

One thing that has helped me is I have installed EQ on my laptop, so that I can sit next to the wife on the couch and play. If she asks me a question I can answer it usually, and still have conversations.

I do move down to the man-cave for raids though, as I need ventrillo and a nice big monitor for the bigtime play.

[fuji]

One thing that has helped me is I have installed EQ on my laptop, so that I can sit next to the wife on the couch and play. If she asks me a question I can answer it usually, and still have conversations.

I do move down to the man-cave for raids though, as I need ventrillo and a nice big monitor for the bigtime play.

Never thought of that. I have an old laptop I could use to play it on when I am at work.

[Nocte]

None of my friends who started up with me seemed to be able to keep that moderation thing going. Oh well. Now that they are high level, they can hook me up with cool shit.

No, it's just my wife is nerdier than your wife, and she'll play XBox for as many hours as I'll play EQ. :) Also, I work part-time.

[toddfx]

How do you explain to your wife that you need 4-6hrs in the evening to play an old game from 1999 that you use to be addicted to?

Correction:

You need 4-6hrs in the evening to play an old game from 1999 that you are addicted to.

[Aarone]

So I have been playing p1999 for about a week now, but I cannot concentrate on playing it at all and I am forced to leave groups in a seconds notice if needed. It mainly comes down to my life now having a wife and kid, but does anyone here have a family and somehow balances playing EQ and RL stuff? How do you explain to your wife that you need 4-6hrs in the evening to play an old game from 1999 that you use to be addicted to?

Play a Druid. ;)

[Ellia]

get a new wife and dont have kids. I put my foot down with mine...she watches TV and was complaining I wasnt but I was playing EQ...I explained and now she plays EQ.

[fuji]

Play a Druid. ;)

Haha, the multi-kiter kings. I would love to play an sk or ranger again, I will prob end up playing a wiz again just because I dont have any twink gear and you depend more on spells than anything.

[Phallax]

I have 2 kids(twin boys) and a fiance. I usually just stay logged in all day, AFK most the time. When I get the chance Ill kill mobs till im OOM then afk while I med and mingle with the kids. I also have a timer for when I camp named camps, kill the PH or what ever and AFK till time is almost up. I dont really do my "hardcore" gaming untill they are sleeping. I set aside specific times during the week where Ill be AFK for long periods of times so I can spend time with all 3 of them, watch TV and play with the boys etc etc.

Im a highly competitve xbox gamer, so I almost never turn my xbox on untill theyre all sleeping so I can concentrate 100% of the game, well mostly 100% they boys still wake up at night sometimes and I gotta get them back to sleep. My game room is close to theirs, having a headset for both xbox(turtle beach x31's!) and PC is a must when playing when everyone is sleeping so I can still hear what I want to hear with out waking everyone up.

Making time for EQ is what 'you' the gamer decides they want to sacrifice.

[Dac321]

Haha, the multi-kiter kings. I would love to play an sk or ranger again, I will prob end up playing a wiz again just because I dont have any twink gear and you depend more on spells than anything.

I currently play a Shadow Knight, and I love it. (It also takes me along time to level with the xp debt)

I, however am in a similiar boat you are. I just recently got married (about a month ago) and I have a difficult time trying to play P99 around my relationship. Just like what the others have been saying shes got her hobbies as well... Whether it is TV, SIMS, etc try to do it next to her or do it the same time she wants to do her hobby.

This week has been excellent for EQ time.. Apprently this whole week The Hills has been on and my wife hasn't made one mention of me being on the computer..

Thank God for The Hills.

[gprater]

I also play after they go to bed(wife and daughter)...I sacrifice sleep not family time. I teach, so I can stay up much later in summer...but during the school year I limit myself to midnight....so about 2.5 hours per night.. This pretty much takes me out of any raiding possibilities. But that's fine as I dont like raiding anyway.

[Dantes]

No, it's just my wife is nerdier than your wife, and she'll play XBox for as many hours as I'll play EQ. :) Also, I work part-time.

Yup! But even if I did work part-time, I'd have some video to edit or some website to build. I work too much. Again, I am definitely not complaining. I have a corpse for you in Unrest on the front porch. ;)

[Nocte]

Yup! But even if I did work part-time, I'd have some video to edit or some website to build. I work too much. Again, I am definitely not complaining. I have a corpse for you in Unrest on the front porch. ;)

When's the CQC7 video going to be done?

[Dantes]

After I get to level 50. :D

[Baa]

I squeeze in a few hours a night on the laptop while sitting next to the wife on the couch each night, she doesn't mind so much just as long as we have dinner and spend some time together before I get too into things.

[hueylewis187]

Tell your wife/gf ... But if you love me.... You'd let me have fun at times too... than kinda lightly tear up into your shirt. Than Just Scream!! YOU DON"T LOVE ME.

that should give you an hour each night till they catch on.

[oldhead]

Play when they go night night. Sleep is for the weak, you don't need it.

this is what i do

fucking kills me tho.

My wife understands. When she met me I was a gamer. Be it this game or that game there will always be a game.

She knows any spare time I get I want to use it to play. I try to knock everything I have too do out as fast as possible to free up a large game time block.

Its tough tho and it sucks because my play style requires long sessions for me to enjoy the game. Playing with a family defiantly sucks some of the fun out of the game.

She also plays this game with me and I think that helps but honestly she only plays because of me. But she may only play once or twice a week. When she does play its with me only. She doesnt go out and solo or get groups on her own as she isnt the most skilled player.

It does help tho... it makes her feel involved. She can now talk to me about the game. Keep tabs on my character. What I did and understand it better.

Get her involved if you can... even if is her playing an alt to PL you or to assist in a trade. Any type of involvement on her end will help.

[StinkyGreenBud]

Family is a bit overrated.

[fuji]

Family is a bit overrated.

Weed is overrated ;)

[Toony]

Weed is overrated ;)

Vastly but a little ain't bad every now and then.

[guineapig]

My wife and I decided before we got married that neither of us want kids.
This helps a lot.

If I had kids I probably wouldn't be playing at all.

[Majuna]

I stepped in a bucket of 450 degree oil at work and burnt the **** out of my leg/foot. So that excuses me from most interactions for the time being and I have wayyyy too much time to play. Sadly, it's extremely painful and I don't get to see too much of my friends and family.


I wouldn't consider this a balance, and I would not recommend this. Hahaha. :(

[Akame]

Family or EQ??

... Is this a trick question?


The answer first of is Family.

The second answer is to play a necromancer. Solo and FD as needed.

[oldhead]

I stepped in a bucket of 450 degree oil at work and burnt the **** out of my leg/foot. So that excuses me from most interactions for the time being and I have wayyyy too much time to play. Sadly, it's extremely painful and I don't get to see too much of my friends and family.


I wouldn't consider this a balance, and I would not recommend this. Hahaha. :(

hmm....

Will keep this in mind if time gets too pressed.

[Lazortag]

Honestly, if you're the kind of person who has no time for anything, just stop playing EQ or any MMO or any addictive game. I have lots of alone time because thankfully I don't have children, and my girlfriend likes playing EQ occasionally, so I get to play a healthy amount. When I first started on this server I was playing about ten hours a day (it's great being twelve again), now I play less than an hour a day on average, because I have a job and because I don't want every moment I spend with the people I love to involve everquest. I really want to get to level 46 and start exploring the planes and other places I never got to visit, but I realize I'll get there eventually, so there's no need to stress out over getting it done soon. If it happens in a month or even a year I won't cry myself to sleep over it. I'm more worried about when school starts and I'll literally have zero time for p99, but whatever, that's life I guess.