Can't Decide, Live or P99

[Etris]

I know it's redundant asking P99 players which server I should stick to. But I wanted to hear your reasons behind it.

Let me start off by saying, I've played this game during release back in my younger, hardcore, can afford to eat hot pockets everyday phase. Today, as an adult with responsibilities things have changed!

I'm looking to revisit the world of norrath as a CASUAL gamer. Yes, I said it. Casual gamer! I'm aware most have stopped reading by now.

I have issues with both live and p99 so I'm trying to weight my options.

Live:
Pros -
Larger Community
Faster Leveling
More Content
New UI
New Spellbook (UI)

Cons -
Community is all max level and ignores newbies so I'd be playing alone for 4 years till I reach max level.
Monthly Subscription
Mercenaries - killing the community because everyone is boxing mercs and multiple accounts.

P1999
Pros -
Amazing Community
Oldschool Content
Oldschool Spell Graphics
Sense of Worth! You build a reputation
1 Character at a time!
(I think)

Cons -
Death ( Same as Live? not sure)
Very Slow Leveling (for a casual gamer)
All high level camps are taken by high end guilds? This is what I've read. What's the point of leveling up if you can't get anything out of it.
Old Spellbook (unorganized spellbook / page flipping / rememming spells without right clicking hotbar into sub catagories to choose spells)


Many more pro's cons of both, was just thinking quickly.

Basically I love the game to death, but would be playing casually (if that's possible) Has anyone had success with raiding or playing like 2 hours a day and being max level? Because back in the day, we'd raid for like 7 hours. I can't do that lol.

I just feel like I'd be able to play Live servers casually more so than P99. But I wouldn't see a soul.

Your thoughts? Please keep the flames to a minimum, this is EQ, not WoW.

[jjgerman]

raid scene sucks on P99,

Everything sucks on live

[renegadeofunk]

I'm only 35, but I've noticed Asgard raids the planes and some kunark stuff pretty frequently with a ~46-54 group. Not as phat loots as max level of course, but looks fun. Then of course there is Velious to look forward to which is mostly why I started now. I think this game is more about the journey than the destination.

[monkeydoc]

I've only been here about a week, but I can tell you I enjoy it way better than the last time I tried Live. You've pretty much pointed out the major problems. Everyone is max level, so there's zero low level community. On top of that, there are so many zones compared to P1999 that you're lucky to see anyone else in any one zone anyway.

I leveled way more quickly on my last trip to Live, but it was pretty soulless. You accumulate a little plat, buy high powered weapons and armor for cheap (by classic standards), hang out in PoK until you get buffed to the gills, and then go solo in loneliness somewhere in a zone you have no memory of or connection to.

As far as worrying about slow leveling: don't. Bear in mind that this is EQ, not a modern MMO. There's a lot of game to be had on the journey. I spent years playing Kunark/Velious/Luclin and never broke level 50, but I still got a ton of entertainment out of it. Unless you're all about raiding, I would just play and enjoy the trip. And really, if you're all about raiding, a low pop private server seems like a pretty lousy alternative to more populated live games.

[Urbanzkopf]

I have recently played both and I can say that although P99 has its cons... they easily outweigh with pros and taking into consideration the cons of live.

I played a cleric on live just before XMAS this year leveled 1-67 no problem at all, then you realise that suddenly things are getting harder and unless you box like 3-4 accounts at the same time, you will come to a standstill (unless you get powerleveled but then whats the point playing the game it's all about the journey). I met very few people who actually talked and I mean very few. Maybe 3 people in about 3-4 months? All the higher levels sit around at the guild hall all day AFKing and just generally ignoring you.

The mercenaries suck, they totally ruin the game. Not only do they cost a fortune to keep in-game they take away the nature of the game (MMO) and turn it into what is basically a single player. As far as raiding goes I was lead to understand unless you was in a raiding guild already, goodluck joining. Not to mention their SC shop which uses real money to buy currency for hundred of pointless things and goony vanity items, reminds me of things like rune of magic.

Although this server doesn't have 1000's online at a time, at least the few who are, are all real people who will respond and whilst leveling 8/10 will want to group up with you. However as casual you may find the game to be a very slow start, but if you can persevere with that I recommend this server for you highly.

[Narsistica]

as someone who played on live... the community on live seems smaller then here due to all the content there is.. no groups.. all merc soloing till 75... whats the fun in that.. it takes no skill what so ever to play live. (but if you do go live i suggest you go to the test server)

[Valiant]

I have toons with max VoA gear on live, the high end is definately more fun, im just waiting for a new expansion. I like to play p99 more though, still loving the nostalgia

[Ele]

Choose Life.

[Lagaidh]

I'd say if you found yourself registering on the P99 forums to ask this question, then there's something inside of you that has already answered your question.

It's really as simple as this: do you want EverQuest to be like it was, or to be like it is? You are right in that this community is biased. We prefer EQ how it was and many of us have felt that way since Luclin dropped. Sure Luclin is a mixed bag of awesome and suck, but it left everyone knowing it was a different game.

Which one do you want to play?

[Lagaidh]

it's all about the journey

Yep. It's mystified me that a number of players here went through the effort of finding such a server, getting set up to play and then burn through the content ASAP.

Erm.

This is memory lane baby! Why take the warp-speed route through it? If you're here, then you wanted that old feeling, right?

Meh- I've always taken my sweet time with games I truly love. I still make 250+ hour play throughs of Final Fantasy Tactics. And I still level more slowly than old people fark in classic EQ =) 2 years for 52 levels.

[Lagaidh]

Your thoughts? Please keep the flames to a minimum, this is EQ, not WoW.

I apologize for my thread-spamming, but I keep finding things to respond to and I'm blasted on prednisone and lortab!

I had to note the irony... you list your casual game needs and finish with "this is EQ, not WoW". Hehehehe!

Hey I know how you feel. I've had cold feet joining a guild because I really am a time-starved power gamer. I don't want to join a guild and not really pitch in due to time constraints.

But, as one of my other posts in the thread states, I can get a lot of satisfaction out of the journey. I, personally, also loved live trading. So there's that for me as well. I may be L52, but I'm not guilded and have some good trinkets! I always loved turning stuff I don't need into stuff I do.

[Daldaen]

http://thefacelessorder.com/

This guild on Live caught my eye actually.

They are a progression based guild on Test server. Test works as if you have a subscription, but is completely free. Downside being its down more often than normal servers and they can patch stuff on there that is broken.

You can get to level 50-60 really quick on live and join them if raiding is your thing.

If you are absolutely not a raider and prefer grouping, P99 for you IMO.

[Danyelle]

There's reasons to play both tbh (or rather, all 3. Even though it too is run by Sony, EQMac is basically a different game than Live AND P99). There's also no real reason you can't play all of them at once.

http://i.imgur.com/OaMhV.jpg


Ultimately. Play the ones you think you'll like most, or play them all and remove the ones you find you dislike. And I agree, asking this community is a terrible idea. Most will pick P99 without an eyelash bat and will spew anti-modern propaganda. Just like asking the Live boards will always pick Sony's servers and spew anti-Classic/Emu propaganda. You'd be better off asking a completely neutral source...or better yet, just playing what you want (as previously stated).

[Caridry]

i had no problems leveling to 95 on both druid and bard on live within a few months (3) for both chars. Live is boring as hell, i hit max level, started to raid, and i was NEVER excited, it felt so dumbed down and bland.

I come here, and instantly make friends, have a great guild, the community (minus forums) is fantastic, and it just really is nostalgiac... i played 99-2005 on my druid, and it just seems so much more challenging and unforgiving (WHICH IS WHAT EQ WAS ALL ABOUT!) i mean FUCK there isnt even corpse runs anymore on live... jesus.

[Urbanzkopf]

also google Progression X if you are into live... they are on trakanon server and they as a whole guild only play up to 60 (currently 65 as the guild leader just opened up luclin) you're not allowed in zones no in your era etc etc. Sounds cool but I dont have the time to play here, there and do everything else irl.

[Danyelle]

http://thefacelessorder.com/

This guild on Live caught my eye actually.

They are a progression based guild on Test server. Test works as if you have a subscription, but is completely free. Downside being its down more often than normal servers and they can patch stuff on there that is broken.

You can get to level 50-60 really quick on live and join them if raiding is your thing.

If you are absolutely not a raider and prefer grouping, P99 for you IMO.

I talk to one of their officers frequently (Protocol). Almost joined but I already had three level 80s when he asked and was 90 before they started raiding. Didn't feel like rerolling. They actually do a damn good job though, Only downside is multiple level 95's farm old raid mobs for gear, epics/quests, flags, mounts, or simply to see if they can. Makes their competition even worse than you'd find with TMO over here. At least until GoD+ when raid mobs go instanced (and PoTime).

[Lagaidh]

So many common threads (not just forum threads; threads of thought) where players are going out of their way for a non-modern experience. EQMac, here, the progression guilds policing their own play.

I'm surprised that all of us combined isn't enough of a customer base to put up a couple Sony backed (and SUPPORTED) classic servers.

Meh. I guess it's not worth it when you can put out a mobile device puzzle game that catches on slightly and ends up netting the company multiples in value.

Thank goodness for emulation coders. I am a software engineer... and I simply bow down to emulator developers (hardware or otherwise). Shit like a NES emu blows my mind.

I can still write a damn good piece of business software =) Or does anybody need an IVR solution? Oprima el dos!

[Danyelle]

So many common threads (not just forum threads; threads of thought) where players are going out of their way for a non-modern experience. EQMac, here, the progression guilds policing their own play.

I'm surprised that all of us combined isn't enough of a customer base to put up a couple Sony backed (and SUPPORTED) classic servers.

Meh. I guess it's not worth it when you can put out a mobile device puzzle game that catches on slightly and ends up netting the company multiples in value.

Thank goodness for emulation coders. I am a software engineer... and I simply bow down to emulator developers (hardware or otherwise). Shit like a NES emu blows my mind.

I can still write a damn good piece of business software =) Or does anybody need an IVR solution? Oprima el dos!

Well there's difference though. For example, TFO on Test may be doing classic content, but they use the modern UI (Extended Targeting etc etc) and all the modern combat/spell mechanics (not that they have a choice on that matter), still use PoK/GL as a hub, roll Vah Shir/Frogloks/Drakkin/Beastlords/Berserkers, use weapon ornaments and station cash illusions, and while they forbid mercs on raids they have no issue using them to level or with groups. They also have a few people with 95's that farm twink gear for the guild or kill Kunark+ raid mobs to lock down spawn timers for the guild when they reach that expac. While still Classic content, that is a COMPLETELY different style than P99 or EQMac, EQMac itself has Luclin and PoP.


The thing is, there's SO many different aspects of how people want Classic, some want it up to Velious, some to Luclin, some to PoP, some with no expacs, some with modern UI, some with stone Classic UI, some want bare bones ball-busting Classic. With so many renditions it's hard to lump them all together like that. It may originate from a common interest, but it's still vastly different. It may be possible to create these servers on EQEmu where it's cheaper and different devs can make their own versions (*cough* P99/EpicEmu*cough*) but it's hard for Sony to create servers to fulfil all those different aspects. It's easier for them to focus ahead and let Emu pick up the nostalgic slack (or EQMac, hence why they don't patch the PC 'hack')

[Daldaen]

I talk to one of their officers frequently (Protocol). Almost joined but I already had three level 80s when he asked and was 90 before they started raiding. Didn't feel like rerolling. They actually do a damn good job though, Only downside is multiple level 95's farm old raid mobs for gear, epics/quests, flags, mounts, or simply to see if they can. Makes their competition even worse than you'd find with TMO over here. At least until GoD+ when raid mobs go instanced (and PoTime).

Firstly, you can easily /testcopy -> Bind yourself next to some level 95+ mobs and afk a few hours and you'll be down to level 60. Your main character on its native server will not be affected, as they are on test.

Secondly, the test server is VERY dead. Barely any level 95's plat there, let alone farm old raid mobs for stuff. The night they opened Kunark they found VS and Trakanon up for example.

Downside is no classic VP for them, so no phat VP loots. But that passes and is irrelevant when Velious and later expansions are released.

[Danyelle]

Firstly, you can easily /testcopy -> Bind yourself next to some level 95+ mobs and afk a few hours and you'll be down to level 60. Your main character on its native server will not be affected, as they are on test.

Secondly, the test server is VERY dead. Barely any level 95's plat there, let alone farm old raid mobs for stuff. The night they opened Kunark they found VS and Trakanon up for example.

Downside is no classic VP for them, so no phat VP loots. But that passes and is irrelevant when Velious and later expansions are released.

About /testcopy. I know, but I don't have a toon to copy anymore lol. The 3 accounts I use now are brand new, as I lost my original account (that I used from Classic-Secrets of Faydwer) when I quit. Actually...I shouldn't say "lost"...more like "wiped all info then gave to a friend and that friend and I have since grown distant and she still has the account" lol. Either way I no longer have anything to copy, what I have on Test is what I have period now. lol

And as for the low pop, yeah Test is relatively dead, but at least since F2P you'd be surprised. It's somewhat active. (We won't pretend free Gold membership has nothing to do with that). Old mobs are downed quite a bit, Luclin ones mostly, due to the fast mounts. As well as a couple for epics (some people chose to do the 1.0 for the achievement/title rather than just do 1.5 prequest and skip it)

[Nirgon]

Box ranger + enchanter on EQMac or play cleric or tank class here

[Ghordo]

Guild Wars 2

[Daldaen]

Box ranger + enchanter on EQMac or play cleric or tank class here

Replace ranger with druid. And $$$.

Charmed pet + Snare + druid CHeal = can kill most any group mob in pre-Elemental Planes zones.

[Nirgon]

Thought the Marksman AA stuff would trump that on raids

[Daldaen]

Raids are raids.

But to get to being viable and not just a leech on raids you needa be able to box or guild-group planar stuff in Tactics/BoT/HoH. And Chanter/Cleric or Chanter/Druid are prolly best 2 combos to get that done.

[Lagaidh]

I may be hallucinating, but didn't someone else come up with the same question earlier? Live or 99?

[Danyelle]

I may be hallucinating, but didn't someone else come up with the same question earlier? Live or 99?

Probably, akin to how when the server goes down 18 threads pop up at once with the title "OMG server is down I'm going to die without my Classic Everquest Rogean please fix!".

Copied topics keep forums strong! :P

[Telron]

I would really shy away from worrying that a Casual gamer can't play here. There may be things you can't do, or won't finish as quickly as other people but this kind of game can be played for many many many years and if your having fun when you log in, that is what really matters.

The nice thing is this server has a pretty healthy population at most levels from what I have seen and there is no reason to race to 60 yet. The rule of Anti-Boxing is huge too which forces people to socialize if they want to go after dungeons or tougher targets.

Take your time, relive the old days. Roll some alts. Have fun mostly : )

[nilzark]

I am a very casual player. Always have been since '98. Been playing p99 for about a year and am only level 13. Its still fun to log on for a couple hours and group or do tradeskills or just explore. The problem with MMO's in general is that after awhile everybody ends up max level and just do not want to start over or maybe they have 5 or 10 times. But at anyrate, I can't stand easy servers or any modern MMO - its all flash and no fun. Suspense and challenge are what make a game fun. And I get all that with my slow leveling game style.

[Arclanz]

Both are appealing. But you will find live EQ to be so different from 1999 as to be an entirely different game. If you want to play EQ, play on p1999. If you want to play some cool game (which IMO isn't EQ), log onto live.

[Tecmos Deception]

I know it's redundant asking P99 players which server I should stick to. But I wanted to hear your reasons behind it.

Let me start off by saying, I've played this game during release back in my younger, hardcore, can afford to eat hot pockets everyday phase. Today, as an adult with responsibilities things have changed!

I'm looking to revisit the world of norrath as a CASUAL gamer. Yes, I said it. Casual gamer! I'm aware most have stopped reading by now.

I have issues with both live and p99 so I'm trying to weight my options.

Live:
Pros -
Larger Community
Faster Leveling
More Content
New UI
New Spellbook (UI)

Cons -
Community is all max level and ignores newbies so I'd be playing alone for 4 years till I reach max level.
Monthly Subscription
Mercenaries - killing the community because everyone is boxing mercs and multiple accounts.

P1999
Pros -
Amazing Community
Oldschool Content
Oldschool Spell Graphics
Sense of Worth! You build a reputation
1 Character at a time!
(I think)

Cons -
Death ( Same as Live? not sure)
Very Slow Leveling (for a casual gamer)
All high level camps are taken by high end guilds? This is what I've read. What's the point of leveling up if you can't get anything out of it.
Old Spellbook (unorganized spellbook / page flipping / rememming spells without right clicking hotbar into sub catagories to choose spells)


Many more pro's cons of both, was just thinking quickly.

Basically I love the game to death, but would be playing casually (if that's possible) Has anyone had success with raiding or playing like 2 hours a day and being max level? Because back in the day, we'd raid for like 7 hours. I can't do that lol.

I just feel like I'd be able to play Live servers casually more so than P99. But I wouldn't see a soul.

Your thoughts? Please keep the flames to a minimum, this is EQ, not WoW.


Your cons for live cancel out the pros. Who cares if there are a lot of people if none of them will play with you? Who cares if there is a lot of content if there is no one doing 99% of it? Etc.

Your cons for p99 are irrelevant for you. You are a casual player, so what do you care if VP is dominated by one guild? You're a casual player, so what do you care how fast you leve? Just play however much you can/want to and enjoy that; that's what classic EQ was really about anyways.

[mgellan]

I just find the level of immersion on live to be totally screwed up by all the "helpful" dialog boxes and similar crap. I tried a new toon on Live when it went F2P and quit pretty fast because of the all annoying "Click here for next task" shit. P99 = great community + great immersion, which is why we play the game in the first place IMHO. Screw live.

Regards,
Mg

[sykotic]

IMO your cons make the game more difficult, which make it more enjoyable.. for me anyway. Minus not being able to Rclick gems for spells.

Pretty typical for a couple high level guilds to dominate, and you can always join them if they'll have you.


P99 FTW

[Furniture]

I recently tried live again with a gold account and stopped pretty quickly. I had two main issues which I think if they didnt exist, would make live pretty awesome.

1) The mercenaries being so overpowered its what kills it for me. They give you tank mercenaries for very cheap (even free up to level 12 or so) that can tank and solo any mob up to like 5-6 levels of you because he has insane hp/regen/gear/stats. This is done to boost characters to level 60 asap to catch up on content from some of the newer expansions that they want you to play and to be able to catch up to friends/guildmates, trivializing a massive amount of old content. Since you only get one merc out at a time I think it would be a pretty good system as long as the mercenary was equal to a player. They should replace generic archetype mercenaries with mercenaries you can hire of all the classes with the same stats as players.

2) Defiant gear also further trivializes all old content 1-60. This gear drops off every mob in the game and for a mere 5 bucks you can buy this armor in a full set your your level range from the eq live marketplace thats shoved down your throat every three seconds. Not that you have to even have a full set, the defiant gear is extremely powerful, better stats anything for several expansions, plus you have your godlike tank merc to do everything for you.


If they released a server with just these two things removed, then i'd love to play it. It would be the ultimate casual eq experience.

[Thulack]

I recently tried live again with a gold account and stopped pretty quickly. I had two main issues which I think if they didnt exist, would make live pretty awesome.

1) The mercenaries being so overpowered its what kills it for me. They give you tank mercenaries for very cheap (even free up to level 12 or so) that can tank and solo any mob up to like 5-6 levels of you because he has insane hp/regen/gear/stats. This is done to boost characters to level 60 asap to catch up on content from some of the newer expansions that they want you to play and to be able to catch up to friends/guildmates, trivializing a massive amount of old content. Since you only get one merc out at a time I think it would be a pretty good system as long as the mercenary was equal to a player. They should replace generic archetype mercenaries with mercenaries you can hire of all the classes with the same stats as players.

2) Defiant gear also further trivializes all old content 1-60. This gear drops off every mob in the game and for a mere 5 bucks you can buy this armor in a full set your your level range from the eq live marketplace thats shoved down your throat every three seconds. Not that you have to even have a full set, the defiant gear is extremely powerful, better stats anything for several expansions, plus you have your godlike tank merc to do everything for you.


If they released a server with just these two things removed, then i'd love to play it. It would be the ultimate casual eq experience.

Everything you don't like was put in to make people catch up easier to the top end of the community. Leveling is silly easy anymore on live so catching up to everyone else is not a issue if your willing to put some time in. If someone is only planning on playing 15-20 hours a week then i would stick to P99. If you want to put more hours in i would play on live. You will have more things to accomplish in the long run. EQ live is free to play up to level 90 and 1000aa so you can try it out for awhile and if you don't like it can always come back here. Worse comes to worse and you spend a month or 2 on live and then come back here to nothing different.