Other than End Game

[Louien Thorngage]

Howdy,

Just assume the general introduction "hey, I'm new and played EQ during Kunark etcetra" stuff goes here. I know you have probably all heard it a dozen times before.

I actually have a relatively specific question to ask, as I am interest in getting on board with Project 1999 and playing some good old-style EQ. Here is the thing though, I am the elusive "casual gamer" who may play a lot one week, and then be absent a week, rinse and repeat. In EQ Live this usually meant that I never kept up with my in-game friends, but that was never an issue (as I can always make new friends), additionally I hate the gear treadmill, so end game never appealed to me. But what did become an issue was that eventually new people stopped playing EQ. This meant that there was almost no one to group with under level 60 or so, and as a lvl 48 warrior (at the time, this was after a hiatus and coming back post POP) that meant that playing the game was impossible.

TLDR; So I am wondering if people actually populate and play the content at any given level range, or if non-end game related zones are just dead?

[falkun]

There are quite a few persons who play alternate characters or are also casual like yourself. While the top-end of the server is vastly more populated at all hours of the day, the lower levels are still populated, especially during US prime time. People usually follow a common leveling guide unless they know they'll be meeting with guildies or friends in other zones.

Typically, the commonly accepted "hot-zones" for leveling are:
1-5: Newbie Zone
5-10: EC
10-15: Oasis, Crushbone
15-22: Unrest
22-30: Mistmoore
30-40: OT
40-50: SolB, CoM
50-55: KC
55-60: Sebilis.

The leveling is strongest in Unrest and Mistmoore (15-30), there is a noticable gap of groups in the 30-50 range, and then leveling picks back up again 51+.

The fantastic dungeons outside of this prescribed leveling path are usually either uncamped or solo'd by high level players. Make friends and don't be afraid to adventure to these other zones!

[Furniture]

you will be fine, theres always new players coming in and alts being made, while most of the server is top heavy you will have no issues getting groups if you stick to the conventional zones for your level range, make sure when you cant find a group however, you do /w all (level range) or a /w all lfg and build your own group

[Bonderd]

You will find people from 1-60 just like back on live. There are new players all the time, o would not let that bother you . There will always be a hardcore group of people in any game and new players are always a welcome addition too a 14 year old game

[Splorf22]

35-50 is definitely the rough spot. A lot of people start alts and don't make it past 35, or new players that level slowly, or whatever. There are groups; it's just a bit harder. Once you hit 50+ there are plenty of players again.

[diplo]

find a couple good buddies and duo/dungeon crawl with them. i always had backdoor shammy/cle friends where i did some fun stuff with.

[Louien Thorngage]

The 35-50 gap aside, that is nice to hear. I grew weary of everyone just PLing alts to max level and being left alone to fend for myself (as a warrior....not easy).

Thanks for the answer.

[Tecmos Deception]

PLing is the exception, not the norm. And I bet that only 1% of the people who do get PL get it from 1-60.

[Cippofra]

I dont think there is any gap from 35-50. You will not have any trouble grouping at all. There are plenty of people playing, and plenty of groups to be found. And in my opinion (I realize some of you strongly disagree with this, I couldn't care less so dont even bother with the trolling) the server is very, very overcrowded. Not only will it be easy for you to find groups, your group will struggle to find places to camp in good areas.

[Tierael]

I took Mistmoore from 22-35. Then I discovered AC in upperguk, and happily solo'd to 40 :)

[Auvdar]

I took Mistmoore from 22-35. Then I discovered AC in upperguk, and happily solo'd to 40 :)

Just quoting this because TeamFourStar is awesome. Muffin Button!

Najena/Befallen/Guk/Splitpaw are all great dungeons if you can get people to go. Runneyeye is a weird zone, lot of danger but fun too. (Real hard to get groups to go there tho)

[falkun]

I dont think there is any gap from 35-50. You will not have any trouble grouping at all. There are plenty of people playing, and plenty of groups to be found. And in my opinion (I realize some of you strongly disagree with this, I couldn't care less so dont even bother with the trolling) the server is very, very overcrowded. Not only will it be easy for you to find groups, your group will struggle to find places to camp in good areas.

Its not that its overcrowded, its that people refuse to utilize some of the other GREAT dungeons that don't reside on the "self-induced hot-zones" list. The best shot for getting some EXP if your zone is overcrowded is to put a group together and head off to the other dungeon. Toss a group to a Wizard/Druid, get a port, and continue leveling.