How do you justify the amount of time everquest requires? How do you play the game?

[Safon]

So lately I've been considering just how much time I need to invest in eq to keep progressing; I am lvl 57 and it takes hours and hours just to earn a few blues of experience (not to mention the time investment for raiding). And that's if things don't go wrong during the process [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I love the game, but it seems more and more like an incredible time eater lately (just IMO of course). I guess it was designed thus way, as more time spent equals more money spent, or did during live. And if I'm not logging on frequently, I'm not contributing much to my guild, and my relationships with friends and guild mates deteriorate.

Is it really possible to play this game casually? Especially at the high end?

Is there even such a thing as true casuals on p99?

To those with serious rl commitments who play, how do you personally go about spending your time in the game?

Maybe this is a dumb topic/question, but I figured I'd ask anyways. Thanks for any input/ feedback

[Kika Maslyaka]

the only way to play this game casually is to stop caring about XP and levels.
Concentrate on raising your faction all over the world and piling up cash - its a lot more productive.

[Safon]

Originally Posted by purist 4.0 [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

we got a genius burger on the loose

Have you really been banned four+ times? Why do you cling to forum trolling so strongly

[Arrngrim79]

It is what you want it to be friend.

From what little I've seen on p99, they've captured the original essence of EQ. From what I've read on the boards, people are raging at each other about the raiding, but this is really how it was in those days. It was...chaotic. Even on the servers where people organized, things were still hectic sometimes. About the time investment, oh yes, I can remember years of my life flushed down the drain that is EQ. Was it a waste? Of course not, memories I hold dear still of this game have brought me back here to p99.

For those of us with social obligations, sure it's probably possible to play casually here, even at 57 with the raid scene. Just don't expect to make every raid and the leveling will be slow.

Just...enjoy it. With all the new MMO's, they've honed down the players to want to drive and crave the newest loot, the newest shiny. They've forgotten what the true spirit of EQ was about. Just having fun, exploring a new area with friends, CAMPING a SINGLE spot for days/weeks on end. The magic has been lost with the new gen MMO's and the younger crowd who demand instant gratification on everything.

One of my fondest memories of EQ, being an early 20's shaman camping at the zone to "The Arena" slowly killing the two aviak guards that would spawn and just looking out at the in game mountains watching the digital sun set. Egg timers ftw. That was the magic of the game.

And now, I've had a GREAT day frolicking through Blackburrow just like the old days. Dying a couple times in hard to reach areas, spotting Lord Elgnub and the Master Brewer and "duck & covering" asap.

Can I give you good examples of p99 at your current stage in the game? Naturally not, but I refer you back to my first statement in this response.

It is what you want it to be friend.

[Kika Maslyaka]

A good friend of mine said following when he quit EQ in 2004:

"EQ was a tremendous waste of time, but it was fun" [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

[Kurtanius21]

Simple. P1999 in moderation. Though I have been here for nearly a year, my highest level is only 40. I don't play daily, am not part of a guild scene, and in no rush to level. The benefits of playing this way are huge for me. For one, I have no worries of burning out any time soon. This has made it possible for me to avoid any new game purchases or hardware upgrades for the last 6 months. There is no need for me to buy new games because I'm not tired of P1999. Secondly, playing in moderation does not hurt my social life much at all. As far as I can tell, I'ma be here for a long time.

[LetTheWookieWin]

When I came back to EQ in the form of p1999 it was with one simple rule:

I play on my terms.

I have three kids, a lovely wife and a life I don't want to ignore.

I am a member of Flawless Victory - the best guild on the server hands down - with them I make my play time starts and stops known. I play within the time frames I have, I don't elevate the game above my kids or my wife (or even my dog for that matter) and I enjoy my time, as it is available.

Play on your own terms, don't let anyone else set the line on how you should play, when, or why.

Brogg

[koros]

EQ doesn't "require" any amount of time. There's a lot you can do if you put in a lot of time, but there's infinitely more you can be doing in real life. So play as casually as you like and everything will be there waiting for you when you log back in.

Back in the early days on live I was a teenager and would forego sleep, schoolwork, and social obligations for the next carrot - a piece of gear, a level, etc. Now I couldn't fathom doing that, and if I'm 99% to the next level, or about to engage the island 4 boss in plane of sky (for the ever coveted DCoS drop) and it's time to log, I log.

Another thing to consider is that marginal returns on power increase per hour committed to eq rapidly decrease. In other words, a level 20 who puts in 20 hours might end up level 25, a much larger power % increase than for a level 54 who puts in 20 hours and gets through 3 yellow bubbles, or a level 60 who puts in 20 hours and might finish half an epic quest or farm 20k of a 100k item they wish to buy.

[eqravenprince]

I'm a true casual player. I just realize that I will most likely never have the best equipment and I do not even think about getting to max level. Enjoy the moment is the easiest way to play as a casual. Adventure to new zones, help out newbies, start up crafting just because you can, fish, max out alcohol tolerance, go get some gear for an alt from one of the many empty mid level zones.

I try to talk to my wife before I start playing and make sure it's ok if I play for X hours. If I don't talk to the wife, I either solo or make it known to my group that I may have to leave at any moment. Generally speaking, I do not raid, it's too much of a time committment and hassle. Besides, I know I do not need raid equipment for doing group or solo content. Sure it helps, but not neccesary.

[diplo]

it all depends on what you want to get out of the game.

if you don't care about pixels, whats wrong with 2-3 blues per session? the game is most fun for me 1-59.9.

i'm pretty casual now. i work 8-7 everyday, so i only get a few hours to play each day, if i'm not spending time with my gf or my friends. i usually just try to catch a raid if i can or do some mindless farming while i'm watching NBA. It's satisfying me more than enough.