Addicted to EQ

[skyfoxnz85]

First of all, English is not my 1st language. Please excuses my poor english.

Ok i think i need some help and seeking some advise from those who may or may not experienced this in the past. I’ve been playing EQ last couple of years and it became big part of my life. I love grinding, camping, and levelling and help other people. I has been great but recently i’ve been obsessed with this game and start prioritise this game over my real life. I had couple of sick leaves I shouldn’t have and this “Work from home” during pandemic made it too easy for me to make excuses… Yeah i am super addicted to this game. I never had this issue while playing other MMO since they have “diminishing return” stuff. (Like daily limit or weekly limits). I think i need some break from this game. Sometime I prefer to be online rather than be in real life. Is there anyone who had similar problems before and figure out how to get out of this addiction? I still want to continue play this game but I don’t want to be controlled by it. Apologies for being a drama queen but I figured I should share this with the community I spend the most time with 1st…

[Tunabros]

got warder loot? i dont think so

think your fine, bud

[kauvian]

If you think you need a break just go pick pocket Elder Holgresh Beads.

[Seducio]

figure out how to get out of this addiction? I still want to continue play this game but I don’t want to be controlled by it

Awareness is key. You are on your way to figuring it out. Keep noticing whether you are spending time the way you want to. Are you the version of your self that you want to be?

Stopping for a while cold turkey is an option also if you haven't considered it. Surely it is the quickest way back to reality.

Your characters aren't going anywhere.

If you log off and don't come back for months or even years they will still be there.

You only live once. Go live some. Carpe diem. Momento Mori.

[jacob54311]

Use the timer that comes up when you enter the game to let you know you've played enough.

[Philistine]

Your characters aren't going anywhere.

If you log off and don't come back for months or even years they will still be there.

This is my favorite thing about these servers! A fungi rocks today and it'll rock in 5 years. I vote you go RL it up for a bit and if it sucks just come back and everything will be just how you left it.

[Jibartik]

Dont worry OP they are going to shut the power grid off in a few years and everyone is going to forever purge so just keep playing for now!

[Rick Sanchez]

I was def addicted the first time around as a teenager with 0 responsibility.

[Ravager]

Tales of Maj'Eyal. It's got the chatroom that is the real drug of the game, but it's turn based so you don't have to stay glued to the game to not lose progress.

[Jibartik]

EQ makes it hard to want to "go hang out with friends doing nothing today" because you could be progressing.

And that's where the depression starts. :o

[Gustoo]

Select a project for real life. Learn the guitar or the piano. Grind out some real life skills and set some real life goals and achieve them. Start small, like if you want to lose weight, make a goal to not eat after 8pm and until lunch the next day. Goal achieved quite easy, feel better.

Other goals.

[starkind]

u could be just unable to socialize "normally" in which case its better to be addicted to eq or wow than be a mass shooter or a pornstar taking it in the ass regularly for heroine or opiods from rich privilaged bois

normally is emphasized because there's nothing normal or OK about todays world or the ppl runnin it

or maybe ur just to ugly lol

[chuckleluckle]

taking it in the ass regularly for heroine or opiods from rich privilaged bois


this tbh

[Lightbringer55]

I think all of us playing as some point or another has had to ask the question, "What's the point of all of this?"

At the end of the day, you're accumulating pixels on a 22 year old emulated game. If the server stopped running tomorrow, what would that leave you with?

Good reasons to play:
- Nostalgia of playing a game that many of us enjoyed in our youth!
- Playing a game with challenge where getting to the highest level with some decent gear means something (unlike today's games!)
- Make online friends, socialize, enjoy your time with other players to overcome challenges together!

Bad reasons to play:
- Escaping reality and finding more time enjoying being in EQ than your own personal life! Worse is if it starts to take over your life (you start to skip RL events and interactions in favor of playing the game), you get angry when you can't play, or you're always thinking of the game. These are signs of true addiction!
- Endlessly accumulating platinum/gear to be "the best" for something that doesn't matter or feeling that you would "lose your investment" by not playing enough. In essence, if you're playing to feel a sense of "accomplishment" - that's not good!

All of us need to accept what play style we're comfortable with. Between family and work there's no way for me to join a 24/7 bat phone raiding guild. But I still have fun in casual guilds that schedule events ahead for the evening and do what I can to be part of the team. Others want the competitive aspects and have the freedom to play more. Do what fits for you.

All joking aside, EQ can be very addictive if not handled properly. As many have suggested, aim to strike a balance in life with it on the side while still retaining your hobbies and personal relationships! And as silly as it sounds, "weening" with a game like WoW or FFXIV or others that don't require endless time sinks and allow for a more casual play style can help. Otherwise you may honestly need to treat it like a drug/gambling addiction and seek help if you're completely immersed and unable to break free.

[loramin]

Is there anyone who had similar problems before and figure out how to get out of this addiction? I still want to continue play this game but I don’t want to be controlled by it. Apologies for being a drama queen but I figured I should share this with the community I spend the most time with 1st…

"How do I do heroin, but not get addicted it?" ;)

Seriously though, my advice would be to take a break: just walk away and don't come back for a few months (your character will still be there). I promise that when you come back the addictive hold will be dramatically weakened.

(Of course, after awhile it will come back, and you may need another break ... but if you look at many of us who've been here awhile, that's just what we do. Binge and purge, bulk and cut, manic leveling followed by depressed no-game-playing ... just balance things out if they're going too far in one direction, by going very strongly in the other direction.)

[starkind]

idk i have to disagree, escaping reality is a great reason to play this game when u don't have many safe or effective alternatives (especially if they are all illegal or hurt other ppl)

i feel like it's just important to be honest with oursselves about why we do anything and what we really want then we at least have a great foundation and opportunaty to work towards the goal we truly want

I really really really am happy to escape reality. Sort of. Because lets face it, my life is still burning away (and the life of my loved ones and compatriots, comrads). Just less painfully than it could be if I took action based purely on emotion and rage.

[Seducio]

Every adult gets to define where the line is for themselves, starkind.

It is clear that OP worries he is past this line.

He is trying to emerge from an escape.

I don't think he is looking to justify it further.

[starkind]

Every adult gets to define where the line is for themselves, starkind.

It is clear that OP worries he is past this line.

He is trying to emerge from an escape.

I don't think he is looking to justify it further.

ya i agree

[Toxigen]

microdosing

[jcbbjjttt]

I'm with the others here that say to turn it off for a month or two. I was the same way. I was neglecting my real life to play this game because I was addicted and obsessed. I managed to get myself to uninstall it at some point.

The hold it had on me was gone pretty quick. It comes back from time to time but it is easier to quit the second time.

Good luck!

[Baler]

First of all, English is not my 1st language. Please excuses my poor english.
Hey skyfoxnz85 It's all good over decade plus of P99 I've met people from almost every country in the world.

Ok i think i need some help and seeking some advise from those who may or may not experienced this in the past. I’ve been playing EQ last couple of years and it became big part of my life.
I personally have had EQ addiction full blown, not caring so much about life and only thinking about everquest. I've been there.

I love grinding, camping, and levelling and help other people.
This is exactly the drug about EQ that hooked into me. every drug has a hook. Everyone to talk to on EQ, camping spots and seeing people walk up. grinding for items or exp. I know how you feel.


I has been great but recently i’ve been obsessed with this game and start prioritise this game over my real life. I had couple of sick leaves I shouldn’t have and this “Work from home” during pandemic made it too easy for me to make excuses… Yeah i am super addicted to this game. I never had this issue while playing other MMO since they have “diminishing return” stuff. (Like daily limit or weekly limits).
Okay right off the bat, it's healthy and normal to take time off work to enjoy things you like or love. The problem starts when you begin to make excuses for why you're neglecting real life obligations for a pixel fantasy world. Please bear with me.

I think i need some break from this game.
Yes go cold turkey, Please for your health and real life obligations. I know how you feel, The longer you take a break the easier it will be. Try not to think about EQ, seriously!!! Don't think about ANY online gaming or RPGs.


Sometime I prefer to be online rather than be in real life. Is there anyone who had similar problems before and figure out how to get out of this addiction? I still want to continue play this game but I don’t want to be controlled by it. Apologies for being a drama queen but I figured I should share this with the community I spend the most time with 1st…
I have been there, honestly dead to rights (pure honesty) I have. The people I've met meant a lot to me, but it's so much more important to take care of your personal well being. And I can't do it for you, ONLY YOU can do it for YOU. Trust me, the people you've met would want you to be happy and care about yourself.

If you ever need someone to vent to or talk about recovering from classic EQ, pm me and we can chat anytime.

Take care of yourself!

[wunderon]

I’d suggest you roll another alt.

[Cenen]

I started using a free program in the windows store called ".Clocks".

It puts an always on top clock on the screen. I reduce the size and opacity put it in an unused corner of my UI. It's great for keeping an eye on the time during long sessions.

[Geomance22]

the self selected internet1.0 people that play this game are way cooler and more interesting than the normie NPCs repetitive "truck, sports, titties" dialogue tree

[Danth]

You can't be "addicted" to a video game. Your computer has an off button. Push it--problem solved. Most folks I know who over-use something like video games tend to do so for want of anything better to do with their time. It's a lot tougher you push that off button if it means you'll be otherwise sitting around twiddling your thumbs.

Danth

[Seducio]

Going to have to respectfully disagree with you, Danth, about whether video games can be addictive.

EQ in particular had a storied history in the late 90s, early 2000s of causing divorces, job loss, and allegedly in some cases even suicide for those who couldn't control their playtime.

Any activity that gives dopamine hits (and EQ does) can become addictive to certain individuals. Not all folks have the same internal chemistry so the same behavior between two people could lead one to become addicted and one not to.

At the end of the day it can be a serious thing if it gets too deep or too dark.

In those cases, once a players notices this may be happening to them they really should get out of Norrath as soon as possible. A good long break works wonders.

Here are some articles about EQ addiction:


http://www.nickyee.com/eqt/addiction.html

https://www.wired.com/2002/04/did-game-play-role-in-suicide/

Bottom line: If your son or daughter came to you and said they were addicted, it wouldn't matter what it was they were addicted to. You would help them.

[Fammaden]

Its essentially a gambling addiction, hitting all the same nuero chemical pathways in a similar fashion.

[Baler]

I seriously hope OP has gone cold turkey and is doing better IRL.
:(

[HalflingSpergand]

Whatever u do don't end up living in a cyber cafe smoking meth for days playing p1999

[cd288]

You can't be "addicted" to a video game. Your computer has an off button. Push it--problem solved. Most folks I know who over-use something like video games tend to do so for want of anything better to do with their time. It's a lot tougher you push that off button if it means you'll be otherwise sitting around twiddling your thumbs.

Danth

Yeah there are totally no drug addicts who have things to do besides drugs

[Swish]

You can't be "addicted" to a video game. Your computer has an off button. Push it--problem solved.

You can cure all addictions that way with that logic.

[Fleelord]

Whatever u do don't end up living in a cyber cafe smoking meth for days playing p1999


Oddly specific fren :)

[phloridaman]

Feel you OP. I have an addictive personality too so that doesn’t help. Definitely have an EQ addiction I’ve realized. Pandemic didn’t help, but I’ve been thinking I need to take a break myself. I like some the genuine comments in this thread though, I need to get back to leveling up in RL!

[unsunghero]

I can somewhat sympathize. When I first discovered this game I binge-played so hard I actually did nerve damage to my elbow that now requires surgery to correct (I discovered I had a genetic condition where the nerve doesn’t sit in the right spot so it’s not entirely my or the game’s fault)

Nowadays I play for a few hours and then sometimes take a week off completely

What helps keep me from becoming addicted:

1. Reminding myself that the end-game/raid scene in this game is dog shit. I have a full time job and thus will never be able to do anything other than ultra casual end game stuff which means I will likely never acquire enough DKP to buy even the worst pieces of raid gear. The guild I got in is decently sized but on the lower end of the raid competitiveness it seems. It sounds like the OP also has RL responsibilities so it would be helpful for him to remind himself that he will never be able to be competitive as a raider in this game

2. High end quested gear looks miserable to obtain. I looked up things like the coldain 10 ring and it highly discouraged me. I dislike super long involve quests in any game, I like hectic hack in slash dungeon crawling, not running from side of the world to the next doing boring fetch quest shit and talking to NPC’s about lore I don’t really care about. And realizing that the quest requires crafting is more discouraging. I also hate crafting in any game, even single person games like Skyrim I always tried to avoid crafting and just exclusively do combat. Crafting feels like an unpaid more boring than my RL job within a video game


So because there is nothing to look forward to for the end-game, at least for me, that helps keep my investment very low

[Borrow]

I know a guy that cures his addiction to EQ by fishing for a suspension when he feels like it's taking over is life.

[Ooloo]

I've literally never been in sleeper's tomb. I've been playing this game since 1999. Leveling up is the goal, ironically getting warder loot would be kind of an end. It's called everquest for a reason. It's the pursuit, the journey that is fun. Dorking around with your uberguild sociopaths is not fun.

[Graahle]

I've literally never been in sleeper's tomb. I've been playing this game since 1999. Leveling up is the goal, ironically getting warder loot would be kind of an end. It's called everquest for a reason. It's the pursuit, the journey that is fun. Dorking around with your uberguild sociopaths is not fun.

I'm with you on the sociopathic psychos that populate the raid guilds, but idk if I would have the fortitude to put up with doing something for 22 years and still falling short (using this phrase lightly) of a pretty monumental accomplishment for this era of the game.

[Piemur]

You can't be "addicted" to a video game. Your computer has an off button. Push it--problem solved. Most folks I know who over-use something like video games tend to do so for want of anything better to do with their time. It's a lot tougher you push that off button if it means you'll be otherwise sitting around twiddling your thumbs.

Danth

Ah, the best advice anyone has ever given to someone with an addiction "Just don't do it, duh ez".

This shows a deep lack on understanding what addiction actually is.

Thank you for your useful and constructive reply that you clearly put a lot of thought and consideration into :)

[Jibartik]

I was just thinking that EQ is a game introverts play because tis stay inside outside.

Bur then I remembered that it's also a social game.

And introverts usually need time alone after they are social to recharge.

So they stay inside and play EQ.

So EQ is a vicious circle for its core demographic.

[Ooloo]

I'm with you on the sociopathic psychos that populate the raid guilds, but idk if I would have the fortitude to put up with doing something for 22 years and still falling short (using this phrase lightly) of a pretty monumental accomplishment for this era of the game.

Yeah I know what you mean, but that accomplishment is only attained one way. Things like instancing and forced rotations kind of killed the very accomplishment people were so hungry for. So I think I lean toward the uber guild crazies when it comes to their logic, I just want nothing to do with it. And we can all coexist.

Like I'm starting up a new sham right now and having the time of my life, couldn't do that without this server. Knowing that crazy weirdos are dominating all the high end content doesn't bother me at all, it actually makes it feel more classic.

Interesting anecdote though: When I played back in 2000-2001 during actual classic, I had a lvl 52 druid. I somehow got all the way up to the end of my epic where you have to go kill the spawned faydedar, which drops nothing except the quest piece. My friend who was in an uber guild on Povar *somehow* got a bunch of his guild mates and people from like two other guilds to come down and kill this mob so I could finish my epic. I was just some scrub with no money and they just came together and did it. There's absolutely no way in hell that would ever happen here, and I don't see how you can possibly emulate that.

[Danth]

Ah, the best advice anyone has ever given to someone with an addiction "Just don't do it, duh ez".

This shows a deep lack on understanding what addiction actually is.

Thank you for your useful and constructive reply that you clearly put a lot of thought and consideration into :)

I've confiscated enough drugs and poured out enough liquor bottles in the course of helping others to see what addiction is and does. I don't believe in "video game addiction" for an instant. However it doesn't particularly matter whether or not I believe in it; the recommended action is a good one in either case. Even if it were an addiction, going "cold turkey" is a valid method of dealing with numerous addictions such as cigarettes or alcohol. You don't get off booze by staying drunk. My experience watching folks who have actual addictions is that a lot of folks can't beat it--be it booze, cigarettes, drugs, whatever. A lot of folks, once something gets its hooks in them, it seems like it's always lingering there, always waiting to make itself known again. Only way to deal with it for such folks seems to be to stay away entirely and avoid that temptation.


I'm with you on the sociopathic psychos that populate the raid guilds, but idk if I would have the fortitude to put up with doing something for 22 years and still falling short (using this phrase lightly) of a pretty monumental accomplishment for this era of the game.

It's only "falling short" if you're trying for that end. Otherwise it's so much irrelevant fluff. There are plenty of things in life I've never done that I could do if I wanted to.

Danth

[Danth]

My friend who was in an uber guild on Povar *somehow* got a bunch of his guild mates and people from like two other guilds to come down and kill this mob so I could finish my epic. I was just some scrub with no money and they just came together and did it. There's absolutely no way in hell that would ever happen here, and I don't see how you can possibly emulate that.

I have to politely disagree that "it can't happen here" for the simple reason that this is a fairly close description of how I completed my own (and only) epic here on P1999: Beyond the little guild I was in myself, a lot of friends, bringing their friends, from a lot of different guilds all came out to give a hand. It does happen, if not so often as we'd all like.

[Stonewallx39]

So your brain creates pathways which allow you to efficiently access portions that are often in use. If you’ve set these to EQ and connect to things that have strong emotional (loyalty to a guild or group of friends) or physiological impacts (endorphins for progress/upgrades) your brain will constantly pull you back.

If you want to reduce eq but not lose it you need to retrain your brain. This can be done by quitting cold turkey but it sounds like you don’t want that. Plan specific play sessions and stick to that and resetting your brain synapsis could help with your challenges.

You need to stop stimuli which drag you in. Turn off your discord notifications, and don’t go in and read messages. Stop visiting the forum/wiki. Don’t watch EQ videos on YouTube or elseware.

Anytime your feel yourself going down the EQ draw, tell yourself no and redirect. Remember you have a session planned and EQ can be your full focus then. Identify what triggered you craving for EQ and avoid that in the future.

It’s not easy and lord know we all struggle but if you apply some or all of this you can get it back on track. I’d also recommend setting a RL goal line xx time per day playing an instrument or working out. The accomplishment and pride of your progress will help to soften the feelings of missing out (FOMO) of EQ.

Good luck brother. You got this!

[Neric]

I used to play EQ from the first week of release until 2004. Then I forced myself to quit, because my real life was gone. This "Evercrack" addiction thing is true, very true. Part of it was that guilds relied on attendance. You had to be online or you got kicked. Nowadays I play WoW on a freeshard where I can log in and out whenever I want. Too scared to come back to EQ. If you want to make the transition back to living a somewhat a normal life, play MMOs with instancing like WoW where you can join PuG-raids whenever you want, not when you have to. Regaining control over your own playtime is key.

[derpcake2]

I used to play EQ from the first week of release until 2004.

And yet you still get recognized for your EQ character!

[starkind]

So your brain creates pathways which allow you to efficiently access portions that are often in use. If you’ve set these to EQ and connect to things that have strong emotional (loyalty to a guild or group of friends) or physiological impacts (endorphins for progress/upgrades) your brain will constantly pull you back.

If you want to reduce eq but not lose it you need to retrain your brain. This can be done by quitting cold turkey but it sounds like you don’t want that. Plan specific play sessions and stick to that and resetting your brain synapsis could help with your challenges.

You need to stop stimuli which drag you in. Turn off your discord notifications, and don’t go in and read messages. Stop visiting the forum/wiki. Don’t watch EQ videos on YouTube or elseware.

Anytime your feel yourself going down the EQ draw, tell yourself no and redirect. Remember you have a session planned and EQ can be your full focus then. Identify what triggered you craving for EQ and avoid that in the future.

It’s not easy and lord know we all struggle but if you apply some or all of this you can get it back on track. I’d also recommend setting a RL goal line xx time per day playing an instrument or working out. The accomplishment and pride of your progress will help to soften the feelings of missing out (FOMO) of EQ.

Good luck brother. You got this!

Actual real good advice here btw.

Doing other cool things helps too. It's a lot easier to kick an addiction if you have some good hobbies that don't reinforce it.

[JayDee]

I wish I had that desire to play games like that nowadays. Remember laying in bed playing p99 from dusk til dawn. Good times

[Jimjam]

I wish I had that desire to play games like that nowadays. Remember laying in bed playing p99 from dusk til dawn. Good times

I don’t have the stamina to play more than an hour or two these days.

[JDFriend99]

If you think you need a break just go pick pocket Elder Holgresh Beads.

Funniest damn thing I read in years.

[JDFriend99]

I don’t have the stamina to play more than an hour or two these days.

kill the wife, you can play longer

[starkind]

one of the primary reasons i do eq is because it doesnt require a ton of physical strenght and there is a lot of mindfullness to it, other options would be

puzzles
coloring books
baking
woodcarving
gardening
drawing
writing
journaling etc

when i'm not playing a lot of eq it's usually because i'm writing a lot, can do from cellphone also which is great!

[sinnycool]

Im not super addicted but i used to be back in the day. Now a days i have a youtube channel and i put out p99 videos which helps my adult brain feel more like im not just wasting my time. At least im documenting something if nothing else. Plus i make money from it.....but yea for anyone out there strugglin it def feels better to record and release what you are doing in game for others to find and watch than to just play n grind for no one and have it all blow away one day like it never happened.