What do you mean by hard?
Is it a matter of hitting more or less buttons? Is it a matter of end game or leveling?
I think it comes down to the amount of skill the player needs to have. EQ requires more resource management than WoW for levelling, or rather, it creates a scarcity of resources, on purpose, to force players to work together. WoW gives players an abundance of resources to allow them to solo. EQ requires additional knowledge of other classes, game mechanics as well as a moderate level of cooperation and synergy. You can play to max level of WoW, as any class, without grouping once.
I can't remember a time when anyone used soothe or lull in a group in WoW. We'd have tactics conversations once in awhile, but it was rare. EQ required tactics to get through each encounter. If you don't have a bard or enchanter than I hope you've got some great tactics and synergy because things are going to get hairy!
I think that the lack of a controller class really speaks to the heart of the difference between the two games. In WoW you don't need a controller. In EQ controlling the encounter is essential. I keep looking for a class like the bard in other mmos, but there isn't anything like it anywhere.
And yes, raids are more complicated in modern mmos. As someone said earlier the learning curve is frontloaded in EQ and backloaded in WoW. I can't tell you haw many late game encounters I've seen ruined because half the group didn't know their roles. I think that because WoW is solo focused you the solo problems so many necros, druids, monks and SKs had, the tactics they used in soloing don't work in groups. In modern mmos every class is a solo class.
On the other hand, modern raids require more than just sitting and waiting to do your part. There are puzzles and different kinds of encounters and... I guess this is really where modern mmos built on EQs shoulders, and did a fantastic job.
I like 'quest hubs' and maps that I can access in game. Modern mmos do make some things bettter. But their focus is on solo play, EQ was focused on group play.
I think that's part of why I'm so excited about joining 99. I like grouping. I like being a cog in a greater machine. I like being able to save my group from a wipe, or get off that complete heal at just the right time to turn the tide. I like taking time to work out our approach, and having to change that approach depeding on the make-up of the group.
I once healed for a bunch of mages and a wizard. The pets tanked, the wizard rooted and I had to keep the pets alive. I healed for a group where the aggro was split between two rogues who ping-ponged the aggro between them. I tanked once for a group with three bards and a shaman. I remember thinking the kills were going to take forever, but it turned out to be the fastest killing machine I ever grouped in. These guys had it worked out who was doing what, and I couldn't pull fast enough.
That sort of thing doesn't happen often in modern mmos. Most groups are formed by queue and everyone has an assigned role.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to playing with you all soon!
|