[fadetree]

Of course EQ takes skill to be good at. As halfcell said, it's a combination of experience, reflexes, ability to read rapidly changing situations (i.e., 'situational awareness'), knowledge of your class and other's in the group, knowledge of how given mobs react, knowledge of zone layout, and many other things.

How can you tell if someone is 'good' at EQ? Group with them and consistently live through tough situations is one way. Ask other people what their opinion is of the player. Watch them solo something tough. Gear is not a very good indicator, because you can get gear through other means than being 'good' at EQ.

Some classes make it more obvious than others. Enchanter or bard for two. But even simpler melee classes have their moments. Does the melee always seem to be paying attention to what mobs are mezzed and when it might drop? Do they strip adds off of the casters? Do they park when needed? Do they switch targets consistently to the right mob? Do they manage their health such that they don't use up healer mana unnecessarily? Do they know how to hold or avoid aggro and in what situations to do so? Do they know how to corner and when to pop their discs? These are all skills.

In giant zergs yeah it's usually pretty easy, especially for melees. Once a group is established and the pulls are well managed (another skill), then it's mostly pretty automatic. But group with someone one on a tough break in or in an area that's very dangerous and who is skilled and who is not is pretty apparent.

People saying it doesn't take skill to play EQ might be using a different definition of 'skill' than I do. Pretty much anyone would agree I think that brain surgery takes skill, though, right? But if you talk to a surgeon, there are operations that they have done so many times they are essentially on automatic and can mostly think about other stuff while they are doing it. Does that mean it doesn't take skill?

EQ can be simple, and often is. It can also very suddenly get really complicated and hard to manage, and only a combination of luck, skill, and teamwork will let the group survive. That takes skill.