So like others have pointed out many of the most memorable experiences come with playing EQ with real life friends.
I always enjoy playing games with my rl friends so I spent sometime convincing my friend to play EQ back in the day on TZ. He rolls up a Paladin and gives it an asenine name, Schionatulander (I think some guy in some book).
My character was already in the 50s so I could impart the basics as well as spare him a few hundred plat. I make certain to inform him that he should never buy any armor off the vendor as it is ludicriously overpriced. Had we been in a sitcom there would have been a screen wipe and text that read "3 minutes later..." when I received a tell "check out these awesome pants!!"
So the tales of Schionatulander began. Most of the early experiences revolved around PvP against a character named Gnomwed who would chase him around and killl him then send him a message telling him "you've been Gnowmed." This continued until one day he blinded Gnomwed in Kelethin who then promptly fell to his death. He and Gnowmed laughed it over and Schionatulander came to the realization that he could be a dominant PvP force with against players who could not see him. The fighting from then on went well, with the exception of the occasional high MR twink or player who argued that they had only been beaten due a graphics card malfunction.
After not seeing Schionatulander on for a few weeks I asked my friend where he had been. He told me about his adventuring in Mistmoore. That while partying in the GY his group had felled a mob that dropped the highly coveted Crested Helm. He looted the helm and and the party rolls were away! As the other members of the group congratulated the winner he watched as his camp timer ticked down. Schionatulander was not to bee seen in Norath for 3 moons.
Schionatulander's adventures continued taking him across the continents. I would occasionally recieve word of the insights he gained as he traveled. "WTF man, this Puma was attacking me in the Commonlands and I managed to run into the Inn but it came through the wall and still ate my ass!"
Eventually another period of time came where I couldn't recall having seen Schionatulander on in recent memory. When I asked him if he had ninjaed another item he told me "I lost my corpse, so I quit." I suppose this happens to many people, just not that often at level 42.
The Return of Schionatulander on P99:
So once again the draw of EQ pulled me back. I convinced a few of my friends who had played on live to come try P99. Schionatulander was less than enthusiastic about playing a hardcore MMO again. After a few minutes of talking with him on the phone, informing him some of our other mutual friends were playing, and him calling these friends to confirm I wasn't just trying to perform a ruse he rolled up another paladin, Schionatulander. My wiz was already 12 and I heard numerous complaints from him every step of the way as he progressed to level 3.
Everyone agreed to meet up by Felwithe since we were all in Gfay. I arrived first followed by two of our friends. They formed a group and went off to kill some bats just a little walk away in the Gfay woods. Schionatulander shows up and talks a little bit about being tired.
As I run forward into the woods to show him where our other friends went I launch into a tirade about the glory day of MMOs. I give a motivational talk on level with the President's speech in the film Independence Day. I deliver lines worthy of a coach's prep talk in the final seconds of a historically significant sporting event. After which Schionatulander gives me a resounding "Yeah!"
He charges boldy into the woods to join the fray and runs right past or other friends fighting mobs... I watch him run for a little bit and out of sight and send him a tell:
"Um you ran past them..."
Schionatulander is not online at this time.
Momments later my phone buzzes from a text message. "Im not playing anymore"
And so ends the heralding tale of Schionatulander.
I guess it wasn't too surprising, of my other 3 friends playing none of them made it past level 5. The first to go was a guy who had only played WoW and rolled up a Ranger... The direct quote for the reason he quit was "A lack of instant gratification."
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