Your first 20 levels

[Sadre Spinegnawer]

One of the best things about original eq is how well the devs constructed how characters go through their first 20 levels or so. Level 1-10 and 10-20 are almost like separate games in themselves. Each class slowly gains their skills, spells, and power. If you play UNTWINKED, you appreciate how well the original devs worked this out.

As far as I can tell, this entire idea of how to design a game is gone. You can level up your character in an afternoon.

Not so in classic eq.

I wanted to post a thought: this is part of why this game kicks ass. Slowly discovering the abilities and weaknesses of your class, getting your first major class-defining spells, and the original low level dungeons? UNMATCHED.

SO my advice is, realize that unlike today's games, original EQ was designed so the first 20 levels are actually a rich, exciting, hard, and interesting part of the game. No where else will you find this.

Levels 1-20 are almost a separate game unto itself. The rituals of all newbs from the past -- making your runs to get pet spells, trying to travel without dying, learning those first amazing dungeons like Najena and Befallen with other (untwinked) characters -- are, I would argue, a large part of the fond memories so many of us have.

So do not rush. Be a proud starting character, and experience the still-beating heart of classic eq: levels 1-20, untwinked.