Lonely MMO

[Knuckle]

Originally Posted by Dreake [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Hi!

I just wanted to say that the high-end of this game has been a major disappointment and definitely not classic-like in any way, shape, or form. It likely has to do with what some of what is being discussed in this forum lately. When I played Everquest in 1999, I was 9 years old. I had learned to play by reading the thick-book manual that came with the game, as well as watching my brother. At the time, I had stupidly chosen the hardest class ever to play - a warrior! I also played a necromancer. Both were a blast and some of my fondest childhood gaming memories are from that time. Back then, I never had trouble finding people to play with. Basically anywhere, anytime, you could find something to do with a group of people. I even remember when I finally got outed as an 12 or 13 year old in my guild - sitting in Siren's Grotto killing random trash and asking my guild why everyone in my group was joking about Pearl Necklaces dropping. Good times!

But now, none of that. Can't find things to do with anyone, anywhere, in zones where there is XP. Seems like high-end guilds run with do-not-invite-outsider policies in most zones and full camp them non-stop. Do you all even keep your chat screens on or do you just block /ooc and anyone looking for groups?

I'm sure some will say I'm just complaining about being low level or whatever. Honestly the pixels don't mean anything to me, I was just looking for a decent experience. I was probably a total trash player back in 1999, but at least people wanted to play together...such a shame that we lost that here.

Have a good night! Peace be with you!

Many feel tht way about classic wow too. It's honestly just hard to find a good MMO anymore, FF14 was fun until i hit max level/finished main story quest. I'm just not a fan of the type of grinding/raiding it presents. I'll resub when the next expansion comes out and run my SAM through some new story content.

[Seducio]

The last two decades have produced a dozen or more masterpiece single player games. Things that you never would have imagined back in 1999 when EQ came out.

Give those single player games a go. The immersion might be better for you than having uninterested online folks running around who are giving you less attention then some of these single player game experiences might.

[azxten]

You're right that P99 does have a lonely feel by default. Everyone eventually realizes it's better to play alone than to group. Just play a min/max class and solo camp items 50+, solo for exp, etc. The only reason to talk to others is to raid. Equipment isn't worth getting because it's easier to just level higher which gives more platinum and easier ability to camp things yourself. This isn't classic but it is the way things are at the moment. Experience rates are non-classically high resulting in a higher level average. Channeling spells is too successful making it too easy for casters to solo especially in dungeons. The other big part is live EQ had 2-3k players at a time and P99 has 1k on Green. I played here back when there was 200 players though and it was still fine.

That is the default situation though. Here is some actual practical advice.

1. Join a guild. It's just the way it is. People don't talk in ooc because they're talking to their guilds and usually in something like Discord not even in game. They're using voice chat talking to guild mates and not even reading chat. Find a guild that is a "leveling" or casual guild as it's easiest to get groups and be involved.

2. If you're LFG don't ask in ooc and then give up. Actually move to the camps especially if you know others are there and ask them directly if you can join. Again many people don't read the chat but if they see you walk up to them and stand there they'll read it. Also send tells. People setup alerts on their logs for when they get tells and such. It can be different than ooc even beyond the text color and such.

3. Make your own groups. There are a ton of players out there who are sitting around with "nothing to do" and feel the way you do. Use /who all and find people to make a group. Start by finding a Druid/Wiz and then you can tell others you have a porter to bring them to the group. You can pretty much never fail to at least find a trio doing this. Yeah it's great to have the social MMO experience of just running into random people doing interesting things you can join in on but you won't always get it.

4. If you're new to P99 there is likely a lot going on that you don't understand. Personally I almost never group and have no guild but I get a lot of in game socialization because I know the game. I know the best camps for the level ranges I'm playing at and you run into others there. These spots are often a bit obscure and beyond just "X dungeon." You say the places you try "have exp" but that is a lot different from the best exp. Right now I'm sitting deep in a dungeon where I'm bound between multiple named mobs. This is a hot spot most players know nothing about. Everytime I login there are people here splitting the camps, PLing, and so on. Again we're way back in a dungeon you can't even get here solo unless you're a skilled player. You need to know how things work on P99 and where the real hot spots are.

[Stonewallx39]

Originally Posted by azxten [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

You're right that P99 does have a lonely feel by default. Everyone eventually realizes it's better to play alone than to group. Just play a min/max class and solo camp items 50+, solo for exp, etc. The only reason to talk to others is to raid. Equipment isn't worth getting because it's easier to just level higher which gives more platinum and easier ability to camp things yourself. This isn't classic but it is the way things are at the moment. Experience rates are non-classically high resulting in a higher level average. Channeling spells is too successful making it too easy for casters to solo especially in dungeons. The other big part is live EQ had 2-3k players at a time and P99 has 1k on Green. I played here back when there was 200 players though and it was still fine.

That is the default situation though. Here is some actual practical advice.

1. Join a guild. It's just the way it is. People don't talk in ooc because they're talking to their guilds and usually in something like Discord not even in game. They're using voice chat talking to guild mates and not even reading chat. Find a guild that is a "leveling" or casual guild as it's easiest to get groups and be involved.

2. If you're LFG don't ask in ooc and then give up. Actually move to the camps especially if you know others are there and ask them directly if you can join. Again many people don't read the chat but if they see you walk up to them and stand there they'll read it. Also send tells. People setup alerts on their logs for when they get tells and such. It can be different than ooc even beyond the text color and such.

3. Make your own groups. There are a ton of players out there who are sitting around with "nothing to do" and feel the way you do. Use /who all and find people to make a group. Start by finding a Druid/Wiz and then you can tell others you have a porter to bring them to the group. You can pretty much never fail to at least find a trio doing this. Yeah it's great to have the social MMO experience of just running into random people doing interesting things you can join in on but you won't always get it.

4. If you're new to P99 there is likely a lot going on that you don't understand. Personally I almost never group and have no guild but I get a lot of in game socialization because I know the game. I know the best camps for the level ranges I'm playing at and you run into others there. These spots are often a bit obscure and beyond just "X dungeon." You say the places you try "have exp" but that is a lot different from the best exp. Right now I'm sitting deep in a dungeon where I'm bound between multiple named mobs. This is a hot spot most players know nothing about. Everytime I login there are people here splitting the camps, PLing, and so on. Again we're way back in a dungeon you can't even get here solo unless you're a skilled player. You need to know how things work on P99 and where the real hot spots are.

^this.

Be the change you want to see in the world. Sure lots of things are camped by people with waaay more time on there hands. Flex the /who all muscle and put some group together. People are down for adventure and you can be the leader of that expedition!

Edit: side note I would totally support some game mechanic that made grouping more desirable to induce a more classic feel. Such as rotating ZEMs and extra xp bonuses for grouping in certain off-the-beaten path zones.

[unsunghero]

I think another thing that can be done (that I plan to do) is make a forum post with your schedule of typical available times to play and asking if anyone would want to duo

I want to eventually play a non-solo class that is more desirable at the end game than mine such as cleric or rogue, and my plan for doing so would be to ask if anyone wants to re-roll to duo. Then when that person isn't on, I'll just log on my main and solo

[Coridan]

By live standards this server would be old. Remember servers back then we're constantly opening up so when you joined you probably went to a newer one. That constant influx of new.people and new servers is what keeps lower level areas thriving.

Any mmo, not just EQ you really wanna be there.the first 6 months of the server lifecycle

[Jimjam]

Originally Posted by Coridan [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

By live standards this server would be old. Remember servers back then we're constantly opening up so when you joined you probably went to a newer one. That constant influx of new.people and new servers is what keeps lower level areas thriving.

Any mmo, not just EQ you really wanna be there.the first 6 months of the server lifecycle

People always flocked to new servers too.

There was just something magical about sharpening your rusty weapon, collecting a full set of cloth, trying to tailor a complete of tattered leather or raw silk. Cobbling together a couple of pp for some spells or a vendor bought axe. Everybody in the same boat.


Maybe I am a grognard, but it is not the same when half the new characters are walking around with spicy level 50+ kunark pixels.

This is part of why I would be so enthusiastic for red to be a seasonal discord server. Low level item hunting is best, low level pvp was best. Just make it roll seasons. Maybe have a leaderboard or something to purchase meaningless consumables with so 'winners' get a prize each season.

[bomaroast]

Ya, the P99 community has mostly degraded to a community of min/maxers and those who enjoy the Us vs Them mentality. Grouping is dead except along the xp highway.

[Gustoo]

On red, the grouping EXP setup is such that the 6th person in a group is basically free, meaning there is no EXP reduction across the 5 players that are there, and the 6th just gets EXP.

It is disappointing to hear about this on the green server.

There are a couple of solutions that involve actual everquest.

1. PVP server. Sorry, I had to say it. Solo guys can't be unconcerned about the needs of the people around them. They can't lock down all valuable items perpetually with no effort or competition. They can get killed, they need to cultivate friendships and relationships with the other people in their zone. It is a better community.

2. This is a stretch, but a strict role playing server.

The community at large has seemed to cater to the worste niche of everquest players, which are high end raiders that end up having some kind of RMT scheme going on. Instead it should focus on making the game playable and enjoyable for normal people level 1-59. For PVP this would mean item loot and level requirements on high end gear to nerf uber-twinks. This makes low level play really engaging and you can choose a level to PVP at and just focus your attention on your classes strengths and weaknesses at that level and at a given state of gearedness. It also greatly encourages grouping with players that are not known PK's so you can fight PK's as a team. It makes a better community 100%

For non PVP this would be some kind of role playing oriented need before greed situation. Something that prevents any given character from looting any particular item too many times. The exception would be cash crops like giants or something, but the perpetual levitation cloak guy, the perpetual Jboots guy, all this stuff makes it impossible or absurdly difficult for a normal player who plays the game for fun instead of as a job to actually do a quest and acquire an item. So it forces everyone into a grindfest for in game currency because you can't really just go get Jboots. So no more pharming class alt to equip all of your other characters. That doesn't fit with role playing focus of the game.

This is certainly a stretch, but it would be worthwhile to consider making the third non PVP server on project 1999 a ROLE PLAYING server and have different guidelines for raiding, camping mobs, ETC. I will volunteer 10 hours a week of guide service to attempt to make this stupid idea viable.

This server would launch after Green Timeline is complete, and Red 2 is launched. This server would never merge to blue. This server would have legacy items perpetually in-game or never in game on a case by case basis which will reduce the mania. It will also have tiered level caps through the timeline so several weeks or months of level 10 being max level, ETC which will help the community progress in a non LEAVE EVERYONE BEHIND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE GET MY PIXELS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BURN THESE WORTHLESS LOW LEVEL BRIDGES TO THE GROUND style of play.

Some of these things are super viable like the level cap, and the legacy item removal / permanent inclusion in the game.

Enforcing the permapharmer thing may be a bit more challenging but it is pretty easy for people to self police this and eventually just petition quest a guy who is at a camp all the time. Characters who petitionquest without actual justification and actual role playing attempts at resolving issue without guide assistance are warned with 2 week vacation, then banned.

[Coridan]

Originally Posted by Gustoo [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

On red, the grouping EXP setup is such that the 6th person in a group is basically free, meaning there is no EXP reduction across the 5 players that are there, and the 6th just gets EXP.

It is disappointing to hear about this on the green server.

There are a couple of solutions that involve actual everquest.

1. PVP server. Sorry, I had to say it. Solo guys can't be unconcerned about the needs of the people around them. They can't lock down all valuable items perpetually with no effort or competition. They can get killed, they need to cultivate friendships and relationships with the other people in their zone. It is a better community.

2. This is a stretch, but a strict role playing server.

The community at large has seemed to cater to the worste niche of everquest players, which are high end raiders that end up having some kind of RMT scheme going on. Instead it should focus on making the game playable and enjoyable for normal people level 1-59. For PVP this would mean item loot and level requirements on high end gear to nerf uber-twinks. This makes low level play really engaging and you can choose a level to PVP at and just focus your attention on your classes strengths and weaknesses at that level and at a given state of gearedness. It also greatly encourages grouping with players that are not known PK's so you can fight PK's as a team. It makes a better community 100%

For non PVP this would be some kind of role playing oriented need before greed situation. Something that prevents any given character from looting any particular item too many times. The exception would be cash crops like giants or something, but the perpetual levitation cloak guy, the perpetual Jboots guy, all this stuff makes it impossible or absurdly difficult for a normal player who plays the game for fun instead of as a job to actually do a quest and acquire an item. So it forces everyone into a grindfest for in game currency because you can't really just go get Jboots. So no more pharming class alt to equip all of your other characters. That doesn't fit with role playing focus of the game.

This is certainly a stretch, but it would be worthwhile to consider making the third non PVP server on project 1999 a ROLE PLAYING server and have different guidelines for raiding, camping mobs, ETC. I will volunteer 10 hours a week of guide service to attempt to make this stupid idea viable.

This server would launch after Green Timeline is complete, and Red 2 is launched. This server would never merge to blue. This server would have legacy items perpetually in-game or never in game on a case by case basis which will reduce the mania. It will also have tiered level caps through the timeline so several weeks or months of level 10 being max level, ETC which will help the community progress in a non LEAVE EVERYONE BEHIND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE GET MY PIXELS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BURN THESE WORTHLESS LOW LEVEL BRIDGES TO THE GROUND style of play.

Some of these things are super viable like the level cap, and the legacy item removal / permanent inclusion in the game.

Enforcing the permapharmer thing may be a bit more challenging but it is pretty easy for people to self police this and eventually just petition quest a guy who is at a camp all the time. Characters who petitionquest without actual justification and actual role playing attempts at resolving issue without guide assistance are warned with 2 week vacation, then banned.

I think the solution you want, would require a custom server for sure, but something like making almost all high end items no drops, but making better trades killed gear across all levels to keep the economy going, or maki g players rely more on getting high end materials for use in trades killed.