Girlfriend Going to Try P1999 - Thoughts on a Class?

[Hurley]

have her send me a tell, I will take care of her.

[Danth]

Druid is a fair choice for a gaming newbie. The class has no well-defined group role so not many people will much care what she does in a group, and when she gets bored and quits you'll have a port character available. Complete the stereotype by having her make the redhead wood-elf.

Cleric is also a good choice if you don't expect her to solo much/any. It's an easy class to play at a moderately effective level. People fawn over clerics and folks like feeling important. People are also rather used to clerics often being lazy and/or bad players so don't normally expect the cleric to do a whole lot beyond healing and maybe buffing.

Wizards and Rogues can be fairly safe bets since their basic-level gameplay amounts to "point at monster and stab/blast it." I'd consider rogue the safest choice if you don't think she can tolerate the meditate mechanic.

Basically you want to avoid a class where she'll be likely to mess up and wind up with a lot of people yelling at her, because that'll drive her out of the game in a hurry. The issue isn't her gender, but her being a newbie. The romantic might debate the ethics of yelling at people for mistakes in a video game, but the pragmatic player accepts that it'll happen and plans accordingly. In the unlikely event she grows into liking this game and wants to branch out, that's when it's time to start experimenting with more advanced classes and strategies.

Your job is to make something that'll synergize tolerably well with what she makes so as to have decent duo capability since groups aren't always instantly available.

Danth

[Cypher.]

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

Basically you want to avoid a class where she'll be likely to mess up and wind up with a lot of people yelling at her, because that'll drive her out of the game in a hurry. The issue isn't her gender, but her being a newbie. The romantic might debate the ethics of yelling at people for mistakes in a video game, but the pragmatic player accepts that it'll happen and plans accordingly. In the unlikely event she grows into liking this game and wants to branch out, that's when it's time to start experimenting with more advanced classes and strategies.

This is my fear right now. While I believe the vast majority of folks on P1999 are great people to game with, I do know that there are a few douche bags out there who get off to belittling other players. While I'm certain that she has the ability to learn the game (and games in general) given instruction and time, being thick-skinned is not one of her attributes so I can already see some ass telling her to "L2P" and completely shutting down any hope of her touching online games for awhile.

Additionally, I don't want to necessarily push her to a class because X works well with my toon Y but I also feel that after years of EQ, I have enough insight into the classes that I have a bit of a responsibility to try to steer her to a class that she will enjoy enough to open up to other classes (as mentioned by another poster). Right now, after reading the posts and re-freshing myself with the p99 wiki, translate to chanter, druid, or SK.

Definitely appreciate the in-put guys - feel free to keep it coming.

[Obwin]

Had to make an account here to post on this thread (stalker status until now). I play on EQ for Mac but wanted to throw my two cents in. Please post and update after she starts playing. I am also trying to get my GF to start playing. Until now she has been content to hang out in the same room and watch/TV, read etc. while I play. She is moving away for 1 year to do a work contract and she suggested she learn to play EQ so we can play together while she's away.

My GF is not the gamer type. Although, being younger than me she played a ton of Pokemon as a kid, haha.

I was trying to figure out the best way to introduce her as well. I don't think anyone particularly likes being told l2p but my girlfriend would also be sensitive to this since she's not use to pent up nerd rage online. I would warn her in advance or just make sure she is aware it could happen if she chooses a class that could end up being main healer, CC or puller. I really don't think anyone should play a puller as their first char unless they are really dedicated to learning outside the game, memorizing maps, spawns timers etc.

My two cents would be to not twink out too much but enough to make it so you aren't dying because you missed 1000 times in a row trying to kill a rat but not so much that it is not challenging early. I would also start a new character that duos well with whatever she chooses well (you know you aren't going to quit out of frustration) and you can always switch back to your "main" when she reaches your mains level. For God's sake let her CHOOSE what she wants to play, don't try to persuade her or she will never let you hear the end of it when you are level 30 and she wasted all that time only to re-roll what she wanted in the first place (or quit). I did this to my brother when he first started EQ and he rage quit because I strongly suggested he play a char that duo'd well with me, instead of a bard like he wanted. Eventually found out he had secretly made a bard on a different sever and was loving it. Give her all the info but you can only loose if you TELL her what to play.

I think getting to level 5 (or 4 if she chooses an int caster) is probably a good idea. Nothing sucks worth than a mage before a pet or wizard before root etc.

In general certain guys and a lot of girls like feeling helpful and needed. This lends them to buffing, healing and utility classes (I'm included in this group). If you want to nudge her to a shaman I would make her aware they get wolf pets eventually. This might keep her motivated to level. FWIW I played an enchanter EQPC 1999-2003 and while it is hard, it is a class that keeps very busy and people will LOVE you. Feeling needed and having online friends are what keep people coming back. The learning curve is pretty steep but on p1999 leveling is slow enough I'm sure anyone with half a brain can handle it.

Let me know how it goes and good luck! Any tips you discover after she starts are appreciated on my end.

[Danyelle]

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

Basically you want to avoid a class where she'll be likely to mess up and wind up with a lot of people yelling at her, because that'll drive her out of the game in a hurry. The issue isn't her gender, but her being a newbie. The romantic might debate the ethics of yelling at people for mistakes in a video game, but the pragmatic player accepts that it'll happen and plans accordingly. In the unlikely event she grows into liking this game and wants to branch out, that's when it's time to start experimenting with more advanced classes and strategies.

While this may be true...don't push her into doing one particular class out of fear.


Tbh, here's what I would do (Note: this assumes you live with, or near, her). Load up the game. Sit her ass down in the chair. Click the "Create New Character" button. Cycle through all the races and classes (avoid Vah Shir and Froglok, Beastlord and Berserker. As, if she takes a liking to one, you'll have to explain to her how we're on a dogmatic-Classic server and Space Cats+ is an evil sin created by Satan to destroy video games and pixels. This will be over whelming for her on her first day so don't even click those buttons). Read every class/race description with her. Then tell her simply "You're in a fantasy world now. You can do and be whatever you wanna be. Pick what seems interesting and that you think will make you happy and let me know."

Once she makes a selection, regardless of what it is (ensure though she understands class/race restriction. What races can be what class etc) walk her through the creation process. Let her select her name. If it's rejected, cycle to a new one. Then enter the world.

DO NOT log in your character yet. Sit beside her. Walk her through her first few levels right by her side. Explain the spells, discs, skills, npcs, basic functions, UI functions. Literally everything there is to know about the game. Go slow. Unless she has MMO experience (not gaming in general, but MMO) you're gonna have to basically explain it like you would to a child. But don't make it sound that way, makes you look rude. Once you think she gets it you'll be able to tell if she is having fun or not. If she is enjoying herself load in your character and start playing with her. At this point, if she didn't pick the same class as you or a class you have experience with, you can find someone who does to give her some pointers (don't be a jealous ass about it either. It's the internet. Guys will hit on her. Live with it and move on).


Last but not least, you may want to reroll your toon. I know it seems annoying, especially on a Classic server where stuff is hard to get, but hear me out. It's better for you, a person who already knows you enjoy, and even love, this game, to be forced to make a class/race selection based on HER choice. Than for her, a person who has no idea what this game is about or if she'll enjoy it, to have to pick from a limited spectrum of classes/races just because you want it to compliment YOUR pre-existing character.

From there, enjoy EQ.

[finalgrunt]

Make her play WoW maybe. EQ isn't much forgiving, and if she isn't a hardcore gamer, the grind might put her off.

On a more serious note, druid might better. Gives sow, wolf form & snare / tp (she'll feel freer this way), will enjoy having an easier role (buffing & healing).

Once she get used to the game, maybe she'll want to try an alt of some sort. Only then you can help her with trying new style until you find what she really likes/wants.

[thrump]

Woman here -- play with my husband here and we played together on live.

Let her play whatever she wants. Enchanter is a lot of fun.

The biggest decision you'll make isn't what class to encourage her to play but if you get her char to level 5 for her before introducing her to the game. I played EQ for years and years and had a blast but was about to say screw it when I was killing newbie rats last August. Nuh-uh.

[Safon]

Where do all you people find girls who would even consider playing this game. It always amazes me how many people claim to have girlfriends who play or are getting into the game. Something always smelled a bit fishy with the whole thing...

I have some theories as to explanations, but they are mean so I will hold my tongue

[Danyelle]

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

Where do all you people find girls who would even consider playing this game. It always amazes me how many people claim to have girlfriends who play or are getting into the game. Something always smelled a bit fishy with the whole thing...

I have some theories as to explanations, but they are mean so I will hold my tongue

People usually are attracted to others who share similar interests or states of mind etc. There ARE actually women out there that do things like browse the internet or play games. And not all are the attention whoring "lol look at me playing call of duty I'm such a nerd XDXDXDXD don't hit on me silly boys" people like Tralina. Only idiots actually believe that whole "no women on the internet" shit is true.

[Shannacore]

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

People usually are attracted to others who share similar interests or states of mind etc. There ARE actually women out there that do things like browse the internet or play games. And not all are the attention whoring "lol look at me playing call of duty I'm such a nerd XDXDXDXD don't hit on me silly boys" people like Tralina. Only idiots actually believe that whole "no women on the internet" shit is true.

lol