Poking About (ArcheAge, EverQuest 2)

ArcheAge
I wanted to do a first impression of Archeage but things just haven't gone as planned with queues. So, I figured I'd just lump in some thoughts in a post of what I've been messing about with. Throw out some thoughts and show off some pictures.

My first impression of AA was pretty meh. I don't think I liked the starting area as much on the first character (Elven). I thought the characters were very lacking. I took some time to play around with the character creator and found you can really make some interesting and even beautiful characters (thought they don't always look as they do in the generator, once in game, trial and error here). The game is dated looking in some areas but it still has a pretty quality. My second impression after my initial try was much better. Except for queues, those are horrific but I imagine in a month they will be quite tame and in two months nothing like we are seeing now. Just the nature of the beast, as everyone and their brother wants to try the game out.

The game has charm to it. I haven't gotten too far but getting a pet, which follows you around and allows you to mount it, that was really a high point. Especially at level six, heh. He was a very cool looking pet at that (pictured above)! The questing is pretty much the same as in any basic MMO but what I look forward to is the more sandbox elements of this game. I don't know how much I'll actually play, I enjoy it, but the PvP is an aspect I'm not a big fan of. So, we'll have to see.

The combat is decent, more classic. I like it, it has a good feel to it. I also like the different specs you can build and all on one character. Never the need for an alt if you don't want to.

I did want to try the game, give it a look and see what I personally thought of it. Since it is free there isn't anything to lose, except time. I recommend trying a new server, for lower queue times and if possible later at night if you can, absolutely no queues for me then. It does sometimes remind me of Vanguard: Saga of Heroes in the open areas. I had thought of writing this game off but so far it is something to play in the wee hours before bed.

The bad side is that there is a flood of gold spammers, too many people in the starting areas, too many people in a lot of the questing areas. It is a bit jarring, all these people stealing mobs from others, bumping into people (which pushes the character), but all in all I've not had anyone rude to me. The gold spam is the biggest annoyance. It is constant. It will smooth out, maybe not as quickly as TESO and WildStar, due to this being a FTP release, but it will. Trion has added a few new servers, which is good.

EQ2
I've been working on my new channeler in EQ2. I recently moved to a new server, Antonia Bayle,

because I've always wanted to try it out. I found a guild that moved here from one of my old home servers (Crushbone) and they are really some great people. A very small and friendly guild, it really is nice to have friends to play with. An exceptional bunch of people!

We even have some brand new players, which I try to help out as I can. I sent a couple of them some plat to buy mounts at low levels, which was exciting. I know that was the first thing I wanted upon starting the game back in 2007. It was much harder then. it is fun to see the game through fresh eyes, to join in on the excitement. I love helping new players get their footing.

My channeler is 93 now, two levels from the cap. I need to get those last two levels knocked out but I've been decorating my 'house'. Which has been a lot of fun. It has also been fun returning. The next expansion is out before long, about the same time as WoD. I don't know what I'll do then, as I already picked up the WoW expansion, too much to play, lol.

All in all I am enjoying my time playing in Norrath again. Dire asked me if I wanted to play EverQuest again, I wish he'd just move over to EverQuest 2! Ah well.

That's it for today. I'm still dabbling in WoW with an old friend and guild on the Horde for challenge mode stuff but nothing interesting there to report yet. Have a great week!