This is the type of gaming I miss..

It was 1999, and being I grew up playing AD&D in the early 80's, I was talked into playing EverQuest by a friend.. I never heard about this game, but it seemed like a huge AD&D game where Verant was the GM.. Knowing absolutely nothing about the game, I created by first character.. He was a Half Elf Druid from Surefall Glades.. Shortly after birth I found the cabin next to the waterfall filled with NPC's that sold a number of items I had no clue how to use or what they were for.. ha ha.. Heck, I even made the mistake of attacking one and she killed me in seconds.. lol

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After about 30 minutes of running around inside Surefall, I finally found out that I needed to make my home in Qeynos if I wanted to gain exp to level.. and loot.. I trucked across Qeynos Hills avoiding EVERYTHING I saw, because all the mobs were higher level then me.. RED means RED.. lol I finally zoned into north Qeynos and quickly found my way to the main gates, guards and vendors.. From there I found out how to play the game basic and socialized with others..

6 levels later I gained the exp and bravery to zone back into Qeynos Hills and looked for new excitement.. I found some buildings, ruins and even a campfire with a tunnel looking sculpture.. After killing these puppy dog looking things I ventured into this cave/tunnel and stumbled upon a an area filled with puppy dogs.. As I proceeded to kill them amongst other players, I learned more and more about the game, and enjoyed the chat that took place as well.. BTW, this was also where I first discovered what "TRAIN to the zone" means..

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Needless to say I found out where the trap inside the tree is and how it works.. OOPS

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I further enjoyed all my time spent in Blackburrow.. From that moment on I was hooked.. I loved making trips to the vendors to sell rusty weapons.. I loved how weight was an issue.. Food/drink were an issue.. Stamina was an issue.. THINGS mattered.. The game wasn't so much what you were wearing, but moreso on spells and HOW you used them.. I loved that there wasn't dps meters, or some threat meter.. If you OVER used a spell and the mob "smacked" you instead of the tank.. That was your warning you got threat, not some buzzer alert.. LOL

Anyways.. From Blackburrow I had the one friend escort me and show me the way to Highkeep.. There was no maps, or follow the breadcrumb trails to follow.. You had to explore, and socialize to discover things.. OR cheat and surf spoiler sites for info.. Leveling didn't happen over night..Leveling WAS the game, not how fast you can get to max level.. What I loved the most about the game, not everyone was following the same path I took.. The number of starting cities and zones was amazing.. The number of leveling zones were equally amazing.. I remember when I ran into my first Ogre in highkeep.. He later became one of my best gaming friends..

The point is.. I didn't have to follow someone else's story.. I made my OWN.. My Bio as a half elf Druid is unique.. I leveled differently, different locations and different groups and different experiences.. EverQuest was a good hybrid sandbox.. Just enough theme park to keep you on track, but gave you countless ways to grow up.. My experience in Highkeep was much different then those who were playing in Oasis, or Faydwer.. or anywhere else.. Love those Dark Elves.. I miss having all the hybrid roles, or pure roles.. I miss "pulling", and crowd crontrol.. and miss the buffs and debuffing..... GRANTED EverQuest did have some flaws that emerged as the game grew, but it was a far cry better game for ME then this breadcrumb treadmill stuff we get today..

OH.. one last rant..... I MISS raiding the most in EQ.. Rather it be an open world dragon, or ToV mobs, Kael or Sleeper's Tomb.. None of this limited seating 10 or 20 man bus raids.. I hate the idea that you have to select a team to rain, and others are told to stay HOME..... How social is that? NONE..

Now there are alot of things I liked in WoW and TOR.. but if I could make a game using those theme park games with EQ and a splash of SWG.. I would be good to go..... Sign me up for $20 a month..

Agreed. I couldn't say it any better really. I miss the good old days where the entire game was just wide open and you made your own way through it.

agreed.

Yep I agree also.

Most MMO's these days are being advertised as "Whats your adventure" or "Whats your story". The answer to this is, "my story is the exact same set path as everyone else, because I don't have a choice".

I hate how games have to hold your hands and show you where to go these days. I miss the days where you just spawn the first time, and think to yourself " ok, I guess Ill just head this direction to see what I can find". I miss games like the old original Tomb Raider where you just walk into a cave and discovered things on your own. Now almost all games have some kind of helper system where you have some kind of buddy who tells you what you need to do in a headset or something. Where is the fun in that?

oh god, that would rock. I would gladly pay 20 bucks a month.

I never got into EQ but I am an Old school pen and paper RPG player stemming from D&D, AD&D, Rifts, TMNT, heck even the Star Wars pen and paper RPG, and I agree with the OP. Bioware is known for making RPG's and it's awesome that they have brought that back into MMO's. Doesn't make it an online action game anymore.

Oh yeah, a huge +1 too.
And a very nice read... brought up memories of good MMO times.

isnt EQ still running?
I was into counterstrike at the time, I remember some of my friends going off to play it, I loaded up a trial sometime later but I didnt see what was good about it.

Ultima Online was my first MMO. Watching high level (there weren't really levels but skills that you added points to) drag dragons into one of the newbie starting areas was amazing. I ended up as a GM Wizard in that game, god knows how, I had the attention span of a goldfish.

I do wish that SWTOR was a bit more open but then again, now I'm older and have less time to play it can be a good thing that I know exactly where I have to go next.

EQ is F2P. Enjoy.