want to get into the game

[fireeyes7]

My boyfriend has gotten me very interested in Everquest. I find myself constantly visiting the website to read the forums and trying to gain a little knowledge. My prblem is that I don't have internet access except at school and I'm only there two days a week. I would down load it to one of the computers here but most of them are too slow. I'm thinking of getting a lab top with wireless access and then downloading it. My question is this...I'll be a newbie in this thing. When you guys were newbies were you left to fend for yourself or did some of the expierenced players help you out? And how much experience do you need before you can join a guild? Any information anyone can giuve will be helpful. Thanks. Fireeyes

[Sedenten]

I'm actually very surprised this post made it's way to our guild website ;) When I started EQ, I started it with two good real-life friends around 4.5 years ago. I was utterly lost, and probably one of the largest newbs to hit the game world. I would chain hail other players, thinking they were NPC's, and probably took a swing at every guard and merchant in Kaladim. In general, you'll find players that will lend a hand and drop whatever it is they're doing to help you out. Well, back then that was more common, but today there simply aren't many "true newbs" that are starting up and playing. Therefore, be ready for a few to be skeptical that you've never played, as lack of advertisement on the part of Sony hasn't really brought much fresh blood to the game.

On the guild thing, there's lots of guilds that would have you in your first 10 levels. After that guilds are seperated into several different layers. Fire and Fury is one of the big raiding guilds, so we require high-level and lots of experience with your chosen class. We don't do that to be elitist or anything, but we enjoy playing at the highest levels of the game, where a small mistake on the part of a guild member means several hours of recovery just to try again. People usually get a point in the game where they've played it so much that all that is left to do is progress through the latest areas of each new expansion. Some of those zones are brutal and not safe for folks that aren't well geared or knowledgeable. There's other guilds that focus on roleplaying and those that were made simply to harbour good friends who want to have a common home. Plenty of guild alliances exist and even organizations in-game that don't require a guild tag to join (Planar Campaign on our server being one of them I believe). In those guilds level and experience at the game usually don't matter, though most guilds have at least a level requirement of around 10-15 or so. Given the state of the game, I don't think you'll have many difficulties getting up to that level.

If you get a laptop to play the game on, I would recommend getting a very souped up one. EQ is running on some of the oldest code in the industry, which means it isn't very efficient and performance goes down quickly unless you have a top of the line machine. Most laptops do well, but you'll end up tuning down a lot of the graphics to avoid loads of lag. Just don't skimp on the laptop and you'll be ok ;)

If you have any other questions, I'd recommend going to http://eqforums.station.sony.com/eq/board?board.id=TNZ (The Newbie Zone on Sony's EQlive site) or http://b45.ezboard.com/bfirionavie (the Firiona Vie server's official boards). The Newbie Zone was made for questions like this and you'll probably get a broader area of responses than on this board. There's also in-game channels that you are forced to autojoin when you start playing (a newbie channel, a channel full of class members, general server chat, etc.). One thing I wouldn't recommend is wandering around aimlessly begging people for platinum and items. For one, you'll likely not get any, and probably get less and less help the more you do that.

Good luck and welcome to the game if you decide to play! If you play on FV and have any questions, I can try and answer the--just "/tell Sedenten". If I'm too busy to chat I'll let you know, but generally I'm a chatterbox.

[Iila]

When I first started 4 years ago, it was my bf (well ex now), that got me interested as well. I also started off on a laptop. His character was too high at the time to group with me, so he never helped me at all. I met quite a few people around my level to group with me, but most left the game or rerolled fairly quickly. I pretty much played from lvl 6 and up with the same two that i ended up meeting. The wizzy loved to drag us off on his quests, and somehow both our other friend and i would end up dead multiple times, while he escaped lol. But yeah, we were all on our own, didn't get hand outs from people. Tailored silk armor was the best, then later on around the 40's elder wolf hide was awesome~ There are lots of guilds out there like Sed mentioned for all different levels and play style.

[Nihlia]

Unlike many others, I discovered Everquest completely on my own. I had no friends in the game and I didn't know a soul. I was a complete newbie halfling druid wandering around the forests outside Rivervale. I made every single mistake imaginable, including accidentally attacking NPCs and going *splat* several times over. There was another player there, a level 7 halfling druid, that I befriended and he showed me some basic game mechanics. I will never forget him, or the kindness he showed me by patiently explaining how our spells worked, how to group, etc. Since the newbie zones are not populated now like they were then, I encourage you to make friends and work with others in the tutorial.

Once you exit the tutorial, there are a wealth of people that are kind and will offer assistance and answer questions. You will also find some wonderful guilds out there that open their doors and hearts to lower level and new players.

If you have specific questions, you can ask me as well. I may be busy, and I ask for your patience if I can't answer at that moment.

[Swarming Storm]

FnF is lucky to have a nice guy like you Sed :)

[Tonzofo]

OMFG hey Swarm

[Tonzofo]

Also like sed said if you need help in game hit me with a /tell tonzofo and ill help you with some items and help if ya want :)

[Mislandor]

Like Nih - I discovered EQ on my own, and started playing right at 6 years ago without knowing anyone or anything. You created a toon and off you went. Couple things have changed since then, and here is some advice i wish that i had when i started.

1. Do not get too attached to your first charector. You will chose a class and once you start playing, it will change. All the classes change as they get to higher levels, and game play with them changes. You may love being a ranger the first 40 levels when you can tank almost anything, but once you get past 55 or so - all you do in a group is pull and stay back and shoot arrows. Paladins start off tanking, then have to stop for a while - then at the end, are one of the best group tanks in the game. So - each class changes and learning the game is part of it.

2. Chose your server - this you need to look at first, as a new player i would stay clear of the PVP servers, as anyone or anything can kill you. On most servers, the decent gear is No Drop - that means that you have to loot it off the monster yourself, and once you have, it can not give it away or sell it. Once you outgrow it - you have to destroy it. Feronia is a bit diffrent, in that almost all the gear here is droppable, so you can get some VERY good deals in the bazaar, and once in a guild, hand me downs are quite common.

3. Dont worry about race. Evil or good does not have a lot of meaning any more, it does not matter if you are good or evil - some citites will love you and some will hate you, but with Plane of Knowladge, it truly does not matter anymore. You can buy most of what you need there.

4. USE THE TUTORIAL - if you truly are new to the game, you should stay here till level 10. Go through the paces, do some quests, learn how buffs and spells work. You can learn how to group, how to fight, how to cast. It is one of the best improvments in the game. I wish they had it when i had started.

5. If you do come to Feriona vie - send me a tell, as a necromancer, i can not buff you, but i probley have a few items in my bags that i can give you to help you get started. and some coin to buy those first few levels of spells.

6. Just be willing to die, goof around, and have a good time. Be willing to kill off your toon and make a new one, experiment around, learn what you are comfterable playing, and have a good time.

Best of luck -

Mislandor

[Rydeon]

True newbies are such a rarity these days, feel free to shoot me tells if you need help with anything ;)~ Be more then happy to =)

[fireeyes7]

Thank you for your responses. I will definantly keep you guys in mind when I do get started. And will be looking for you. It's good to know that I won't be totally alone. And I will keep in mind those things that you guys said. I would most likely use fiona vie being that that's the only one I've seen and I've gotten a little familure with it by exploring it a little. I've tries to get to where I could post on the EQ site but the most I can figure to do is sign in. I guess you can't post in th newbie zone until you actually get the game. If I'm wrong please correct me. Well I need to go. I'm only here at school on Mon/wed. I need to look over my chem stuff. Bel'la dos. fireeyes :)

[fireeyes7]

Thank you for your responses. I will definantly keep you guys in mind when I do get started. And will be looking for you. It's good to know that I won't be totally alone. And I will keep in mind those things that you guys said. I would most likely use fiona vie being that that's the only one I've seen and I've gotten a little familure with it by exploring it a little. I've tries to get to where I could post on the EQ site but the most I can figure to do is sign in. I guess you can't post in th newbie zone until you actually get the game. If I'm wrong please correct me. Well I need to go. I'm only here at school on Mon/wed. I need to look over my chem stuff. Bel'la dos. fireeyes :)


Quote: the eyes of fire consume the souls of the weak

[Keluian]

I've played damn near every class there is at some point in time so if you have questions feel free to pop a tell in my buffer. I'm a tad slow typer but...I do reply and will be more than happy to recomend good spots, solo and group to level, tricks of trade and any help I can. Also you may find low end there's not a lot of players say from 1-30. Don't get frustrated it gets easier fast. The game has changed since I was a newbie (1999) but for the better. Also pick a class that reflects your personality. If you want to get in somethings face a tank (war/pal/SK) is best. If you want to be able to save folks clr/dru best. If you're not sure...start a few, delete on and off till you find your niche. (and utilize shared bank if do so!)

[Echelo]

Sedenten was hell funny as a Newbie. Been a lot of years since I've know him, and was one of the first people I met playing EQ. He had made his first excursion to Freeport and I think I leant him 10 gold to buy some horrible cheap 1ac breastplate or something. He died more often than a ranger back then. Sedenten is his first toon over 3 feet tall too!

Anyhow, just dropped in to say hello to Sedenten and thoroughly encourage anyone who is a noob to talk to him.. he does chatter a lot =p

Echelo
Druid of Bristlebane