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Reader Comments (16)

Posted: Oct 28th 2011 10:03AM Hipster said

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I hate the mercenary system in EQ1. I dont feel you need to dumb down combat by giving everyone a pet.

Looks like I will cancel my station pass now and just stick with one game SOE hasnt screwed up...Vanguard.

Posted: Oct 28th 2011 12:33PM Elikal said

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@Hipster I can't understand why you feel so negative about it.

First, EQ2 is an aging game, so there are certainly quests and areas you find no groups anymore, so a merc certainly is a way to allow one or two people to still make that content.

Second, like it or not, we do live in more solo centric days, and it is GENERALLY getting difficult to find groups in MMOs. So maybe 2 people with mercs can do where they find not 5 people.
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Posted: Oct 28th 2011 2:15PM (Unverified) said

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@Hipster That may be the first time I've seen someone defend SOEs treatment of Vanguard!
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Posted: Oct 28th 2011 10:35AM Bhagpuss said

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To give an alternate opinion, the mercenary system in EQ1 is my single favorite addition to any MMO I've ever played and I'm delighted it's coming to EQ2.

And although I generally can't stand Gnoob I did actually laugh out loud at the end of that video. Still can't stand him though.

Posted: Oct 28th 2011 11:00AM Yellowdancer said

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Nothing is wrong with EQ1 Merc system. Its very good.

Posted: Oct 28th 2011 11:09AM Hipster said

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I wasnt saying there was anything wrong with how Mercs 'function' in EQ1. Im saying this is another example of 'the dumbing down' of MMO's.
Every developer seems to be asking..."How can we make our game easier?" instead of "How can we make them more challenging or what new challenges can we give them?"

Funny Video though.

Posted: Oct 28th 2011 11:29AM pcgneurotic said

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@Hipster

It's not "dumbing down" either. It's a system designed to keep the new players moving along at a decent enough pace to allow them to reach further content before they die of old age. Old players with numerous alts, mucho resources and lots of guildies or friends in-game, can happily ignore the whole thing altogether. You hip to that? ;)
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Posted: Oct 28th 2011 11:44AM Hipster said

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@pcgneurotic
Yeah, I kind of have no choice. This is my que to bow out of EQ2 though. Have fun guys.
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Posted: Oct 28th 2011 1:23PM Yellowdancer said

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@Hipster

Errr...Mercs are optional so if you choose them you dumb down the content on your own.

EQ2 has some pretty hard dungeons and raids and they are adding in hard modes of some of those.

EQ2 is getting a dungeon editor so you can make even harder content.

So your point is I donno?
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Posted: Oct 28th 2011 11:31AM Seffrid said

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I don't like the dumbing down of MMOs, but I don't regard making them more accessible to be dumbing down.

Trivialising skills, levelling every 10 minutes (in some cases while you're not even in the game), having kiddy features like kung-fu pandas, those are all examples of dumbing down, but the mercenary system in GW certainly wasn't and it has been handled well in both EQ1 and DDO so there's hope for it to be well handled in EQ2 as well.

It isn't compulsory, so if it gives players additional options I'm all for it. Just as long as the mercenaries don't demand payment of their wages in SC of course!

Posted: Oct 28th 2011 12:47PM aurickle said

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@Seffrid
Well said.
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Posted: Oct 28th 2011 3:16PM (Unverified) said

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@Seffrid Because humanoid pandas are far more kiddy than, let's say, humanoid frogs and mice right?

As for something that's actually on topic, I think the mercenary system is a great idea for an ageing mmo and after all, it's optional, so if you don't like it don't use it.
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Posted: Oct 28th 2011 4:25PM Seffrid said

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@Unverified " Because humanoid pandas are far more kiddy than, let's say, humanoid frogs and mice right?"

Not at all. I criticised the whole concept of froglok paladins when they were first introduced, for example.

Let's not pretend that a large part of the dumbing down process in MMOs these days is because developers are aiming their games at an increasingly young market. I happen not to like a lot of the results of that.
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Posted: Oct 28th 2011 12:34PM Elikal said

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Ah, the EQ gnomes always had a special place in my heart. ^^

Posted: Oct 28th 2011 1:25PM Dunraven said

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The should have done this years ago to be honest

Posted: Oct 28th 2011 4:38PM Audacious said

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The budget for advertising this game must of dried up long ago....

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