“This is what Everquest II was Meant to Be!”
“Call Norrath ‘Home’ Again…For Free!”
“Your Account Has Been Reactivated For A Limited Time”
Those are the phrases emblazoned on the postcard sized flyer I received in my mailbox today. It’s a nice flyer, it really is. There’s the great artwork, the “Legends of Norrath” logo with card pictures, even a “T for Teen” rating on the postcard. By the way, if you glance at the rating text really quickly, it appears to read, “Use of Alcohol and Violence Suggested”. Advice to live by?
Yes, SOE found it in their heart to specifically send me a personalized postcard in the mail, telling me that I need to come home, for free, at least through Nov. 4. After which presumably I’ll cough up the subscription money because I’m overwhelmed by all the changes and having a lot of fun with the game. They even list all the great stuff that’s going to lure me back and make me stay including: All live expansions to date, LoN trading card game, LoN starter deck, a special win back reward item (Pouch of the Well Traveled). As far as the game goes, there are things like GU 39 going live, the Shard of Fear included, a new starting zone (Neriak) and race (Arasai), LoN, expanded gameplay and quests for all levels, persistent raid and group isntances, one extra character slot and a new LFG tool.
I think I posted this on one of Darren’s posts the other day, but I tend to look forward, not back, when dealing with MMOs. In other words, I (typically) quit cold turkey and never go back. At least I used to. The past 18 months or so has seen me break that twice - I went back to EQII last summer after an 18 month break or so, and last Dec. I went back to WoW after about a six month break. In both instances I had a great time and enjoyed the games. With WoW, I just got burnt out again by virtue of playing so darn much and just pushing like all get out to get through Karazhan. With EQII, I didn’t get burned out, I actually got distracted by other RL interests and just never went back (and then TBC hit).
I’ve currently been MMO-free for a tad over four months now, VG being my last jaunt. With no hope of a War beta invite this fall, and TR only mildly interesting me, I’m left to either not play anything or go back to a former game. If I went back to a former game, I think EQII might top my list, especially with the Rise of Kunark expac coming out. Plus I’ve never seen any of the Faydwer material, so there would be a lot to see and do. The downside is I’d probably have to start from scratch on a new server, or go back to my two higher level characters on Guk, where I’m currently homeless and have no former buddies to really game with there. So the question is, do I just want to start fresh on a new server and just dork around, not really caring if I ever hit top end and can raid, etc. Realistically, I’d only be playing it for three months or so anyhow in all likelihood, so dorking around and taking it easy would be just about right.
The game was much better a year ago than it was at launch, and it’s probably even better now. I just don’t know if that’s enough, even with this nice, shiny post card, to lure me back in for a bit. Decisions, decisions. Got any suggestions? Anyone out there that would really recommend me giving EQII another shot, perhaps with a new character? 
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October 10th, 2007 at 11:04 pm - Edit
I just resub’d to EQ2 after being away for around 2 years. I did this because like you I have been MMO-free for a while, was hoping to get a WAR beta spot, and now want something to fill my days.
Once WAR comes out (or I get into beta when it restarts) I will probably stop playing again so I too will be just “dorking around”, trying alts and exploring new content.
Still I haven’t bought the EoF All-in-One and won’t. Instead I have resub’d the basic game and will wait till Ruins of Kunark comes out to get that All-in-One. It doesn’t sit well with me to pay $50 for EoF and then another $50 for RoK so I would rather wait. (SOE really should have offered more packaging options)
I feel it won’t be all that long till RoK is released and in the meantime I can relearn the basics, decide on which classes to play (I have a 50 Fury), and just fill my MMO need.
(I also tried SWG and WoW:BC, the later seemed totally dead and not to have advanced in anyway, and the former was a let-down as far as an “expansion”)
October 11th, 2007 at 7:25 am - Edit
I got the same postcard. Thought it was a little funny that SOE was soliciting me by mail, but certainly not a bad idea. But yeah. I wasn’t motivated enough to actually go reinstall EQII.
October 11th, 2007 at 7:47 pm - Edit
@CuriousG - yeah I will likely do that same if I decide to go back to EQII - wait for the RoK expact to hit. I definitely like the all-in-one thing.
@Cameron - I felt a bit of the same - surprised that I was getting hit by traditional marketing for an MMO. But I also thought it was kind of cool.
October 12th, 2007 at 7:10 am - Edit
Well, you know I am there now. For me it is more of that first time feel that is keeping me in. Everything is new, fresh, and fun. I can’t honestly tell you why to come back b/c you have been there before and my reasons would seem like a half-hearted attempt to get you in.
SOE sent me a similar card a couple months ago and thats how I got in. They seduced me and did a good job with it. Personally, I have nothing wrong with this type of marketing. I’m just waiting for my Vanguard postcard now.
October 22nd, 2007 at 6:24 pm - Edit
[…] as I wrote a couple of weeks ago, SOE was trying to lure me back into EQ2. I put the postcard on my desk, […]