I had fun for the first time EVER in EQ this weekend.
I mean - not just 'yeah this is tolerable' ... but actual fun. I found
that my two biggest dislikes about the game were Qeynos... and Being A Ranger.
Unfortunately, those are two really big problems to get over.
I made Rori the wood elf druid over again. I got her from Kelethin to
Freeport by giving a Aziraphale The Valiant a quest (take the newbie to the Freeport
boat) and then when we got there, somebody who was on the boat with me
bound me for free. When we got to the docks, I thanked Aziraphale
profusely, and told him that he really WAS valiant & I kissed him on the
cheek. He blushed. :)
I made level three outside Freeport, and then Ingot Head (as Quai the level six human monk) showed up, and gave me a bit of money. I wanted to buy my spells with it, but there was no druid guild in Freeport... so I asked Quai if he wanted to go on a quest with me. He said, "Sure, which one?" I said, "It's called Take the Newbie to Rivervale." He laughed and said ok.
Soo.. we walked and walked... and then we saw someone named "Toro <Amber Order>" (that guild just must be HUGE) who we asked if this was the way to Rivervale, cause neither of us knew how to get there. Toro said, "I'll walk you there" ... so he did. And once we got there - he bound us - for free... and gave Quai a lightstone, and a TON of hints on game play in the area. What a guy!
So I asked Emerald, who was also a wood elf standing near us, if she knew where the druid guild is. She said she did, so she brought me there. While I bought my spells, she said, "Wait right there" ... and brought me back a backpack with eight pieces of leather armor in it. Amazing. And I was SO glad to put something on top of that little green swimsuit I was wearing.
Anyway - then I went out and killed stuff in misty thicket, and made level five. I also went on a quest to bring a guy a bandage.. and I found another guy who wants some bug parts. Then there is another quest to give a guy a bunch of necklaces and he gives me money and faction, and when I've given him a LOT of them - he'll give me a ring.
I can do quests in Rivervale. this is pretty exciting. :) I can spend more than 10 minutes in Rivervale without getting woozy. This is exciting, too. :)
So I went and tried to kill some goblins and hooked up with a dwarf paladin named Risca. Risca has as many hps at level six as Davian has at level 13. Anyway - Risca = good. I hope he's around again tonight.
The percentage of generally helpful and friendly people in and around Rivervale is WAY bigger than in Qeynos. Not to say I didn't see any kewlios. There were a few. But not to the same extent, or degree.
And people actually role-played. "I'm sorry, I cannot accept any form of payment for helping you while in combat, my elders would look down on it," Janzia said to me after I tried to offer her a case that was on a goblin after she healed us while we were fighting it & Mooto at the same time. We surely would have died without her help.
She also helped us kill a wasp, because I am hoping to get some giant wasp wings as part of my bug-part quest. Oh - and speaking of the bug part quest and generally helpful people... Daedalus, level 11 (monk I think) was killing a Giant Scarab Beetle. I commented to Risca - "Crimany - he's level 11 and killing the scarab beetle - It's going to take FOREVER for me to do this bug part quest!" Daedelus asked what bug parts I needed. I read to him from the little note: "Giant beetle legs, a scarab sac, and wasp wings." He handed me the scarab sack, and told me he would let me know if he came upon any of the other things I needed.
By now, I am about falling over from the weight of so much generosity. It is truly, truly amazing. And it was just really, really fun.
The bad part is... I have a level 13 partner who isn't too excited that I have decided to start over half way across the world. He likes Qeynos. He likes that he might run into Dundee & Shade there. He likes that he knows his way around... and he likes the faction he has built up with the shopkeepers.
He likes being Davian the Half Elf Paladin. He likes that he is level thirteen and he doesn't have to do *that* again. I don't blame him.
He has every reason to be irritated with me. I keep going off on these ... tangents, for lack of a better word... and he has to give up what he's doing and follow me (although he doesn't HAVE to do it, I tell him... but it is better than the other options, I suppose)... and then I change my mind and we go back to the original plan.
This time, though, I really don't think I'll change my mind.
Janey the Adventurer, Leinster
The Famed Janey, Master Warrior, Lake Superior
Janey the Human Ranger, Qeynos, E'Ci
Rori the Wood Elf Druid, Rivervale, E'Ci
