The Angry Raider

Tonight I reactivated EverQuest 2. My main, a 41 sarnak shadowknight with the illustrious name and title of Avenger Grabthar Thrakazog the Treasure Hunter, was still camped in Gorowyn, right by the broker. The last time I logged him was 6/4/2008, which was the night I finished the heritage quest to get my journeyman’s boots.

I can’t remember exactly why I deactivated, to be honest. I mean, I’ve mentioned that HQ grinding wore me out, but I don’t know why I chose that day. I do know that I decided to roll an alt, so perhaps my switch to Ipswich the ratonga ranger was the reason ol’ Grabthar (and his squire/roommate, Steve) was neglected for so long. I do know that when I logged in tonight, I felt a rush of familiarity and I actually smiled. I only played EQ2 for a few months, but I fell in love with it during our brief time together.

So why now, just a few days after the launch of Wrath of the Lich King? That answer is easy: Lich King was unfulfilling. It was too much of “more of the same.” The new zones are wonderfully designed and there are a fair bit of new mobs, but there was something about it that just didn’t grab me. I didn’t feel connected to it at all because it was a gauntlet I had to run in a race to reach 80. The level cap–endgame–is where it’s at, and I felt that if I didn’t get there soon, I’d miss out on a lot. That rush, coupled with the total lack of gear upgrades for my druid (and thus, no real goal to work toward), I just didn’t feel compelled.

As an aside, I will say that the death knight is a lot of fun and very well-designed. I played mine to level 59 and loved it. But in the end, playing the death knight is what made me really miss Grabthar. They have similar playstyles and abilities. Grabthar uses DoTs and self heals while swinging a two-handed axe. My death knight uses DoTs and self heals while swinging a two-handed axe. Both wear heavy armor. Both have horses that were class-trained. And so on.

But what makes Grabthar more interesting is the investment I’ve made into him. The 46 achievement points. The armor I made. The languages he learned. The stuff in his apartment in Gorowyn. In fact, browsing the wall of accomplishment in his apartment really drove the point home: EverQuest 2 has what I’m looking for in an MMO, and it’s not a matter of what’s better or worse or which has this or that. It’s just a matter of which is more fun. And for now, that’s EverQuest 2.