Why EverQuest is still the best MMORPG 💖

[@GriddleGoblin]

My mom played this every night after work the sounds and music brought back so many memories. I used to sit next to her and watch her and her friends play.

[@MarleMMO]

Hi Christopher! I was first introduced to EverQuest at my friend's house; his dad was playing and I was absolutely dumbfounded that the other characters on his screen weren't NPC but actual players. I think that EQ's soundscape and OCT are in retrospect genius in part because they're timeless and so emotive. Did you ever play yourself? :)

[@TheVigilantStewards]

Even hearing the login music for me is just :O :O :O :O :O

[@MarleMMO]

@@TheVigilantStewards, every sound is a flood of nostalgia for me! :)

[@MarleMMO]

@Luke Genness, I must have been 11 or 12 when I saw my friend's dad kick a velious ice giant to death. Even though I didn't even have an account yet, I was hooked. Such a special moment!

[@Gukworks]

Hope your Mom is well...

[@themadhatter444]

EverQuest was lightning in a bottle. Even all these years later I feel deep and profound happiness when I think about the hours I spent on that game.

[@MarleMMO]

Absolutely. It remains installed on my PC (P1999 & TakP) in the event I need to enjoy Norrath on a whim. 💖

[@themadhatter444]

@@MarleMMO Great video, man. Thanks for putting it together. I'm sure it was a lot of work.

[@MarleMMO]

I appreciate the kind words! It was honestly therapeutic yet not without effort. ♥️

[@wulfrache]

"Everquest WAS a world first and a game second" That is a good way to put it. Everquest did feel like a world you wanted to be a part of, the leveling was more of a way to access cooler places, but unlike WOW and the MMO's you see nowadays are run more like its a ride and not a living breathing world.

[@MarleMMO]

Yeah -- it pains me whenever I think about old school MMO design vs. common trends today. Leveling in Unrest required running through Dagnor's Cauldron, a zone that provided meaningful traversal challenges if you were careless. I miss adventuring in MMOs! 💖

[@andysimmons2423]

21 years later and still I compare all MMO's to the original EQ. I had so many fun experiences. FBSS camps in lower guk. Landing the killing blow on Lady Vox, and winning the roll for the mithril chest armor. J boots finally dropping after days of camping out in the Oasis of Marr. The first time I sailed over to Firiona Vie. Dodging trains. Causing trains. Staying back to taunt a hoard and dying so my party members could survive to fight another day. Playing as a tank class I felt like a hero on the regular. The amount of love and gratitude people felt toward tanks in that game felt really damn good. And of course, there was the community. This was back in the day when people had to communicate and organize to obtain most rare drops. You couldn't just join an instance and smash through it without talking to anyone. You had to talk to people, form a group, and travel on foot to most places. Community was everything if you wanted to be successful. I miss ROFL as well. Lol sucks compared to ROFL. :) This was back in the day when the GM"s would throw massive events that would cause computers to freak out as their FPS dropped to 5 because the battles were so huge (who remembers the attack on Freeport?). This was back in the day where the GM's would organize epic, online weddings for people who married in real life. This was back in the day when funerals were held in game for when a good friend or guild member would die in real life. So much love. So much adventure. I made so many good friends and met the most honorable people I've ever come across in online gaming. Not counting kill stealers of course. They were vile scum. :) If this game was remastered and the fighting mechanics were upgraded drastically, I'd start playing it again in a heartbeat. It's pretty outdated now but damn, those were some good times......extremely time consuming good times. :)

[@MarleMMO]

Hey Andy! I'm so glad you shared your story; thank you. I do the same: I compare every MMO against EQ. It's become difficult to find another PvE home for that reason: aggro ranges, difficulty, loot, and class interdependency were at the core of the basic gameplay loop. It's difficult to find that nowadays. What are you currently playing? :)

[@OFDM-network]

Hi. Check out Pantheon Rise of the Fallen. It's still in production but it looks good.

[@MarleMMO]

@@OFDM-network, absolutely! I've been watching it since it's first (failed) Kickstarter. Are you currently playing a MMO? If so, which one? :)

[@OFDM-network]

@@MarleMMO I'm resting right now, no MMO's

[@MarleMMO]

@@OFDM-network, I hear you. Enjoying any other genres? :)

[@StarsAndSticks]

Wow, I've been needing this type of content for years without knowing it. Love the idea of vicariously appreciating MMOs I didn't experience. Thank you for making these, keep up the great work.

[@MarleMMO]

Thank you for the kind words! 💖

[@valon8523]

There was a time, during my first few days out in Qeynos, when I thought "a willowisp" was the deadliest monster in the game.

[@MarleMMO]

Hi Valon! YES! Well, contextually, it may have been the deadliest mob known to you. They were terrifying, after all! But when you could defeat them, I recall that their loot was valuable, yeah? Man, the memories! :)

[@genehenson8851]

Yes! “…but it’s invulnerable” is tattooed in my brain.

[@MarleMMO]

@@genehenson8851, exceptionally terrifying moments. I recall attempting to kill a skeleton in a crypt who was immune to non-magical damage. I think I still have nightmares.

[@jayeisenhardt1337]

On 75MHz cpu no graphics card and the first time in that world exploring. Ahh Qeynos, the clicking of the fire beetles. Turn around looking away from the light of the city. So black, so dark at night all you can see is eyes approaching and gathering in the distance. Running blind as you fear getting mobbed. Too far out for the draw distance? Was I already in the hills? Panic and injured and limping slow till they caught up. Not even a need to overrun just one big bite, a crunch like I was a bug myself. Then they skitter over my body as my soul is floating away looking down.

[@MarleMMO]

@@jayeisenhardt1337, a great story! I'm sure many of us can relate. :)

[@MaxxHDROM]

I played this game when it first dropped... had the BEST guild experience in this game HANDS DOWN, wow came close for a time... but this will always be number one.

[@MarleMMO]

Yeah, I still remember my early EQ1 guilds too. 💖

[@barge489]

I will never forget the first time me and my friend (who would later be the best man in my wedding) first made our trip from Kelethin to Freeport. It was the moment that the Massive in MMORPG really clicked. I didn't even know what a biome was at the time, but the idea that this game had so many of them blew my mind. I was explaining EQ to my game deve students a while ago, about how much players had to commuinicate and work together, I made a pretty penny on my ranger just hanging out and tracking rare spawns like the elder snow grif.

[@MarleMMO]

Hey Barge! Thanks for sharing your experience! I had a similar 'clicking' moment yet it was when I was in Kelethin and realized that most of the characters on my screen were other players, not NPCs. It's incredible we can still remember those memories! Do you still play EQ?

[@wowsnav]

23 years later, there still isn't one single MMORPG that did it better than EverQuest, and that includes EverQuest 2.

[@MarleMMO]

I agree! 💖

[@MarleMMO]

UO is a classic! 🥰

[@ogjuggalo4671]

I love eq but tbf wow beat it to death js

[@snowballandpals]

My proudest EQ moment was acquiring the Staff of the Four on my Wizard

[@MarleMMO]

Excellent! Did you main a wizard? :)

[@snowballandpals]

@@MarleMMO I did! It was an interesting experience since they weren't most peoples' first choice to invite to groups but I took a lot of pride in developing a reputation in my server as a good wizard to group with.

[@MarleMMO]

@@snowballandpals, I honestly always liked grouping with wizards as a SK main. They felt like they were inverted clerics in that they could very quickly zap foes to death (instead of keeping allies alive). In add heavy areas with a rooter, it was always fun to group with one of your kind! :)

[@antiscian]

The level up sound still hits me hard. Former higher tier enchanter - tons of AAs. I used to power AAs using charm in the Grey before they patched one of the skeletons that was 20x tougher than the others. I miss it. It was addictive but the social aspect is sometimes overlooked. No bad players could make it. Once you proved you are solid player, you get dozens of whispers to join groups when you log on. One drop in lower guk (FBSS) made you feel rich. Players respected other players. Kind deeds were plentiful. I recall once buffing a 60 mage and his pet when he couldn't find any buffs when he badly needed for a quest kill. Not only did he tip me, he messaged me two weeks later to join his 60 group, when there was a big wait. One small deed can change your experience I miss it

[@MarleMMO]

Thank you for sharing your memory Christian. It sounds like you were both successful and kind which were great qualities to have as an enchanter! I loved the social dynamics that were tied to reputation and I fondly remember stronger toons being nice to me as a newbie. Thanks for bringing me through memory lane this morning. :)

[@Insertcoin22]

Ding! Lv2

[@MarleMMO]

@@Insertcoin22, GRATS! xD

[@frankanon4450]

So true, there will never be another game like it in regards to communication and reputation. Was good times!

[@MarleMMO]

@@frankanon4450, I so miss the reputation side of early EQ PvE. :(

[@nulltheworm]

I was hooked on EverQuest from the first time I read about it in PC Gamer magazine (or whatever magazine it was) shortly before the game launched. But the first time I watched the intro video, I knew I had to "live in" that world. ("It is rumored amongst the most intelligent races of Norrath, that first came the dragons..." If you were there, you know how it makes you feel!) There was something magical about EverQuest when it launched, and in those first few years. Part of that was the time and the place in our lives. In my life, as a fresh teenager starting high school. But part of it was the beauty and wonder baked into the world of Norrath. There were many moments from the early days of EverQuest that I still remember quite fondly. The trains in Blackburrow, and stepping up as a slightly higher level group to try and stop them. The first time I seen a group of high level dark elves sitting by the tents outside of Freeport, in their robes and their armor. The first high level necromancer that I met (Ekeal, the Erudite necromancer, farming dwarf guards!). That first magical boat ride and landing in a new place, with new, strange creatures. For me, my first boat ride was from Freeport to the Butcherblock Mountains. But gosh, the boat ride to the port/outpost of Firiona Vie for the first time -- I had never felt such excitement in a game! But still, I remember exploring the magical world with other players most of all. The Knights of Silver Eagle, which my oldest character is still a part of (logged in this month! lol). No one else in the guild had logged in since 2015, most of the members haven't since 2006-2007. But it's still there. My very first cross-world adventure, going from Felwithe to Kaladim, Kaladim to Freeport, Freeport to Qeynos, and then down into the Qeynos sewers -- only to be met by disaster. I still remember the friend who convinced me to make the journey. Yvan, a fellow high-elf -- both of us were wizards, IIRC. He had heard of all sorts of schemes to gain exp fast and make money. Crushbone belts, Tumpy Tonics... and the crazy world of the Qeynos sewers. It brought us to our doom down in those sewers. lol I loved chatting with people in the game maybe most of all. Meeting new people from around the country, and then the world. Making friends. Years later, laughing looking at old IM chat logs, because I hit "r" to reply so much in EQ, that I built up a nearly undefeatable muscle memory. 😂 When I hear EQ's music, it takes me back to those memories. Norrath was such a special place. I'm grateful to have experienced what the game was, how it created a a genre, what it did for the industry, and for the friendships that it created.

[@MarleMMO]

What a beautiful comment with which so many can empathize; thank you for sharing! 💖

[@Archimagus]

OMG, that Ding literally gave me goose bumps. No other games level up has been so visceral. The suddenness of the sound, combined with just how hard fought each one was. Man, I wish more games gave that sort of sense of accomplishment.

[@MarleMMO]

Yeah! Great game design. Levels had to be /earned/ and were very meaningful. Do you still play EverQuest?

[@classicgmr]

I loved EverQuest simply because of the other players. It wasn't just a game it was a community. How many times did you log in as a player just to talk to people? Not do any quests... just sit in the corner in your home town and chat with the guild and your friends? THIS is what made it so special - and sadly is what makes it so barren today. :(

[@MarleMMO]

You hit the nail on the head, Classic GMR! I remember doing /just that/ in Kelethin and wondering why my friends kept leveling past me ... it was because I was too busy socializing and not grinding! xD

[@aewtech]

I've never seen an rpg do the concept of a Necromancer class more interesting and compelling than EQ did. Lore and mechanics are both very unique and unmatched to this day, IMO!

[@MarleMMO]

I love EQ's necromancer. ❤️

[@kevinblaha6287]

I feel the same exact way about bards.

[@Austin-gj7zj]

While it's a different kind of RPG, I really liked Arcanum's necromage. They're a little too OP but there are worse problems to have 😅

[@MarleMMO]

@Austin-gj7zj From the CRPG? 🥰

[@cla3452]

Several versions of private servers for Everquest are available. From hard core classic emulators to custom servers with custom content. Everquest is still very much going strong in the private server world.

[@MarleMMO]

💯🥰

[@wlanman99]

Stopped playing early 2000's but you mentioned pretty much everything I remember...great job!

[@MarleMMO]

Same! I stopped technically after LoY although I was able to enjoy Classic EverQuest prior to the Sony acquisition. I'm glad my emphasizes overlapped with your memories & expectations. Did I miss anything out? :)

[@WesleyWyndam-Pryce]

You accidently added the letter 'd' to love in the title.

[@MarleMMO]

You know, I really struggled conjugating the verb into the past tense.. but for the sake of the series, I had to. :( I still love EQ and play on P99. :)

[@jasonlee8842]

Man, these sounds remind me of the good ole days. Playing EQ with my friends on the Project 1999 server last week.

[@MarleMMO]

The sounds still bring me back to my 12 year old self. I want to jump back into P1999 soon! 💖

[@Maktheshonen]

Although I never got to play EQ, I can see how people in the mmo community keep it close to their heart. Talk about being ahead of its time-I hope future mmo’s move further away from the spoon feeding and back to the sandbox adventure.

[@MarleMMO]

Hey Mak! I have similar feelings regarding other MMOs that I've only been able to enjoy via emulation yet not the original (Asheron's Call comes to mind). I fully agree with you that I hope developers reignite passion to develop virtual worlds first and then games second. Until then, servers like Project 1999 exist. :)

[@seekthtruth]

Your right kiddo

[@MarleMMO]

:)

[@BazgrimTV]

I agree. Have you heard of Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen? It's being made with many of those same ideals at its core.

[@MarleMMO]

@@BazgrimTV, yeah! I've been following it since it's first (failed) Kickstarter! I'm hopefully optimistic. :)

[@Lee.Chaeryeong]

Thank you for refreshing the good old memories 🙏 I played from 1999 to 2005 and had 1000+ days played (not hours). Tried Project 1999 and some TLP Servers but they could not be compared to the classic time back then. Played Ranger 🏹 and Rogue 🔪 the most.

[@MarleMMO]

Thanks for sharing Mario! I agree that TLP or P1999 aren't the *same.* I loved my ranger (I think I leveled her to the mid 30s?) yet I never tried a Rogue seriously. What drew you to that class? :)

[@hurbsnarebergowitz4083]

Hail, Citizen of Norrath!

[@MarleMMO]

Hail Hurb! :)

[@Redbeardflynn]

Just found your channel on a recommendation. I absolutely loved this video and your storytelling. Just the trip down memory lane I was looking for! Very well done! Everquest was the only game that could shake me from Ultima Online and it still has it's hooks in me, although more tenatively, two decades on.

[@MarleMMO]

Thank you so much for the kind words! I'm so glad that we both share a love for EverQuest. Unfortunately, I was only able to enjoy UO post-hoc through private shards yet both are classic in their own right. Do you play P99 or Takp? 💖

[@Redbeardflynn]

@@MarleMMO Oh I got to enjoy the launch of UO and it was so much fun! Years later I got to experience some of the private shards with friends which were fun in their own right. Believe it or not...I *blasphemy incoming* have never played p99. I started EQ around the time of RoK and went through several break-ups and reconciliations, especially with their progression servers. I adored their progression servers!

[@MarleMMO]

@@Redbeardflynn, I imagine the launch of UO will stick with you forever -- what an excellent memory. I'm so glad you've enjoyed EQ's progression servers! 💖

[@raphaelsolo]

8:47 Those are Trolls. They're cannibals, that hanging dwarf is probably lunch.

[@MarleMMO]

💖

[@Grumpy_old_Boot]

EverQuest took my MMO virginity, it will always be special to me ! Also, it was a pioneering game, not only because it was the first 3D MMO, but also because .. there were no MAP !! When you left the safety of your starting area, you were truly in the dark, sometimes literally if you didn't have night vision ! And in the beginning, you couldn't ALT+Tab from the game to look up an online map, if one such even existed. When you sat down and looked in your spellbook, there was a Meditate button, and when you pressed it, you regained mana faster. But you could only see the book, and enemy MOBs could sneak up on you, unless you had friends to watch your back ! Warriors meanwhile, had no spell book, but once their hitpoints were low, that was it, without a healer, they had to take a break. Yes, they would sit down to regenerate their hitpoints faster, but it would still take a good half hour to regain them, even at relatively low levels. There were bandages, of course, but they didn't do much unless your skill was high, or you had multiple people bandaging you. You could try and solo or try to find a party. Finding a party could take less than 5 minutes. Finding a party could take more than an hour. After which you might throw your hands up in disgust. EverQuest was a rollercoaster, and I loved it !

[@MarleMMO]

Wonderful memories! It was my first MMO too. Do you play P99? ♥️

[@Grumpy_old_Boot]

@@MarleMMO A bit, mostly I play on the EZ server for funsies. I kinda burned out on regular EverQuest. Also, you will never get the same players that you had back in 1999, people would head out, and have NO IDEA, where they were going. Just knowing how to run from Qeynos to Freeport, was a learned skill, that could net you some money in those days, because there was so few Wizards and Druids available for teleports, and the chat system didn't have extra channels for stuff like .. Taxi service. 😄

[@raphaelsolo]

Also the fun part most people on live servers and TLPs forget. Before Gates dropped your endurance bar drained with every strenuous action. Swing a weapon? Bar goes down. Swim, run or jump? Bar goes down. Every fight for melee was a race against fatigue because once that bar was gone your attacks came much slower.

[@Grumpy_old_Boot]

@@raphaelsolo TLP = ? But yeah, the stamina bar was a thing. I don't remember running made you loose stamina, pretty sure that wasn't a thing, but fighting really did take a chunk out of it, though if you were one of the large races with high stamina, it wasn't that big of an issue. Also, your Stamina would take a dunk if you didn't have food or drink. And over encumbrance could also destroy your stamina, and even coins had weight back in the beginning. Yes, I played a Barbarian Warrior in original release. He drank Milk and ate Muffins for years. Eventually he became a Master Chef, just because I got bored of Milk and Muffins.

[@killer408cid]

The first 3 years of EQ was the greatest time ever.

[@MarleMMO]

Hi Arnie! It was a very special time. Did you happen to play then? :)

[@killer408cid]

@@MarleMMO only about 8 hours a day lol.

[@MarleMMO]

@@killer408cid, right? Those were the days. I feel lucky when I can game for 30 minutes now. :/ Do you play Project 1999? :)

[@killer408cid]

@@MarleMMO No time anymore...I may play Pantheon though...will have to see.

[@MarleMMO]

@@killer408cid, Pantheon does look promising! Thank you for the conversation. :)

[@frankanon4450]

I played EQ from 1999-2014. There could never be another game that gives me the thrill and excitement as EQ did. Necro FTW :)

[@MarleMMO]

Quite the veteran! I played from 1999 until 2003 or so. I'm curious why you quit when you did? I LOVED the necromancer. So powerful & enjoyable. I always felt safer when grouping with one because they were so versatile. What are you playing now?

[@frankanon4450]

@@MarleMMO Hey :) After 15 years of playing it was time to hang up my scythe. It became a grind. I was in the #1 or 2 raiding guild on Bertox and raiding became brutal and frustrating. Every group had to jump through hoops of fire during a raid and one person out of 54 messes one thing up and raid wipes. Was an officer in my guild and had a bit of a falling out over something stupid and decided it was time to walk away. EQ will always have a place in my heart! In my opinion, the necro was the best class. Believe it or not it's the only class I played all that time! Why change? I could snare, root, fear, rez, heal, give mana, do massive dps, float, FD, pet, etc etc. Now, i'm 54, divorced and my kids are grown up and out of the house. I don't play MMO's anymore. I did try new WoW a couple years ago but it sucked. Recently tried New World with my cousins and had fun but it became too much of a grind the farther you progressed. So, i mainly play single player games. Love open world (Skyrim, Witcher etc) and also crafting/survival. I play just about everything. This is probably more info than you wanted lol! What did you play after you quit EQ and why did you quit so early?

[@MarleMMO]

@@frankanon4450 I hear you. That's an impressive resume! Sorry to hear about the politics and I hope that your familial life turned out for the better. I haven't really landed on a new MMO "home" since early EQ; instead, I tend to play 'meta' characters across all of of the MMOs I hop in and out of. Immediately after EQ I played early RuneScape (NOT the 2007 version; the one prior) and then Conquer Online; I loved both games until updates spoiled the experience for me. Since then, it's been short stints in various MMOs trying to find the magic of early EQ. Are you familiar with Skyrim Together? :)

[@FrontlineFinds]

I still remember learning a spell as a druid and casting it for the first time ever I was 11 years old. 1999. casting it over and over in pure awe at what the character was doing

[@MarleMMO]

I had the same experience! 🥰

[@alovingrobot406]

Great video! Thanks for the shout out. 😀

[@MarleMMO]

aLovingRobot! I've probably watched all of your Twitch interviews! It's great to see you here. Thanks for the kind words and thanks for all you're doing for us original EQ crowd. :)

[@MonstersMemories]

@@MarleMMO Thank you!

[@MarleMMO]

My pleasure! You are one of my most anticipated titles! :)

[@j.joseph5353]

It wasn't just hell levels. All levels were much slower than anything I've played since. The 'DING' sound sits in all our heads because it took time and effort to hear one. Every MMO now is a race to endgame with little struggle on the way. Early EQ was different. It was nothing BUT struggle. Most people had no idea there was such a thing as 'endgame' or raids though. They just played the game. Grouping level appropriate areas in your teen levels was not easier than grouping in your 40's. Newbie zones were littered with dead bodies. You just don't see that now.

[@MarleMMO]

Hey J, I love your observation that there was no 'end game.' Just "EverQuest." I think that's one reason why the MMORPG sits on our hearts so warmly because there was not yet a meta system by which to gauge mastery; the world was Norrath and you were merely an adventurer within -- nothing more, nothing less. That's a freeing observation!

[@markusjohansson6245]

Yea, I think I hade like 100 days /played before I did my first raid in eq back in the days...

[@MarleMMO]

🥰

[@Volkaer]

I did start just before Luclin came out, so hard to say what class would be my 'favourite' in classic. Especially hard, as I loved the idea of a Shadow Knight, and the starting location if I were the human kind - you know the secret passages in the sewers and all that. But then when I got to level 30-40 and was fear kiting, I keep thinking to myself "why am I chasing this mob around, when I could be doing the same thing so much more efficiently as a Necromancer?" - so played a Necro for a bit. Definitely a stronger class, lots of escapes, but just didn't match well with my playstyle. I also got really immersed roleplaying an "undead hunter" as a Paladin, and my highest level was a Wizard. Luclin came out though, and I would have to say that Beastlord was my favourite hands down. No I didn't have crowd control, no I didn't have any escapes like FD or Gate, but I could hold my own in a facetank due to having access to slows and not being squishy like a pure caster, have a pet who - while wasn't as meaty as a mages could out-aggro all the other pets combined and hold his own against mobs, had best pet heals to keep him alive, had heals to keep myself alive, sufficient buffs to sufficiently buff myself and my pet, reasonable dot and DD spells (nowhere near as much as the 'pure' classes of course) - but basically overall, it felt like it was the class that gave me the absolute most number of options with how I was able to approach any situation - even after accounting for all the disadvantages. And you are 100% spot on with everything here - it was truly a world you could immerse yourself in, where the journey and interaction with other players and the world had meaning. Getting levels and highest end gear was a by-product of the journey, not the one and only goal. Best time I've had was running around, exploring the world, meeting people and learning about various areas, pulls etc. - mostly around level 20-40. Each class was unique, and it would be really obvious really quickly where the shortcomings are and what that class strives in - something you don't get with any modern MMO where "everyone matters and should be able to do everything" mentality reigns supreme. PoP in my opinion was the beginning of the end of what made EQ enjoyable though. The "instant click book to travel" made the adventure aspect moot, and diminished the usefulness of druid and wizard ports alongside player interaction. Yeah the raid zones were great, but it basically sacrificed everything else about the game. Every subsequent expansion dumbed the game down more and more to where dying no longer was meaningful, corpse runs no longer existed, classes stopped having any meaning since you could just hire a mercenary to supplement a class's shortfalls - basically it went from a powerhouse classic and a superior game into whatever WOW was - boring and casual handholding trashfest. Modern MMOs have "ruined their own lands, and sadly have ruined mine too". Grrr.. bark Grrrrr....

[@MarleMMO]

What an eloquent reply! I think I agree or harmonize with everything you said especially the comment about levels & gear were by-products of the journey instead of the goal itself. I think that story telling power of early EverQuest is one reason why so many think as fondly as they do about it because earning an item upgrade was not trivial nor did the game hand them out. With that said, do you play P99? Where is your current MMO home if you have one? :)

[@Volkaer]

​@@MarleMMO There's more to say to be honest, but way too much to point out specifically in one sentence, but I would put it down to the general approach the developers take with their games now. For example, finding creative solutions working around your character or group limitations is penalised and treated as exploits. Compare that to classic EQ where this was on the contrary encouraged, with things like wall pulling in specific spots, using mob pathings to your advantage, or standing under a levitating mage to "bump" him up to a ledge from where he can CotH the rest of the party as a means of a shortcut - would be seen as something to "fix" by modern developers. You can actually see the gradual change in the mentality if you look at various different EQ expansions and what the game is today. Anyway to answer your question, no MMO home sadly. Everything that I've tried just lacks that immersion you got playing classic EQ - where you genuinely made your own story because the story was not tied to in-game quests, mechanics or your class, but rather the people you met on your journeys and things you have learned for yourself. Every game today does too much railroading or hand-holding for that to happen. I did try P99 around 2012, but the moderators on there were shockingly bad at abusing their power (to their credit, they were at least honest enough to admit that "their game and they don't need any reason to mess with people or ban accounts" - still have the e-mail chain from that, but I didn't feel confident spending my time with people like that in charge). I did play a bit on Shards of Dalaya - which is emulated classic EQ with a bunch of changes to class spells and whatnot - though while enjoyable - they removed a lot of class weaknesses without addressing their strengths, causing the same phenomenon of "everyone should be able to do everything" problem (for example, the Druids on there could heal as well as a cleric, because according to the developers it "wasn't fair since Druids were not as viable in raids for healing") so stuff like that eventually made the game stale off for me (also lack of players in my Oceania timezone). Project Gorgon is good but lacks that specific class dynamic since you could train every skill in the game. Honorable mention would go to "Realms of Trinity" which is a neverwinter nights 2 custom server - but it doesn't bring the scale. Basically can't find a game that would bring me back that immersion of exploring and adventuring a world full of other players that EQ originally did. I don't know if I ever will either any more to be honest...

[@MarleMMO]

@@Volkaer, thank you for your excellent response. I played SoD and enjoyed it for a time and have found enjoyment in NWN2 servers. Have you heard of Arelith, however? It's a NWN1 persistent world; I have a playlist on the game and it provides me a sense of what EQ1 provided. :)

[@Volkaer]

@@MarleMMO Think I vaguely remember Arelith - but haven't tried it. I do have to admit I prefer a proper first person view over NWN / NWN2 isometric or 3rd person cameras, but might give that a shot :) I'm also hoping Pantheon would be what it promised to be, but I somehow doubt that at this point sadly...

[@MarleMMO]

@@Volkaer, I'm hopeful for Pantheon although the proof will be in the pudding. I suppose you could consider Skyrim Together (or its equivalent for Morrowind). I'm struggling to find a difficult group based first person MMO outside of some emulators (Spellborn Reborn may be an option although it's 3rd person yet not isometric). What about SWGemu? I think it has a 1st person option. :)

[@njalthemighty5378]

Thank you for this, It has taken me back years. And Made me want to play it again.

[@MarleMMO]

My pleasure! 🥰

[@dw22509]

Sound effects you played reminded me of all the raids i used to run from Kunark to Omens. From getting server first lvl 65 in PoP on tje Drinal server, to farming vex thall key shards with friends, to keying guild members for raid prog in Gates. I mained a shaman so im deeply familiar with those sounds lolol. I went back to eq1 on my old shaman and i was completely lost. I wanna try to get back into olaying it but im sooooo far behind in AAs alone i dont think i can catch up to raiding guild requirements. So now its just there to log into for nostalgia sake

[@MarleMMO]

Nostalgia's sake is a perfectly fine reason to log into EQ still! 💖

[@sands7696]

Very nice video brother! Currently starting fresh on P99 Blue with my Wife, my Cousin (who I grew up playing EQ with) and his wife. Great way for us all to stay together while living on opposite sides of the country.

[@MarleMMO]

Hi Sands! Thanks for watching and for the kind words. I've also been thinking about jumping on P99 again yet I need to debug a local issue (my UI resets after every zone load). Classic Everquest is such a good way to spend time with others since each session can be very long with moments of down time to catch up. My brother and I used to stay connected this way, and I'm glad it's working for you too ! :)

[@sands7696]

@@MarleMMO Well fun little update to that, My wife, my cousin's wife, as well as myself just got banned for "Boxing" and the GM refused to even talk to us about it. We were all in discord and offered for him to join us. So maybe find another game to connect with you loved ones in lol. Special shout out to GM Ambrogio for being a low life PoS. I hope he enjoys his made up power in his fantasy world.

[@Preston27]

@@sands7696 It’s definitely a different experience, but I’m a classic player and I enjoy the TLPs they put out. For sure a more casual experience, but I don’t have nearly the free time I used to. There are a ton of emulated servers out there as well.

[@sands7696]

@@Preston27 oh for sure, no skin off my back. We've already jumped on classic wow. We played P99 for a fun adventure we could all share together. It's just really sad that some low life wanted to try and ruin that.

[@MarleMMO]

I'm so sorry that you were banned. In fact, my brother was IP locked for a similar reason last week. This has caused us to think about playing Shards of Dalaya or Baldur's Gate (multiplayer). Unfortunate yet I hope you've enjoyed the holidays with family! :)

[@JCVC1986454]

I remember getting chased across LFaydark by a mad Brownie. I was a 5 gnome necro trying to find my way to CB in Gfaydark. Good times. and yes it got me.

[@MarleMMO]

That sounds exactly right! Thanks for sharing. ♥️

[@neilpatrickhairless.2]

Loved? :) I started Day 1, 1999. Oddly enough I'm logged in at this moment while watching. I play most every day still. Great video!

[@MarleMMO]

Hey Neil! Thank you for the kind words. I was torn about 'loved' yet decided on its conjugation because "love" could be confusing: do I mean retail? TLP servers? Here, I emphasized Classic EQ which arguably finds representation in P99 although it's still apples to oranges. Either way, I'm glad you're still enjoying EQ! Where do you play? :)

[@chuganoga1908]

Amazing video I remember my uncle had this game on his computer back in the day but I was too young to know all that was going on I just loved exploring. Definitely gotta check out Project 1999

[@MarleMMO]

Thank you for the kind words! I heartily recommend finding a gaming buddy on P99 because it is /not/ solo friendly especially for a new player. Their Discord/forums are active so you should be in luck. Have fun! :)

[@chuganoga1908]

@@MarleMMO oh thanks man I’ll be sure to do that! Looking forward to it!

[@MarleMMO]

@@chuganoga1908, my pleasure. I'm excited for you! Enjoy Classic EverQuest! :)

[@cloudymindtv85]

38 years old and I still scream outloud Ding! When ever I level up

[@MarleMMO]

Same. 🤣

[@AndyOBrien8675]

Got my cleric epic at level 52, was the lowest level cleric on Karana Server with the fabled Cleric weapon that I still have to this day. Free Resurrections that returned 96% of your lost xp. I was instantly "Mrs. Popular". I'd often travel great distances to help people who were having a "bad day". Never had a shortage of friends or Peridots in that game. Nice video.

[@MarleMMO]

Players like you made our lives so much better! Thank you for sharing your story. ❤️

[@sandcasterofveeshan366]

That was the Veeshan server!!! I played there, saw the Azure Guard!!! I played the wizard Sandcaster and the warrior Gavinmagnus there. I miss that place so much.

[@MarleMMO]

🥰

[@AsheCraftingCorner]

My dad still plays EQ to this day..he has stayed with his main group for 19 almost 20 years now

[@MarleMMO]

I love it! 🥰

[@skruffs1537]

EQ was the meta of all MMO's, I remember dying in a forest at a very early level (like level 1-2) and being distraught that I was unable to find my body (it had my gear!) and then finding a tracker (player) that could. Raiding with my guild in POF for the first time and spending at least 16 hours non stop in that raid trying to drag to the entrance bodies of my guild mates (I was a monkie) to only have a boss in that zone yell and kill everyone again (Sorry I cannot recall the bosses name). Around 15 hours of trying and failing, another guild (higher gear then my own as we were first time raiding) offered to help us and saved all of our character's gear! Otherwise it would have been lost! Amazing memory's from a amazing game.

[@MarleMMO]

Lovely memories! Thank you for sharing! 🥰

[@skruffs1537]

@@MarleMMO 🥰 A lot of memory's from a fantastically brilliant MMO, i regret nothing of my time in that game hehe. Ty Marle for bringing those memory's back :)

[@MarleMMO]

Same! 🥰

[@Xxtayce]

Dark Elf Enchanter FTW!!! 💜 (Fennin Ro, what's up?!)

[@MarleMMO]

I love the dark elves! 💖

[@BazgrimTV]

Great recap of something that is hard to sufficiently describe to people who never got to experience it firsthand. Lots of memories and nostalgia. I myself started playing EQ when I was only 6 and it changed my life for the better. Many aspects of EQ's magic were the fact that online gaming and even online interactions with other humans were still relatively new. Just being on the internet was an enchanting place back then and that translated into how we approached games. Sadly, that's not really the case anymore as the way we think about the internet has changed dramatically, but it's still evident that there is more room for the MMORPG genre to grow and I look forward to seeing where it goes from here. My bet is on Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen now.

[@MarleMMO]

I appreciate the kind words Bazgrim! You hit the nail on the head that much of the magic of early EverQuest was felt and nearly impossible to describe. It reminds me of the issue ancient bards had illustrating tales of the past to new audiences without a sufficient analog; you hinted at this issue with modern MMOs emphasizing a very different array of traits and features than older school games. I am also looking forward to Pantheon. Are you a backer? :)

[@BazgrimTV]

@@MarleMMO yup I’ve been following it since 2016 and cover its development on my own channel

[@MarleMMO]

@@BazgrimTV, excellent! Have you participated in alpha tests? :)

[@BazgrimTV]

@@MarleMMO Anyone you ask that will say no due to NDA, but I have a couple of gameplay videos on my channel that I've been allowed to share - one is 3+ hours from last year and covers a lot :)

[@MarleMMO]

@@BazgrimTV, ah, my apologies if my question put you in a difficult place. I may have seen your videos! Thanks for the tip. :)

[@bobbycrosby9765]

First person. This gave unparalleled immersion. I kept to my MUD when UO came out, but being able to fight a cyclops in first person was an amazing experience.

[@MarleMMO]

🥰

[@gordons-alive4940]

I still log into project 1999 once in a while just to experience the sites and sounds again.

[@MarleMMO]

Me too. I logged in last week even! Do you still play MMOs?

[@bobbyt9431]

EverQuest is like fine piece of furniture hand-crafted by grandmaster artisans. Modern MMOs are like a theme park designed by accountants. In 1999 as a lowly Half Elf Ranger on Xegony, I did the polar bear cloak quest in Everfrost until my bags were full and ran the cloaks to GFay to sell them for what my smooth teenage brain thought was a virtual fortune at the time. These cloaks were not even very good - a low level item that no one would take the time to bother with these days - but the sheer size and difficulty of simply crossing the world meant that the game economy formed local markets in the first few months of the game. In fact, the first time a made the trip from Qeynos to Freeport I used a Shaman that was offering his services as a guide for just a few plat. These guide services across Antonica, usually offered by someone that could cast run speed buffs or invisibility, were actually quite common in the early days. Only in a game as difficult as the original EverQuest can truly organic sandbox experiences like that develop.

[@MarleMMO]

I absolutely love this comment; your memories stimulate all the feelings why I love EverQuest. It was a world first and a game second. Do you play P1999? 💖

[@bobbyt9431]

@@MarleMMO I played a little when green released but not much these days. If they roll out another server I will probably give it another go.

[@MarleMMO]

@@bobbyt9431, have you heard of TAKP? 💖

[@bobbyt9431]

@@MarleMMO No, I have not.

[@MarleMMO]

@@bobbyt9431, it may be worth checking out! 💖 www.takproject.net

[@Roguewiz]

By far, Bards and Enchanters are my favorite classes. Even more so since you don't see these types of classes anymore. MMOs have moved more towards Tank, Heals, DPS as the 'trinity' as opposed to 'Tank, Heals, Support' that Everquest swore by.

[@MarleMMO]

I miss the blurry lines of roles in EQ. Bards & Enchanters were special! When did you play EverQuest?

[@DR1ZZ0]

The great thing about enchanters was it was the only class that you really could have some sort of skill expression. A good enchanter could force multiply your groups kill times by so much, and prevent sure wipes. Bards were also a class that had some of that utility as well.

[@MarleMMO]

@@DR1ZZ0, I hear you. Arguably, there's a discernible skill ceiling for each class although the more nuanced professions did require knowledge of 'soft' mechanics; I'm thinking about fear kiting as a shadow knight for example. :) Do you play Project 1999?

[@DR1ZZ0]

@@MarleMMO No, I prefer the TLP servers mostly. I like the quality of life improvements to the game. I've considered it, but haven't made the dive. And for sure, fear kiting and such were fun mechanics in the game.

[@MarleMMO]

@@DR1ZZ0, certainly. I haven't played TLP servers on EQ1 (I have for EQ2, though). I'm glad they've been enjoyable! :)

[@Thulgore]

Trains were amazing. It was also amazing watching a group step in and stomp them. At the same time a level 40 was not that much more amazing than a level 30. I sadly lost a duel as a level 50 troll warrior vs a level 49 necromancers PET. When I died it still had 30% of it's life. It was heartbreaking for me, however a player tank was still preferred over pets for many reasons. It still sucked, thus why I still remember it. Everquest was a different game. Hell, having to get to your corpse again meant hell for everyone. Literally. The amount of guilds that died in the Plane of Fear and lost everything.......Everything. I still log on occasionally just to kill Guard Nash. (I have to be really bored and really drunk to even decide to do that though)

[@MarleMMO]

This is a great comment. Trains, power differentials, corpse running -- EQ was a different game. I miss it dearly. Do you still MMO? :)

[@snarfbot]

No hand holding back then really added to the atmosphere

[@MarleMMO]

I was just thinking about once you logged on there was literally no tutorial. xD

[@BrokenCydeDF]

FFXI was my everquest. Day one NA release. Spending 18 hours a day playing with others. Getting a level, then dying and losing said level. Spending another hour or so trying to regain that exp. So many memories.

[@MarleMMO]

I remember seeing FFXI being sold in stores yet never buying it; it may be my greatest (early) MMORPG regret. There seemed to have been many commonalities between both games. Do you play on one of the private servers for FFXI? :)

[@BrokenCydeDF]

@@MarleMMO I still dabble in retail here and there. While it's for sure not the same game. It's still amazing in it's own right. I did play on a Private Server way back when it first released for a few years called Nasomi. It's locked to the harder years of XI and is a pretty great server.

[@MarleMMO]

@@BrokenCydeDF, excellent. I've tried retail yet without the nostalgic background and empty newbie zones, the experience was less than compelling. I have eyed Nasomi over the years and have thought about playing it. Do you 'main' a MMO?

[@BrokenCydeDF]

@@MarleMMO In my older age )now in my 40's) I find it difficult to really main anything. Lol. My go to MMO (theme-park) would probably FFXIV, as I've played XI for about 8 years and XIV since alpha version 1.0. I pretty much bounce around. XI, XIV, ESO, lesser knowns like Project Gorgon and the likes. Old age has also gotten me a major case of social anxiety so, it makes MMO's in general a lot less fun to play now-a-days. Nasomi is great. Started back when it had maybe 15-20 players. It's nothing like that anymore.

[@MarleMMO]

@@BrokenCydeDF, thank you for sharing! I've been playing Project Gorgon too and a Neverwinter Nights Persistent World called Arelith; both have great older school vibes. :)

[@soundboyeric2276]

I was a WoW player growing up but a few months ago I remembered Everquest and went on a tear watching videos. It's very odd to have nostalgia that's 'not your own' because I wasn't there. Hell, I was 7 in 1999. I'd play pj99 but as an adult I fear I don't have the time to play like I could as a kid so I satiate my EQ bug with videos. tl;dr well done video!

[@MarleMMO]

Thank you for the kind words and I appreciate your ability to sympathize with other's journeys. I remember feeling great sadness watching the Asheron Call's shutdown video despite not investing much time in that virtual world. Regarding P99, their PvP red server has accelerated leveling, so if you and a buddy/group of friends played together, the time investment may be reasonable. What are you currently playing? :)

[@raphaelsolo]

Well here's the good news then. EQ is a lot easier than it used to be and can be played free. By easier I mean zones that used to require a raid can be done with a single group of players the same level. The available gear is just that strong for classic content.

[@soundboyeric2276]

@@raphaelsolo I did actually play live a year ago for the first time and got boosted to 106 and just kinda explored, which was my main purpose. There's FAR too much content and things I've no experience with as a new comer. Also addmitedly I really like project 99...cept when i go take a piss then some dinks camping my spot now i effectively can't play that night lol doesn't help primetime is literally right when i get out of work.. and im at fuggin aviaks in rathe im WAY out there!

[@MarleMMO]

@soundboyeric2276 The struggle is real! 🥰

[@soundboyeric2276]

@@MarleMMO hah thanks you're legit as welcoming as the community itself there is something so gratifying bout walking pst someone at east karana bridge and buffing them humans helping each other is slept on these days

[@codyrussel828]

I just started playing eq ftp, and as soon as I started I was invited into a guild . Also I really wanted to go to my race starting city and one of my guilds mate took the time to bring me their . It was fun a player made quest 😊 now I am exploring the city

[@MarleMMO]

💖

[@seekthtruth]

No there were no instances until years later. We competed for bosses. On my server karana, we had karana council of guilds (kcg) which helped keep the peace and rotate spawns

[@MarleMMO]

Hi Rebecca! Thank you for the clarification. I love the history and how your server solved those problems. :)

[@Plaximos]

On the 20th Anniversary of Everquest in 2019, I stumbled across Everquest and played on the timelocked server Mangler both Druid and Enchanter. It was very fun for a few months and was my main game when I was taking a break from Gorgon as I started playing Gorgon in 2018 after I quit OSRS in which I started in 2015. Sometimes I think about going back to Everquest but only if a new time locked server was released as I'm not a fan of corpse runs and thus won't play on P99. However, I wish I was old enough to experience Everquest in it's glory days. Unfortunately, I am only 26 years old and thus have an Old Soul and appreciate games like this for its indepth design and scale over flashy mmo's that are bland and boring. Noneless, Great Review!

[@Plaximos]

I will say it's complete bullshit that theres's players in Everquest that box and have like 20 computers hooked up just to play the game. I value real players and dislike boxing in any mmorpg as I feel it ruins immersion and I really value making friendships in mmo's and actually grouping up with real people for dungeons. Thus, that's why I play gorgon so much.

[@MarleMMO]

Thanks Plaximos! Corpse runs are not adult friendly as you found out. They were endearing when my 12 year old self, with no external responsibilities, could invest 3+ hours hiring a necromancer to return my character's dead body to me. I play P99 periodically, mostly for nostalgic reasons, because if something goes wrong in a dungeon, those consequences may cost you an entire afternoon -- something many of us don't have the liberty to play through anymore. :/

[@steveolie985]

Sweet man. EQ was a long favorite of mine, was there from day 1. I just found out about p99 last year and have been enjoying it.

[@MarleMMO]

Day 1? Wow! P99 is great. How long did you play the original EQ for? :)

[@steveolie985]

@@MarleMMO I played until gates of discord, or whatever the expansion after LDoN. Several of my fps clan at the time started day 1 also. I was lucky enough to have been in great Guilds on multiple servers, enjoying the race to 60 including p99. Currently running around deleveled enjoying all the zones and dungeons at level.

[@MarleMMO]

@@steveolie985, excellent history. Leveling up in EQ is such a glorious experience. :)

[@steveolie985]

@@MarleMMO it's a shame that p99 players all seem to be in rush to level up. The raid scene on p99 is terrible comparatively. Really need to catch a server opening in order to recapture the classic experience. It's hard to get groups outside of the high zem(xp) areas, and the existence of the internet, Wiki and maps all do a disservice to how it was back in the day.

[@MarleMMO]

@@steveolie985, you highlight an important element that our knowledge of EQ1 vs. during the classic era fundamentally alters our reception & experience of the game. I personally try to play as if I've never done so before to keep the sense of discovery as fresh as possible. :)

[@andrewpelletier7921]

Instancing wasn't introduced until the Lost Dungeons of Norrath expansion. It was present in other games such as Anarchy Online which was launched in 2001, but I'm not sure it was even feasible when EQ launched in 99.

[@MarleMMO]

Thank you for the information Andrew! :)

[@remyd8767]

I don't know what it is, but the zones in EverQuest just feel so expansive. Today's MMOs zones don't really give you that sense of wonder and mystery. I think it has to do with eqs old tech, and that weak draw distance. Either way it adds to the immersiveness

[@MarleMMO]

Hey Remy! I hear you. View distance, few safe paths, and multi-zone journeys to another destination combine to provide the feeling you're describing. Simply running to Kaladim from Kelethin was not a given since you could be ambushed by orcs or the wandering ogre. I do miss those feelings! :)

[@seionne85]

I heard some kids at school talking about playing together the night before and staying up all night.. I was probably 16 at the time and they were talking about how pop had just released and people were already lv 65. As far as I knew final fantasy was the best rpgs had to offer, and I didn't have a computer at the time. I started saving and got my first laptop maybe 6 months later. I played a wood elf ranger. Made it to lv 8 or so and decided to try crushbone, saw a higher level guy losing to a red mob and started casting my heal on him. He lived and I was hooked from there. To think I assisted someone who would have died.. and he was playing on his computer, it was just the coolest experience

[@MarleMMO]

Her Seionne! Your story reminded me of my first experience too. I also heard about EQ at school (although it was elementary) namely that my friend, a wood elf warrior, was being turned into various animals from a higher level druid. I rolled a wood elf druid and feel in love with the lore & universe. What are you currently playing?

[@seionne85]

@@MarleMMO I just started back a couple months ago from about a 6 year break, playing a 102 druid on FV now :) it's as fun as ever. In game name is seionn if you ever see me. What about you?

[@MarleMMO]

@@seionne85, I annually return to P99 for a bit and some friends are trying to lure me to Shards of Dalaya. Have you heard of it? :)

[@seionne85]

@@MarleMMO i have not, I haven't tried p99 either.. don't judge me!! Lol sadly I don't have as much time to play as I used to.. some days no game time, and rarely a day with more than a couple hours. The joys of parenting lol

[@MarleMMO]

As a professional and parent too, I entirely empathize with your capacity to game. No judgement here! The few hours a week you have to enjoy a video game should be invested where you can enjoy the most return no matter where it is. :)

[@sandcasterofveeshan366]

I ported the entire Dragoon Order (Donkin's Dune themed guild) to the Plane of Sky. He paid my wizard Sandcaster real well! I would port all their groups up. I had friends there, Cestus Dei, Wayfarers of Veeshan, Keepers of the Elements, and was an officer of Mystic Ring of Veeshan. I later joined CD and beat Seeds of Destruction with them. Now I'm not in EQ due to the fact I am waiting on laser eye surgery. Hope to come back and play some again. Yep, cracked staves were a fantastic source of income. Selling loot rights is not allowed in many guilds, including Cestus Dei. Haha the life expectancy of a blind elf in Kelethin lol! Speaking of Ambassador D'Vinn, Gavinmagnus tanked him. I wasn't the best tank, my true future lie in that wizard. See Seeds of Destruction raid content. Love the old game so much.

[@MarleMMO]

🥰

[@fadedtimes]

I solo'd a lot as a shadowknight fear kiting, I mastered pet pulling, and eventually when i tanked for groups I mastered aggro with my snare dots.

[@MarleMMO]

Excellent! EQ1's SK is probably my favorite class of all time of any MMORPG. It was exceptionally versatile for a tank and required nuance and clever thinking to excel. Thank you for sharing! :)

[@jdubz8173]

I was the poor friend who didn't have enough money to play EQ, so I would listen to stories about the game and was super jealous. I recently finally pushed through the out dated UI and such and it's hard to believe how true a lot of all the things you bring up really is. Devs these days really need to understand what it takes to make a world "matter" instead of pushing flashy visuals. Another way of putting it could be that the game gives you reasons to care about it.

[@MarleMMO]

I'm both so sorry you were unable to experience classic EverQuest in its prime yet am so happy that you recently have experienced what all the fuss has been about. I love your comment about making the world matter; I entirely agree. "PvE" wasn't only about grinding mobs all day yet ensuring you could even travel safely. Are you still playing (presumably) P1999? :)

[@FSEAirboss]

Have so many memories of playing EQ, and then when Planes of Power was released its destruction. It split guilds, groups, and friends with the amount of time forced to get the keys. Becoming those that had access and those that didn't. Oh the pain of Hate wipes and corpse recovery over the next few hours because someone moved where they shouldn't have. (Who knew right?!) Loved my monk and pulling.

[@MarleMMO]

Thanks for sharing your experience! I quit just after PoP and it was the last expansion I purchased. I started having mixed feelings when Luclin came out because it devalued druids/wizards for porting and relocated EC tunnel 'bazaar' to another zone. PoP took those convivences to another level. I always loved grouping with an effective monk! Do you play Project 1999? :)

[@FSEAirboss]

@@MarleMMO Don't recall hearing about P99 till now. Not sure it would be the same as my memories as we tend to forget the pain points over time as well as being trained in games these days for easy mode. That said, might load it up and give it a go.

[@MarleMMO]

@@FSEAirboss, it will be a different experience, yes; however, if you're a fan of nostalgia, it's a recommended play. Consider joining their Discord too to ensure that you can party up! :)

[@davidpatrick4303]

I was always afraid to run through Lesser Faydark because Equestrielle always killed me. The tunnel in the Commonlands was a social place where people gathered to sell items, there was no brokerage system in the game at the time

[@MarleMMO]

Lesser Faydark was terrifying! 💖

[@PurpleLightning6was9]

Everquest will always be genre defining. It was the Blues to WoW's Rock and Roll. And a bit before my time, as my computer was an absolute potato before 2005. But watching this, I can see how vanilla WoW killed EQ and most other MMOs that came out afterwards.

[@MarleMMO]

🥰

[@MathewGuest]

Great stuff. Such nostalgia

[@MarleMMO]

Thank you -- yeah, it's fun to walk down memory's lane. 💖

[@labakrapscalio451]

Greatest game ever created

[@MarleMMO]

Hello Labak! EverQuest remains the canon against which I evaluate all other MMORPGs. Arguably, it may transcend its category to being one of the best /games/ ever designed which is to your point. When did you play EQ?

[@labakrapscalio451]

@@MarleMMO I started playing a little before kunark released when I was 14 I quit around LDoN or LoY somewhere around there. But I've been back recently to play on time locked progression servers. First came back maybe 8 years ago and I have binges still that will last months. At the moment my computer is broken or else I'd be playing now lol! I've played wow, and the world is so soft in comparison you never get that paranoid high alert mode where you feel like the game needs your undivided attention just to make it from point a to point b. The one thing wow really had was pvp, super fun pvp. I quit wow before mop, tried again during wod, but quit again after that. I remember my brother telling me that going back to eq would be shit and that I was just over nostalgic, he was fucking wrong 100 percent. So much so that I got him to give it a shot again 8 years ago when I did and to this day almost every time I talk to him he always says we gotta get back into eq, telling me there's a new tlp or something lol. The game is just better at the whole MMO portion of things. You feel like a actual member of the population of the planet Norrath. You see familiar faces, I could go on forever about the amazing interactions you have with people you bumped into here and there or well known dissidents who already have a bad reputation so aren't afraid to live up to it. The world WAS dangerous and without proper knowledge and careful attention, while traveling alone it was easy to die. Punishing for error, in groups or raids shit could go from 0 to 100 in half a second then the adrenaline rush, and is you come out on top the sweet euphoric release that holy shit for a moment I didn't think we were going to make it. Best game of all time, no contest. It's beyond game it's fantasy simulation lol

[@labakrapscalio451]

@@MarleMMO P.S. the name Labak was the first character I created on my own account if everquest when I was 14 years old. A barbarian rogue Labak Rapscallion from the Luclin server. My brother is Besrikarle the halfling warrior and Dariuse human bard guild leader of Stratageme. I use this name as my username for almost everything, Xbox name Labak Rapscalio. My 14 year old creativity strike the name from the mortal combat character Kabal. I looked it up and a cabal is an underground secret society, I was a rogue and felt that fit. I met a lot of real life friends through Xbox and many call me Labak in real life. My x girlfriends parents called me Labak, I don't even think they knew my real name lol. I had no idea when I was 14 that the moniker I chose would take on a life of it's own

[@MarleMMO]

You played about the same time as me and I presume we're fairly close in age. My channel's name is also associated with EverQuest -- it's incredible how impactful a game can have on someone that we're talking about our experiences so many years later! :)

[@alistairmcelwee7467]

Interesting. I played this in 1999 & 2000 I think. Fun to revisit. Bard was my thing. One thing about this video - it is not so easy to understand the narration. But otherwise, great.

[@MarleMMO]

Hey Alistair! Thank you so much for your comment. Bards are awesome. :) Regarding the narration, am I speaking too quickly? Not enunciating accurately? Is it the audio EQ (...pun included!)? Best,

[@Drummin451]

still play on project1999 every now and then when I get the itch :)

[@MarleMMO]

It scratches the itch very well! 🥰

[@mariushjrnevik454]

A very cozy video. Sadly i didn’t discover Everquest up until a couple years ago - wow and lotro were my MMORPGS. Though i log in every now and then on EQ, i am still a low level noob :p But that said, this game gives me an atmosphere no other MMORPGs has given me in many years; the sense of danger, mysticism and exploration.

[@MarleMMO]

Thank you for the kind words Marius! I enjoyed your description of EverQuest's allure including the word 'mysticism.' I'm not sure if 'spiritual' quite fits the bill, yet yes, there is an 'other-worldly' pull, perhaps the world building is so spot on; you nearly feel you're actually somewhere else. When you log into EQ, is it on retail, P99, or another private server?

[@mariushjrnevik454]

@@MarleMMO Currenty i have only been playing the free version through Steam. I've been watching some p99 gameplay on KZbin, but it seems to be a bit more harder than the retail. My plan was to start out on retail and get familiar with the game there before i jumped over to p99.

[@MarleMMO]

@@mariushjrnevik454, that's wise! Good idea and I hope you enjoy both incarnations of EverQuest. :)

[@RawLu.]

Greatest game of all-time :-)

[@MarleMMO]

It has been for me, certainly! :)

[@c4tubo]

EQ PvE was serious lethal, way more than any current MMO that I can think of. They are all too easy now.

[@MarleMMO]

You bring up a great point that many modern MMOs feel too easy which affects the reception of many of their systems. One component of feeling 'danger' in early EQ is that every choice you made mattered. I miss that sense and is a reason why I tend to play older school MMOs (or those inspired from them). :) Do you still play EverQuest? :)

[@mikeyoung9810]

I loved EQ. I loved the sounds, the feel of the zones, the horrible deaths and trying to get back to your corpse before you lost your stuff and the comraderie. I loved the trains in Blackburrow. I loved finding 8 players and several guards dead at a guard tower in the Karanas because someone trained a giant to the guards. For me though when I started hitting the 50's and grouping was less fun and mostly a job/grind I sort of lost interest. I've tried to go back but it's just not the same with those big empty zones and people just soloing using mercs. In the end I started making new characters in Qeynos over and over and working up to 20 or doing the same in that barbarian frozen starting area (name escapes me now). I haven't really found that feeling again after UO and EQ (except maybe a little in New World).

[@MarleMMO]

Thank you for sharing your memories as many can relate. Interesting comment about New World; what about your experience in Amazon's newest MMORPG caused you to sense that feeling again? :)

[@FatCatt-_-]

I love watching EQ videos and seeing familiar names

[@MarleMMO]

When did you play EverQuest Don? :)

[@paperboy856]

I miss old EQ how hard it was .... Made u feel good when I achieved what u were working for

[@MarleMMO]

💯 ♥️

[@christopherg7483]

still playing tbh, on the aradune server beat omens of war, and got my ranger's epic 2.0. My guilds goal is to stick around till the server hits live and move on to playing the current content.

[@MarleMMO]

That's so fun! I'm currently on P99. I always loved the Ranger class in EQ even if they were not 'meta' in the early days. :)

[@christopherg7483]

@@MarleMMO 1 year later, and youtube once again recommended this video to me. Still going, but old guild finally ended in underfoot. Just beat HoT., hope p99 is still going good for ya

[@pugnaciousnoobeginnings8997]

lol never heard anyone say d o t'ing as separate letters, always just heard dot as a single word. stands out to me every time you say it hehe

[@MarleMMO]

Ha! That's so funny. I wonder what other idiosyncrasies I have. :)

[@tazdianbrewhaha1402]

I had a Dwarf Rogue and used to make plat doing corpse runs, casino, etc

[@MarleMMO]

I loved the implicit economy and emergent gameplay details that would emerge as a result of EQ game design! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@daniel.stutzman]

My favorite game of all time.

[@MarleMMO]

EQ classic was truly a masterpiece. :)

[@TheVigilantStewards]

Me . TOOO!

[@MarleMMO]

@@TheVigilantStewards,

[@Stitchlii]

Best sound effects and spell effects

[@MarleMMO]

I agree! The soundscape is so-spot on. 💖

[@michealw1470]

Please also link to the current game. It has nostalgic progression servers with a much less daunting time sink than the "classic" servers have. The game is on going and just got a new expansion Dec 2021 and the base client is being updated to 64 bit after 20+ years. If we ever want a full sequel with similar gameplay or a continuation of the lore we love then we should consider the on-going development of what was once and still an amazing game. In future videos please consider pointing viewers to all on-going projects by current publishers. Fyi Shards of Dayla is completely custom and only shares assets and some lore but other then that it's not "classic"

[@MarleMMO]

Hey Micheal, sorry for my short-sightedness. I changed my description and pinned comment per your request. I agree with your emphasis and forgive me for my lapse in judgement. :) Best,

[@joetee5105]

I love this game so much

[@MarleMMO]

🥰

[@brentritchie6199]

I started playing because the guy at EB games here in Australia said he would refund me despite it being an online game if I didn’t like it. Boy do I have a lot to thank him for I have played off and on ever since as nothing else can scratch that itch for long. People who think classic WOW is hardcore have no clue, we laughed at how easy it was in the day but everyone left and that was that the game died. Then mercs helped make solo and box a bit more fun.

[@MarleMMO]

I'm so glad you've enjoyed EverQuest! What's your favorite class? 💖

[@brentritchie6199]

@@MarleMMO it was Necro back then, but during Ldon I discovered the fun of Bard pulling and the group Bard was just so much fun. Sadly it didn’t last long.

[@MarleMMO]

Bards are great! At least we can always go back to EQ! ♥️

[@NatesGamez]

I play on project 1999, I wasn’t born in the 90’s at all but I believe it was the absolute golden age of gaming, I have been to the land of Norrath many-a-time and it is just hard to step away from at times (I ain’t hopelessly addicted, it’s just a good game). I have a very good friend of mine who plays as well and we always would group, I have been an Iksar Monk, Human Mage, Ogre Shaman, and Barbarian Warrior, even a Wood Elf Ranger! This game is a masterpiece, it’s funny to me when people who have actually played EQ in 1999-2001 area talk about it and I hear something familiar in a sentence and I say “I’ve done that” they are surprised because they don’t know that the world of p1999 exists (I don’t mean to sound like I am praising the p99 world, like Norrath in the 90’s it has its flaws too) but yeah, undoubtedly a gem of a game, glad you made a vid on it, I appreciate it very much, new sub earned! 😃

[@MarleMMO]

Thanks for the kind words Bonsai and I appreciate the sub. :) EQ was and remains special; the race/class combinations you've enjoyed are classic and I'm happy you've been able to appreciate EQ1 in all its dated glory. Do you consider Project 1999 your 'main' game or MMO?

[@NatesGamez]

@@MarleMMO Main MMO (sorry if this is a second reply, for some reason YT says I have not responded).

[@MarleMMO]

@@NatesGamez, no worries & excellent. Are you looking forward to Pantheon or Monsters & Memories? :)

[@NatesGamez]

@@MarleMMO not really, I don’t think it can recreate it exactly. Best of hope though.

[@MarleMMO]

@@NatesGamez, I hope you. I'm cautiously optimistic although the proof will be in the pudding. :)

[@BenSollis]

You forgotto mention the loss of 1/3rd of level experience if you died, plus damage to your gear. Which for me as an end game raider and tank, was a real pain. If you died on the raid you'd have to immediately get your experience back or you couldn't raid no-more until you did. Standout times for me was my first Time-Raid, Getting my Class Epic and many year of raiding as Tank. For me tanking raidmobs and knowing there were maybe 4 clerics doing chain heals blew me away. Their only job was to heal the tank constantly. I have yet to play an MMO since, that offered the same level of achievement enjoyment and sense of accomplishment.

[@MarleMMO]

You're right Ben! I forgot to mention quite a bit; many of you have inspired me to make a Part 2 sometime because there was so much to love about EQ that a single video couldn't do it justice at its length. While I do remember XP penalties, I don't recall damage to gear. Was that in pre-PoP?

[@BenSollis]

@@MarleMMO yeh gea damage maybe wrong i cant rememeber, been so long ago.. i tried the new version thats available but wonderingisit just a cash shop?

[@MarleMMO]

@@BenSollis, I personally haven't played retail since I quit years and years ago. Have you played P99? :)

[@BenSollis]

@@MarleMMO No.. should I ?

[@MarleMMO]

@@BenSollis, you could consider watching a few videos about P1999 to see if it's for you. Let me know if you want any more details. :)

[@evan2212]

Best mmo ever made. Be cool if someone made a p99 server with more modern graphics... Might be more appealing to new players

[@MarleMMO]

Check out monstersandmemories.com :)

[@xkallubar]

I have the exact same shadowknight memories as you. On my big strong ogre fear kiting aviaks in south karana with my pet!

[@MarleMMO]

That's excellent! It's one of my fondest PvE memories of any MMO. :)

[@himmelssturmbla9580]

Female Ogre Sk here :-) not to forget doing FD pulls when no monk was available

[@MarleMMO]

@@himmelssturmbla9580, I was so bad at doing that! I remember FD when my red-kiting tactics failed yet I wasn't the best puller. :( But another reason to love the SK! :)

[@shivur5073]

You mean "why we love" literally just logged off of mischief to take my wife out lol

[@MarleMMO]

You know, I did have that thought! That's so fun that you're still playing. Which class is your main?

[@sweetfry]

what was the first game you showed at the intro where it was isometric and killin a bat or someting?

[@MarleMMO]

Conquer Online! I've published about it. If you decide to investigate whether to play it, I recommend Google searching "Conquer Online Classic" & avoid the current version of the game. :)

[@sweetfry]

@@MarleMMO I'll check it out

[@sweetfry]

@@MarleMMO ever heard of faldon?

[@MarleMMO]

@@sweetfry, that's new to me! Very interesting. Do you play? :)

[@sweetfry]

@@MarleMMO I play every now and again, it was the first free MMO I ever played, it was released I believe in 99 or 2000. Its relatively unknown which is a shame because it's like runescape..but even more retro lol They haven't added any content since I think 2019 unfortunately, but it's still a charming game with a pretty awesome history.

[@The_Tree_Rat]

What games were being shown in the intro? I recognize them but I cannot remember the names.

[@MarleMMO]

Conquer Online, Arelith (Neverwinter Nights 1), & UO. 💖

[@Tetsu9701]

I never played EQ, but I played EQOA & then moved onto the heavily EQ-inspired, FFXI. I can not wait to play Brad McQuaid's final project, & my last hope in the MMORPG genre, Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen.

[@MarleMMO]

I never got to play EQOA yet I'm loosely following its emulated server. I also never played FFXI yet have followed Nasomi, so our experiences are inverted! However, we align in that we're both hopeful for Pantheon. What's your current main MMO if you're playing one? :)

[@Tetsu9701]

@@MarleMMO Currently I am not playing any MMO. The last MMO I seriously played was XIV & Classic. I played for a few weeks during XIV's 1.0 launch. Then from its 2.0 re-launch all thru 3.x content. I also played Classic WoW for a few months. I guess you could say I also played for at least 4 month's on the private XI server, Eden. I'm truly itching for an OG experience so Pantheon, and to a lesser extent Ashes of Creation are my last bastions of hope. Edit: Checking out your Project Gorgon videos now. I remember trying it many years ago & feeling it was too barebones. I'm curious to see how it is doing now.

[@MarleMMO]

@@Tetsu9701, thank you for sharing your MMO odyssey with me. You can be the judge as to whether or not Project Gorgon has improved to warrant another look yet you may also consider trying Neverwinter Nights 1 persistent worlds if you enjoy older school group based social MMOs. I currently am playing Arelith (and publishing a series on it). No pressure of course. :)

[@spectreman2532]

If only this game wasn't so ugly I would try it more. I started with EQOA for PS2, then FFXI back then in 2003.

[@MarleMMO]

Hey Nelson! I missed out on both of those games although emulators exist for FFXI and EQOA (although it's still in development). What are you currently playing? :)

[@austindmunday]

Really like your content

[@MarleMMO]

Thank you! 🥰

[@thehermitthetower1126]

I had this as a kid, the quest turn in didn't seem to work. To this day, how does it work?

[@MarleMMO]

Depends on the quest, yet generally speaking, I don't recall there being too many bugged quest returns (although some may have existed at certain periods). 💖

[@thehermitthetower1126]

@@MarleMMO i played a troll, couldnt turn in the 'kill all the fungus guys' quest. I had friends come over, the quest giver just kept eating my shit, lol. I dunno, never tried again after a few wasted hours.

[@MarleMMO]

💖

[@elwood_eq7550]

I play EQ LIve, off and on, these days to get a "feeling" of nostalgia but it never comes close to the old days. The game is just so different nowadays. I've switched computers to Apple machines because I simply had enough of Windows current day crap...patches undoing many settings you make...buggy patches that totally bork your machine...ect...I've had enough! I'm still looking for a way to play EQ Live on my iMac M3, but it looks like I'll need to wait because of the x86 cpu's differences with the ARM cpu architecture. Their is a Dev tool some people use for other games, but I'm waiting for it to mature. I'm done tinkering with my machines these days. I'm too old and just want things to "work". Apple computers, in spite of a few shortcomings, work best overall in this regard. BTW....who here remembers farming Hill Giants in Frontier Mountains only to discover that a rogue had been pick pocketing the plat from your groups giants before they died for like the past hour! Gggrrrrr!!....just thinking of that memory makes me want to....Aaaahhhh!!....do not nice things...ROFL! Good times though. hahaha

[@boot-strapper]

I finally quit p99 after killing phinny like 20 times without getting the mage water staff.

[@MarleMMO]

Hey Bootstrapper, yeah, I hear you. The camping game can be heartbreaking and very frustrating. I can see why modern MMOs have built-in currency mechanics to ensure time spent doesn't feel wasted. Regardless, I hope you find another MMO home! :)

[@berrylongname]

I remember buying Mithril bracer in tunnel back in the day and people training the griffon to tunnel I quit about time pop came out the keying was to much.

[@MarleMMO]

🥰

[@moilami1]

Nice video. Wish you try out Anarchy Online. It is a true classic too, not well known.

[@MarleMMO]

Y'know, I had that very thought today about covering Anarchy Online. Maybe you'll see a video on it soon. :)

[@torvaldrunarson4219]

I met a guy playing EQ in a cyber cafe. I was young, yet, after some time watching him playing, he explained me a few things and decided to share his account with me, just like that, free.

[@MarleMMO]

Y'know what, this reminded me of a community ethos that existed in early EverQuest. Before we had shared bank spots, you'd have to go to the East Common Land tunnels (or the Nexus after Luclin) to ask a total stranger (assuming you weren't in a guild) to hold ALL of your gear and currency that you'd want to give to an alt character. I never had a bad experience doing this, and your story reminded me of how generous EQ players could be.

[@torvaldrunarson4219]

@@MarleMMO Not to mention when I finally logged in, after character creation and just a couple levels, I met another guy ingame. And he insisted I created another char on a specific server because he was about to quit the game and had plenty of powerful items to give. I was very doutbful and confused, yet I did it, and the guy did gave me plenty of stuff...

[@MarleMMO]

Benefiting from the generosity of others is quite pleasant. :)

[@Thepathof77]

I quit high school over this game. Gosh it was addictive. Just straight brain candy on steroids. I was a magician named mabel, I think.

[@MarleMMO]

EQ was so addictive! "Brain candy" is a perfect metaphor. I loved the magician class! What level did you get to? :)

[@Thepathof77]

@@MarleMMO gosh that was ‘99/2000. Maybe into the 50’s if I remember right. I wasn’t very good. At first it was just a way to hang out with my fiancé and his buddies so I didn’t have to watch them play but there’s something about it that massages the brain, lol

[@MarleMMO]

@@Thepathof77, I hear you! Clever decision to play instead of simply looking over the shoulder. :)