Now, don't get me wrong, this is a fun game. The characters are really diverse, and the people controlling them are extremely diverse. Some people really try to play this game. Some people just run around making it a horrible exprience for other gamers. I have had experience doing both, and they are both equally fun. Another good thing about this game are the settings. No two zones look alike, and the starting points for each race are extremelly different. The halflings will start out in a forest, while the Barbarians will start out in a snowy region.

Overall, this game is fun, but it really isn't worth your ten bucks a month, and it definetly isn't worth your life.

"Wow, this is awesome", I loved this game and I think that iff u have the money u should get it. It is a nice exploration, interaction, Role-Playing Game. I really liked it and still do. This has to be the best MMORPG out there. (...)I loved it.

"It just takes too long...", The problem with this game is the same one you get with most other games like it. To make it fair for the people who invest a lot of time, they have to make leveling something that takes forever. I played it when it first came out and enjoyed it for about a month. That's a pretty long time for a game i was paying money for after i bought it. If you are looking for this type of game, try Dark Ages of Camelot, it's a better version of Everquest...basically, it has wars with other countries as well...things are handled better. The point is, this game is, nowadays, a waste of money. It was good when it came out...if you have friends to play it with...but now there are much better games out there.

And chances are excellent that you will be. I remember reading the manual (gosh, over two years ago) and at the end there's a bit about how to camp (log out of the game) that talks about realizing you haven't slept or eaten in what seems like days. There are honestly people out there who spent all their free time, if not their whole life, playing this game. I'm not "a gamer" but like most people who still play, I've gone through my stages of being completely addicted to the game.

EQ lets you chose any number of characters... tons of combinations, between picking a race, a class, a deity, and then concentrating points in one attribute (like intelligence of strength) or another. Each class has its own strengths and weaknesses, but pick whatever strikes your fancy. Chances are excellent that you'll get a ways into playing your character and you'll wish you had done _something_ differently, but you can always start another character (up to 8 per server).

For me, the best part of this game has always been the people. If you've ever been playing a classic video or computer game and wished someone could pop in and help you with a little extra firepower, this is it. Fighting alongside characters with actual brains behind them is a lot more interesting... even if they don't always do the "right" thing. And several in-game chat options (player-to-player, group, guild, zone-wide shouting, and normal talking) make this a great game for a group of real life friends to play if local-area-network games aren't a possibility for you.

If you're looking for a cheap, fun game, go ahead and buy this version, but chances are excellent that if you get sucked in you will very much regret not having the expansions. You can buy the Trilogy (EQ, Ruins of Kunark and Scars of Velious) now. RoK means you have the option of an additional race when starting your character in addition to extra zones to explore. SoV is mainly more zones for the mid-high level characters. Of course you always have the options of adding expansions later. A third expansion, Shadows of Luclin, is due to be released in December and includes yet another race and a new class for the first time since the original, in addition to even more zones and nifty new graphics.

The first few levels _can_ get to be a bit tedious before you're a high enough level to travel safely, but after that there's more than enough variety in locations and things to hunt to keep people entertained and challenged without a whole lot of repetition. (...).

"Kidnapped by a PC game...", Buying this game is a lifetime investment...you buy the game...you play the game for the first time...you probably won't understand it one little bit...but keep trying...talk to other PC's in the game...hell, talk to NPC's too if you want...but you will slowly dissapear...your family will be the first to notice...then you'll fail to show up at work...you may even fail to go all the way to the bathroom to take a leak because "it takes too much time to go that far just for that"...

"Kick a.s.s Game That you all need to buy", THis is a excaellent game that i givbe 5 stars because you are not all alone in t6his like games such as zelda, you are in a community of ppl that will protect the weak and fight with the strong so once again i give it 5 thumbs up (if it were possible)

"Everquest. Active Player Since June 1999", First off, everyone is right, this game is very addictive. So is television, sports, etc. etc. etc. The key is balance. I make the assumption that you can balance the things in your life. Yes, you will have to make time for this game. How much time and what activities you will replace are things that must be very active in your mind. That said...

When you start, don't expect others to help with anything other then information. It is difficult, but you learn to count on yourself, you learn to respect others, and you get a sense of accomplishment. If someone "gives" something to you, you don't value it as much as something that you earned. Would you go out begging on the streets in real life? NO? Then don't do it in everquest. Earn your own keep.

I remember several things fondly.

The day I started. I knew that the game would NEVER again have the mystery it did on that day. I envy everyone that is just beginning.

Seeing my first sunset in Freeport. It was beautiful!!! My home city of Felewithe is located deep in the woods. I didn't even know the sun existed for weeks. I rode the boat to Freeport and exited the city onto a desert. Seeing my first sunset in the desert outside Freeport was VERY beautiful

Saving game money for weeks to give to my friend when he started. I saved and saved to make his game life a little easier. It was only a little money, but it was a fortune to me at the time. With that money, he was able to start out with some leather clothing and a few backpacks.

Being in a group of other players and turning the impossible into the possible. All looked lost, but I kept my head about me. We all lived, but it was very hairy. No one in the group could believe it. I was the toast of the group and there was a great feeling of satisfaction.

Being teleported for the first time. I was completely amazed, that in an instance, I was taken somewhere that had taken me a few hours to cover via foot travel and ship. Of course, paying the druid (a real person) for the teleport was not as pleasant. It was more money then I gave my friend to start!!!

Helping others. As you become more powerful, you have the ability to save the lives of others lower then you. I remember running by a group of players that were being attacked by too many creatures. I stopped and hypnotized everything that was attacking them, then stopped the creatures from hating them. I did one of many good deeds and they appreciated it.

This game is what you make of it. That's why it is so amazing!!! If you are a person of moral fiber and are good at what you do, you will gain a reputation of respect. If you are an obnoxious beggar or have not taken the time to learn what your character can accomplish, then you will gain a much darker reputation. For example, I was paying a druid for a teleport. I accidentally gave the money to the wrong person. When, I asked for the money back, the person laughed at my bad fortune. I asked the person if their reputation was worth the little money they had received. No answer, no money. I told everyone about that person. Everyone I met. Everyone one I grouped with. I have heard from several friends that the person has trouble grouping because of his thievery. Your reputation in the game is very important. If you want a bad reputation, as some evil players do, you can get one. If you want a good reputation, you have to work at it.

Everquest reflects real life because the players are real people. Social skills learned in real life apply to everquest and visa versa. There is action and reaction. There is reward and punishment.

Highly recommended for its entertainment value, its social value, and its ability to build confidence and character.