Originally, we had to stare at our spell book to med. We had area guardian spells, like Sentry, which we had to strategically use to keep us safe while medding. We could chat and socialize while medding.
What we could not do, back then, was pay attention to the world around our character. Whiners complained that it was boring to start at a spellbook and that they wanted to stare at the action around them. What really happened, however, was that players could actually play the game while medding, We could watch a fight while medding and stand when needed to cast a spell. We could watch a kited mob chasing us and stand at the last second. We could see our puller coming and jump up just in time.
This change really had nothing to do with the game being "boring". Whiners wanted the game dumbed-down and made easier. That change made the game easier and changed game play. It removed the Sentry spell and eliminated the need for chat while medding.
It also removed a tiny bit of immersion. When a character is truly meditating, they SHOULD have limited attention paid to the surrounding world.
I know most people were thrilled to see this removed but I contend that most of that was for the reasons I stated and just another example of dumbing-down the game to make it easier to play. That was in the game originally, so at some point they devs believed in that.
At the very least, I think there should be a compromise - perhaps if someone wants to med even faster, they can really pay attention to meditating and limit their attention to the outside world. Perhaps they get some tunnel vision or, some cool slow motion view of the world around them. They can med the "easy" way by sitting and watching the fight, but if they want a meditate boost, they have to pay something for it and that could be paid with limited attention. They could optionally go into a deeper meditative trance and med faster.
With technology today this wouldn't really make a difference to be honest. Most of us sit in voice chat so even staring at a book I would know when mobs were incoming, etc.
People want everything to be as it was in 99 but it never will be. Times have changed as has technology. Back then people couldn't run a 12 person boxxed group, now they dam sure can and will.
The spell book was boring. Atleast watching the enviroment around you was something else to look at. Otherwise we watched TV or your heath bar drop then pop up and nuke or heal.
I dont think your correct, things change afterwards not durning. People still looked at the book and got up to offheal or nuke.
Edit
and why should melee sit there gaining stamina, or end seeing the world and casters have to look at the book. I think thats what people wondered at the beginning.
fazool said:Originally, we had to stare at our spell book to med. We had area guardian spells, like Sentry, which we had to strategically use to keep us safe while medding. We could chat and socialize while medding.
What we could not do, back then, was pay attention to the world around our character. Whiners complained that it was boring to start at a spellbook and that they wanted to stare at the action around them. What really happened, however, was that players could actually play the game while medding, We could watch a fight while medding and stand when needed to cast a spell. We could watch a kited mob chasing us and stand at the last second. We could see our puller coming and jump up just in time.
This change really had nothing to do with the game being "boring". Whiners wanted the game dumbed-down and made easier. That change made the game easier and changed game play. It removed the Sentry spell and eliminated the need for chat while medding.
It also removed a tiny bit of immersion. When a character is truly meditating, they SHOULD have limited attention paid to the surrounding world.
I know most people were thrilled to see this removed but I contend that most of that was for the reasons I stated and just another example of dumbing-down the game to make it easier to play. That was in the game originally, so at some point they devs believed in that.
At the very least, I think there should be a compromise - perhaps if someone wants to med even faster, they can really pay attention to meditating and limit their attention to the outside world. Perhaps they get some tunnel vision or, some cool slow motion view of the world around them. They can med the "easy" way by sitting and watching the fight, but if they want a meditate boost, they have to pay something for it and that could be paid with limited attention. They could optionally go into a deeper meditative trance and med faster.
Congrats, you're even more hardcore EQ than I am. Good luck with that lol!
Do you remember the original EQ UI where you just had a box to view the world in the middle with a giant chunk grey UI around the border? Nostalgic but not awesome in the same way IMO. Getting away from both of these was a welcome change for me. I like the idea of immersion but I am not sure I want to be completely stuck in the book again. I could change my mind with some additional perspective.
Jamie said:Do you remember the original EQ UI where you just had a box to view the world in the middle with a giant chunk grey UI around the border? Nostalgic but not awesome in the same way IMO. Getting away from both of these was a welcome change for me. I like the idea of immersion but I am not sure I want to be completely stuck in the book again. I could change my mind with some additional perspective.
I couldn't go full screen until I got a pure3d.
Jamie said:Do you remember the original EQ UI where you just had a box to view the world in the middle with a giant chunk grey UI around the border? Nostalgic but not awesome in the same way IMO. Getting away from both of these was a welcome change for me. I like the idea of immersion but I am not sure I want to be completely stuck in the book again. I could change my mind with some additional perspective.
You talking about this UI? :)
Or... staring at the spellbook to med until level 35?
I played a cleric back then, and I have just one thing to say ... oh hell no! Not that again. Waaaay too much of the game went by staring at a book. It was one of the main reasons I started a tank alt. Immersion? I totally felt like I was NOT in the game when I was staring at a book. I'm pretty old-school, but I can't see bringing this back - ever :)
fazool said:...
perhaps if someone wants to med even faster, they can really pay attention to meditating and limit their attention to the outside world. Perhaps they get some tunnel vision or, some cool slow motion view of the world around them. They can med the "easy" way by sitting and watching the fight, but if they want a meditate boost, they have to pay something for it and that could be paid with limited attention. They could optionally go into a deeper meditative trance and med faster.
I like this idea, instead of no view of the world have a tunnel vision or something, you can still see what’s going on but you character is heavily focused on their meditation and recovery. I'd never want to be taken completely out of the world. Maybe even have a heightened awareness of the sounds around you to hear any approaching enemies (and allies) while in deep meditation.
Rachael
No book please I used to enjoy watching the area around me was best when other parties near by you could check out other class mechanics without rolling the class and learn a bit about how to more effectively group with them as a off tank I spent my time watch the mobs the adds and the healer pulling Argo which I had to rein back in and bring to the tank if it was experienced dps and they pulled Argo tThe first few times I'd run over to help but if they continued to pull Argo they were soon on their own to deal with the mob or run it to the tank a death hear and there cured that in a hurry, i also had to watch tank and heals health to cast emeregency heals when needed so it was some of the only times you just watch others play still in most cases so no thanks when your in down time it can be boring enough.
Raidan said:You talking about this UI? :)
That is it, thanks! Even less awesome than I remember.
Krixus said:I couldn't go full screen until I got a pure3d.
Full screen was for screen shots =)
Korocus said:No book please I used to enjoy watching the area around me was best when other parties near by you could check out other class mechanics without rolling the class and learn a bit about how to more effectively group with them as a off tank I spent my time watch the mobs the adds and the healer pulling Argo which I had to rein back in and bring to the tank if it was experienced dps and they pulled Argo tThe first few times I'd run over to help but if they continued to pull Argo they were soon on their own to deal with the mob or run it to the tank a death hear and there cured that in a hurry, i also had to watch tank and heals health to cast emeregency heals when needed so it was some of the only times you just watch others play still in most cases so no thanks when your in down time it can be boring enough.
Smart, sounds like someone you want to group with. Although my comment again really has nothing to do with medding I have to say you hit the nail on the head about grouping. In my experience one of the first things you want to do, at least from a high level, is understand what these other classes are capable of if you are going to try to run a group and tank or heal for them. The next part is learning what these specific players will do. All of this takes watching and paying attention to something other than yourself.
That old UI, and those old buff icons! Loved them (back in the day). And you can't deny that it was at least functional and clear. If you start playing EQ today, you'll probably get overwhelmed by all those windows, buttons, hotbars etc.
On topic: I think some limited vision (tunnel view) would be not too bad. Or a similar view to the "drunken" state. No total obscuring the view however, casters like to see the world too! :)
I couldn't resist. As an EQ cleric I have to throw in my hell no with the rest.
Here is this amazingly drawn world now shut up and stare at this book for hours on end.
Did you see that awesome save when 4 more orcs aggroed, no I was staring at my book.
Your gear looks awesome, oh thanks I hadn't noticed I was staring at my book.
Hell no, not again.
how about instead of staring at a book like a idjit we have meditation be a type of mental excercise that you actively participate in? the better your performance in the meditation technique the faster you regen mana! it could even be something kinda like the VG crafting system layout.