I agree with everything Crier said. One thing I would like to add is a
comment on obtaining good items. Like the original poster, I don't get to
play that often. My bard is my only character and I've been playing him
since April. When I do play, I only get to play for a couple hours at a
time. I'm only 29th level, but I assume that what Crier said about high
level mobs ripping you to shreds if you don't have good equipment is true.
With that out of the way...
IMO, players like me and the original poster are handicapped when it comes
to obtaining the really good magic items. In order to obtain those items,
several factors come into play. First off, if you want to get the items by
yourself, you have to be able to camp the spawn long enough. Many of the
items are rare drops so that could mean anywhere from a couple of hours
during one playing session (if you are extremely lucky) or several hours
over multiple playing sessions.
2d factor: IMO its a lot easier to camp the good magic item spawn sites when
you are in a well balanced group of players who all know how to work
together effectively. This is difficult for the casual gamer because most
of the friends he makes in game usually end up surpassing him in levels.
End result is that casual gamers tend to join pickup groups most of the
time. In my experience, I die more often in these types of groups because
everyone seems to have their own agenda. There is a side bonus to this
however. Because you are usually camping with new players all the time, you
do have the benefit of continually making new friends, which is always a
good thing.
3d factor: The people who are able to acquire good items are usually not
inclined to sell them, preferring trades instead. This hampers the casual
gamer assuming factors #1 and #2 come into play. This hasn't hampered me
too much in my mid 20s because all my money I have earned since 25th level
as gone to acquiring gems for the lambent armor. Once I get all my lambent
pieces, I want to upgrade my weapons. I'm still using a dragoon dirk and
thulian claws. I haven't seen anyone selling weapons better than those in a
long time. Lot of people willing to trade them for items of equal power
though.
The lambent quests are perfect for the casual gamer. These quests allow us
to get good items at our own pace. If Verant would only put in more quests
for mid to high level weapons and other non-class armor equipment I would be
a happy camper.
Bottom line is even though IMO casual gamers get the short end of the stick
when it comes to getting good items, I still have fun playing. Like others
have said its not a race to get to 50.
Galtin of E'ci
(lots of stuff Crier said snipped)
> As to your other comment about equipment speeding things up, this is
> perhaps
> only true at lower levels for a twinked character (i.e. a player that has
> equipment far above his level). The game is balanced so that at the
> higher
> levels you are expected to have that equipment and the mobs are suitably
> more difficult. In other words, without advanced equipment at high levels
> you simply get ripped to shreds.
>
>