Tell me about Everquest

[Etressa]

Though I am a long time rpger I have not really tried d20. I was a long time AD&D player but stopped using the system back in its 2nd edition.

So now I am thinking of giving d20 a try and after looking around I am thinking of using the everquest books. I do have some questions though. How does it compare with D&D 3/3.5? How easy can you convert other d20 material over to it? How well does it cover the setting? How are the supplements for it?

 

[slingbld]

It's more OGL than pure D20 3/3.5. The classes are a bit overpowered for traditional D&D. They are also 30 level based, not 20. The magic system is quite a bit different, going off a mana point system rather than a set spells per day per level. There are no Prestige classes. Also, the system handles multiple attacks differently based on weapon delay rather than just your BAB.
Don't get me wrong, it is a decent system & the books are written well. I believe it would be easier to convert stuff from D&D to EQ rather than the other way around. The book, Al'Kabors Arcana did just that, it converted some classic D&D spells into spells for the caster classes in EQ.

I guess it realy depends on the type of game you want to play.
I feel D&D allows you more customizability but EQ offers more high level, "Epic" type of games...

That's my 2 bits at least.
Slingbld~

 

[reiella]

Though I am a long time rpger I have not really tried d20. I was a long time AD&D player but stopped using the system back in its 2nd edition.

So now I am thinking of giving d20 a try and after looking around I am thinking of using the everquest books. I do have some questions though. How does it compare with D&D 3/3.5? How easy can you convert other d20 material over to it? How well does it cover the setting? How are the supplements for it?

The most troubling point in 'converting' between D&D and EQ (Either way) is the different magic system.

EQ Monsters typically have more hitpoints, due in part to the Mana Point magic system and an increased rate of damage progression (the Iterative Weapon speeds, more buffs in general, etc).

It's fairly easy to convert from D&D to EQ and from EQ to D&D, except for the spell abilities, and then it may just be better to use the original source for them (monster-critter wise). Anything else would be a rather long term excercise in Guesstimation.

I personally use EQ monsters rather seemlessly in my D&D game, just learn a few equivilancies, and it's rather easy.

At a glance, I think of one, in EQ you can have DR without necessarily being able to breach equivilant DR. Watch for 'Magical Attack' entries in the monster entries for that equivilancy.

Also, the parity between EQ and 3.0 is better, as EQ does use the 3.0 rulesbase (+2 Spell Focus, Old Damage Reduction, etc). That isn't to say they aren't compatible, because they are, in the same way that 3.0 and 3.5 are compatible. Quite possibly a bit more compatible given that EQ doesn't have to address the Class changes.

And, expect Prestige Classes in Heroes of Norrath .

 

[Etressa]

Thanks for the info. Anything else you can tell me I would be helpful. I like the idea of mana over the D&D fire and forget spell-casting.

Just be careful of using d20 slang like BAB, I am not to familiar with the terms and need to look something up or are completly clueless of what you are saying.

I realize that EQ was based on 3.0 not 3.5 but I don't really know the differences between those version either.

I am a d20 novice but pick up rules systems quickly and easily. My main concern about converting is how easily can a pick up a d20 module and place it into EQ. From what I am hearing upping some HP and magic are the main concerns. Which should not be to bad I used to do it all the time between oD&D and AD&D.

How well are the setting books done for EQ?

 

[slingbld]

Just be careful of using d20 slang like BAB, I am not to familiar with the terms and need to look something up or are completly clueless of what you are saying.

Sorry 'bout that. It means Base Attack Bonus. You'll learn more about it as you delve into the new system

How well are the setting books done for EQ?

Pretty good. One pet pieve of mine is that they seemed to have tried to copy the Video Game a little too closely when it comes to the setting books (ie: faction & quest systems.) The Factions can get cumbersome. I have a character that needs to keep track of 17 different factions at this time & that's just becase we have not ventured off the main continent!!

 

[Voadam]

I only have the EQ PH in the EQ line of products but here are my thoughts.

Magic uses points (based off levels and stats) with a choice of 8 of your spells to be readied to spend your points on. Cast those eight as many times as you want as long as you have enough points left. Swapping out the spells for different ones to be prepared is quick and easy. Each magic class is separate with separate spells, necromancers, enchanters, summoners, are each a separate magical class. There are familiar ones like paladin and ranger and new ones like shadow knight, shaman, and beast lord (not sure on that name). Spells are based on both point cost and level, some low level spells are powerful but very expensive. In addition to the core EQ PH there is a tome of new spells and magic, Al Kabor's something or other.

Number of attacks is calculated a little differently in EQ than in D&D, in EQ it depends on level, class, and weapon speed, in D&D just on level and class.

There are two monster books for the game.

Throwing in D&D creatures into EQ will be fine except for their magic spell-like abilities (if they have any) which you'd have to look up in the srd, NPCs you would have to adjust for the different magic and #of attacks.

Otherwise the rules are very similar, just different base classes, races, and magic system.

 

[SSquirrel]

Personally, altho I have yet to play it, I've dug the EQ RPG since it was released....and I don't even like the MMO! *grin* I'm a big fan of Shadow Knights and some other fun in the system and like the fact that attributes aren't just 1 up and 1 down but can range up to all 6 being affected. If i was going to run standard D&D I think I owuld keep the stat alterations from EQ.

Buddy of mine works for NEcromancer Games and he ran some EQ at Gencon when it was released. Some of the EQ folks were questioned about power level and they said that 5 levels of EQ is equal to an 8th level 3.0 PHB character. So if you figure 1.6/level, that means a level 30 EQ character would be teh equivalent of a level 48 D&D character. Not sure if I quite agree with that one, but hey why not.

Also if you like EQ but just want to run it under standard D&D here's the conversion I made for 3E. This would mean using only spells from EQ not using any normal D&D spells.

http://www.giant.net/~hagen/EQ_to_d20.txt

Hagen

 

[Etressa]

Thanks for the info, I went to Barnes and Nobles today and checked them over again to make sure I wanted them.
(small rant) I wish stores gave discounts like online companies. I would have picked them up yesterday but online I was able to buy the 3 core books (PHB, GM guide and monsters) for $63 including shipping where it would have been around $95-100 with tax at my local store.

So I am sure once the books show up I will have more questions as I get going using the books.
Any recommendations of which supplements to get next? Which ones have you found the most useful and why?

 

[Caliber]

I'd suggest getting the magic item book (I think its Al'Kabor's Arcana but I'm sure someone knows better than me) since I felt the items in the GM book sorely lacking.

I played in an EQ game and it really was a lot of fun. One thing to examine is the damage on some of the direct-damage spells. As you get higher and higher level, you get some absurd damages like 2d6x10 or even more. Its more or less balanced within EQ but in DnD that would blow anything moving out of the water.

 

[Victim]

I'd suggest getting the magic item book (I think its Al'Kabor's Arcana but I'm sure someone knows better than me) since I felt the items in the GM book sorely lacking.

I played in an EQ game and it really was a lot of fun. One thing to examine is the damage on some of the direct-damage spells. As you get higher and higher level, you get some absurd damages like 2d6x10 or even more. Its more or less balanced within EQ but in DnD that would blow anything moving out of the water.

Not really. The average damage is the same as a 20d6 blast, but far more variable because of the fewer dice. If you're looking at dragons and other CR 20+ nasties, then casters need to be dropping that kind of damage with each spell.