The Best Interview Ever: An Interview with EQNews's Ever

by: Tony "RadarX" Jones

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If you played the original EverQuest, you might have been familiar with a great news site called EQNews. It was an independently run site whose sole purpose was to bring EQ information to the masses. EQNews, still run by the same player "Ever" is going strong but who is the man behind all this? I sat down with Ever for a few minutes to interrupt his crafting and ask him a few questions.

RadarX: First, thanks for taking time away from EQ2 to do this. I guess we should start at the beginning, how did you get into MMO's?

Ever: I started with EverQuest before EQ2, about five years ago on Xegony (known as Ever). Possibly a bit longer, its been so long though. Other than EQ1 and EQ2 there hasn't been much MMO-age here.

RadarX: So you've played only the good MMO's, I understand. I'm sorry you missed out on Horizons though. It was a good one! How do you feel about EQ1 now? Is it a fond memory, do you shudder about certain aspects?

Ever: To be honest, its just a memory of the past, not much about it that appeals anymore though that new server stuff did for about two days until the graphics and lack of controls got me back here. I enjoyed the crafting part of it, and loved how the raids were.

RadarX: Ah the original raids. A billion people swarming a dragon, I miss the chaos. Now you started EQNews back during the original EQ....what prompted that?

Ever: There weren't very many MMO sites, let alone EQ sites back then, and not a lot of communcation between people either, so I figured why not make one.

RadarX: A news site, that provides actual news about MMO's. *cough* What a concept. We should totally do that! So what would you say your goal is with EQ2News?

Ever: To be honest, just to provide news from EQ2.it was too hard really to do both EQ1 and EQ2 especially as I don't play EQ1 anymore, so we went ahead and moved to just EQ2 and our main goal is just that, to provide news. We do add guides but we really don't intend to be something like OGaming or Allakhazam with the quest database and the work. Is it just you that runs the site or do you have some help? Of course the guides are user submitted (or taken with permission) from EQII forums general.

RadarX: Well I've always liked what I've seen. Ok let's get into your gaming experience, what adventure class do you play and why?

Ever: I used to play my guardian, but now I primarily play my conjuror because he can solo decently and I hate having to wait for groups.

RadarX: So you would say your style is mainly solo?

Ever: Mostly, but definitely open to groups.

RadarX: I'm kind of the same way, but playing a Templar you kind of need a group. Besides who am I going to kill, if it's just me? Do you think EQ2 caters enough to that? I mean is there enough content around?

Ever: Quest wise, not really but I can always craft and things like that. Kingdom Of Sky for example had very little quest solo content, as most (claymore for example) was group-oriented.

RadarX: You play a conjuror? They so need nerfing! NERF! What do you think Mr. "I'm a Conjurer and Will be Biased?"

Ever: I feel like they're just about right, possibly a bit too nerfed but nothing the common user can't overcome. The 'toning' down or 'adjustments' that were made with summoners in particular a few game updates ago.

RadarX: Too nerfed? I actually have no idea, because I haven't played my Conjuror in awhile, so I'll take your word for it. Do you have a favorite zone you like?

Ever:I don't really have one, though Mistmoore Catacombs was pretty cool when i went there the other day.

RadarX: Catacombs is actually a very cool zone. I hear you are an avid tradeskiller much like the beloved Niami Denmother. What is your favorite tradeskill and why'd you pick it?

Ever: Its gotta be my carpenter and I picked it because ... nobody else had one way back when I first started.

RadarX: You know that's kind of how I ended up being a healer. Everyone else was too sissy to play a healer. Now about that tradeskill, let me ask you a question. I'm one that frequently gets confused (*looks around and makes sure Niami isn't watching), so whats the difference between a carpenter and a woodworker?

Ever: The carpenter makes that "good" looking furniture for your home, the boxes, the sales containers and things of that matter and the woodworker makes the harvesting tools, and weapons/bows.

RadarX: Heh you sound a little iffy on the good part. Is there stuff you would change if you had the power? Is there any furniture you'd like to see added?

Ever: Just about all of it, alot of it looks rugged to behonest, and some of the t6 common stuff shouldn't be in a house ie: tents, meat hangers, buckets, etc. I'd like to see fireplaces for starters, plus maybe some couches!

RadarX: I haven't bought furniture in awhile, so I guess I haven't thought much about it. Tents? A tent in my house? How do you feel about tradeskills overall in EQ2? You had to admit they take an unusual direction with the events you counter, etc...

Ever: I think it was a bit of a stretch, they could have done better in my opinion though. I remember at launch there were promises of much more interesting ideas and even the possibility of going full tradeskill (no adventuring needed) but now it just seems so easy, and you have to adventure just from boredom if nothing else.

RadarX: Do you feel they could make a tradeskill system where people could do nothing but tradeskill and stay interested?"

Ever: Sure, it happens with adventuring, they just need alot more unique abilities to be honest. Possibly a way where two different 70 carpenters could be .. different, rather than everyone be the same. Perhaps, they'd have to go a certain route persay and they couldn't "make" the other items because they chose to go X.

RadarX: It sounds like an intriguing idea,and I think we should point Beghn to it. On to the expansion! Echoes of Faydwer, how do you feel it's working so far?

Ever: Much more promising over the past expansions, just lacks tradeskills outside of transmuting/tinkering (bust)/ adornments. I was hoping for at bare minimum, a few recipes per tier for the current tradeskills, something to look forward to.

RadarX: How do you feel about the new secondary tradeskills? Are they adding to the game, hurting things?

Ever: I think both are fine, difficulty wise as is,although tinkering is a huge disappointment after the "post-beta" changes occuring forcing you to use the items just for yourself (tell my main that, my alt is the tinker).

RadarX: Sounds really similar to World of Warcraft's Engineering skill, so I'm not suprised by that. Ok the last question, I see you posting frequently on the very dramatic and filled with angst eq2flames. I can't link them directly, because of the language, but it's plugged (*wave LFG*). What do you think of the site and is it a supplement to the official forums??

Ever: Uhoh now your going to get me into trouble... To be honest, I think they have a good thing going but who knows, EQ sites come and go so fast these days its really hard to judge right now.

Ever, thanks so much for your time and keep up the great work. After you've checked out your news here at Ten Ton Hammer, be sure to glance over at EQ2News for some very interesting tidbits.