EQ2 – 560 levels of leet

So, despite being burdened by parental visitation, I did manage to get my last character on Account 1 to 80 crafting the other day — 80 is currently max level in EQ2, though that’s only going to last till next Spring or whenever the next expansion comes out.

Before anyone accuses me of achieverism, I should point out that all the characters on that account were created in 2005, and were in fact somewhere around level 30-50 crafting when we stopped playing in 2006 (a couple were even higher). So 7 level 80 characters in 4 years is probably about right for my slackerish ass.

It was sort of a milestone, but I never felt compelled to get there other than to be able to make all the recipes I could get access to — or rather all the recipes I could get access to without a long-ass, chew-your-own-arm-off faction grind. I’ll eventually get most of them their epic thingy and their Master Crafter status, more to be useful to various friends and guilds than for the achievement itself.

And if you’re asking what next — well, there are 9 crafter classes in EQ2 (not counting the red-headed tinkering and transmuting step-children), and I’ve only got 7 chars on the old account, so I’m slowly working on the last two on the second account.

What keeps sort of boggling my mind is how I’ll get asked “But how can you bear to do that? It’s CRAFTING!? Clearly you don’t mind ultimate tedium and relentless grinding!” — By the same people who will stop at nothing to get all their adventuring characters maxed. Where, exactly, is the difference?

Sad fact is, if you get it you get it. If you don’t, then no amount of explaining on my part will convince you that the way I play is fun for me. And I’d better stop before this turns into another playstyle rant.