I see EQ2 have initiated a recruit a friend program here

EQ2 recruit a friend program

Its the same format as the WoW one, in that you get 3x XP while grouped up for the new recruit and the recruiter can be in line to get a free mount.

The main differences here though I see are that the EQ2 one does not have the granting of levels by the recruited player to the veteran and more importantly the EQ2 one does not have a level cap on the benefits, the recruiter also gets a month of free playtime. But at the same time they've made it so that the recruiter does not get the 3x XP boost until they have invited the second recruit, I'm guessing this is to increase the price for people just looking to boost themselves, there is also station cash added to the recruiters account, EQ2 does show its strengths here compared to WoW in that the game has a lot more features they can give benefits on.

One weird thing they have allowed though, the 10% mentoring bonus for the friend only applies if you are mounted on the free mount, but it also stacks, now I'm sure some guild out there will be using this for some crazy levelling schemes, although its only the hardcore that will be able to exploit this fully, but I'm looking forward to seeing what happens here.

I also see the EQ2 one has a run speed cloak and a few other small items thrown in, all in all it looks a good deal, if it can get more people into the game and especially get them to the level of content where the recruiter is it should be a good thing.

I don't remember exactly but can you mount up in dungeons? If not - maybe they wanted to encourage people to group up and level in overland zones. If you can't mount up in dungeons and get the mentoring bonus there, you might be more likely to try to stay in the open world. If you are in the open world, you are more susceptible to pvp or just more visible in general. The open world experience probably isn't as good eitehr. Other people will see the mounts and may want to get one too = more money for SOE.

I think it's interesting that you can't get the 3x experience until you sign up 2 people. That's a bit greedy. Compared to WOW for example where you get it with the first referral. Do you know if the people who get the referrals have to pay $40 bucks for the game? Does the 3X modifier apply to quest / mobs / discovery and AA experience?

You could recruit yourself 2x over and go out of pocket $30 bucks. Then you could cancel the first account and keep the 3X bonus on the second account. Anyone going to take advantage of this program on Nagafen?

I think you are exactly right, it is for increasing the population "view" on EQ2.

The mount bit is a bit puzzling, although its still only 10%, and maybe with the stackable thing they just wanted to avoid X4 raids going into dungeons with 1 recruited player (not sure if you earn XP there? If you can it would be amazing to see).

The 3x bonus is tempting me, adventure XP is fine around the world and ditto for achievement points, its just when I tradeskill I just wish I could create 15 shields instead of 60 to level. The two person bonus does miss people rerolling new alts to level with the new player too, hopefully they'll relax it.

For some reason the link above does not take me to right place.

EQ2 players article

and

Sign up page

I don't see anywhere in this info where the recruiter does not get bonus xp until a second recruit signs up? According to the info I have seen the XP bonus is provided whenever you are grouped with the fully subscribed recruit. Please provide the info that says different.

With mounts, and the ability to port to friends, this should be a shot in the arm for EQ2. I will be playing only because of this promotion.

This is the bit that makes me think you need to recruit two people to get the 3x XP bonus

"What do I get when my Friend converts to a paying subscriber?

Upon successful conversion to paying subscription of 1st Prospect:

* 1-month of free gameplay added to the end of the Recruiter's subscription
* One of two mounts
* Saryrn Deathcharger or Armored Pinto
* 250 Station Cash
* Two (2) LoN Oathbreaker Booster packs

Upon successful conversion to paying subscription of every Prospect thereafter, up to a total of 25:

* 1-month of free gameplay added to the end of the Recruiter's subscription
* One of two mounts
* Saryrn Deathcharger or Armored Pinto
* As long as Recruiter is grouped with a Prospect he or she will receive a 3x XP boost
o This lasts for 90 days after Prospect becomes a Subscriber
* Ability to zone to your Prospect at any time
o This lasts for 90 days after Prospect becomes a Subscriber
"

So the way I read it is you get the first chunk of stuff for the first prospect, one free month gameplay, one of two mounts, 250 station cash and two booster packs.

But for each new recruit thereafter you get another month gameplay, one of two mounts (seems odd - got one already!), and then they mention the 3x XP thing, actually they zone in thing is also only mentioned for prospects "thereafter" the first. Maybe I'm reading this wrong and they mean all prospects give you the same
benefits, or maybe its a mess from SoE that the 3x XP should be for getting any prospect? The more I think about it the 3x XP really should be there from the first person you recruit since it encourages established players to not only recruit a friend, but also to quest and level up with them which is much more likely to result in a long term player.


Going to check the forums though to see if there are any clarifications though, the XP while mounted thing too looks suspicious, its mentioned there but not crystal clear.

Edit : One thing for sure though here, if the 3x XP bonus is for the first friend I'll certainly be setting up a new account myself too if only to get the trade skills up to scratch, if its two then I'll probably wait a bit to see if it changes and for a time when I have plenty of spare time.

I've got clarification too, apparently it does work for the 1st recruit since someone has already had that work for them, I think they do need to reword this though since it can be
interpreted wrongly it seems, I think they got themselves in a mess by trying to clarify you probably only get station cash once....

Recuit a friend EQ2 forum discussion

All I need is a nice long stretch of time off.

(just realized it's the same link ;) Oh well)