Question - Anyone else with executive dysfunction playing EQ? (4 Viewers)

[Kimia]

Long-time on-and-off EQ player here (since 2006, usually several years off at a time). I've been part of a raid guild before, but committing to this type of game long-term just isn't realistic for me — I burn out. What actually pulled me back into the game and let me enjoy it on my own terms was discovering Very Vanilla a while back, but eventually friction rises and dopamine drops, resulting again in quitting.

The problem is I have a neurological disorder which causes executive dysfunction and decision paralysis, which makes the sheer number of small decisions involved a lot harder to push through than it sounds like it should be. Every little "which option do I pick here, what's the right setting for my situation, what will I do next" moment adds friction, and enough of those in a row is often where I stall out completely.

Curious if anyone else here deals with something similar and has found ways to lower that friction — whether that's how you organize your own setup process, tools or habits that helped, or just how you keep from getting overwhelmed by the number of decisions involved in getting boxing/scripting going. Not looking for a walkthrough, just want to hear how other people in the same boat have handled it.


Planning to run a small 6-man group on test server (mostly older content) once I get going — appreciate any tips.

 

[Redfrog]

Long-time on-and-off EQ player here (since 2006, usually several years off at a time). I've been part of a raid guild before, but committing to this type of game long-term just isn't realistic for me — I burn out. What actually pulled me back into the game and let me enjoy it on my own terms was discovering Very Vanilla a while back, but eventually friction rises and dopamine drops, resulting again in quitting.

The problem is I have a neurological disorder which causes executive dysfunction and decision paralysis, which makes the sheer number of small decisions involved a lot harder to push through than it sounds like it should be. Every little "which option do I pick here, what's the right setting for my situation, what will I do next" moment adds friction, and enough of those in a row is often where I stall out completely.

Curious if anyone else here deals with something similar and has found ways to lower that friction — whether that's how you organize your own setup process, tools or habits that helped, or just how you keep from getting overwhelmed by the number of decisions involved in getting boxing/scripting going. Not looking for a walkthrough, just want to hear how other people in the same boat have handled it.


Planning to run a small 6-man group on test server (mostly older content) once I get going — appreciate any tips.

Hi Kimia,
Welcome back to RG and EQ ! I do understand some of these issues as I have some myself, double brain surgery left me with 'some issues'
But, as a fellow EQ addict, I have kept this silly game installed and even had time when I could not play, but still walked around PoK for.....'getting my hit' I suppose. Took me awhile, but I can play, but ONLY with MQ (thank you MQ Devs ) and thanks to all our great RG talent. My playstyle and computer use is in spurts (eww?) at a time. Migraines hit and I can't look at screens. Logically I know what I would like to do, but difficulty prevents enjoyment, so what I do is 'setup'.

Button management and cleanup, like inventory cleanup, helps to get my guys ready for a task/mission/whatever you wanna call it. Picking a simple path for a few things like leveling or a goal, like Named Hunting for Achievement bags, getting the Rez stick, or simple, where can I go and be away from everybody and just xp. If levels and gear work out for you, MQ2Grind from Hytiek is a great tool that can help.

Live EQ will always present the issue of 'stopping and walking away' is difficult, no game pause button, and you may forget to stop automated things like CWTN plugins or any number of things, so another good alternative, is EMU. Whether running your own Emulated server on your computer (anyone can easily do this) or you join a MMO version of EMU servers, you can play at a safer 'I can walk away' feeling. When I'm not feeling well, playing on my own EMU suits me well, I don;t have to care about anything and can just leave my computer at whim, go lay down and let my brain rest a bit. Come back and pick up and enjoy my group accomplishing something.

Hope you find the best path for you, and always glad your a member here, really good people here.

 

[B_I_G__D_A_D_D_Y]

EQ and VV are a rich and diverse universe. Sometimes I step back and remind myself there is no "wrong" answer. It turns out one of the things I really enjoy is starting new characters and running them through the tutorial with the macro from here. The macro is not perfect so there's just enough hand-holding to make it interesting. It's also nice getting an introduction to characters I've never played.

 

[reedreddington]

I don't have Executive Dysfunction but I have severe procrastination as described in the below Ted talk.



I have to specifically plan which "thing" I am going to procrastinate on so that I can focus on and accomplish other things. Right now, sadly, EQ is my procrastination, but that is because the game as a whole is so cookie cutter I no longer wish to dive down that rabbit hole. I have done a lot of other things during that time. I may complain that I don't have time, but it is intentional.

That being said - my advice is to keep it simple. Don't overthink it. Go with a crew that is comfortable to play for you. If you like certain classes PLAY THEM! That is how I managed to go thru all the content in my most recent playthru of EQ up to the most current expac. I played the classes I was most familiar with and enjoyed playing. My most recent crew was SK, SHM, BRD, NEC, MAG and CLE. If i didn't want to run all 6, and it was simple content, I would just turn on SK SHM NEC with BRD singing but not fighting.

Hope that helps.

 

[Zebadiah]

I feel for you. I would suggest that you first figure out what class of toon you like to play with. There are several areas that you only need your character and merc to get to level 20 ish alone.

Set a goal to be accomplished. If it is getting a quest finished up or finding that item for the character. stay focused. Trick I use is to write down what you want to get done. (kill the Queen bixie) this keep me focused on what I want to do. ( I get side tracked real easy and forget what I am doing. )

Next I would add two more toons and drop two of the mercs. See if you have any problems running a group of 3. Just remember that if you use some of the other things like Kissassist, RGmercs, or the CWTN aids, You are only driving one character. The rest are going to be set up to do there thing with out you messing with them.

That is why I suggested that you choose a class to play and get to know how to play it before adding others to the group.

ZEB

 

[microscope]

Long-time on-and-off EQ player here (since 2006, usually several years off at a time). I've been part of a raid guild before, but committing to this type of game long-term just isn't realistic for me — I burn out. What actually pulled me back into the game and let me enjoy it on my own terms was discovering Very Vanilla a while back, but eventually friction rises and dopamine drops, resulting again in quitting.

The problem is I have a neurological disorder which causes executive dysfunction and decision paralysis, which makes the sheer number of small decisions involved a lot harder to push through than it sounds like it should be. Every little "which option do I pick here, what's the right setting for my situation, what will I do next" moment adds friction, and enough of those in a row is often where I stall out completely.

Curious if anyone else here deals with something similar and has found ways to lower that friction — whether that's how you organize your own setup process, tools or habits that helped, or just how you keep from getting overwhelmed by the number of decisions involved in getting boxing/scripting going. Not looking for a walkthrough, just want to hear how other people in the same boat have handled it.


Planning to run a small 6-man group on test server (mostly older content) once I get going — appreciate any tips.

I remember having a master plan to play through the game from scratch with a raid crew of 3 groups. I planned out all the classes and stuff. But when it came to actually make them all and set them all up it just became too much effort. Buying AAs for a character is usually fun but when you gotta do it 18 times it was a job.

So since then I have played more solo and small groups. And low levels are so easy. It only really gets more complicated at higher levels. Also I gotta keep a document of things to do in the game because it is too much to remember. I make note of tips I heard, items I need, quests I need to do, etc. Less to have to remember. I just tackle tasks one by one in my own pace. And I like knowing I have plenty more to do once I'm finished.

 

[ChatWithThisName]

Long-time on-and-off EQ player here (since 2006, usually several years off at a time). I've been part of a raid guild before, but committing to this type of game long-term just isn't realistic for me — I burn out. What actually pulled me back into the game and let me enjoy it on my own terms was discovering Very Vanilla a while back, but eventually friction rises and dopamine drops, resulting again in quitting.

The problem is I have a neurological disorder which causes executive dysfunction and decision paralysis, which makes the sheer number of small decisions involved a lot harder to push through than it sounds like it should be. Every little "which option do I pick here, what's the right setting for my situation, what will I do next" moment adds friction, and enough of those in a row is often where I stall out completely.

Curious if anyone else here deals with something similar and has found ways to lower that friction — whether that's how you organize your own setup process, tools or habits that helped, or just how you keep from getting overwhelmed by the number of decisions involved in getting boxing/scripting going. Not looking for a walkthrough, just want to hear how other people in the same boat have handled it.


Planning to run a small 6-man group on test server (mostly older content) once I get going — appreciate any tips.

Buy some dice. Roll for decision. Play on.