In-game help
 

Umm my Eq guide that came with the program says that my character should start with certain items, but when i started a character, they weren't there. Is this because its not a real server or did i make a dumbass newbie error?

Sometimes certain servers wont have those items on start up. :(

Thanx, i thought it might have been somethin like that. i'll try some more servers

might i suggest...
 

might i suggest GuildWars? Every char I've started on GuildWars has his items. If you go on like, Krusher's or something, you won't start with items, because you can #summonitem your items. (that's a semi-legit server). On legits like GuildWars or Winter's Roar you start with them.

do any of the servers have quests? or do i need to play on the actual eq servers for that?

Lots of them have quests. Some are more complete than others. Ask around.