eq2
Latest
Massively's Massive Giveaways: EQ Secrets of Faydwer [Updated]
Many, many moons ago, I remember getting a call from one of my best friends; he was crowing about this new game called EverQuest that he said I absolutely had to go get. After all, as he pointed out, not only was it a game (a common passion we share to this day) but it would give us a chance to "hang out" together despite the enormous physical distance between us. Thus began my passion for MMOs -- and EQ will always have a special spot in my heart as my first MMO love. For those of you who also keep your torches burning bright for EverQuest, this giveaway is for you! For this giveaway, we're offering a copy 3 copies of the newest EverQuest newest expansion, Secrets of Faydwer. But don't think that this is only for the people who only own EverQuest already. This expansion actually includes all the prior games in a giant roll up of gaming goodness for both EQ veterans and total EQ newcomers alike.All you need to do to be eligible for this drawing is to leave a comment before 2:00 PM tomorrow (11/13) telling us what your first ever MMO was and how you got into it? Did your friend call you and tell you to go get it right now or they were going to buy it for you -- or was that just me? Of course, you must be 18+ years of age, a U.S. resident, and all the other official rules stuff. Let us know!Update: We've just heard back from SOE who has gifted us with some boxed copies of Secrets of Faydwer. So this giveaway has just gotten three times as cool because we're giving away 3 copies of Secrets of Faydwer instead of 1! Stay tuned throughout the rest of the evening for more EverQuest giveaway goodness!
EQ2 Rise of Kunark tradeskilling: harvested resources
There's not long left now before EverQuest II's world will be expanded once again, and Rise of Kunark is released. Leading up to the November 13th launch, the tradeskill fanatics at EQ2 Traders Corner have put up a ton of great information for crafters in the new expansion. One of their most useful pages details the tier 8 harvested resources found on the continent of Kunark.The names of all the new resource types can be found here, including the rare harvests, as well as a list of transmuting items. Apart from this, the page informs that meats will no longer come from animal dens as they used to. Dens are solely for hides now, and meat will be obtained by killing mobs. We are assured, however, that for those tradeskillers that prefer not to bloody their blades, there is a level-up path for Provisioners that does not involve meats at all. Check out the resource lists at the link below, and we'll feature some more excellent RoK crafting coverage from EQ2 Traders Corner, later in the day.
New EQ2 abilities for levels 71 to 80
TenTonHammer has updated their list of Everquest II spells to include new abilities that will be earned along the way to level 80. Each of the game's 24 classes has a full list of skills, and if you scroll to the bottom, you will be able to see what's in store for your character when Rise of Kunark is released. Some of these spells will undoubtedly just be upgrades to existing lines, but there are some new ones in there too, so poke around your class list and find out which levels you should be particularly excited about. You may also notice that the spell-list page includes a link to the racial traditions in EQ2, however, the information for the new Sarnak race has not yet been added. We plan to put up some details ourselves about the Sarnak's racials, so check back later for that, as well as other RoK coverage prior to launch.
Legends of Norrath expansion announced
The Legends of Norrath trading card game was only released a few months ago, but already Sony Online Entertainment is planning for the future. This past week they announced the first expansion to the title, Forsworn. Combined with Oathbound, the current card set, Forsworn will open up a series of new options for the player. Set highlights include: 2 on 2 multiplayer - small scale team combat to change up the game types. New Avatar Races - The high elves and the Iksar will join the game, opening up new Light and Shadow options. Raids - Groups of players, each with their own deck, can team up to take on AI opponents of great power. Players who complete enough of the single-player content can actually run these raid decks against their fellow players. New Loot Cards - Up to twenty new cards representing in-game items will be released with this set. New single-player scenarios, pitting your avatar against the forces that oppose the Seventh Hammer and the Tribunal. The single-player elements will introduce new game concepts, like the Overwhelm, Sentinel, and Reinforce key words. There's no word yet on when the set will be released, and more features are promised in the future.
EQ2 4-year veteran rewards revealed
If you're oldschool EverQuest II, and and by that I mean your account is oldschool, then some new rewards are coming your way. We learn from the EverQuest II Players site that four new veteran rewards will be available for those who created their accounts back in EQ2's earliest days.Two of the rewards are standard fare, similar to past years, potions that increase the experience gained for either tradeskilling or adventuring, Draft of the Wise and Draft of the Skilled. You will receive a total of three of each of these. Slightly more exciting is the Treasure Hoard. Placing this pile of loot in your house will result in a 25% discount on your coin rent, which will prove handy for those currently paying an arm and a leg every week.However, the last reward is probably the coolest of them all. Anyone who has visited Nektropos Castle (and if your account is old enough to be eligible for this reward, then you have) will recall the little dolls found there, in particular the one named Billy. Well, now you can transform into a Mystic Moppet Billy yourself. Apart from changing form, your size will also be reduced by 40%. Nothing screams "I'm a veteran!" like running around as a tiny moppet.These tangible rewards are accompanied by a new title to show off -- you will be able to stick "The Zealous" on the end of your name just to make sure that no one mistakes you for a newbie. Not a bad haul when all is said and done. Even the experience potions will come in quite handy with the upcoming Rise of Kunark release.
So your guild wants into Beta?
Craig "Grimwell" Dalrymple is the Senior Community Manager at SOE, and handles EverQuest 2 specifically. He's been going through his first Beta process with the Rise of Kunark expansion, and jotted down some notes about the process as he went along. His personal site, Grimwell Online, is playing host to some of his thoughts on what it takes for a Guild to get into a Beta test. It's a great, simple guide on what the development team is looking for from the players, and is easily applicable for any Beta experience.Suggestion #4: Be coherent"This zone sucks! The Designers are idiots!" That is not coherent feedback. We see stuff like this daily, and the part that is honestly frustrating is that the negative feedback has nothing to act upon. Obviously someone is angry, but why are they angry? What specifically do they not like? Even negative feedback can be delivered coherently."I do not like the changes in the zone because the danger factor has been significantly reduced, and the loot is now trivial. All the work my guild put into earning the loot from the boss in the zone is now solo content, and I feel like my work has been devalued."That's useful negative feedback. It points to risk/reward levels and becomes a valid topic of discussion.
EQ2 tradeskill writs confirmed for Tier 8
If you were worried that you would be grinding your EverQuest II tradeskiller to 80 without any writs to help along the way, then fear not. EQ2 tradeskill developer Domino has replied in a thread on the official forums, stating that T8 writs are currently being beta tested for inclusion with Rise of Kunark, the new expansion that will see the level cap for both adventuring and tradeskilling raised to 80. It was also confirmed that the existing distribution scheme of writs throughout a tier, will be used for T8 -- that is to say, the writs will be at level 70, 74 and 79. There was some discussion in the thread as to the possibility of changing this formula, particularly moving the 79 writ a little closer to 74 -- people argued that there was limited use of a new writ on the second-to-last level, and that the few levels prior to this are punishing when grinding on a lower level writ. However, Domino stated that for the time being, the levels would remain the same for the new tier, and could not say whether they would be changed in the future.Are there any EQ2 tradeskill buffs out there that have an opinion on this matter? Would you prefer to see the last level of writs moved down somewhat, to bridge the large gap -- or perhaps, an extra level of writs to be added altogether? Or are you of the mind that it is fine as is? Let your voice be heard in our comments section.
Allakhazam EQ2 moves to wikibase format
In a surprising, though not wholly unwelcome move, Allakhazam has moved their EverQuest II site to what they call a "Wikibase" format, a hybrid of a database and wiki that takes the searchability and depth of their prior database format, and streamlines the submission process to allow for a more fluid inclusion of player feedback and information. In the past, players had to submit items and descriptions for the database via email. The new wikibase format approaches it in a more interactive, web 2.0 way. From the horse's mouth:As a new feature at Allakhazam's, there is much work to be done here. Our goal is nothing short of total integration of the traditional database you have grown to love and depend on, with the wiki providing total access to quest descriptions, mob notes, and other helpful information.In our humble opinion, this puts Allakhazam miles above competition like MMO DB, which continues to rely on the database model. They've now got a wikibase for FFXI and EQ2, how much longer before we see it spread to some of the heavyweights like WoW or LotRO?
Clarifications on EQ2's Bonus XP Sundays
After it was announced that there would be bonus experience on the two Sundays leading up to the EverQuest II expansion Rise of Kunark, it looks as though a few players have been confused about the finer details. A thread surfaced on the game's forums, that kicked off with one unhappy customer stating that the bonus experience was for US servers only. This was quickly cleared up by a community relations representative, along with some other questions that came up later in the thread. Here is a compiled list of the clarifications found in the thread: It is for ALL servers, not region-specific or US only When the clock ticks over, the bonus xp will be in effect -- no need to log out and back in If you already have vitality saved up, the bonus XP stacks with this Because the first bonus day, November 4th, is that day that clocks get turned back for daylight savings, there will actually be 25 hours of bonus on that day. This should apply for servers in all regions too -- from the thread, "everyone will get 25 hours of bonus time since the person turning the time on and off is going to be affected by that time change. I'll leave ya'll to figure that one out" So there you have it. Everyone gets to take part, and there's even a little bonus hour this Sunday -- better get some rest now so that you can last the full stretch.
Race to Kunark with bonus XP Sundays
Our favorite events are ones that net us heaps and loads of experience points. What could be better than that? You have fun, and you become more powerful so you can have even more fun. It's a win-win situation. So we want to point out to all the EverQuest II players out there that SOE is running a bonus-XP event called "Race to Kunark."Players will receive 50% more experience than normal in both PvE and crafting "from midnight to midnight pacific time" on the two Sundays preceding the expansion's launch -- November 4th and 11th. This is a pretty nice boon for adventurers looking build up in so they can vanquish all the new monsters. So if you're an EQ2 player, make plans to order some pizza and start grinding this Sunday. Oh, and check out our overview of what Rise of Kunark has to offer if you're in the dark.[Via Stratics]
Legends of Norrath booster drops increased in promo this weekend
If you're a fan of Sony Online Entertainment's Legends of Norrath card game, you're set to have a good time this week. This coming Friday to Sunday is a promo weekend for the collectible card game, with increased drop rates of booster and combo packs. In order to snag them you're going to have to play EverQuest or EverQuest 2, the two games directly connected to Legends of Norrath's lore and gameplay. The card game's booster packs drop normally in those two titles, but this weekend SOE has decided to up the ante and ensure that you'll probably get a reward or two from your time in-game.Players will also have the opportunity to snag two brand (non-foil) new cards in the booster packs, both of which (for the moment) are only available via this promo weekend.
EQ2 helps teach English in pilot study
You may pick up the odd new word here and there playing MMO's, but a recent university study has used the game EverQuest II to reinforce the entire English language. The article was noticed by one of EQ2's senior producers Scott Hartsman on his personal blog. Hartsman muses that people will always find new ways to use code or software to achieve things that they had not been designed for, but also says that this particular use of EQ2 "wasn't something that was on the radar".There were a number of reasons that EQ2 was chosen by the Northwestern University researchers for their project. They had considered World of Warcraft too, but in the end EQ2's clear descriptions and labeling made it the ideal choice. Everything is explained in detail in the game, and most items and places have extra labels on them. The researchers said that there is simply a lot more text in the game than in WoW.
New monsters revealed for EverQuest II expansion; producer Scott Hartsman weighs in
MMORPG.com has posted part one of their Creature Feature article, in which they had a chance to chat with Everquest II senior producer Scott Hartsman about monsters being introduced for the game's upcoming expansion, and about bringing new monsters to an MMO in general. The feature will have two parts, and cover five new monsters from Rise of Kunark. The two nasties that we meet in this episode are the Burynai Casters and the Devourers. These races both debuted in the Kunark expansion of the first EverQuest. Fans will recall that the Burynai are usually located deep underground -- if you see one walking above ground, you can be sure there's a cavernous tunnel nearby. Devourers seemed to show up all over the place, but I always wondered what the heck allowed them to float in mid-air. Regardless, a very cool-looking mob.Hartsman's contributions to the article are insightful as he discusses ideas, balancing and time frames when bringing new creatures to MMO's. He also reassures us that beyond the five monsters featured in the two-part series, there are plenty more to discover in EverQuest II's new expansion. Click through to the full article below, and we'll let you know when part two goes up.
EverQuest II upcoming expansion details: Set sail for the Rise of Kunark
Since we've now heard that pre-orders are becoming available for the fourth expansion to EverQuest II, expected to be released November 13th, let's take a look at what players will have to look forward to. Rise of Kunark will focus on the continent of Kunark, including its dragon-lizard inhabitants, the Sarnak. Veterans of the first EverQuest game may remember these annoying fellows, introduced during its first expansion, and be keen to relive old memories by relentlessly hunting them down all over again. But this time around, you can expect them to have a little help.The Sarnak will be greatly bolstering their numbers, as for the first time they become a playable race. Sarnaks will have their own new starting city located in the islands of the Timorous Deep, and the surrounding areas will support advancement to around level 20. The Kunark mainland is designed for the upper echelon of levels, and the expansion itself includes an increase of the existing level cap from 70 to 80. Along with the raising of the level cap and new race, other highlights of Rise of Kunark include an increase in the current achievement point limit of 100 to 140, and a new player mount, the Kunarkian Rhinoceros (which for some reason instantly brings to mind Donkey Kong Country and the rampaging Rambi) to traverse the lands upon. There will of course be new dungeons and raid encounters for the high level folks to sink their teeth into, with Veeshan's Peak (making its return from the original EverQuest) for the top raiders. You can read about the expansion or pre-order the game from Sony's Station Store. Those that pre-order will receive a new pet for their house, a Burynai Seeker. If you wanted to give the game a go before the expansion hits, EQ2's main page includes a download link to a 14-day free trial.
Everquest I and II adds card game Legends of Norrath
How do you renew flagging interest in an MMORPG, especially when there's clearly another top dog? For MMORPG granddaddy Everquest, part of the solution (they hope) comes in the form of a new, digital collectable card game called Legends of Norrath: Oathbound. The first of what Sony says will be a series, Oathbound features 375 cards in 55-card starter decks for $9.99 and 15-card booster packs for $2.99. The game is playable from EQ I or II, thought a stand-alone client is due for free on Sept. 12. You can test your skills (and decks) against others in the Tournament and Casual lobbies that have been set up or you can play against the AI. This isn't necessarily the sort of thing that would make us cheat on WoW, but if you're still a Norrath denizen, it sounds like this would certainly beat /gems.
Why other MMOs remain the underdogs
Over at MMOG Nation Michael tries to answer the question of why Everquest 2 remains an underdog in the MMO market despite numerous updates and improvements to the game by SOE. And I've got to say I agree with his answer -- whether we're talking about Everquest 2, Lord of the Rings Online, or even Star Wars Galaxies (do people still play that game?). Despite how good other games may be, if all of your friends play World of Warcraft, I bet you're going to be playing World of Warcraft, too. While MMOGCHART hasn't been updated in nearly a year now, their last set of data breaking down the number of active subscribers maintained by all of the major MMOs at the time showed World of Warcraft holding over 50% of the market, leaving a dozen games to split the remaining half of the market. And just looking at my circle of friends, all of them play World of Warcraft -- a couple of them play Everquest on the side, several of us play Lord of the Rings Online as well, and one dabbles in the world of Final Fantasy. But if I want to hang out with all of my friends, I've got to log on to World of Warcraft. So how's the next big thing going to break into the market when all of my friends -- and probably yours -- play WoW? I'm guessing it won't be able to simply be a Warcraft-alike, but be something so far beyond World of Warcraft today that it will draw in the same mass of subscribers WoW did in its initial release. So what do you think the next big thing will be in the MMO market -- or is it so far off that we'll all just be playing a different Blizzard game by then? (I'm still waiting on World of Starcraft, thank you very much!
EverQuest II on the PS3, or a bad case of the mis-typings? [Update 1]
French website Play 3 Live has upped some scans of, supposedly, a PS3 port of the moderately popular MMORPG EverQuest II: Echoes of Faydwer. The pictures they threw up depiciting the apparent port are all of some pretty freaky-looking fairies with quality not much enhanced from the PC version of the game. This could be because of fears of lag issues for the PS3 version, or because it might end up being a fully downloadable title. The latter speculation is an extreme stretch, but who can be sure? After scouring the SOE Press Center, we've located what possibly could be the root of this rumor. The listing on Sony Online Entertainment's official site teases readers with the listing of the game as a " PC PS3" release. The pictures aren't in widescreen -- a staple of the PS3 gaming library. We're still keeping this as a rumor, but from the shady speculation surrounding this event, we'd bet our pirate booty that this is all a big error in typing. A mis-type, if you will. For the uninitiated, just in case this turns out to be true, EverQuest II: Echoes of Faydwer tells the tale of [insert cookie-cutter MMO plotline and gameplay mechanics]. Don't get us wrong, we're not hating on EQ2, but just like many MMO's, FPS's based in WWII, and JRPG's featuring spiky-haired and oddly prepubescent youths, there's not much to separate it from a crowd. [Update: IGN contacted SOE and as we imagined, the rumor has been confirmed to be completely untrue.]
sm.jpg.cf.jpg)
A whole slew of EverQuest and EverQuest II, electric boogaloo
Sony Online Entertainment gave us a lot of EverQuest to digest recently, including the fact that they are only going to be releasing one expansion per year from now on. Players were complaining that with the expansion packs coming out every time they blinked six months, they weren't getting enough time to explore the new worlds. Speaking of new worlds, if you've never jumped on board the EverQuest bandwagon, you can pick up the just released EverQuest: The Anniversary Edition for only $19.99. It contains every expansion ever made for EverQuest, which at last count was thirteen. That's a lot of adventuring, folks. Hard to believe it's been around for eight years now. EverQuest II also gets some love in the form of a huge new expansion called The Rise of Kunark, which comes out in November. It adds a new playable race, weapons, armor, zones, deities, now level cap at 80, and even a new mount ... a rhinoceros. We're not sure about you, but tooling around on a rampaging rhino sounds like sweet ride. %Gallery-3065%
EQII: Echoes of Faydwer previewed
GameSpy has put together a preview of SOE's new EverQuest II expansion, Echoes of Faydwer. Scheduled for a November launch, Echoes is the third proper EQII expansion following Desert of Flames and Kindgom of Sky. Perhaps hoping to court new players who may only be familiar with the PS2's Champions of Norrath series (or to convert stalwarts of the original EQ), SOE returns the action to the popular setting of Faydwer. The Faydark zone will actually be a starting point for a new pixie race, and you'll have the opportunity to pray at the altars of classic deities such as Mithaniel Marr and Innoruuk to earn miracle items that will aid you in your quests. While you're on your knees, pray you have enough time to actually play Echoes with the deluge of new games and console launches arriving this holiday season.
EQII gives nice big pat on own back
The sequel that was supposed to be the greatest thing on this planet, EverQuest II, has recently put up on their Web site a complete list of all the 1337 content they've squeezed onto their game since its launch. In a totally selfless act of promotion, the kind folks at EQII let us all see just exactly what we've been missing in this boring exciting MMORPG experience. Here's just a sample of what we're sure you're kicking yourself for missing: More than 1100 new quests More than 1200 new items Almost 400 new spells 8 new areas to the world If only they had added the most critical item: Fun.[Via MMORPG.com]
