i didn't buy the last expansion pack, simply because there was absolutely no reason to (at the time, my characters were in the low 80s in level). i use the old models for nostalgia purposes, so the mount key ring was useless to me. i think this was the first expansion pack that i didn't buy. usually there's at least one new feature that i look at and say, "hey, that's something i could use"
daybreak, you've acquired EQ...don't you want to make a splash and do something to give fans some faith for years to come? i've played the game since release, and i've spent a great deal of money on it with several accounts, many expansion packs and a bunch of stuff from the marketplace. is a new class and/or race that much to ask (it's been TEN years)? maybe more variety of classes with mercenaries? i thought it might be nice having another company stepping in, and that some new and exciting things could happen
i had a lot of hope for the next expansion, since it wasn't being rushed out. but after reading about what's to come, it appears it's going to be a pretty big letdown...for me, anyway. maybe other people will enjoy it
Edited, Sep 18th 2015 5:48am by Ysse
EverQuest & EverQuest II Expansion Teasers
Holly "Windstalker" Longdale took to the forums yesterday to tease a few details on the upcoming xpacks.
Executive Producer Holly Longdale popped onto both the EverQuest and EverQuest II forums yesterday to post a teaser announcement of the upcoming official announcement for both game's expansions. EQ players will be getting 15 new raid zones, new and updated zones for level 105, and two new level agnostic zones: the original versions of Plane of Fear and Plane of Hate. Expect new AAs, spells, Heroic Adventures and more. EQ2 players will receive a new overlands zone, x2 and x4 raids, as well as Advanced Solo and Heroic dungeons. The deity system revamp is coming and a couple of new item types will be introduced. Neither game teaser mentioned any level cap increases.
Continue reading after the jump to see Holly's entire posts!
EverQuest
We are excited to announce we have an expansion on the way – that’s right, expansion – not “campaign.” As we’ve been toiling away this year, the content we’ve been working on evolved and grew more than we expected.
We wanted this expansion to have content that reached beyond the highest-level players. So, in addition to new and updated zones for levels 105, we are including two instanced raid zones for levels 75 to 105 to play in together! These “level agnostic” raid zones will balance themselves to the highest level player in your raid. It just so happens that these two level agnostic zones are the original Plane of Fear and Plane of Hate! So if you never got a chance to raid in those planes, or long for them, you can relive those days with a broader range of players when we launch.
This expansion includes over 15 raids – after getting feedback for more raids over last year’s expansion – and a ton of level-scaling missions and Heroic Adventures! And as with previous releases, there will be new AAs, spells, and gear. The story is innovative and impacts gameplay in interesting ways too.
In addition, if you purchase (or pre-order) the next expansion, you’ll also get access to ALL of the previous expansion content.
We’ll have the full expansion reveal and pre-orders for the 22nd expansion will start on Thursday, October 1, 2015 with detailed information on our website and forums. Also, the EQ team will host a livestream and share highlights, walk through some zones, and answer your questions!Also, our September update is right around the corner on September 23. It is hefty indeed! It includes a whole host of fixes and updates – with a couple we wanted to highlight here.
We all know that having to reapply all of those clicky buffs from your gear after you die – like Ancestral Memories, Expanding Mind, Form of Defense, Grim Aura, Prismatic Ward – is really annoying! The team “fixed” it! Now you can opt for a permanent passive AA solution for a lot of your clicky gear buffs! This update also addresses some issues we’ve had with pulling and aggro management in the game. Successful pulling in EQ is – or was – an art form that was eroded over the years and we are bringing some challenge back with some adjustments to Fading Memories and Fling effects. See this post for more info.
For our Time-Locked Progression server players on Ragefire and Lockjaw, we will be adding load-balancing instances, like we did for Nagafen’s Lair, to the Plane of Hate and Plane of Fear zones to help with overcrowding. Raid bosses will only appear in the base zones, however. There’s a lot more in the update, so look for the patch notes soon!
Of course, as we head into October expect to see the Nights of the Dead come to…uh…life in Norrath! Starting October 1 in the marketplace, we will begin selling new holiday themed weapons, a direhound mount, the long-lost hand mounts, and…a bag with a random adoptable housecat familiar! Trade them to your friends or collect them all yourself, and keep an eye out for the easily terrified Scaredy Cat familiar and always agitated Cranky Cat familiar! We have some wicked Player Studio items too! Nights of the Dead kicks off on October 28 this year until November 11.
As we head into October 1, we’re offering a last-chance 50% discount on web purchases of our The Darkened Sea expansion. This will be your last chance to get The Darkened Sea Collector’s Edition items. Also, for this limited time, you can also purchase The Darkened Sea at regular price if you want to use Daybreak Cash. This sale ends at 11:59PM Pacific on Wednesday, September 30, 2015!
We will have more details for you about our next expansion in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!Source: EverQuest Forums
EverQuest II
Our next expansion release is right around the corner! Yes, you heard me right – expansion! The team has been churning away and when we looked at the amount of content we created, we decided to call our next release an expansion rather than a campaign or the much-loved term, “campansion.”
The 12th expansion for EverQuest II includes a sprawling overland and loads of content with quests, advanced solo and heroic dungeons, and a healthy number of raids including x2s and x4s. Not only that, but we’re doing level-agnostic versions of each of the new dungeons! We have a couple of new types of items to talk about as well as an updated Deity system to give you details on! Tradeskillers, we’ve got new quests and recipes for you as well!
In addition, if you purchase (or pre-order) the next expansion, you’ll also get access to ALL of the previous expansion content (including the Rum Cellar Campaign).
We’ll have the full expansion reveal and pre-orders for the 12th expansion will start on Thursday, October 1, 2015 when we’ll dig into the details on our website and forums. Also, the EQ2 team will host a livestream and share highlights, walk through some zones, and answer your questions.Also, October brings Nights of the Dead and we have some really fun stuff coming to Norrath with new items available in the live event. Coming to the store we have a bat mount, really cool phantom-like armor sets, weapons, and two versions of the Estate of Unrest prestige house – one with all the widgets – and one without! Our first-ever Burbur collectibles will make an appearance too! For Nights of the Dead, we have these themed baby dragons available only for this holiday. Burburs are house plushies and can be converted into petamorph wands so they can travel with you! And we will have a good number of really creative Player Studio items too!
Also, a rare items merchant for Altar of Malice expansion will appear in the Phantom Sea zone this week! The merchant sells a bunch of rare items, including the rare heroic mount, two new super buff baubles, and a random rare item loot crate -- all for Ferrin.
Speaking of Altar of Malice…we’re offering a 50% discount on purchases of Altar of Malice and the Rum Cellar Campaign. This is the last opportunity to get Altar of Malice Collector’s Edition items too! Altar of Malice and Rum Cellar will also be available to buy with Daybreak Cash through the Web site. You can select your Daybreak Cash currency at checkout though the 50% sale will not apply if you choose to pay with Daybreak Cash. These offers start on Tuesday, September 15 in the afternoon and end at 11:59PM Pacific on Wednesday, September 30, 2015! After this date, Altar of Malice will no longer be for sale…hint hint.
We have a lot of news to come and we hope that you’re as excited for this upcoming campansion expansion as we are!Source: EverQuest II Forums
Ann "Cyliena" Hosler, Managing Editor
