Haloface

Just curious - what's it like? I haven't played since 2003, so.. PoP?

I was... BARELY A THOUGHT NOT EVEN CONSIDERING BUT PERHAPS FLICKERED IN TO MY MIND...thinking about popping in for a few hours of play every couple of week evenings between finishing work and the fiance getting home.
So would be a newbie and levelling once a week, or less.

Are all the zones the new graphics? Old content still there? How much is subscription? Etc.

And what's best package to buy right now for CD's?

Thanks for any help.

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"A horse, a hose, my kingdom for a horse!"
- William Shakespear, Richard III, Bosworth Field, 1485.

Taleren Bloodsong

You can buy a package at least in the US (sorry don't know for Europe) that has every expansion INCLUDING the most current one for $19.99.

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Elemak the Enchanter

You know, as I've been baking here in the desert I think it has affected my mind because I've been toying with the idea of playing around a bit. Would be kind of cool (maybe) to get a small group going.

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Palarran

The subscription is $15/month if you pay one month at a time. There is the option to subscribe for 2 years for $199 ($8.29/month); there are also 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year options but they're not really worth it. There's a $30/month "Station Access" option which gives you EQ1, EQ2, and a bunch of smaller games that I can't remember the name of; Vanguard might be included as well.

Old world zones are slowly being revamped a few at a time, typically the ones near where a new expansion is attached to. Some zones are reasonably faithful to the original, such as Nektulos. Others, like East and West Freeport, have been completely redone and have generally not been well received as a result. Most content beyond the original world has not been touched; Kunark and Velious graphics don't look nearly as dated as the original zones anyway.

Old content is nearly all still there. Even the "pocket zones" Chardok B and Solusek C that were originally meant to be temporary are still there. I would suggest at least checking out the low level content in The Serpent's Spine, though.

Actually, I think you'll be pleased to know that the "Epic 1.5" and "Epic 2.0" quests in the Omens of War expansion span a wide variety of zones from all expansions up to that point. For example, the druid epic 1.5 includes steps in:
* Old world: Rathe Mountains, Toxxulia Forest, The Feerrott, Surefall Glade, East Freeport, West Freeport, North Ro, South Qeynos, Kithicor Forest
* Kunark: Lake of Ill Omen, Frontier Mountains
* Velious: Eastern Wastes, Cobalt Scar, Velketor's Labyrinth

Other classes have steps in such out-of-the-way places as Dragon Necropolis (bard), an LDoN raid (paladin), and the 7th Hammer in the Plane of Justice (monk). It was a great way to provide a little life to underused content. (I know you wouldn't be looking to do these quests for a long time, if at alll; I only mention it because it means you may very well run into people in places you'd expect to be completely deserted.)

Kelraz Bladesinger

Epic 2s are still used? I'm excited about the Epic 1s in EQ2 that might be coming soon

Palarran

For casters, the epic 2.0 is still the best primary slot item available. While a few items have been introduced with more hp/mana, they just aren't good enough to justify bagging the epic.

I think in the last two expansions melee classes are finally starting to see weapons that are marginal improvements over the epics (though the clicky effects are irreplaceable, and the epic "2.5" augments in the Demiplane of Blood extend their life further).

Taleren Bloodsong

of course the epic 2.5/2.0 is inventory clickable if you do replace them

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Palarran

Yup, but the focus effect won't work from inventory.

Gandaar

For $19.99 you can get the Anniversary Edition which, as was mentioned earlier, contains the original EQ as well as ALL the expansions up to and including The Buried Sea.

Since this is a "boxed" version, you also get ALL of the box rewards if you do not already have them.

There's been a lot of changes since you played, graphics, game play, enhancements and many changes to tradeskills and quests.

Timberelf

Alt 294 Reporting .. err I mean hey Gandaar, does that box set also give you the reward that was giving from TSS, I remeber that TSS was download only and was not released in stores.. lol WTG Sony on that bright idea of thiers, they lost alot of people because of that