[EQ2] Next Free Update

Moglor · 05-03-2007

http://eq2flames.com/showthread.php?p=120741#post120741

Quote:

Names have power.

It’s strange how the sound of a single word or the sight of a particular arrangement of letters on a page can instantly give rise to a wide array of feelings.

Some names have more power than others.

Neriak.

It’s an exceptionally strong name. For me, at least, it’s in hearing it out loud. Three syllables that contain a sense of dark malevolence, raise tales of intrigues unending, and bring forth images of a race of people whose ambition is outmatched only by their ruthlessness and cunning.

There’s another name that may not be familiar, but it too plays a significant part in what’s coming.

Arasai.

It’s a lighter sound, which is fitting for what it describes. It also sounds as if that lightness has been twisted. Meticulously developed, or crafted, if you will. Like a fine weapon on display.

As many of you have no doubt guessed, I’m talking about the next major live content release for EverQuest II. We’ve talked a lot over the past year about our commitment to making sure there’s always something interesting going on in Norrath. What’s coming takes that even further.

With Echoes of Faydwer, we had hoped that people would enjoy a return to a more traditional MMO starting experience, and were pleased with the results. We got a lot of positive reaction by introducing the starting city of Kelethin inside of Greater Faydark, as well as a new race, the Fae.

Later this month, we’ll be releasing the largest free content addition that EQ2 has ever seen. The complement to that experience: The city of Neriak, the large outdoor zone of Darklight Wood, and a new playable race, the Arasai, one of the races who will be able to start there.

These zones are another collaboration with our SOGA studio in Taiwan, the same studio that developed the characters and environments for The Fallen Dynasty. Their artists working in conjunction with our designers and artists have really brought Neriak back to life.

We decided to go this direction for a couple reasons. As we were developing the storyline for Faydwer, we saw the potential both in gameplay and story development for a dark, twisted shadow of the Fae, and we’ve wanted to explain a few important things about this area of the world for quite some time.

We pick up the story of Neriak 300 years ago.

It was no secret even then that Queen Cristanos Thex of Neriak was the embodiment of malevolent ambition. So close to the crown and ultimate power over her own kind, but it was destined to pass her by. When King Tearis’ time came, the empire would fall to the hands of her son, Prince Talvus Thex.

While the War of the Fay raged, with the Crown Prince and his father otherwise occupied in Faydwer, the Queen saw her opportunity and exploited it mercilessly. It wasn’t long before both King Tearis and his son fell to mysterious circumstances in combat.

Cristanos seized the power she had long desired, ending the Thex Dynasty in one final, brutal stroke.

(“Two, actually,” she would later recount to her most trusted priestess.)

Neriak, however, would not remain unscathed for long under her rule.

It’s not entirely certain what allowed the Leatherfoot Raiders of Rivervale to pose the threat that they did to Neriak. Some say it was assistance from foreigners from the outermost quarter of the city, others whispered that the Teir’Dal had been betrayed by those who remained loyal to the King, and yet others credit the assault on Nektulos by the Kithicor Rangers. In the end, it was no matter. The effect would be the same.

At Cristanos’ order, the high priestess Tseralith made use of an artifact known as the Hand of Malice summoning forth a beast of great destruction to seal Neriak off from the invaders.

The surviving invaders gave the ruins that resulted the name “Fallen Gate,” and soon abandoned them to the spirits that rose from the destruction.

Unbeknownst to the attackers, however, the grand expanse of Neriak Proper was entirely spared.

Sealed off from her enemies, her people and homeland assumed destroyed, Cristanos has had nothing but time. Freed from influences of the outside, Cristanos only grew more and more malicious, soon thinking of herself as the divine manifestation of Hate to her people – a god in her own right.

To her, you see, the Dark Elves are the “correct” way that Elves should have developed, though most of the races of Norrath consider them a wicked perversion of High Elves.

One day while toying with one of the captured Fae spirit buds she frequently tormented to amuse herself, she realized how perfectly fitting it would be to fix what the old gods had gotten wrong, and set the evolution of the Fae along their “correct” course as well.

The screams, it is said, were legendary.

If you’re interested in what happened next, you’ll just have to see it in game for yourself.

We’ll see you there.

Kelraz Bladesinger · 05-03-2007

I love the EQ2 Lore. I just wish the gameplay was a lil better. Maybe I will reactivate.

Thormir · 05-03-2007

EQ2 gets the lore right, and the expansions are great. Looking forward to this update -- at the very least, it gives me more places for discovery xp.

Moglor · 05-03-2007

I'm very interested in the new race.

Mostly because I havent justified the buying of EOF yet and its a free new race that I can play.

Thormir · 05-04-2007

Guildie has been playing this on test. Says the expansion is huge, the new race is pretty cool, their emotes and voices are well done (amusingly goth/emo it sounds like). Overall, two thumbs up.

Thormir · 05-04-2007

Also:

Quote:

It is now much easier to move houses!

Just go to the new house and purchase it. Your old house will be relinquished automatically and all of your items will move to your new house.
When you enter your house for the first time, you will notice a moving crate on the floor. You can move it around and retrieve items from it, but it cannot be picked up or destroyed.
Items in the moving crate count towards your total item count in your house, but do not provide status cost reduction and are not useable.
Items cannot be put into the moving crate.
The moving crate will disappear when all items are removed from it.

Good timing, as I want to move to a much larger place.

Moglor · 05-04-2007

I haven't been dedicated enough to the game to spend time paying for a nice place.

What kind of place do you have Thor. Screenshots of the bachelors pad maybe?

Anyone with a place in game wanna post screen shots, it would be neat to see what people have done inside there own little place.

Osgiliath666 · 05-05-2007

Easier to move houses? SWEET!!!!! Wife like the 3 bedrom ones. has a few fully furnished. This will be great news. My lowb darkie necro is packing up now.

fildien · 05-05-2007

There are some excellent screen shots of the stuff on test to be found here http://eq2flames.com/showthread.php?t=5703 for those interested that is.

05-03-2007	#4
Moglor Member Joined: Aug 2004 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,133 vCash: 1000	I'm very interested in the new race. Mostly because I havent justified the buying of EOF yet and its a free new race that I can play. __________________

05-04-2007	#7
Moglor Member Joined: Aug 2004 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,133 vCash: 1000	I haven't been dedicated enough to the game to spend time paying for a nice place. What kind of place do you have Thor. Screenshots of the bachelors pad maybe? Anyone with a place in game wanna post screen shots, it would be neat to see what people have done inside there own little place. __________________

05-05-2007	#8
Osgiliath666 I hate Liberal SCUM! Joined: Feb 2003 Location: Colorado Party: Republican Posts: 2,464 vCash: 1000	Easier to move houses? SWEET!!!!! Wife like the 3 bedrom ones. has a few fully furnished. This will be great news. My lowb darkie necro is packing up now. __________________ "It must be said, that like the breaking of a great dam, the American decent into Marxism is happening with breath taking speed, against the back drop of a passive, hapless sheeple, excuse me dear reader, I meant people."

05-05-2007	#9
fildien Advocate of Mayhem Joined: Apr 2004 Location: Pennsylvania, USA Party: N/A Posts: 5,465 vCash: 1500	There are some excellent screen shots of the stuff on test to be found here http://eq2flames.com/showthread.php?t=5703 for those interested that is. __________________ Nurta <Shark Baby> Mind Trick - Empire

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05-03-2007	#2
Kelraz Bladesinger Decaying Deity of Misconceptions Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 4,265 vCash: 25	I love the EQ2 Lore. I just wish the gameplay was a lil better. Maybe I will reactivate.

05-03-2007	#3
Thormir Decaying Deity of Misconceptions Joined: Feb 2002 Party: N/A Posts: 3,811 vCash: 1000	EQ2 gets the lore right, and the expansions are great. Looking forward to this update -- at the very least, it gives me more places for discovery xp.

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