(left to right) Greg Agius [EQ2 Brand Manager] interviews Rich Waters [EQ2 Lead Designer], Dave “SmokeJumper” Georgeson [EQ2 Senior Producer] and Salim “Silius” [EQ2 Developer, Itemization], about the upcoming Destiny of Velious expansion including reader questions.

Upcoming Dev Chat Webcasts:

This Friday, February 18th, members of the EQII Development Team will join us again to talk about itemization in Destiny of Velious. This will be the last in our series of four Live Webcasts leading up to the Destiny of Velious launch! Be sure to tune in to learn more about the upcoming features and get the scoop straight from the people who work on EQII every day.

• Friday, February 18 at 4:00 pm PST: Topic TBA

Topics will be announced soon. Tune in on Facebook or on Stickam to watch the fourth webcast this Friday!

Submit your Questions on the EQ2 Forums

From EverQuest2.com:

Established by Dain Frostreaver the First after the coldain were driven from their city in the Crystal Caverns, Thurgadin has served as the home for the coldain dwarves for hundreds of years.  Nestled within the northnernmost mountains of the Great Divide, Thurgadin has protected the coldain from relentless attacks, and acted as a welcoming and secure place for many adventurers who visited Velious in the past.  However, the noble city was always under threat, as the Kromrif were determined to wipe the coldain off the face of Velious.

Continue reading at EverQuest2.com…

If you have been holding out on buying the Destiny of Velious Collector’s Edition wondering what the ‘special effect’ on the house item ‘Tserrina’s Wedding Present
‘ is, now we know. From the EQ2 Forums:

The item has the same buff as “The Spear of Sentries”, the deity prelude award for Marr.  It is house placeable only (not guildhall), but has no recharge time, and can be used by anybody who visits the house.

MMO news conglomerates Massively and MMORPG.com have scored exclusive interviews and screen shots of the upcoming EQ2 expansion Destiny of Velious.

• Exclusive screen shots of EQ2: Destiny of Velious @ Massively (use link below to see the screen shots)
• EQ2: Destiny of Velious Screen Shot Gallery @ Massively
• Exclusive screen shots, interview with Dave Georgeson and Carlos Mora @ MMORPG

If we or any other EQ2-specific fan site is provided with screen shots or other  content, we’ll be sure to let you know.

After previous indications that only Australia’s pricing of Destiny of Velious was being looked into, today brings the news that UK pricing will see an adjustment as well. From the EQ2 Forums:

UK Customers:

The DoV collector’s edition is now priced at 44.99GBP. The standard edition remains at 29.99GBP. Both prices include the required 20% VAT Tax.

Australia Customers:

The DoV collector’s edition is now priced at 67.95AUD. The standard edition is now priced at 45.95AUD.

NOTE: Customers who have already pre-ordered will be charged at the new lower rate.

Do the Math

With this change, the UK now has complete parity with the US on the pricing of the Destiny of Velious Collector’s Edition:

$60 + 20% VAT = $72.

£44.99 = $71.90.

Europe and Australia are still a bit higher, about $5-8. And this does not take monthly subscriptions or StationCash into effect, which have long since been overpriced.

We applaud this change to fair pricing, and would have willingly held Wednesday’s article for comment had we known this news was coming.

From EverQuest2.com:

When adventurers seek out the lands of Velious, they’ll soon discover that Lodizal, a great and ancient turtle, will transport them to the lost continent.

Continued at EverQuest2.com…

The American prices for the Destiny of Velious digital downloads are well known — the regular edition is $39.99, while the collector’s edition runs $59.99. We are very happy to see that the days of preferential treatment for the Retail version are over. Last year’s 7 day retail headstart and the confusion leading up to the launch for European customers was the source of much frustration, so we are quite satisfied with this year’s simplified options. So then all is wine and roses, right?

Well, it may surprise American players to learn that customers in some other countries are seeing prices up to 33% higher for the collector’s edition than US customers are seeing. Here is the current pricing for the digital collector’s edition outside of the US:

• UK current price is £49.99. That’s $79.96 USD, a 33.3% markup.

• Europe current price is €54,99. That’s $74.90 USD, a 24.9% markup.

• Australia current price is $74.95 AUS. That’s $74.18 USD, a 23.7% markup.

From EverQuest2.com:

On February 7, 2011, all players who met Beta eligibility qualifications will be accepted into the Destiny of Velious Closed Beta. The flagging process should be completed around midnight (12:00 am PST on February 8th).

If you registered for the Destiny of Velious Beta and accepted the NDA prior to February 7, 2011, as well as met all of the Beta eligibility qualifications, you will be added to the Destiny of Velious Closed Beta, which begins February 7 and runs through 11:59 pm PST on February 14, 2011.

Please remember that the NDA is still in effect throughout the duration of the Closed Beta, and all experiences in the Beta are to be kept private until the NDA is lifted.

We hope you enjoy Destiny of Velious, and we look forward to reading your feedback on the private Destiny of Velious Beta Forums.

Believe it or not, the Destiny of Velious Webcast #2 for February 4th has already been posted on Youtube. This was recorded at SOE, so it has smoother playback than the webcast.

(left to right) Greg Agius [EQ2 Brand Manager] interviews Dave “SmokeJumper” Georgeson [EQ2 Senior Producer] and Greg “Rothgar” Spence [EQ2 Lead Programmer], about the upcoming Destiny of Velious expansion including reader questions.

Download Destiny of Velious Webcast #2 MP3 for February 4, 2011.

EverQuest II, Destiny of Velious, and the contents of this webcast are copyright Sony Online Entertainment.

This was a LIVEBLOG of the Destiny of Velious Webcast #2 (February 4th).

Chat today was originally going to be Itemization. Instead, it was about Flying Mounts.

• Dave “SmokeJumper” Georgeson, Senior Producer EverQuest II
• Greg “Rothgar” Spence, Lead Programmer EverQuest II
• Moderator: Greg Aguis, Brand Manager (Marketing) for EverQuest II

The Itemization Battle

When examining any piece of equipment, players must evaluate whether that item is an upgrade for their class based not only on their existing stats, but also whether the stats and effects on that item are of benefit to their class. The character’s spells, combat arts, AA setup, and existing gear must all be considered. Choosing item upgrades has never been an exact science.

At one time, all 5 main stats including Intelligence, Wisdom, Stamina, Agility, and Strength had a part to play in the effectiveness of an item for every class, not just hybrid classes. This is not to mention +Health, +Power, Offensive and Defensive Skills, and the various Resists. The last 3 expansions have added or greatly expanded upon effects such as Crit Chance, Multi Attack (formerly Double Attack), Crit Bonus, Potency, AOE Autoattack, Flurry, Strikethrough, etc.

The video of the Destiny of Velious webcast #1 which took place on January 29th has now been posted.

From EverQuest2.com:

Upcoming Dev Chat Webcasts:

This Friday, February 4th, members of the EQII Development Team will join us again to talk about itemization in Destiny of Velious. This is the second in our series of four Live Webcasts leading up to the Destiny of Velious launch! Be sure to tune in to learn more about the upcoming features and get the scoop straight from the people who work on EQII every day.

• Friday, February 4 at 4:00 pm PST: Join Dave “Smokejumper” Georgeson and Rich “Waters” Waters as they talk about itemization in Destiny of Velious. They will again be answering questions from our players, so submit your questions through the forum links below.

• Friday, February 11 at 4:00 pm PST: Topic TBA

• Friday, February 18 at 4:00 pm PST: Topic TBA

Upcoming topics will be announced soon. Tune in on Facebook or on Stickam to watch the second webcast this Friday!

Submit your Questions on the EQ2 Forums

We’ve just finished watching a live Webcast of Dave “SmokeJumper” Georgeson and Salim “Silius” talking about the upcoming Destiny of Velious expansion, including player-submitted questions. What follows is a rough transcript. We recommend listening to the recording to get a complete picture of what was said.

(left to right) Greg Agius [EQ2 Brand Manager] interviews Dave “SmokeJumper” Georgeson [EQ2 Senior Producer] and Salim “Silius” [EQ2 Developer, Itemization], about the upcoming Destiny of Velious expansion including reader questions.

Download Destiny of Velious Webcast #1 MP3 for January 29, 2011.

From EverQuest2.com:

Join members of the EQII Development Team as we talk about Destiny of Velious in a series of Live Webcasts! Learn more about the upcoming features and get the scoop straight from the people who work on EQII every day.

• Friday, January 28 at 4:00 pm PST [29 Jan at Midnight GMT]: Join Dave “Smokejumper” Georgeson and Salim “Silius” Grant as they talk about Destiny of Velious zones, raids and more. They will be answering some questions from players as well, so submit your questions right here in this thread.

• Friday, February 4 at 4:00 pm PST [5 Feb at Midnight GMT]: Topic TBA
• Friday, February 11 at 4:00 pm PST [12 Feb at Midnight GMT]: Topic TBA
• Friday, February 18 at 4:00 pm PST [19 Feb at Midnight GMT]: Topic TBA

Upcoming topics will be announced soon. Tune in on Facebook or on Stickam to watch the first webcast this Friday!

What to Expect (Commentary)

We have been present during past webcasts of this nature, and we can recall numerous delays, glitches, and technical faults. If you are expecting a smooth, well-rehearsed presentation, you may be disappointed. Of course we may be pleasantly surprised, but how many times can Lucy fool us with the football trick? Either way, we’ll be recording and reviewing these broadcasts for any interesting details.

From EverQuest2.com:

The following items are included in the Retail Version of Destiny of Velious. There are no Pre-Order exclusives for our Retail Version and this is the only version available as a printed box copy, so no matter when you purchase this version, whether you reserve a copy today or purchase it after launch, these items will always be available to those with the Retail copy.

Standard of the Dain (Retail Exclusive cloak)

Karen Bryan writing for the Tattered Notebook at Massively has turned in her followup article on Velious, this time delving into the institutional memory of what the Scars of Velious expansion meant for players of the original EverQuest, and how we really need for history to repeat itself.

Scars of Velious was a big expansion for EverQuest — literally. Overland zones like Western Wastes and the Great Divide were so large that it was easy to get lost. Dungeons like Temple of Veeshan and Kael Drakkel were the size of small cities and could house multiple raids each night. And everything you fought was enormous, from the Velium spiders of Velketor’s Lab, to the Giants of Kael Drakkel, to the Dragons that seemed to be everywhere. But this expansion was about more than Dragons and snow.

The 10th Ring War. It was big. It was open. It was dynamic content before the phrase was even coined. Dozens, sometimes hundreds of players would take part in driving back waves of giants as they sprinted towards Thurgadin, and everyone who passed through could see and take part in the action. It provided so many opportunities for individuals to be the hero, and we relished the chance to share our tales of heroism afterwards. There are several reasons players loved Velious, but the 10th Ring War is probably at the top of the list.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Why Velious is so Important at Massively.

Screen shots have now been made available on EverQuest2.com revealing the Destiny of Velious Digital Download and Digital Collector’s Edition special items. While the headline of the linked article suggests that one must Pre-Order to receive any of these rewards, I suggest reading the last 2 paragraphs of the article which clear everything up:

The Digitial Collector’s Edition is a Station Exclusive and is specially priced at $59.99 for pre-order only. This version includes the base game, all seven expansions, three adventure packs, a Loyal Snow Hound, four different Velious Portal Paintings, Tserrina’s Wedding Present (house item), Cryomantic Armor Crate, an Everfrost Summer Home, and a Stormfeather’s Brood Guardian mount appearance. Items are awarded one per character. New accounts will also receive a free 30-day subscription.

Please note that after the pre-order period ends, the price of the Digital Collector’s Edition will increase to $89.99 and the Loyal Snow Hound will no longer be available.

Screen shots and more details after the jump…

From SmokeJumper on the EQ2 Forums:

We’re adding in a new surge of 1500 players into Beta today, so check your email box if you applied to the Beta.

Additionally, any Fan Faire folks that got missed in the last sweep, should be added in today.

Enjoy!

There has been precious little information posted about the upcoming EverQuest II: Destiny of Velious expansion. Most of the facts and figures we have about it date back to Fan Faire of August 2010. In spite of some major leaks by SOE, we are going to stay on this side of the NDA and stick to answering what we can based on facts in evidence and a little bit of deductive reasoning.

Please note this article has been written without conference or verification by SOE and may contain errors.

After the jump, our preliminary Frequently Asked Questions about Destiny of Velious…

SOE have delivered some more screen shots of the upcoming EverQuest II: Destiny of Velious expansion which we present below.

In addition, SOE have posted a new Destiny of Velious Pre-Order video.

We are getting word that some players have now received their Ice Wolf Pup pet and 2 hour XP potions for their January Velious Reward. Remember, if you have an active sub on December 14, January 17, and February 22, then when you purchase Destiny of Velious (up until December 31, 2011) you will receive the February rewards, including an Ice Wolf Mount.

Today’s announcement of the EverQuest II: Destiny of Velious digital pre-order and retail strategies includes 8 screen shots. It’s worth pointing out that these screen shots DO NOT reflect the quality of graphics being seen in Beta. The posted screen shots appear to have been taken at the lowest possible graphics settings, with textures turned down, Shaders 3 disabled, and resemble EQ1 graphics. We look forward to the lifting of the NDA so we can post some higher resolution screen shots that exhibit the exceptional quality of the art assets in Velious.

In a recent mailer the pre-order items were revealed for the up coming Destiny of Velious expansion.  The pricing costs for the digital versions were also released here.

Digital Collectors Edition

Station Exclusive – Available until 2/21/11 for only $59.99*

Includes: Loyal Snow Hound – Siberian Husky Puppy Four Different Velious Portal Paintings – Paintings with teleportation powers Tserrina’s Wedding Present – Tower of Frozen Shadows house item with special ability Cryomantic Armor Crate – Magical ice appearance armor Everfrost Summer Home – Menagerie Prestige Home Stormfeather Brood Guardian – Alternate griffon mount appearance Free 30-day subscription for new accounts *On February 22, 2011 the Digital Collector’s Edition price will increase to $89.99. Items one per account. Non-tradeable and no cash value.

Standard Digital Version

Available for $39.99

• Loyal Snow Hound – Digital Pre-Order Exclusive
• Four Different Velious Portal Paintings
• Free 30-day subscription for new accounts

Items one per account. Non-tradable and no cash value.

Retail Version