With Game Update 66: Scars of the Awakened, it’s clear that the EQ2 team are trying to do some new things with quests. I’ve done I guess about 1/2 of the Othmir questline in Cobalt Scar and have had to do some interesting tasks under certain conditions which go way beyond the usual “kill 10 rats” quests. Of course the problem with more complex quests is, there are so many more places where they can break, and I haven’t encountered this many breaks in a single quest in a long time.

I’m talking about the quest Gifts from Prexus. If you don’t want the quest spoiled, then skip this article.

From EverQuest II’s Youtube:

Niami Denmother has come through with another set of previews on her EQ2Traders site for tomorrow’s Game Update 66: Scars of the Awakened.

Here’s a master list of the reading material I have put together for folks regarding the crafting/housing side of things. The Crafting/Housing Preview contains links to all of the other pages mentioned below, but this should help if you want to shortcut to something specific.

• EQ2Traders Corner GU66 Crafting/Housing Preview
• GU66 Carpenter Furniture Guide
• GU66 Buyable Furniture Guide
• GU66 Apprentice Information
• Cobalt Scar Crafting Quests Intro
• Yeppa’s Last Stand Crafting Quests
• Scarstone Crafting Quests
• Cobalt Scar Crafting Quests Endline

Niami’s previews go into some of the new features in Game Update 66 such as Pitch and Roll for house items, pictured below:

And you don’t have to memorize the command to hide/show the Housing control wheel above (I personally dislike it, but it’s how you must access Pitch and Roll commands), as a new Housing sidebar has been added:

From EQ2 Zam:

Game Update 66, Scars of the Awakened, launches on Tuesday, April 30, 2013. In this update players visit the vastly changed Velious land of Cobalt Scar and its dungeon, Siren’s Grotto.

Adventurers over level 90 can speak to Joren Kalth in any major city or on the Thurgadin docks in the Great Divide to be sent on their way to Cobalt Scar. Players once again work with Osh, who is trying to save his brethern from a corruption that has twisted their native land. After the othmir problem is addressed, the famed Field Marshal Vishra sends word, and the work to assist the New Combine with their various minor issues begins.

Cobalt Scar offers players 45 new quests, four daily missions, and one weekly group mission. Missions will send players who have completed most of the Cobalt Scar quests into Siren’s Grotto, but access to Siren’s Grotto itself has no requirements. The Scar has several contested heroic and epic creatures, which may drop the Obol currency for adventurers who have completed the Chains of Eternity signature quest series. New collections can be found in both new zones.

While owning the Chains of Eternity expansion will ease the combat difficulty of GU66, it is not required (the Destiny of Veliousexpansion is required). We recommend that your adventurer at least be equipped in Withered Lands or Skyshrine armor before diving into this update.

From EverQuest2.com:

All EQ2 Servers will come down on Tuesday, April 30, at 7:00 am Pacific Time* for Game Update 66: Scars of the Awakened. The expected downtime is three hours. Part of this maintenance will occur at the same time as a SOE-wide maintenance.

Game Update 66: SCARS OF THE AWAKENED
Update Notes

Ever vigilant, Norrathians march united under the banner of the New Combine army, deeper into the perilous continent of Velious.

Finally, the army breaches the borders of a region known as Cobalt Scar – a majestic, lush, but tormented region. And from within dark passages in the surrounding mountains, the inhabitants of Sirens Grotto beckon to all.

The first news heard from Cobalt Scar concerns tribes of Othmir that succumbed to an unfortunate fate that now threatens everyone. Further examination into the area will reveal a foreboding presence of the Awakened Legion, a force of evil that decimated dragonkind in the legendary city of Skyshrine.

Nearby, in the watery depths of Sirens Grotto – unseen by landwalkers for the ages – it is said that the caverns hold secrets of their own. And the beguiling siren coven known as the Darkwater Sisters will not give up those secrets easily.

All the while, the Ages End Prophecy looms with its promise to see Kerafyrm – Norrath’s most evil, powerful dragon – bring a violent end to the world. Heroes from every corner of Norrath are called to explore this new land in Velious and fight for a future for all.

Wednesday’s sprawling two hour Critical Hit podcast with Nathan “Kaitheel” McCall is absolutely worth listening to, as Nathan goes into the best uses of design hours, what it takes to revamp zones such as Qeynos and Freeport, why the starting islands were removed, the importance of storytelling, and more.

But if you are a raider or otherwise into the mechanics and itemization of EQ2, and you listen to only one EQ2 podcast this month, it should be EQ2Talk Episode #63 with Kyle “Kander” Vallee. He goes into a lot of the thinking behind the upcoming update (and this fall’s expansion), has some refreshing vision towards the future of EQ2, itemization and content design, and is very candid about some of the missteps in Chains of Eternity as well as other past changes.

All comments below are paraphrased from Kander’s comments in the 1 hour 40 min podcast. Any errors in meaning are the fault of the editor.

Stat Consolidation

• If there is one thing Kander could go back and change about EQ2, he would never have gone along with Stat Consolidation (where each class has just one primary stat and then Stamina for increasing health).  The different benefits you got from each stat were some of the “meat and bones” of EQ2 and chasing different stats and having to make choices on which gear you equip added a lot of depth. We had a lot more choice itemization-wise. For example, building up Intelligence to increase poison damage for scouts.
• As far as Stat Consolidation, we’re actually planning to head back in that direction as far as the next expansion to provide more choices. Right now, itemization feels a little bit stale. Players should need to think about their gear.

More after the jump…

From EQ2 Zam:

EverQuest II’s lastest game update, Scars of the Awakened, is right around the corner with new content for Norrathian crafters! Be sure to take your artisan to Cobalt Scar where Acting Supplymaster Grant could use a hand. Along the way you’ll help the Othmir, save the day at the main camp, and help a mysterious dark elf. Your reward is a nifty set of gloves handed down the Bayle line. Be sure to check out our Cobalt Scar Crafting Series guide and the shopping list so you’re not shy on resources.

Level 95 crafters will find that their Apprentices have some new ideas and need new equipment to get the job done. The new researched recipes will use Tier 10 resources and are set up so that while they require more reactants, those reactants aren’t as hard to come by as they are in the level 80 recipes.

Tier 10 recipe books are being renamed to be consistent with other tiers. With GU66 all volumes will be available on the usual merchants, although the Advanced ones are quite expensive. It’s important to note that you can still get these recipes adventuring and questing, and you don’t have to buy them from an NPC to obtain them.

Game Update 66, Scars of the Awakened, is slated to hit live servers Tuesday April 30. Be sure to log in this weekend and get some of that bonus experience!

On Wednesday, April 24, 2013, the Zjeven from Critical Hit podcast interviewed EQ2 Assistant Lead Designer Nathan “Kaitheel” McCall about the upcoming Game Update 66: Scars of the Awakened.

Online Gaming Radio‘s website has been struggling a bit, so if you can’t get the Podcast to download from them, I’m mirroring a copy here at EQ2Wire.

From Twitch.tv:

We’re just a few days away from the launch of EverQuest II’s 66th game update, Scars of the Awakened! Host and EverQuest II Producer Holly “Windstalker” Longdale interviews Akil “Lyndro” Hooper (Creative Director), Nandy “Zoltaroth” Szots (Lead Programmer), and Dave “Maevianiu” Kish (Senior Programmer) to share a few final details about “Scars,” as well as talk about what else the EQ2 team will be working on next! Have a question for the team? Make sure you share it on the EverQuest II forums!

It’s only got 2 episodes under its belt, but already, Zjeven, host of the new Critical Hit! podcast has landed an interview with an EQ2 developer — Nathan “Kaitheel” McCall, recently promoted Assistant Lead Designer for EverQuest II.

From the EQ2 Forums:

Tune in this Wednesday, April 24th at 9pm EST (6pm PST) for our live show where we will be interviewing Nathan “Kaitheel” McCall about the current state and future of EverQuest II!

Have any tough questions that you would like answered?
Ask them in the comments below, and we will ask them on the show! Keep in mind that Kaitheel is a zone, quest, lore, and holiday designer, so your questions should reflect that role.

We will see you on Wednesday!

From the Station forums:

On Thursday, April 25, 2013 we have two exciting webcasts scheduled for you:

4:00pm — EQ2 Scars of the Awakened and More!

4:30pm — SOE Live Registration Opens!

Our first broadcast is at 4 PM! We’re just a few days away from the launch of EverQuest II’s 66th game update, Scars of the Awakened! Host and EverQuest II Producer Holly “Windstalker” Longdale will interview Akil “Lyndro” Hooper (Creative Director), Tim “Haohmaru” Heydelaar (Art Director), and Dave “Maevianiu” Kish (Senior Programmer) to share a few final details about “Scars,” as well as talk about what else the EQ2 team will be working on next! Have a question for the team? Make sure you share it on the EverQuest II forums!

Then at 4:30, you’ve been asking us for months and now we’ve got it for you… registration is opening for SOE Live! Brasse will chat with Jen Belfield (Marketing Services Director) and Casey Roberts (Marketing Services and Events Specialist) to give you the details on registration, tournaments, panels, Live Quests, in-game items, the Keynotes, and MORE! Do you have SOE Live questions for the gals? We’ve got a place for you to ask them.

Join us on Thursday, April 25, 2013, at 4:00 p.m and 4:30 p.m. US Pacific Time* on Twitch TV! These webcasts are expected to last about 20 minutes each.

From the EQ2 Forums:

Last week, you got an inside look at Cobalt Scar on a tour with Haohmaru, ttobey, and Kaitheel. This week, we bring you an early look at the Siren’s Grotto! Join Tim “Haohmaru” Heydelaar, Chris “Chrol” Garlick, and Christopher “Phatkins” Atkins as they take you through this new dungeon, coming with Game Update 66: Scars of the Awakened, which will be released on April 30.

From EverQuest2.com:

Get a look at Cobalt Scar, part of the Scars of the Awakened Game Update! Our talented Development team takes you through a preview of the zone. Check out the stunning visuals explained by those who created them.

Scars of the Awakened goes live April 30th!

From the EQ2 Forums:

This week the EverQuest II team want share Sirens Grotto with you! Your host Dave “Smokejumper” Georgeson (Director of Development) will be joined by Tim “Haohmaru” Heydelaar (Art Director), Christopher “Phatkins” Atkins (Character Artist), and Chris “Chrol” Garlick (Game Designer) to give you an inside look at these Scars of the Awakened zones!

Join us on Thursday, April 11th, 2013, at 5:00 PM US Pacific Time* on Twitch TV! The webcast is expected to last about 20 minutes.

Don’t miss this chance to answer the Sirens’ song!

On Beta, Protector’s Realm, Shard of Hate, and other Kunark/SF zones are dropping a lot less plat. This has launched a 20 page thread with a lot of rage and arguments.

Well, I have just spoken to Kander and there is a lot more to the situation than just nerfing PR and SoH. People should be able to do CURRENT content and get more than enough plat to buy their consumables. People will be able to acquire plat from CURRENT solo, group, or raid zones.

Article tomorrow!!

From Holly “Windstalker” Longdale‘s twitter:

Beta and Test are unlocked! We have turned off character copies for the time being, but in-game email includes a Beta buffer!#EQ2

— Holly Longdale (@WindstalkerEQ2) April 2, 2013

The house market testing on Beta is currently not available, but the team is working on that! Code gremlins. 🙁 #EQ2

— Holly Longdale (@WindstalkerEQ2) April 2, 2013

From Gninja on the EQ2 Forums:

Just thought I would drop a few notes in here before everyone starts asking.

Q: How can I access the new raid zones?
A: The raid content in this update is closed beta. You will not be able to access this content as general population.

Q: How can I join the closed beta?
A: Feel free to shoot myself or one of the other developers a private message on what sort of raid content you would like to test and what you can offer in terms of times and players/classes. If we feel you are good fit we will extend the invite. Keep in mind not everyone will be accepted.

Q: Are the any X2 zones in this update?
A: Short answer, no. Long answer, There are two contested X2 encounters out in Cobalt Scar but no full X2 zones.

UPDATE from Gninja on why Siren’s Grotto Raid Beta Testing is private, and a count of the number of names within the zone:

There are 7 main bosses and 2 sub bosses. Yes trash drops loot. The zone buff packages are tougher then normal mode stuff in CoE all the way up to hardest in game for the challenge mode (of which there are 3) We are limiting this to invite only because we do not want folks in there just learning the fights. Instead we will be testing the different aspects of the fights with different guilds to make sure everything is working.

Logo Mockup by EQ2Wire

In addition to the new content in Game Update 66, which hits Beta today and will go live on April 30th, there are numerous class tweaks. But instead of class balance (although there is some of that), the overriding theme of the class improvements in this update could best be summed up as “What Bugs Your Class Most?” All those things about your class that drive you crazy, like having to be directly behind the mob to use your biggest hits as a Dirge, or having to be exactly 5 meters from the mob to do both your Melee and Ranged CAs as a Ranger.

Read over the notes and give us your take. Are these great, long overdue changes, or does it almost go too far, making things a little too convenient? As a Ranger, I’m excited about the changes, but will I become even lazier now that I can stand pretty much anywhere in the room and do my maximum DPS? I certainly applaud a number of the changes which were things that “didn’t make sense” which have now been fixed.

After the jump, Game Update 66’s Beta Notes…

From Holly “Windstalker” Longdale on the EQ2 Forums:

Good day, adventurers!

We are excited to begin our Open Beta for Game Update 66: Scars of the Awakened today!

There are a bunch of new topics opening today in our Beta forum. Each topic will be manned (or womanned) by Dev staff. We are very appreciative of all of the constructive feedback and bug reports we get, so please use our forums or use /feedback or /bug commands from inside the game.

We have plenty for you to test in this update we affectionately refer to as “Scars.” Our team hit on a triple-entendre with this update name. Outside of an EQ geography reference, a look at some of the Othmir are a dead giveaway – so to speak. I digress…

To copy your character to Beta, you can log in to a character and type /beta or simply use the Beta Copy button in the Character Select screen. Incidentally, this will copy your character’s houses – which is important – because we’d like you to help us test our new housing market options that allow selling and buying of houses! Each copied character will receive an in-game email with an invitation to Beta that will include a buffer and armor if needed.

This was posted over a week ago, but I wanted to post some commentary about the forthcoming ability for house decorators to sell their house layouts on the Marketplace. And since that time, there have been a number of clarifications from EQ2 Programmer Kenneth “Terrogaunt” Roecks which further shed light on what we can expect.

Here’s Holly “Windstalker” Longdale’s initial announcement:

Greetings to our decorators – existing and potential,

These are very exciting times for passionate decorators! On April 2, when we start Open Beta for Game Update 66 “Scars of the Awakened,” we will also be inviting you to test our Player Studio House category that allows you to buy and sell decorated houses of all types, shapes, and sizes in our marketplace! Sellers earn a real portion of the profits!

We are working on details right now to make decorating simple to do and test. For example, your new character copies to Beta will include the houses you have on your server so setting up homes to sell should be easy.

We are working on a lot of details behind the scenes to get Player Studio Houses ready too, including a new Web page that will allow you to pre-qualify to sell houses through Player Studio (if you’re not already qualified through Player Studio) so you can get ready to sell houses when the category launches. We will let you know as soon as pre-qualifying is live!

Our goal right now is to launch Player Studio Houses with our game update on April 30!

EQ2 Designer Aaron “Gnobrin” Bisnett has tweeted a few screenshots of the upcoming Siren’s Grotto zone which hits the EQ2 Beta server next Tuesday, and goes live at the end of April:

For those still thinking Siren’s Grotto will take place underwater…

Siren’s Grotto is *NOT* an underwater zone. You’re fighting sirens, there’s seaweed everywhere… no water. #EQ2

— Aaron Bisnett (@Gnobrin) March 28, 2013

These are being posted during the Game Update 66: Scars of the Awakened Lore Webcast:

From the EQ2 Forums:

The Saga of the Swords and the Age’s End Prophecy has captured EverQuest II fans for the last three years, and the Velious saga continues now with Game Update 66: Scars of the Awakened! Your host Dave “SmokeJumper” Georgeson (Director of Development for the EverQuest Franchise), with Kyle “Kander” Vallee (Lead Designer), Nathan “Kaitheel” McCall (Assistant Lead Designer), and Carlos “Gninja” Mora (Game Designer), will recap the story thus far and take a look at what’s to come as Norrathians march together under the banner of the New Combine army. What awaits adventurers in Cobalt Scar and beyond?

Join us on Thursday, March 28, 2013, at 4:00 p.m. US Pacific Time on Twitch TV! The webcast is expected to last about 20 minutes.

Don’t miss this first preview of Scars of the Awakened!

Time Zone Conversions

• PDT: March 28 @ 4:00pm
• EDT: March 28 @ 7:00pm
• GMT: March 28 @ 23:00
• CET: March 29 @ 0:00

Logo mockup by EQ2Wire

From Holly “Windstalker” Longdale on the EQ2 Forums:

To all Norrathians,

The Velious saga continues! New lands and adventures will be uncovered on April 30 with Game Update 66 entitled EverQuest II: Scars of the Awakened!

Ever vigilant, Norrathians march united under the banner of the New Combine army, deeper into the perilous continent of Velious.

Finally, the army breaches the borders of a region known as Cobalt Scar – a majestic, lush, but tormented region. And from within dark passages in the surrounding mountains, the inhabitants of Sirens Grotto beckon to all.

Even the most jaded player must admit that the EQ2 team have spent a lot of time in the last 18 months tweaking and balancing the classes, both in PvP and PvE situations. Every class in EQ2 now has a role to play, and the tools necessary to play that role, even if that role may not be the most engaging or fun to play.

On Friday, Mike “Xelgad” Ganz, EQ2’s Mechanics Lead, posted threads in each of the Class forums seeking feedback not for further balancing, but what tweaks could be done to make each class less tedious and more enjoyable to actually play. This message was posted on the EQ2 forums under the Priests, Mages, Scouts, and Fighters subforums:

We’re requesting focused feedback on the current state of each class. We’re particularly interested in suggestions on how to make the classes more enjoyable, such as improving tedious abilities to be more user-friendly. Balance issues are always a concern, but numbers tend to spotlight those issues, while it’s easy to overlook problems that simply make the classes less fun than they should be.

We do read your normal forum feedback, but we have had the most success with feedback during betas and in the testing forum. However, it’s difficult to address existing class issues when the focus is on new additions. The idea here is to put the focus on the classes as they exist on live, including everything from the new Prestige Abilities to the spells and combat arts granted at early levels. We’re going to close this thread at the end of next week, but we’ll do more focus feedback threads if they are successful. The goal is to get some improvements to live with the next game update.

Thanks!