Freebloods Get a Ticket to Ride; Fae, Arasai Remain Grounded
So with today’s official introduction of the Freeblood vampire race to EverQuest 2 as the first Premium race, the remaining secrets have been unveiled. Chief among them is that the Swarm of Bats premium mount/ability available exclusively to Freebloods will, when Destiny of Velious expansion launches and a quest has been completed, be usable as a full-fledged Flying Mount. From the official announcement:
Characters who go on to unlock flying mounts in the Destiny of Velious expansion will also be able to use this ability to fly.
In addition to the Mortal Lifetap and other abilities available exclusively to the Freeblood race, this will likely put them at a distinct advantage over existing races in EQ2. If you thought that Fae and Arasai would also gain the natural ability of flight, you’d be mistaken. Back in October, when queried on the subject, Tom Tobey posted:
I have done exhaustive Fae research and have found that Fae wings are more adapted for hovering.
“…True hovering, which is generating lift through flapping alone rather than as a product of the fae’s passage through the air, demands a lot of energy….”
Thus for Fae to fly for long distance and at high altitude they will require the assistance of a flying mount.
Now keep in mind that this was 2 months ago. Most EQ2 devs were just as surprised as the rest of us by the news that vampires were being added as a playable race when they were notified a few weeks ago.
But when asked about Fae and Arasai being able to fly unaided, Rothgar posted this just a few minutes ago:
We don’t have any plans to make flying an innate ability for any race. All races will be able to fly with the use of a flying mount. The FreeBlood just have access to a special “mount” that makes them look like a swarm of bats. Keep in mind that this is not an innate ability for FreeBlood either.
Comments? So what are your thoughts? Should Fae and Arasai be able to fly without the aid of the Velious quested flying mount (probably a dragon)?
Tags: arasai, fae, flying mount, freeblood
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Comments (12)
Teron
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I fail to see what you’re crying about this time Feldon. I’m sure you could convince Smokejumper to sell you a fae/arasai only flying mount without an appearance for $25 if you ask nicely.
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Kruzzen
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We all new they would add flying mounts to SC. That is all this is. The line no longer exists in the sand. We knew that was what smokeblower was hired for and nothing we can say is going to change that. Enjoy the new EQ2 :/
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Darkcircle
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I agree with Teron on this point. So what? its a race only “Mount” that flies, and looks like bats. So… Um once players can quest for there own flying mount(s) is anyone really going to bother crying then?
Now on the other hand, if i were to start playing the Freeblood race and it gave me the ability to fly at level one. With no extra help from a mount. then I’d be really pissed off.
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Rhymes
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I am getting really fed up with SOE, bad GUs, SF was bad, delayed and forgotten promisses, taking the money of us subscribers every month and then trying to make us pay for every extra.
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Iskandar
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As someone with around five or six Fae/Arasai toons spread over my accounts, I honestly am not bothered by the lack of innate flight capability. Sure, I’d *love* for them to have it by default… but it doesn’t bother me that they don’t, because right now they *don’t* fly — they *glide.*
If a Fae runs off a cliff, they will fall, just like a Human or Ogre — they just fall more slowly and with much more style and grace than a Human or Ogre, without all the panicked screaming and flailing. 😀
And without that $25 Marketplace mount, a Freeblood running off that same cliff will fall to his death right alongside the Human and Ogre… while my Fae will slowly glide to a gentle landing beside them. And then check their carcasses for shinies. 😉
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Voleur
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Thats just what the mount IS though – extra. No one HAS to buy it – just like existing subscribers don’t HAVE to buy the vampire race. All existing subscribers who buy the xpac by Dec 2011 get it for free, anyway.
I don’t see what all of the whining is about. Honestly, the vampires being able to buy a flying mount isn’t a big deal. Am I buying it? HELL no. I’ll quest for one rather than waste my money, just like I’m going to wait for February for the race rather than spend 55$ to make my main into a Vampire. But it doesn’t bother me when other people choose to waste 20$, 25$, 50$ or even 100$ on station cash items.
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Twisted_Mentat
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just hope soe realise that an illusion form to allow the apearance of arasi flights is all people want (even if only in unseelie form), and give em one of those as an option.
as for vamps, i’ll worry only after i get my free unloc from buying velious (assuming SOE don’t put a stupid time limitation onto the 3rd activation/reward)
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Feldon
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It will be hilarious if this is bugged and we find a mount which has no business flying which we’re able to use. Flying rhinos FTW.
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Icecrash99
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agreed!!!!
Flying Rhinos FTW!!!
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Rasbo
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Why dont SOE staff sale “special ability” for Fae/Arasai and “special motions” for another species ?
It seems good chance to get $$.
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Striinger
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With appearance mounts any mount should be flyable shouldn’t it? Flying mount in 1st slot + rhino in appearance.
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Iskandar
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It’s been mentioned that only flying mounts can be used as appearance mounts when your active mount is capable of flight — so no flying rhinos and bears 😛 I’m not sure if the carpets, disks, and clouds will be useable tho.
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