Feldon
Beastlords may be the most complex, configurable, dynamic class in EQ2 for the foreseeable future. To try to explain this class without using screenshots is damn near impossible. And due to the surviving conditions of the NDA, we are forbidden to use any of our screenshots. So we are going to wait another day so we can start putting out complete articles that fully explain the Beastlord class, Reforging, Mercenaries, etc. with pictures. In the mean time, we leave you with these artistic impressions of the Beastlord interface…
Year: 2011
On last night’s EQ2Talk Podcast, Dave “SmokeJumper” Georgeson shared his thoughts about the importance of player feedback. We provide a transcription of the segment from 7:55~12:15. In the past, we’ve been a little heavy handed on a few things. I admit that. We’re trying to be really serious this year about getting you guys [all the players] involved in a lot of stuff. Traditionally, the game has been… you know we try to communicate on the forums, but you know what the forums are like. It’s a challenge. The trolls enjoy their game. And it’s tough to fight them...
Here’s some news we weren’t expecting. EQ2Talk‘s Dellmon and Aliscious have interviewed Dave “SmokeJumper” Georgeson about the upcoming Age of Discovery expansion. Dellmon hasn’t been one to pull punches, so I’m listening to this podcast as I post this article. Episode #36 – Smoke Signals recorded on Dec 3 EQ2 Talk is thrilled to be joined by Dave “SmokeJumper” Georgeson, EverQuest franchise Executive Producer. This episode covers a lot of ground on things players have seen over the past year, from rebalancing content, to gear and stat changes, to EQ2’s free-to-play conversion. We ask him about some of the more...
A late night tweet from Domino indicates that the last batch of players who signed up for the Age of Discovery beta and signed the NDA are now welcome to try out the beta. There was a glitch with some of the invite emails but if you fit the above, download the Beta patcher anyway and give it a try! Everyone who registered can get into beta but some emails were delayed 🙁 The last should be catching up now. Patcher: ow.ly/7NH4i EQ2 Beta Launcher EQ2 Beta Streaming Launcher Note: Once the patcher starts, you should copy the paks...
From the EQ2 Forums: EverQuest II Behind the Scenes Videos: Beast Lord Warders & Mercenaries We’ve got a special treat for you! Check out our two new EverQuest II behind-the-scenes videos, covering two of the awesome features coming with the new expansion: Age of Discovery! That’s right – we’re be taking an inside look at beast lords and mercenaries! Beastlord Warders by Akil “Lyndro” Hooper Mercenaries by Carlos “Gninja” Mora Direct Links: http://youtu.be/AOhi4_g82oM & http://youtu.be/vCt4sI-Hcps
We are happy to present our EQ2Wire Exclusive: Beastlord Warders Guide. Check it out!
As of 6:20pm PST last night (3:20am my time), an announcement (also here) indicating that the Age of Discovery NDA has lifted. As we found out last year, this doesn’t actually mean the whole NDA has been lifted. Due to a Survivorship clause, in fact just two passages of the two page document have been rescinded. We are allowed to talk about what we experienced in Beta. The gag order is lifted. We get our voice back. But anything else such as quotes from the Beta forums, screenshots, videos, etc. are still verboten. Now there’s a noble goal behind...
From EverQuest2.com: We are extremely pleased to bring you the new Dungeon Maker feature set. For the first time, you and your fellow players can create new content for the game, play through a constantly changing list of player-created dungeons, and get rewards whether you are a dungeon builder, adventurer, or both! We recently ran groups of press folks through a “tour” of the Freeport revamp and the AoD feature set. We ended each tour with a demo of Dungeon Maker and what it could do, and we were met with a lot of excitement about the potential once...
Originally posted November 29, 2011 at 7:12pm From EverQuest2.com today, December 1st: Last week, several news outlets participated in the EverQuest II: Age of Discovery and Freeport Reborn Game Update Beta Press Tours. They got sneak previews of the exciting features and content that are coming out with our newest expansion and game update, all set to release on December 6, 2011. With the lifting of the Press Embargo promptly on November 29th @ 4:00pm PST, Press sites are now posting their previews of the upcoming EverQuest II: Age of Discovery expansion which releases on December 6th, 2011.
From SmokeJumper on the EQ2 Forums: I’ve said this before, but it gets lost on these boards, so I’ll throw it out there one more time. Warning: This isn’t short. The second half of Velious was designed to be a separate expansion pack. We fully intended *and started* to create “Velious Part II” so we could launch it next year. But we decided it would be a lot cooler, and honestly, a lot better business, to release new content constantly throughout the year, so that you always have something new to look forward to and to play, rather than...
From the EQ2 Forums: IMPORTANT: NEW DATE! The new Launcher will go to Beta tomorrow (Wednesday, November 30), and to Live on Thursday, December 1, 2011
If you thought all the bases had been covered on Character Slots with November 12th’s announcement about the Free-to-Play conversion of EQ2, there was one group who still had questions. These players are in the unique position of having characters on both the EQ2 and EQ2X servers AND having also bought character slots. If you feel a math headache coming on, feel free to run away. To quote SmokeJumper “This situation only affects players that have characters *both* on Live server(s) and EQ2X.If you don’t have characters on Freeport, then this is a non-issue.”
SOE are getting quick posting their Webcast videos. Below, find the video from tonight’s SOE Webcast for the upcoming Age of Discovery expansion:
The SOE Webcast has just completed with Dave “SmokeJumper” Georgeson (Executive Producer), Greg “Rothgar” Spence (Lead Programmer), Akil “Lyndro” Hooper (Lead Designer), and Emily “Domino” Taylor (Associate Producer), along with host Linda “Brasse” Carlson (Director, Global Community Relations). It was brief, to say the least, mostly because it was immediately followed by a DCUO webcast (whose audience showed up during the EQ2 webcast and trashed everyone including SOE and demanded that the DCUO webcast start immediately). During the entire webcast, Brasse’s microphone was subject to bursts of static and wind noise making it very difficult to hear. We’ll look...
With tomorrow’s Launchpad 4 rollout, we’re still going to lose the ability to Select a Character from the launcher, it won’t offer Text and Voice Chat or a Friends list, and it won’t provide Background Updates, but that doesn’t mean these features aren’t planned. With the removal of Flash and reliance for Internet Explorer, the new launcher should boast better security. And according to a detailed FAQ provided by Dan Kinney, it looks like there are some workarounds to keep some of that Station Launcher functionality for the time being. From Dan Kinney on the Launchpad Forums: While I...
Well, we’ve been ready to post this for a few hours now and have just been waiting for the Update Notes. But the servers just went down and there are still no notes. From the EQ2 Forums: All U.S. servers will come down for a hotfix at 7am PST on Tuesday, November 29, 2011. The expected downtime is two hours. From Isulith on the EQ2 Forums: I am terribly sorry that someone did not post the patch notes. Just to explain a bit, since this has come up in the past – someone on the development side usually posts...
Starting on Wednesday, November 30th Thursday, December 1st the following launchers/launchpads/patchers will no longer update EQ2 but instead automagically update themselves to Launchpad 4: Original EQ2.exe (Retail Launcher) Station Launcher (multi-game launcher) EQ2 Streaming Launcher (LP3 Streaming) EQ2 Launchpad 3 (LP3 Full) From SmokeJumper on the EQ2 Forums: Hi folks, As you know, there’s a ton of new stuff coming to you soon. And soon starts now! The first step is a LaunchPad upgrade. Starting on Wednesday (November 30, 2011) Thursday December 1st, LaunchPad will be updated automatically for you when you log in. We’re doing it now so...
Press & Fan Sites If you’re wanting to get the word out about your MMO’s upcoming expansion, you’d be a turkey to not focus your attention on multi-game MMO websites. Employing correspondents that attend gaming expos around the globe, these “Press” sites have come to expect a certain degree of red carpet treatment. If I told most game publishers that I could guarantee a scribe from a popular website would show up to their event and write something (anything) about their game, and all it would take is throwing in airfare, hotel, press passes, and maybe an exclusive meet-and-greet...
Some of you may be familiar with Adam “Ferrel” Trzonkowski, if not by name than from reading his gaming perspective site EpicSlant.com or from hearing the “A View From the Top” podcast which he co-hosted with Massively’s Karen Bryan, or perhaps his current Multiverse Podcast. What you may not know is that Adam is also a published author! Earlier this year, Adam put down into words his many years of experience as a guild leader in a How To guide called The Guild Leader’s Companion. Containing tips, suggestions, and humorous anecdotes, it’s a virtual manual for running a guild...
From the Society for the Preservation of Superlatives EverQuest2.com: Let’s journey down the path to the Age of Discovery! Join Dave “SmokeJumper” Georgeson (Executive Producer), Greg “Rothgar” Spence (Lead Programmer), Akil “Lyndro” Hooper (Lead Designer), and Emily “Domino” Taylor (Associate Producer), along with your host Linda “Brasse” Carlson (Director, Global Community Relations), to learn all about the thrilling features due in EverQuest II’s next expansion, Age of Discovery. We’ll also share a little insight into the Beta process, how the team has been using your feedback, and what changes are being made! Join us on Tuesday, November 29, 2011, at...
From EverQuest2.com: We know you’ll probably be stuffing your face with Turkey over the next few days, so why not also stuff your experience bars? That’s right – we’re having a Double XP weekend! This weekend, from 12:01 am PST on Thursday, November 24th, until 11:59 pm PST on November 27th, we will be running a true Double XP (+100% XP) promotion. The bonus applies to AA, tradeskill and adventure experience this weekend. Our French, German, Japanese, and Test Servers will also be enjoying the increase in XP gain. Huzzah! So have a very Happy Thanksgiving and when you’re...
From EverQuest2.com: SOE would like to take this opportunity to wish all of those who are celebrating Thanksgiving a very happy one this year! May you all have a great holiday, be safe, drink beer eat hearty and game hard! Please note that Customer Support will be closed on Thursday, November 24, 2011 so our employees may spend the holiday with their families. On Friday, November 25, phone support will be closed but Live Chat and Email Support will be available during our normal business horus. Email chat will be available as usual on Saturday, November 26, 2011. To...
So I wanted an EverQuest II: Age of Discovery wallpaper for my desktop. I change wallpapers often, and thought hey, I’d like to get in the mood. Usually by this point, we’ve received some promotional material for the upcoming expansion, namely high resolution wallpapers, screenshots, etc. Since I haven’t seen hide nor hair of anything like that, I put together my own 16:9 widescreen EverQuest II: Age of Discovery wallpaper using key art provided to Zam. This is an unofficial wallpaper, but if you’d like to adorn your desktop, feel free to download! Download Age of Discovery Wallpaper (1476...
The US Servers will come down on November 22, 2011, at 7:00 am PST for an update. The expected downtime is two hours. From the EQ2 Forums: GENERAL Assets can no longer be listed for auction on Live Gamer servers. It seems unlikely that 2 hours of maintenance on every server are needed to push a change to two servers. Perhaps some database maintenance/changes are making made, or some other preparation for the upcoming expansion.
Last night, Linda “Brasse” Carlson (Director, Global Community Relations), Greg “Rothgar” Spence (EQ2 Lead Programmer) and Akil “Lyndro” Hooper (EQ2 Lead Designer) hosted a Webcast about the upcoming Dungeon Maker feature (previously known as Design Your Own Dungeon) in the upcoming EverQuest II: Age of Discovery expansion. Note: Dave “SmokeJumper” Georgeson was not able to make the webcast. Note 2: For the first ~5 minutes of the webcast, Rothgar’s mic was not working at all. At this point, he and Brasse started sharing a microphone. Note 3: Throughout the webcast, Rothgar refers to the Avatars you use to play...