Feldon Last summer, EQ2 player Errrorr created a thread championing a new type of player mount — ducks. For forty-three pages, hilarity ensued. However the thread was put to bed by lead animator Tom “ttobey” Tobey in January of this year when it became clear from higher ups that we’d likely never get such a mount. Theories were bandied about that sales of the bunny mounts had not been sufficient to justify their development effort. It may have been felt that these more frivolous and genre-bending mounts just didn’t resonate with players. Personally I stick with flying appearance mounts so I don’t lose the stats of my primary flying mount. Equipping a bunny mount would cost me significant benefits for my character. Further analysis of the timing of events would suggest another possible reason why duck mounts were initially shot down. But either way, fast forward three months and duck mounts are now a reality!
NOTE: Yellow duck mounts will ONLY be available for two weeks (until May 19th, 2015).
From the EQ2 Forums:
What’s quackin’, Norrathians?
It’s been a long time coming, but the moment many of you have been waiting for has FINALLY hatched… duck mounts are now available in the Marketplace!
The Quacken (yellow), Waterfowl (mallard), Midnight Waterfowl (black), and Winter Waterfowl (white) can all be found in the EverQuest II Marketplace for 1950 Daybreak Cash.
While the three Waterfowls are permanent additions to the Marketplace, The Quacken is a special edition mount that will be flying away soon! This bird of a different feather is only available for two weeks, and will migrate away from the Marketplace at noon Pacific on Tuesday, May 19, 2015.
Want to learn more about the real cost of developing these duck mounts? It’s ain’t all it’s quacked up to be! Take an inside peek of our studio in the video.
Commentary
Whether you like the idea of giant duck mounts in a semi-realistic high fantasy game such as EQ2 — the giant eagles in The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings being example A of readily accepted oversized avians in “serious” literature — I have to say Tom Tobey has injected as much humor as he can to cut the tension and engage players in a hilarious discussion. If only mechanics, itemization, and raid progression threads could be free of such hostilities!
For those wondering what the next player-suggested mount will be, Tom Tobey did post that they’re taking some time off from player-submitted mount ideas for now and will be introducing some of their own.
I have all mounts hidden, and I probably won’t use it, but I’m definitely buying a duck mount.
I want to show my support to ttobey for listening to the players and giving us what we want. (He was also responsible for creating the new forum avatars)
Ttobey gets it, and for that I’m grateful, and will show my support with my money.
Awesome stuff. I bagged myself The Quacken. Super cute. Lets have some plushie / pet versions too!
Wonder what the next crazy mount will be? I’ve been saying for awhile a Qho Augren mount, riding on his back piggy back stylee as a fitting punishment for all that running around, fetching and carrying he’s made my fleet of toons do down the years!
we will give you what you want as long as its a cosmetic item that can be purchased outside of your subscription.
nice!
What the duck?
Love the yellow guy but I’ll be buying a mallard – I’ve had a pet mallard duck called Timothy in my house since I launch – I bought him for my little Temple Street Inn room (it didn’t feel right having a cat as a Ratonga) and I still have him today. I want to support player driven development, whatever it is.
Fluff things like this don’t do any harm if you aren’t interested in them, but make a lot of people very happy.
I do agree, however, that it would be wonderful if more game mechanic type stuff was so easily and productively discussed in proper two-way conversation with the appropriate devs.
Agreed Pip.
I’m going to have to privately facepalm a little more often than usual, now.
I’ll be getting the Mallard probably, but the dark one is creeping up on my favorite list as well.. Thanks again for making these.
I did not see an option to buy the black one. All the others are there to buy but not blackie.
Have to scroll up to find it.
Thanks Feldon. Found it.
BAH! I’d still rather have a Giant Bat mount. THAT I’d pay for, though if ducks are your cup of tea then more power to you, it’s just not for me.
Nope not going to do it. Spend time on the game please.
Art department creations do not take away from the time needed to code content.
Deveryn, it’s bad enough I have to read your sycophantic responses in the “not so official forums.” You would think that I could have some peace here. Oh well.
I won’t reply directly to your comment because I have learned that it will always be the same response from you and I have no time or want to see you opinion since it carries no weight with me. How could it when it’s always the same? I choose to not read anything you write on the regular forums and would suggest that you allow me the same courtesy.
He’s right though….. choose to spend or not, but don’t be unhappy about it. Regardless its money in the coffers of the game studio and they will have the high level tag of EQ2 players spending $, so its all good. I struggle to see a down side to this.
This game needed a new mount ? (They look good though, I give ém that :))
I have them disabled because most of them are obnoxious big and are in the way during raids or group action. I’d rather have more nice appearance gear or something.