From EverQuest2.com:

Greetings, fair Norrathians!

The team has been busier than a pack of Brownies in a bag of catnip! There’s plenty coming up this year, so let’s get right to it, shall we?!

First, on Tuesday, May 2nd we are launching the first of our Level 100 Co-opetition Challenges in the Proving Grounds! What the heck is “co-opetition”? Well…Cooperative Competition, of course!

In teams, you can compete side-by-side with other groups – and even sabotage their progress – as you mow through baddies so you can win! Why win? For new loot and bragging rights! We will start with one Co-opetition Challenge and switch it out with a new match type or layout periodically. Woot!

US Servers: 7:00~9:00am PDT | 10:00am~Noon EDT | 15:00~17:00 BST | 16:00~18:00 CET
EU Servers: 9:00~11:00pm PDT | Midnight~2:00am EDT | 05:00~07:00 BST | 06:00~08:00 CET

From the EQ2 Forums:

POPULATION / ZONE PROGRESSION
Vaedenmoor: Realm of Despair [Raid]

• The number of adds in the Raenha, Sister of Remorse encounter should no longer grow for each successful threshold passed.
• The number of adds in the Raenha, Sister of Remorse encounter required to be killed if the script is failed should no longer grow.
• Deaths in the Raenha, Sister of Remorse encounter still affect add numbers.
• Respawn speed on adds in the Raenha, Sister of Remorse encounter are no longer affected by reuse debuffs (in players’ favor).
• All adds in the Raenha encounter now count toward the add count mechanic.

Ruins of Kaesora: Ancient Xalgozian Temple [Raid]

• Xalgoz should now send a warning message for his event at 5%.

From the EQ2 Forums:

The votes are in and tallied! 65% of players voted to unlock Sentinel’s Fate which will become available in early May.

Players noticed this event had gone live this morning. Here’s the news from the EverQuest2.com:

Hail Norrathians,

Are you working to level up your Ascension classes? If so, you’re in luck because you’ll get TWO Ascension Scrolls every time you visit your Ascension trainer until Thursday, April 20, 2017 at 11:59PM PDT.

Not sure what an Ascension Class is? Check out the full write up on Ascension Classes here.

Not sure where Ascension Trainers are?

• Chosooth, Thaumaturgist Master – Located in Crusaders’ Cave in Obulus Frontier
• Miragul, Etherealist Master – Located in Nye’Caelona in Obulus Frontier
• Najena, Elementalist Master – Located in Crusaders’ Cave in Obulus Frontier
• Aranolh Tol’Ren, Terramancer Master – Located in Nye’Caelona in Obulus Frontier

 

How will YOU take best advantage of double Ascension Scrolls?

From EverQuest2.com:

Every year when the time is just right, Tunare whispers to the world that Spring is here. Magic overflows and the flora and fauna rejoice in this season of birth and renewal. Across Norrath, flowers bloom and animals frolic in exuberant celebration.

Inspired by all the spring excitement Beast’r Eggs have started to hatch and explore the world around them. Some of you may already have spied them hiding around Norrath, and if you’re lucky enough to find one, go interact with it and the egg will become your newest cosmetic pet!

There are 5 different Beast’r Eggs (Frisky, Cheeky, Lovely, Cheery, and Bumbly) and each one has its own unique coloring!

You’ll only be able to find these Beast’r Eggs until midnight on Wednesday, April 19th, 2017, but If you aren’t able to find one or fill out your collection, never fear! From Thursday the 20th until 11:59 PM PT April 30th, they’ll find their way on to the Marketplace.

This event went live yesterday but is just now having news posted about it:

Beast'r is on it's way! Hop in and check things out! https://t.co/EfrcjPk5Uq

— EverQuest II (@everquestii) April 14, 2017

US Servers: 7:00~9:00am PDT | 10:00am~Noon EDT | 15:00~17:00 BST | 16:00~18:00 CET
EU Servers: 9:00~11:00pm PDT | Midnight~2:00am EDT | 05:00~07:00 BST | 06:00~08:00 CET

From the EQ2 Forums:

POPULATION / ZONE PROGRESSION
Arcanna’se Spire: Order and Chaos [Raid]

• Shanaira the Prestigious has had her messaging tweaked for clarity.

Vaedenmoor: Realm of Despair [Raid]

• The Hemorrhage spell should now correctly apply its damage portion of the failure condition during the Setri Lureth encounter.

Lost City of Torsis: The Spectral Market [Expert]

• The doors at the back of The Spectral Market now send you to Crusader’s Cave in Obulus Frontier instead of Kunzar Jungle.

ABILITIES

• Master’s Interpose will now only trigger up to 15 damage reflections before it needs to be recast, and will only trigger on hits greater than 20% of the target’s maximum health.
• Coordinated Wounds will now only apply to targets currently engaged in combat with the group.
• Glacial Freeze now reduces effective level at all spell tiers.
• Increased the duration on higher tiers of Glacial Freeze.

STORMHOLD

• Reduced Combat Mitigation debuffs when the caster is below level 100 in preparation for an upcoming TLE update.

EverQuest II: The Shadow Odyssey expansion unlocked on the Stormhold Time-Locked Expansion server on January 12th. Now it’s time for the first vote about whether EverQuest II’s sixth expansion “Sentinel’s Fate” should unlock!

From the EQ2 Forums:

It’s that time again for the Time Locked Expansion server!

The vote is happening right now so if you want to experience The Sundered Frontier or forge your way into Paineel, voice your opinion! Voting will remain open until April 14th.

Venser has posted an epic video championing the unlock and asking for your vote:

US Servers: 7:00~9:00am PDT | 10:00am~Noon EDT | 15:00~17:00 BST | 16:00~18:00 CET

EU Servers: 9:00~11:00pm PDT | Midnight~2:00am EDT | 05:00~07:00 BST | 06:00~08:00 CET

From the EQ2 Forums:

POPULATION / ZONE PROGRESSION
Raids

• Adds in most tier 4 encounters have had their combat mitigation reduced.

Vaedenmoor: Heart of Nightmares [Raid]

• Adds in the Warden of Nightmare encounters have had their respawn timers corrected to intended values.
• Corrected an issue that occasionally caused 4 adds per round instead of the intended 3 in the Warden of Nightmares encounter.

US Servers: 7:00~9:00am PDT | 10:00am~Noon EDT | 15:00~17:00 BST | 16:00~18:00 CET EU Servers: 9:00~11:00pm PDT | Midnight~2:00am EDT | 05:00~07:00 BST | 06:00~08:00 CET

From the EQ2 Forums:

ZONES / POPULATION
Kaesora: Xalgozian Stronghold [Solo, Heroic, Expert Heroic]

• Over-General Vihgoh should no longer path into the walls when idle and not being attacked.

ITEMS

• Monk and Bruiser TSO raid set 6-piece bonus (riposte chance) now stacks properly with their class focus effects.
• Warlock TSO raid set 2-piece bonus now grants some additional damage to Apocalypse.
• Several TSO tradeskill items that had a required level of 82 have been correctly set to level 80.
• Several items in Kurn’s Tower have had their stats upgraded slightly to match items from Ward of Elements.

QUESTS

• Vanishing Act – Damaging “a visage of fear” too quickly will no longer prevent the quest from updating.

ACHIEVEMENTS

• Shanaira the Prestigious in Arcanna’se Spire: Order and Chaos [Raid] should now correctly update personal achievements.
• All bosses within Crypt of Dalnir: The Kly Stronghold [Expert-Raid] and Arcanna’se Spire: Order and Chaos [Expert-Raid] should now award flawless achievements.
• Corrected an issue that caused the guild achievement for defeating Setri Lureth to not update correctly.

US Servers: 7:00~9:00am PDT | 10:00am~Noon EDT | 14:00~16:00 GMT | 15:00~17:00 CET
EU Servers: 9:00~11:00pm PDT | Midnight~2:00am EDT | 04:00~06:00 GMT | 05:00~07:00 CET

From the EQ2 Forums:

ZONES / POPULATION

• Encounters from Kunark Ascending should no longer periodically remain stuck in a stunned or rooted state.

Castle Highhold [All Versions]

• Defeating Gudre Blackhand too quickly will no longer prevent him from dying by chandelier.

Lost City of Torsis [All Versions]

• Meld of Vapor will no longer chain cast Spell Diffusion.

US Servers: 7:00~9:00am PDT | 10:00am~Noon EDT | 14:00~16:00 GMT | 15:00~17:00 CEST EU Servers: 9:00~11:00pm PDT | Midnight~2:00am EDT | 04:00~06:00 GMT | 05:00~07:00 CEST

From the EQ2 Forums:

ZONES / POPULATION
Defeating the final boss in Kunark Ascending [Solo] and [Advanced Solo] instances now grant bonus experience.

Expert Zones
All expert versions of heroic and raid zones will now exit players to Obulus Frontier near the portal summoner. Normal versions of the zones will continue to exit players into their respective entrance locations.

Kaesora: Tomb of the Venerated [All Versions]
Implosion will no longer break Chatizad’s and Zannaska’s pathing.

Lost City of Torsis: The Shrouded Temple [Heroic]
The Meld of Haze should now return to combat after all group members are cleared of Lost in the Fog

Brokenskull Bay: Hoist the Yellow Jack [Heroic]
Adventurers are given more time to stop damaging Captain Krasnok before he and his crew becomes epic.

Arcanna’se Spire: Order and Chaos [Raid]
Shanaira the Prestigious has had her combat mitigation reduced to account for recent changes based on values a full raid of fully geared tier 3 raid force with max ascension levels would be able to overcome.

Vaedenmoor, Realm of Despair [Raid]
Setri Lureth has had her combat mitigation reduced to account for recent changes based on values a full raid of fully geared tier 3 raid force with max ascension levels would be able to overcome.

Arcanna’se Spire: Order and Chaos [Expert-Raid]
Sporous Plants and Magic Mushrooms in the Botanist Heridal encounter have had their health reduced.

Lost City of Torsis: Reaver’s Remnants [Expert Challenge]
Neh’Ashiir has had her health lowered to a more realistic value.

ABILITIES
Retribution of the Fallen will now only increase damage for profession spells.
Implosions combo will now trigger off of the initial hit instead of the final hit.
Corrected an issue that prevented Wildfire from triggering its combo on certain tiers of encounters.
Corrected an issue that prevented Scorched Earth from triggering its combo on certain tiers of encounters.

Epics
Awakened Epic abilities will no longer be removed when betraying.
Awakened Epic abilities no longer have a plat or status cost to purchase from Polúmetis.

QUESTS
Clinical Trials for Trees – Applying Merza’s Sick Tree Ointment to the trees is easier now for those on mounts.
Path to Understanding – Deletion of the quest will now remove the Fetish of Leadership from the character’s inventory.
Shellfish Ambassador – Offering shellfish to an ulthork will no longer have a chance of immediately angering the target.
The Shadow Odyssey, Chapter 5: Breaking the Chains – The dimensional anchor in Obelisk of Ahkzul has been overhauled. It should now consistently update the quest when destroyed with the Staff of Theer equipped, even when it is destroyed in one hit.
Thumpy Sticks – The crafted “thumpy stick” now correctly identifies that it is associated with this quest.
Clinical Trials for Trees – Applying Merza’s Sick Tree Ointment to the trees should now stop the poison mist from reappearing.
Finding Dolas – The Golden Shackle of Mist drop should now update in Lost City of Torsis: The Shrouded Temple [Expert – Event]

Arcanna’se Spire: Forgotten Sanctum [Heroic]
“The Five Chambers of Protection” has had its required time of completion increased from 6 minutes to 12 minutes.

Crypt of Dalnir: Baron’s Workshop [Heroic]
“Put to Rest” has had its required time of completion increased from 8 minutes to 16 minutes.

ITEMS
The Sovereign’s Medal – Item description now states that “Sarya Val’Sara, a Nye’Caelona merchant in Obulus Frontier” is the merchant that accepts these coin.
Expert’s Channeled Shadow Neckguard has had its potency value corrected
Expert’s Bracelet of Bones has had its potency value corrected
Wrist rewards from the quest Hook, Line, and… Anchor? may now be equipped at level 80.
The 3-piece bonus on the Volcanic Percussion set now grants higher bonuses to keep in progression with previous sets.
The 4-piece bonus on the TSO Mystic raid set now debuffs strength instead of multiattack (which raid mobs no longer use).
Several charms in Kurn’s Tower that were previously class restricted are now usable by all classes.

The 4-piece TSO raid set bonus for Wizards now grants 15% additional base damage to Fusion II.

I have been remiss in reporting on this, as the bombshell came nearly a month ago. Emily “Domino” Taylor, Tradeskill maven in EverQuest II for nearly a decade, will be leaving Daybreak Games and heading home to her native Canada. John Smedley leaked the news on Twitter in advance of Emily’s planned announcement. Anyone who follows her on Twitter has A) learned a lot about baking and B) knows that she endured a month’s stranding in Canada by US Customs in December 2015/January 2016 despite having a valid work visa. After that unbelievable inconvenience, it seems more than plausible that she has seen the immigration crackdowns of our current President and made an executive decision of her own.

Domino has made her mark on EQ2 since 2008, adding Tradeskill and other content to nearly every expansion since. In 2012, she did accept a position at Trion to help launch the Television-MMO crossover game Defiance. It’s always good to have more than one game on your résumé. Then, when she came back to SOE, she was able to hit the ground running and continue to add fun content that players have enjoyed. She introduced countless Quality-of-Life improvements to Tradeskills, introduced Tradeskill Epic quests, and overall raised the profile and value of crafting in EQ2.

MassivelyOP’s MJ Guthrie has conducted an interview with Domino which we are happy to link to here:

MassivelyOP — EVERQUESTING: THE DOMINO EFFECT ON DAYBREAK AND EVERQUEST II

After the jump, a couple of funny photos…

US Servers: 7:00~9:00am PST | 10:00am~Noon EST | 15:00~17:00 GMT | 16:00~18:00 CET
EU Servers: 9:00~11:00pm PST | Midnight~2:00am EST | 05:00~07:00 GMT | 06:00~08:00 CET

From the EQ2 Forums:

POPULATION / ZONE PROGRESSION
General

• Corrected an issue with expert zone encounter mitigation where it was not applying the full mitigation package for some encounters.

Raids

• Corrected an issue that caused all players zoning into the Crypt of Dalnir: The Kly Stronghold [Expert-Raid] and Arcanna’se Spire: Order and Chaos [Expert-Raid] to be put into their own instance.
• Xalgoz should no longer cast his heals during the few seconds he is looking for a new target.
• Boss progression in expert raid zones have become a bit more strict. For example, the first boss needs to be defeated before raiders can fight second boss, etc.

After eight and a half years, it is time for me to step back and see if there is anyone else in the EverQuest II community with writing ability and a desire to lend their voice to this site. I have barely played EQ2 in the last few years and it shows in the lack of coverage exhibited. Other than Update Notes, there has been limited discussion about the Kunark Ascending expansion, the race to discover Epic 2.0 Weapons, Public Quests, Burnt Keys, and all other elements of gameplay which EverQuest II players wish to know about. Keeping this site running without actually covering the game does a great disservice to readers who wish to stay informed about the happenings in Norrath, and so I find it necessary to find another writer to carry the torch.

From EverQuest2.com:

The dungeons and raids of Kunark Ascending are now even more dangerous! Today, with the introduction of Expert dungeons and raids, players will be able to experience a more challenging version of this great content.

Speak to Prissaia, the Expert Dungeon Portal Summoner, within Crusdaers’ Cave in the Obulus Frontier zone to begin an Expert instance.

The following dungeons are now available in Expert Mode:

• Arcanna’se Spire: Vessel of the Sorceress
• Arcanna’se Spire: Forgotten Sanctum
• Arcanna’se Spire: Repository of Secrets
• Kaesora: Tomb of the Venerated
• Kaesora: Xalgozian Stronghold
• The Ruins of Cabilis
• Crypt of Dalnir: Wizard’s Den
• Crypt of Dalnir: Ritual Chamber
• Crypt of Dalnir: Baron’s Workshop
• Lost City of Torsis: The Shrouded Temple
• Lost City of Torsis: Reaver’s Remnants
• Lost City of Torsis: The Spectral Market

The following raids are also now available in Expert Mode:

• Arcanna’se Spire: Order and Chaos
• Crypt of Dalnir: The Kly Stronghold

With greater risk comes greater rewards, and each of these dungeons/raids will provide better loot drops for their completion. Begin your adventure today and see if you have the expertise to face these new challenges.

I’d heard some of this information from the Discord chat but I’ve been asked not to repost said information here until it’s official. So, here’s the official thingy from the EQ2 Forums:

ASCENSION
Members now receive five bonus Guided Ascension scrolls per week from the Ascension masters. When these bonus scrolls are claimed you will be not be able to receive any more bonus scrolls for six days and 20 hours.
Ascension Masters will now continue to grant Guided Ascension scrolls until all four Ascension classes are level 10. You are still limited to one scroll per day.

EXPERT ZONES
Expert zones are more challenging versions of all current Kunark Ascending heroic zones, as well as the tier one, two, and three raid encounters in the Crypt of Dalnir: The Kly Stronghold and Arcanna’se Spire: Order and Chaos raid zones. Expert zone encounters drop more powerful items. All current heroic missions will update within the appropriate expert zones and grant an extra reward if completed utilizing an expert zone.

Speak to Prissaia <Expert Dungeon Portal Summoner> within Crusaders’ Cave in Obulus Frontier to venture to these new instances.

This survey seems to be going out to certain EQ2 players and apparently it will be sent out on a semi-periodic basis, perhaps quarterly. I received a copy on each of the e-mail addresses associated with my accounts:

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the EverQuest II development team is developing the game?

• Approve
• Disapprove
• No Opinion

2. How would you rate your enjoyment playing the latest expansion, Kunark Ascending?

• Highly Enjoyable
• Enjoyable
• Neither Enjoyable Nor Unenjoyable
• Unenjoyable
• Highly Unenjoyable
• I have not played this expansion

From the EQ2 Forums:

POPULATION / ZONE PROGRESSION
Tower of Frozen Shadow [X2 Raid]

• Tserrina should no longer be able to be killed, bypassing her exit script.

ABILITIES / ALTERNATE ADVANCEMENT

• Primary and Swarm pets will now share 20% of the casters DPS stat, and 100% of the casters strikethrough.
• Combos involving Telluric Rending and Terrestrial Coffin will now properly trigger.

QUESTS

• Ornate metal lamps for the quest “Key to Curing the Spellpox” should be a bit easier to find.
• Geobotany – Gathering 100 crystal dusts no longer spams updates. It now only updates the quest on the 100th crystal dust gathered.

PUBLIC QUESTS

• Reduced hitpoints on Jaled Dar’s Shade, The Iksar Hero and The Omen Feeder.

EverQuest II’s fifth expansion The Shadow Odyssey unlocked on the Stormhold [Time-Locked Expansion] server on January 12th. Now, players are being asked whether they want to see TSO’s post-expansion content unlocked.

From the EQ2 Forums:

Now is the time to make your voice heard! Vote now on whether you would like to unlock Kurn’s Tower, Charasis, and 4 raid zones in The Shadow Odyssey expansion. This vote will remain open until next Friday so vote now!

After various server crashes last night on Halls of Fate, we now have an unscheduled downtime today for all EQ2 servers.

From the EQ2 Forums:

All US Servers will come down at 2 PM PT for a brief update to address a few outstanding issues. Downtime is anticipated to be less than 2 hours.

The EU server will come offline at 9 PM PT (5 AM UTC) for the same update. Downtime is anticipated to be less than 2 hours.

From the EQ2 Forums:

From the EQ2 Forums:

Don’t miss your chance to take up to 50% OFF classic Marketplace items, before they’re gone. Love it… or leave it… because all of the items that are part of this sale will go into the Norrathian Vault on Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at 11:59PM PST.

Want to see what’s on sale? All items that are part of this sale can be found in the “Vault” category tab in the Marketplace.

Happy bargain hunting, Norrathians!

From the EQ2 Forums:

Hail Norrathians,

Are you working to level up your Ascension classes? If so, you’re in luck because you’ll get TWO Ascension Scrolls every time you visit your Ascension trainer until Sunday, February 26, 2017 at 11:59PM PST.

Not sure what an Ascension Class is? Check out the full write up on Ascension Classes here.

Not sure where Ascension Trainers are?

• Chosooth, Thaumaturgist Master – Located in Crusaders’ Cave in Obulus Frontier
• Miragul, Etherealist Master – Located in Nye’Caelona in Obulus Frontier
• Najena, Elementalist Master – Located in Crusaders’ Cave in Obulus Frontier
• Aranolh Tol’Ren, Terramancer Master – Located in Nye’Caelona in Obulus Frontier

How will YOU take best advantage of double Ascension Scrolls?

US Servers: 7:00~9:00am PST | 10:00am~Noon EST | 15:00~17:00 GMT | 16:00~18:00 CET

EU Servers: 9:00~11:00pm PST | Midnight~2:00am EST | 05:00~07:00 GMT | 06:00~08:00 CET

From the EQ2 Forums:

POPULATION / ZONE PROGRESSION
Arcanna’se Spire: Forgotten Sanctum [Heroic]

• Sabellah’Xen, Keeper of Fire’s adds now despawn when he is defeated or when his encounter is reset.
• Caelan’Gael, Keeper of Growth’s adds now despawn when he is defeated or when his encounter is reset.
• Lachina, Defender of Magics’ adds now despawn when she is defeated or when his encounter is reset.

Kaesora: Xalgozian Stronghold [Heroic]

• General Janosz’s adds now despawn when he is defeated or when his encounter is reset.

From the EQ2 Forums:

GENERAL

• A filter has been added to the missions list in the quest journal.

ABILITIES / ALTERNATE ADVANCEMENT
Mystic

• Replaced a dropped digit in the adept Strength of the Ancestors.