Massively: Music Makes EverQuest II’s Terrors of Thalumbra Complete

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Expansion News

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MJ Guthrie of Massively Overpowered got a chance to talk to the EQ2 team about the music in the Terrors of Thalumbra expansion. After countless expansions scored by sought after composer Inon Zur, EverQuest II’s twelfth expansion received its soundtrack from longtime sound designer Mark MacBride who has been with SOE and Daybreak for many years. The music trades orchestral heft for an urgency and immediacy found in horror and other soundtracks.

From Massively Overpowered:

Music has been on my mind a lot lately. OK, so it is always on my mind! From skipping down the streets belting out showtunes, cartoon theme songs, and parodies of other assorted songs (now you know what I did last weekend!) to signing on livestreams, my mind is always aswirl with music. So when EverQuest II Audio Manager/Composer Mark MacBride made his Terrors of Thalumbra tracks available on soundcloud, I knew I had to go and give them a listen.

As much as I appreciate the art in a game — as much as I love the vistas, the beautiful backdrops, and the intricate details — it’s music that can truly be the heart of a game experience. It’s the music that truly brings out feelings and emotions that connect you to your surroundings; the right music can add things to the picture that your eye can’t see.

I’ll admit that my next thought was to go back and discuss my favorite musical scores in the game. However, that became a massively daunting task as there are so many zones and so many dungeons that I simply can’t remember them all nor could I possibly visit in the time I had allotted. So we’ll leave that for another week. In the meantime, which musical scores do you think perfectly fit their areas and help you feel immersed in EQII?

Read the article on Massively Overpowered Terrors of Thalumbra Soundtrack on Soundcloud
   

MMORPG: Terrors of Thalumbra Reviewed!

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Expansion News

From Ann “Cyliena” Hosler on MMORPG:

The ancient kingdom of Maldura, not heard from since before the Shattering, has made a desperate call for help to those residing aboveground. Their messages, unclear by the time they reached the surface, prompt the heroes of Norrath—those who have achieved level 100—to take action and delve into the unknown.

EverQuest II’s 12th expansion, Terrors of Thalumbra, introduces new content for level capped adventurers and tradeskillers. A plethora of new dungeons (13 Heroic, 6 Advanced Solo, and 1 Contested) and four raid zones can be found within the vast underland zone of Thalumbra, the Ever Deep and the city of Maldura. The local denizens, dwarves and gnomes called the dhalgar and gnemlin respectively, are wary of outsiders but desperate for help.

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Pros
 A lot of group and advanced solo content
 Core storyline is entertaining & wide open for future updates
 New infusion mechanics allow players to delve into equipment customization
Cons
 Gear continues power creep, which could be an issue if the level cap increases in the future
 Side stories offer their usual humor, but otherwise aren’t very compelling
 Solo quests offer only a few hours of entertainment

Read Review: Journeys Into Subterranean Norrath @ MMORPG

EQ2 Lead Designer Kander Teases TLE Tweaks, Spring Update, Exp 13 Work

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Expansion News, Game Updates & Maintenance

EQ2 Lead Designer Kyle “Kander” Vallee is not usually one to tweet, but he dropped an interesting note this afternoon! For those thinking that the Time Locked Expansion servers would receive no attention going forward, you couldn’t be more wrong. Now that expansion 12 is out the door, work begins on the 13th expansion. We might also get a spring content update (fabled zones, perhaps?).

EQ2Wire’s Terrors of Thalumbra Frequently Asked Questions

Written by Feldon on . Posted in Art, Appearance, Housing, EQ2, Expansion News, Grouping, Itemization, Raiding, Tradeskill

Terrors of Thalumbra is Launched! FAQ and EQ2U Updates Coming Wednesday!

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Expansion News

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EverQuest II‘s twelfth expansion Terrors of Thalumbra is now LIVE and accessible to all who purchased it. We are currently working on updating EQ2Wire with an extensive Frequently Asked Questions as well as adding support to our EQ2U Players site for the new features which have been added. Some quick links while you are waiting:

Help! The Terrors of Thalumbra Beta forums are gone! Don’t worry — We have archived them here!

 

MMORPG Dev Journals: Top Tourist Destinations in the Terrors of Thalumbra

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Expansion News

First up we were pleased to note that today, EverQuest II has “taken over” MMORPG.com with a fully wrapped advertisement!

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We also noticed that MMORPG has published a fascinating “Dev Journals: Top Tourist Destinations in the Terrors of Thalumbra” preview of the new zones we will encounter in EverQuest II’s Terrors of Thalumbra expansion:

During EverQuest week, we’ll be talking about all types of topics related the two titles and will learn about some of the best things yet to come. In the EverQuest II: Terrors of Thalumbra expansion, there are several key locations that no player “in the know” will want to miss. See what they are in this exclusive look ahead.

Forge of Brell

  • This magnificent forge in the heart of Maldura is said to be imbued by the power of Brell Serilis himself. Whether that’s true or not, it’s clear that the dhalgar and gnemlin residents of Maldura consider the forge to be the traditional heart of the city. Although the mighty forge area is not as busy as it was in the height of the underground trade routes, it is still capable of creating the finest ores and metalwork.
  • While visiting the area: stay well back from the forges themselves, as they can cause serious injury to the unwary.
  • Things to do: visit Redthel the supply merchant nearby for samples of local Thalumbra flora to display in your home or guildhall.

Continue Reading Dev Journals: Top Tourist Destinations in the Terrors of Thalumbra at MMORPG

Update Notes & Downtime Notice: Tuesday, November 17, 2015 “Terrors of Thalumbra”

Written by Feldon on . Posted in Art, Appearance, Housing, EQ2, Expansion News, Game Updates & Maintenance, Grouping, Itemization, Raiding, Tradeskill

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Tomorrow is the launch of Terrors of Thalumbra, EverQuest II’s twelfth expansion!

From the EQ2 Forums:

All EverQuest II Live Servers will be brought offline on Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at 7:00AM PST* for the Terrors of Thalumbra expansion update. Estimated downtime is approximately five hours.

EverQuest II: Terrors of Thalumbra is scheduled to unlock to players at noon pacific** on Tuesday, November 17, 2015.

Time Zone Conversions

  • PST: November 17 @ 7:00am – Noon
  • EST: November 17 @ 10:00am – 3:00pm
  • GMT: November 17 @ 15:00 – 20:00
  • CEST: November 17 @ 16:00 – 21:00

and your Update Notes from the EQ2 Forums:

TERRORS OF THALUMBRA
Deep underneath Norrath lies a realm on the edge of the Plane of the Underfoot, known as Thalumbra. This expansive, subterranean domain is home to fabled races and ancient terrors!

When the dark shroud upon this land is pierced by Lanys T’Vyl, the recently resurrected demigoddess of Malice, it spells doom for all! You are a hero on the stage of Norrath. Will you play your part and protect Norrath from those who seek to destroy it? What mysteries will your torch uncover deep beneath the surface? Can you withstand the terrors of Thalumbra?

Don’t Miss Your LAST Chance to Get Altar of the Ancients!

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Expansion News

Buying the new deity miracles in Terrors of Thalumbra requires “Tithe”, which is a percentage of XP you earn. Even if you are level capped, you will be killing enemies to gain XP to gain Tithe to buy miracles. If you want to gain more Tithe for the same amount of gameplay, you’ll want the Altar of the Ancients house item, and PRE-ORDERING Terrors of Thalumbra before the expansion launch is the ONLY way to get it!

From the EQ2 Forums:

Altar of the Ancients is the pre-order bonus item for purchasing the 12th expansion for EverQuest II: Terrors of Thalumbra. Players will no longer be awarded with this bonus item after 11:59PM PST on Monday, November 16, 2015.

EverQuest II: Terrors of Thalumbra is scheduled to unlock to players at noon pacific* on Tuesday, November 17, 2015.

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Don’t miss out on this altar of mysterious origin for houses that grants a daily scaling benefit to adventurers and tradeskillers. The buff from this item is a stackable bonus to all tradeskill, adventure and AA experience gain. Upon expansion release, the daily bonus to experience will ALSO include tithe, the new deity experience type.

If you haven’t pre-ordered yet, don’t forget that All Access members get 10% OFF the price of ANY version of the Terrors of Thalumbra expansion. If you haven’t purchased yet, you can learn more about this expansion and buy now here.

MMORPG Examines EQ2’s Terrors of Thalumbra

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Expansion News

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From MMORPG.com:

EverQuest II will be growing soon with its twelfth expansion, Terrors of Thalumbra. We had a chance to chat with the team behind the expansion to find out more about its systems, features and new zones.

MMORPG: What is Thalumbra and why is it important?

EQ II Team: Deep underneath Norrath is a realm on the edge of the Plane of the Underfoot known as Thalumbra. This expansive, subterranean domain is home to fabled races and ancient, unimaginable terrors born within the oppressive, dank, and dismal darkness of the dark depths!

The tenuous struggle between hunter and prey in this aggressive land has reached new heights with the arrival of Lanys T’Vyl, the recently resurrected demigoddess of Malice! Maldura, an ancient city, expertly carved out of the deep stone by dwarven masons and adorned with magnificent gems and metals by gnomish artisans is being threatened. Through the actions of heroes and manipulations of a goddess, players find themselves as the principle actors in a play that threatens deity and mortal alike in the world of EverQuest II.

Read the entire article at MMORPG including interview questions with with the EQ2 team.

Terrors of Thalumbra Expansion Upgrades, Gifting on Launch Day

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Expansion News

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One of the most popular questions about EverQuest II’s twelfth expansion Terrors of Thalumbra, which became available for Pre-order and Beta Testing last month, is whether players would later be able to pay the upgrade price to jump from the Basic ($34.99) to the Collector ($89.99) or Mack Daddy Premium ($139.99) editions. Players also noticed that the expansion could not be gifted during the Pre-order/Beta window.

EQ2 Lead Designer Kyle “Kander” Vallee has provided us with answers to both of these issues!

You’ll be able to purchase an upgrade to any of the sets on launch day. Gifting should also be activated.

Terrors of Thalumbra Preview: Raiding (X2 and X4!)

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Expansion News, Raiding

From Carlos “Gninja” Mora on the EQ2 Forums:

Within the cavernous depths of Thalumbra, uncounted creatures cloaked in mystery lie in wait for the unsuspecting adventurer. Adversaries range from crafty gnemlin outcasts whose creations have grown out of control, to ancient beasts of indescribable terror unlike any ever seen on Norrath’s surface. Raids range in difficulty, ensuring everyone from entry level guilds all the way up to the most seasoned raiders will have plenty of challenges in store for them throughout the Terrors of Thalumbra expansion!

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Investigate the laboratory of a nearly mad gnemlin by the name of Bhoughbh who has taken over a portion of Maldura and needs your help cleaning up the mess he has made. His creations are running amuck and only you can help him pick up the pieces. Help him right his wrongs and get him back on the path to becoming one of tinkering’s greatest minds. This x2 raid zone is meant for 2 full groups!

Terrors of Thalumbra Zone Preview: Kralet Penumbra

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Expansion News, Grouping

From Emily “Domino” Taylor on the EQ2 Forums:

In the ancient times of the Elder Age, the god Prexus claimed the mighty oceans of Norrath of his own and filled them with creatures of beauty, power, and terror. Among these early creations are the Aberrant (so called by the residents of Maldura who cannot pronounce the name they call themselves), a monstrous race of chitin-domed humanoids innately gifted in the arcane arts. While some abandoned the oceans eons past and dedicated themselves to Cazic-Thule, those who remain still honor their creator, who they know only as the Ill-Seen Master. Speakers and priests ensure order and obedience within the strict hierarchy of Kralet Penumbra, and the Grand Speaker Ynonngozzz’Koolbh ranks highest of all.

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Leveling 101+ Guilds Won’t Be a Treat

Written by Cyliena on . Posted in Commentary, EQ2, Expansion News

A recent beta forum discussion revealed that crafting and adventure writ status will not contribute to progress starting at guild level 101. EQ2 Senior Designer Gninja explained the reasoning behind the change:

Repeatable quests such as writs do not add to guild exp once you hit guild level 101. We are adding a lot more ways to get status from normal gameplay though. It was just way too easy to sit and do writs over and over to level the guild making having a leveled up guild a little less meaningful.

He came back to clarify the position a bit better:

The plan is to make status gains come from a lot of different places. Having lots of things you can do is a good thing. Having one thing you can do over and over without any sort of limiting factor is different. These things are still being adjusted so hang in there.

Candy CornCommentary

From Cyliena:

I’m sure Feldon will have choicer words about all of this, but as a member of an extremely small guild, this change will make guild leveling quite difficult. Whatever method is provided will end up being grinded out, so I’m unsure how this change will make leveling a guild more “meaningful”. -Cy

From Feldon:

The EQ2 team has twice tried to stomp out old “grindy” ways of playing EQ2 and encourage playing of newer content:

  • Removing Plat from older zones like Protectors Realm
  • Removing adventure XP from out leveled dungeons

The first was successful. The second was strongly derided and silently reverted this summer. I wonder which route this “new improved” guild leveling avenue will take.

   

Earn Rewards For Testing Terrors of Thalumbra – UPDATED

Written by Cyliena on . Posted in EQ2, Expansion News

ToT Beta Rewards
Players who help test out the upcoming Terrors of Thalumbra expansion on the Beta server can earn several rewards including (for adventurers) a new mount! The rewards are one per account, but additional rewards can be earned by running another character through the content.

NOTE: Thanks to ArtifactX for providing screenshots of the in-game rewards.

All ToT Quest Lines All ToT Heroic Dungeons All ToT Tradeskill Quests
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Terrors of Thalumbra Beta Stream: Mon, Oct 26 @ 2PM PDT

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Expansion News

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From the EQ2 Forums:

The EQ2 team will be hanging out in Thalumbra during an expansion beta livestream starting at 2PM PDT* on Monday, October 26, 2015 on twitch.tv/everquest2

During this stream, the EQ2 team will share highlights from the Terrors of Thalumbra beta, chatting about the beta reward, and showing off some things you haven’t seen yet!

Want to check out the Terrors of Thalumbra beta NOW? Pre-ordering gives you immediate access to the beta servers and Altar of the Ancients, a special housing item that grants daily XP gain. If you haven’t already pre-ordered Terrors of Thalumbra, you can do so here.

We look forward to hanging out with you on Monday, October 26!

NOTE: I am out of town this week and will not be able to provide a transcript of this panel.

Terrors of Thalumbra Zone Preview: Stygian Threshold

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Expansion News, Grouping, Raiding

From Emily “Domino” Taylor on the EQ2 Forums:

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The border between the plane of Underfoot and the mortal realm is often hard to define. Deep within the wilds of Thalumbra, the Stygian Threshold is one of those rare locations where a gate to the Underfoot exists permanently. Such close proximity to Brell’s realm has had strange effects on the adjacent region.

Terrors of Thalumbra Beta Copy Backlog

Written by Feldon on . Posted in DGC Wants Feedback, EQ2, Expansion News

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How many EQ2 players want to Beta Test the new Terrors of Thalumbra expansion using copies of their live characters via the in-game Beta copy toool? So many that the system is now backlogged by up to 24 hours!

From the EQ2 Forums:

The transfers are going through but its taking a few hours for some. Also sometimes you may need to reload your character list to get it to show up. Either create or delete a character or try logging in and back out to refresh it.

Just got an update and it looks like we’ve gotten through only about a hundred copies so far. With the current number of requests its looking like it could take up to 24 hours. The DB has been getting hammered lately so everything is slowing down. We are looking at ways of speeding it up but as of right now its looking like there isn’t much we can do with it other than just wait.

Last year’s beta copy tool took just a few seconds, but that was before this spring’s Database changes. Hopefully the skinny pedal on the right can be located and the current beta copy script can be kicked into high gear. For now, you’ll have to rely upon creating Level 1 characters and then buffing them to your preferred Adventure and Tradeskill class at 100. Remember, you can lookup your character on EQ2U and download your AA/Prestige spec as an .aa file and then load this into EQ2! Also, don’t forget the in-game /load_uisettings command to load your hotbars and UI settings from your live characters.

Terrors of Thalumbra Beta is Now Open!

Written by Feldon on . Posted in DGC Wants Feedback, EQ2, Expansion News, Game Updates & Maintenance

Terrors of Thalumbra: Deity & Infusion Systems

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Expansion News, Itemization, Tradeskill

From Robert “Caith” Fouts on the EQ2 Forums:

We’re getting closer to Terrors of Thalumbra. So far, we’ve shared two zone previews (Thalumbra and City of Maldura), and we’ve talked about what’s in store for Tradeskillers. Now, here’s an introduction to two new systems that will be introduced with the expansion:

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Deity Abilities
Delving into the depths of Norrath has awoken a deeper connection between the gods and the physical realm, allowing them to channel power more directly through their chosen instruments in the form of powerful new miracles. As you gain adventuring experience you will also gain tithe experience, and tithe points. Tithe points can be spent in one of two ways, the first is to purchase charges of these new miracles. You can only have a certain amount of tithe points banked or spent on miracles at any particular time. While you can purchase any abilities that match your city alignment as well as neutral abilities, the ability from your chosen deity from completing the existing deity quest lines grant will be at a discount.

For example, if your deity is Tunare you would be able to purchase the Lifeshield ability at a discount. This will allow you to use the ability more often as well as to hold more miracles as it reduces the amount of tithe points spent on that ability. You do not have to have completed any deity quests to make use of deity abilities.

Terrors of Thalumbra Beta Starts Tuesday, October 20

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Expansion News

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From the EQ2 Forums:

That time is almost here! The beta test for Terrors of Thalumbra starts on Tuesday, October 20, 2015. This will be ready for players on Tuesday in the early afternoon.

Everyone that pre-orders Terrors of Thalumbra gets immediate access to the beta server once it goes live. Playing Terrors of Thalumbra on the Beta server also has perks for your live server accounts! There is more information coming soon about the rewards players will be able to earn by testing expansion content on beta.

Here is some information to help you get started in Beta:

Terrors of Thalumbra Zone Preview: City of Maldura

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Expansion News, Tradeskill

From Emily “Domino” Taylor on the EQ2 Forums:

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The City of Maldura is an ancient dwarven outpost that predates even Kaladim. Over the centuries it has grown into an imposing citadel whose fortifications have repelled many assaults from the outside. However, in more recent years a threat that is neither living nor undead has begun to emerge in the deep sublevels. Relentless, furious, and almost unstoppable, the immolated have no mercy and cannot be controlled by any known type of magic. The worried residents of Maldura have been forced to seal off entire areas of the city to contain this threat, abandoning research laboratories and productive mines as they fled.

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Under attack from the aberrants outside and the immolated inside, the citizens of Maldura have been preparing for the worst. But their last, desperate attempt to send a message to the surface lands succeeded; and now a wave of fresh adventurers from the Shattered Lands is making their way to Maldura. Will you be able to help save the city?

Terrors of Thalumbra Preview: Tradeskilling in Thalumbra

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Expansion News, Tradeskill

From Emily “Domino” Taylor on the EQ2 Forums:

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In the Terrors of Thalumbra expansion, crafters who have reached tradeskill level 100 will receive a letter from Captain Ethan of the Far Seas Trading Company. You’ve assisted him in the past, and he’d like your assistance once again as the FSTC investigates reports of strange elemental attacks that have been occurring all around Norrath. Where did these elementals come from, and why do they appear to have mechanical parts inside them, made of a type of ore you’ve never seen? Your investigation will bring you in contact with old friends and new, as you gather information and piece together a trail of clues that will lead you, if you are clever and diligent, to the mysterious new realm of Thalumbra.

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Once in this new region, you’ll need to earn the trust of the local residents, evaluate the situation and the dangers, and learn who you can trust… and who they can’t. Crafters of all adventure levels will uncover the dark secrets in the city of Maldura, work with the locals to try and find solutions, and maybe even find a way that crafting might help to save the city. This expansion brings least 20 new tradeskill quests, plus a tradeskill signature quest and an additional 8 repeatable weekly missions, plus new tradeskill collection quests, and more. Tradeskill quests can be completed at any adventure level, but those who are also level 100 in adventuring will additionally be able to use a new Relic type item with significantly useful benefits in combat.

Preview: Journey to Thalumbra

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Expansion News

From EverQuest2.com:

Deep underneath Norrath lies a realm, on the edge of the Plane of the Underfoot, known as Thalumbra. Though long thought of as the domain of Brell Serilis, unlucky explorers and inexperienced spelunkers quickly find the denizens of below are not limited to those of his creation. This expansive, subterranean kingdom is home to fabled races, and ancient, unimaginable terrors, including Aberrants, poxfiends, fathomlurkers and cepholex! Here, under innumerable layers of stone, their eternal struggle to survive has shaped them, forcing them to develop sophisticated weapons or intricate defenses.

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