Feldon
Table of Contents So what’s new in the expansion? How do I jump into the new expansion content? Why am I not gaining levels?! Are the new overland zones and dungeons re-skinned/re-textured versions of existing zones like we got in the past? Is there a new harvest tier for the expansion, or does level 90-100 become a tier? What material do I use to make Grandmaster spells? Are there new Alternate Advancements (AA’s) or Prestige Points in the expansion? What’s up with the new Ancient spells? How much better than Grandmasters are they? What new Contested Heroic zones can...
Tradeskill
From the EQ2 Forums: It’s the time of year when a chill sets in and darkness falls on the lands. Ghouls begin to emerge from the shadows and both tricks and treats are plentiful. Whether you enjoy crafting holiday items or are looking for a spooky adventure, there’s something for all Norrathians to celebrate as Nights of the Dead returns to Norrath! There are several new features for Nights of the Dead 2014, including a new Candy Crusher achievement! Adventurers can also seek out Setri Lur’eth in Nektulos Forest to take part in a new annual quest, “A Dream,...
UPDATE from Afista on the EQ2 Forums: These are the correct scheduled server down times for each server. I am looking into why there was a delay and will update you all whenever I have the information. ALL servers are supposed to be patching at the same time. Here’s the announcement from the EQ2 Forums: All US EverQuest II Live Servers will be brought offline on Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at 7:00 AM PDT. Estimated downtime is 1 hour. All EU EverQuest II Live Servers will be brought offline on Tuesday, October, 2014 at 7:00 AM PDT. (3:00 PM London Time). Estimated downtime is 2...
From the EQ2 Forums: PERFORMANCE UPDATES We don’t want to get into too much detail, but overall we updated some very old libraries to bring EQII up to date. We also updated memory management, fixed some memory leaks as a result, and made some other code changes that look to be improving server performance. Here’re a few notes to give you a bit more detail: Improved client performance on maximum settings. Additionally, altered the “Extreme Quality” defaults to look and run better on higher end machines. This means that non-raiders who do quests, decorate houses, heroic dungeons (without oceans...
EQ2Wire will be liveblogging EQ2 Insider Episode #4, which as it turns out will be Maggie “Luperza” Krohn‘s last episode as she has taken a position at Curse.com. You can watch EverQuest II Insider #4 at Twitch right now. This was a live blog of today’s EQ2 Insider Episode #4. Talking about SOE Live and how positive and fun it was. Talking about updates later this year. Kander encouraging people to play Altar of Malice beta as players will earn very nice rewards on Live for their efforts on Beta. Nathan (Kaitheel) will be talking today about Altar of Malice...
As long last we’ve resumed posting videos recorded from SOE Live 2014. After this, we’ve still got the EQ2 Art & Animation panel, as well as three player panels and the Player Studio panel. Oy vey! This was the last panel at SOE Live 2014 for EverQuest II — Questions & Answers #2. Due to room acoustics, this recording took an inordinate amount of time to edit and normalize. Fortunately, Audio quality improves around the 3 minute mark when questions begin.
From Holly “Windstalker” Longdale on the EQ2 Forums: Greetings Norrathians, We’re all charged up and busy after a great time at SOE Live! The team is hunkered down and focused on the expansion, fixes, and updates on the schedule. Here are some details! When is the EverQuest II: Altar of Malice Beta? On Oct. 7 we will launch Limited Beta for All Access members. Most of the content will be focused on the Overlands and level increase content. We need your support! Oct. 14 will be Open Beta for everyone. We’d love you to come check out the content and help...
Because sleep is overrated, EQ2 fan Afista spent the weekend meticulously transcribing the two EverQuest II Q&A panels and has posted them on EQ2 ZAM. Also don’t miss the notes from the all-important Mechanics panel posted by Cyliena as linked below. I got a kick out of hanging out with both of them at SOE Live and seeing what they’re doing for the EQ2 community. I’m starting to feel like a bit of a slacker now… 😉 At SOE Live 2014, the community had questions and the devs had answers! ZAM was there to keep track of what everyone wanted to know. Afista has written a...
In the EverQuest II: Systems panel, the EverQuest II team talks about the upcoming expansion, specifically class balance, mechanics, some new features, and takes player questions. On the panel: Akil “Lyndro” Hooper, Kyle “Kander” Vallee, Michael “Xelgad” Ganz, Robert “Caith” Fouts, Dave “Maevianiu” Kish, Douglas “Endymion” VanDerveer, and Justin “Jamiss” Michael. We recorded this at SOE Live 2014 in Las Vegas and are happy to be able to share it. On YouTube:
We recorded the EverQuest II: Altar of Malice keynote, which included about seven minutes of Q&A at the end. We also recorded the EverQuest II Q&A #1 panel and we’ve assembled it into a single video. NOTE: Audio quality improves at 8:45 as we started using an external mic at this point.
Here are the slides presented by the EverQuest II team specifically the mechanics/systems guys. Akil “Lyndro” Hooper, Kyle “Kander” Vallee, Michael “Xelgad” Ganz, Robert “Caith” Fouts, Dave “Maevianiu” Kish, and Douglas “Endymion” VanDerveer were presenting.
Now it’s time for the EverQuest II Systems panel. Akil “Lyndro” Hooper, Kyle “Kander” Vallee, Michael “Xelgad” Ganz, Robert “Caith” Fouts, Dave “Maevianiu” Kish, and Douglas “Endymion” VanDerveer are presenting. We’re liveblogging this panel as well as recording a video of this panel in 720p HD. Liveblog begins at 1:00pm PDT and ends at 2:00pm PDT on Saturday August 16th. Fix for Stealth and AE Abilities New Spell Qualities All spells go to Grandmaster Certain spells go to Ancient Battleground 6v6 Balance of Theer Deathmatch Penalty for dying Tiles to stand on and get buffs/debuffs
Now it’s time for the EverQuest II: Altar of Malice expansion panel with nearly the entire EQ2 team. We’re liveblogging as well as recording a video of this panel in 720p HD. This panel is also being livecast on Twitch. Liveblog began at 12:00pm PDT and ended at 1:00pm PDT on Friday August 15th. Holly “Windstalker” Longdale to the stage. Tim Heydalaar and Dave Brown to the stage. Showing PlayerStudio items.
Looks like Press gets a healthy headstart on posting expansion news for EverQuest and EverQuest II this year. After their private meetings with Dave “SmokeJumper” Georgeson and EQ2 Producer Holly “Windstalker” Longdale on Tuesday, they’ve had time to draft their articles and now, they’re available for all to read. My issue is, people at home have more information than those at SOE Live who may not yet have read these articles. Some Press sites (notably excluding Massively and ZAM) get a full boat ride from SOE, paying for hotel and sometimes even airfare, dinners, etc.). EQ2Wire covers EverQuest II all...
From the EQ2 Forums here and here and here: Attention players: we will perform maintenance beginning at 4:00 AM PDT* on Tuesday, August 5, 2014. We expect this maintenance to take at least four hours. This will impact the following SOE services: Game servers will be down for the following games: DC Universe Online EverQuest II Landmark PlanetSide 2 Commerce functions, including purchases for all games Game, web and forum logins for all games Thank you for your patience as we complete this maintenance. Time Zone Conversions PDT: August 5 @ 4:00am ~ 8:00am EDT: August 5 @ 7:00am ~ 11:00am...
Tinkerfest goes live tomorrow and EQ2ZAM and EQ2Traders have been updated with the new crafted goodies, house items, new quest, and a totally new prestige house which have been added this year! From EQ2 ZAM: Tinkerfest, the Norrathian celebration of all things Gnomish, starts Friday! Your EQII ZAM staff has the scoop on the awesome new additions to this player favorite. 2014 brings back all the old activities and adds more rewards, house items, and recipes! There’s a new quest and new achievement. If you didn’t do so last year, be sure to unlock your tinkered mercenaries! Tinkerfest 2014...
Today’s EQ2 Insider Episode #3 is now available for watching on YouTube. You can read our summary of the webcast here.
From the EQ2 Forums: All US EverQuest 2 Servers will come down on July 1st, 2014 at 7:00 AM Pacific Time for an update. The expected downtime is approximately two hours. EU servers will come down beginning at 9:00 PM PT (6:00 AM CET July 2nd, 2014) for the same update. Downtime is anticipated to be approximately two hours. WEEKLY FEATURE The city status merchants now have many new items for sale, including special house guests, as well as many upgraded adventuring items. Consumables purchased from the status merchant are now stackable items. Status merchants no longer require players to...
Kinya, webmaster of the Polish multi-game fansite Babagra, has posted a summary and notes of the second EQ2 Insider webcast which was held last Wednesday. What happen recently in EQ2: – weekly updates; – dreadscale maw – new raid; – high keep contested; – June promotion Gear Up, Level UP; – heroic characters are on sale; – discount on expansion if bought in June; – new Loyalty items added to MarketPlace. Team is focused mostly on the things which are coming to EQ2: – fabled Deathtoll (around 20 July); – big unnamed event in July; – new challenge duo...
From the EQ2 Forums: GEAR UP, LEVEL UP (June promotional program from June 3 to July 8) All Access members will receive the following bonuses and discounts: Double-Double Etyma in Tears of Veeshan (4x the rewards)! 25% XP Bonus Tears of Veeshan Expansion discount (15%) 25% Off Heroic Characters Free players receive the following bonuses: Double Etyma in Tears of Veeshan (2x the rewards)! Also eligible for a Tears of Veeshan expansion discount (15%). WEEKLY FEATURE Loyalty items have been added into the Marketplace to make searching and purchasing them more convenient. These items are still for sale on...
Dethdlr
Lets try this again. Update notes from the official forums for 7 May 2014: WEEKLY UPDATE Two tiers of the Restored High Keep Guildhall are now available from the Antonica or Commonlands Guild Bell! To obtain access to the Restored High Keep your guild must earn the Restored High Keep Guildhall Tier 2 or Tier 3 guild achievements by collecting High Keep Heartstones within High Keep Contested: The Bloodless Incursion. POPULATION / ZONE PROGRESSION General The chance for heroic zone bosses to drop Ethertouched Rune Patterns has increased from 8% to 15%.
Coinciding with today’s transition of all Gold subscribers (either Krono, 30-day Game Cards, or with recurring credit card) to All Access, there are also a number of update notes for EQ2: HIGH KEEP High Keep: The Bloodless Incursion [Contested] is now live and offers new challenges for groups of heroes brave enough to explore its halls! This contested version of High Keep can be accessed through the portal on Karak Peak in Vesspyr Isles. This zone is exclusively available to [All Access] members until May 13 2014. Heritage Quest Blood lines the hallways of High Keep, much of it...
Fairly large update notes from the official forums. Changes to taunts, 350 AAs, PvP updates, and mages say a fond farewell to carrying around a single, special arrow among other things. Read the full notes after the break. WEEKLY FEATURE Players at level 95 can now level up their Alternate Advancements to level 350! GENERAL Mounted combat pets now retain their illusion form after the player lands with a flying or gliding mount. POPULATION / ZONE PROGRESSION General Respawn and evacuate locations have been added to The Trembling Lagoon, Dythra’s Lair, and Cleansing of the Cove. Previously, respawning...
From the EQ2 Forums: All EverQuest 2 Servers will come down on March 11th, 2014 at 7:00 AM Pacific Time for an update. The expected downtime is approximately two hour. Time Zone Conversions PDT: March 11 @ 7:00am ~ 9:00am EDT: March 11 @ 10:00am ~ Noon GMT: March 11 @ 14:00 ~ 16:00 CET: March 11 @ 15:00 ~ 17:00 AEST: March 12 @ 12:01am ~ 2:00am From the EQ2 Forums: WEEKLY FEATURE Weapon Damage Bonus and Spell Weapon Damage Bonus are now displayed under the Autoattack category in the character sheet window. Max Health % is now...
From the EQ2 Forums: It’s Brewday once again in Norrath, and there’s nothing like the Dwarven celebration of Brell and beer to bring your spirits up! Adventurers across Norrath are invited to sample exotic brews, complete festive quests, and visit the mysterious Bar of Brell. New for 2014: Beer Tokens: Better than real money (because beer!), this special currency is a new quest reward option and can be used to purchase event-exclusive items. Brewday Recipes: Take a break from drinking to craft some brand new Brewday items! Balin Copperfoot in the Bar of Brell has copies of “Brewday...