From the EQ2 Forums:

The skies darken and a blustery wind blows across the land, sending shivers down the spines of all Norrathians. Though it was long ago, the memory of the undead assaulting the city of Maj’Dul is strong. And goblins and ghouls and all things frightful are once again emerging from the shadows on the anniversary of this event! It’s time for Nights of the Dead!

Whether you’re the crafting kind or a daring adventurer, there are new and exciting additions for 2012 as well as returning favorites! There’s something for everyone as all of Norrath comes together to enjoy this holiday!

It’s October which must mean it’s time for the annual Nights of the Dead celebration to return to Norrath. In addition to many past events, this year’s adventures include a totally new task — Ghost Hunting in Antonica and the Commonlands.

Niami Denmother of EQ2Traders has turned out one of her operatic previews complete with copious photographic evidence of the new wares available during this season.

Read “Diary of a Reformed Sugar Addict” at EQ2Traders >>

Meanwhile, Cyliena and Calthine over at EQ2 ZAM has put in some serious hours testing and documenting this year’s Nights of the Dead festivities, including detailed quest writeups.

Read Nights of the Dead (EQ2 Live Event) at EQ2 ZAM >>

Nights of the Dead starts tomorrow, October 11, 2012.

From the EQ2 Forums:

Sleeper’s Tomb, Chapter 1 Begins!

Norrathian’s will find Jorlak, an aged Dracurion chronomage, outside of the Sleeper’s Tomb in Velious’ Eastern Wastes. He will launch a quest that gives adventurers access to world-changing events in Norrath’s history, including the rituals of the heralded warders who kept the great prismatic dragon, Kerafyrm, asleep for many ages.

Start Your Chains of Eternity Adventure!

Level 92 players should be on the lookout for a message from Erus Dal’viv, the Swordbearer. He has a mission for adventurers that will help the Duality’s research into the Age’s End Prophecy… a mission that could take an unexpected turn.

From the Dexella on the EQ2 Forums:

Greetings intrepid gamers,

For the many of you asking the question, yes, we will be having a double XP weekend for this upcoming holiday.  We have it scheduled from 12:01 AM Saturday until 11:59 PM Monday.

We hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Time Zone Conversions

• PDT: Saturday, Sep. 1 @ 12:01am ~ Monday Sep. 3 @ 11:59pm
• EDT: Saturday, Sep. 1 @ 3:01am ~ Tuesday Sep. 4 @ 2:59am
• BST: Saturday, Sep. 1 @ 8:01 ~ Tuesday Sep. 4 @ 7:59
• CET: Saturday, Sep. 1 @ 9:01 ~ Tuesday Sep. 4 @ 8:59

From the EQ2 Forums:

On Monday, August 20, there will be threads on the EverQuest and EverQuest II Facebook pages where you can leave your question. We will select a handful of questions, and the developers will answer them during the Tweet Chat!

On Thursday, August 23, developers of EverQuest and EverQuest II, as well as Dave “Smokejumper” Georgeson, Director of Development, will be taking to Twitter to answer your questions about the game!

Stay tuned for more details!

From EverQuest2.com:

Don’t put away your wrenches just yet! Tinkerfest has been extended through Sunday, August 12th, 2012!

For more information on Tinkerfest, including a list of new features for 2012, click here!

But remember, time is ticking!

From the EQ2 Forums:

Greetings Norrathians!
Now that Qeynos Rises is live, we’re switching gears to a year-end expansion and working on live content and bugs. In addition, here’s some news for August.

TINKERFEST July 29 to August 8

Tinkerfest returns!  You will find event locations in Freeport at Inventor’s Outlook and in the Qeynos Capitol District at Inventor’s Threshold.  There are also new rewards on the quests and the Tinkerfest merchant has new items – including six tinkered-theme mounts.

Ethereal Weapons Fall in Summer

View Ethereal items @ EQ2U

A rumor has begun to spread across the world of Norrath.  As with any rumor, it started out on the lips of a few which many dismissed outright.  However, these stories of weapons appearing through Norrath were told and retold, stories of weapons of great power seemingly formed from spiritual energy  Can these whispers of legendary artifacts be true?  If so, whatever spiritual rift that is bringing these weapons into Norrath isn’t likely going to last long.  Go forth, heroes of Norrath, and see if you can discover one of these powerful weapons before they vanish from our world once again!

Tinkerfest has returned once again to EQ2! The festivities start on July 29, 2012 and run through August 8, 2012. There’s all sorts of new stuff this year and for those that didn’t get everything from last year, all those goodies are returning.

For a full writeup of the whole event, where else would you go but Niami Denmother’s EQ2Traders.

From EverQuest2.com:

Like clockwork, Tinkerfest has returned! Take up your favorite wrench and celebrate all things gnomish, be they metal, combustive, mathematical, experimental, or a combination thereof! Adventures, rewards, buyables and crafted items await you, both new and familiar. You won’t want to miss all of the fun at Gnomeland Security, your headquarters for all things Tinkerfest, in Steamfont Mountains.

From Brasse on the EQ2 Forums:

Reporting in here to say that Cyliena is right, we have the PR managing the elite infoz. =)

I did look into it for you though. PR says that due to unforseen circumstances, the infoz in question will be delayed by a day or two. You guys are also correct that it involves our presence at E3. Can’t sneak anything past you! Unfortunately, I cannot offer any further information, other than I think that you may enjoy what’s coming.

I can positively, absolutely rule out any major announcements about EQ Next. That game is behind heavily locked, lead-lined, barbed-wire fenced security. Even folks here at the studio can’t get a look in (including Dwarven veterans!). Sorry!

From the EQ2 Forums:

Starting at 12:01 pm Pacific (Noon) on Friday, May 25, 2012, and lasting until 11:59 pm Pacific on Monday, May 28, 2012, we’ll offer Double Experience in EverQuest II! Take advantage of these three days and watch those XP bars fill up!

Time Zone Conversions

• PDT: Friday May 25 @ 12:01pm ~ Monday May 28 @ 11:59pm
• EDT: Friday May 25 @ 3:01pm ~ Tuesday May 29 @ 2:59am
• BST: Friday May 25 @ 20:01 ~ Tuesday May 29 @ 7:59
• CET: Friday May 25 @ 21:01 ~ Tuesday May 29 @ 8:59

Comment: We’re glad to see the usage of 12:01 and 11:59 for the start and stop times, as this greatly avoids confusion for countries (USA, etc. that use 12-hour time).

From EverQuest2.com:

Have you ever wanted to do more or be more involved with your game? Have you ever wanted to help run events or play as NPCs in-game? If the idea of bringing your favorite SOE world to life excites you, join host Linda “Brasse” Carlson (Director of Global Community Relations) as she chats with members of the Volunteer Event Guide Program!

Cyliena of EQ2 ZAM has once again turned out comprehensive coverage of an EQ2 Game Update. This time around, we get full coverage of the zones and quests that make up Game Update 63: Skyshrine. You’ll find full walkthroughs of the Withered Lands quests and more information on this update.

Game Update 63 Coverage at EQ2 ZAM

Here are your official Game Update 63 Update Notes from the EQ2 Forums:

The Destiny of Velious saga continues as adventurers breach the barriers of the Withered Lands seeking entrance to Skyshrine, the glorious ancient dragon city!

The great citadel of Skyshrine has long housed the Claws of Veeshan dragons behind its massive walls and arcane protections.  Now, the unthinkable has happened — it has become besieged by powerful forces. Battle and befriend dragons and their wurmkin in the forbidden city of Dracur. Explore the past to unravel mysterious events that transformed the formidable draconic city into a battlefield full of daunting challenges, fearful foes and unimaginable treasures!

In preparation for Game Update 63: Skyshrine (arriving April 17th, 2012), EQII is having a Double XP Weekend.

Starting at 12:01 pm Pacific (Noon) on Friday, April 6, 2012 and lasting until 11:59 pm Pacific on Sunday, April 8, 2012 we’ll offer Double Experience in EverQuest II! Take advantage of these three days and watch those XP bars fill up!

Time Zone Conversions

• PDT: April 6 @ 12:01pm ~ April 8 @ 11:59pm
• EDT: April 6 @ 3:01pm ~ April 9 @ 2:59am
• BST: April 6 @ 20:00 ~ April 9 @ 7:59
• CET: April 6 @ 21:00 ~ April 9 @ 8:59

UPDATE: Looks like Double XP started 12 hours early, at 12:01am Friday morning.

From the EQ2 Forums comes a recap of what we can expect in April. With the exception of a Double XP weekend over Easter, there’s little  new to of note except some vague comments about bug fixes. And no word on DOV Dungeon Timers being Reduced to 90 Minutes, which was promised for March.

Here are the April Update Plans for EverQuest II!

The Skyshrine update (GU 63) is taking the lion’s share of the team’s focus right now (launching in mid-April), but other things are still happening as we continue to smash bugs, improve systems, and look to the future of EQII!

The team is busy reviewing GU 63 feedback and making tweaks, fixing bugs, and still adding new goodies to the content – and there is a LOT of it – one of the biggest ever done on EQII! I want to say a big “Thank You” to the community too. We’re very grateful for the support and constructive feedback we’ve been getting on the Test Copy server and forums and ask that you not stop now! During this month we’ll be doing interviews and giving detail on what is being added to this monstrous update because there is plenty to say. The more we see the final touches the team is doing, the more excited we all get!

Holly “Windstalker” Longdale

From the EQ2 Forums:

From 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, March 20th, through 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, March 28th, log in to EQII and take part in a look back at Norrathian days of yore.

The EQII Team has created this fun event as an homage to EverQuest in honor of the anniversary of the EverQuest franchise, and although the lore doesn’t exactly fit the current story of EQII, they decided to make it extra enjoyable for those who were around for the first iteration of Norrath. Adventurers who take part in this journey through time will find some silly nods to EQ and moments of nostalgia as we reminisce about our heritage.

After the jump, some photos of the Lillipad Jungle Guild Hall, Tenebrous Tangle house, and the get-together in the Isle of Mara. GMs and Guides showed up to bring the Good Gear Man ice cream vendor, Vhalen’s musicians, and of course plenty of fireworks.

At the time of this writing, the guild Lilipad Jungle has 358 members on 312 accounts. This guild was created 3 days ago and has already reached level 77 with people doing writs around the clock.

The event was livestreamed on TwitchTV.

From EQ2 ZAM – EQII Players Rally around Terminal Child:

On the official EverQuest II Forums a player posted a sad plea:

My 6 yr old son has cancer and was recently given 6 – 12 weeks to live.

He has a frog that he likes to run around Tenebrous Tangle Island on; however, it is sparse and he has requested to add trees, fences, stairs, animals and all kinds of other  items to make his island fun and exciting.

Are there any decorators out there that would be willing to assist in adding these items (and any others their imagination poses) to help me make the island even more fun for him.  I don’t know how much I’ll be able to accomplish on my own while still providing him quality time to enjoy it.

The EQ2 community has rallied around Ribbitribbitt. A guild has been created and players of all types are grinding status to get him a Tier 3 guild hall by Saturday. Players have donated decorations and even status houses to give him his choice of playgrounds.

Many members of different large guilds on Guk have begun to form a community event this Saturday at 1pm PST on Mara Island. With the thoughtfulness of Zam and what looks to be the inclusion of EQ2 community team it should be a great thing for this family!

Hellzelves tells us “On Saturday we will get together to decorate everything and finish up the crafting at 4 eastern/1 pacific. End game raiders will be taking all comers for duelbets for the cause.”

Also featured on EQ2 Players.

Niami Denmother has turned pink at the prospect of the returning Brewday 2012 events. To find out what’s new with this year’s event, look no further than her Brewday 2012 Crafting/Housing Preview.

In other news, Omougi, EQ2’s new Tradeskill Developer has announced that carpenters will be gaining access to eleven (11) sets of Building Blocks to be crafted with common materials.

After allusions by EQ2 Senior Producer Holly “Windstalker” to a “very detailed list” of issues and bugs and indications that today’s March update would “answer several of the substantive questions“, EQ2 Community Manager Piestro has revealed EQ2’s March Update Plans which contain many things we’ve heard before, but one interesting surprise:

There are lots of activities and events to participate in this month! And while you?re busy playing, the Dev team is preparing for the Game Update 63: Skyshrine launch. We are already playtesting internally and excited about this release. As we write this, development is wrapping up and we’ll be going to Test server in mid-March, so come and check it out then.

According to the in-game EQ2 calendar, the Chronoportal Events will be returning March 20th at 8:00am PDT and will run until March 29th 8:59am PDT. The Chronoportal events are a series of instances that are meant as a peek into Norrath’s past, taking players to familiar areas of Norrath 500 years ago. In other words, a celebration of the launch of the original EverQuest.

For now, we’re calling this unconfirmed as this would mean the Chronoportal event would start the day Brewday festivities end, and would partly overlap with the Bristlebane event.

Tip of the hat to Jeehi.

From the EQ2 Forums:

Double XP Weekend!

It’s been a love-filled week and it’s also a long weekend for us, so we thought we’d share our joy with a Double XP weekend!

This weekend, from Noon PST on Friday, Feb. 17th, until 11:59 pm PST on Monday, Feb. 20th, we will be running a true Double XP (+100% XP) promotion. The bonus applies to AA, tradeskill and adventure experience this weekend.

From the EQ2 Forums:

ZONE PROGRESSION / POPULATION

Vallon’s Tower [Challenge]

• Players should get the correct message when entering the blue shielded dome in the Vallon Zek fight.

• During the final Vallon Zek fight, only 2 Vallonite Aces will spawn per wave of adds.  Fighters will no longer be hit with Tactical Dilema during the fight.

DUNGEON MAKER

• Fixed an issue with vitality not applying correctly in dungeon maker instances.

ITEMS

• Gnomish Anti-Camo Goggles can now be equipped by any class.

LIVE EVENTS

Erollisi

• Hearts a’Flutter: Antonica – The Essences of Erollisi should no longer spawn within unreachable tree roots or branches in the Central Farmlands.

QUESTS

Betrayal

• Betrayal popup warnings should more accurately describe what happens to your spells and combat arts when you betray.

Not included in the notes, so this is in my own words:

CENSUS / DATA FEEDS

A checkbox has been added to the Persona window under EQ2 Share allowing players to Opt-in some or all of their characters to be discoverable when viewing their character’s Alts.

After getting called to the carpet for a revised Game Update schedule that won’t see new level 90 content coming to EQ2 until April, nearly 9 months since last year’s Game Update 61, SOE has laid out a gameplan for February events.

From EverQuest2.com:

February Publish Plans – More to Play, Your Way!

February is here already, and the team is hard at work on Game Update 63! We’ll have some “behind the scenes” videos for you in the coming weeks to give you a sneak peek at the art of some of the exciting new zones coming up, and more information will follow between now and then.

In the mean time however, there’s plenty of new stuff to do in the world of Norrath, and we’re not waiting for the Game Update to bring you some of the improvements and changes we have in store. Here are some of the things we intend to bring you in the month of February!

Love is in the Air

Erollisi Day quests and events will be available from February 7th through 20th.

Dungeon Maker Adventurers to Gain Powerups

Dungeon Maker is becoming even more more fun, as we improve Adventurer gameplay to provide a more active game style using power management! While playing as an Adventurer, you’ll use certain abilities to build up your power, which you can then spend to use other abilities. This should give Adventurers a much more engaging playstyle that we hope everyone will enjoy! This change will be heading to Test server shortly so you can try it out yourself and give us your feedback before we finalize the changes. We hope you enjoy them as much as we are!

In-Game Polls to Arrive as Mail

We now have the ability to send you polls through the in-game mail system, and as promised, we’ll be seeking your feedback on a number of topics of interest. Poll questions will arrive in your mailbox like normal letters, and you can simply delete them if you don’t want to answer; however, we hope you’ll take the time to let us know what you think and how we can continue to improve your experience! We’re looking forward to testing out this new feature and hope that it will be a great source of information.

Read more at EverQuest2.com.

Just a friendly reminder of our friendly reminder, the Goddess Risen event ends next Monday, February 6th to make way for the upcoming Erollisi Day 2012 event.