Sightseeing and the "WOW" factor (not World of Warcraft).

[Morgy]

<p>Hi all. I have just started on EQ2, up to level 9.hmmmm.  I intend doing what I did in the original EQ. If I may digress for a moment and hope some of you old sods who remember it are reading this: I can still recall the absolute thrill I got when, as a newbie,  I first saw the entrance to Kaladim, with the huge statue of the dwarf over it, or hearing the sea shanty music when first I approached Freeport on the ship or swimming underwater into the cove in Timorous Deep and drinking a beer on the sand or seeing the dragons in Veeshan's Peak. Experiences like those (and there were plenty) brought to me the "WOW" factor. I just stood there and went: WOW!!! so many times. For me, despite the grind and the camping etc., EQ was the greatest game I had ever played. I still have a lev.59 druid and a couple of mid. levels there (I checked recently). </p><p>What I want to know is: are there any places in EQ2 which have the same effect on a player as he or she explores. What experiences or sights really turned you on? I would really like a list so that I can look forward to going there etc. I love to explore. I am not a "Level-Up Junkie". I just want to amble thru' the world at my own pace and not miss smelling the flowers on the way.</p><p>Many thanks for your input. </p>

[Jal]

Sols eye in the caverns with the lava. Standing on Lucans mount in the commonlands. Anywhere in the village of shin. Seeing Nagafen. Seeing Tarinax. The Approach to castle mistmoore. Flying around the sinking sands on the magic carpets. The fear gate.

[Morgy]

<img src="/smilies/e8a506dc4ad763aca51bec4ca7dc8560.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Thanks, Kallarn. Keep 'em coming, guys. Oh, and by the way, is there any way I can exchange my own music prefs. for the ingame music?

[Skua]

yes u can edit the game music , by zones , battle , interface sounds whatever ... search for it =)

[Guy De Alsace]

Sol's Eye Lava Caves. Shows what they designers can do when they <i>really </i>try and dont do a friday night job like KoS. I still think Antonica looks really nice tbh. Most of the new zones are too "Gauntlet" for me with random mobs placed randomly, randomly wandering around with no particular reason or purpose other than to make sure getting from A to B is as annoying as possible. I think Mistmoore Castle steps is probably the best looking place I've been in the newer content.

[Naubeta]

Freeport for me.

[Miele]

I'll add: Everfrost Miragul's menagerie Neriak Butcherblock Mountains, watching down to the docks from the aviak area many many more...

[Gorpier]

The Academy of Arcane Science in Freeport, New Tunaria (EoF Zone) Neriak (I know, everyone is there right now on my server too....but the architecture is beautiful and there are shades of nostalgia as well...sorta miss the neon though) The Nest of the Great Egg (while the zones outside in KoS could use something, this instance zone is beautifully done and I just stood there for a minute and said to myself, 'awesome'<img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Maj'dul (DoF) Just some of my favorites.  Freeport has a lot of beautiful areas within the city.  All dark and broody with that Gothic feel to it and gorgeous architecture.  Mostly the contrast between good and evil do the Wow factor for me.  I find that I have rolled both good and evil just for that great difference.

[joebyrdw]

<p>All of the ones listed so far and: </p><p>The estate of unrest. </p><p>The carpet rides in pillars of flame.</p><p>The twin tears in sinking sands. </p><p>The shimmering citidel zone. </p><p>Castle Mistmore. </p><p>The halls of fate.</p>

[phoenixshard]

<cite>Miele wrote:</cite><blockquote>Butcherblock Mountains, watching down to the docks from the aviak area </blockquote>I remember the first time I jumped from there with my assassin...she flew for what seemed like 15-20 seconds before splashdown in the water.  Really sweet.  Then I tried it again and didn't quite make it.  <img src="/smilies/97ada74b88049a6d50a6ed40898a03d7.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Illmarr]

<p>Sunrise over the Commonlands. Even when it was all brown chaparal like Southern California this was a majestic sight. I first noticed it from the Druid Ring. I imagine it's even better from the top of Lucan's Mount</p><p>Standing on the ridge and looking down on the Steamfont Wetlands</p><p>The twistedness of Nektropos Castle the first time you run through it</p>

[Jesdyr]

I think just about all of the EoF zones i have seen are really nice looking. I really like the look of New Tunaria.

[Kaedi]

<p>Temple of CT</p><p>Behemoth Pond in Nek</p><p>and yeah Sol Eye, Everfrost and Permafrost</p>

[VizP]

My own personal wow places from the time Ive played: Swimming outside the isle of refuge at night that first time and taking in EQ2 visuals - was a big wow Solusek's Eye and the winding see through walkways down to the bottom - BIG WOW. Permafrost and the ice tunnels within - we went there with a group and it was definitely a wow. Nektropos Castle - not a fan favourite but was a big 'wow' for me - just a very atmospheric zone and later on Everlings heartbeat in the background! Theme continued with Mistmoore Castle too and also Unrest.. the horror style, atmosphere and music definitely wow zones Maj'Dul - I dont know but Maj'dul did wow me - the running across the rooftops, the Arabian Nights feel from the get go with the music and the effort into the detail. The sands were very well done to say the least Ive forgotten its name now but there is a zone in Nektulos Forest at the end of the river that leads down - was a part of the D'Morte Adventure Pack as free content but it has a truly beautiful underground waterfall in there. One of those little things people may not havt noticed. Poet's Palace - high above the sands and walking around it - wow? Kingdom of Sky - Bonemire - the Twilight realm always seemed a bit of a wow with all those seperated islands, definitely liked that place the best Faydwer - Fay starting area - BIG WOW - probably one of the most magical things i have seen in a MMO.. really fantastic stuff. Also Steamfont Mtns and the gnome dungeons, fantastic to see. Neriak - wow. Honestly. Which reminds me before I forget - Kelethin wow? Brings back memories or what - rising up to the top, the view and the feeling.... These are just some of the things but Im sure the wow factor is more than everywhere. I cant wait till Kunark <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Eileithia]

The first time you walk into the Temple of Sol Ro (Doorstep with the lava on either side) Naggy's lair, The lower half of Sol Eye. Walking out of the passage in Everfrost Permafrost The temple in Fallen dynasty Silent City (Temple the godking is in) CT Runnyeye (The music alone here made me go wow the first time I zoned in) Most of EOF zones Neriak Freeport ... The list could go on but I'll leave it there. The art department has done a seriously amazing job with this game.. I can't really think of too many zones that make me feel blah..

[FlamingDuck]

<p>For me it was just being in Freeport for the first time, they got the gritty, evil mood down really well. Seeing the Lucan's tower looming over you everywhere in the zone adds to the evil feel to it. </p>

[Morgy]

AYAYAYAY!!!   I have sooo much to look forward to. I don't think I can stand it. I think I need a shot of the hard stuff to calm me down. Just took my first ride up the elevator to Kelethin. Nostalgia kicks in big time. Thank you so much guys for all the input so far. I am taking notes. Keep 'em coming.

[selch]

Game graphics were superior until SOGA team stepped in for new zones and characters.

[Krystara]

<p>Seeing Kelethin again for the first time - breath just got sucked right out of me from all the memories.  Then I fell off a platform and remembered why exactly I hated that zone so much.  *grins*</p><p> Lavastorm - wow</p><p>Neriak - it's just amazing</p><p>Willow Wood where Lysari first lived in Qeynos, just such a nice little town to live in and so pretty.  Baubleshire is nice also.</p><p>That's what is immediately jumping to mind, but I know there have been a number of hills I've run over and thought - wow.</p>

[tass]

hmm I suppose when I first started playing this game back at the beginning ant made me wow from walking into archer woods to heading to the claymore and accidentally ticking off the citizens of windtalker village. And then getting lost in nek forest while doing the betrayal run. And ts when I fist found the griffen feilds with those huge dam birds in em. Other than maybe lava the rest of the zones didn't do much for me. Ferrot jungle everfrost water and ice and so on.

[EvilIguana9]

Basically, most of the overland EOF zones are graphically disappointing.  As far as beautiful scenery goes you're generally best off in the old world.  Lavastorm and Everfrost are still the two best looking zones in my opinion.  Sinking sands is pretty nice too, especially with the graphics turned up.  Go to the twin tears at dusk and you'll view a pretty picturesque scene. 

[phoenixshard]

Being a nautical freak in RL and especially finding lighthouses to be amazing, I must say, the first time I saw the lighthouse at Coldwind Point, I was very impressed. One zone that blows me away though is Sinking Sands, I love the feel of the whole DOF expansion, but for some reason Sinking Sands just blows me away completely.

[Allisia]

New Tunaria is a truly beautiful city, especially the view from the first bridge. It's sure to elicit a "wow". The Obelisk of Lost Souls is equally breath-taking in a "oh #$&@" kind of way. The Estate of Unrest as you approach it in Butcherblock. Castle Mistmoore and it's stairs. The view from the docks in Lavastorm. Permafrost (not the entrance in Everfrost, the keep itself). The view from the entrance of the Temple of Cazic-Thule. The approach to Nektropos Castle. But, the most eye popping visual I have ever seen in the game was 2 parts surprise, 3 parts artistic masterpiece and that would be the depths of Solusek's Eye. I won't explain it, indeed explanations really wouldn't do it justice. It's amazing and somewhat scary at the same time. Get to 50 or so, and go see it for yourself. Awesome.

[ToiletBomb]

Aye for all the clamors. New tunaria, coming up over the rise to see the expanse and the falls and all that.  The place is amazing looking. Seeing tarinax still gets me excited.  The best thing to me tho is looking forward to the expansions and wondering how much it will remind you of eq1.  What things are similiar, how did they twist em differently, and whats happened since?  Those little details absolutely amaze me.

[Fasci]

there is a TON that I haven't seen yet (my toons are mostly in their 30's), but I would agree that Willow Wood is very sweet (and was also my first "home" in eq2). Early on, I was wow'ed by most everything in Qeynos, until it became familiar. I remember staring at the tower in North Qeynos from the Claymore monument, and watching the sun set behind all. It was pretty amazing to me. I also love most of the overland zones. The view from Kelethin still takes my breath away sometimes. I love running around Nek Forest, mostly because of the soundtrack. Yeah, it's a little creepy, but it can be very relaxing. And I love the views in Antonica to the north, looking over the water. So pretty. And <i>SOMEDAY</i>, I'll get a real machine so that I can see it all again in something other than "High Performance" mode, lol!! <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Trepan]

The Living tombs were a big WOW factor for me (as well as the rest of the world).  The HUGE ancient buried city teaming with undead.... yeah. 

[JohnDoe058]

<p>Am I the only person who likes Commonlands?  A lot of African-style wildlife...seems like a unique zone to me.  Whenever I walk thru it with high graphics settings, I get a boner.</p><p>On a similar topic, I really, really like how EQ2 rewards you for exploring, via Discovery Experience, rather than punishing you, via corpse runs.</p>

[Giral]

<p>the Hive in Rivervale </p><p>its a instance zone,used in part of the Hq(forgot the name<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />&nbsp<img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>very neat little zone </p>

[Beldin_]

<p>Yeah .. Sol-Eye was really the greatest zone when i saw it the first times, also Lavastorm when i saw the dragon-skellie in the lava really impressed me , i still keep this old screenie from march 2004 when i saw that the first time <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p><img src="http://beldin.be.funpic.de/eq2/EQ2_000016.jpg" border="0"></p>

[Polywogus]

Going into Nek via the Commonlands - it was night the 1st time I went in (as well as in RL), my char was only about lvl 12, I'd sneaked my way over...something about the sounds, the rushing water, & the bridge right there (J'Rais Bridge, iirc) made it feel completely awesome. Might not seem like too big a deal, but for me, made me not be able to be 'old enough' to quest there <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[melaine_dvarvensplitter]

I have 2 zones that gave me the WOW factor. Fallen Gate when you hit the first section with the ruined out buildings. The other zone was Nek Forest before the revamp, crossing the bridge I got the oh [Removed for Content] im gonna die.