When Can We Fly?

[FracasKrusher]

<p>I love EQ2, but for a magical world it is lacking this powerul magic.</p><p>Basic magical abilities we have all seen from fantasy books and other game systems/worlds usually include this.</p><p>Usually our hero has a glowing sword (got that), arcane inscribed armor (got that), etc...</p><p>but get down to the winged boots, and uh.... <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>I am not talking about a prerecorded pretty picture transportation flight as the griffon towers offer.</p><p>I mean a player controlled movement.  Could use for long distances or in combat.  </p><p>Closest thing in game now is fae/tinker boot gliding, which is more of a controlled hop/descent.</p><p>I picture something like the way undewater movement works... except in the air of course.</p><p>And such would bring in new strategies (going from a 2d world to 3d of range/placement, OMG this mob just dispelled my Flying spell (/player plummets), etc)</p><p>Anyway, any other players have the urge to take wing?</p><p>Any SOE developers/programmers working or such or is such at least on the drawing board???</p><p>Thanks,</p><p>Tappit of Crushbone</p>

[Josgar]

if you get to high off of the ground, the zone starts derendering (its not very high either) They would have to redo every zone (probabbly not expansion zones) and add flying aggressive mobs to keep people from skipping over dangerous places. It sounds so cool... but I doubt it would be feasible for Sony

[Skua]

levitate !!!

[gradyma]

<p>The levels were not designed for that, It would take a complete rework of the levels and probably some of the engine. If you have never designed a level for a 3D video game then you must understand there is more than just a simple re-work. There is alot you DONT see that has to be added, worked, tested. There are things that make you not lag when you look at the horizon, You dont see them but they are there. Sunshine, Moonshine, Wind, Rain...All of that is built into a level and would have to be redone, Also like someone else said, Mobs would have to be added as well to keep people in check.....So in short, Cool idea but it aint gonna happen.</p>

[interstellarmatter]

<p>In a future expansion pack zone?  Maybe.</p><p>In the old world zones? Not likely.  Not even WoW could pull off flying mounts in their old world zones.  It's something that has to be designed from the ground up (literally) in the zone.</p><p>Plus, what is this fasination with flying? Maybe it's just a guy thing... *goes off muttering incoherently*</p>

[redde]

Gah - I would hate this - I already hate the underwater movement, and flying creatures (klak'anon and acadechism) adding because they are close to you in the x-y plane, independant of how far away they are in the z. It's a nightmare. Winged boots as an item would make zonewide travel menial and boring - fly above everything. I can see why some people may like it (sort of), but i'll be keeping my feet firmly on the ground.

[Bloodfa]

<p>Ever glide with a Fae in one of the old zones, like Zek, from a mountain top?  Last time I did that, I re-zoned at the revive point, because the game lost me under the earth, after it disappeared.</p>

[Cusashorn]

Aye, the addition of the Fae really brought up a good chance to really explore and even exploit the flaws of each zone's design. Access areas you couldn't normally access, only to find the surface isn't even solid, so you fall through the zone.

[Druid03]

<p>besides the fact that it cant be done (add flyn mounts or whatever) there really is no reason to</p><p>traveling times are pretty short, and the zones are not that big</p><p>its not like Vanguard where flyn mounts (or super fast horses) are necesary cuz the zones are so freaking huge it takes you literally 40mins to go anywhere</p>

[sayitaintso]

<cite>Druid03 wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>besides the fact that it cant be done (add flyn mounts or whatever) there really is no reason to</p><p>traveling times are pretty short, and the zones are not that big</p><p>its not like Vanguard where flyn mounts (or super fast horses) are necesary cuz the zones are so freaking huge it takes you literally 40mins to go anywhere</p></blockquote> Wait until RoK is released. In an interview with Scott Hartsman he said RoK was going to include something he called Super Zones that are 5-10 times the size of the average zone now...I dont want a flying mount but I want something much faster than a Warg and available to everyone, not just the priviledged who are in level 60 guilds....

[selch]

There is lots of ways to fly mate... Some are expensive, some are cheap, either way, they are illegal and winners dont use them

[Cusashorn]

<cite>sayitaintso wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Druid03 wrote:</p><p> Wait until RoK is released. In an interview with Scott Hartsman he said RoK was going to include something he called Super Zones that are 5-10 times the size of the average zone now...I dont want a flying mount but I want something much faster than a Warg and available to everyone, not just the priviledged who are in level 60 guilds.... </p></blockquote> honestly a level 60 guild and the horse it comes with it not that hard to accomplish.

[Siogai]

Considering that you get to keep the mount and housing and all the other cool stuff that has a Guild Level requirement on it, if someone *really* just wanted one of those items, I don't imagine it would be terribly hard to beg or buy your way into such a guild just long enough to buy the items and then get punted. Heck, if I had a level 60 guild, I might charge a fee for the privilege!

[Zabjade]

Point of fact they need to redo the oldworld zones anyway add climbing areas, after all people have found ways of climbing onto certain parts of zones they were not supposed to and found the problems with soch places it should be a wake up call to fix the issues. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Bromir]

<p>I agree with levitate . Was fun and useable in eq1 so why not in EQ2.</p><p>Also i would like to see something like the Druid spell </p><p>Flight of the eagles: Fills your group with the spirit of the eagle for 1 hour, allowing them increased movement, levitation and superior vision.</p><p>We really need a group sow as wardens especially for indoor areas.  Use a version of fae fall instead of the levitation or .. use levitation <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </p><p> Yours</p><p>Brorim</p>

[steelblueangel]

I agree Brorims wardens and furys need a group sow.

[erin]

Bromir@Runnyeye wrote: <blockquote><p>I agree with levitate . Was fun and useable in eq1 so why not in EQ2.</p><p>Also i would like to see something like the Druid spell </p><p>Flight of the eagles: Fills your group with the spirit of the eagle for 1 hour, allowing them increased movement, levitation and superior vision.</p><p>We really need a group sow as wardens especially for indoor areas.  Use a version of fae fall instead of the levitation or .. use levitation <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </p><p> Yours</p><p>Brorim</p></blockquote>Once again, the developers have stated in the past that there will never be levitate, because the world isn't built for it.  Yes, lev was sometimes fun in EQ1, but its just not going to happen in EQ2 (unless, as someone said, they add it for an expansion, but then it will only be for the expansion). I don't know why this comes up once a week or so, maybe someone should explain why lev is so much fun that we just gotta have it.

[erin]

<cite>Siogai wrote:</cite><blockquote>Considering that you get to keep the mount and housing and all the other cool stuff that has a Guild Level requirement on it, if someone *really* just wanted one of those items, I don't imagine it would be terribly hard to beg or buy your way into such a guild just long enough to buy the items and then get punted. Heck, if I had a level 60 guild, I might charge a fee for the privilege! </blockquote>Any guild that does this is considered low by any respectable guild.

[Naubeta]

Everyone flying/levitating around is the worst thing that happened to EQ (along with the shrink).

[FracasKrusher]

<p>Flying is a primal ability.</p><p>A lot of people have dreams of flying.</p><p>If you have very rappelled, parachuted, rock climbed, flown you know the thrill of the high adventure.</p><p>I think it is a primary magical power, that EQ2 as a magical world should replicate.</p><p>Yes, I understand the mechanics of it would require programming such, and that it would require reworking old zones.  </p><p>But this could be included in new expansion zones, and possibly the old zones reworked to include the ability (maybe rework a couple of the zones with each update),</p><p>I just think that it is the law of supply and demand...</p><p>If there is a desire big enough, it will be filled.</p><p>If people want to fly, speak up so the designers can see</p><p>Tappit<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[erin]

<cite>FracasKrusher wrote:</cite><blockquote> <p>I just think that it is the law of supply and demand...</p><p>If there is a desire big enough, it will be filled.</p><p>If people want to fly, speak up so the designers can see</p><p>Tappit<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p></blockquote>Ok I'm speaking up.  I don't care if they add flying.  If they do, fine, if they don't, that's ok too.  Its not important to me.  That's one voice anyway.

[Kaalenarc]

Erin@Blackburrow wrote: <blockquote><cite>FracasKrusher wrote:</cite><blockquote> <p>I just think that it is the law of supply and demand...</p><p>If there is a desire big enough, it will be filled.</p><p>If people want to fly, speak up so the designers can see</p><p>Tappit<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p></blockquote>Ok I'm speaking up.  I don't care if they add flying.  If they do, fine, if they don't, that's ok too.  Its not important to me.  That's one voice anyway. </blockquote><p><span style="color: #ffff00">OK I'm speaking up too. I DO want it, even if its a flying mount in limited zones. it would be FUN. The "derendering" thing is merely that the chracter has gone higher than the CHARACTER's maximum set viewable distance. That part of it does NOT require a rework of every zone. What MIGHT require a significant amount of reworking zones is a lot of the "invisible walls" that currently keep us from going places they dont want us to would have to now have "invisible roofs" on them - so we didnt do things like run on the aqueduct in Antonica or dance on the roofs of Barren Sky (why either  of those is bad is beyond me - but I digress)</span></p><p><span style="color: #ffff00">Even if it is in limited form - Id still like to see it. </span></p><p><span style="color: #ffff00">Oh and to whoever said that level 60 guilds are "priveleged" - we arent. We earned those rewards and those levels. And its something that anyone can do if they work hard enough. My guild started with six people just like everyone else. We werent handed anything - we earned it. Thanks. </span></p>

[Bromir]

Naubitzi@Crushbone wrote: <blockquote>Everyone flying/levitating around is the worst thing that happened to EQ (along with the shrink). </blockquote><p> hmm .. Sol B had some passages it was pretty hard to get through without shrink .. at least as an ogre</p><p>Yours</p><p>Brorim</p>

[Cusashorn]

Shrink isn't needed in this game since the designers created all doors and passageways to be large enough for an ogre to fit through (even if they have to duck)

[Bromir]

<cite>Cusashorn wrote:</cite><blockquote>Shrink isn't needed in this game since the designers created all doors and passageways to be large enough for an ogre to fit through (even if they have to duck)</blockquote><p> Indeed <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Still it's in the game even if not on the players side .. There are traps that shrinks you .. Kinda funny too .. </p>

[FracasKrusher]

<p>Well. If I have not been clear...</p><p>I want to fly also!!!</p><p>The closest thing in the game currently for all races are the gnomish stilt boots (love my set),</p><p>but they are more of a jump and slow fall/glide thing.</p><p>Yes, it will change the game from a limited 2d to 3d...tactics will change. </p><p>And it will be like anything else in the game, a 2 edge sword that can cut both ways.</p><p>Yes, we may be able to fly easier to places, and attack from above and such...but so will the mobs.</p><p>Anyway, my 2 coppers are for flying (well, i pay a lot more for my 2 accounts each month than that, but you get my drift)</p><p>Tappit <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[aardda]

<p>As was once said by the renowned philosopher Holly, "if god had intended us to fly, he wouldn't have invented spanish air traffic control."</p><p>I have no desire to fly. If it was added i probably won't use it and i don't think it would fit in well with the game designed as it is.</p>

[pedigr]

play stoned, youll fly everywhere.

[Tid]

<cite>pedigree wrote:</cite><blockquote>play stoned, youll fly everywhere.</blockquote>The only way to tank a raid IMHO... :0

[jagermonsta]

I want to fly... <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[redde]

<cite>sayitaintso wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Druid03 wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>besides the fact that it cant be done (add flyn mounts or whatever) there really is no reason to</p><p>traveling times are pretty short, and the zones are not that big</p><p>its not like Vanguard where flyn mounts (or super fast horses) are necesary cuz the zones are so freaking huge it takes you literally 40mins to go anywhere</p></blockquote> Wait until RoK is released. In an interview with Scott Hartsman he said RoK was going to include something he called Super Zones that are 5-10 times the size of the average zone now...I dont want a flying mount but I want something much faster than a Warg and available to everyone, not just the priviledged who are in level 60 guilds.... </blockquote> Yes the zones will be bigger, but there will be fewer of them. Travelling through 1 zone in RoK will be like travelling through 3 or 4 in the old content. I think introducing a faster mount would be a bad thing - You can get to pretty much anywhere from anywhere in 10 minutes max really, much faster if you find someone who can port you nearby. The slowest thing is the boat to BB, then the run from the docks, if you catch that at a bad time. I think making super fast mounts has a bad effect on the feeling of scale in the game, and makes running away from mobs all to easy.

[Nakaru-Nitepaw]

<cite>steelblueangel wrote:</cite><blockquote>I agree Brorims wardens and furys need a group sow. </blockquote> In the time it takes me to individually SoW a entire group, half of them are already off on their merry way. This is needed.

[Nakaru-Nitepaw]

Ranadin@Antonia Bayle wrote: <blockquote>I want to fly... <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></blockquote> *prepares the catapult* Jk Flying does sound neat, but my experiences in EQ1 has shown me people have to levitate while AFK standing around in PoK or anywhere else as it's s ritual or a rule. I do wish EQ2 had something similar but more under more control. Such as you have to be in the group and it requires concentration?

[Raveller]

<cite>sayitaintso wrote:</cite><blockquote>Wait until RoK is released. In an interview with Scott Hartsman he said RoK was going to include something he called Super Zones that are 5-10 times the size of the average zone now...I dont want a flying mount but I want something much faster than a Warg and available to everyone, not just the priviledged who are in level 60 guilds.... </blockquote>*IF* they deliver zones that big, then an efficient intrazone travel method will be very appreciated. I think a public transit system, such as the griffin towers, would be a better solution than giving characters the ability to fly. Unless, of course, obtaining the flight ability involves a quest that permanently de-wings Fae player characters.

[Raveller]

<cite>steelblueangel wrote:</cite><blockquote>I agree Brorims wardens and furys need a group sow. </blockquote> Then so do mystics and defilers.

[Cusashorn]

<cite>aarddave wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>As was once said by the renowned philosopher Holly, "if god had intended us to fly, he wouldn't have invented spanish air traffic control."</p></blockquote> [Removed for Content]

[Siogai]

<blockquote> Flying does sound neat, but my experiences in EQ1 has shown me people have to levitate while AFK standing around in PoK or anywhere else as it's s ritual or a rule. I do wish EQ2 had something similar but more under more control. Such as you have to be in the group and it requires concentration?</blockquote> I feel the same way about the toolsheds that cluster around brokers and important, singular NPCs while on their mounts and carpets.  Seriously, folks, if you're going to be standing at the broker for 45 minutes, get off the frigging 10-tonne warg...

[Nakaru-Nitepaw]

<cite>Siogai wrote:</cite><blockquote><blockquote> Flying does sound neat, but my experiences in EQ1 has shown me people have to levitate while AFK standing around in PoK or anywhere else as it's s ritual or a rule. I do wish EQ2 had something similar but more under more control. Such as you have to be in the group and it requires concentration?</blockquote> I feel the same way about the toolsheds that cluster around brokers and important, singular NPCs while on their mounts and carpets.  Seriously, folks, if you're going to be standing at the broker for 45 minutes, get off the frigging 10-tonne warg... </blockquote>A lot of people think they look cool like that or something. A lot of us may Oooh and Ahh at the fact you can ride a flying carpet, but theres so many people in the game with one right now it lost it's uniqueness long ago. Nothing we can do will change that either. I prefer just to use my warden's 45% SoW for run speed. Running on foot you have better mobility anyway.

[FracasKrusher]

<p>I dont see why some people dont want to fly.</p><p>I am an old school gamer from pen and paper AD&D.  You could not fly in that game til you were higher level and had earned the spells or gotten the magic items.</p><p>Saying that it doesn't belong in this game just is not right imho.</p><p>It may take work, but hey... that is what I presume part of our monthly payment is going to, software development.</p><p>Tactically, yes it will change tactics...people will have to look up rather than just ahead/behind/left/right.  But, if some of your party members are land bound, or your target is land bound, you still have to come out of the sky a lil to fight/be in range.</p><p>Just hoping Sony can put us in the clouds</p><p>Tappit</p>

[Cusashorn]

FracasKrusher wrote: <blockquote>Just hoping Sony can put us in the clouds</blockquote>*CoughKingdomofSkyexpansionpackcough*

[LordPazuzu]

My guess would be never.  Free navigation of the z axis isn't something the current EQ2 engine even supports.

[erin]

<cite>FracasKrusher wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>I dont see why some people dont want to fly.</p><p>I am an old school gamer from pen and paper AD&D.  You could not fly in that game til you were higher level and had earned the spells or gotten the magic items.</p><p>Saying that it doesn't belong in this game just is not right imho.</p><p>It may take work, but hey... that is what I presume part of our monthly payment is going to, software development.</p><p>Tactically, yes it will change tactics...people will have to look up rather than just ahead/behind/left/right.  But, if some of your party members are land bound, or your target is land bound, you still have to come out of the sky a lil to fight/be in range.</p><p>Just hoping Sony can put us in the clouds</p><p>Tappit</p></blockquote>Its not that I don't want to fly, but you captured it exactly right there: "It may take work, but hey... " yup, it does, and I have a thousand things I'd be more interested in them spending money developing.  Flying doesn't interest me.  I'm not against it, I'm not for it, I'd rather have other things. They said at the beginning that the game wasn't built to allow levitation, but people like you keep asking for it.  The rest of us would much rather have them add content.

[Owilliams]

Erin@Blackburrow wrote: <blockquote>Once again, the developers have stated in the past that there will never be levitate, because the world isn't built for it.  Yes, lev was sometimes fun in EQ1, but its just not going to happen in EQ2 (unless, as someone said, they add it for an expansion, but then it will only be for the expansion). I don't know why this comes up once a week or so, maybe someone should explain why lev is so much fun that we just gotta have it. </blockquote><p> The developers seem to have changed stance on what the world is or isn't built for, as is evident by the introduction of the glide ability and tinkered parachute packs.</p><p>EQ1's levitate effect made the player hover a few feet above the ground and added a slow decent "glide" when airborne.</p><p>Does the glide part of levitate sound familiar?</p><p>As a long-time wizard from the release period of EQ1, that levitated 24/7 (I was notorious for it),  I say bring back levitate to wizards and druids!!</p><p>Hmm, I wonder if I should start checking the Academy of Arcane Science for batwings... since EQ2 doesn't have Erudin's Crimson Hand, my favorite place to load up on those little batwings.</p><p>Happy Gaming,</p><p>--Orv</p>

[Owilliams]

<cite>LordPazuzu wrote:</cite><blockquote>My guess would be never.  Free navigation of the z axis isn't something the current EQ2 engine even supports.</blockquote><p> It certainly does. Take a little swim.</p><p>--Orv</p>

[Owilliams]

<p>BTW, since the thread is actually about flying... I don't have an official stance either for or against it.</p><p>The levitate comments are what caught my attention, loved it dearly in EQ1.</p><p>Happy Gaming,</p><p>--Orv</p>

[FracasKrusher]

<p>Hmmm... yup swimming allows you to change your z axis...and that is in a lot of the old world zones.  So the technology is available.  Be like swimming in air instead of water.</p><p>Just a matter of if players want it enough.</p><p>Maybe only the new discovered world (ie RoK or such) will initially have such because</p><p>1. Sony can only implement so much at a time</p><p>2. Can explain into game lore as the new area's have a new kind of magical radiation that supports/allows such.</p><p>Game balance:  </p><p>Maybe this powerful new ability can only be empowered by live spells, ie it is such a powerful enchantment it cannot be contained within an item (If you want to fly, you better be a caster or have a caster with group fly and keep the caster alive or all plummet).</p><p>Flying is a sure way to have a bullseye painted on ya as most intelligent mobs will recognize this as a powerful ability and will want to take out flyers first.</p><p>Just some ideas.</p><p>But again, my vote is for FLIGHT</p><p>Tappit</p>

[mamasan]

<p>I am against flying mounts. I got one in WoW and all it supports is passing content and challenges. Thats how most used the mount. Fly in, talk to quest guy who is in middle of mobs, fly away. No thanks. Just unnecessary fluff in my opinion. </p><p>Besides, traveling in EQ2 is nowhere near as tedious and boring as in WoW. </p>

[FracasKrusher]

<p>Hmmm...</p><p>Just because WoW does things badly doesnt mean Sony will.</p><p> The changing strategies thing i suggested...  What if you flew over a nesting ground of some birdlike mobs...bet it might get a lil more complicated then... or what if you fly near and aggro some mobs already in the sky patroling... i can see a mad tinker gnome and his flight (crash?) team coming at you now to take "samples"  lol</p><p> Its possible.  It may be hard.  It may be work.  It may take people reworking their strategies and not thinking 2d but true 3d</p><p>But hey, that is what challenges are all about.</p><p>Tappit <---  want to take wing (but still not an angel)</p><p><img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[liveja]

<p>I wouldn't be surprised if SOE implemented flying mounts in much the same way WoW did: you have to be a certain very high level to get them, it takes a quest, & they're hellishly expensive.</p><p>I can just see the level of whining that would cause on these forums. For that reason alone, SOE should implement flying mounts, because more whiney forum drama is always good for a little low-brow entertainment <img src="/smilies/908627bbe5e9f6a080977db8c365caff.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>