Upgraded EQ2 versions of old EQ zones.

[Nyarlathotep23]

  So Im just kind of starting out in the game, (still on newbie island) and I started wondering if I can expect to see upgraded, or better graphic, versions of the old zones from EQ such as the commonlands and the like.  I remember being out there hunting the orc huts and waiting for the inevitable yell of "Gryphon!".  Anyway just reminiscing I guess but was curious if I can look forward to this.

[Aalrahil]

Most of the zones in EQ2 are ones that were also in EQ1, but they are very different, with 500 years passing, the Shattering, and other stuff. Still, there's Qeynos and Freeport, Commonlands and Antonica, Nektulos Forest, Lavastorm, the Feerrott, GFay and Butcherblock. It's all there, but it's all different. And you'll still have a chance to run from nasty griffons in the Thundering Steppes!

[Nyarlathotep23]

  Thanks for the quick reply.  Hehe yeah, forgot the whole 500 years in the future thing.  Glad to hear that some of the zones still exist though, no matter how different.

[Baccalarium]

Griffon... no worries. Grimfeather.... worry.    But at least Grimfeather sounds mean..... Holly Windstalker may not sound mean, but beware none the less.

[Lodrelhai]

You'll find plenty of old familiar zones - but a few of them have new names. The Plains of Karana are now the Thundering Steppes.  Fallen Gate was once the Foreign Quarter of Neriak (and do not ask why it is where it is compared to where Neriak itself is).  Splitpaw is there and available with the Splitpaw Saga adventure pack.  The Feerrot, Everfrost, Lavastorm - all there, and Jaggedpine... well, it's still around, but don't expect to recognize it when you first see it. Have fun rediscovering the world!

[StoneySilen]

Ya, it is guessed that Freeport is actually inland farther than it used to be.  The current Commonlands is actually West Commonlands, Nek Forest is actually Kithicor Forest.  Like others said Thundering Steppes is the Karana's and probably a part of Highpass. Things have the same name but look nothing like EQ of old except in Faydwer, Faydwer is quite similar to old but still different.

[Lodrelhai]

Actually Nek forest is the old Nektulos forest - if you go to the far north of the zone, you'll find the gate (permanently closed) that used to be the old passage to Lavastorm before Lavastorm became a separate island. Kithicor forest is still out there, but inaccessible at this time.  It's mentioned in high-end lore, and Vhalen (main Lore Dev) put up a teaser mentioning it not too long ago.  I believe Highkeep is similarly isolated.

[StoneySilen]

<cite>Lodrelhai wrote:</cite><blockquote>Actually Nek forest is the old Nektulos forest - if you go to the far north of the zone, you'll find the gate (permanently closed) that used to be the old passage to Lavastorm before Lavastorm became a separate island. Kithicor forest is still out there, but inaccessible at this time.  It's mentioned in high-end lore, and Vhalen (main Lore Dev) put up a teaser mentioning it not too long ago.  I believe Highkeep is similarly isolated. </blockquote>The Guardian used to say Lavastorm but that was long ago.  He hasn't said that for some time.  Now he just hints at some thing else.  I still say Nek is Kith.  When Kith is reintroduced it could actually be some other zone similarly  "renamed" over the years.  I would say Darklight is the old Nek if anything.

[Aalrahil]

I always thought Enchanted Lands is what used to be Kithicor, obviously not a forest anymore. I mean, it has the connection to Rivervale and Runnyeye, just as Kith did.

[StoneySilen]

Anakh@Antonia Bayle wrote: <blockquote>I always thought Enchanted Lands is what used to be Kithicor, obviously not a forest anymore. I mean, it has the connection to Rivervale and Runnyeye, just as Kith did. </blockquote>I would say EL is Misty Thicket.

[Tatsou]

yup, Kithicor use to adjoin rivervale/high pass/west commonlands.

[TheSpin]

<p>Nektulos is Nektulos, it's not kithicor.  Darklight was really nothing in eq2, I imagine their excuse is that the shattering somehow put a wall in the middle of nek and half is nek and the other half is darklight.</p><p>EL is definately the misty thicket and that's clearly explained.  Zek is jaggedpine and that is verified in the teachings of yoru quest.</p><p>I heard that stormhold was actually once high hold pass but once the claymore was brought there it corrupted the place and turned it into what it is now.  Befallen is no more because the claymore is what kept it alive.</p>

[Ansek]

Theres a lot less - practically none really - EQ2 versions of EQ1 zones, in a straightforward port kinda way, than you'd expect: Antonica is nothing like Qeynos Hills was but it <i>feels </i>like it, if that makes sense. The <i>spirit </i>of EQ1 zones is alive and well. As someone who played EQ for six years, theres all sorts of "hehe" moments, flashes of nostalgia-inducing recognition - the first (and thus far only) time Holly Windstalker killed me reminded me of all the times she went for me in EQ. Or the first time I met Fippy Darkpaw and Nillipus and I thought of all the times I killed their older counterparts. The EoF expansion is very impressive in this regard. Its not perfect - Crushbone is in totally the wrong place (which annoys me intensely), and some of the zone lines have moved around a bit - but its very good. The first time I saw Butcherblock Mountains, I fell in love with Norrath all over again. BBM is beautiful - its how it always should have been, in my opinion. Running around exploring, I gave a whoop of delight when, taking a wrong turning, I came across The Chessboard again. Then stumbling across Kaladim and seeing that HUGE dwarf statue over the entrance and, well, it was like coming home.

[Nyarlathotep23]

  Great description Ansek.  Thats just what I was talking about.  Butcherblock was also one of my most memorable zones, (probably because I always tried new characters and ended up back there so much!).  I had totally forgotten about the chessboard and now I look forward to seeing that area!