Preview: Monument and Might - GU #52 [Archive]

Kiara

05-13-2009, 10:08 PM

<img src="http://eq2players.station.sony.com/images/en/features/articles/GU52/preview/gu52_banner.jpg" width="600" height="150" /> GU #52, Monument and Might, will be heading to Test <a href="http://help.station.sony.com/cgi-bin/soe.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=16310" target="_blank">soon</a>. With the expanded schedule (and bigger updates) content will be on Test longer and we really look forward to your input! Here's a quick look at some of the new content coming with Monument and Might. <a href="http://eq2players.station.sony.com/news_archive_content.vm?id=3087&section=News&locale=en_US">Read more!</a>

Spyderbite

05-13-2009, 10:17 PM

Oooooh. looking forward to this on Test! Woo Hoo!

Froed20

05-13-2009, 11:19 PM

Because there's certainly a lack of quests to do in the ROK zones.Seriously though, I am really looking forward to the new zones. I'm not sure why there's a need to add more quests onto the ginormouse mountain of quests already present in the RoK zones, but I guess if they're at least fun, then it doesn't really matter. Can't wait to see what you do with this.On a side note, the "soon" link you got there that leads to the knowledge base is freaking priceless <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

hellfire

05-13-2009, 11:20 PM

Wow seriously ...did we not get enough of rok?

Gaige

05-13-2009, 11:29 PM

Just say no to even more RoK solo quests six months later. Also a new Maidens? Woop ti do.Kurn's was a cool idea a year ago, I'm over it now though.Can we maybe get a GU that has to do with the current expansion or something?Just saying.

Calthine

05-13-2009, 11:30 PM

<cite>Gage wrote:</cite><blockquote>Can we maybe get a GU that has to do with the current expansion or something?Just saying.</blockquote>We did: GU51

Dreyco

05-14-2009, 12:13 AM

I can't wait. This looks like a wonderfully large sizeable chunk of content that you guys are adding.I'll be on test when it's there <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Dasein

05-14-2009, 12:21 AM

<cite>Gage wrote:</cite><blockquote>Just say no to even more RoK solo quests six months later. Also a new Maidens? Woop ti do.Kurn's was a cool idea a year ago, I'm over it now though.Can we maybe get a GU that has to do with the current expansion or something?Just saying.</blockquote>The current expansion covers pretty much all the existing zones.

Noaani

05-14-2009, 12:26 AM

<cite>Gage wrote:</cite><blockquote>Just say no to even more RoK solo quests six months later. Also a new Maidens? Woop ti do.Kurn's was a cool idea a year ago, I'm over it now though.Can we maybe get a GU that has to do with the current expansion or something?Just saying.</blockquote>/shrugI'm less concerned with where in Norrath an instance is located as I am with how fun an instance is, how challanging that instance is and rewarding an instance is.2 group and 1 x2 raid instances in a single LU is pretty big imo, and I am looking forward to seeing them.Not sure on the purpose behind adding to solo questing in RoK, but I'll run the quests and see what they are about before I write a post about how much of a waste they are.

therodge

05-14-2009, 12:32 AM

<cite>Kiara wrote:</cite><blockquote> GU #52, Monumnet and Might, will be heading to Test <a href="http://help.station.sony.com/cgi-bin/soe.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=16310" target="_blank">soon</a>. With the expanded schedule (and bigger updates) content will be on Test longer and we really look forward to your input! Here's a quick look at some of the new content coming with Monument and Might. <a href="http://eq2players.station.sony.com/news_archive_content.vm?id=3087&section=News&locale=en_US"></a></blockquote>couple questions what are the difficulty of the group instances, are we talking just more heavily unutilized zones like ferzual and out stronghold or will these be accessable by the majority of players

Gaige

05-14-2009, 12:47 AM

<cite>Calthine wrote:</cite><blockquote>We did: GU51</blockquote>How many GUs in RoK updated pre-RoK zones?

TheSpin

05-14-2009, 01:23 AM

I wanna say that I love the new direction bein taken with the updates. New features and improvements will always be my favorite part of an update, but adding new content keeps things from getting boring.Finally Kurn's Tower! Looks like it's not going in as I expected it would, but it'll be cool to go inside it either way.Now as for the pessimists.... looks to me like this update deals with the current expansion just as much as RoK, plus there are already dungeons in RoK from the latest expansion so I dunno how you can complain about that. I like the idea of the whole world evolving instead of a focus on whatever is happening because of the latest expansion.

Beghard

05-14-2009, 01:34 AM

<cite>Gage wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Calthine wrote:</cite><blockquote>We did: GU51</blockquote>How many GUs in RoK updated pre-RoK zones?</blockquote>Its NOT an update to PRE-TSO zones, its a brand new ones. Its not like its going to drop RoK quality junk loot. How is this any differnt than adding zones to LS or EF. And there adding a freaking void zone(stupid in my opnion, i was hoping for a clasic style CT when it came out not void crap) how is that RoK?Plus ive been waiting for them to open up that other door thats down there for some time now.

BleemTeam

05-14-2009, 02:08 AM

The Charasis zone has been an idea/in development for 6 months or more. It's something that was going in regardless, probably storyline pending.Like you thought Void anchors were done? haha

Gaige

05-14-2009, 02:32 AM

<cite>Beghard wrote:</cite><blockquote>And there adding a freaking void zone(stupid in my opnion, i was hoping for a clasic style CT when it came out not void crap) how is that RoK?</blockquote>Well, this is a guess, but I assume its RoK because its in Kunark? 80 solo quests spread out through each Kunark overland zone. Kurn's Tower (which is only new as far as population goes, the building has been there over a year.)One of the new heroic zones is down by Maiden's and VoES iirc, using the door that never worked in RoK.Just seems silly to me to finish RoK six months into TSO. Also, I played RoK everyday for a year. I'm sick of RoK. Traveling in RoK is a chore, most of the zones are horribly laid out and they're OLD.Comparing this to the LS revamp is silly. LS is old world, and other than an avatar endgame players hadn't been going there for anything for what, over 3 years. So revamping it to add some level 80 content was at least sort of fresh.Going back to RoK already just leaves a disgusting taste in my mouth since we just barely got away from it.

Despak

05-14-2009, 07:04 AM

<cite>Gage wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Beghard wrote:</cite><blockquote>And there adding a freaking void zone(stupid in my opnion, i was hoping for a clasic style CT when it came out not void crap) how is that RoK?</blockquote>Well, this is a guess, but I assume its RoK because its in Kunark? 80 solo quests spread out through each Kunark overland zone. Kurn's Tower (which is only new as far as population goes, the building has been there over a year.)One of the new heroic zones is down by Maiden's and VoES iirc, using the door that never worked in RoK.Just seems silly to me to finish RoK six months into TSO. Also, I played RoK everyday for a year. I'm sick of RoK. Traveling in RoK is a chore, most of the zones are horribly laid out and they're OLD.Comparing this to the LS revamp is silly. LS is old world, and other than an avatar endgame players hadn't been going there for anything for what, over 3 years. So revamping it to add some level 80 content was at least sort of fresh.Going back to RoK already just leaves a disgusting taste in my mouth since we just barely got away from it.</blockquote>Simple answer to that is; go sulk in Ykesha and don't do it. Or you could *gasp* wait and see what the additions are (not that you have to go buy them or anything!).

ValleyKing

05-14-2009, 08:12 AM

just for fun - one of the replies from the Russian forum:Concerned with the new events unfolding about Norrath, the Bellywhumpers scurry into action, burrowing a tunnel to the inside of the great tower. Once inside they discover that not all is well within Kurn's - and got so much scared that filled the tunnel up and ran away. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" />

Terron

05-14-2009, 09:13 AM

Apart from research assisstants, everything looks great to me.How anyone can complain about more quests being added to a game called EverQuest is beyond me.

Triasa

05-14-2009, 09:23 AM

I'm burned out on RoK solo quests, but I'm also burned out on gray quests for AA. Anything that allows me to actually do non-gray quests for AA is a good thing, imo.

Gamer1965

05-14-2009, 10:03 AM

<cite>Bossksk@Kithicor wrote:</cite><blockquote>*snip* Anything that allows me to actually do non-gray quests for AA is a good thing, imo.</blockquote>Ding Ding DingNice to have an option for those players who still need to grind AA to 200...

Deson

05-14-2009, 10:31 AM

<cite>Gage wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Beghard wrote:</cite><blockquote>And there adding a freaking void zone(stupid in my opnion, i was hoping for a clasic style CT when it came out not void crap) how is that RoK?</blockquote>Well, this is a guess, but I assume its RoK because its in Kunark? 80 solo quests spread out through each Kunark overland zone. Kurn's Tower (which is only new as far as population goes, the building has been there over a year.)One of the new heroic zones is down by Maiden's and VoES iirc, using the door that never worked in RoK.Just seems silly to me to finish RoK six months into TSO. Also, I played RoK everyday for a year. I'm sick of RoK. Traveling in RoK is a chore, most of the zones are horribly laid out and they're OLD.Comparing this to the LS revamp is silly. LS is old world, and other than an avatar endgame players hadn't been going there for anything for what, over 3 years. So revamping it to add some level 80 content was at least sort of fresh.Going back to RoK already just leaves a disgusting taste in my mouth since we just barely got away from it.</blockquote>While I'm still in the wait and see camp, I also hate RoK; post 70 it's impossible to escape it for the solo quest grind and I like alts. It remains the only expansion to make me fully quit and nothing done in the last ~18 months has reduced how tedious it is, to include the broader issue of mass slaughter leveling vs. the afore mentioned quest grind,of which there'll now be more! While the content and other mentioned features of this update seem nice, I hope I don't have to wait another now ~2 month LU cycle for something that makes 70-80 as fun as 1-70 have been since launch.As an aside,as Gage says getting around RoK is a pain. Is it at all possible to tweak the Kunark guild hall bell to have a port call in Omen's and one in Danak Shipyard? Fens has always been annoying to get to and the Hammer quest takes a long time to get to for characters that should be ~78 or really close to it when they start on the Jarasth line.

Matia

05-14-2009, 10:45 AM

<cite>Noaani wrote:</cite> <blockquote>Not sure on the purpose behind adding to solo questing in RoK, but I'll run the quests and see what they are about before I write a post about how much of a waste they are.</blockquote> Well, they didn't specify solo quests, so maybe a fair hunk of them will be non-solos. At least until they specify or we can see them on test we can hope. <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Deson

05-14-2009, 10:50 AM

<cite>Matia wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Noaani wrote:</cite> <blockquote>Not sure on the purpose behind adding to solo questing in RoK, but I'll run the quests and see what they are about before I write a post about how much of a waste they are.</blockquote> Well, they didn't specify solo quests, so maybe a fair hunk of them will be non-solos. At least until they specify or we can see them on test we can hope. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" /></blockquote>It's RoK. Short of them being tied to the dungeons, there's no rational way they can be group quests.

Matia

05-14-2009, 10:53 AM

Entirely possible.. plus they could potentially add some new tougher mobs in various places.I know, I know, but there's no sense assuming until we know.

Deson

05-14-2009, 10:59 AM

<cite>Matia wrote:</cite><blockquote>Entirely possible.. plus they could potentially add some new tougher mobs in various places.I know, I know, but there's no sense assuming until we know.</blockquote>Possible, but irrational. I assume the dev team is rational (despite efforts since EoF to break that faith) so adding overworld group content to RoK is irrational based on the volume of work and it not fitting in, and they should have learned from the examples already in RoK that slapping even ^^ "group" kills is a non-starter when everything around is solo and the whole expansion encourages solo play over everything else. It's probably like the Lavastorm addition was except with group quests for the dungeons.

Aneova

05-14-2009, 11:03 AM

Boy the dev's are just damned either way. RoK isn't that hard to get around in, get a druid friend to port you around get the hammer for JW and you're all set, getting to fens takes all of 2 minutes if that from KJ (flight path is way shorter there).As for the new content, how many folks are actually tired of doing grayed out content just to hit the AA cap? more then you realize i'm sure. I'm sure there are a lot that refuse to even touch a grey quest due to their play style of wanting a challenge or to get the reward from the current story arch. I for one am quiet happy to wait and see what we get before giving out any negative comments.

Deson

05-14-2009, 11:11 AM

<cite>Aneova@Kithicor wrote:</cite><blockquote>Boy the dev's are just damned either way. RoK isn't that hard to get around in, get a druid friend to port you around get the hammer for JW and you're all set, getting to fens takes all of 2 minutes if that from KJ (flight path is way shorter there).As for the new content, how many folks are actually tired of doing grayed out content just to hit the AA cap? more then you realize i'm sure. I'm sure there are a lot that refuse to even touch a grey quest due to their play style of wanting a challenge or to get the reward from the current story arch. I for one am quiet happy to wait and see what we get before giving out any negative comments.</blockquote>2 mins to get to Fens, 2 mins to fly to just about anywhere, almost 0 reason to even be in the zone except as transit so Fens is really like this tier's Loping Plains. Just grab a Druid for KJ! Then fly everywhere else. Of course, you need a druid in the first place. JW hammer! Quest line that takes about 2 days to do everything for solo if that's all you do and unlike when it was launched, you have better things to do at 80!Seriously though, it's not so much the transit in RoK so much as the bad memories of going back and forth to do the same thing over and over in zones that are freaking huge. Those 2 minute flights added up fast and could easily kill the desire to actually play. As far as AP, they have an even better unmentioned change-- better adventure xp conversion rate. That alone has me waiting for this update.Edit: It's not that the devs are damned either way, it's that there is a lot of frustration since RoK that still needs to play out and hasn't exactly been helped by the January-April potential updates, the tons of scripts to be dealt with in TSO and updates/ideas upcoming that have everyone already manning the torches and pitchforks.

Cele

05-14-2009, 12:32 PM

WOOOT! A bazillion new quests, I dont care WHEHRE they are, I will do any quest I can get my wings around.Excited also about the new group instance related to Kurn's, as I was disappointed Ward of Elements only had new raids.

Kordran

05-14-2009, 01:39 PM

<cite>Gage wrote:</cite><blockquote>Just seems silly to me to finish RoK six months into TSO. Also, I played RoK everyday for a year. I'm sick of RoK. Traveling in RoK is a chore, most of the zones are horribly laid out and they're OLD.</blockquote>QQAnd don't even start with traveling in RoK is a chore. Hammer + Sokokar and you're right there at VoES/MC and whatever the new zone is going to be. That takes all of about, what? 30 seconds total? Getting to those instances in JW is nothing if you have two spare brain cells to rub together. Likewise, getting to Fens is nothing; druid rings in KJ, a couple of quick sokokar rides and run about 100m. Again, a completely insignificant amount of time and effort involved.You want to talk about traveling being a chore, let's talk about getting to PoF in the Moors. That is a chore.Are you there yet? No. Are you there yet? No. Are you there yet? No! Would you just shut up! I'm still on the balloon!

feldon30

05-14-2009, 01:56 PM

<cite>Deson wrote:</cite><blockquote>It remains the only expansion to make me fully quit and nothing done in the last ~18 months has reduced how tedious it is, to include the broader issue of mass slaughter leveling vs. the afore mentioned quest grind,of which there'll now be more!</blockquote>GU52 will substantially increase the combat XP to Achievement XP conversion ratio for capped characters. Aeralik used numbers like 10-15% of an AA point for running a heroic dungeon. As you know that current rate is less than 1%.Grouping in T8 will be a viable means to earn AA.

Deson

05-14-2009, 02:05 PM

<cite>feldon30 wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Deson wrote:</cite><blockquote>It remains the only expansion to make me fully quit and nothing done in the last ~18 months has reduced how tedious it is, to include the broader issue of mass slaughter leveling vs. the afore mentioned quest grind,of which there'll now be more!</blockquote>GU52 will substantially increase the combat XP to Achievement XP conversion ratio for capped characters. Aeralik used numbers like 10-15% of an AA point for running a heroic dungeon. As you know that current rate is less than 1%.Grouping in T8 will be a viable means to earn AA.</blockquote>I said leveling, not AA. To level effectively I still have to solo quest through RoK and have seen nothing that adresses that concern since RoK launch besides one change around December 2007 I think it was. It looks like the problem is a combo of lower xp rates combined with the larger health pools/dangerousness of mobs( no more SoS zone pulls). If level by slaughter were actually viable, people would be in Karnors when they got bored with Soloquest. I tried that, even ran instances on my defiler and SK in their 70's a few weeks ago and based on what I saw, Soloquest-70-80 still can't be beat.The APxp change is great for the cap and I'll certainly love it but for my up and coming alts, I still hate the 70+ game.

feldon30

05-14-2009, 02:07 PM

<cite>Deson wrote:</cite><blockquote>It's not so much the transit in RoK so much as the bad memories of going back and forth to do the same thing over and over in zones that are freaking huge. Those 2 minute flights added up fast and could easily kill the desire to actually play.</blockquote>Oh I agree.I think the worst quest series by far went something like this:Sir Edmund of Timesink: I think the drolvargs are up to something. Can you travel to the other end of this zone to find out?Levelcaporbust (huffing and puffing): Yep, I went there and something is going on.Sir Edmund of Timesink: I see! I had a theory about those guys. Here's a remote recording device that I should have given to you on your first trip out there. Do you mind terribly running and placing this somewhere inconspicuous.Levelcaporbust (wheezing and clutching chest): Why didn't you give me that the first trip?Sir Edmund of Timesink: My dear boy, you had not grinded sufficient faction with me yet.Levelcaporbust (doubled over, gasping for breath): Alright, I did as you asked. Are we done?Sir Edmund of Timesink: Not so fast. Now I want you to sprinkle some of this potion on their enemies so they'll attack them.Levelcaporbust (massaging feet): Why didn't you give me that on the second trip?Sir Edmund of Timesink: Because for generations, my purpose has been to trick adventurers into lots of repetitious unnecessary travel. Next, I want you to go find my brother. He has another series of tedious errand running for you which will reward miniscule amounts of gold and XP.Levelcaporbust (has a stroke and dies).

feldon30

05-14-2009, 02:10 PM

<cite>Deson wrote:</cite><blockquote>I said leveling, not AA. To level effectively I still have to solo quest through RoK and have seen nothing that adresses that concern since RoK launch besides one change around December 2007 I think it was. It looks like the problem is a combo of lower xp rates combined with the larger health pools/dangerousness of mobs( no more SoS zone pulls).</blockquote>I guess I never got excited about "leveling by slaughter". Now leveling by running through dungeons like RE, DFC, Nek, etc. I find fun.I have leveled characters from 78 to 80 entirely by doing Void Shard missions so it can be done.

Gaige

05-14-2009, 02:18 PM

Just say no to RoK content in June of 2009!

Deson

05-14-2009, 02:25 PM

<cite>feldon30 wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Deson wrote:</cite><blockquote>I said leveling, not AA. To level effectively I still have to solo quest through RoK and have seen nothing that adresses that concern since RoK launch besides one change around December 2007 I think it was. It looks like the problem is a combo of lower xp rates combined with the larger health pools/dangerousness of mobs( no more SoS zone pulls).</blockquote>I guess I never got excited about "leveling by slaughter". Now leveling by running through dungeons like RE, DFC, Nek, etc. I find fun.I have leveled characters from 78 to 80 entirely by doing Void Shard missions so it can be done.</blockquote>That's what I mean by leveling by slaughter; the ability to do group content and get experience just from that. By necessity though the viability of that brings with it the viability of an overgeared tank yanking half the zone and everyone slaughtering for relatively fast xp. A quest grind attached is just hiding where the grind is; it's a shell game with xp.78-80. How long did it take relative to soloquest and was it really viable? Because if you're just going to talk "can be done", 80/200 can be done right now without a single quest.

Maebus

05-14-2009, 03:01 PM

Wait, my group just returned after quiting in RoK due to the Soloquest wall. Does this still exist? I thought the dungeons in TSO scaled down so we could start them earlier?

Deson

05-14-2009, 03:04 PM

<cite>Legolor@Lucan DLere wrote:</cite><blockquote>Wait, my group just returned after quiting in RoK due to the Soloquest wall. Does this still exist? I thought the dungeons in TSO scaled down so we could start them earlier?</blockquote>You can but the universal story is that TSO scaled dungeons are harder than older ones. I can't speak to that as fact since I've only done them at 80 average but even at 80 I can see that being true.Soloquest wall still exists and there are no stated plans to change it; if you want your old grouping progression save your money and come back when they fix it. EQ2 is still fun mind you but post 70 if that wall is your issue it's best not to get frustrated.

Mordith

05-14-2009, 04:01 PM

<cite>feldon30 wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Deson wrote:</cite><blockquote>It's not so much the transit in RoK so much as the bad memories of going back and forth to do the same thing over and over in zones that are freaking huge. Those 2 minute flights added up fast and could easily kill the desire to actually play.</blockquote>Oh I agree.I think the worst quest series by far went something like this:Sir Edmund of Timesink: I think the drolvargs are up to something. Can you travel to the other end of this zone to find out?Levelcaporbust (huffing and puffing): Yep, I went there and something is going on.Sir Edmund of Timesink: I see! I had a theory about those guys. Here's a remote recording device that I should have given to you on your first trip out there. Do you mind terribly running and placing this somewhere inconspicuous.Levelcaporbust (wheezing and clutching chest): Why didn't you give me that the first trip?Sir Edmund of Timesink: My dear boy, you had not grinded sufficient faction with me yet.Levelcaporbust (doubled over, gasping for breath): Alright, I did as you asked. Are we done?Sir Edmund of Timesink: Not so fast. Now I want you to sprinkle some of this potion on their enemies so they'll attack them.Levelcaporbust (massaging feet): Why didn't you give me that on the second trip?Sir Edmund of Timesink: Because for generations, my purpose has been to trick adventurers into lots of repetitious unnecessary travel. Next, I want you to go find my brother. He has another series of tedious errand running for you which will reward miniscule amounts of gold and XP.Levelcaporbust (has a stroke and dies).</blockquote>This would be funnier if it weren't unfortunately all too true. The running back and forth and back and forth ad nauseum is just completely devoid of thought.

ShinGoku

05-15-2009, 04:51 AM

<cite>Deson wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>feldon30 wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Deson wrote:</cite><blockquote>It remains the only expansion to make me fully quit and nothing done in the last ~18 months has reduced how tedious it is, to include the broader issue of mass slaughter leveling vs. the afore mentioned quest grind,of which there'll now be more!</blockquote>GU52 will substantially increase the combat XP to Achievement XP conversion ratio for capped characters. Aeralik used numbers like 10-15% of an AA point for running a heroic dungeon. As you know that current rate is less than 1%.Grouping in T8 will be a viable means to earn AA.</blockquote>I said leveling, not AA. To level effectively I still have to solo quest through RoK and have seen nothing that adresses that concern since RoK launch besides one change around December 2007 I think it was. It looks like the problem is a combo of lower xp rates combined with the larger health pools/dangerousness of mobs( no more SoS zone pulls). If level by slaughter were actually viable, people would be in Karnors when they got bored with Soloquest. I tried that, even ran instances on my defiler and SK in their 70's a few weeks ago and based on what I saw, Soloquest-70-80 still can't be beat.The APxp change is great for the cap and I'll certainly love it but for my up and coming alts, I still hate the 70+ game.</blockquote>QFE! I honestly can't explain it but the old zones pre ROK are way way way more fun IMO, the solo / group mob toughness is right where it should be etc. I hated the first time my extremly well geared (at the time) monk stepped off the boat into ROK and had his butt handed to him by a no arrow even level mob lol!I have thought long and hard about it and I don't even think its the familiarity of the old zones that makes it feel fun to me, its the general flow of the quests etc. I will use my wifey as an example; she has a fury stuck at lvl 74 as she despises soloing her as she rolled to group, not to solo, add to the fact rok mobs hit like freight trains and she has mostly healer centric gear and she goes splat a lot more than she feels she should! I hated the GRIND it was to get my monk from 70-80 (and the total disappointment the class has been ever since getting there but thats another thread entirely!) and if I had the choice, I would rather have run through beefed up high level versions of the old zones as they are just more "fun" to me. How cool would a lvl 80 version of SoS or Stormhold be?

gratefulripple

05-15-2009, 07:17 AM

It looks great guys, really really great!!!Good Job, keep up the good work!!! <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" />

Sharakari

05-15-2009, 09:23 AM

LOL... too funny. Just a couple months ago folks were complaining that there wasn't enough content to get to 200 AAs without going back and doing grey quests or running Shard missions a thousand times. Now they are going to add more quests at level, add more instances with named mobs, and tweak the EXP to AA conversion... all to help you get 200 AAs..... and folks have to complain that it's all in RoK zones....... WHO CARES!? It's free content and you have an option here..... DONT DO IT!I can't wait for another 80 quests! Solo or group, I love it. And I also dont assume it will be all solo content. The Reet Faction questline was not solo. It kept sending you into Sebilis. There's nothing saying there won't be more questlines like that.I think I will give TESTCOPY a try just so I can see the stuff early. I like the fact we are getting more bang out of GUs but the wait time is killing me!

ke'la

05-15-2009, 01:07 PM

<cite>Gage wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Calthine wrote:</cite><blockquote>We did: GU51</blockquote>How many GUs in RoK updated pre-RoK zones?</blockquote>Lets count:<ol><li>GU43 - Freeport addtions, Maj'Dul Addtions, Ant/CL gambler added</li><li>GU44 - Shard of Hate</li><li>GU46 - Runnyeye 2.0</li><li>GU49 - Guild Halls (the buildings the T1 and T2 are in have been in sence launch)</li></ol>That looks like 4 updates, not counting the Live events that took place all over Norath and most of wich where not in RoK zones.As for the tower being there sence RoK launched, yes that piece of Art has been there, but just like a movie set, there was nothing inside it. The zone that we will be able to walk around in will be new.Also sence the Lore for the zone has everything to do with the VOID, and the void had next to NOTHING to do with RoK, I you can't possably say that these addtions are part of RoK.

Valdaglerion

05-15-2009, 04:40 PM

Guess I am missing something...here is the quote from the preview page:"We're also adding more than 80 new quests to the overland zones of RoK. There will be all new adventures to be had in the Fens of Nasthar, Jarsath Wastes, and Kylong Plains. "Please highlight the portion which says these are all solo, I am overlooking it apparently.In addition:<ol><li>New Heroic zone for Void in JW near Maidens <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/e8a506dc4ad763aca51bec4ca7dc8560.gif" border="0" /> (lets hope its balanced for average players so more groups are formed unlike the shard instances with overpowered mobs)</li><li>2 new zones in Kurns Tower (heroic and x2). Same content as #1 although we have already been told the new x2 will be harder than WoE so ...yeah...anyway</li><li>80 new quests! <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/e8a506dc4ad763aca51bec4ca7dc8560.gif" border="0" /> More quest to get AA from, outstanding. Very curious to see what hold there. And thanks for not including the PITA zone of Kunzar Jungle. Of all ROK, that one is my least favorite for some reason, was just weird in navigation.</li><li>RoK IS NOT hard to move around in. Hammer to the docks in JW; Druid Ring to Kylong Plains, Wizard Spire to Terens Grasp, expanded bird flights all over those zones including more that were later added in KP, druid ring to Kunzar Jungle. Good grief, the only one without a direct teleport is Fens which involves taking the bird at the docks to the Fens zone in. Yeah it would be nice to have something in Fens for a teleport item and with the Tower now being opened my guess is there will be something that takes us closer to that part of the zone now.</li></ol>I am curious to know how "longer on test" is going to be defined. The previous time was always about 2 weeks. Does this mean that going to live will be significantly delayed once its hits test? Any indication what time frame is being expected for testing?

Deson

05-15-2009, 05:01 PM

<cite>Artemiz@The Bazaar wrote:</cite><blockquote>Guess I am missing something...here is the quote from the preview page:"We're also adding more than 80 new quests to the overland zones of RoK. There will be all new adventures to be had in the Fens of Nasthar, Jarsath Wastes, and Kylong Plains. "Please highlight the portion which says these are all solo, I am overlooking it apparently.In addition:<ol><li>New Heroic zone for Void in JW near Maidens <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/e8a506dc4ad763aca51bec4ca7dc8560.gif" border="0" /> (lets hope its balanced for average players so more groups are formed unlike the shard instances with overpowered mobs)</li><li>2 new zones in Kurns Tower (heroic and x2). Same content as #1 although we have already been told the new x2 will be harder than WoE so ...yeah...anyway</li><li>80 new quests! <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/e8a506dc4ad763aca51bec4ca7dc8560.gif" border="0" /> More quest to get AA from, outstanding. Very curious to see what hold there. And thanks for not including the PITA zone of Kunzar Jungle. Of all ROK, that one is my least favorite for some reason, was just weird in navigation.</li><li>RoK IS NOT hard to move around in. Hammer to the docks in JW; Druid Ring to Kylong Plains, Wizard Spire to Terens Grasp, expanded bird flights all over those zones including more that were later added in KP, druid ring to Kunzar Jungle. Good grief, the only one without a direct teleport is Fens which involves taking the bird at the docks to the Fens zone in. Yeah it would be nice to have something in Fens for a teleport item and with the Tower now being opened my guess is there will be something that takes us closer to that part of the zone now.</li></ol>I am curious to know how "longer on test" is going to be defined. The previous time was always about 2 weeks. Does this mean that going to live will be significantly delayed once its hits test? Any indication what time frame is being expected for testing?</blockquote>Did you read the thread, because I covered all that. Recap:Devs are logical(despite efforts to convice me otherwise) so new quests in RoK are logically solo since RoK is all solo. The only way those quests aren't is if they are tied to the new heroic zones which brings up it's own questions like how many quests can realistically be tied to the new zones.KP doesn't have any heroic content mentioned so given the design of RoK it's a safe assumption it's all solo unless they add territory which is unlikely.Wait, you just said KJ was a pain to move around yet say RoK was not hard at all to travel in? Hammer requires a quest that if you didn't do it during RoK( people do have alts) it's of questionable worth to invest in because of the time commitment it demands. Druid rings! because we all have druids everywhere! 2 minute bird flights to get everywhere because otherwise it's Loping Plains all over again. In any event, it's likely less the travel in RoK than the bad memories of Soloquest. If it's possible, I don't touch Fens because it's so annoying but when you're brining up post-70 alts? that's not possible. It brings back all the bad memories already mentioned on this page.

ke'la

05-15-2009, 05:12 PM

<cite>Artemiz@The Bazaar wrote:</cite><blockquote>{Snipped the stuff that has no barring on my post}I am curious to know how "longer on test" is going to be defined. The previous time was always about 2 weeks. Does this mean that going to live will be significantly delayed once its hits test? Any indication what time frame is being expected for testing?</blockquote>Well they say that it will hopfully be on test next week, Assuming the normal Tuesday Launch, that means it will go up on the 19th. If it was a "normal" test cycle then 2 weeks on test would put the live date on or about June 2nd. If they go with a 4 week Test cycle that would put them on June 16th. If it does not launch on that day don't expect to see it until June 30th as I doupt they will be pushing it live 2 days befor Fan Faire.

Deson

05-15-2009, 05:21 PM

Didn't they push a GU just before Fan Faire last year?

Xita

05-15-2009, 05:32 PM

I think veksar released rightafter ffaire last year. they ran their contest in veksar.Not sure why the negativity about the LU, i would understand if this was the next xpac and it was rehashing old stuff, but last i checked this was a free update.some new content to help me grind out these last 16 aa's before the next xpac is highly welcome.we do need a very new dierction with the next xpac though, something like odus or velious, hopefully not planes...

Deson

05-15-2009, 05:40 PM

<cite>Xita wrote:</cite><blockquote>I think veksar released rightafter ffaire last year. they ran their contest in veksar.Not sure why the negativity about the LU, i would understand if this was the next xpac and it was rehashing old stuff, but last i checked this was a free update.some new content to help me grind out these last 16 aa's before the next xpac is highly welcome.we do need a very new dierction with the next xpac though, something like odus or velious, hopefully not planes...</blockquote>Ah, yes, I remember now. Maybe it was the year before but I could have sworn they did it once.The problem is RoK, not the update. A lot of us quit during RoK and for many more it's just bad memories that won't go away. Kind of like Edgewater Drains if you were a launch player.

ke'la

05-15-2009, 05:41 PM

<cite>Deson wrote:</cite><blockquote>Didn't they push a GU just before Fan Faire last year?</blockquote>Nope, GU47 was July 31st, about 2 weeks befor Fan Faire, and GU48 was Sept 3rd about 2 weeks after Fan Faire. What you probly remember is them pushing GU48 to Test, wich would have happened right around the time of Fan Faire.::EDIT::the year befor was July 31st and Sept 12th, with FF being the end of Aug.BTW, all the GUs and the dates they went live are stickied on the top of the Game Update Notes forum.Veksar was released in GU48.

Deson

05-15-2009, 05:57 PM

Every time I try to quote you I get some odd {0}. Thanks for the clarification. I figured out where I went wrong thanks to that.

Valdaglerion

05-15-2009, 06:46 PM

<cite>Deson wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Artemiz@The Bazaar wrote:</cite><blockquote>Guess I am missing something...here is the quote from the preview page:"We're also adding more than 80 new quests to the overland zones of RoK. There will be all new adventures to be had in the Fens of Nasthar, Jarsath Wastes, and Kylong Plains. "Please highlight the portion which says these are all solo, I am overlooking it apparently.In addition:<ol><li>New Heroic zone for Void in JW near Maidens <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/e8a506dc4ad763aca51bec4ca7dc8560.gif" border="0" /> (lets hope its balanced for average players so more groups are formed unlike the shard instances with overpowered mobs)</li><li>2 new zones in Kurns Tower (heroic and x2). Same content as #1 although we have already been told the new x2 will be harder than WoE so ...yeah...anyway</li><li>80 new quests! <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/e8a506dc4ad763aca51bec4ca7dc8560.gif" border="0" /> More quest to get AA from, outstanding. Very curious to see what hold there. And thanks for not including the PITA zone of Kunzar Jungle. Of all ROK, that one is my least favorite for some reason, was just weird in navigation.</li><li>RoK IS NOT hard to move around in. Hammer to the docks in JW; Druid Ring to Kylong Plains, Wizard Spire to Terens Grasp, expanded bird flights all over those zones including more that were later added in KP, druid ring to Kunzar Jungle. Good grief, the only one without a direct teleport is Fens which involves taking the bird at the docks to the Fens zone in. Yeah it would be nice to have something in Fens for a teleport item and with the Tower now being opened my guess is there will be something that takes us closer to that part of the zone now.</li></ol>I am curious to know how "longer on test" is going to be defined. The previous time was always about 2 weeks. Does this mean that going to live will be significantly delayed once its hits test? Any indication what time frame is being expected for testing?</blockquote>Did you read the thread, because I covered all that. Recap:Devs are logical(despite efforts to convice me otherwise) so new quests in RoK are logically solo since RoK is all solo. The only way those quests aren't is if they are tied to the new heroic zones which brings up it's own questions like how many quests can realistically be tied to the new zones.KP doesn't have any heroic content mentioned so given the design of RoK it's a safe assumption it's all solo unless they add territory which is unlikely.Wait, you just said KJ was a pain to move around yet say RoK was not hard at all to travel in? Hammer requires a quest that if you didn't do it during RoK( people do have alts) it's of questionable worth to invest in because of the time commitment it demands. Druid rings! because we all have druids everywhere! 2 minute bird flights to get everywhere because otherwise it's Loping Plains all over again. In any event, it's likely less the travel in RoK than the bad memories of Soloquest. If it's possible, I don't touch Fens because it's so annoying but when you're brining up post-70 alts? that's not possible. It brings back all the bad memories already mentioned on this page.</blockquote>Yes I said Rok wasnt all that difficult to move around in and yes I did say that one zone was a pain to navigate (just not get to). Luckily, Kunzar Jungle is not on the list of zones for which new quests has been added (also noted).There are plenty of heroic areas and zones available in Rok where additional questing could be placed. You are talking about 80 quest spanning 3 zones. There are more quests than that in Kylong Plains alone. Now consider the things being added to those zones:<ul><li>Fens: Kurns Tower (Heroic and x2 instance)</li><li>JW: New Maidens instance</li></ul>Just seems the new content areas being brought in are all heroic/raid but immediately everyone assumes the new quests are solo. Not sure what is going to be added to KP (Chardok or KC perhaps?)

Wigg

05-18-2009, 09:35 AM

<cite>Artemiz@The Bazaar wrote:</cite><blockquote>Guess I am missing something...here is the quote from the preview page:"We're also adding more than 80 new quests to the overland zones of RoK. There will be all new adventures to be had in the Fens of Nasthar, Jarsath Wastes, and Kylong Plains. "Please highlight the portion which says these are all solo, I am overlooking it apparently.In addition:<ol><li>New Heroic zone for Void in JW near Maidens <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/e8a506dc4ad763aca51bec4ca7dc8560.gif" border="0" /> (lets hope its balanced for average players so more groups are formed unlike the shard instances with overpowered mobs)</li><li>2 new zones in Kurns Tower (heroic and x2). Same content as #1 although we have already been told the new x2 will be harder than WoE so ...yeah...anyway</li><li>80 new quests! <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/e8a506dc4ad763aca51bec4ca7dc8560.gif" border="0" /> More quest to get AA from, outstanding. Very curious to see what hold there. And thanks for not including the PITA zone of Kunzar Jungle. Of all ROK, that one is my least favorite for some reason, was just weird in navigation.</li><li>RoK IS NOT hard to move around in. Hammer to the docks in JW; Druid Ring to Kylong Plains, Wizard Spire to Terens Grasp, expanded bird flights all over those zones including more that were later added in KP, druid ring to Kunzar Jungle. Good grief, the only one without a direct teleport is Fens which involves taking the bird at the docks to the Fens zone in. Yeah it would be nice to have something in Fens for a teleport item and with the Tower now being opened my guess is there will be something that takes us closer to that part of the zone now.</li></ol>I am curious to know how "longer on test" is going to be defined. The previous time was always about 2 weeks. Does this mean that going to live will be significantly delayed once its hits test? Any indication what time frame is being expected for testing?</blockquote>Those zones are overpowered bc the new loot is also overpowered. T2 shard armor > VP gear from most classes, especially the shoulders. Adding in research assistance is just going to make even more new zones harder on the scale that all players will be receiving a new master a month.

feldon30

05-18-2009, 11:50 AM

<cite>Legolor@Lucan DLere wrote:</cite><blockquote>Wait, my group just returned after quiting in RoK due to the Soloquest wall. Does this still exist? I thought the dungeons in TSO scaled down so we could start them earlier?</blockquote>Unless you are in Fabled gear, you will die nonstop in the level 50 and 60 scaled versions of the TSO dungeons.Also, there are a whopping 3 quests for level 50's when doing these dungeons. And no shinies. And the rewards in the chests are a joke -- worse than mastercrafted. And I think we were getting about 1/2% XP for each kill.So really there is no reason to go to these dungeons until level 75. Pity really.

hellfire

05-18-2009, 02:09 PM

<cite>Xita wrote:</cite><blockquote>I think veksar released rightafter ffaire last year. they ran their contest in veksar.Not sure why the negativity about the LU, i would understand if this was the next xpac and it was rehashing old stuff, but last i checked this was a free update.</blockquote>Because people hate RoK pure and simple and the thought of going back to something you hate regardless of anything new and shiny added to it will bring negative responses.

Kordran

05-18-2009, 02:25 PM

<cite>Bigron@Unrest wrote:</cite><blockquote>Because people hate RoK pure and simple and the thought of going back to something you hate regardless of anything new and shiny added to it will bring negative responses.</blockquote>Those people need to QQ less. RoK was a decent expansion, it was just solo heavy until you hit cap and started raiding. When it launched, I hit 80 on my (then) main in 10 days. From there on out, it was all about running instances and raids, and that was group content.Being generous, you're looking at a couple of weeks mostly soloing. Boo. Hoo. Seriously, I don't understand the constant whinging about RoK.

hellfire

05-18-2009, 02:31 PM

<cite>Kordran wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Bigron@Unrest wrote:</cite><blockquote>Because people hate RoK pure and simple and the thought of going back to something you hate regardless of anything new and shiny added to it will bring negative responses.</blockquote>Those people need to QQ less. RoK was a decent expansion, it was just solo heavy until you hit cap and started raiding. When it launched, I hit 80 on my (then) main in 10 days. From there on out, it was all about running instances and raids, and that was group content.Being generous, you're looking at a couple of weeks mostly soloing. Boo. Hoo. Seriously, I don't understand the constant whinging about RoK.</blockquote>You cant cover a pile of poo with honey and resonably expect it to be anything but a pile of poo.Regardless of qqing people have merories and they rember something that is bad.....from most accounts RoK was bad and there isnt much to change about that no matter how ya suger coat it.

Deson

05-18-2009, 02:47 PM

<cite>Bigron@Unrest wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Kordran wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Bigron@Unrest wrote:</cite><blockquote>Because people hate RoK pure and simple and the thought of going back to something you hate regardless of anything new and shiny added to it will bring negative responses.</blockquote>Those people need to QQ less. RoK was a decent expansion, it was just solo heavy until you hit cap and started raiding. When it launched, I hit 80 on my (then) main in 10 days. From there on out, it was all about running instances and raids, and that was group content.Being generous, you're looking at a couple of weeks mostly soloing. Boo. Hoo. Seriously, I don't understand the constant whinging about RoK.</blockquote>You cant cover a pile of poo with honey and resonably expect it to be anything but a pile of poo.Regardless of qqing people have merories and they rember something that is bad.....from most accounts RoK was bad and there isnt much to change about that no matter how ya suger coat it.</blockquote>Pretty much. It was an unexpected paradigm shift from an enjoyable formula. It wasn't even so much that it was soloquest as it was and continues to be that grouping is just not viable from 70-80. I loved RoK for about two weeks seeing how many quests there were then I saw the full scope of how much it sucked for grouping then just quit. You say 10 days but that doesn't include all the alts you have to run through the joy of picking flowers and playing courier with no way out. I have 4 char's 70+ with many more hovering around the 50's. I always find something new at the lower levels because I wasn't focred through it. RoK it's been the exact same crap the whole time and there is no real escape. You can say hit TSO but TSO doesn't let you escape the worst part-Fens. Plus, TSO is still solo quest so you're still forced to do the same grind on alts with no escape--may as well do it in the "easier" RoK and get it done faster.RoK sucked, still sucks and will continue to suck until grouping from 70-80 becomes viable.

Maebus

05-18-2009, 05:31 PM

<cite>Kordran wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Bigron@Unrest wrote:</cite><blockquote>Because people hate RoK pure and simple and the thought of going back to something you hate regardless of anything new and shiny added to it will bring negative responses.</blockquote>Those people need to QQ less. RoK was a decent expansion, it was just solo heavy until you hit cap and started raiding. When it launched, I hit 80 on my (then) main in 10 days. From there on out, it was all about running instances and raids, and that was group content.Being generous, you're looking at a couple of weeks mostly soloing. Boo. Hoo. Seriously, I don't understand the constant whinging about RoK.</blockquote>Too bad there was not a big button that just let you auto level to 80. Why not look outside your niche group and see that there might be others out there and for them the game is all about the ride from 1-80 and once we hit 80 the game is ending and we usually roll alts.Oh well, we are rerolling and enjoying the 1-70 content again. If we hit the RoK wall and stop having fun we will just roll alts again or put the accounts on hold. Maybe by then they will add in some fun progression to the game in T8. 1-70 is still the best ride I ever had in an MMO <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />.

Kordran

05-18-2009, 05:47 PM

<cite>Legolor@Lucan DLere wrote:</cite><blockquote>Too bad there was not a big button that just let you auto level to 80. Why not look outside your niche group and see that there might be others out there and for them the game is all about the ride from 1-80 and once we hit 80 the game is ending and we usually roll alts.</blockquote>If you seriously think the game ends when you ding 80, then you're short-changing yourself out of a lot of content. A lot.

Maebus

05-18-2009, 07:28 PM

<cite>Kordran wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Legolor@Lucan DLere wrote:</cite><blockquote>Too bad there was not a big button that just let you auto level to 80. Why not look outside your niche group and see that there might be others out there and for them the game is all about the ride from 1-80 and once we hit 80 the game is ending and we usually roll alts.</blockquote>If you seriously think the game ends when you ding 80, then you're short-changing yourself out of a lot of content. A lot.</blockquote>I know in T7 once we did all the group content all we had were raiding quests and raids left. Since we don't like to raid what else is there?

Daysy

05-19-2009, 09:44 AM

<cite>Kordran wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Legolor@Lucan DLere wrote:</cite><blockquote>Too bad there was not a big button that just let you auto level to 80. Why not look outside your niche group and see that there might be others out there and for them the game is all about the ride from 1-80 and once we hit 80 the game is ending and we usually roll alts.</blockquote>If you seriously think the game ends when you ding 80, then you're short-changing yourself out of a lot of content. A lot.</blockquote>If you seriously think everyone has a lifestyle free of commitments and responsibilities, allowing them to spend long hours every day down raid dungeons, you're taking a rather short-sighted approach. Most of us have one or two characters at high level and raid around three times a month with the rest of the time being spent on lower-level characters which we play often but for short periods, such as after the inlaws have gone home and before the baby wakes up for his feed.

feldon30

05-19-2009, 10:06 AM

<cite>Kordran wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Legolor@Lucan DLere wrote:</cite><blockquote>Too bad there was not a big button that just let you auto level to 80. Why not look outside your niche group and see that there might be others out there and for them the game is all about the ride from 1-80 and once we hit 80 the game is ending and we usually roll alts.</blockquote>If you seriously think the game ends when you ding 80, then you're short-changing yourself out of a lot of content. A lot.</blockquote>QFEUnless you are ONLY interested in solo questing, then the concept that the game is "over" at 80 is absurd.Nobody raids Kunark or TSO much below level 78. Most raid guilds require 80.Very few folks run the harder TSO dungeons unless you are 80. If you are mid-70's, your options for grouping are Kunark dungeons and those few easier TSO dungeons.And once you hit 80, that is when the rubber meets the road (once the AA changes kick in in GU52) as far as cranking out the AA by GROUPING.

Grumble69

05-19-2009, 01:49 PM

<cite>Legolor@Lucan DLere wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Kordran wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Legolor@Lucan DLere wrote:</cite><blockquote>Too bad there was not a big button that just let you auto level to 80. Why not look outside your niche group and see that there might be others out there and for them the game is all about the ride from 1-80 and once we hit 80 the game is ending and we usually roll alts.</blockquote>If you seriously think the game ends when you ding 80, then you're short-changing yourself out of a lot of content. A lot.</blockquote>I know in T7 once we did all the group content all we had were raiding quests and raids left. Since we don't like to raid what else is there?</blockquote>There's a TON of content in the 70-80 range that doesn't involve raids. Many zones involve one group. You got AAs to work on. You can tackle named heroics for new gear & masters. You can work on the fabled version of your epic. You can run shard groups for T1 gear. And there are a lot of raids that aren't long or tedious. Admittedly, you might not clear the whole zone but they're still fun. Shard of Hate is one of my favorites. Even the "trash mobs" have a generous drop rate. You don't have repops to worry about. You can progress through there at whatever pace you want. Protector's Realm is another good one.Personally I like the direction EQ2 is headed. They're starting to fill in the gaps of various playstyles (solo, group(s), minor raids, hard raids). There's now a solid place for casual guilds who are not afraid to try something new.

Xita

05-20-2009, 08:17 PM

would an xp bump for group quests (all 37 of them) or dungeon xp bump have fixed rok for you. i agree that it sucks that really the most expeditious way to get form 71 to 80 is solo questing, which was ok for the first toon, but sucked for each successive toon.I wouldnt call RoK bad because of that, seems like the xp mechanic was out of whack...

salty21db

05-20-2009, 10:24 PM

<cite>Gage wrote:</cite><blockquote>Just say no to even more RoK solo quests six months later. Also a new Maidens? Woop ti do.Kurn's was a cool idea a year ago, I'm over it now though.Can we maybe get a GU that has to do with the current expansion or something?Just saying.</blockquote>I read alot of threads lately and ive come to realize one thing...you are one unhappy and nonpleasable person lol.

Kiara

05-20-2009, 10:28 PM

Hey guys <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?topic_id=451301" target="_blank">Updated info</a> on when this goes to Test <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Dreyco

05-20-2009, 10:45 PM

Awwww...But Kiara! .. What if I gave cookies? They're Cabilisian Cookies; the best kind!A crunchy earthworm in every bite!

Seablade

06-11-2009, 10:19 AM

Can someone explain Research Assistants and what that really means to the game?I just saw the GU52 preview up at the EQ2 player news portal but it does little to actually explain what it means. Just some pictures and blurb about how long it will take to research (up to 30 days) but no information as to what this entails. <ul><li>Also, if it's a way for you to get Master and Adept spells made for you, what's the point of having an Alchemist anymore? Certainly very few used Apprentice IV spells; occasionally I sell a few but rarely.</li><li>Will there still be Master drops from chests on named's?</li><li>Will there no longer be any need for the rares used to make Adept spells?</li><li>What will that do to the EQ2 game economy if the bottom falls out from under Master Spell sales?</li></ul>I'm really just ignorant here but really want to know more.Thanks.

Obadiah

06-11-2009, 10:53 AM

<blockquote><ul><li>Also, if it's a way for you to get Master and Adept spells made for you, what's the point of having an Alchemist anymore? Certainly very few used Apprentice IV spells; occasionally I sell a few but rarely.</li></ul>You have to have the Adept 3 (now called Expert) in order to have the Research Assistant work on the Master. You would also have to have the App IV (now called Journeyman) to have the assistant work on the Adept 1 (Adept). So ... no one can just research STRAIGHT to master, that would only come from drops. <ul><li>Will there still be Master drops from chests on named's?</li></ul>Yes, although not if I'm in your group. People keep telling me TSO raid mobs have 100% smart loot master drops, but we don't get masters, much less masters we don't have. <ul><li>Will there no longer be any need for the rares used to make Adept spells?</li></ul>See question 1. <ul><li>What will that do to the EQ2 game economy if the bottom falls out from under Master Spell sales?</li></ul>TBD. But what it's already done is prevent those who have read about it from spending 200-300-500P on a Master 1. I wouldn't pay more than 15-20 for some M1s today, but there are others that I'd pay 200 for IF they were ever listed for sale. No more. The only one of my primary Necro spells - pets, damage, lich - that has been on the (checked daily) broker since January is listed for 500P and the seller would not budge. </blockquote>

SisterTheresa

06-11-2009, 10:54 AM

I'm very interested to see how the Researchers will work. Do they upgrade all spells for one character?Kurn's Tower! Had fond memories of the place in EQ1. Sad it is a x2 zone as getting that many with my guild can be hard but I hope to go soon.Still more stuff to do!

ke'la

06-11-2009, 02:42 PM

<cite>Katryina@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote>I'm very interested to see how the Researchers will work. Do they upgrade all spells for one character?It upgrades one spell at a time for 1 Character, per account, meaning if you have 12 spells to upgrade to lvl80 master all on the same toon, it will take you a YEAR to get them all, if this is your only way of getting them. While this will DEFINATLY bring the prices down on those certain importaint spells(like Sumoner pets) I doupt it will drop the prices too much on the "Lesser" spells, because those willing to pay 20plat for those spells, don't seem to be the type who would wait for it.Kurn's Tower! Had fond memories of the place in EQ1. Sad it is a x2 zone as getting that many with my guild can be hard but I hope to go soon.If I read it right there will be 2 versions, like the zones added with LS, x2 and Heroic.Still more stuff to do!</blockquote>

Zabjade

06-11-2009, 03:46 PM

Also if you want the Master level you need to get the Expert first (Adept III)

Kiara

06-11-2009, 04:00 PM

<cite>Seablade@Kithicor wrote:</cite><blockquote>Can someone explain Research Assistants and what that really means to the game?I just saw the GU52 preview up at the EQ2 player news portal but it does little to actually explain what it means. Just some pictures and blurb about how long it will take to research (up to 30 days) but no information as to what this entails. <ul><li>Also, if it's a way for you to get Master and Adept spells made for you, what's the point of having an Alchemist anymore? Certainly very few used Apprentice IV spells; occasionally I sell a few but rarely.</li><li>Will there still be Master drops from chests on named's?</li><li>Will there no longer be any need for the rares used to make Adept spells?</li><li>What will that do to the EQ2 game economy if the bottom falls out from under Master Spell sales?</li></ul>I'm really just ignorant here but really want to know more.Thanks.</blockquote><ul><li>You can only get Adept (not the crafted version) and Master spells (also not crafted). In order to get the Adept made, you must have the crafted version of the spell first (App IV). In order to get the Master made, you must have the crafted version (Adept III).</li><li>Yes there will still be Master drops.</li><li>There will still be a need because if you don't have the mastercrafted Adept you cannot research the Master.</li><li>How can it fall out when you can only get one spell made every 30 real time days? If you got Masters only through the Reasearch Assitants, you would take a year just to get 12 of the spells you need at level 80. There will still be a high demand for dropped Masters. The Research Assistants will be useful for rarely dropped Master spells.</li></ul>

Deson

06-11-2009, 04:09 PM

<cite>Kiara wrote:</cite><blockquote><ul><li>How can it fall out when you can only get one spell made every 30 real time days? If you got Masters only through the Reasearch Assitants, you would take a year just to get 12 of the spells you need at level 80. There will still be a high demand for dropped Masters. The Research Assistants will be useful for rarely dropped Master spells.</li></ul></blockquote>Be very very careful with that statment. It's already ready been rebutted several times in the larger threads but to recap-- only a few masters sell for a lot. The rest are middling in value and not that important to overall play. By adding the RA's in free, the higher value masters become free and people who weren't paying 30pp for root then aren't going to suddenly start doing it now and since the master is gauranteed and free, the prices on those will drop. The 12 masters a year argument is one based on a vacuum and false in every aspect but it's absolute statement.Of course, you shouldn't be the one making the statements, Kirstie should.

Xalmat

06-11-2009, 04:33 PM

12 masters a year per account. If you're an altaholic and you only have one account (and i know several), there's absolutely no way you'll be filling your many character's spellbooks with Masters without purchasing them.

Deson

06-11-2009, 04:57 PM

<cite>Xalmat wrote:</cite><blockquote>12 masters a year per account. If you're an altaholic and you only have one account (and i know several), there's absolutely no way you'll be filling your many character's spellbooks with Masters without purchasing them.</blockquote>And there's no way you're paying that much for masters with a free alternative. Ask yourself, how much are you paying for master root now and how much will you be willing to pay later? And I've done the alt thing to death, having it alt restrictive is silly by every single reason and implication they've given.You're one of those rich raiders though and in keeping with that argument, how much more do you stand to benefit with all your spells being cheaper and never having to worry about one that "costs too much"? What really changes for you but having even more money in your pocket? More money not being saved for a pet master but being spent by you to master out those alts. No one ever said masters will stop being sold but it's a fallacy to use that argument to say the economy will be anything remotely close to the same or fine. The nature of the question was more to the point," what happens to the massive downward wealth transfer masters currently are when already well of players have other options and downward pressure?" Gage made that argument already and if the feedback thread was worth a crap, Kiara would be linking a dev response, not an assumption that's totally off the mark.

Xalmat

06-11-2009, 05:06 PM

You don't need to be a raider to be rich. And what does that have to do with anything?

Deson

06-11-2009, 05:12 PM

<cite>Xalmat wrote:</cite><blockquote>You don't need to be a raider to be rich. And what does that have to do with anything?</blockquote>I ask myself that question every time it's mentioned. The answer is nothing and while short, you gave part of the response I was looking for. I wanted more elaboration on how your buying/playing habits would change with a free alternative to masters as a high end player since everytime an answer has been given so far it's gotten lambasted.

Xalmat

06-11-2009, 05:15 PM

As I'm currently fully mastered on my Conjuror, and 95% mastered on my Berserker, I would use the research assistant on my Berserker to get some of the previous-tier spells I don't have Mastered. Then I would just pick random spells until the level cap is raised, and focus on my most important tier 9 spells first. I would still use plat to buy whatever master is priced right on the broker (ie: not overpriced, and in line with the rarity/usefulness of the spell -- Nukes would be highest priority, Pet second priority, buffs minimal priority).To me, the faster I'm fully mastered, the better. I don't have time to wait 2 years for a tier of spells to be mastered when I need them now.

Deson

06-11-2009, 05:23 PM

Does reasonably priced change with the introduction of "free" RA's?

Xalmat

06-11-2009, 05:26 PM

<cite>Deson wrote:</cite><blockquote>Does reasonably priced change with the introduction of "free" RA's?</blockquote>For the most part, no.

Deson

06-11-2009, 05:32 PM

<cite>Xalmat wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Deson wrote:</cite><blockquote>Does reasonably priced change with the introduction of "free" RA's?</blockquote>For the most part, no.</blockquote>Didn't expect it considering your playstyle but still had to ask. That include your alt(s) and what's the qualifier for," for the most part"?

Xalmat

06-11-2009, 05:38 PM

It all depends on the specific spell, and the rarity of said spell. Some spells are stupidly rare, and equally powerful, and warrant their high price. Others might be rare but are quite useless, and don't warrant a high price.And again my Conjuror is my highest priority, so the Research Assistant won't even be an option for my alts until my Conjuror is taken care of first.

Deson

06-11-2009, 05:47 PM

<cite>Xalmat wrote:</cite><blockquote>It all depends on the specific spell, and the rarity of said spell. Some spells are stupidly rare, and equally powerful, and warrant their high price. Others might be rare but are quite useless, and don't warrant a high price.</blockquote>Yeah but what's rare in a post- free RA world?Saw the edit:<cite>Xalmat wrote:</cite><blockquote>And again my Conjuror is my highest priority, so the Research Assistant won't even be an option for my alts until my Conjuror is taken care of first.</blockquote>Hypothetical: If you were casual and had a lot of simultaneously active alts how do you think you would feel about it?So you don't forsee the free RA changing your spending habits for your alts at all given that you'll still be getting dropped masters, and still be buying reasonably priced masters, likely mastering out your main in 6 months or less?( based on t8 experience and assuming there is another smart loot zone like PoF)

Xalmat

06-11-2009, 06:02 PM

There's an old saying: Time is money.

Deson

06-11-2009, 06:56 PM

<cite>Xalmat wrote:</cite><blockquote>There's an old saying: Time is money.</blockquote>Yes, and it assumes there is activity for the time.Thanks for the exhange. Would you post on it if it's different than you expect?

zorkan

06-12-2009, 05:08 AM

<cite>Xalmat wrote:</cite><blockquote>There's an old saying: Time is money.</blockquote>If that were true, we wouldn't be playing EQ2... <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Banditman

06-12-2009, 09:09 AM

<cite>Deson wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Xalmat wrote:</cite><blockquote>It all depends on the specific spell, and the rarity of said spell. Some spells are stupidly rare, and equally powerful, and warrant their high price. Others might be rare but are quite useless, and don't warrant a high price.</blockquote>Yeah but what's rare in a post- free RA world?</blockquote>This particular piece makes me wonder if there is a mis-understanding somewhere. It is my understanding that the RA does not hand you a Master spell. It is simply auto-scribed by the RA into your book when complete.With this in mind, rare Masters will *still* be rare.Earlier this week, I *finally* got Tandem Master 1. My Illusionist has been my raiding main since my guild began raiding back at the release of RoK. That's 18 months.In those 18 months of raiding 4 times per week, plus playing heroic content on many other days, I never saw Tandem drop. I never saw it on the broker, and I checked. Every day I played, I checked.There are currently 184 Level 80 Illusionists on my server. It would stand to reason that at SOME point I would have at least SEEN the spell. There are other spells that I likewise have never seen, just for my class.I have five level 80 characters. While I like the idea of the RA's, it's going to be such a small drop in the bucket that it will hardly matter at all. Yes, it will have an effect on prices. Stupidly rare spells will become merely high priced instead of extortion.

feldon30

06-12-2009, 09:54 AM

<cite>Deson wrote:</cite><blockquote>Every time I try to quote you I get some odd {0}.</blockquote>It's because the forum developer has missed a stripslashes(); somewhere.

Deson

06-12-2009, 11:10 AM

<cite>Banditman wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Deson wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Xalmat wrote:</cite><blockquote>It all depends on the specific spell, and the rarity of said spell. Some spells are stupidly rare, and equally powerful, and warrant their high price. Others might be rare but are quite useless, and don't warrant a high price.</blockquote>Yeah but what's rare in a post- free RA world?</blockquote>This particular piece makes me wonder if there is a mis-understanding somewhere. It is my understanding that the RA does not hand you a Master spell. It is simply auto-scribed by the RA into your book when complete.With this in mind, rare Masters will *still* be rare.Earlier this week, I *finally* got Tandem Master 1. My Illusionist has been my raiding main since my guild began raiding back at the release of RoK. That's 18 months.In those 18 months of raiding 4 times per week, plus playing heroic content on many other days, I never saw Tandem drop. I never saw it on the broker, and I checked. Every day I played, I checked.There are currently 184 Level 80 Illusionists on my server. It would stand to reason that at SOME point I would have at least SEEN the spell. There are other spells that I likewise have never seen, just for my class.I have five level 80 characters. While I like the idea of the RA's, it's going to be such a small drop in the bucket that it will hardly matter at all. Yes, it will have an effect on prices. Stupidly rare spells will become merely high priced instead of extortion.</blockquote>There's no misunderstanding. I'm picky about where I count alts because not everyone has one and the game shouldn't be balanced around a lower power level just because people play them. Right now my main is my necro and I'm sitting on ~7-800 pp. In a pre- RA world I'd easilly consider paying 300 pp for Master Lich 3 and around 150-200 for the tank pet since I solo mostly these days. Post RA? Not happenning. There is no such thing as rare when I have the option to just pick the spell I want and wait. At the start of a tier cycle depending on how fast it takes to level to cap, every smart necro is doing some variation of Lich>Rot> Tap>Main used pet>Coil> Stance>Plague. Part of the rarity in spells is the fact that once they hit the broker they get gobbled up but if they are the first spells everyone researches, how rare will they be? Sure high end raiders will still gobble them up immediately but I seriously doubt all 183 of your counterparts are such. Assuming similar loot rules to today where there is high % smart master loot in high end heroic instances and on raids, along with the oft stated base 10% chance per named to just drop any master, what's it mean to be rare? Beyond those supposed rare and valuabe masters, most are incredibly cheap for how much plat flows in the game today.Isn't Tandem a 64 spell and as such not current tier? Aren't most non-cap tier masters hard to come by because so few are doing the content and those that are blow through it insanely fast? If you were a coercer you could also claim Posses Essence is insanely rare yet when it wasa current tier( and sucked) there were always masters of it up. Now? Good luck finding it and even better luck looking for a "reasonable" price. Of course post RA wait about 20 days and it cuold be all yours-- just like Tandem.Sure you have 5 level 80s, I have 3 and a 77 but that doesn't mean I weight them all the same, doesn't mean they all *need* masters and most certainly doesn't mean they'll get them above non-trivial prices. You raid, and it sounds like your Illy is your main, how do you weight him against your alts? Assume the same question series I gave Xalmat.

Jesdyr

06-12-2009, 01:55 PM

<cite>Deson wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Xalmat wrote:</cite><blockquote>There's an old saying: Time is money.</blockquote>Yes, and it assumes there is activity for the time.Thanks for the exhange. Would you post on it if it's different than you expect?</blockquote>That is how it is going to work out. Some masters will drop in price (mainly non-upgrading "old" tier). I cannot honestly see how the RA will have a large effect the majority of the market. The main people this will effect are those who currently do not buy many masters. They will now have one more master a month. Those who would buy masters before will still buy them, however they might use the RA as leverage to haggle the price down more.

Banditman

06-12-2009, 02:33 PM

Tandem is current tier, and RARE. You are thinking of Rapidity, which is Tier 6 and even MORE rare. I don't have it either, and have never seen it for sale. Yet another in a long list, just within my class, of spells that you simply can't get at any price.RA's are win in my book. I play nearly every day, and yet after 18 months of this tier I am still six spells short of being fully Mastered.

Deson

06-12-2009, 02:37 PM

<cite>Banditman wrote:</cite><blockquote>Tandem is current tier, and RARE. You are thinking of Rapidity, which is Tier 6 and even MORE rare. I don't have it either, and have never seen it for sale. Yet another in a long list, just within my class, of spells that you simply can't get at any price.RA's are win in my book. I play nearly every day, and yet after 18 months of this tier I am still six spells short of being fully Mastered.</blockquote>Yep, that's exactly what it was. I like the concept RA's, just think the implementation is going to bite back hard in a few months.

PotatoeGuru

06-12-2009, 02:43 PM

I've tried searching for this answer to no avail, so I thought I would ask the question here.Is there an estimated ETA on when this is going live? I'd like to burn off some vacation days for this [basically] mini expansion, but need a bit of a heads up to ask for them.

Deson

06-12-2009, 02:44 PM

<cite>Brigh@Guk wrote:</cite><blockquote>I've tried searching for this answer to no avail, so I thought I would ask the question here.Is there an estimated ETA on when this is going live? I'd like to burn off some vacation days for this [basically] mini expansion, but need a bit of a heads up to ask for them.</blockquote>Kiara just posted it not 10 mins ago. June 16th is planned.

PotatoeGuru

06-12-2009, 03:31 PM

Wow.. color me embarrassed!Thanks for the update

Elderod

06-12-2009, 05:01 PM

I hope this expansion stays true to the fantasy genre. Shadow Odyssey made the game more sci-fi since the MOBs look very alien like IMO.