Frostfang Sea & the city of New Halas [Archive]

Kaitheel

04-23-2010, 09:20 PM

There are already some bug fixes and changes headed your way, via QA approval of course.Quests - Frostfang Sea• Players can now pick up the quest “Cod and Chips”.• The quest “Unbearable Problem” now updates from all blizzard grizzlies.• Crushinator now advances the quest “Arcane Elements”.• Odon Scourgeson will now allow you to turn in his quest "Watch Out Below!" when you are repeating it.• Knut Orcbane will now allow you to turn in his quest "Becoming Another Orcbane" when you are repeating it.• The crustose sporetenders triggered for the quest “Campside Spores” now despawn after 45 seconds. • The stolen Cragged Spine supply crates now disappear after you completed the quest “Clan of the Cave Imps.”• The “Tusked animal helm” is now consumed when you accept the quest it offers, “Bearly Recognizable Item.”• Jaisen Tutwhittle now has a quest icon for the quest “Tusked animal helm.”• You can now leash up to 4 icemane cubs at a time with the icemane cub leash for the quest “The Icemanes Commeth.”• Verien Skysigh now has a quest icon when you are ready to turn in the quest “The Icemanes Commeth.”• The “Ice Protection Spell” is now properly removed from players upon quest completion.Zone - Frostfang Sea• Fixed the names of some items.• Crustose sporetenders respawn much faster.• The number of icemane cubs within the Icemane plains have been increased.• Some books have been added at Glacierbane's Vault in New Halas. • New Halas guards are now on their own faction (Hammer's Wrath) and allow for players of questionable alignment to enter the city and quest camps, unhindered.~Kaitheel

Daedalus Raistlin

04-23-2010, 09:48 PM

I ran the Test patcher, logged in, and attempted to create a new character for New Halas, but found it wasn't present on the map. So I created my character in Qeynos, and went to the BBM docks, but the Griffon Trainer there only gives me the option to go to Darklight Woods or Timerous Deep. The patcher seemed like nothing was really updated - is this actually on Test right now? All my Test Copy characters are saying that server is locked, so perhaps I'm too early?

Writer Cal

04-23-2010, 09:51 PM

Yep, Kaitheel's such a tease. <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Xalmat

04-23-2010, 10:09 PM

<cite>Kaitheel wrote:</cite><blockquote>isle of Erollis</blockquote>Just making sure this is not a typo.

Xalmat

04-23-2010, 10:51 PM

Question:Will Frostfang Sea and New Halas require any expansions to access? Or will you be able to access them without any expansions at all?Obviously to leave you will need at least Echoes of Faydwer, as it requires access to Butcherblock Mountain.

Sydares

04-23-2010, 11:02 PM

Second obvious question:Patch notes! Where!?

Barx

04-24-2010, 12:41 AM

Is there a druid or wizard port to Frostfang? BBM docks would be kind of an annoying place to have to go to every time you want to head to Frostfang / New Halas (since the closest way there would be BBM ring and then a moderate run down to the docks).

Kaitheel

04-24-2010, 12:42 AM

<cite>Xalmat wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Kaitheel wrote:</cite><blockquote>isle of Erollis</blockquote>Just making sure this is not a typo.</blockquote>Nope. Intended. As you will find when in game.~Kaitheel

Kaitheel

04-24-2010, 12:45 AM

<cite>Xalmat wrote:</cite><blockquote>Question:Will Frostfang Sea and New Halas require any expansions to access? Or will you be able to access them without any expansions at all?Obviously to leave you will need at least Echoes of Faydwer, as it requires access to Butcherblock Mountain.</blockquote>Nope. It will not require expansions to access, just like Neriak. Also, with every expansion since Echoes of Fadwer they have included all adventure packs and expansions previous.~Kaitheel

Cyliena

04-24-2010, 12:46 AM

I took the bell from NQ to Frostfang, it placed me in Cragged Spine. There appears to be no bell in sight to travel elsewhere from this location, however.

Neiloch

04-24-2010, 01:06 AM

so are patch notes forthcoming?

Calthine

04-24-2010, 01:28 AM

<cite>Neiloch@Crushbone wrote:</cite><blockquote>so are patch notes forthcoming?</blockquote>They're on the patcher, but we slapped 'em in the wikibase for y'all: <a href="http://eq2.zam.com/wiki/Category%3AGU56" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://eq2.zam.com/wiki/Category%3AGU56</a>

maddawg138

04-24-2010, 02:05 AM

well noticed one thing right away when running around Halas....i'll let the screenshot speak for itself.<img src="http://i39.tinypic.com/2vt2yvm.jpg" width="1260" height="749" />

screenid

04-24-2010, 02:30 AM

<img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /> the Raft is a nice touch.kinda reminded me of old EQ and Halas

Josgar

04-24-2010, 02:31 AM

the city itself is dreadfully small and has no background music (yet)

Cepheus80

04-24-2010, 02:35 AM

<cite>Kaitheel wrote:</cite><blockquote>New Halas and the zone of Frostfang Sea are now on Test and Test Copy! The city of New Halas, namesake of the original city of the Northmen destroyed by cataclysm and war, sits in the heart of the isle of Erollis, a treacherous land of biting temperatures and aggressive fauna within the freezing waters of the Frostfang Sea. Originally a village of war hardened dwarves, it has since grown due to being blessed by Mithaniel Marr and reconnected with the Shattered Lands of Norrath. Pilgrims to New Halas can find their way there via a griffin at the docks in the Butcherblock Mountains. New characters created for New Halas will start at Pilgrim’s Landing, an encampment near the isle of Erollis, in the zone Frostfang Sea.~Kaitheel</blockquote>Shouldn't this be "war hardened barbarians"? Halas was the barbarian starting village in EQ1. I'm sure dwarves passed through the zone in their travels, but I don't remember seeing any in the original zone.

Josgar

04-24-2010, 02:49 AM

<cite>Lyzen@Nagafen wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Kaitheel wrote:</cite><blockquote>New Halas and the zone of Frostfang Sea are now on Test and Test Copy! The city of New Halas, namesake of the original city of the Northmen destroyed by cataclysm and war, sits in the heart of the isle of Erollis, a treacherous land of biting temperatures and aggressive fauna within the freezing waters of the Frostfang Sea. Originally a village of war hardened dwarves, it has since grown due to being blessed by Mithaniel Marr and reconnected with the Shattered Lands of Norrath. Pilgrims to New Halas can find their way there via a griffin at the docks in the Butcherblock Mountains. New characters created for New Halas will start at Pilgrim’s Landing, an encampment near the isle of Erollis, in the zone Frostfang Sea.~Kaitheel</blockquote>Shouldn't this be "war hardened barbarians"? Halas was the barbarian starting village in EQ1. I'm sure dwarves passed through the zone in their travels, but I don't remember seeing any in the original zone.</blockquote>New Halas was orginally a coldain city.

Cusashorn

04-24-2010, 02:59 AM

<cite>Josgar@The Bazaar wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Lyzen@Nagafen wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Kaitheel wrote:</cite><blockquote>New Halas and the zone of Frostfang Sea are now on Test and Test Copy! The city of New Halas, namesake of the original city of the Northmen destroyed by cataclysm and war, sits in the heart of the isle of Erollis, a treacherous land of biting temperatures and aggressive fauna within the freezing waters of the Frostfang Sea. Originally a village of war hardened dwarves, it has since grown due to being blessed by Mithaniel Marr and reconnected with the Shattered Lands of Norrath. Pilgrims to New Halas can find their way there via a griffin at the docks in the Butcherblock Mountains. New characters created for New Halas will start at Pilgrim’s Landing, an encampment near the isle of Erollis, in the zone Frostfang Sea.~Kaitheel</blockquote>Shouldn't this be "war hardened barbarians"? Halas was the barbarian starting village in EQ1. I'm sure dwarves passed through the zone in their travels, but I don't remember seeing any in the original zone.</blockquote>New Halas was orginally a coldain city.</blockquote>Yep yep. The Coldain founded it. The Barbarians came along and they eventually renamed the city. Remember. This is NEW Halas, not OLD Halas. OLD Halas has long since been obliterated from the face of Norrath.

Rocc

04-24-2010, 03:43 AM

Status to purchase a house to test placement of items and stuff. Buff bot dont give status can you change that please?

Einadin

04-24-2010, 03:56 AM

<cite>Josgar@The Bazaar wrote:</cite><blockquote>the city itself is dreadfully small and has no background music (yet)</blockquote>I think its fairly comparable in size to city's such as Gorowyn and Kelethin. It's just very spaced out. Like, the main city isn't all there is to it. You have the docks and housing area, etc.

ianilu

04-24-2010, 05:15 AM

I wasnt able to access housing even with a character starting in New Halas couldnt visit or tour any houses i was able to purchase one but it wouldnt let me enter i checked them all and they all had the same purchase price but im sure that will change since some of them are bigger houses

Xalmat

04-24-2010, 05:48 AM

The blue island on the south end of the zone doesn't line up with the map. It's quite a major discrepancy.

Xalmat

04-24-2010, 05:59 AM

New Halas has about the fastest "Betrayal Quest" I've ever seen. In my opinion it will make it FAR too easy for someone to accidentally become an exile unintentionally.The entire Betrayal process needs to be significantly lengthened for New Halas.You aren't even required to enter your name!!!

Vraeth

04-24-2010, 06:19 AM

the harbormaster in qeynos harbor is still selling tickets to nektulos/thundering. i assume these are obsolete with the new travel systemas a qeynosian, browsing halasian city faction items, it tells me i need kelethin citizenship to buy them

Xalmat

04-24-2010, 06:32 AM

<cite>Vraeth@Runnyeye wrote:</cite><blockquote>the harbormaster in qeynos harbor is still selling tickets to nektulos/thundering. i assume these are obsolete with the new travel system</blockquote>They are.

Nayawk

04-24-2010, 06:57 AM

With Shader 3 turned on pretty much everything in the housing area of Halas is missing its texture and is just wire frame. Also large parts of the town areas wood textures are missing.Normally looks fine, turn on shader 3 restart game, no textures just wire frame, turn off shader 3 restart the textures are back, rinse repeat.Also on a design rather than bug note, the wooden long halls are much more successful and appealing visually than the little stone huts, and having more long halls and less huts would go a long way to stop Halas looking 'small' which was a complaint in chat while I was playing.

Vraeth

04-24-2010, 07:41 AM

<cite>Nayawk wrote:</cite><blockquote>With Shader 3 turned on pretty much everything in the housing area of Halas is missing its texture and is just wire frame. Also large parts of the town areas wood textures are missing.Normally looks fine, turn on shader 3 restart game, no textures just wire frame, turn off shader 3 restart the textures are back, rinse repeat.</blockquote>same applies to the icy keep raid zone

Kamimura

04-24-2010, 07:43 AM

Edit - wrong thread...

Bhagpuss

04-24-2010, 09:00 AM

Just going to confirm that the wireframe thing is only present with Shader 3.0 enabled.I swapped between having Shader 3.0 on and off and everything looks fine without it. Actually, other than the wireframe issue, I couldn't really see much difference between Shader 1.0 and Shader 3.0. If anyhting, it looked better in the old version.<Edit> Actually, the "rope ladders" are wireframe in either version.

Cyliena

04-24-2010, 09:09 AM

My husband wanted to drown himself (easiest way for a newbie to find get to Halas!) and swam down in the Frostfang Sea... he never found a bottom to it, and he was swimming for a fair while before dying.On the city selection screen last night, it said for Halas' description: "This is a bug, Halas subtitle" "This is a bug, Halas title". Not sure if it's been fixed since.

Katz

04-24-2010, 10:55 AM

The city merchant items state you must have Kelethin citizenship.Some items have names like "neck_melee_dps"

Powers

04-24-2010, 12:52 PM

<cite>Kaitheel wrote:</cite><blockquote>Nope. It will not require expansions to access, just like Neriak. Also, with every expansion since Echoes of Fadwer they have included all adventure packs and expansions previous.</blockquote>But, in theory, if someone doesn't have any expansions, is it possible for a character started in New Halas to get stuck with no (practical) way out of the zone?I realize it's a rare case, but I haven't bought an expansion since Echoes of Faydwer so I only have DoF and EoF. I can get to BBM but some people -- especially returning former players -- may not be able to.Powers &8^]

Alenna

04-24-2010, 02:25 PM

when will we be allowed to get houses in New Halas I test copied my main so that she could try the new housing there out.

Woody67

04-24-2010, 04:03 PM

One thing i thought of while working several of the quests that require you to hunt in the ocean, with no bottom there is no corpse to loot. It may not be a problem if the sea critters don't have a loot table, never heard the typical chest drop sound while i was hunting the fish and manta rays.I think someone mentioned this earlier in one thread or the other but are the snow jelly critters supposed to be attackable or not? I tried to attack about 10 to 15 of them and they all went back to an immunity status pretty quickly, rather apparent on a range attack, took a bit when you tried to melee on occasion. I didnt see any quest that required them but if they cant be killed they will quickly overpopulate the rest of the area. The little twisters mobs in the same area did not have the same issue, I was able to kill the 2 or 3 i needed for the quest.

Dulissa

04-24-2010, 04:08 PM

<cite>Xalmat wrote:</cite><blockquote>New Halas has about the fastest "Betrayal Quest" I've ever seen. In my opinion it will make it FAR too easy for someone to accidentally become an exile unintentionally.The entire Betrayal process needs to be significantly lengthened for New Halas.You aren't even required to enter your name!!!</blockquote>Are you sure it's an actual Betrayal quest or is it just one to move from Qeynos/Kelethin to Halas? I'm just asking since I haven't found the guy yet myself

Xalmat

04-24-2010, 05:52 PM

<cite>Toressa@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Xalmat wrote:</cite><blockquote>New Halas has about the fastest "Betrayal Quest" I've ever seen. In my opinion it will make it FAR too easy for someone to accidentally become an exile unintentionally.The entire Betrayal process needs to be significantly lengthened for New Halas.You aren't even required to enter your name!!!</blockquote>Are you sure it's an actual Betrayal quest or is it just one to move from Qeynos/Kelethin to Halas? I'm just asking since I haven't found the guy yet myself</blockquote>My Templar (which I rolled to test out the New Halas newbie experience) went from a New Halas citizen to an Exile with only mouse clicks. No running around, no killing anyone, and not even a quest series that I had to do. All from talking to the Citizenship Registrar (i think thats the name), in the building with the Guild Registrar I believe.He went through his spiel about the pros and cons of betrayal, and when I finished talking to him, *BAM* I'm exile.The same Citizenship Registrar is the same NPC that also lets you switch to Qeynos and Kelethin alignment. Which is all the more troublesome because if you're the type of person to go *click* *click* *click* it will be very, very, very easy to accidentally go Exile instead of a simple citizenship change.Just to make sure, on my test copied Conjuror (who is a Qeynos citizen), I went to the Citizenship Registrar in Qeynos Harbor (inside The Coldwind Crier, where you also register your guild in Qeynos) and went through the same dialog boxes (the NPC is practically the same it would appear). However in Qeynos, instead of making me an auto-exile, it actually directed me to the Betrayal Quest starter, Sprockfuddle, instead of making me an auto-exile.I couldn't figure out how to earn faction with New Halas as an Exile. It looks like I'd have to earn faction with Kelethin or Qeynos first before I could become a New Halas citizen.Interesting enough, the citizenship transfer process for Freeport, Neriak, and Gorowyn is the same as it was (Freeport to/from Gorowyn is painless, Freeport to/from Neriak still requires a quest, Neriak to/from Gorowyn isn't possible). It would seem only Qeynos, Kelethin, and New Halas citizens have a very quick process to change citizenship.

kelvmor

04-24-2010, 10:52 PM

Two things, and two things only. And they concern dwarves.Why couldn't you guys give dwarves the Coldain colorations?And on a related note, why do the Coldains have an aura effect on them, even when they're wearing snap-on armor, like the Guardian trainer in New Halas?

Cusashorn

04-24-2010, 10:55 PM

<cite>Xalmat wrote:</cite><blockquote>New Halas has about the fastest "Betrayal Quest" I've ever seen. In my opinion it will make it FAR too easy for someone to accidentally become an exile unintentionally.The entire Betrayal process needs to be significantly lengthened for New Halas.You aren't even required to enter your name!!!</blockquote>Just wanted to stress this fact.

Nayawk

04-24-2010, 11:02 PM

A few questions about the zone art.I love the thin ice shore line, and the pale transparent ice sticking out of the tops of some of the floating island, but the bright flat aqua blue lumps look really out of place. Are they suppose to have any detail, shine or opacity to them? If so I'm not seeing them on 'very high quality' settings. Also the starter plate armour set, everyone else gets a leathery fur look going on, even my chain wearing mystic, but the plate is the standard old metal with no nod to the halas theme.. is this correct?

Zabjade

04-24-2010, 11:09 PM

Also Map Icons would be MOST helpfulYes, I have bugged these in-game.This last one is more of a request, when you put the Guild Hall in, could we have a T2 rather then a T1(He have a Neutral T1 in Gorowyn)

Kamimura

04-24-2010, 11:34 PM

<cite>Nayawk wrote:</cite><blockquote>Also the starter plate armour set, everyone else gets a leathery fur look going on, even my chain wearing mystic, but the plate is the standard old metal with no nod to the halas theme.. is this correct?</blockquote>I found this disappointing as well. Same old plate armor, and it doesn't even all match on my Templar. <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Woody67

04-25-2010, 12:15 AM

Another disappointed plate wearer on the armor graphics and color scheme. I think there are probably at least 3 different shades of blue in the beginning quest set. I was really bummed about the plate helm graphic. I will probably have to run all my scouts and mystics/defilers through Halas just for the horned helm those 2 groups get to use in the appearance slot on occasion.I have a weakness for hats in games, not sure why since i seldom wear them in RL. I remember the first time I saw a barbarian wearing a helm with big white horns with black tips in EQ1 and I was hooked from that moment on. I have sought interesting head wear in all the games I have played since that moment and was crushed by the plan jane pot we got as a templar.

kelvmor

04-25-2010, 02:38 AM

I think that the plate armor should like like the sort that the guards have.And the helm should look like the long-horned helm certain guards have, instead of the Zerker class hat.

Armawk

04-25-2010, 03:02 AM

The plate has to be a placeholder. You dont put a full new themed set in for everyone else then make one archetype wear the least attractive (and oldest!) sets in the whole game. Surely.

Hawkmoons

04-25-2010, 07:14 AM

I was kinda disappointed in Frostfang, it feels small and the mobs just spiral up, I will continue on in trying it out but did not grab me like TD did, and I have to say the city needs more (buildings or something) by comparison to the other cities it just feels like everything is in one building and missing something. Oh and bug on the flight to BB it drops you off in the air instead of dock, also is there more plans to expand on Halas/Frost or is this it?

Katz

04-25-2010, 10:13 AM

Perhaps the quests should reward a little more money. It would help with buying fuel and such for the beginning player with no higher level alts.

Xdatinelia

04-25-2010, 03:04 PM

So it isn't supposed to look like this:<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3414/4551171781_dd05b77041.jpg" width="500" height="303" />

Bhagpuss

04-25-2010, 03:06 PM

<cite>Hawkmoons wrote:</cite><blockquote> I was kinda disappointed in Frostfang, it feels small and the mobs just spiral up, I will continue on in trying it out but did not grab me like TD did, and I have to say the city needs more (buildings or something) by comparison to the other cities it just feels like everything is in one building and missing something. Oh and bug on the flight to BB it drops you off in the air instead of dock, also is there more plans to expand on Halas/Frost or is this it?</blockquote>Just to demonstrate "one man's meat" etc, I loathe TD with a passion. I made a Sarnak there when it started and never even got him out of the zone. He was the first character I've deleted and apart from using the dock as a travel hub, I've never been back to TD since.On the other hand, I love Frostfang and New Halas. The layout is wonderfully ergonomic and yet quirky with it. The color palette is beautiful. The quests are largely amusing or intriguing and universally well-written.The city of Halas itself is just about perfect. It's roomy, airy, light and yet compact and easy to navigate. It has everything conveniently at hand. The architecture is stunning.My conjuror has already taken his citizenship exam and is just waiting for the housing doors to be opened before he moves in, and he won't be the only one.

MCS-Apophis

04-25-2010, 03:10 PM

Any word on when testcopy will be unlocked?

TniEradani

04-26-2010, 01:56 AM

i was really disappointed in the new city. overall my first impression was WoW. another WoW zone - when will the devs here learn that eq2 is (was) a great game with it's own uniqueness and quit trying to make it into WoW.specifically, the buildings in the outside area were uncomfortably small. everything was so much the same looking i'd hate to live there. the inside area was also too much the same looking.the crafting area was the only different looking place and i wasn't overly impressed by it, but i've seen worse.almost the only thing, imo, that they got right about this new city is that you aren't going to lag out and fall to your death. the other good thing is that all the npc's you hardly ever go to are located in a smaller area so that when you run all over to every single building trying to find them, it won't take so long.i agree with other people who've said the whole city looks barren and unlived in.

Anestacia

04-26-2010, 12:04 PM

I was astonished from the first moment I got off the griffon's back. The clouds in the sky and the bottomless ocean really set the mood for me of being on a drifting glacier out in the middle of nowhere just like the lore states. Halas itself is amazing....like really, really amazing. I always thought Kelethin was the best city ever made but I may just have to change my mind. The architecture of the buildings and the items around the city are so nice. I love the Coldain (and I hate Dwarves so thats saying something lol)! The way you guys did them was great. I think my favorite part of the whole city was the Tradeskill and housing areas. Made me feel like I was in Thurgadin.As near perfect as it is, I am going to throw my feedback in but its based purely on personal opinion. If it goes Live as is I will still be thrilled about moving to New Halas. I think the buildings, while amazing, are too small. I know the city was built by Dwarves but it was built in part to house other races, namely Barbarians which are huge. I took my High Elf through and it just felt really cramped and hes a pretty small guy.I think the battlegrounds folks being the first thing you see should be changed up a bit to something more welcoming to the city. Im not really sure what, but they just seem really out of place to me.I am still waiting to see the housing but I am going to fall on my knees and beg that there be a consideration for having the Tier 2 guild hall model implemented for Halas. Its neutral location and New Player apeal would make it ideal to have the T1 and T2 halls available for new players joining guilds that wont know thier way around FP or Qeynos.Also, on a side note, Freeport and Qeynos are still starter city options. I remember reading that those would no longer be starting cities and was curious to the status of that.

Kaitheel

04-27-2010, 12:30 AM

Heyya!Thank you all for the feedback, both in game and posted here in the multiple threads. It is great! There are several of us working at resolving as many of these issues as we can as fast as possible. With that said, I have a few changes of my own to let you know are coming to a Test server near you (pending QA approval, of course)!Quests - Frostfang Sea· The quest "The Icemanes Commeth" is now spelled "Cometh."· The Ry'Gorr ambushers should attack much more consistently, and stay engaged for the quest "Flame On!" · The scraggly shrubs gathered for the quest "Scraggly Foodstuffs" now use the hand icon on mouse over.· The quest “Ride Upon the Gwenevyn ll” can no longer be gated if the player has already completed "Beets the Alternative." Adventurers in this state can speak with Verien Skysigh to complete the quest.· The quest “Highly Flammable Materials” now directs the player to obtain the Ry'Gorr firepit torch before directing them to burn down the Ry'Gorr encampments. Zone - Frostfang Sea· The sprinting Ry'Gorr gatecallers are no longer using stealth to hide themselves.· Coldain is now capitalized at all times.· Crustose Sporetenders now respawn much faster!~Kaitheel

Narino

04-27-2010, 05:44 AM

I love the building design and general feeling, but Halas needs more buildings and more "life" imho.Put some more npcs walking around ( maybe some with pet wolfs, force them to buy one with sc <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" />).I felt that the housing area is not part of the "main" city. If there's something that was done well in Qeynos it's the housing impementation, I feel like part of the city there, in halas I felt like in lotro housing area, wich I hated.I think this has potential to be one of the best looking areas of the the game, but for now, it realy feels unfinished to me.

Rattfa

04-27-2010, 08:15 AM

I have to say I'm a bit dissapointed with New Halas. The map is ok, the look/feel is ok, the quests are ok - everything is just ok. Except of course for the 'city' itself - which is tiny compared with the likes of Neriak/Kelethin/Gorowyn. It doesn't feel like a city, it's just a collection of randomly placed huts and doesnt have any kind of atmosphere. Places like Somborn, Mara and Terens Grasp have more atmosphere and they are just quest hubs. Combined with the fact that the vast majority of the gear is just a copy/past of Timerous Deep gear I cant help but feel incredibly dissapointed.Pushed back for 3 months with a promise of something special, and all that's delivered is a half [Removed for Content] piece of averageness. I'm sure that the few developers that are left have worked hard, but really this isn't good enough - especially as it was supposed to arrive with the expension...which was also a very very average. A sign of things to come?EDIT - I should say one saving grace is the housing, which looks amazing.

irish

04-27-2010, 11:02 AM

Has anyone found a way into the second grp of underground caves, found demons delve cave system but tunnel blocked to other caves.

Branlach

04-27-2010, 11:03 AM

My impressions so far:> New Halas looks good (even though a bit small), though it needs a couple more NPCs walking around to feel alive. A few more barbarian houses wouldn't hurt either.> Housing interiors are extremely well done, I'm already in love with them.> The starter quests armor piece rewards look very good and fitting for the theme as long as they are cloth/leather/chain armor. The plate armor pieces, however, look horrible and uninspired.> Class restriction on the armor rewards are annoying and unneeded. Such restrictions have no benefit at all but instead limit our options to visually customize our appearance.> Quests are ok so far, though some of them are a bit tedious. Monetary rewards are possibly a bit too low.

kelvmor

04-27-2010, 04:17 PM

I agree.Again, the plate armor should be the sort the Hammer's Wrath guards wear, with the open-faced long-horned helm.

Skeez1e

04-27-2010, 06:04 PM

Other than the fact there are way too many tourists in town Halas looks great! Nice to see folks having fun with it though and it's good to see new faces - hopefully some will fall in love with Test and stick around.Comment on Bork Spelltwiddle, Arcane Transcription. The service, I'm told, is for PVP servers (good service btw) and I have somewhere between zero and zip knowledge of them so he might be working as intended but... beside the fact I had great fun with him (kind of like a slot machine - pay your money, take your chances) passing him useless masters and hoping for a usable one (did get a couple!) I'm not sure he is working properly. He did take paladin masters, they aren't on his list and a couple others I turned in while on a coercer he didn't seem to care much which class master it was. I had assumed if I turned in a dirge master, for instance, I'd get a troub and if I turned in a defiler I'd get a mystic in return - not so, he just passed on random masters, some of which were on his useless list. He ended up earninng a chunk of change from me, just because I was trying to see which classes he'd talk to and which he wouldn't - he'd do business with my evil guardian and evil coercer but he wouldn't talk to them - I did turn in an inquisitor master on my temp and did get a temp in return, though, it was a dupe so I passed it to the coercer and she turned it in and got another dirge master. Definitely a fun, grab bag kind of NPC and I love his name!I've been crazy busy at work so I've been in a get as far away from people as I can mood lately and I haven't done much of the new content yet - rather than filter what's been reported already I'll wait til next patch and then take a go at it.

kelvmor

04-27-2010, 06:31 PM

Kaitheel: The starter plate should look like this, exactly.<img src="http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd6/Rakoric257/EQ2_000082.jpg" width="1440" height="850" />Srs, though. It goes sooooo much better with stuff.

Kamimura

04-27-2010, 09:17 PM

<cite>kelvmor wrote:</cite><blockquote>Kaitheel: The starter plate should look like this, exactly.Srs, though. It goes sooooo much better with stuff.</blockquote>Seriously. I was so confused when my mis-matched templar arrived in Halas to see there was something much better they could have given to those who wear plate. That set looks much better, and matches the other sets/ the feel of the area than the current plate. Really hoping it's just a PH set we've got now, or that they'll take this into consideration...

kelvmor

04-27-2010, 10:12 PM

All of ye who agree, say "Aye!"

Alenna

04-27-2010, 10:20 PM

Aye on the plate armour

knightofround

04-28-2010, 10:58 AM

Unfortunately I am very disappointed with New Halas. When I heard that there was going to be a new starting city, I expected...well, a city, on scale with kelethin, neriak, or gorowyyn (if not freeport/qeynos).Instead, New Halas is roughly equivilent with the NPC quest hub "Thundermist Village" in Shattered lands. Or "Somborn" in EoF. Or "Grobb" in TSO. Rivervale, Kaladim, Living Tombs, Paineel, and Teren's Grasp are all 10x the city material that New Halas is.It is unfortunate that at this point in development it is unlikely that the city population and architecture will be scaled up in terms of size and quantity. But if that is still possible, it needs to be done ASAP. Another thing I would suggest is that the buildings be moved closer together. The dead space between each building hub simply enhances the emptiness of the city/village.Another thing I would point out is that there really needs to be a bell/griffon moved deeper into New Halas, it's quite a run compared to other cities, and there's not as much stuff to look at while on the way. I am concerned that its going to be even more barren than Maj'Dul or Gorrowyn simply due to the inefficient city layout.I am looking forward to seeing the new housing and music though, hopefully that will redeem my expectations of New Halas a bit. The screenshots I saw on the official site looked promising.The current building architecture is quite nice, although it pales in comparison to all the lovely work done in the SF zones. And I enjoyed the crystal cavern area where the housing is located, it reminded me fondly of the coldain city in EQ1 while being sufficiently different to be interesting.I don't mean to be critical, as there is a lot of stuff I'm looking forward to in this upcoming GU...its just that New Halas isn't one of them =(

Skeez1e

04-28-2010, 11:54 AM

Bork appears to be unborked after last night's patch. Tried to turn in a master I looted last night on the evil guardian and coercer and he was having none of it - passed it to Skeezie and he was nice enough to pass me a conjuror (one I needed even!) master.

Kaitheel

04-28-2010, 01:07 PM

Heyya all!I submitted a few more changes last night that I wanted to let you know of. I don't know when they will hit the Test servers, but they are on their way (via the usual QA approval).Quests - Frostfang Sea· The quest "The Icemanes Commeth" is now spelled "Cometh."· Splorpy's note can now only be seen after players complete the quest "To The Great Shelf!" Zone - Frostfang Sea· Citizens of New Halas can now use their "Set Recall Point" ability.· Jaisen Tutwhittle no longer disappears.· All harvestables around Pilgrims' Landing respawn significantly faster.· Increased the number of Blue Manta that spawn off Pilgrims' Landing and made them respawn faster.· The rolling stones that spawn at Gwenevyn's Cove respawn faster.· The blizzard grizzlies that spawn at Gwenevyn's Cove respawn faster.· Increased the number of icemane cubs spawning within the Icemane Plains.Keep the feedback and bugs coming, we appreciate them!~Kaitheel

Cynith

04-28-2010, 01:13 PM

Can we have white roses added somewhere in Halas . . . faction purchase, repeatable quest reward? - at the very least - next Erollisi day O.oI would love to see:Single White RoseThree White RosesWhite Roses in an Oval VaseWhite and Pink RosesThanks <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Barbarosa_Rex

04-29-2010, 02:10 AM

Just my 2 cents.. but New Halas... well...Any one else feel like they are running around dun morogh about to run into ironforge? the textures, colors, architecture, size, layout... even the look of the pave stones.. reminds me of wow dwarven towns..There's been a lot of talk that SOE is trying to 'WOW' up the game.. talk of suspending mounts for combat now going on for instance...I agree with some of the other comments that the city should look more like its the home of big brawny barbarians... massive, heavy structures.. the open buildings (another wow trait.. no doors).. this is supposed to be a frozen climate, there should be thick doors opening into large open wooden timber frame structures with giant hearths blazing...addendum: I do like the housing... the rest of the city should reflect this style...

Kaitheel

04-29-2010, 12:20 PM

Heyya all!I made a few more changes yesterday that are heading your way, (via the usual QA approval process).· Quests - Frostfang Sea· Barker Gordon is once again willing to offer his quest, "Ham and Beans."· Bentor the Mighty is now found within the sheep pen in New Halas.· Completion of "All That Remains" now grants the suffix title, "Friend of Herga".· The quest "Little Lost Froglok" now gives a little more guidance in where to search for Splorpy.· Flibbit Quagmarr now has a quest icon for those ready to complete the quest "Little Lost Froglok."· Flibbit Quagmarr now has a quest icon for those ready to complete the quest "To The Great Shelf!"· Dockmaster Waulon at the Butcherblock Mountain Docks now offers his quests to adventurers level 17 or above.· Thirin Veliumdelver no longer requires players to have completed "Report to Cragged Spine" to be given his quest, "Nothing To Waste."· Odon Scourgeson now requires the player to have completed "Nothing To Waste" before he will offer his quest, "Whirling Ice Time."· Hillfred Kinloch now requires the player to have completed "Nothing To Waste" before she will offer her quest, "Blood Spilled for the Blade Maiden."· Knut Orcbane now requires the player to have completed "Nothing To Waste" before he will offer his quest, "Impish Threats."· Tad Ironstein now repeats his useful information about the other NPCs at Cragged Spine if you have completed "The Nightmare is Over" or "Report to Cragged Spine." · Zone - Frostfang Sea· The Inimical Slush, snowpacks and iceflows no longer break encounter when engaged.· Glacial scoundrels and miscreants now drop body lootThankfully, there are other EQll team members working at resolving some of the other issues that are being reported, such as the art team working on polishing the zone art and adding more city buildings, and fellow members of the design staff working at resolving some of the lingering issues with quests and population. So, keep the feedback coming and expect to see more changes!~Kaitheel

Xalmat

04-29-2010, 03:06 PM

Any word on the extremely easy Betrayal quest being made more time consuming?

Krikori

04-29-2010, 04:17 PM

Issue with the city faction merchants Mirva Kilgour and Ornulf Sweettongue. Both of their listed items for sale require Kelethin Citizenship, not Halas. On Mirva all of the purchased titles refer to Kelethin.

Xalmat

04-29-2010, 04:20 PM

Where is the music for Fanged Sea, New Halas, and New Halas housing?The files for these zones don't even exist inside the music subfolder.

kelvmor

04-29-2010, 10:13 PM

<cite>Kaitheel wrote:</cite><blockquote>Heyya all!.................................................Thankfully, there are other EQll team members working at resolving some of the other issues that are being reported, such as the art team working on polishing the zone art and adding more city buildings, and fellow members of the design staff working at resolving some of the lingering issues with quests and population. So, keep the feedback coming and expect to see more changes!~Kaitheel</blockquote>I hope that means you also have some people working on getting that guard armor appearance as the plate armor appearance. : I'm serious. We don't want recolored TD armor. At all.Everyone else got something unique. Plate healers and plate fighters got crap. :

Alenna

04-29-2010, 10:18 PM

<cite>kelvmor wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Kaitheel wrote:</cite><blockquote>Heyya all!.................................................Thankfully, there are other EQll team members working at resolving some of the other issues that are being reported, such as the art team working on polishing the zone art and adding more city buildings, and fellow members of the design staff working at resolving some of the lingering issues with quests and population. So, keep the feedback coming and expect to see more changes!~Kaitheel</blockquote>I hope that means you also have some people working on getting that guard armor appearance as the plate armor appearance. : I'm serious. We don't want recolored TD armor. At all.Everyone else got something unique. Plate healers and plate fighters got crap. :</blockquote>uh my plate healer templar seems ot have the guard armor appearance now.

Kamimura

04-29-2010, 11:45 PM

<cite>kelvmor wrote:</cite><blockquote>I hope that means you also have some people working on getting that guard armor appearance as the plate armor appearance. : I'm serious. We don't want recolored TD armor. At all.Everyone else got something unique. Plate healers and plate fighters got crap. :</blockquote>My plate wearer (a templar) has had her armor changed (was changed... yesterday, day before?). She now gets the scout horned helm (which my scout no longer has :/), and some other leather and fur armor. I would think other plate wearers also got changed? If not, I would suspect it is incomming.

StargateFanGirl

04-30-2010, 12:22 AM

<cite>Woody67 wrote:</cite><blockquote>One thing i thought of while working several of the quests that require you to hunt in the ocean, with no bottom there is no corpse to loot. It may not be a problem if the sea critters don't have a loot table, never heard the typical chest drop sound while i was hunting the fish and manta rays.</blockquote>There is a bottom, it's just so far down you'll never actually reach it (maybe with underwater breathing?) I was hunting in the ocean and when I looked down into the water I could see tiny dots far below me and when I hovered the mouse over them the icon would change to a loot chest on some of them. They do drop something -probably just body drops- but you'll never get to retrieve it unless they bring the "floor" up to a reachable level for a new player.

Kaitheel

04-30-2010, 01:00 AM

Heyya all!Here's my list of the changes I made today. I am not sure exactly when they will be on theTest servers, but they are coming!· Quests - Frostfang Sea· The angered glacial scoundrels are less easily confused by multiple players attempting to retrieve the stolen provisions for the quest, "Clan of the Cave Imps."· Verien Skysigh now reminds players on his quest, "The Icemanes Cometh" that are trying to speak to him with leashed cubs, to lash them to the icemane post.· Thirin Veliumdelver now gives you the “Totem of the Iceclad Manta” when he grants you the quest “Below The Frozen Waves.”· Knut Orcbane's quest “Becoming Another Orcbane” is no longer repeatable.· The Basic Cold Iron Gauntlets now use the correct appearance.· Zone - Frostfang Sea· Snowpacks and iceflows respawn much faster.· Crustose defenders and roaming rumblers respawn much faster.Thanks again, everyone!~Kaitheel

Elepian

04-30-2010, 08:14 PM

Ok.. Just one question.. ok no a few. 1. Where are the kilts!? These were apparently something you were all working to implement and minorly partial to the reason as to why Halas Was Delayed and not released with expansion. 2. Where is the Culture of New Halas? Why , when I wander throughout New Halas I feel as though I'm passing through an unimportant village? The Dwarves, as WELL AS the Barbarian race are Proud Races; that were always wanting to show off their accomplishments, civilizations etc. I wander through New Halas and don't feel any type of sense of excitement at seeing a new culture. 3. Why in God's name are you attempting to make EQ2 look more like WoW? Many of us have PAID for better computer equipment to see a beautiful game. Why Dumb the graphics down? I agree with some of the earlier comments regarding the " no doors". The Barbarians and Coldain may have been hardy folk, but Even Thurgadin and Kaladim had Stone doors! This zone release was delayed to be perfected. I can't help but think that this, Halas update was released half finished. As if intensive work was going into getting it out, and because YOU there at SOE set the deadline for beginning of May, you rushed yourselves to get it done and it came out half-finished. I would advise you keep it on Test and add more to this City that is not a City. Give us what we pay for, not a poor result of a five-finger discount. PS: Imago- Phenomonal Job with Shader 3.0 just had a few bugs to work out of it for the new city but everywhere else looks amazing. It is good to know that you understand patience being a virtue and I'm sure I speak for many when I say we love the work you've done on the new shader textures! Keep up the good work - Warmest Regards-

kelvmor

04-30-2010, 10:56 PM

They haven't dumbed the graphics down...As for the culture, well. For about ten years, the Coldain dwarves have been able to do little else but make stone/velium huts to sleep in while those that aren't building fight off the Ry'Gorr orcs.

Kaitheel

04-30-2010, 11:38 PM

I made some more good changes to the content today that I manted to alert you all of. I don't know when they will be on the Test servers, but they are coming, as usual!Quests - Frostfang Sea· The quest "Cod and Chips" now only sends players after large Iceclad cod.· The "Basic cold Iron Gauntlets" have been renamed to "Basic cold Iron Cuffs" to accurately identify it as a wrist item. Zone - Frostfang Sea· The Gwenevyn II ferry craft can no longer have its trip disrupted by players clicking on it.· Large Iceclad cod, glacial miscreants, glacial scoundrels, Ry'Gorr raiders, Ry'Gorr bushwhackers, Ry'Gorr marauders, Ry'Gorr zealots, ice slurries, aged ice slurries, risen Ry'Gorrs, deepice miasmas, reanimated Ry'Gorrs, Ry'Gorr necromancers, frostbiters, and large frostbiters all respawn much faster.The city of New Halas is under further construction and more NPCs are showing up. In the coming updates you will see more and more ambient life, as well as a few more merchants around the city. And with the addition of new buildings, some of the current city life will be moved around a bit.Again, thank you all for your feedback!~Kaitheel

Narino

05-01-2010, 08:50 AM

The "Frostfall mantle" reward from the begginer quests has the wrong appearance on a halfling female, original model. shows the correct appearance in the soga halfling.By the way love the new armor <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/e8a506dc4ad763aca51bec4ca7dc8560.gif" border="0" /> Keep up the good work

Dragonlord294

05-03-2010, 10:52 AM

Overall I must say the New Halas zone is looking pretty good, aside from the housing where it seemed like some of the textures were missing, particularly the ones for the wooden part of the architecture.Also, if I may make a suggestion, change the guild hall architecture to reflect better with the zone architecture, as well as, changing the ones in Kelething and Gorowyn. More choices on look for our halls would be a welcome addition. Also as I know you have probably heard this a million times already, don't elminate Qeynos or Freeport as starting cities. I read from another seperate post and idea of just getting rid of the islands and that could work with just a few mods to Freeport and Qeynos questlines so the newly created characters have quests with which to level.And last but no least by far two suggestions/ideas that you can toss around. First, something original with the next expansion, one idea I had based off my readings of books and of other non-mmo games, was the idea of a lunar zone with the possibility of a new, never before seen, race of Lunar Elves. Finally, and if you have played some table top D&D, the inclusion of a questline that can be run to become something akin to the prestige classes in said D&D. This in effect wouldn't be adding any new classes in a sense because you would have to begin as the original classes. One suggestion and that is because I am a wizard/fury would be the implementatino of an arch mage questline. Also, could bring back the BL (abrreviated because for some reason the word is censored in this forum) class that I have heard so many salivating about and possibly turning it into one of the prestige type classes.

kelvmor

05-03-2010, 06:38 PM

BLs were OP, dude.They were the original EverQuest's easy button, akin to EqII's SK.Anyway. Love New Halas.

Kaitheel

05-06-2010, 12:27 PM

Heyya everyone!Yesterday, I was able to make a few more changes, some of which are very noticeable within the city of New Halas. I don't know when these will be on the Test servers, but they are coming!Zone - Frostfang Sea • Sloppy fish gut bucket is now no-value. • New Halas now has flavor NPCs wandering, fighting, conversing, and spell casting throughout the city, Ravens' Roost and the Erollis dock. • New Halas now has harvestable shrubs and wood. • The Warlock, Illusionist, Conjuror, Wizard Trainers have been moved to the new "Mages' Study." • Gruu Fairbairn, the Cronomage NPCs, and Research Assistant have been moved to the new "The Arcanitorium.” • The newly added buildings of New Halas ("Spears' Rest", "Hammers' Rest" & "Erronson's Furs and Leathers") now have signs.Thank you all for the continuing feedback and bugs being reported here and in game! ~Kaitheel

Gungo

05-06-2010, 01:16 PM

Awesome changes so far to make New Halas feel more like a city. I love the wandering npcs the dwarf w the keg that rocks side to side as he moves is awesome. (ore coldstein)I love the addition of trees.The few recommendations i do have is I hope the arcanitorium you posted about becomes one of the bigger huts. It is still extremely small and close quartered. Its fine for a personal dweling w 1-2 npcs like hopsons personal abode but not for an adventure house. I really think glacierbanes vault the library of the spear of the spell weavers can use a new housing model. A 2 floor velium mage tower would be awesome. Its current model is cramped and doesnt offer me the feel of a library at all. Add some bookcases (and flair) to the mages study area as well. When you guys get a chance and want to add a new quest to this city pay a little homage to beowulf and add a Grendel themed beowulf type quest to this zone. It is the perfect setting for this type of quest.

Xalmat

05-06-2010, 02:56 PM

Has Betrayal from New Halas to Exile been made harder yet? Last I checked, it is too easy to accidentally go Exile without even trying.

Zabjade

05-06-2010, 03:08 PM

I'm finding the NPC and Building additions give the town more life, Like tha addition of trees, but they need leaves as most likely trees to grow there are going to be Evergreens.Maybe use enlarged models of the white Frostfell tree with longer trunks? (Ditching the snowball planter of course <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> ) Maybe Icy grass (Regular grass with a white dusting) and snowdrift(like in Everfrost) flora additions?I agree with the doors, although they don't always have to be doors but yhick polarbear hide like tapastries.I also recomend more "hotsprings" in the "Froglok Quarter". <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> I Also Agree with the Citizens need to be more dynamic, the Dwarf with the Keg is a step (bump lol!) in the right direction.

DocFlareon

05-06-2010, 07:31 PM

<cite>Kaitheel wrote:</cite><blockquote>Heyya everyone!Yesterday, I was able to make a few more changes, some of which are very noticeable within the city of New Halas. I don't know when these will be on the Test servers, but they are coming!Zone - Frostfang Sea • Sloppy fish gut bucket is now no-value. • New Halas now has flavor NPCs wandering, fighting, conversing, and spell casting throughout the city, Ravens' Roost and the Erollis dock. • New Halas now has harvestable shrubs and wood. • The Warlock, Illusionist, Conjuror, Wizard Trainers have been moved to the new "Mages' Study." • Gruu Fairbairn, the Cronomage NPCs, and Research Assistant have been moved to the new "The Arcanitorium.” • The newly added buildings of New Halas ("Spears' Rest", "Hammers' Rest" & "Erronson's Furs and Leathers") now have signs.Thank you all for the continuing feedback and bugs being reported here and in game! ~Kaitheel</blockquote>Can you do the same thing for Gorowyn? The flavor NPCs there don't say *anything*, either as they walk around, or when you hail them.

Kaitheel

05-07-2010, 12:31 PM

Heyya!Once again, I've got a few more changes headed your way that I thought you would like to know about. I am not sure when these changes will hit the Test servers, but they are on their way!Quests - Frostfang Sea<ul type="disc"><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;">Logging out will no longer cause conflict with players that had completed the quest "Ry'Gorr Mining Operations." The Velium wall securing the Velinoid Catacombs should not reappear for you</li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;">It should now be possible for multiple players to trigger the ambushing Ry'Gorr orcs while on the quest "Flame On!"</li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;">Arrin Clelland's quest "Manta Slay" is no longer repeatable.</li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;">Before players are offered the quest "Roaming Charges" Yasha Redblade now points players to Trainer Ragnhild Stonefist through a dialog choice.</li></ul>Zone - Frostfang Sea<ul type="disc"><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Nohr Flamel, an Alchemy Merchant, is now located within Ravens' Roost area of New Halas.</li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Good aligned brokers throughout the world should now include items posted within New Halas!</li></ul>~Kaitheel

kelvmor

05-08-2010, 06:58 PM

So!When are we going to get New Halas house items, like those stone/velium tables and chairs in the Coldain huts and such?

janmystique

05-09-2010, 06:22 AM

I have copied an alt over to the test copy server. I understood that my way to New Halas was via the Everfrost or TS mariners bell. The map that comes up when I use the bells are not giving me the option of New Halas just the usual places. No npcs nearby offer me a quest. What trick am I missing? How silly is that? <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/499fd50bc713bfcdf2ab5a23c00c2d62.gif" border="0" />

SnoesieQ

05-09-2010, 06:55 AM

<cite>Symphonia@Splitpaw wrote:</cite><blockquote>I have copied an alt over to the test copy server. I understood that my way to New Halas was via the Everfrost or TS mariners bell. The map that comes up when I use the bells are not giving me the option of New Halas just the usual places. No npcs nearby offer me a quest. What trick am I missing? How silly is that? <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/499fd50bc713bfcdf2ab5a23c00c2d62.gif" border="0" /></blockquote>The new travel bell will take you from anywhere to everywhere, no need to go from Everfrost or TS.However, Frostfang Sea is currently missing from the travel map (it used to be there). The only way atm is by griffon from BBM docks.

janmystique

05-09-2010, 07:01 AM

Thank you very much. I did feel silly not being able to find the way!

Cusashorn

05-09-2010, 10:13 PM

I want to give some feedback about this zone. It's not much, but it is something you SHOULD improve upon.1. Travel. It's rather annoying to have to swim back and forth from the orc islands to the mainland all the time. There should be at least some form of travel. Even if it's one-way only and you still have to manually travel back and forth, there just needs to be something to make things go faster.2. As always, I'm playing a Monk to see how they fair in this new content, and well, as with all the newbie zones, there aren't enough weapons for us to use. We rely on dual wielding weapons for damage. We do better with two 1-hand weapons than we do with a 2 hand. Unfortunately, all the quests so far offer a brawler weapon right away at low levels, a 2 hand weapon around level 7, a 2 hand weapon around level 14, and a 1 hand weapon around 14 as well.That 1 hand weapon would be just fine for us to use if there was another quest that offered another 1 hand weapon to use with it. Please add something in so we can do more damage.3. Those Velinoids are hard to kill! Even for solo mobs, they have a high defense and hit hard. Also, they path into the cave walls and can't be seen. Maybe you could make them into more 2-3 down-arrow encounters instead of making every mob completely solo.

Titigabe

05-10-2010, 01:31 AM

I don't know why, but I have difficulties to see Halas as a city actually. For me, it's nothing but a encampement ... Just like Teren's Grasp in Kylong Plains.We do not get a feeling of a city. Buildings just look dropped on the floor and we are far from city feelings given by Qeynos, Freeport, and even the beautifull Maj'Dul. Even Neriak did it better as a city.

janmystique

05-10-2010, 06:53 AM

Very early impressions from me as I didn't have the "find the way" card when I first logged on - how feeble is that?Anyway, having fought my way through the ice and snow from the transport, I did like what I saw in general terms. Building, like Titigabe said, do seem a bit like boxes dropped on the floor (the boxes bit is mine of course!). And wouldn't the npcs freeze with no door to their shops? Brrr!However, to set against that I thought that the outside appearance of the housing and guild hall was really good. I loved the iinside of the houses although wonder why there are no internal doors? Seems to be a door issue developing for me. wonder what that means...I also really like the fact that all the amenities, that are spread out over three zone in Qeynos, were all in one zone in New Halas. Another advantage to the guild hall location is that it is accessible to good and evil toons. Afraid to say my necro has often day-dreamed her way to leaving the Qeynos based guild by the front door and got blown in to oblivion (not Elder Scrolls!) by a guard several times heavier than she is.Any chance of it snowing sometimes? Maybe it does and I haven't been there long enough to see it.Keep up the good work!

Katz

05-10-2010, 08:16 AM

They could put something like a blanket or animal skins as a door covering that we could walk through if they just don't want doors that you zone through or open and close.

deKoven

05-10-2010, 09:00 AM

<cite>irish wrote:</cite><blockquote>Has anyone found a way into the second grp of underground caves, found demons delve cave system but tunnel blocked to other caves.</blockquote>Yep, you get there after doing a quest. You have to find a keg of blasting powder and place it by the cave-in. Then blow it up and you get into the second cave area.

GrunEQ

05-10-2010, 11:19 AM

<cite>Katz wrote:</cite><blockquote>They could put something like a blanket or animal skins as a door covering that we could walk through if they just don't want doors that you zone through or open and close.</blockquote>The could have the animal skins that would cover the entrances pulled to one side to look like they are there to cover the entrance without actually blocking it, to give the "feel" that there is some protection from the weather for the buildings.I also want to add that the inside of most of the buildings are too small and cramped.

Cusashorn

05-10-2010, 01:14 PM

Yeah, New Halas as a city is overall the smallest one designed so far. Terren's Grasp actually is larger in terms of sheer size.

Katz

05-10-2010, 08:24 PM

They really need to tunnel into the walls behind the player housing area and add more buildings/life to it. A network of caves with housing in it would make sense to get out of the harsh weather. It doesn't look or feel like a place you would live in but more like a place you would pass through. However, the player housing is great there. I picture myself just going from guild hall to house and back again, never setting foot outside the door. In Freeport and Qeynos I travel around in the cities just looking at the areas. Especially in Qeynos, which is quite beautiful.

Seidhkona

05-10-2010, 11:57 PM

Quest: First Time Buyer<ul><li>Accepted the quest from Warden Bretta, went to the inn door, bought my apartment. However, I did not receive my furniture rewards and the quest does not update.</li></ul><ul><li>Quest text references "Caretaker Velshin" who is the inkeeper in Timorous Deep.</li></ul>

Gungo

05-11-2010, 10:39 AM

After the latest round of changes for the test push through New halas this morning i think the general population of New halas is fine. It doesnt need anymore activity or clutter. What it does need however is less of the stone huts and more lodges. The stone huts are fine for a personal abode such as Hopsobs personal abode, but it is awefully small and close quartered for a place people have to go. Those places are only good for smaller races. The arcanitorium needs to becomes one of the bigger lodges. It is still extremely small and close quartered as a stone hut. Glacierbanes vault the library of the spear of the spell weavers can use a new housing model. A 2 floor velium tower would be awesome. Its current model is cramped and doesnt offer me the feel of a library at all. You can even steal art assets from the isle of refuge and use the tradeskill tower there with a velium texture reskin. I already forgot the name of the mender/blacksmiths hut but it shold use the same housing model as the hearth. Again its another smaller hut and it just doesnt fit in right. Add some bookcases (and flair) to the mages study area as well. When you guys get a chance and want to add a new quest to this city pay a little homage to beowulf and add a Grendel themed beowulf type quest to this zone. It is the perfect setting for this type of quest.

Kaitheel

05-11-2010, 12:31 PM

Heyya everyone! Yesterday I was able to make a few more changes that I thought you may be interested in. I don't know when these will be on the Test servers, but they are coming (via the usual QA approval).Quests - Frostfang Sea· "All That Remains" will now update for the entire group when one player attempts to recover Herga's helm.· "Severing the Head" will now update for the entire group when one player attempts to smash the dark crystal.· The writ named, "New Halas: Breaking Ice" now targets frozen pincers or downy kestrels and has been renamed "New Halas: Frozen Meal."Zone - Frostfang Sea· The frozen pincers on Pilgrims' Landing have been renamed as frozen grapplers.Thank you all for the continuing feedback and bugs you are reporting! ~Kaitheel

Vraeth

05-11-2010, 12:43 PM

the zone names for the houses in new halas are still referring to having 1-3-5-rooms

Xalmat

05-11-2010, 02:17 PM

So is Betrayal made harder than simple mouse clicks yet?

MoiraesFate

05-11-2010, 03:02 PM

<cite>Reese@The Bazaar wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>irish wrote:</cite><blockquote>Has anyone found a way into the second grp of underground caves, found demons delve cave system but tunnel blocked to other caves.</blockquote>Yep, you get there after doing a quest. You have to find a keg of blasting powder and place it by the cave-in. Then blow it up and you get into the second cave area.</blockquote>Except that it doesn't stay blown up even for you. The you can't harvest new kegs to blow it up again because you aren't on the quest anymore. At least for me.I already /bugged it.What they should have done while they were designing the area is place at least a few of the businesses into the walls of the canyon they have Halas in. Judging from shader 3.0, its supposed to be mostly rock with snow on it. So it would be obvious that they would build into the walls as well. Then put windows and the like in the rock so they look like real buildings even if you can't get to the upper "floors".

screenid

05-11-2010, 03:31 PM

The Trees in the City need pine/fir needles on them... barren trees = Freeportish and this is suppose to be a goodie starting place.Plus not that it matters... But Old Halas has Pine/Fir Trees everywere... (I know this is not OLD HALAS) but you would think the trees would have pine/fir needles and maybe some snow on them.----TREES NEED PINE/Fir NEEDLES----

Kaitheel

05-11-2010, 04:10 PM

<cite>MoiraesFate wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Reese@The Bazaar wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>irish wrote:</cite><blockquote>Has anyone found a way into the second grp of underground caves, found demons delve cave system but tunnel blocked to other caves.</blockquote>Yep, you get there after doing a quest. You have to find a keg of blasting powder and place it by the cave-in. Then blow it up and you get into the second cave area.</blockquote>Except that it doesn't stay blown up even for you./snipped</blockquote>There was a bug in which the boulder in front of the cave would reappear after you zoned or logged off. Thankfully though, that isn't the case any longer. I just confirmed it on Test! As of yesterday's Test server update the cave entrance no longer reappears blocked for those that have completed the quest "Ry'Gorr Mining Operations." That's the quest in which you blow it up using the barrel of explosives. Logging out or zoning should not interfere with your progression through the Velinoid Catacombs any longer.~Kaitheel

MoiraesFate

05-11-2010, 04:19 PM

<cite>Kaitheel wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>MoiraesFate wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Reese@The Bazaar wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>irish wrote:</cite><blockquote>Has anyone found a way into the second grp of underground caves, found demons delve cave system but tunnel blocked to other caves.</blockquote>Yep, you get there after doing a quest. You have to find a keg of blasting powder and place it by the cave-in. Then blow it up and you get into the second cave area.</blockquote>Except that it doesn't stay blown up even for you./snipped</blockquote>There was a bug in which the boulder in front of the cave would reappear after you zoned or logged off. Thankfully though, that isn't the case any longer. I just confirmed it on Test! As of yesterday's Test server update the cave entrance no longer reappears blocked for those that have completed the quest "Ry'Gorr Mining Operations." That's the quest in which you blow it up using the barrel of explosives. Logging out or zoning should not interfere with your progression through the Velinoid Catacombs any longer.~Kaitheel</blockquote>Thanks. Thats helpful. I didn't log on yesterday and I'm at work right now so I haven't been able to check. Goody. Now I can finish those quests.

MoiraesFate

05-11-2010, 04:24 PM

<cite>screenid wrote:</cite><blockquote>The Trees in the City need pine/fir needles on them... barren trees = Freeportish and this is suppose to be a goodie starting place.Plus not that it matters... But Old Halas has Pine/Fir Trees everywere... (I know this is not OLD HALAS) but you would think the trees would have pine/fir needles and maybe some snow on them.----TREES NEED PINE/Fir NEEDLES----</blockquote>I would LOVE to see needles on those trees. I miss pine trees. Strange that they didn't include them.

kelvmor

05-11-2010, 07:37 PM

Now, I only have three things.One: Where are those stone/ice tables and chairs that are in the Coldain houses? Those would've been awesome on the merchant. Unless you want them to be craftable.Two: Why isn't Coldain capitalized everywhere?Three: Where are the POIs on the Frostfang Sea map?

Kaitheel

05-11-2010, 09:38 PM

Heyya everyone!I've just submitted a few more changes that I thought some of you (house item fans) may be interested to know. I don't know exactly when these changes will be on the Test servers, but they are coming!Quests - Frostfang Sea· Many quests throughout Frostfang Sea now offer tradeable house item rewards.Zone - Frostfang Sea· Corna Kilgour, Housing Goods merchant, now has even more New Halas specific house items!~Kaitheel

Branlach

05-12-2010, 10:41 AM

<cite>Kaitheel wrote:</cite><blockquote>Heyya everyone!I've just submitted a few more changes that I thought some of you (house item fans) may be interested to know. I don't know exactly when these changes will be on the Test servers, but they are coming!Quests - Frostfang Sea· Many quests throughout Frostfang Sea now offer tradeable house item rewards.Zone - Frostfang Sea· Corna Kilgour, Housing Goods merchant, now has even more New Halas specific house items!~Kaitheel</blockquote>Sounds like a good change once it hits the server. Any chance of getting a couple of themed craftable house items as well, rather than having the themed stuff on the marketplace or on vendors?

Kaitheel

05-13-2010, 01:08 PM

Heyya!I made a few more changes yesterday that I thought some of you may be interested to know about. Quests - Frostfang Sea· The quest "Pouring One Out for My Skellies" now requires that you be much closer to the bones to pour "Fronden's Finest" on them.· The quest "Cod and Chips" now offers a bow as a reward choice amongst the other weapons.Zone - Frostfang Sea· Frostbiter basilisks no longer have the ability to root adventurers.· A great many low level items purchased from merchants in starting areas have reduced their prices.As usual, I don't know when these changes will be on the Test servers, but they are coming!~Kaitheel

kelvmor

05-13-2010, 04:19 PM

<cite>Kaitheel wrote:</cite><blockquote>Heyya!I made a few more changes yesterday that I thought some of you may be interested to know about. Quests - Frostfang Sea· The quest "Pouring One Out for My Skellies" now requires that you be much closer to the bones to pour "Fronden's Finest" on them.· The quest "Cod and Chips" now offers a bow as a reward choice amongst the other weapons.Zone - Frostfang Sea· Frostbiter basilisks no longer have the ability to root adventurers.· A great many low level items purchased from merchants in starting areas have reduced their prices.As usual, I don't know when these changes will be on the Test servers, but they are coming!~Kaitheel</blockquote>You're a pretty cool guy.

KnightMarshal

05-15-2010, 12:47 PM

The fireplaces in the rooms in New Halas need an actual fire.You could either add them in or make them a buyable or low level craftable item called Halasian Firelogs.EDIT: After looking at the housing merchant, I found some sort of firelog setup. Will it allow for the different fire settings like a crafted hearth does? I am thinking not since there is one the you can buy that isn't lit. That means it probably will not do the special fire effects like for Frostfell and Erollisi Day.We also need Icemane cubs as either a house item and/or a fluff pet that follows you around like the baby ape from Kunark.

Anestacia

05-17-2010, 02:03 PM

Havent had a chance to test it as guild transfers to Testcopy are wonky but, have the guildhall mailboxes been give the option to look like the Halas mailboxes? If not, can we get that option? <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Katz

05-17-2010, 08:10 PM

Halas is much improved by the numberous NPC's. I also like the way the quests have been changed to give some house items and other tweaks to them.

Kaitheel

05-17-2010, 09:34 PM

Heyya!I'm glad to hear that the house items, the added city population and multitude of other changes and polish points are helping! There are more changes headed your way, too. I'm not sure when they will be on the Test servers, but they are coming!Quests - Frostfang Sea· The plant gathered for the quest "Frozen Pincer Chowder" is now called reed instead of parsley, due to the art of the object.· The quests "Ham and Beans", "Spider Puffs", "Frozen Pincer Chowder" and "Kestrel Pot Pie" are now listed under the Category of "New Halas" instead of "City Task" since they are not writs.· Moved the weapon rewards from "A Fine Halasian Welcome" to "Crustose Removal."· The quest "Nothing To Waste" now awards a "simple Halasian chest."· Hillfred Kinloch is now willing to advance the quest "Geode Caching" when you are repeating it.· Melting the Green Ice for the quest "Green Mystery" no longer causes Ordin Sleetfoot or Thirin Veliumdelver, to be killed. Zone - Frostfang Sea· Mistress Thora <Purveyor of Artifacts>, aside from buying all status items, now also sells rawhide leather rucksack, tanned leather rucksack and boiled leather rucksack.· Hilal Bluefoot and Millgard Sunknife now sell the boiled leather rucksack and tanned leather rucksack.· Torvil Beastamer <Pet Merchant> is now located in Ravens' Roost near the housing merchant and he has a cat named Snowfist and a dog named Hagley.· Totem of the Iceclad Manta is now no Value, not transmutable and no longer labeled Treasured.~Kaitheel

Oakum

05-18-2010, 12:45 PM

Havent seen the latest changes but here is what I think is needed to help find New Halas for newbies. Since the path is basically downhill it could be doable.Have a child slide down the center of the path on a sled and end up by the camp. Have a NPC that then chases/sends them back to town where its safer shortrange broadcast so it will pop on the players screen telling them that the way is close.For more fun, give the sledding kid a chance to knock down anyone walking the center of the path, lol.

Kaitheel

05-19-2010, 05:36 PM

There's a few more changes squeeking in here at the finish line to let you know of:Zone - Frostfang Sea· Bull the Crafty <Mender> is now willing to mend anyone's armor.· Exiting a guild hall in New Halas no longer places player in a wall. I don't know exactly when they will be on the Test servers, but they should be coming soon!~Kaitheel