EverQuest II: Rise of Kunark Annoucement

[Tamat]

<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial">EverQuest II Allakhazam is proud to announce the 4th EverQuest II expansion titled "Rise of Kunark". We sat down with EverQuest II Senior Producer Scott Hartsman to talk about Kunark and all that will come with it. The interview which is available in both a <a href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/hosting/Rise%20of%20Kunark%20Interview.mp3" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">34 minute audio file</a> or a <a href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/guides.html?guide=986" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">9 page transcription</a>, will tell you everything you need to know about Rise of Kunark. Read a full description about Rise of Kunark over at <a href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/news/sdetail9504.html?story=9504" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">EverQuest II Allakhazam</a>.</span><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial"><a href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/hosting/Rise%20of%20Kunark%20Interview.mp3.filepart" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> </a></span></b>

[xOnaton1]

Wow, lots of good news recently! That's a nice long interview.<a href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/hosting/Rise%20of%20Kunark%20Interview.mp3" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"></a> Othesus - Dirge - Lucan DLere Vaspar - Fury - Lucan DLere

[Inuyas]

<p>[Removed for Content]! SWEET! lvl me wizard higher now yay! soooo happy =)</p><p>"Obviously with our last expansion we did not do a level increase, this time we will be." </p>

[Stuge]

Epics, eh?  Rock on.  Hopefully it won't be as painful as the first time around. *shakes phist at Plane of Fear*

[Aranieq]

<p>omg so siked I loved epics we did the pal,wiz,chanter,cleric ones... never did the mage so maybee I wasn't ruied from then haha</p><p>siked siked!</p>

[Tanarion]

<span style="color: #0000ff">We can play a sarnak =D woot woot!! But we gotta go to level 80 ack lol.Well bright side it will make Emerald Halls easier being 80 =P</span>

[peepshow]

You got to be kidding me.. Don't [Removed for Content] raise the lvl again, we dont need that crap.. New gear I can relate to, but another 10 lvl's pf grinding is not what we are looking for now.. When does it end ?!?!?

[Ama]

<cite>Tamat wrote:</cite><blockquote><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial">EverQuest II Allakhazam is proud to announce the 4th EverQuest II expansion titled "Rise of Kunark". We sat down with EverQuest II Senior Producer Scott Hartsman to talk about Kunark and all that will come with it. The interview which is available in both a <a href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/hosting/Rise%20of%20Kunark%20Interview.mp3" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">34 minute audio file</a> or a <a href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/guides.html?guide=986" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">9 page transcription</a>, will tell you everything you need to know about Rise of Kunark. Read a full description about Rise of Kunark over at <a href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/news/sdetail9504.html?story=9504" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">EverQuest II Allakhazam</a>.</span><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial"><a href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/hosting/Rise%20of%20Kunark%20Interview.mp3.filepart" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> </a></span></b></blockquote><p> Alot of solid questions that I had been wondering myself Tamat good interview.  </p><p>Epic Weapons: Did my epic weapon quest in EQOA since I never played EQ1.  It was something you felt you had to do which made it feel important.  I'm wondering how comparable epic weapons will be to fabeled gear? Hopefully with the end/final quest or however you progress it will build up being "Mythical" in nature.  </p><p>Sarnak: These guys will bring alot of new questions for me since I like draconic lore.  Already had discussions in the H&L section about if these guys should be in the draconic realm.  </p><p>Glad to see a great interview on the next expansion. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Iad]

Woohoo, epics! Hi tamat =p

[Snowdonia]

Only three gods?!?! Aw man, they're holding out on us! <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Now, the BIG question is, will we get another character slot with the new race? <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[RFMan]

This is the first large chunk of good news for high-level players in a while.  This will be great!  It relieves my fears that the only new race we were going to get was going to be the Arasai *shudder@emofairies*.

[Vulkan_NTooki]

Hopefully they would add new spells each lvl now, instead of repeating better versions of the old ones. That way all those mastered abilities stay at their best.

[baguetteovenfresh]

when when when when?!?! i wanna play it nooooow!

[Roriondesexiest]

<cite>peepshow wrote:</cite><blockquote>You got to be kidding me.. Don't [I cannot control my vocabulary] raise the lvl again, we dont need that crap.. New gear I can relate to, but another 10 lvl's pf grinding is not what we are looking for now.. When does it end ?!?!? </blockquote><p> QFE, 10 more levels, 10-15 new masters and donating all my current fabled gear to my diety... </p><p>Would rather just keep the cap where it is and give us more raid zones that provides some new loot types and different challenges.</p>

[Vonotar]

<cite>RFMan wrote:</cite><blockquote>This is the first large chunk of good news for high-level players in a while.  This will be great!  It relieves my fears that the only new race we were going to get was going to be the Arasai *shudder@mofairies*. </blockquote>So we now have a new neutral race as well. What's interesting is the concept of a starter zone for neutral races, does this mean that the new city of Gorowin would be a "neutral" city which is tolerant towards all class types (i.e. is more fussed about your race than whether you are Shadowknight or Paladin)??? Something of this nature would have to happen for Sarnaks to be neutral, but not available in Qey, Free, Neri, Kele etc... Or would neutral races starting in the new city of Gorowin only be able to choose neutral classes?? Could be an interesting twist.

[Greenion]

<p><span style="color: #00ff00"><span style="color: #339900">quite an interesting read</span>.</span></p><p><span style="color: #00ff00"><b>/</b><span style="color: #339900">gratz on the scoop </span><span style="color: #3366ff"><b>Tamat</b></span>.</span></p>

[Kri]

<cite>Vulkan_NTooki wrote:</cite><blockquote>Hopefully they would add new spells each lvl now, instead of repeating better versions of the old ones. That way all those mastered abilities stay at their best.</blockquote>I hope so too. It would make levels 71-80 more interesting. Plus they can add "bubbles" to the current AA trees that would be improvements to the new spells. Giving us more options to choose from is always a good thing, in my book.

[Vonotar]

Shadowbreath@Splitpaw wrote: <blockquote><cite>Vulkan_NTooki wrote:</cite><blockquote>Hopefully they would add new spells each lvl now, instead of repeating better versions of the old ones. That way all those mastered abilities stay at their best.</blockquote>I hope so too. It would make levels 71-80 more interesting. Plus they can add "bubbles" to the current AA trees that would be improvements to the new spells. Giving us more options to choose from is always a good thing, in my book. </blockquote>Spells and abilities which are deadly powerful <b>in the right circumstances</b>, at all other times you'd be relying on your existing Masters. The trick would be to learn when to attempt to use the new spells. I'd go for that.

[Wilderbeast25]

Honestly I wish they wouldn't raise the lvl cap.  Last thing I want to do it have to get new Adept IIIs and Masters at stupid high prices and have to replace all the gear that I've been killing myself to get. Grind + Money Sink <> FUN

[AbyssalSoul]

I really think this seems a bit rushed... On Vox, which is a PVP server, a single avatar has yet to be killed.  I have never played EQ1 so I am not the expert of lore, but in any fantasy book/story dragons are always, and I mean ALWAYS the most feared and respected creatures.  In my mind KOS mobs shouldn't be green... how can this fit in with the lore?  Once difficult mobs will be a cake walk!  Maybe I'm missing some lore, but maybe KOS mobs should have been the hardest. 

[Vonotar]

<cite>Wilderbeast25 wrote:</cite><blockquote>Honestly I wish they wouldn't raise the lvl cap.  Last thing I want to do it have to get new Adept IIIs and Masters at stupid high prices and have to replace all the gear that I've been killing myself to get. Grind + Money Sink <> FUN </blockquote> Nobody is forcing you to level your '70 characters! Turn off combat XP and continue with your T7 play.

[Kryussius]

<i>"</i>The Sarnaks are making their return.  The beloved race from the original Kunark. " O_o The Sarnaks were "beloved" in EQ1??  Did I miss a meeting??! (the expansion looks great!  looking forward to seeing how Kunark fared in the last five centuries)

[Gasheron]

<p>Veeshan? Veeshan? Veeshan? Please? Veeshan? <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>And maybe a bit of work on the Monk AAs to make them more... useful? <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>Otherwise, I can't wait for this exp... I sooooo wanna play now! I LOVED Kunark in EQ1 and EQ2 is gonna be even better! I'm especially looking forward to meeting the new Iksar Empire in battle. I wonder if we can join the new Empire... *slight plea* <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Inuyas]

Vonotar@Butcherblock wrote: <blockquote><cite>Wilderbeast25 wrote:</cite><blockquote>Honestly I wish they wouldn't raise the lvl cap.  Last thing I want to do it have to get new Adept IIIs and Masters at stupid high prices and have to replace all the gear that I've been killing myself to get. Grind + Money Sink <> FUN </blockquote> Nobody is forcing you to level your '70 characters! Turn off combat XP and continue with your T7 play. </blockquote>I realy do hate how people say thy do not like to have the level cap go up but I do know a lot of people even my self that would like to see it go up also I do see how you feel about having to buy new master's and what not but that's why you save up money and also group a lot more ect to get your drop's and what not =)

[Elidyn]

Level Cap Raised – Continue your adventures on your existing character in Kunark, expanding on your achievements as Adventure, Tradeskill and Guild levels all increase to 80. ARE U KIDDING ME?? i mean come on havnt we learned from our last expansion....what is the point at raising the levels so soon? u wipe out all the content from the other expansion!! give us more AAs but god forbid raise the level. oh great now we are going to be stuck in ONE expansion WOOT, howmany people do we see in DoF anymore...umm none really. all my gear i have now will suck to lvl 80 treasured i mean come on guys cant we be more creative then this? we went from lvl 50 to 60, one expansion, then jumped to 70 for what 1.5 expansions? we had one zone for T7 in EoF....i am happy for new content dont get me wrong, but raising the level cap isnt a smart idea......we have to expand OUT before we expand UP....thanks for reading my rant, have a nice day

[Xalmat]

Uh, to the previous poster, it's been well over a year and 3 months since the level cap was raised. It's about time we got another boost.

[Elidyn]

oh so when the sword of destiny is finnally released its going to be able t o be upgraded by treasured loot in T8? i mean no thank you whats the point of doing all these quests if the loot from them will be nothing. or the raiding everyone does the gear will be nothing

[Hardain]

My only concern is that there will be no "new" AA lines, i hope they will sort that out somehow, i hope they have some good ideas. Also i don't think T7 raided gear will become obsolete with T8, except for maybe relic ect. Actually good T7 fabled will prolly be good enough till you get back to raiding at lvl80.

[Elidyn]

IDK bud not much T6 gear being used anymore /shrug

[Thainos]

<p>Sony I really hope with a 10 level increase that yous are going to match the same amount of content as KOS and EOF with this expansion. If you are not going to match that much content then yous have your heads where the sun dont shine, this is a great game but this is a common issue. </p><p> Tell me what would it have hurt to have a 5 level increase put in instead of the10 levels, This allows all the content to continue being killed at an easier scale and it brings the new content as challenge.</p><p>Why not put in another 100 aa points as well.</p><p>Why not scale the avatars as well seeing that they are avatars. Also why not change there encounter's as well with the introduction of the new expansion that way you still get alot of contested with minimum amounts of work.</p><p> I am sorry if this sound negitive to a point Kunark is awesome loved it with eq1, but i really think yous need to start thinking this thru and makeing sure the end game content will match kos and eof with contested as well as instances. </p><p>Same with progression, have you checked to see how many poeple are in DOF, or when King Drayek was last killed. Yous have no progression and yous need to start figureing it out, cause i tell you if eq1 fixed its [I cannot control my vocabulary] graphics they would get my buisness back. It should be haveing to gear up in KOS before you can even think about killing EOF raid zones and then you should have to gear up in EOF before you can gear up in Kunark raid zones. This would add a new challenge to the game and draw alot of poeple and make them have alot of fun for along time because there is a progression which is not in this game at all.</p><p>Your game designers suck and i could do a better job.</p>

[sprogn]

Agree completely.  5 level raise maximum.  Work on diversifying the AA's - allow guilds to hit L70, but big nono to raising the levels by 10 this soon...

[Goozman]

<p>I will cry if tier 8 vs 7 itemization is as craptastically done as tier 6 vs 5 and 7 vs 6. If they can make it so our hundreds of hours of work in EoF wasn't wasted, then the level increase wouldn't be so bad. I don't wanna see grossly overpowered mastercrafted and treasured stuff. Or common legendary items from short instances surpassing fabled set gear...</p><p>But reflecting on both times they've already raised the cap... I'm expecting the worst.</p><p>Weee</p><p>level 75 and lots of aa's imo</p><p>Oh and not only do I think the level should only go up to 75 tops, but I think the 70-75 spells should be all new. Leave our old spells alone (except maybe upgrade DoF ancient teachings spells too)</p>

[Almeric_CoS]

<p>Gee, big news followed by a bunch of poorly-thought-out, reactionary junk. <img src="/smilies/2786c5c8e1a8be796fb2f726cca5a0fe.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>My favorite is the part about this being "too soon" from the last expansion.</p><p>NOT ONLY did a release date not come up in the interview NOT ONLY can you not purchase or even pre-order this software yet BUT if you pay attention to dev posts over time, you'd already know that Sr. Gallenite has stated that EQ2 expansions are now on a one-year development cycle.</p><p>So go do the math on that one, and THEN tell me that you won't be ready for something new.</p><p>And for the love of pete, get out of your bubble of comfort and realize that EQ2 was designed from the start with regular level-cap raises in mind.  EVERYTHING from the 14-level skill rotation, to scalable equipment (from mentoring to the original at-launch way equipment levelled up with you), to the trivial loot/chest system <b>scrrrreeeaaaams</b> that keeping the level cap in place while adding in new, better equipment would eventually slaughter everything this game was designed to be.</p><p>I say WAY TO GO EQ2 TEAM - I can't wait to see more interviews and previews in time <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Elidyn]

umm yeah dude so what if its next week or next year, CONTENT CONTENT CONTENT.....SOE knows nothing of progression, they keep trapping us in one expansion....my book that is boring, u wonder why so many people quit the game when EOF came out? there was no LVL 70 content...so even if this next expansion was full T8, we are still going to be stuck in one expansion, while the rest of KOS, and EOF are greayed out, or a a few green.....look at DOF how many people go there? just for farming poets....give us more AAs or if they must raise LVLs do it in 5s......and so far with AAs that has made us better, content in EOF is harder then KOS......so they can continue progression that way, give us more room to breath, expand out not up

[dieschatten]

Fände es gut wenn einfach neue T7 zonen eingebaut werden um einfach mehr auswahl zu haben. Im moment sind 4 Raidzonen Interresant wovon 1 in 30 min geht und die andere in 1 Stunde. MEhr Zonen die ca 4 - 5 Stunden dauern. MEhr möglichkeiten an Setitems zu kommen. MEhr Quest in neuen Zonen die verbunden sind mit den Zonen von jetzt. Zum Beispiel weiter Zonen nähe neu Tunare, neue Städte. Das man mal mehr auswahl hat. Neue Städte die keien Startstadt sind aber wo man hinziehen kann. Die 3 Städte liegen ja doch am [Removed for Content] der Welt wenn man mal laufen mus. Wieso gibt es keine Städte Beispielsweise in Looping Planes. Irgent ein aussenposten wo man dann wohnen kann wenn man will. Sowas währe mal Originel. Wenn sie aber wirklich T8 einbauen dann hoffentlich mit vielen T8 Zonen und nicht wieder nur 1. EOF fand ich so ja nicht schlecht. Die Karten sind geil gemacht und die Questserien auch. Aber ich würde mir echt mehr Zonen wünschen. So 3 - 4 Pro T. Dann hat man auch was zum erkunden und tritt sich nicht immer gleich auf die Füsse. mfg Schatten

[Iryss]

<p>Dont change lvl cap plzzzzzzzzzzzzzz !!! If u change it to 80 that' s would mean KoS And EoF would be like DoF, u will kill all interest to raid T7 ^^</p><p>I don't want to raid only in Kunark because Mayong and Wuoshi would become green !!!</p><p>Don't change lvl cap, add more AA (100 more sound good)...</p><p> Instead off killing T7 extansion like u did with T6, offer us more challenge like u did with EOF. With EOF, all KoS gear and raid are always uptodate without green mob like u have in DoF raid zone !!!</p><p>So plz do the same with Kunark, give us an interest to raid EoF after Kunark release and don't kill EoF and KoS like DoF...</p><p>NO TO THE LVL 80 CAP, YES TO 100 MORE AA !!!</p>

[Groz]

I have recently started an EQ2 blog.  Check out my <a href="http://mmoexplorer.com/?p=8" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">post</a> on Allakhazam's interview with Scott Johnson. -Fred

[AbyssalSoul]

I think it is great that they are releasing new content, but at the same time, I can't help but feel cheated and cheapened by the release.  People on my server have yet to clear all the EOF zones or get full sets of EOF gear, and the only ones that have are exiles!  You can't bend the game around PVP, and I understand that, but from my perspective I feel like I am constantly sprinting to catch up.  We will probably have just started to successfully raid T7 EOF content by the time this new expansion comes out... and will have to rush again.  People won't even have all their gear.  Of course, Vox is a different case than most PVP servers and is definitely an exception.  I understand on PVE you all have nothing more to do in EOF, so I'm glad you guys are getting an expansion.  I'm not so excited here, especially with a new level cap.  We can hardly get the level 70 gear people need. 

[Vonotar]

Elidyn@Crushbone wrote: <blockquote>umm yeah dude so what if its next week or next year, CONTENT CONTENT CONTENT.....SOE knows nothing of progression, they keep trapping us in one expansion....my book that is boring, u wonder why so many people quit the game when EOF came out? there was no LVL 70 content...so even if this next expansion was full T8, we are still going to be stuck in one expansion, while the rest of KOS, and EOF are greayed out, or a a few green.....<b>look at DOF how many people go there?</b> just for farming poets....give us more AAs or if they must raise LVLs do it in 5s......and so far with AAs that has made us better, content in EOF is harder then KOS......so they can continue progression that way, give us more room to breath, expand out not up</blockquote>DOF is always busy when I go there, must be your server. Also notice the heavy hints that RoK will be very hard, this won't obsolete L70 raiding and gear as your gonna need that gear to survive in Kunark. Don't expect average L70 treasured or handcrafted to keep you alive in RoK, thats the impression I get.

[Gasheron]

<p>Ummmm, one question... When EoF came out, what happened to KoS equip? It mostly became obsolete... EoF equip was just better.</p><p>This is the way that any expansion works. The expansion comes out, and it makes the older expansion(s) obsolete. If it didn't, people would get bored in that they can't ever really get that much better than they currently are. If we went by the logic that lv cap increases are bad, Darathar would still be a end game encounter and prismatics would be some of the best weapons in the game, expansions or not. Does that make sense?</p><p>I say Good for the cap increase. It's been needed. I'm tired of grinding AAs, and I'd like to see more progress from my work.</p>

[Polywogus]

While I can see how a level cap could be looked at w/ a frowny face, due to having to get all new masters, get the level capped again, get the new loot...I guess to me, I would accept it as several *new* challenges, big or small, rather than keeping the level @ 70, & just tacking on zones where the entry, any flags, & figuring out the script are all you might 'get' out of it. Hopefully they'll add tons of high level & raid content - likely not 2 expansions worth, but stuff challenging enough that it won't be wiped out in a few days. The Sarnak as a playable race is interesting, also androgenous (sp) looking <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> , so none of those pesky female chests to decide how big is 'exploiting the female form' or how to best cover them like a nun, but that's another thread (altho heck, maybe they've matured since EQ1). More 1 - 20 content is disappointing because then it's back to stuff that isn't new, just like w/ the Arasai. I had my fingers crossed for 20+ content in this expac, as well as new AA's (& reworked AA's), but oh well, I'll still be picking it up & looking forward to it. /dying to know which Gods are returning. Bertoxxulous, PLEASE. Insulting he wasn't included to begin w/!!! =p

[Kri]

<cite>Polywogus wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>/dying to know which Gods are returning. Bertoxxulous, PLEASE. Insulting he wasn't included to begin w/!!! =p</p></blockquote>You're in luck <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Plans are to include him, the Tribunal and Karana.

[MysticTrunks01]

Raise the cap!  Remind these raiders that there whole point of the game is to change and evolve.  Nothing ever gotten in an MMO' is the end.  Deal with it.  I welcome the new content and increases because i'm more than happy to increase to lvl 80

[Polywogus]

Shadowbreath@Splitpaw wrote: <blockquote><cite>Polywogus wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>/dying to know which Gods are returning. Bertoxxulous, PLEASE. Insulting he wasn't included to begin w/!!! =p</p></blockquote>You're in luck <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Plans are to include him, the Tribunal and Karana. </blockquote> Might I just say Woot.  I read this after writing my post, but still <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> 

[Hannalynn]

I'll say though, if my cleric epic involves going anywhere NEAR skyfire... the devs and I shall have a very personal talk >( *totally looking forward to CoM*

[Catsy]

Here's the problem with not raising the level cap: at a certain point, gear progression will become impossible due to diminishing returns and the mit/resist caps. Even average group players in EoF legendary and treasured can get their primary stat to around 500-600 without much effort. Casual raiders are usually at least 600 or so, and more like 800-900 for some. Hardcore raiders can get close to or at their cap with full group buffs. The same goes for mitigation on tanks--it's really not difficult to reach the point of diminishing returns with good gear. Now, let's say SOE leaves the level cap at 70. Because diminishing returns are based on your level, the stat/mit/resist caps will not change. Based on past progression, gear will add around an extra 5-15 points to stats and 200-400 to resists as compared to EoF gear of the same tier. Power/health regen increases will be pointless, as they're subject to a level-based cap as well, one that many well-geared players have already hit, especially when grouped with a dirge/troub/chanter. Overall, an increase in stats and resists proportional to the one that EoF got over KoS would give a raid-equipped character a trivial increase in resistance and mitigation effectiveness--and that's if they're not already capped. Casual players would, as was the case before, see more of an increase because the point they're at on the DR curve is much less steep. To put it in hard numbers, the current resist cap is 10500. At this number, the effectiveness is 75%, meaning it protects you from 75% of the incoming damage of the appropriate type. Players in a mix of EoF treasured and legendary gear will have average resists of around 4k, which is about 56% damage reduction. Raiders aim for 7k to 9k on their gear, which is between 66% and 72%. Assume, generously, that resists on the next iteration of gear from the same tier would be about 200 higher than at present. Assume, generously, that a player will be able to fill all of the 18 equipment slots that typically bear resists with upgraded gear, adding 3600 to their resist. The casual player will see about a 12% increase in the effectiveness of their resists. The raider will be capped long before they finish filling all those slots. They will see, at best, a 9% increase in their effectiveness, and for those with higher-end gear the improvement will be more like 3%--if they see any improvement at all. If they're already at the cap, as many are, then they get next to no benefit from upgrades, other than a modest increase in health and power bonuses, which aren't subject to caps or DR. Players will simply not be able to improve their effectiveness significantly more than they are now by gear progression alone. At some point, if they want gear progression to continue, SOE will have to do one of three things: 1. Entirely rework the combat system again to rebalance the diminishing return caps every time a new iteration of gear comes out. This simply isn't going to happen. 2. Nerf existing T7 gear the way they did KoS gear when EoF came out. This is a cop-out that people only barely tolerated the last time. If it becomes clear that SOE will handle all future progression by nerfing existing gear, people will leave the game in droves. This could happen, but they'd be fools to do so, as it's not "progression" so much as nerfing you and making you work to become as effective as you were before the nerf. 3. Raise the level cap, so that the point of diminishing returns is automatically adjusted as people level up. That's just for gear progression. Obviously, if gear was not a concern, character progression could be handled pretty much indefinitely through expanding AA options that improve a character's effectiveness without running up against stat limits. But gear progression will stagnate without a level cap increase. If you think the level cap should not be raised, I invite you to describe to me how gear progression could possibly continue without radically changing the diminishing returns formulae or nerfing all existing T7 gear. Back it up with numbers, please.

[Iobi]

<p><span style="color: #ffff99">It is really too soon to rise the level cap from 70 to 80. Once the level cap to 80, all eof hard mobs will become rubbish for us to challenge. My guild just finished all eof raid zone, now is working to clear those eof contest bosses. Therefore please don't change the level cap at the moment. I am happy to see new touch on AA, new races, new raid zones, new quests, new classes in the new expansion.</span></p>

[NoNameChosen]

You will be happy to hear then that this expansion is only announced. It doesn't mean it will be released in 2 weeks. It will most likely take another 6 months (yes half a year) before it is released, so you have plenty of time to kill all EoF content.

[Elidyn]

most people will be 80 in like 3weeks max then what? we sit here do a bunch of quest then they raise the cap again? SoE says they listen to fans of eq1...thats why they made EOF and now this new one....so why cant they at least follow some of the progression there? and DoF im sorry to say is a dead expansion, ive been on a few servers all the same....people go there to farm t6 rare masters. raiseing the cap to 80 is dumb in my book, like i said before if u must raise it, raise it by 5s, dont get rid of all the content before. and when people say this games not just for raiders i say your right, but the way SOE made EoF harder gave us more AAs, i see pick up raids from NONE RAIDERS doing DT and beating it np...and to answer the person talking about gear, you would have no chance to raid a EoF zone if u were not KoS Raid geared....yes things get better in each expansion, that is the point, but to wipe out KOS and EOF gear by raisng the lvl LIKE THEY DID IN DOF, is dumb

[Melciah]

Just a thought, but they could do in EQ2 what they did to some zones in EQ1, put in new mobs in some zones & raise the level ranges.  Remember Cazic-Thule?  Went from a 20-30 zone to 50+

[Themaginator]

<cite>AbyssalSoul wrote:</cite><blockquote>I really think this seems a bit rushed... On Vox, which is a PVP server, a single avatar has yet to be killed.  I have never played EQ1 so I am not the expert of lore, but in any fantasy book/story dragons are always, and I mean ALWAYS the most feared and respected creatures.  In my mind KOS mobs shouldn't be green... how can this fit in with the lore?  Once difficult mobs will be a cake walk!  Maybe I'm missing some lore, but maybe KOS mobs should have been the hardest.  </blockquote>in EQ lore Level HAS NOTHING to do with how powerful a creature is in the story. also the expansion is gonna be out on Nov 13th  andi think thats even more than a year after EoF.

[Fortai]

All these knee-jerk posts about the lv cap being raised are acting like the expansion is coming out tomorrow.  The expansion comes out in 6 months on November 13th, that's quite a while from now.  You can do one of two things, sit on your butt, complain and be miserable for the next six months (and probably after), or actually enjoy T7 for the next six months while it lasts, and then actually have fun building your character in T8.  What a concept.  <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Themaginator]

<cite>Iobi wrote:</cite><blockquote><p><span style="color: #ffff99">It is really too soon to rise the level cap from 70 to 80. Once the level cap to 80, all eof hard mobs will become rubbish for us to challenge. My guild just finished all eof raid zone, now is working to clear those eof contest bosses. Therefore please don't change the level cap at the moment. I am happy to see new touch on AA, new races, new raid zones, new quests, new classes in the new expansion.</span></p></blockquote>to soon? two years of teh cap being 70 is to soon?...come now

[Elidyn]

Fortai@Oasis wrote: <blockquote><p>All these knee-jerk posts about the lv cap being raised are acting like the expansion is coming out tomorrow.  The expansion comes out in 6 months on November 13th, that's quite a while from now.  You can do one of two things, sit on your butt, complain and be miserable for the next six months (and probably after), or actually enjoy T7 for the next six months while it lasts, and then actually have fun building your character in T8.  What a concept.  <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p></blockquote> I dont think u see the big picture here, i dont care if the expansion comes out 10 years from now, they are still going to cut out CONTENT is that so hard to see? EoF and KoS will b green/grey....and how will we be building our new toon?? what go from 70-80 in 3 weeks or sooner? then we left with nothing to do to shape our toons with...SOE said they wont be adding AAs they will be just tweaking some of them.....all it comes down to is the amount of content that will be lost....after we explore all of T8, what then? what would be the point of going back to T7 but to farm masters? i mean the gear wont be worth crap, DOF is a clear picture of that for T7..... im am happy to hear of a new expansion dont get me wrong, but cant SOE be a little more creative? and someone talked about the deminishing curve, so they have to raise the cap, u know how many people are maxed with there stats? i mean im head to toe in EOF fabled and i am not maxed, even with buffs from other toons i am not maxed, i can get 14k easy in a a certain resist and still not hit the cap.. and if u are maybe u should think more rounded, and dont put all eggs in one basket /shrug and if they only raised the LVL by 5 and gave us more AAs i think at least this would make most people happy...you dont cut out all the content from before, but still raise the caps so new gear will be uber from what Catsy is talking about

[dieschatten]

Do you realy think that SOE will change anything in the addon what you write here? The plans for ROK are done and now they only build the world and test ist for Bugs. The Levelcap, content and so is allready done.

[Elidyn]

<cite>dieschatten wrote:</cite><blockquote>Do you realy think that SOE will change anything in the addon what you write here? The plans for ROK are done and now they only build the world and test ist for Bugs. The Levelcap, content and so is allready done. </blockquote> Probably not, i dont think they care about what we think, i mean look at how petitions can take hours if not days, and when u finnaly get a real person, if they even understand [Removed for Content] u are talking about, they will come up with some lame excuse saying it has nothing to do with them, PFF

[Themaginator]

Elidyn@Crushbone wrote: <blockquote><cite>dieschatten wrote:</cite><blockquote>Do you realy think that SOE will change anything in the addon what you write here? The plans for ROK are done and now they only build the world and test ist for Bugs. The Levelcap, content and so is allready done. </blockquote> Probably not, i dont think they care about what we think, i mean look at how petitions can take hours if not days, and when u finnaly get a real person, if they even understand [I cannot control my vocabulary] u are talking about, they will come up with some lame excuse saying it has nothing to do with them, PFF</blockquote>can i have your stuff? so ummm yeah i filed a petition and got a reply the next morning in my mail...hmmm interesting

[Elidyn]

Sashtan@Mistmoore wrote: <blockquote>Elidyn@Crushbone wrote: <blockquote><cite>dieschatten wrote:</cite><blockquote>Do you realy think that SOE will change anything in the addon what you write here? The plans for ROK are done and now they only build the world and test ist for Bugs. The Levelcap, content and so is allready done. </blockquote> Probably not, i dont think they care about what we think, i mean look at how petitions can take hours if not days, and when u finnaly get a real person, if they even understand [I cannot control my vocabulary] u are talking about, they will come up with some lame excuse saying it has nothing to do with them, PFF</blockquote>can i have your stuff? so ummm yeah i filed a petition and got a reply the next morning in my mail...hmmm interesting </blockquote>maybe u give the GMs extra something IDK, we have had our entire guild pettition, and it took a few days to get back to any of us....maybe u should come up with something creative about the lvl cap, instead of quoting everyone and saying the same thing?

[Kri]

Elidyn@Crushbone wrote: <blockquote>I dont think u see the big picture here, i dont care if the expansion comes out 10 years from now, they are still going to cut out CONTENT is that so hard to see? EoF and KoS will b green/grey....and how will we be building our new toon?? what go from 70-80 in 3 weeks or sooner? then we left with nothing to do to shape our toons with...SOE said they wont be adding AAs they will be just tweaking some of them.....all it comes down to is the amount of content that will be lost....after we explore all of T8, what then? what would be the point of going back to T7 but to farm masters? i mean the gear wont be worth crap, DOF is a clear picture of that for T7..... im am happy to hear of a new expansion dont get me wrong, but cant SOE be a little more creative? and someone talked about the deminishing curve, so they have to raise the cap, u know how many people are maxed with there stats? i mean im head to toe in EOF fabled and i am not maxed, even with buffs from other toons i am not maxed, i can get 14k easy in a a certain resist and still not hit the cap.. and if u are maybe u should think more rounded, and dont put all eggs in one basket /shrug and if they only raised the LVL by 5 and gave us more AAs i think at least this would make most people happy...you dont cut out all the content from before, but still raise the caps so new gear will be uber from what Catsy is talking about</blockquote><p>I think you are the one who is missing the big picture. Yes, for those who go from 70-80 in three weeks a lot of content will be lost. Not sure those people are really interested in content anyway, unless it gives gobs of XP and/or uber stuff. They are cutting the rest away regardless. What's more important is that the majority will use 65-75 content for many months (years?) to come. Then when they're ready they will gradually start cutting their ties to T7, unless they mentor down to group/raid with people who level slower than them. By that time SOE will have added more T8 content.</p><p>The problem is making the rush-to-the-end-players the norm. They're not. Content will always be lost when you gain enough levels. What's the big difference between going from 70-80 or from 70-75? A lot of the previous content will still be grey or unchallenging. Besides, after you've done instances/raids a number of times, they will be boring even if they con higher than green/grey. </p><p>Summary: For some, content is lost because they are bored to tears with it. For others it's lost because they grey it out. If it's lost because it's grey, but you still have fun doing it, you can mentor. If you're bored, it's lost forever.</p>

[JohnDoe058]

<p>To eveyone complaining about a lvl cap increase...</p><p>THE GEAR THAT YOU NOW WEAR, AND THE ZONES IN WHICH YOU NOW ADVENTURE, WILL EVENTUALLY BECOME OBSOLETE, NO MATTER WHAT.</p><p>Get it through your thick skulls.  RPG's are progressive...it's just in their nature.  If they were to keep the lvl cap at 70, and just make harder raid zones with better gear, it would still have the effect of causing existing gear to be obsolete.</p><p>There seems to be an assumption that everyone wants a full set of EoF Fabled gear, and 15 sets of backup gear in the bank, before they resume levelling.   You couldn't be more wrong in this assumption.   Many, many people simply don't care for raiding, or don't have the time to raid 5 nights a week.  Don't ask for the rest of us to be held up, so that you hardcore raiders can take your sweet, sweet time getting every peice of gear that you ever wanted, and many that you didn't.</p><p>I, for one, tire of the heresy of gear-centrism.  Who cares about your stupid raid gear.   Only you do.</p>

[Vulkan_NTooki]

<cite>JohnDoe058 wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>To eveyone complaining about a lvl cap increase...</p><p>THE GEAR THAT YOU NOW WEAR, AND THE ZONES IN WHICH YOU NOW ADVENTURE, WILL EVENTUALLY BECOME OBSOLETE, NO MATTER WHAT.</p><p>Get it through your thick skulls.  RPG's are progressive...it's just in their nature.  If they were to keep the lvl cap at 70, and just make harder raid zones with better gear, it would still have the effect of causing existing gear to be obsolete.</p><p>There seems to be an assumption that everyone wants a full set of EoF Fabled gear, and 15 sets of backup gear in the bank, before they resume levelling.   You couldn't be more wrong in this assumption.   Many, many people simply don't care for raiding, or don't have the time to raid 5 nights a week.  Don't ask for the rest of us to be held up, so that you hardcore raiders can take your sweet, sweet time getting every peice of gear that you ever wanted, and many that you didn't.</p><p>I, for one, tire of the heresy of gear-centrism.  Who cares about your stupid raid gear.   Only you do.</p></blockquote><p>I dont see any problem with gears.. You'll allways look for more and better equipment. No1 has gotten the best of the best in any slot, and if they have, Im sure they're still looking for stuff that could make them better.</p><p>I do however have a problem with spells. As it is now going from 70 to 80 is not an upgrade of my character. I'll still fight similiar mobs with same spells.. they only do more dmg, and the mobs have more hps. I dont see the point in doing that. If they gave a unique spell each lvl instead, it would add a different flavor, and you'd have something to look forward to. Where is the fun in grinding just to replace a spell you allready have?</p><p>The only good side of the new lvl cap is that now I can farm those 61-75 nameds in EoF/Kunark while I re-gain my power.</p>

[Moongloom]

<p>A couple of things I think that might help.  </p><p>Could make the levelling alot slower.  As in, to get from 71-80 would be as much xp as to get from 1-70.  That way you can see progression but hopefully then there won't be level 80's running around 5 hours after it goes live.  </p><p>Also, as I remember it.  Masters were not supposed to be the 'norm' for spells as they are considered now.  So make them No Drop and alot rarer.  Yes, it would be a raid item and so raiders would have more advantage.  But this would attempt to make the 'norm' a bit lower in spells and give more to look for on raids. </p><p>I am glad they aren't going into more AA's.  AA's are the reason I quit EQ1.  I just wasn't going to sit there and grind grind grind AA's up to 500000000000 to be able to join that guild so I can raid.  Not to mention that they had to put all the new content in geared towards many AA's and so anyone that didn't have all those AA's didn't stand a chance.  </p><p>Sarnaks would be great.  But wondering if they couldn't put it off of a existing zone.  i.e. TS or Zek or such so that the new expansion could all be higher level and the new sarnaks could use some of the existing lowby areas. </p>

[Kri]

<p>I have a feeling many MMO players are extremely conservative. Every suggestion of change is met by a big fat NOOOOO! Kind of makes you wonder how they survive out in the real world where change is the only thing that's constant. Or perhaps that's it? Because the outside world is always in motion, they want their little EQ2 comfort bubble where everything is set in stone and nothing ever really changes? I must admit I've been this way too. However, experience has taught me that for me, adapting to a changing environment is always fun, even if it in some cases means sucking down a major nerf. Even if the game didn't change, I would. Some days I find one character the most enjoyable. Other days it's a different character. One goal on Monday, a different on Tuesday.</p><p>I can only see one category of people having their worlds turned upside down by a level cap increase: People who need to be the best of the best (not going into what could cause such insecurities). I think the majority want characters who are good enough for the task at hand and fun to play. Will it be boring to do T8 with Appr IV and T7 gear until you can catch up? Most likely not.  Unless of course you fall into the above category. </p><p>Since EQ2 is a recreational hobby for me I take pleasure in the small things. I'm going to be thrilled the first time I loot something that requires level 71 or 72 to use, even if it's total crap. Same thing with gaining new (or rather upgraded) spells. They will still be something I don't currently have. Sure I have the same spells effects, only weaker, on an older spell, but it's not the exact same thing. I do however hope they decide to make spell progression 71-80 totally different than 61-70, if for nothing else so for s**** and giggles.</p>

[nadym]

Ok, they raise the level and not even to 75 but to 80 !!! Please make sure the exp needed to level up is huge, not just normal. Would be great if in June 2008 there are just "a few" lvl 76 around, and maybe one or two lvl77. So please multiply the exp required to level by 50.

[Kri]

<cite>nadym wrote:</cite><blockquote>Ok, they raise the level and not even to 75 but to 80 !!! Please make sure the exp needed to level up is huge, not just normal. Would be great if in June 2008 there are just "a few" lvl 76 around, and maybe one or two lvl77. So please multiply the exp required to level by 50. </blockquote><p>Why?</p><p>Rush-to-the-end players would still find ways to level even if it meant taking turns with a friend to be able to play 24/7. For the rest of us it would take months of grinding just to gain a single level. What if we loot something that requires level 74? Congratulations, if you grind hard you can use it be Valentine's Day 2009... There would never be enough quests to support the levels so most of the time it would be just mindless killing of mobs. That would kill the game for sure! </p>

[Catsy]

I'm pretty confident that my points about the impossibility of providing gear progression without either radically changing the diminishing returns system or raising the level cap stuck a fork in any argument to raising the cap. But I understand there are people who don't want to grind 10 levels again just to get upgrades to the same spells they already have, and have to pay for/find upgrades all over again. Ditto for gear. Here's the thing: neither your spells nor your gear become magically obsolete. Sure, if you grind yourself to 80 in a week, you're going to be whining for a long time about how your level 67-70 gear and new App IV spells don't cut it against the high-end RoK raid mobs. With a couple exceptions, I am fully mastered. The majority of my gear, except for some resist stuff from EoF, is fabled or legendary. Yet I still have a piece of level 58 DoF fabled that fills a critical resist gap, and has better stats than most EoF legendary or treasured in that slot. Those pants didn't become obsolete when KoS or EoF came out--they've served me well for a long time. And when I find an upgrade for them, they'll become god food--and that's just the way it works. Likewise for my spells. My coercer alt still uses one of her master spells from the previous tier because it's better than the Adept III for the next tier, and I haven't found the master yet for a price I'm willing to pay. The same is going to be true for RoK: if you have a lot of M1 T7 spells, they're still going to be better than (at the very least) the Adept I T8 versions, if not the A3 in some cases. And if the spell in question isn't mastered, what are you complaining about? Enjoy the fact that you have something to look forward to upgrading that you haven't spent 30pp on. Keep in mind also that in 10 new levels, not all of your spells are going to be upgraded--and half of the ones that are, are those T6 spells that are so frakking annoyingly hard to find masters for. Based on the cycle of upgrades that spells go through, your level 67-70 spells are not likely to be upgraded in T8, so your 100pp spent on Ice Nova is safe.

[HollyW07]

<p>My highest lvl character is only 34 so I don't really care all that much about this 10 lvl cap increase business. Oh, eventually I'll get there but I'm not too worried. I only play a few hours a day anyway, if that. </p><p>I wonder if they'll bring back the Lake of Ill Manners? I mean...Omen. I loved the Kunark expansion in EQ1. I remember when it was "the place" to be, the best place to find groups and get exp. I also remember when the frenzy died out for it and you'd go and the place would be empty. It's kind of sad to see, but that's what happens when you keep adding expansion after expansion like they've done with EQ1. </p><p>I hope that doesn't happen to EQ2. I never even got a single character to lvl 70 in EQ1 and I played it for a couple of years before I lost interest in it. I was thrilled about EQ2 and bought it the day it came out. I've been playing off and in since launch and I'm very happy with the way it's progressed. </p><p>I'm looking forward to playing a Snarkie, and since I don't have any high level characters, running around the new 1-20 zones for discovery will be fun. </p>

[ke'la]

<cite>Hardain wrote:</cite><blockquote>My only concern is that there will be no "new" AA lines, i hope they will sort that out somehow, i hope they have some good ideas. Also i don't think T7 raided gear will become obsolete with T8, except for maybe relic ect. Actually good T7 fabled will prolly be good enough till you get back to raiding at lvl80. </blockquote><p>It wasn't when we moved to T7 or to T6 so why would it be when we moved to T8...Granted, I also don't think it will be Treasured that will be better then Fabled, but Mastercrafted and Legondary (both in the 82 range) will be. Why don't people raid T6? because the stuff out of Scalebone is better.</p><p>As to the poster talking about how the Dragons of KoS won't be the most powerful anymore... The way the lore works in the game is that that as you lvl years go by so someone who is lvl 70 has 70 Seasons of experiance(kinda) it is not a measure of relitive power. As such as far as the lore is conserned Varasoon(one of the most powerful MoBs in EQL) is slightly lower in power to the Mistmoor. However, as you encountered him (and killed him) along time ago he does not look as powerful(in your memory) as he once did. This is also why there are Two Dancers and 2 of both Lucan and Antonia's Second in commands. </p><p>You first meet Dancer in Antonica, then you run into her again when your far older in KoS. As for Antonia and Lucan's second in command you first meet them on thier respective IoRs then again in KoS. </p>

[ke'la]

<cite>Gasheron wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Ummmm, one question... When EoF came out, what happened to KoS equip? It mostly became obsolete... EoF equip was just better.</p><p>This is the way that any expansion works. The expansion comes out, and it makes the older expansion(s) obsolete. If it didn't, people would get bored in that they can't ever really get that much better than they currently are. If we went by the logic that lv cap increases are bad, Darathar would still be a end game encounter and prismatics would be some of the best weapons in the game, expansions or not. Does that make sense?</p><p>I say Good for the cap increase. It's been needed. I'm tired of grinding AAs, and I'd like to see more progress from my work.</p></blockquote>The differance is that the KoS Raid gear was replaced by EoF Raid gear, so your replacing gear that took alot of man power to get and replacing it with gear that takes alot of man power to get. When we goto T8 best case senario is that T8 Mastercrafted and T8 Legondary will be supirior to EoF Raid gear, so now your replacing stuff that takes alot of man power to get with something that takes FAR less manpower to get, that is a big differance. Most(but not all) EoF Legondary is better then KoS legondary while not being quite as good as the top end KoS Fabled. Now, RoK Legondary will be supirior to EoF Fabled while RoK Mastercrafted will be atleast equivilant.

[Elidyn]

i dont think the one who dont want the lvl increase are scared of change, people would like the option to go where they want to go and do those things in other zones with OUT HAVEING TO MENTOR, cause thats just plain dumb to even suggest that. and i think its people like shadowbreath who are scared of a larger world, they want to keep it small and safe. Everyone saw a drop in people who played the game when EOF came out? I new many people who quit the game that were not "raiders" cause there was nothing for them to do after a month, cause there was no T7 content...so you look at T8 which wipes out all the content before (Unless u want to mentor which is a joke) and we will be stuck in one T8 expansion for at least a year. kinda lame. i liked how they were more creative in EQ1, after like 15 expansion there lvl cap now is what 75?? I think soe is just cutting corners now, even though we pay them $15-$30 a month, they cant even think of some way better to expand OUT before they expand OUT.

[Kri]

Elidyn@Crushbone wrote: <blockquote>i dont think the one who dont want the lvl increase are scared of change, people would like the option to go where they want to go and do those things in other zones with OUT HAVEING TO MENTOR, cause thats just plain dumb to even suggest that. and <b>i think its people like shadowbreath who are scared of a larger world</b>, they want to keep it small and safe. Everyone saw a drop in people who played the game when EOF came out? I new many people who quit the game that were not "raiders" cause there was nothing for them to do after a month, cause there was no T7 content...so you look at T8 which wipes out all the content before (Unless u want to mentor which is a joke) and we will be stuck in one T8 expansion for at least a year. kinda lame. i liked how they were more creative in EQ1, after like 15 expansion there lvl cap now is what 75?? I think soe is just cutting corners now, even though we pay them $15-$30 a month, they cant even think of some way better to expand OUT before they expand OUT.</blockquote><p>How do you figure? Or you just forgot to think before posting?</p><p>Crushbone must be very different from Splitpaw. When EoF was released there was a huge influx of people. The biggest population drop for the past year or so was caused by Vanguard and most of the people who went there are back now. Even people who have been level 70 for quite some time are finding stuff to do every day. True EoF didn't add any huge amounts of T7 stuff, but it's not a T7 expansion. It's an all tiers expansion. RoK will be mainly T8. With the exception of the new starter city it's <b>focusing</b> on level 65-80. </p>

[Elidyn]

lol every expansion has a hugh influx then it dies out......and vangaurd was a bust anyways...and u made my point EOF didnt give us much of T7, so why jump right to T8? gives us more to do more places to go then move up to T8 slowly. and i think 1 year 3months that someone pointed out is not alot time in T7

[Catsy]

ke'la wrote: <blockquote><p>It wasn't when we moved to T7 or to T6 so why would it be when we moved to T8...Granted, I also don't think it will be Treasured that will be better then Fabled, but Mastercrafted and Legondary (both in the 82 range) will be. Why don't people raid T6? because the stuff out of Scalebone is better.</p></blockquote> This was false when you said it in the <a href="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/posts/list.m?start=60&topic_id=361253#4092197" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">other thread</a>, and it's just as false here. Some people do still raid T6 for yuks. But when they don't, it's not because the stuff out of Sanctum is better--it's not--it's because the stuff out of level-appropriate raid zones from Labs to EH is better. As I pointed out in the other thread, Xegonite Vanguard armor has +16 or so to the relevant primary stats, +50 health/power, and +200 to resists. High-end T6 fabled (level 57-60) typically has in the range of +18-25 to stats, +70ish power, and +300ish to resists. EoF treasured is better than a lot of KoS legendary in pure stats and resists, but that's mainly because of the huge nerf KoS gear took when EoF came out--it broke the normal progression. When KoS first came out, you had to get into the high 60's legendary before T7 gear surpassed high-end T6 fabled. It is provably, verifiably false that T7 mastercrafted is superior to any fabled from the end of T6, and highly debatable that any KoS legendary below the high 60's is better in any statistically significant way. The point of all this is not to badger you specifically for repeatedly stating a falsehood, it's to defuse the current silly meme that raising the level cap is bad because your T7 fabled is going to be obsoleted by T8 mastercrafted or stuff you get from a T8 heroic instance. It's the latest hue and cry from the "ZOMG SOE SUX" corner of the internets, and it's unbearably inane and without any basis in fact.

[Kri]

Elidyn@Crushbone wrote: <blockquote>lol every expansion has a hugh influx then it dies out......and vangaurd was a bust anyways...and u made my point EOF didnt give us much of T7, so why jump right to T8? gives us more to do more places to go then move up to T8 slowly. and i think 1 year 3months that someone pointed out is not alot time in T7</blockquote><p>RoK adds both T7 and T8 content. It's dedicated to level 66-80. So there will be lots of stuff to do before you move up to T8. </p>

[JohnDoe058]

<p>One thing that I'm gathering from a lot of these posts, is that people want to become more powerful against that mobs that they're used to fighting...then you really get to FEEL your power, as opposed to moving up in level, and having things "grey out", hence you don't really become more powerful against the things that con to you, and don't feel any real increase in power.</p><p>And this I totally feel.  Improving your gear, and getting more AA points does NOT cause the "grey out" effect, hence you really get to feel more powerful.</p><p>What would be really, really nice, is if the "cons" covered larger level spans....green and blue could extend down another 5 levels each, and white could cover a few levels, rather than just exactly equal level.  Likewise, maybe yellow and orange could extend a few levels up each.  If you're really good at fighting stuff, why NOT be able to kill overcon stuff?  Would add some nice challenge to the game, that doesn't always involve getting 24 people together.</p><p>Don't get me wrong...stuff that's 15 levels under you wouldn't give much exp, but at least you could fight it and get lewt from it, without mentoring, and get SOME exp, and it would be fun.  I'm not too worried about higher level peeps "farming" lower-level stuff any more than they already do (lvl 70 chars farming Poet's Palace on a daily basis)...as long as the lewt remains appropriate to the mob's level.  In my estimation, this was only a prob in EQ1 because lower level mobs often dropped stuff that was WAY WAY better than most high-level stuff.   I haven't seen that problem much in this game.</p>

[dawy]

Looking forward to this about time for a level increase too!

[Winter]

<span style="color: #ff33cc">I am looking forward to this level increase as well. The team has gained a lot of experience since launch on balancing classes as well as creating/balancing abilities. I look forward to seeing what they do with levels 70-80. I wonder if they will ramp up some other zones as to not make them obsolete to a group of level 80 characters.</span>

[ReturnOfMadness]

/nod that would be nice even tho i am only 41 on test ATM i am racing thru my levels (blame the herritages <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />) and would love to do the things i missed eventually and keep on doing them after i hit 80, so i would suggest simply adding a hard version to almost all dungeons that aint got it (from eof and kos) and make the mobs inside 75-83ish and the loot on par with similar dungeons but with a new touch like other mob models etc =)

[bryldan]

Looks pretty sweet even tho im not keen on the idea of having to get all new masters.......

[Groz]

I am currently level 31.  I sure do hope that I can get to at least level 65 by the time this expansion comes out. If not, at least I can roll another alt.

[JohnDoe058]

Elidyn@Kithicor wrote: <blockquote>oh so when the sword of destiny is finnally released its going to be able t o be upgraded by treasured loot in T8? i mean no thank you whats the point of doing all these quests if the loot from them will be nothing. or the raiding everyone does the gear will be nothing</blockquote><p>When has treasured loot been better than fabled gear 1 tier down?  If this is ever true, then it's the rare exception to the case.</p>

[FureyTheMonk]

More of a question really Someone in our guild heard a rumour that with this expansion Sony were going to stop UK/Europe players playing on US based servers. Anyone else heard this rumour?  Shed any light on it?

[GuardianOfTheDe]

<cite>FureyTheMonk wrote:</cite><blockquote>More of a question really Someone in our guild heard a rumour that with this expansion Sony were going to stop UK/Europe players playing on US based servers. Anyone else heard this rumour?  Shed any light on it? </blockquote>Sounds like a load of garbage to me. Something someone told you just to see who would believe it <img src="/smilies/2786c5c8e1a8be796fb2f726cca5a0fe.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Calthine]

Sounds like pure gossip to me.  Your post is the first I've heard of it.

[FureyTheMonk]

that is good...this guy claims he hears a lot of things, and always when things go wrong in game, it only happens to him <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> But I had not heard anything, but thought I would ask <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Thank you

[retro_guy]

<cite>Calthine wrote:</cite><blockquote>Sounds like pure gossip to me.  Your post is the first I've heard of it. </blockquote>Yes, next they'll be stopping the New Zealand and Austrailian subscribers playing on US servers <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[DrkVsr]

<cite>retro_guy wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Calthine wrote:</cite><blockquote>Sounds like pure gossip to me.  Your post is the first I've heard of it. </blockquote>Yes, next they'll be stopping the New Zealand and Austrailian subscribers playing on US servers <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </blockquote> <span style="font-size: small"><span style="color: #993300">That will be cool, just make Najena official and then SOE can see just how much they rely on ANZAC's <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></span></span>

[Goozman]

<cite>JohnDoe058 wrote:</cite><blockquote>Elidyn@Kithicor wrote: <blockquote>oh so when the sword of destiny is finnally released its going to be able t o be upgraded by treasured loot in T8? i mean no thank you whats the point of doing all these quests if the loot from them will be nothing. or the raiding everyone does the gear will be nothing</blockquote><p>When has treasured loot been better than fabled gear 1 tier down?  If this is ever true, then it's the rare exception to the case.</p></blockquote> Compare tier 7 treasured loot to tier 6 raid loot; there's your answer lol

[Dragowulf]

<cite>FureyTheMonk wrote:</cite><blockquote>More of a question really Someone in our guild heard a rumour that with this expansion Sony were going to stop UK/Europe players playing on US based servers. Anyone else heard this rumour?  Shed any light on it? </blockquote> Good it's just a rumor because how can my PVP english guild friends talk to me and not laugh at eachothers accents? That would be too dissapointing.

[JohnDoe058]

<cite>Goozman wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>JohnDoe058 wrote:</cite><blockquote>Elidyn@Kithicor wrote: <blockquote>oh so when the sword of destiny is finnally released its going to be able t o be upgraded by treasured loot in T8? i mean no thank you whats the point of doing all these quests if the loot from them will be nothing. or the raiding everyone does the gear will be nothing</blockquote><p>When has treasured loot been better than fabled gear 1 tier down?  If this is ever true, then it's the rare exception to the case.</p></blockquote> Compare tier 7 treasured loot to tier 6 raid loot; there's your answer lol</blockquote><p> I have, and I do.  IT WAS RHETORIC, DOUGH BOY.</p>

[Aneova]

<p>It's getting close folks, less then 4 days away!! </p>