EverQuest II players were treated to the latest update to the game that brings the Skyshine zone into the game. We recently caught up with EQ II Producer Holly Longdale to talk about Game Update 63. See what we discovered and then leave us your thoughts in the comments.

MMORPG.com: For those who have been away from EQ2 for a while, can you tell them what GU63 and Skyshrine is all about?

HOLLY LONGDALE: GU63 continues the Destiny of Velious saga. In the story, adventurers have breached the barriers of the Withered Lands seeking entrance to Skyshrine, the glorious ancient dragon city. Now that Skyshrine has become besieged by powerful forces, players must battle and befriend dragons and their wurmkin to save Skyshrine and, ultimately, the world from war and ruin.

Read more of Garrett Fuller's EverQuest II: Holly Longdale Talks Update 63.

This game is almost too big for its population.

I was interested in rejoining. I started a character, ran through Antonica, Commanlands, and Freeport...

I think I saw 1-2 people.

It was a great game, though. I miss the old EverQuest. Here's to hoping for a Progressive Server.

EQ2 is so dead... It's really sad :(

Originally posted by mmoDAD

I was interested in rejoining. I started a character, ran through Antonica, Commanlands, and Freeport...

I think I saw 1-2 people.

It was a great game, though. I miss the old EverQuest. Here's to hoping for a Progressive Server.

try the Freeport server

and try any of the 4 starting zones - Greater Fay, Timorous Deep, Darklight woods, Halas

http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Character_Creation

not really anyone quests in Antonica/Commonlands

players are not even allowed to start in Qeynos / Freeport anymore

eq2 is nowhere near dead, you have no idea what your talking about

Early level leveling in EQ2 is very fast. There is also almost no need to ever group. That is why the starting areas always seem so barren. Once you are nearing mid and max levels you will see a huge population of players constantly running dungeons, doing raids and just partying.

EQ2 is very far from dead, but it is a very very top heavy game atm.

With all due respect to other opinions, this (EQII) is what i would call  ''a good mmo''.

Even though they are very different, EQII and EvE are the only mmo's currenty on the market that I can truly enjoy.

Too bad that Everquest 2's combat animations look like $hit, thats the only thing keeping me away right now.

PS-Mounted combat doesnt have fancy animations either, BUT THAT IS TO BE EXPECTED, IM ONLY GLAD THAT THEY HAVE MOUNTED COMBAT TO BEGIN WITH (one of the features in EQII that i love the most).

But i just hate it when im like 5 meters away from my target, i swing my sword with a crappy animation (that gets cut-off half way to make way for a new skill), and than i still magically hit my target.

Well, I guess this is what people call; ''high fantasy''.

Otherwise, totally awesome and complete MMO, IMO. (With all the features that you can wish for in a traditional fantasy game:p) 

Game is OK.  However, this whole F2P thing.  I logged in yesterday to check out the new update on my 90 warlock.  I'm a silver member and first thing I notice is...I'm naked.  I refuse to pay to unlock gear that I earned already when subbed.  Second, I notice I can't go to the new areas or level to 92 because I am 80 AA points short.  Ok....and besides...trying to level while naked sounds like torture.  So, I logged off and haven't thought about the game at all until this article popped up.  

EQ2 is one of THOSE games that almost has/had me but drops the ball in the most important areas.  Ah well.

It's Skyshrine not Skyshine =P

Originally posted by Krelian

With all due respect to other opinions, this (EQII) is what i would call  ''a good mmo''.

Even though they are very different, EQII and EvE are the only mmo's currenty on the market that I can truly enjoy.

Too bad that Everquest 2's combat animations look like $hit, thats the only thing keeping me away right now.

OMG! Totally agree.  Level 32 paladin adventuring in Kaladim. I LOVE the game but the client and animations are just too outdated for me to continue to enjoy.  Hoping EQN will be the return Im looking for.  Though GW2 seems to be shaking up the scene.  Interested in how large their zones will be. 

Originally posted by elocke

Game is OK.  However, this whole F2P thing.  I logged in yesterday to check out the new update on my 90 warlock.  I'm a silver member and first thing I notice is...I'm naked.  I refuse to pay to unlock gear that I earned already when subbed.  Second, I notice I can't go to the new areas or level to 92 because I am 80 AA points short.  Ok....and besides...trying to level while naked sounds like torture.  So, I logged off and haven't thought about the game at all until this article popped up.  

EQ2 is one of THOSE games that almost has/had me but drops the ball in the most important areas.  Ah well.

I found this to be an irritant as well.  It even asked me if I wanted a "one time attunement" and still stripped me after I said yes.  If I've earned the gear while gold it should be mine to wear.  If I drop to silver then earn more gear then I am just fine with purchasing an unlock.

I like the game when I'm subbed and do like that I can log in while silver and get my account ready to play, but...

I don't like how expensive the xpacs are and that buying the latest doesn't include both anymore.  $60 to get up to speed in addition to a subscription cost I find to be a bit of a gouge.  While I'm gold I feel like I should have access to the content.  If I'm silver I'll buy access.  It just doesn't sit well with me.

I also don't seem to have access to most or all of the content update because I have bought the expansions yet.  I've yet to test all the features to see, but the faq page so far supports my experience.

I'm having fun while subbed, but probably won't play past my 3 month purchase until I get an itch to upgrade my house some.  I still feel they're very greedy.  Still it's way better than LotRO - way way better.  I'm trying Aion's "truly free" and I like that a lot.

Originally posted by Razeekster

EQ2 is so dead... It's really sad :(

 

try the freeport or AB servers before you call dead.

the AB server has people everywhere and it's a pretty good community (seeing as it's the RP server that's somewhat to be expected).

Originally posted by elocke

 I notice I can't go to the new areas or level to 92 because I am 80 AA points short. 

only need level 90 to quest the new zone, Withered Lands

the 280 AA requirement only affects being able to level beyond 90

Originally posted by Nadia

Originally posted by elocke

 I notice I can't go to the new areas or level to 92 because I am 80 AA points short. 

only need level 90 to quest the new zone, Withered Lands

 

the 280 AA requirement only affects being able to level beyond 90

lol wtf?

This is why I hate games with AA systems...

WoW's talent tree system was an improvement in almost every where upon EQ1's AA system, and EQ2's own system always struck me as a cheap imitation to cash in on fans of the original game.  Is it honestly a stupid idea to have a alternate progression system in place that actually increases alongside your character level, so that it is virtually impossible for one to fall behind the other?  There's 4 times the options for character advancement, but far less choice due to the way the classes are designed.    In EQ2, DPS will always be DPS.  Tanks will always be tanks.  Healers will always be healers.  Why should I have to sacrifice character level XP to gain AA points and vice versa?  It's just an artificial grind.

Originally posted by Ashreal
If you are are turning vet and your toon is naked petition as they grandfathered in a bunch of folks not too long ago.

the grandfathering only removed Race/Class restrictions and gave exsubs Silver membership

grandfathering wont affect being naked due to legendary/fabled gear

i can verify an early posters comments.  EQ2 is VERY top heavy and youll not find groups pre 80 unless your bring people(friends/family) with you. EQ2 Dungeon finder is trash as well so dont count on it pre 80 either. Other than that Everquest2 is a great game!

Originally posted by SuperXero89

WoW's talent tree system was an improvement in almost every where upon EQ1's AA system, and EQ2's own system always struck me as a cheap imitation to cash in on fans of the original game.

WOWs AA tree seemed to be inspired from their Diablo game

EQ2 didnt add AA to their game until 2 years after launch, Kindom of Sky expansion

regarding the 280 requirement to progress beyond 90

http://eq2wire.com/2012/03/21/280-aas-required-to-level-past-90/

The requirement exists so we (the developers) and you (the players) have a little more information about what a level 91+ player is. Right now if you form a pick up group, you really don’t have an idea whether your tank has 65 AAs or 317 AAs. The same goes for us, content for a level 90 with few AAs is pretty different than content for a level 90 with a whole lot of them.

Originally posted by Nadia

Originally posted by SuperXero89

WoW's talent tree system was an improvement in almost every where upon EQ1's AA system, and EQ2's own system always struck me as a cheap imitation to cash in on fans of the original game.

WOWs AA tree seemed to be inspired from their Diablo game

EQ2 didnt add AA to their game until 2 years after launch, Kindom of Sky expansion

 

regarding the 280 requirement to progress beyond 90

http://eq2wire.com/2012/03/21/280-aas-required-to-level-past-90/

The requirement exists so we (the developers) and you (the players) have a little more information about what a level 91+ player is. Right now if you form a pick up group, you really don’t have an idea whether your tank has 65 AAs or 317 AAs. The same goes for us, content for a level 90 with few AAs is pretty different than content for a level 90 with a whole lot of them.

That is why the system is a failure.  How many points your group members have heading into a dungeon run should not even be a question on anyone's mind. Regardless of what inspired it, gaining one or even more than one point to put into a class tree every level is a much more efficient way of handling alternate advancement.  When you do that, there's no question how many points your PUG tank has.

Yes, I know when EQ2's AA points were released, and I find them to be a waste of time.  They add little else to the game other than a post-level cap grind, and don't even allow players the ability to fill multiple rolls per class.  WoW's talent tree system, and any game with a talent tree after it was easily able to achieve so much more with a far less complex and a far more newbie friendly system.

Originally posted by SuperXero89  WoW's talent tree system, and any game with a talent tree after it was easily able to achieve so much more with a far less complex and a far more newbie friendly system.

I'm in agreement there