For this week's episode of Wayback Wednesday, Rob had the opportunity to check out the latest Everquest expansion. He was joined by SOE Producer Thom Terrazas and Assistant Lead Designer Julie Burness. It's a great look at EQ's 19th expansion, Rain of Fear. Check it out!

Last November EverQuest released their 19th expansion Rain of Fear. This is the third expansion in a series that continues a story that was kicked off in the House of Thule. A new god known as the Triumvirate has taken over the power of Cazic Thule. With the Rain of Fear expansion our heros have destroyed the Triumvirate releasing the power of Cazic Thule. This caused a huge explosion in the sky and resulted in shards raining down across Norrath. Players are now racing across Norrath to collect these shards and bring balance back to their world. 

Read more of Rob Lashley's (and check out the video interview!) EverQuest: 19 Expansions Strong.

I still might have been playing today if the graphics didn't make my eyes bleed.

Congrats EQ, I doubt any MMO will ever reach that many Xpacs again.

are we really congratulating SOE's nickel and diming methods? whut?

WoW would have as many expansions if they charged full price for every major content update (SOE does this)

Originally posted by Asamof

are we really congratulating SOE's nickel and diming methods? whut?

 

WoW would have as many expansions if they charged full price for every major content update (SOE does this)

yes and blizzard are so perfect.selling mounts for £25 a shot a few yrs back.

Originally posted by Asamof

are we really congratulating SOE's nickel and diming methods? whut?

 

WoW would have as many expansions if they charged full price for every major content update (SOE does this)

Instead of releasing the expansion over a series of patches like WoW, EQ2 and now Rift do, EQ releases it all at once and starts work on the next expansion.  They have released so much content its absurd and their expansions are not small.

Most people would gladly buy an expansion every year if their game got the amount of content EQ gets.

Now if your point was about EQ2 over the last 2 years you would have a point, but thats an exception, not the norm.  You just sound like someone still bitter about the NGE.

I hope no one takes this for a 'oh boy I'm gonna re-install EQ so I can see all that content' type of announcement.

At some point, the folks at SOE made a decision to abandon the early game and have hardly one aspect added to the game which helps you get from point A to point Z. 

Problem is, you need groups from B to Z, and they DO NOT exist from B to Y.

Even with xp gains and mercs, it would take so long to 'catch up' that it is prohibitive. ( I'm not sure it is even possible).

So if you have a toon at 60 to 65 sitting around their servers, you may be able to shave off a few months catching up, but don't expect to be raiding for a few years, and expect a lot of lonely nights where levelling isn't even possible.

SOE has focused this game solely to those that didn't give up and kept playing. Essentially, they decided it was easier to focus on them and retain them then to re-work the whole game to entice new players.

If someone wants to rejoin the EQ life, they should wait for the release of a progression server, make sure they are there on day one, make sure they play hard core, and make sure they have fine social skills to meet and join guilds which actively group together and help each other level. 

Aside from that, enjoy your game top tier - you didn't think much of us who left anyway.

Originally posted by Zorgo

I hope no one takes this for a 'oh boy I'm gonna re-install EQ so I can see all that content' type of announcement.

At some point, the folks at SOE made a decision to abandon the early game and have hardly one aspect added to the game which helps you get from point A to point Z. 

Problem is, you need groups from B to Z, and they DO NOT exist from B to Y.

Even with xp gains and mercs, it would take so long to 'catch up' that it is prohibitive. ( I'm not sure it is even possible).

i havent played in the last 4 years but i heard otherwise

I had 2 friends reroll a year ago when game went free to play

they subbed for 1 month and, starting from scratch, had max level characters in less than 3 weeks

they didnt stick w EQ because at upper levels its a group intensive game

but leveling was easy for them

Zorgo is over generalizing.  I still play EQ.  I started last year. Im level 61.  There are plenty of players on the VOX server and there are tons of guilds.  Never had a problem grouping up with a guildy. Your not going to go from say WoW to EQ (easily).  Its a different more challenging type of game.  Though they have made it easier its still an unforgiving game.  Mobs dont stop following you until they zone.  Still not going to find an existing MMO with more content.  Fun if you are up for it.  Check it out.

Originally posted by Nadia

Originally posted by Zorgo

I hope no one takes this for a 'oh boy I'm gonna re-install EQ so I can see all that content' type of announcement.

At some point, the folks at SOE made a decision to abandon the early game and have hardly one aspect added to the game which helps you get from point A to point Z. 

Problem is, you need groups from B to Z, and they DO NOT exist from B to Y.

Even with xp gains and mercs, it would take so long to 'catch up' that it is prohibitive. ( I'm not sure it is even possible).

i havent played in the last 4 years but i heard otherwise

 

I had 2 friends reroll a year ago when game went free to play

they subbed for 1 month and, starting from scratch, had max level characters in less than 3 weeks

 

they didnt stick w EQ because at upper levels its a group intensive game

but leveling was easy for them

Originally posted by Zorgo

 

SOE has focused this game solely to those that didn't give up and kept playing. Essentially, they decided it was easier to focus on them and retain them then to re-work the whole game to entice new players.

 

So you are criticizing them for not changing the game in order to attract new people to a 14 year old game?  SoE did domething smart!  Lets give em hell for it!  They didnt NGE EQ?  The nerve!

And they really have made it somewhat doable to catch up, and it has greatly changed the low/mid game while keeping the high end game intact.  Which was pretty smart and it *has* helped them.  And they did release a couple rounds of progression servers so there is that too.

They even kept the EQMac server alive (at a loss) when there was a big community outcry when they were closing it.

SoE has handled their 14 year old dinosaur quite well.  But no, they didnt change what EQ is at its core: a group focused game with the best group mechanics in the entire genre.  Yes, they made 1-60+ very easily soloable because they had too, but once you get past that (or play on Vox or a progression server and group) its still EQ.

those are NOt expansions theyre like uber patches you got like 2 every year at least right ? heres a  similie eqexpansions are like novels to city of heroes patches or updates are like short stories in a magazine

well the full year ones at least the half year ones are much shorter  than the full year ones

Originally posted by Asamof

are we really congratulating SOE's nickel and diming methods? whut?

 

WoW would have as many expansions if they charged full price for every major content update (SOE does this)

yeah blind fanboi ........bias much? give credit where credit is due , wow wouldnt even be here if it wasnt for EQ , who the heck do you think wow copied to begin with. Blizzard can barely release a working expansion in a year and half , Id love to see wow with 19 expansions ...a cold day in hell if that happened seriously.

Originally posted by Asamof

are we really congratulating SOE's nickel and diming methods? whut?

 

WoW would have as many expansions if they charged full price for every major content update (SOE does this)

WoW sucks.  Their content is terrible, they could not keep my past the first expansion because the games concepts are terrible.  I will always hold a negative feeling towards WoW as it has ruined MMO's for me. 

EQ on the other hand is still to me the best MMO to ever be released.  I regret quitting when my guild broke up. 

Originally posted by MMOGamer71
Impressive no matter what MMORPG is your favorite.