eq2wire gives a good summary -  im posting a part of it

http://eq2wire.com/2013/04/29/eq2talk-episode-63-candid-kander/

All comments below are paraphrased from Kander's comments in the 1 hour 40 min podcast. Any errors in meaning are the fault of the editor.

Stat Consolidation

• If there is one thing Kander could go back and change about EQ2, he would never have gone along with Stat Consolidation (where each class has just one primary stat and then Stamina for increasing health).  The different benefits you got from each stat were some of the "meat and bones" of EQ2 and chasing different stats and having to make choices on which gear you equip added a lot of depth. We had a lot more choice itemization-wise. For example, building up Intelligence to increase poison damage for scouts.
• As far as Stat Consolidation, we're actually planning to head back in that direction as far as the next expansion to provide more choices. Right now, itemization feels a little bit stale. Players should need to think about their gear.

http://eq2wire.com/2013/04/29/soe-live-all-about-eqnext/

Linda "Brasse" Carlson's SOE Live blog leaves no doubt on the subject:

This year, it’s all about EQ Next. The Dev team is madly writing code, making art, and preparing to reveal a ton of news about this long-anticipated game world. While we will do our best to livestream or record the keynote and panels, there is nothing that beats being there, in person, to get the breaking news and then ask your very own questions.

Player Panels were so popular that there was no doubt they'd make a comeback:

Keep an eye on the SOE Live schedule as we fill it out. May is the month for panels – dev has been asked to submit their sessions already, and in a week or two, we’ll open our call for player panel submissions!

from ops link

We’ll make spectator mode available as soon as we begin the custom arena beta. Anyone in a hot-join game or a custom arena game (as long as spectator is enabled in the arena’s settings) can use spectator mode.

For games that impact the leaderboard, we won’t be allowing players to spectate directly, for a few reasons. One is due to cheating – we want to be sure that the game is fair for the combatants. Another reason is to help foster the PvP shoutcasting community. Later, down the road, select shoutcasters will be able to jump into high-level ladder games and spectate, which will allow them to cover all the action at the top of our leaderboards. This will also allow the player community to learn from high-level players as well as the shoutcasters, who help to explain the skills and tactics required to play sPvP at the top levels.

Originally posted by ShakyMo
Guess we will find out when the Torchlight mmo launches.

they announced last September that there are no plans for TL mmo

http://www.gamespot.com/news/no-plans-for-torchlight-mmo-6396935

Originally posted by Instigator-Jones
 I don't think there is a pure sub based AAA MMO out there without some kind of cash shop.

they exist but there arent many

- DAOC is a sub mmo w zero cash shop

Crafting guide at ZAM

http://eq2wire.com/2013/04/28/game-update-66-cobalt-scar-crafting-guide-at-zam/

Originally posted by Aelious

I don't see how there is anything negative about this.  It's not just for gaming and as the link says it's focused on desk dwellers in general. 

true

the only reason wow is getting mentioned is because there was a gamer testimonial

a review from a year ago - unrelated to gaming

http://www.fudiet.com/2012/01/trek-desk-review-a-great-way-to-reduce-sitting-time/

http://eq2wire.com/2013/04/26/7-11-double-station-cash-exclusive-427-%E2%80%93-448/

Originally posted by Xiaoki

---

  Anything? Even Hellgate London?

Blizzard North did try to make an MMO, it was called Hellgate London. It sucked.

i thought the majority of blizzard north went to carbine studios -- i think only 4 people were working on Hellgate

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-07-29-ncsoft-carbine-mmo-announcement-soon

Carbine was formed by World of Warcraft lead developer Kevin Beardslee; Troika founder and Fallout producer, lead programmer and designer Tim Cain; and Turbine co-founder and City of Heroes executive producer Jeremy Gaffney.

When formed, the studio comprised 17 former Blizzard employees.

Originally posted by Neanderthal

Want to be a crafter, sure, you can purchase all the crafting supplies you need in our cashshop.

EQ2 does not offer crafter supplies on cash shop --- unlike LOTRO/DDO

Originally posted by Eir_S

Originally posted by Axehilt

I still think it's hilarious how often "Kill 10 rats" gets mentioned, and how I can't really think of a single MMORPG that actually has a quest where you kill 10 rats.  WAR maybe?

LOTRO apparently has a quest to kill 10 rats in Isengard Keep.

Dark Ages (an older MMO) had a quest to kill 10 rats, I remember that one because it was my first MMO.

There's a quest in Rift in the Necropolis to kill 10 rats also.

And there's this one in Allods.  Exactly 10.

And those are the ones I found in about 3 minutes of research.  There are a few not even worth mentioning like Endless Online.

eq2 added a quest 3 years ago called...   Kill 10 Rats 

http://eq2.zam.com/db/quest.html?eq2quest=bd364eaca08e78720469319ca025f647

the quest name was in humor because you are killing 10 ratonga (rat bipedals)

a beta news site

http://www.betawatcher.com/

Originally posted by botrytis

Originally posted by Ikeda
Wait, I thought this was still in beta... it's out?

It was open beta and I don't think they are wiping characters so he will be lvl 60 when it releases.

correct

http://nw.perfectworld.com/news/?p=849741

Early Access Exclusives for Neverwinter Founders

Five days Open Beta early access for Hero of the North Founder's Pack purchasers.

Three days Open Beta early access for Guardian of Neverwinter Pack purchasers.

Note: There will be no character wipes after April 25th.

SOE Live Registration is open

http://eq2wire.com/2013/04/25/soe-live-registration-opens/

https://www.soe.com/soelive/lineup.vm

Originally posted by Phelcher

what does the decline of our NA servers, have to do with china...? T

i havent seen you give any sources for your claims of decline

Originally posted by doodphace

And 2005 was 1 year into WoWs launch. I believe the poster you quoted (while wrong about most of his entire post), said WoW was still growing 5 years in, which, it was, with no new terratory launches.

I dont have the complete list

but WOW was localized to new territories during its first 5 years -- Russia was 2008

http://www.zam.com/story.html?story=11633

Originally posted by Phelcher
GW2 isn't growing in population.

In constrast, Everquest was still growing in it's 3rd year. WoW after it's 5th year was growing...  EVE after it's 5 year was still growing. So it is extremely laughable to have "people" claim it's success, then attempt to back it up with whatever statistica he can find..

according to what source?

GW2 has not been localized for China yet  -- it will grow in numbers when that happens

WOW almost doubled in subs when it released to China in summer 2005

Originally posted by CthulhuPuffs

I was actually wondering about specific Developers.

Bill Roper / Brad McQuaid

they both had a good history in game making  (Blizzard North / EQ)

but i have no faith in them due to their later failures (Hellgate London/Vanguard)

I know someone is going to give Mark Jacobs flack for DAOC TOA

but Matt Firor (TESO lead dev) was part of that mess too

http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/09/12/dark-age-of-camelot-trials-of-atlantis-interview?page=1