This is what Gordon had to say back in October 2000:
http://web.archive.org/web/200101040...p?Article=2746
Source: EverQuest General Discussion Forums.
You know Abashi or Gordon or what ever you want to be called, this attitude of the I hate it for you the epic quest items are not for everyone really pisses me off. That is complete bull crap. I pay 9.95 a month, and I expect to be treated fairly. If you guys cant treat all players the same and make it where this stuff is atainable by all. And not make items available by only the elite few. Then you are not being Fair to every one and last I checked every one pays pretty much the same amount of money. Wake up and be fair to the Majority of players not the elite few.
Given the same dedication, ability, knowledge, and network of friends, you have the same chance of obtaining any item in the game as anyone else. All players are being treated the same way, that does not mean that every player will get the same things as every other player in the same calendar period.
Gordon then responded to another post on the same topic:
Please explain yourself. In another post you said that these items were never meant to come into the game enmass because that would throw off the balance of the game. What you are really saying here is that if you don't play the game 40 hours a week, or don't belong to an uber guild, your just SOL.
The quests are meant to be completed by people who can get help from a good number of other people. While I don't think that it means that you *must* be in a "uberguild", it certainly wouldn't hurt. These are top of the line items, and "top of the line" items aren't typically meant to be acquired solo.
So far it appears that everyone who has recieved the EPIC weapon has been a member or a friend of just such a guild.
I imagine that it's hard to find someone in the 50-60 range who could get enough support without having a guild or friends in such a guild to help.
If this is the case, just come out and tell us that most players will not be able to obtain their class defining weapon because they are either not connected socially or they have a life away from the game.
The vast majority of players in the level range to acquire these items is either in, or have friends in, a guild.
Still, most players will not obtain the epic quest item period, regardless of guild status or level. Though I understand your feelings regarding the issue, it is intended to be this way. As I've posted before, no one is "entitled" to items in the game. Things that we want universally available are sold on vendors.
Guys, it's about prestige. These are meant to be prestigous items to have. If everyone has them, there's no prestige in having one.
- Gordon