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Tiggles
04-21-2011, 08:33 PM
http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs42/f/2009/081/0/c/0c62e5a3b07af7db0086d0f86961298b.jpg

This was one of the biggest paintings I've done - in terms of size, complexity, and sheer pressure (living up to the standards set by Keith Parkinson, the originator of the EverQuest style!).

Shortly after I completed this, the project was cancelled and Kingdom of Stone was never released! Of course Sony honored their contract, so I was paid for my work (over 130 hours total). Still it was quite a disappointment that my first big freelance assignment was never printed.
© 2003 Sony Online Entertainment


I found this while searching for a signed print of the Kunark box art to continue to piss off my girlfriend. What is the Kingdom of Stone? It was an apparently a canceled EQ expak and the date was around 2003. Kinda looks Kunarkish for me.

Does anyone have any info about this?
kenzar
04-21-2011, 08:36 PM
Well, it looks like Feerrott with that fear portal in the background. I dunno
metax
04-21-2011, 08:36 PM
you are a geek
Chrushev
04-21-2011, 08:46 PM
Likely just renamed to Lost Dungeons of Norrath (September 2003)

No reasons for them to scrap an xpack, focus testing probably showed that LDoN sounded/sold better than Kingdom of Stone.

so same thing, id guess.
Tiggles
04-21-2011, 08:56 PM
Likely just renamed to Lost Dungeons of Norrath (September 2003)

No reasons for them to scrap an xpack, focus testing probably showed that LDoN sounded/sold better than Kingdom of Stone.

so same thing, id guess.


I was thinking that but i disagree and this is why.

The name doesn't fit the theme what so ever. Also, Ldon was a small quickly tested small group content based expansion. They probably took zones and mobs etc and put them in other expansions down the line.
Chrushev
04-21-2011, 09:04 PM
I was thinking that but i disagree and this is why.

The name doesn't fit the theme what so ever. Also, Ldon was a small quickly tested small group content based expansion. They probably took zones and mobs etc and put them in other expansions down the line.

I think it totally fits.. they are in a dungeon, there are stairwell in the background indicating different entrances, as it was in LDoN. Plus this painting is not Sony's vision.. its the painter's vision of what Sony relayed to him/her. And those two things rarely match up perfectly.
Kika Maslyaka
04-21-2011, 09:16 PM
this is most likely an early attempt at Plane of Underfoot - aka set in stone underneath the surface.

Hole revamp with Guardian of Seal was introduced some time before this, and people were expecting the big gates to open any time soon.. which didn't happened until recently, but time frame is about right (hole revamp around 2003-08-26)
Akim
04-21-2011, 09:33 PM
I like the EXP leaching bard in the background.
bizzum
04-21-2011, 10:10 PM
I like the EXP leaching bard in the background.

No man, hes got his lute out casting Cantana of Replenishment! Enough in my book to keep my caster ass happy!
Akim
04-21-2011, 10:13 PM
lol, looks like he just took a swim to me :P
Rasah
04-22-2011, 10:56 AM
Is Firiona Vie a wizard or enchanter? Looks like they have a Paladin, Ranger, Bard, Cleric, Warrior & Wiz/Ench. Looks like they are trying to take advantage of a pathing exploit.
Hottbiscuits Dreadmuffin
04-22-2011, 10:59 AM
Firiona is a Wizard
Kika Maslyaka
04-22-2011, 11:05 AM
I am so sick of Firiona...
I hope one day she finally gets killed, and gets replaced with some cool fat halfling, like Dildo Shmagins... or something...
Tiggles
04-22-2011, 01:05 PM
Ldon had a hole set of lore attached to it that varied from dungeon to dungeon unless they redid every zone calling it "Kingdom of Stone" doesn't make any sense.


I think i agree with the Hole revamp expac thing more then the Ldon thing

I asked Smedly about it he hasn't gotten back to me
Chrushev
04-22-2011, 01:16 PM
Ldon had a hole set of lore attached to it that varied from dungeon to dungeon unless they redid every zone calling it "Kingdom of Stone" doesn't make any sense.


I think i agree with the Hole revamp expac thing more then the Ldon thing

I asked Smedly about it he hasn't gotten back to me

Well, im sure if that was the case it got changed very early on in the process.

Basically you have a vision and then outsource work and work on stuff in house

If the vision changed during the working in house stage, before anything was put together yet, design docs were probably not written yet. So the vision skewed more towards a dungeon to dungeon thing and they felt exactly as you felt... wait a minute... this Kingdom of Stone title doesnt fit very well... so they changed it.

After all.. if it fit perfectly, they wouldnt have changed it :)
Tiggles
04-22-2011, 02:34 PM
Well, im sure if that was the case it got changed very early on in the process.

Basically you have a vision and then outsource work and work on stuff in house

If the vision changed during the working in house stage, before anything was put together yet, design docs were probably not written yet. So the vision skewed more towards a dungeon to dungeon thing and they felt exactly as you felt... wait a minute... this Kingdom of Stone title doesnt fit very well... so they changed it.

After all.. if it fit perfectly, they wouldnt have changed it :)

I got a semi when you said "the vision"

But what about the Kunark goblins? I would assume sony would inform the artist about the specifics of the races (i.e Kunark Goblins look different from classic Goblins) he said he worked 160 hours on it, in that time I know sony would of checked on his unfinished work to see its progress. It would of been something they would of pointed out.

Note that Sony never used Kunark goblin models until way after Ldon