Ssraeshza Temple
 

I am aware that this is a ridiculous suggestion but indulge the fantasy for a moment.

If this server's progression timeline ends before Luclin then I think an exception should be made for Ssraeshza Temple--bar-none the most unique and fun raiding experience in the first 3 expansions and original release, and arguably the high water mark of EQ raiding. Put the zone line in the back of PoF, do a pain-in-the-ass retuning of all the encounters to match up to Velious itemization/level cap/spells and I don't think anyone who would get to experience it would care that it was not classic.

Just seems like a shame that the one zone that was the diamond in the rough that was Luclin should be missed on a good emu box.

My god, what were your other raiding experiences?

Just shoot me now..

This is the guy that can't figure out how to FD, right? If I was a PMSing housewife, this is where I would say, "Just shoot me now" and maybe tack on an ellipsis to make sure you knew I was not done being disgusted just because I stopped talking.

Ssra was fun. Interesting loot for everyone, didn't take forever except for emp fight and cool zone layout/lore.

Not even a guy!

It wasn't meant to be nasty, truly, relax a little! Was just laughing IRL because it was the bane of my raiding experience (Kunark to OoW) -- the zone where everyone we'd ever had retire from the guild logged in and wanted to be keyed then quit again the week after. Misery. Can't say I knew anyone who liked ssra, or would admit to it, so I just found it amusing.

Probably top 5 in EQ raid zones. Everything about Ssra was amazing.

Are you Thinking of VT? That key was the real pita.

I am not thinking of VT. Ssra was a pain because of the sheer number of individuals we had to key. For those who logged in and did a single group, it wasn't bad. For those who helped groups and groups of guildies for weeks it was miserable by the end.

I do like gflux encounters though, so it had that going for it.

Ssra was ridiculously awesome, noobs will be noobs.

All nostalgia aside, Ssra Temple might be the greatest raid zone in EQ history. The obvious contender is NTOV. They both are similar, a semi non-linear branching of the way you can tackle raid content, and a "head honcho" at the end. NTOV required the defeat of all Lord and Lady dragons, whereas Ssra was a bit more forgiving, requiring you to complete a key that could be grouped.

While NTOV was somewhat difficult in its era (especially Nevederia and Vyemm), it doesn't compare to learning fights like High Priest and Cursed. Temple Ssra was the first zone that actually required a bit of thinking outside of the box other than dodging AEs and CH chains.

Then to compare final bosses - Vulak was a complete let down. If you could beat Vyemm, then Vulak was a complete pussy that just took 30 minutes of your time before you bust open the loot pinata.

Emperor Ssraeshza was a complete badass; perhaps the badassiest of all EQ mobs. Ssra Temple is very unforgiving until you get to Emp who is just a murdering machine who will fuck you up with just one glance. Defeating Emp Ssra is the highest accomplishment until Quarm. Not convinced of his badassness? His text when he kills a player: 'Your god has found you lacking.' Without going into his lore, Emperor Ssraeshza is my favorite character in EverQuest.

The only thing that cheapens him is that he's the last step to gaining access to Vex Thal - the worst shit ever implemented into EverQuest. Going from the most epic fight EQ has ever seen to the shitfest that is Vex Thal was quite the rollercoaster of terrible. I'm not sure how they had a zone like Vex Thal follow such a perfect zone like Ssra Temple, but they did.