"Classic" feeling shifting?

[Erydan Ouragan]

Totally agree with Daldaen here, PoP was the best.

Also in PoP, Everquest has achieved something pretty rare in the world of MMOs: an almost perfect balance.

In PoP, classes were in that sweet, golden spot where everyone felt pretty powerful, had a reasonable number of abilities and spells without feeling bloated or over the top.

With AAs and new spells, druids and shamans could reliably heal but clerics were still needed for progression/anything serious, rangers were finally viable with a bow, wizard dps became desirable, everyone could crit, everyone had powerful cooldowns and cool abilities.

So add that, plus all what Daldaen said and you quickly realize that PoP was basically the golden age of EQ and to me, that's where we should be going. Not classic, better than classic.

The Golden Age.

[Shawthis]

PoP comes with way too much stuff I don't care for. AA's and new spells are appreciated, but everything else it comes attached to is not worth it.

[Jimjam]

From what I've read;

Golden ages of EQ:
- classic (pre expansion, not trilogy)
- PoP

Ergo, lets make a new server that jumps straight from classic to PoP with no Kunark/Velious/Luclin diluting the world!

[Faiding]

When I think about individual expansions one by one...

Vanilla = euphoric and inspiring
Kunark = mysterious
Velious = grandiose
Luclin = dark
PoP = adrenaline rush epic

Killing Quarm was basically like completing the "campaign mode" that had been building up since vanilla EQ. The next expansions felt like side quests to do when you're bored.

And that's why I don't find them memorable.

[thieros]

Originally Posted by Faiding [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

When I think about individual expansions one by one...

Vanilla = euphoric and inspiring
Kunark = mysterious
Velious = grandiose
Luclin = dark
PoP = adrenaline rush epic

Killing Quarm was basically like completing the "campaign mode" that had been building up since vanilla EQ. The next expansions felt like side quests to do when you're bored.

And that's why I don't find them memorable.

well put!

[Errakus]

Originally Posted by Faiding [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

When I think about individual expansions one by one...

Vanilla = euphoric and inspiring
Kunark = mysterious
Velious = grandiose
Luclin = dark
PoP = adrenaline rush epic

Killing Quarm was basically like completing the "campaign mode" that had been building up since vanilla EQ. The next expansions felt like side quests to do when you're bored.

And that's why I don't find them memorable.

Pretty much sums up my opinion on EQ expansions. I did play through off and on till SoD though...

[JurisDictum]

The truth is I stopped playing EQ before Omens because of WoW -- Like many people. And to be honest, I'd do it again. I had a blast with WoW when it first came out. Meanwhile, EQ seems too have basically got to old and inflated by the time Omens came around. Too many AAs and werid other progressions that made the game extremely far removed from what it was. When MMOs get old, you start to see the "man behind the curtain" and new expansions just feel like a hampster wheel. Wow is a great example -- although there are other problems with the modern WoW model that impact its longevity.
I think both classic and PoP era have their place. (Luclin would be playable knowing PoP was coming). Classic still had the soul of EQ if you will -- but there was a lot more of an "end game" in PoP, and the class balance was MUCH better IMO.

[Jontheripper]

I do miss the raging zelniaks aggroing from a mile away, but the nexus spires are a zonekiller

[Meiva]

So I do admit I enjoyed EQ live through PoP. However, this server will be Velious with the possibility of custom content should the devs enjoy themselves.

What I found fascinating about classic through PoP was that after defeating Quarm to release Zebuxoruk from his prison, Druzzil Ro materializes to basically shun the raid force. She then decides to turn back time to before Zeb was released, and in effect created an alternate dimension. This allowed for the lore of future expansions. I feel the chaos began in the alternate universe of the future expansions. I did stop playing after PoP, and enjoyed my experience.

Anyway, wanted to share one of my favorite tidbits of lore from what I believe was the pinnacle of EQ live.

[phoenix182]

I liked parts of probably 18-19 expansions, but that doesn't mean I liked the game through them. For me ultra-fun game ended after SoV. However, I think the biggest part of that is that I'm not an end-game player (in nearly any game).

The most fun for me is always the first 25% of levels/power. As such the introduction of easy ports irrevocably altered the dynamic and feel of the game beyond interest, as does twinking, easy availability of rare or upper power gear, etc. A lot of that I can simply choose not to participate in, but easy ports destabilizes the whole thing because others can use them (or in PvP situations where gear discrepancy matters greatly).

It's not that I don't play the high levels...I've had a lvl 60+ everything in the game with many into the 80s. It's just that the things that focus on that content are less interesting to me than things that focus on low levels or the entire game experience as a whole.

Were I a millionaire super-programmer I would remake EQ ground up cherry picking only the advancements I enjoyed while maintaining the general feel of classic. But I'm not, and never will be, so I'll settle for P99 which is as close as anything will ever get to perfect for me (at least unless/until they do a wipe or spin-off fresh progression server).