12 Games of Christmas: 9 EverQuest II Expansions

From Desert of Ro to the Ethernere, EverQuest II keeps expanding.

Sequels are hard: everyone brings expectations to a sequel to a best-loved game. Even more ambitious is a sequel that was designed from the start to forge its own ground. Set 500 years in the future from the original EverQuest, EverQuest II has managed to embrace the lore, creatures and nostalgia of Norrath-that-was while moving down its own path and maintaining a separate identity from its predecessor.

Desert of Flames

In Desert of Flames we rediscovered the Desert of Ro. At this time good and evil factions were still held separate, and the Sinking Sands became the meeting place for people crossing faction lines for business or pleasure. The contested city of Maj'Dul gave faction meaning and djinn, orcs, and undead vied for our attention while we herded beetles. The level cap was raised to 60.

Kingdom of Sky

In Kingdom of Sky we took to the air, literally, as we ventured into the Overrealm. Here we rediscovered the Awakened, dragonkin with a fierce history. The Aviak race has been here all along, and we discover the hat-bearing Hooluk. The Gnomes have crashed a ship here (should we be surprised?). Transportation via Spires is introduced, and the level cap is raised to 70.

Echoes of Faydwer

We rediscovered a huge part of Norrathian history when Echoes of Faydwer brought us back to the continent of Faydark. EQ fans rejoiced at the rediscovery of Butcherblock, the dungeon formerly known as Ak'Anon, and the Estate of Unrest. The Gods returned to Norrath and we could both worship them to our benefit or kill their avatars. From unicorns to werewolves, clockworks to vampires, Echoes reminded us of our legacy. We also got new yet familiar starting cities: Neriak and Kelethin.

Rise of Kunark

Another expansion full of EverQuest lore, Kunark raised our level caps to 80. Besides a new playable race (the Sarnak) with their own starting city, we started seeing the introduction of new features that took advantage of improvements in technology. These features included larger zones with “smooth zoning” between areas and dynamic combat music. Complicated Epic Weapons quests for all 24 classes were introduced along with new deities and mounts.

The Shadow Odyssey

While the Shadow Odyssey only gave us one overland zone, new mechanics were introduced which allowed for scaling dungeon zones. Dungeon rewards here fully embraced the idea of token loot, eliminating a lot of complaining about mis-matched loot. Adventurers and tradeskillers could now both do missions which would get them tokens for desirable rewards. A whole bucket of Heritage Quests were added for additional fun.

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Humm.....
# Jan 03 2013 at 4:48 PM Rating: Default
I've been playing Eq2 from the beginning when you were washed up on the shore, to the present Plight of Drinal, To save the Silver Reaper. . . But to pick only one seems Ludicrist. And I for one, refuse to do it. Mainly because I love the game as a whole. There is absolutely no other game out there that could have kept my interest this long of a time. And I've played a few... Wow, Anarchy Online, C9, Diablo III & all Previous games of this line......... Just to name a few. In the End, EQ2 has been the one that I've never lost interest in, and can enjoy for vacation weeks at a time. There is no other (Game) love out there for me.
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Favourite EQ2 Expansion
# Jan 03 2013 at 4:07 PM Rating: Decent
I came back to EQ2 a little after Destiny of Velious came out. Gotta say after I picked it up, I enjoyed it tons. That egg quest for my flying mount was fun and the areas in general were just so beautiful! :D
Favourite EQ2 Expansion
# Jan 03 2013 at 9:53 AM Rating: Decent
Without a doubt Ruins of Kunark has been the best one for me so far, the day I stepped into Charisis (Howling Stones to us old EQers) and got eaten (again) by the Crypt Feaster totally made my day, I spent months in the original in EQ and was really happy to get to relive it again in EQ2, so far of all the redone zones for EQ2 this expansion and zone stand out to me as the best (closely followed by Sebilis)

Here's to hoping that SoE continue to make some great expansions for one of the best MMO's out there!
EQ2 Expansions over the years
# Jan 03 2013 at 8:24 AM Rating: Decent
It's a tough call for me. I've been playing EQ2 since it's release.

DoF was amazing because it introduced climbing walls. That was the first time it had ever been seen in an MMO if I recall. KoS had a lot to do and that was the first time I started getting into raiding with EQ2 and EoF brought back the memories of my time as a wood elf in Kelethin in EQ1. Seeing Crushbone again was serious nostalgia!

I would have to say throughout everything my favorite was probably RoK. There was so much to do and it wasn't all about rushing to the highest level as fast as you could back then.

I still love the recent EQ2 expansions, AoD with the release of the BL's, and CoE has had an amazing storyline, but since progression got messed up in DoV, I haven't enjoyed the game as much =(
Fave ex-pack
# Jan 03 2013 at 4:33 AM Rating: Decent
The final expansion that my old computer could handle for the original game was the Velious one, so getting to revisit that one brought back a lot of fond memories. I love the leaping, gliding and flying mounts. The shawl is among my favorite heritage items. Destiny of Velious SHOULD be my favorite. And yet...

I have to pick Echoes of Faydwer. My first toon in the first game was a high elf, and though i rarely got to return home, Felwithe was always one of my favorite places. Kelethin is my current favorite place to start a new toon. Butchersblock has a good variety of enemies to kill while not feeling just thrown together. The Gnomeland Security Outpost in Steamfont is a fun little hideaway, and revisiting the overrun Klak Anon and Kaladim is nice. Lesser Feydark is a great zone that i rarely ever see other people in, and not being over-run is a plus. Loping Plains has a nice haunted feel to it. But the real key for me? Mistmoore was probly my favorite dungeon back in the day, and coming back so many years later is still nice. So... its EoF for me... its just gotta be.
My face is red
# Jan 02 2013 at 10:08 PM Rating: Excellent
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I'd love to say that I left those in so y'all would have some reason to comment, but nope, it's all just Calthine having too much on her plate.
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Re: Favorite eq2 expansion(s)
# Jan 02 2013 at 8:13 PM Rating: Decent
"selfishly" above should be "selflessly"...oops!

Adaora @ Freeport
Favorite EQ expansion(s)
# Jan 02 2013 at 8:09 PM Rating: Decent
As someone who prefers a more "squishy" profession usually (Templar), I'd have to say that Age of Discovery has been my favorite expansion. Whereas before I'd have to wait (usually) for either my husband or some "tank class" friends to login in order to tackle higher level zones, now my merc and I can venture out and not worry AS MUCH about dying. Beforehand, I would more often than not be dying left and right if I got ganged up on by more than 2 mobs(sometimes 1 tough one was it!). Now I can at least get around and get SOME stuff done without having to wait and wait and wait for someone to login to "protect the Squishy!". It's nice to be able to feel somewhat self-sufficient, even though I know I can't compare with the tank classes. And at least if we are in a sticky situation, my merc's going to selfishly sacrifice himself for his Lady and not complain....

I also like Kingdom of Sky, with the Ulteran Spires. Between the Druid rings and the Spires, it certainly has made it easier to get around to visit new places and not worry about "falling through the world" as would often-times happen while travelling via ship on EQ1... And I still to this day haven't travelled via ship in EQ2-just because I don't care to see if there's any repeat of falling through the world. ;)

Echos of Faydwer was also a favorite. I really loved Kelethin in EQ1, so I have really enjoyed the far-expanded new version of it and the Faydarks(Lesser/Greater). And I must say right now: killing brownies in Lesser Fay is FAR superior now, rather than being handed my ...uh...HAT...yeah, that's it...by the brownies in EQ1. Hahahahaha!

I am just now getting started on The Shadow Odyssey, so I don't really have much of an opinion on it yet, but for now the storyline looks intriguing and I am hoping that my merc and I will have many SURVIVABLE adventures there!

Mind you, I am still NEVER, EVER going to go out with my merc after Honvar, or the 3-headed Oxdaxius in Stonebrunt...lol. That's just begging to die, and I neither beg for it nor wish for it either! And I am quite certain my merc would pale and quite rapidly flee his Lady's service-and we can't have that, can we? :)


Adaora @ Freeport
typo
# Jan 02 2013 at 6:12 PM Rating: Decent
The first expansion is Desert of Flames my dear ;p
typo
# Jan 02 2013 at 9:40 PM Rating: Excellent
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Whilhelmina wrote:
The first expansion is Desert of Flames my dear ;p

Fixed, thanks. ;)
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Everquest 2 Expansions
# Jan 02 2013 at 3:24 PM Rating: Decent
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I'd have to say my favorite is CoE given the quality of the zones and the quests which aren't required for the main signature line but fill you in on bits and pieces.

like the quest for the gravedigger's mark green adorn in cardin ward or the quest where you help a disciple of hate get even with someone then turns on you and tries to kill you and especially the horde key quest where a hapless npc is looking for a horde chest thinking he's got a real horde key.

of all the zones i think my favorite is dreadcutter for it's great atmospheric effects and how the killing the bosses makes it worse until you kill the tempest of zek which at that point the storm clears entirely.

Best part of all of it is the tradeskill prestige trees especially experimentation and mass production lines.
Everquest 2 expansions
# Jan 02 2013 at 3:22 PM Rating: Decent
I really liked Rise of Kunark, mainly because of epic questline which require all the players to work together. Then I enjoyed TSO as instances were so different and fun. From SF I like Conservatory as this is probably the most beautiful zone in the game imo. DoV was great at the beginning when it was challenging, then SOE nerfed everything and it became boring. CoE - I like how some of the instances look like but I hate that EQ2 became solo game nowdays. I love eq2 and I enjoyed most of the expansions, but I hate CoE. I expected much more from it. Everyone is doing solo instances over and over again, not to mention 1 person is able kill trash and some nameds from x4 raidzones while 6-boxing... And the most disappointing thing is crafting imo. Not only mass production is destroying market but also it is first expansion since many years that there is no quests for tradeskillers... Well yeah, but why we should have quests for crafters if there is no tradeskill developer since Domino left. I know you asked about favorite expansion, so I have to say RoK, TSO, SF and even DoV. But CoE is just huge mistake.
p Everquest 2 expansions
# Jan 02 2013 at 2:37 PM Rating: Decent
Iree with the above poster. I normally do not powerlevel except maybe the last couple levels. This is especially helpful when starting a new alt class that I have not previously played as leveling it up normally gives me time to properly learn how to play the class. A of teh expansions have been fun in their own way, but teh repeated faction grinds can be a bit annoying. My personal favorite was Faydwer as it had a lot of content and zones, and the art was great in those zones (such as New Tunaria).
Favorite eq2 expansion(s)
# Jan 02 2013 at 1:48 PM Rating: Decent
Well I have two; KoS, and RoK.

I never power level my alts just so I can do the cloud mount/gear questline in KoS, then get my Rhino in RoK. The quests in TT, and Barren Sky are my favorite, plus the storyline in RoK is just epic (pun intended).
Favorite eq2 expansion(s)
# Jan 04 2013 at 5:24 PM Rating: Decent
Lolz, probably too late to be a give away entry, but that's okay. I'm pretty new to EQ2, started playing in August 2012. I came to EQ2 after the friend I played with from June 2006 to May 2012 passed away, I needed a change of scene that would be very different from things we did together before. EQ2 has certainly helped me, even though I mostly solo. I'm in a nice guild that just lets me do my thing, and is there to ask questions if I get stuck. I've bought all the expansions, and am really loving the crafting and home decorating. I think my favourite expansion is the latest expansion (COE) since it did more for crafting and harvesting and gave me a mount. I want Sony to keep adding things to make/craft. Actually I'm loving all the festivals because they let me make new stuff. :) Also like the station store, though I probably shouldn't say that. I like furnishings and fashions, and houses the most.

Other than that, I like the Mercenaries from AoD, and I like getting card packs from Legends of Norrath. My highest level character in terms of adventuring is level 49, and the others are level 45, level 25, and the rest are under 20.

I got the collector's edition for Sentinel's Fate and for Chains of Eternity for the mounts. Really like when they put mounts in special editions.

Anyway, not as content savvy as everyone else since I haven't done much grouping and haven't yet gotten to the raid content. I'm taking it easy. This game is really good for me right now. Very much looking forward to EQNext news. Hope we get some soon.

SK
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