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Scirocco
12-16-2003, 07:28 PM
For your viewing pleasure:

http://www.povar.org/god/

Scirocco
12-16-2003, 07:34 PM
For your reading pleasure:



News Roundup - EQ: Gates of Discord
12/16/03, 9:43 PST | Muskie

Well, To Save some time readong, I've compiled a slightly abridged version of the information i've been able to gather today in my nightmarish Machine-gun Assult of News about Gates of Discord.

Upon completing the latest Rune puzzle, one is presented with a teaser trailer of Nedaria's landing, a look at the Maiden's Voyage (one BIG-ASS Boat) and The Logo, officially Confirming that EQ:7 is Gates of Discord.

Some delving into testeverquest.exe with a Hex editor Reveals that there are 19 Zones(or possibly more) in GoD:

tacvi - Tacvi, Seat of the Slaver
txevu - Txevu, Lair of the Elites
inktuta - Inktu`Ta, The Unmasked Chapel
ikkinz - Ikkinz, Antechamber of Destruction
kodtaz - Kod'Taz, Sullied Ritual Hall
uqua - Uqua, The Ocean God Chantry
yxtta - Yxtta, Pulpit of Exiles
vxed - Vxed, The Crumbling Caverns
tipt - Tipt, Treacherous Crags
snfurnace - Sewers of Nihilia, Emanating Furnace
snplant - Sewers of Nihilia, Purifying Plant
snlair - Sewers of Nihilia, Lair of Trapped Ones
snpool - Sewers of Nihilia, Pool of Sludge
ferubi - Ferubi, Forgotten Temple of Talosia
barindu - Barindu, Hanging Gardens
riwwi - Riwwi, Coliseum of Games
qinimi - Qinimi, Court of Nihilia
natimbi - Natimbi, The Broken Shores
abysmal - Abysmal Sea

We're looking at about 10 Raiding zones, some instanced. Allakhazam and Lucy are giving us Level 70 Spells and items on test, so it seems that They're giving us another 5 levels to play with, and more AA's are Practically BOUND to happen.

But it's not all "Here's 19 zones and a Giant boat! Have Fun!"

Tunare, EQ's Graphics engine, is getting a MAJOR facelift, Jumping to Version 3.0. RAM-Hog Vertex animation is being replaced with Bones and Inverse kinematics, as well as many other Efficiency corrections to the game's code, which will practically HALVE the system requirements of EQ, and allow lower-end users to play with luclin models/high texture quality, etc, Increasing Framerates, Decreasing Lag caused by loading problems, and Making Zone times almost NON-EXISTENT. Also, Old-world zones are getting a graphical Cleanup, as has been said, with rumours abounding of Higher Poly models for Classic old-world Mobs..

Kuolon
12-16-2003, 08:28 PM
<gets all giddy>

I can't wait!

Kalest MoonGlade
12-16-2003, 08:49 PM
DUDE! OMG. Thanks for the video, I cant wait for the official press release, though I havent checked the sony live site since 3am this morning when I heard about the new server. I love the idea of cutting down the system requirments in the new expansion but Im gonna hold my breath and believe it when I see it. From all the player speculation and the stuff coming from test Im looking really forward to this expansion. Kudos on the video, cant wait to get home from work and watch it on a real computer without all the lag :p

Kalest MoonGlade
65th Stormwarden of Tunare.
Solusek Ro

Oryane
12-16-2003, 09:20 PM
I hope that it isn't instanced. I have stated I am against Instanced zones in anything but extensions to LDoN. The video was VERY slow for me(odd because stuff like that usually is fast). I pray that it is just multiple zones with different parts of it. You know how Neriak has 3 parts to it? Kind of like that. I'm hoping they have geared this into a Velious type expansion. I have to wonder where the new Ocean/Sea will be placed. I also hope they are willing to balance out old world things with the new level 70 increase because if they continue boosting the cap someone is going to be soloing Veeshan's Peak in a little while. :(

Hearing that the requirements will be cut in half is great because everything runs like I'm watching Monster's Inc. until I try to zone.

Diggins
12-16-2003, 09:24 PM
For some reason, I just wasn't that impressed with the sneak peek video. The character graphics look the same and the grassy areas look like astroturf.

And what's with all the effort creating big ass boats a la Kunark again? lol don't they know by now no one is going to use them more than once after the ports and PoK books are put in?

Tudamorf
12-16-2003, 09:30 PM
Originally posted by Scirocco
Allakhazam and Lucy are giving us Level 70 Spells and items on test
I see no spells over level 65 on Lucy's test database. To which are you referring?

Teaenea
12-16-2003, 09:51 PM
I hope that it isn't instanced. I have stated I am against Instanced zones in anything but extensions to LDoN.

TimeB is instanced. A pretty reasonable way to use instancing too. hope they have more zones done the same way.

DemonMage
12-16-2003, 10:05 PM
TimeB is only pseduo instanced, it needs some work still.

Oryane
12-16-2003, 10:36 PM
Diggins I'm not the brightest crayon in the box, but I think it's just a clip of Nedaria's Landing and progression of the boat.

B_Delacroix
12-16-2003, 11:59 PM
Yay, 5 more levels to grind grind grind and over 50% of an expansion for raiding (elemental and time level equipment assumed probably).

Its just as well, I finally get DSL and have less reason to use it.

Tilien Venator
12-17-2003, 01:01 AM
Originally posted by Tudamorf
I see no spells over level 65 on Lucy's test database. To which are you referring?

Was wondering the same thing, though I have long heard from the darkside that 70 will be the new cap, I haven't heard that the there will be 10 raiding zones. Nor have I seen new 70 spells posted anywhere. I'd assume they'd have been x-posted to every eqboard on the planet about 20 seconds after being 1st posted too.

Scirocco
12-17-2003, 03:38 AM
No idea. I just cut and pasted the info that accompanied the video in the thread I saw.

Tulas
12-17-2003, 04:15 AM
"which will practically HALVE the system requirements of EQ, and allow lower-end users to play with luclin models/high texture quality"

The hope was that with a new graphics engines, the awful luclin models would be replaced or removed. Guess they are going to be kept. Bleah.

Kaige
12-17-2003, 06:43 AM
New patcher skin.

Gates of Discord.

Oryane
12-17-2003, 06:51 AM
Sweet skin! BTW, Not ALL of the Luclin models are awful. I actually prefer some races over the originals.

Desert
12-17-2003, 06:52 AM
someone is going to be soloing Veeshan's Peak in a little while.
people already do :p

Oryane
12-17-2003, 06:54 AM
Soloing in it or soloing the zone? :P

Kaige
12-17-2003, 07:08 AM
Oh yeah, and this too...



http://everquest.station.sony.com/gatesofdiscord/ (http://everquest.station.sony.com/gatesofdiscord)

Tudamorf
12-17-2003, 07:14 AM
Originally posted by Kaige
Oh yeah, and this too...
http://everquest.station.sony.com/gatesofdiscord/ (http://everquest.station.sony.com/gatesofdiscord)
No mention of extra levels there, though they do mention new AAs. Whew! And much to the chagrin of the race-happy ubers in the other thread, this expansion has <b>10 instanced zones</b>. So far, so good.

Kaige
12-17-2003, 07:35 AM
Yeah I noticed that too, maybe next expansion or something.

Unless there's AA that give you pseudo levels!

hehe

B_Delacroix
12-17-2003, 07:51 AM
They always paint things in the best light possible. I am wondering the downside of all this is. Are we looking at another POP where unless your in Time you aren't going to see anything except the boat city or is this going to be a kunark like thing? I love to follow the lore, but I am constantly kept from doing so because I don't have 18 hours a day and 60 friends to do so with.

Kaidian Blade
12-17-2003, 11:07 AM
Please....... no more levels..... I beg of you.

Scirocco
12-17-2003, 11:23 AM
Here's the feature list en total. As noted above, no official indication of additional levels:


Sony text :

The greatest threat to the world of Norrath has been unleashed in EverQuest! The lost continent of Taelosia has been discovered and a massive assault force, the Legion of Mata Muram, is creating chaos and devastation on this once peaceful continent! Experience EverQuest®: Gates of Discord™ and help protect your world while adventuring in many new zones, including a stony city, sprawling temples, a myriad of catacombs, and a maze of sewers. And meet the Berserker, the newest EverQuest character class and perhaps your closest allies in melee combat against the invading hoard of fearless, deadly monstrosities from the chaotic Realm of Discord.

= 100 new Alternate Advancement abilities offer more options for character progression with new and unique skills to master.
= Gain leadership experience and unlock many group- and raid-enhancing tools.
= 20 new zones, 10 new instanced zones and 10 new traditional zones including a huge ship city zone, complete with merchants, tradesman, and quest-givers, where you can gather your party and launch expeditions. The new combat zones are for characters level 50 and over.
= New Berserker class empowers you to ravage your enemies with two-handed axes or by hurling large objects.
= Discover the newly found continent of Taelosia, which holds the secrets of Norrath's future.
= 20 all-new NPC models make for hundreds of challenging encounters unlike anything seen before in EverQuest.
= New Tribute System enhances gameplay by allowing players to choose beneficial attributes, skills, or effects through offerings at their home cities.
= Dozens of new and exciting story-driven quests and content for the hardy adventurer.
= New tradeskill recipes to produce hundreds of new items.
= Unearth arcane spells, mighty weapons and other hidden treasures!

alyn cross
12-17-2003, 01:49 PM
new spells aren't mentioned either... that would be a first.

and here i was looking forward to Group: True North... and the AE version of HoR, to get us killed all the faster!...

/cackle

Faedia
12-17-2003, 02:43 PM
Originally posted by alyn cross
new spells aren't mentioned either... that would be a first.

and here i was looking forward to Group: True North... and the AE version of HoR, to get us killed all the faster!...

/cackle

"Unearth arcane spells, mighty weapons and other hidden treasures!" <--last line on GoD site.

I got annoyed when I saw "level 70" but I think an extra 5 new levels would merit some mention on the official Gates of Discord website, and I can't find anything on Lucy/Alla's. Looks like it's just AAs for now. That's fine with me.

The new patcher skin looks cool, I guess.

The main thing that interests me besides new AAs is the "Tribute System." Looks like I saved my PoG faction for a good reason after all.

Swiftfox
12-17-2003, 03:55 PM
Blatant rip off from the semi-recent movie atlantis

Hrmmm

Tilien Venator
12-17-2003, 03:55 PM
Originally posted by Scirocco


= 100 new Alternate Advancement abilities offer more options for character progression with new and unique skills to master.
= 20 new zones,
= 20 all-new NPC models make for hundreds of challenging encounters unlike anything seen before in EverQuest.

So we have what 16 classes now and only 100 new aap? Figure that the beserker is going to get a bunch of them, so that leaves what 2 or 3 per class then and only 20 new NPC models for 20 new zones? Sony getting lazy or just running out of ideas? Hell, even LDON and LoY had more new models then that...

Zephaus
12-17-2003, 04:28 PM
= New tradeskill recipes to produce hundreds of new items
If memory serves, they've said this both for LoY and LDON, and neither time has it amounted to anything spectacular. I haven't had anything interesting to make for high end skills since PoP...

Batou
12-17-2003, 04:32 PM
Blatant rip off from the semi-recent movie atlantis
Well, it really depends. From what I understand, they start development on expansions 2-3 expansions before they are due to be released. I.E. There are allways two expansions in development at once. This mostly involves the creation of the new mob models, story line, zones, etc. Itemizaiton and powers are usualy the last thing to get done since there is so much up front work and it's better to have it done last so it's more closely balanced with what's available at the time.

Sony getting lazy or just running out of ideas? Hell, even LDON and LoY had more new models then that...
It really depends on how detailed the models are. I.E. they may have chosen to go with a few higher quality modesl than many moderate quality ones. Or they may have spent more time on other aspects of the game engine.

Sunwukong Stormrider
12-17-2003, 05:36 PM
The skin reminds me of Tron.

Lilosh
12-17-2003, 06:03 PM
Originally posted by Zephaus
If memory serves, they've said this both for LoY and LDON, and neither time has it amounted to anything spectacular. I haven't had anything interesting to make for high end skills since PoP...


You sir, are out of your mind.

LoY gave us ribbons, an easy way to 187 Tailoring.
It gave half the races in EQ Robes, an easy way to 232 Tailoring.
It gave us 3-4 new geerloks, which were nice tinkering recipes. Trivival around 220. (Exact numbers not offhand)
It gave use tradekillish dye (Requires 40-50 in Pottery and Brewing)


LDoN gave us 5 different decent armor sets, which made 212 Smithing MUCH easier. (The armor was mainly twink gear, but it's a GREAT skillup recipe)
The recipes for the Karana only fletching went in as part of the whole LDoN release (The NPC was in a couple weeks prior, but all of the recipes were detailed by the LDoN recipe book).
LDoN Also gave decent Jewelcraft. Polished Quartz jewelery, and Either Geode or Amethyst (I forget which had the HP) were decent, and sellable.


And I forget which expansion I heard the shaman friends I have drooling over some new potion or other.

I mean, It was no PoP , with every tradeskill getting Planar level combines that make everyone drool. But it wasn't worthless.

People tend to play down LoY as an expansion, when It was probably one of my favorite spots for quite some time.


-Lilosh

Scirocco
12-17-2003, 06:09 PM
Lilosh, he isn't out of his mind. You simply aren't reading what he wrote.

I haven't had anything interesting to make for high end skills since PoP...


Notice the reference to high-end skills. And then look at what you describe you like about LoY tradeskilling. Nothing you describe is what would be considered "high end."

Lilosh
12-17-2003, 07:10 PM
I found the Erudite Robe of tempest to be "High End", if we're referring to the high end of Tradeskills, and not the High End of the game (PoTime, Elemental Planes etc...). The Robe of Intellect was nice too. ID3, SH3. *shrug*


But if you're referring to the high-end game, 65+AA+Flags folks, than I'll admit thay LoY and LDoN didn't let us craft PoP-quaity items. But I still say that


neither time has it amounted to anything spectacular.


was an untrue statement.

-Lilosh

alyn cross
12-17-2003, 07:40 PM
i r blind!

/cackle

Oryane
12-17-2003, 08:09 PM
I've always wondered about the other side of Norrath. After all, unless Norrath is very small, the map we originally saw was very plain land-wise. I am hoping that the Gates of Discord will eventually end up being the continent that sends you to the Planes of Discord (EQ has the Planes of Power and Planes of Discord by Lore). I am wondering about the Ends Of Norrath title registered though...

Tudamorf
12-17-2003, 08:23 PM
Originally posted by Lilosh
LDoN gave us 5 different decent armor sets, which made 212 Smithing MUCH easier. (The armor was mainly twink gear, but it's a GREAT skillup recipe)
I have to agree with the others that LoY and LDoN were total trade skill let-downs. Enchanted Velium Bits >>> LDoN smithing for skill raises, and that recipe in fact makes smithing trivial to 222. LoY ribbons are only a tiny, expensive bridge in tailoring, and cultural robes mostly suck for skill gains compared to Solstice robes. The brewing, jewelcraft, and baking recipes are a joke.

No LoY or LDoN recipe found to date, using any trade skill, produces any item that any high end player would even remotely consider using, unless <i>maybe</i> you count the Lemming Fur bag for its utility in the shared bank slot. There are just a couple of low and mid level twink items that are expensive to produce and/or require rare components.

It would be great if they modeled the new expansion's trade skills after PoP, but only if they leave out all the raid-required flagging crap.

Finni
12-18-2003, 09:37 AM
when PoP was releazed, they didn't confirm the 5 new level either until it was released. (if I remember correcty)

Aflat
12-18-2003, 10:09 AM
Notice the reference to high-end skills. And then look at what you describe you like about LoY tradeskilling. Nothing you describe is what would be considered "high end."

But as everyone like to point out, LoY and LDoN were not high end expansion either.

Vowelumos
12-18-2003, 01:34 PM
But as everyone like to point out, LoY and LDoN were not high end expansion either.

I am not sure I have ever seen anyone say LDoN is not a high end expansion. Certiainly it is not an exclusively a high end expansion but there is definately something for everyone there, even Folks in Full time gear can be upgraded with LDoN.

Zatx_Woopyoax
12-18-2003, 01:52 PM
If you perform an equipment search at alakazhams it list results up to level 70. You can also search Lucy for items with 69 or 70 as a parameter.

Yep, this expansion will take us to level 70.

My concern with this expansion is the impact it will have on an already screwed up economy.

Example:

One month ago Ornate Leather Pants sold for 75k on my server. Since the plat duping incident I have seen these for as much as 300kpp. If all of the 65 crowd head to GoDiscord to level up to 70 this may leave a gaping hole in the bazaar for certain items. Much like we saw when LDoN came out.

Oh.. but you say that we will see new gear from these new zones. Yes, that may be true. But everyone knows that new items are always way overvalued simply for their newness.

Only time will tell I guess.

aamodil
12-18-2003, 04:44 PM
If you perform an equipment search at alakazhams it list results up to level 70. You can also search Lucy for items with 69 or 70 as a parameter.

People keep saying this but I can't find a way to search lucy by required/recommeded level, am i Just missing it? If so would someone be so kind as to give me a hint?

I have yet to see a single item description with a req/rec level over 65 anywhere...

Tudamorf
12-18-2003, 05:27 PM
If you perform an equipment search at alakazhams it list results up to level 70. You can also search Lucy for items with 69 or 70 as a parameter.

Yep, this expansion will take us to level 70.
Quite a leap in logic. Before PoP was released, we saw level 60-65 spells in the works which clearly showed a progression. I don't know what you mean by "level 70" equipment (minimum level of 70?), but can you link one item that says this?

Oryane
12-18-2003, 09:13 PM
Actually, The 65 raise was mentioned before PoPs release on the site. I remember on Everlore, People were speculating about things and one of the things that came up was that you could only be 65 if you were in PoP which was saying that your strength would go back down to 60 outside of PoP. Obviously it wasn't true, but it does mean that it was verified.

Oldoak
12-18-2003, 09:36 PM
I find it pretty unlikely that they will bump levels in this expansion.

I know I am a bit out of the loop, but whenever they bump levels it obsoletes a lot of their content, and sometimes forces them to rebalance it.

This expansion just doesn't sound big enough to do that. In a sense, there are 9 zones plus a city. I know that there are the instanced ones, but that is just more LDON type stuff.

Think about PoP greening out like the Kunark and Velious content did when POP came out. It is a headache that I doubt they will want to go through again so soon after they did for POP.

I wouldn't be surprised if they bump another 5 levels in maybe a year or a year and a half. But a lot of that I think will depend on how the player base is doing once (tempted to say if...so tempted) EQ2 comes out. Not everyone will make the jump, true. But no player plays these games forever, and if they don't have a reliable influx of new players (and EQ2 could steal that), attrition will take its toll over time.

But...from what I read I think that the most interesting thing about this expansion is the new graphics engine. There will be some new raid content which is good for the raiding guilds, and the tribute system [edit: I originally talked about this as a leadership ssytem which I had misread...sorry!]. Not sure quite what they have in mind here, but it may interesting...or it may be something that turns out to be something a bit bland, like the charms originally were.

Still debating if my curiousity is great enough to buy it, or if I will just look at screenshots. My heart is elsewhere at the moment of course ; ).

Zephaus
12-19-2003, 08:17 AM
But as everyone like to point out, LoY and LDoN were not high end expansion either.

Of course, high end tradesklling and high-level are not the same thing, though everyone seems to continue to confuse the two. You can be level 1 and get to 250 in all the generic tradeskills (not tinkering or alchemy).

Lilosh, he isn't out of his mind. You simply aren't reading what he wrote.

I haven't had anything interesting to make for high end skills since PoP...


Notice the reference to high-end skills. And then look at what you describe you like about LoY tradeskilling. Nothing you describe is what would be considered "high end."

Thanks Scir, couldn't have put it better myself.

Stormlin
12-19-2003, 08:54 AM
Whew! And much to the chagrin of the race-happy ubers in the other thread, this expansion has 10 instanced zones. So far, so good.


Part of me would miss the ocassional race, I certainly would be willing to give that to prevent the animosity that currently is cultivated in high end raiding guilds. So, I'm all for this. Pfft Tuda ;)

Cloudien
12-19-2003, 09:04 AM
The new graphics engine sounds nice. Heck, I have a high end machine and it's still not entirely smooth with Luclin models on (I needn't mention Bazaar)

Discover the newly found continent of Taelosia, which holds the secrets of Norrath's future.

The lost continent of Taelosia has been discovered and a massive assault force, the Legion of Mata Muram, is creating chaos and devastation on this once peaceful continent!

I wonder if these are the geezers that blow up Luclin ready for the setting of Everquest II. It's stated on everquest2.com that it's based 500 years after evil forces managed to destroy Luclin and send bits of it slamming into Norrath wiping out most of the population and all but 2 cities. (Freeport and Qeynos)

Putting 2 and 2 together maybe this expansion would introduce them, and Ends of Norrath would play out all the events leading up to the destruction of Luclin.

Or perhaps those 2 and 2 are making 5 :D

princess0fdiabl0
12-19-2003, 10:57 AM
I wonder if these are the geezers that blow up Luclin ready for the setting of Everquest II. It's stated on everquest2.com that it's based 500 years after evil forces managed to destroy Luclin and send bits of it slamming into Norrath wiping out most of the population and all but 2 cities. (Freeport and Qeynos)


nah, gods will destroy luclin for sure =) im pretty sure it was already said at some point that gods kinda leave humans to be and go hide away n stuff, or at least until pop2 comes out hehe

Oryane
12-19-2003, 03:42 PM
I doubt they'd destroy Luclin though. Imagine the outrage they'd receive when they make the announcement "You've all paid 30 bucks and invested all of this time on Luclin, but now we're blowing it up"

Batou
12-19-2003, 04:25 PM
I think the point is that somewhere between the EQ and EQ2 timeframe, the moon gets blown up.

princess0fdiabl0
12-19-2003, 05:06 PM
id say which moon but it doesnt really matter, the vah shir are gone, only the kerran are left, so i would presume it is luclin, but it could also be drinal i suppose.

Cloudien
12-19-2003, 09:49 PM
Oh, it definitely goes boom (there are screenshots of EQ2 with an exploded Luclin in the sky), but it's between EQ1 and EQ2 - two different games of course :) Since it happens after EQ1, it won't happen within it.

After that, it depends what their plans are on EQ1... we already know they intend to keep it running as long as people want to play, so that's not up for debate.

But perhaps Ends of Norrath (the last expansion?) will lead *up* to (and only up to!) that point, and after that they'll keep replaying the scenario - much like guilds keep re-killing the gods - indefinitely.

Fyyr Lu'Storm
12-19-2003, 11:38 PM
Ya, you'ld think that if they have the power to blow up the moon, they would just wipe the planet as well.

I mean if you were a god, and a bunch of people just keep...

Well, you see where I was going.

Wildaiena
12-20-2003, 12:06 AM
What might actually make this game interesting is if players actually had a hand in deciding Norrath's fate.

I think that's one of the things that makes me so disenchanted with EQ lately and, upon reflection, about how it's always been. Everything is basically just one big re-run. The only people who get to truely experience something for the first time are the ones that apparently have no life outside of EQ. Everyone else is just following the well beaten path of spoilers and strategies.

Want to minimize high-end competition and maximize realism? Well to start, EQ has all these monsters and gods and such that never venture outside their immediate domain-you mean they never go on the offensive? Oh, yea there's a storyline, but if I wanted that I'd just pick up a book.

Perhaps if our cities weren't so conveniently safe and mobs weren't just taken down by zerging or guilds actually had a higher objective than to follow in each others footsteps, then the "story" might mean something. No need to elaborate, the basic principle is randomness and greater deeds required for altruistic purposes. Include the possibility of foiling good by evil races and it gets even more interesting.

As it stands, the money machine keeps churning away, but real content is severely lacking.

Wild

princess0fdiabl0
12-20-2003, 12:59 AM
Ya, you'ld think that if they have the power to blow up the moon, they would just wipe the planet as well.

I mean if you were a god, and a bunch of people just keep...

Well, you see where I was going.
gods are only as powerful as how many followers they have

casualeq11
12-20-2003, 05:32 PM
Anyone else getting lag after ordering this and doing the initial downloads?

princess0fdiabl0
12-20-2003, 06:28 PM
Anyone else getting lag after ordering this and doing the initial downloads?
thats simply the patch that borked the servers recently :rolling:

Fenmarel the Banisher
12-20-2003, 06:55 PM
Of course, high end tradesklling and high-level are not the same thing, though everyone seems to continue to confuse the two. You can be level 1 and get to 250 in all the generic tradeskills (not tinkering or alchemy).

This is incorrect. At level 1 you can have 250 in ONE tradeskill and a maximum of 200 in all others. Not untill you acheive level 51 and are capable of purchasing the AA ability can you start to gain multiple tradeskills over 200.