MISTY EYED IN MISTY THICKET

Further details about the EQ Progression Server have been typed onto your computer screen.

Rashere wrote:

"I haven't had the time to read every posting in this thread, so if I'm duplicating some info, I apologize.  I want to clarify a few things about this progression server.

First, this is specifically not a classic server.  We are not attempting to revert EQ back to its original state.  Not only is that a technical impossibility, but the nostalgia people have is due more to it being the first large persistent world that people encountered than any specific gameplay mechanic that has since been changed.  That feeling is no more able to be recaptured than the feeling of a first kiss.

This server is primarily a new-player server, it just has a twist in how the content is unlocked to allow players to play through the progression of content as it was released to the game.  At its core, what we're doing is simply locking out expansions, similar to what would happen if you didn't own them at all, until some in-game criteria has been met.  Generally, this will be defeating the end game content for the expansion.  Defeating Vox and Nagafen, for instance, will likely open up Kunark for the server.

That does mean that anything that is tied to an expansion will not be available until that expansion has been opened up.  So, when the server first launched, you won't have Iksar, Vah Shir, Frogloks, Beastlords, or Berserkers.  It also means that anything that has been opened up to all players over the years will be available from the start.  In-game maps is a good example.  Also, anything that has been added since release or changed since release will still be there on the server. Freeport and Ro will be using their revamped graphics, for instance, and boats won't work on the new server any better than they do on other servers.

There are a few exceptions to those rules that we will be making and a few more we are still discussing.

• While Plane of Knowledge and the Bazaar are no longer expansion locked, we will likely keep those turned off until Planes of Power is opened up.
• Veeshan's Peak will likely be reverted to a previous state since that's the end game content of Kunark.
• The tutorial will be available.  This is first and foremost a newbie server and its important that new players get some lessons on how to play the game.  You will likely go to your home city after finishing the tutorial, though, instead of PoK since that's not likely to exist at first.  We are looking into the impact that the tutorial gear will have on the server and may make some changes to mitigate it if we feel its going to be a balance problem.

Rashere"

So, as thought, SOE is not trying to introduce a true classic server complete with everyone's earliest memories of when they first touched a Wood Elf breast. But dubbing it a newbie server? Those poor, poor fools. An army of SOW-enhanced boots crushing their spine and rushing towards Innoruuk will accompany the thought that perhaps, just perhaps, a significant part of the population on this server isn't newbie like them.

And would anyone care to explain why The Bazaar isn't being opened until Plains of Power? Last I played, and last I checked, The Bazaar was introduced via Shadows of Luclin.

Edit: Aha.

Comments

[Erin]

They really are kidding themselves if they think the server population will be mostly newbies. I played EQ for just under 3 years and I fully expect that my friends will coax me into trying this out with them.

And what about class changes? It might be fun to go after Najena with my friends again, but it'll get old pretty quick if certain classes have been rolled back to masochism.

[illovich]

Is this with new graphics, or the new graphic engine they were talking about some time ago? I recently logged into EQ to say goodbye (I cancelled my station account finally) and I was struck by how awfully terrible the graphics were.

It seems like the game is still going strong, they should just put a modern graphic engine over it (not necessarily new character models, but just a new gloss -- like the new Freeport).

[Anzalone]

I didnt figure they would make this a classic EQ server. And can see why they're calling it a newbie server. I think they're making this server for people that missed out on norraths history, and instead of having to read about it, they can now be there to experience it, and even unfold it themselves. so you are in control of how fast the world moves, insteading of saving up your money and waiting for the next expansion to install, doing no real work to move norrath into the future.
I personally cant wait for this server, i started in late 2002 and i cant wait to experience and re-experience the old world and progression of everquest into the future!