With the release of 'A Prophet Returns' (Game Update #45) for EverQuest II on May 13th, the EQII Development team has been hard at work on 'Gathering Tempest' (Game Update #46) and we want to share an advanced sneak peek into some of the exciting features headed your way in the coming month! GU #46 will be packed full of activity with a new live event affecting players of all levels and abilities, a return to Runnyeye, and increased rewards for fighting some of your favorite bosses in some of the group instances. It's time to plan for more than a few fun filled days of adventure in Norrath!
Storms on the Horizon
A new live event for EverQuest II - commentary from Game Designer Nathan 'Kaitheel' McCall
The ranks of Freeport’s Academy of Arcane Science and Qeynos’ Concordium have been stretched thin as they attempt to investigate mysterious and dark storms that have erupted across Norrath. They are there to study the unnatural disturbances in hopes of establishing what has caused them, what threat they may pose and how to dissipate them, if possible. Willing adventurers will find cooperation, not between the two rival houses of magic, but with a third party. An ancient order that was nearly annihilated, forced from their temple and spread, like ashes on the wind. This cooperation will grant adventurers understanding and tools to help discern and battle the affects of the unnatural tempests, thus uncovering and helping to combat an insidious plan that threatens all of Norrath.
This event runs the entire length of GU 46, and because of that I really wanted to give it a healthy facet of repeatability. But more importantly, I wanted to make sure it had incentive enough for all level of players to continue to participate! That was something I realized while reading feedback posted on the EQII forums. It just is not enough that something is repeatable; there should be a desirable reward for doing so. And the more choices that someone has to choose from –the better! Adventurers will find that their actions can be rewarded with a new title, new weapons, new armor, new robes, new torches, new house items, and even a new pet!
Runnyeye: The Gathering
Putting a new twist on a familiar zone - commentary from Game Designer Kyle 'Kander' Vallee
Initially the zone was started by Steve 'Saavedra' Kramer, he did a total rebuild of the inside moved and added a lot of art assets. He and Ellery 'Srukin' Jones came up with the storylines. Steve did all this and the base populations and concepts before he left for The Agency. When it was handed to me I went in and tried keep the zone challenging and add a lot of flavor and humor as well. There are nine boss fights and only two or three of them are your typical tank and spank. I tried to make them fun but yet interactive with the environment and also a challenge. There are a couple bosses that have some serious surprises in store. The zone boss is an x2 who should provide quite the challenge for a single group.
Jason 'Fyreflyte' Woerner and I are working together to make sure the rewards and loot are the same, fun yet good rewards that hopefully match the challenge. Obviously everything isn’t going to be the toilet made of solid gold! The zone is large and will progressively get more difficult as you get deeper inside. When you see a goblin called an Elite, beware because he is Elite. The other challenge is that everything socials so be careful to body pull!
There are a few other surprises I think people will find enjoyable inside the halls of Runnyeye: The Gathering.
New Status
Some of our familiar friends now offer added rewards!
Adventuring in the following group instances will now yield status points when the bosses are killed! Sharpen your blades, ready your spells, now there is more reason than ever to take on the challenges that these group instances present! Bosses in the following zones are affected:
Chelsith, Charasis: Maiden's Chamber, Charasis: Vault of Eternal Sleep, Crypt of Agony, Court of Korucust, Shard of Fear, Estate of Unrest, Crypt of Valdoon, Obelisk of Blight, The Acadechism, Court of Innovation, Halls of Fate, Den of the Devourer, Blackscale Sepulcher, Nest of the Great Egg, Vault of El'Arad, Cazel's Mesa, and Scornfeather Roost.
As you can see, 'Gathering Tempest' will be packed full of excitement and adventure! Keep an eye on EQ2Players.com for more updates and information in the coming weeks about the update!
Discuss the Sneak Peek in the EQII Official Forums.