Entries Tagged 'EQ2' ↓

One of the most controversial topics on the Everquest II player versus player (pvp) servers is whether players should be allowed to disable adventure experience and lock in at a specific level (level-locking). The level 70 players constantly whine that this is ruining the game because there are less players pvping at level 70. I say to them, NO WAY!! Level locking is the savior of the pvp servers.

1. Accessibility of PVP - Allowing players to lock their level earlier in the game allows players to participate in PVP at a much lower cost. If there was no level locking, the amount of pvp at lower levels would be dramatically reduced and players would have to level to 7o to get to consistently participate. The time it would take for a casual player to reach 70 would be too great for them to even consider playing on a pvp server. Level-locking allows casual players to participate in pvp.

2. Tradeskilling - Level-locking has added new markets for tradeskillers. On the pvp servers there is a very healthy market for T2 through T6 mastercrafted armor, weapons and spells. Unlike on pve servers, because people are staying in these tiers for longer times, they are willing to spend their plat on lower level mastercrafted gear. This has created a very healthy tradeskill economy on the pvp servers.

3. Use of More Content - Unlike on pve servers, pvpers hunt in almost every zone in a given tier in order to maximize their AA points. This is great for the game. On pve servers, players really don’t have an incentive not to fly through the levels. However, for a level-locker, it is very important to maximize the number of AA points they have gained by the time they reach the level they are going to lock at. These AA points make a huge difference in pvp effectiveness.

4. Equipment Strategy - Level-lockers also get to experience more of the game because they camp mobs to get that uber T2 bracelet. A non-level-locker would not care about the Howler Bracelet dropped in Blackburrow. The non-level-locker would not waste their time camping Howler for this level 17 bracelet because they would be reaching level 22 quick enough not to make camping worthwhile. However, for the level-locker this 17 bracelet is really uber.

5. Proliferation of Alts - Not that Everquest II players need a reason to create more players, level-locking certainly adds another reason to create alts. In my guild, players create an alt for each tier of pvp. When someone wants to pvp in T2, they roll out their T2 toon. If a T3 pvp group is forming, they roll out their T3 toon. I love the diversity of gameplay that this allows.

What do you think about level-locking?

On Friday July 20, the test update notes for GU 37 were added to the Everquest 2 forums. There is so much to look forward to in this update. Here are the highlights.

Broker Changes:

• You can now sell items on the broker with more than one character!
• All characters on an account can list items for sale at the same time.
• Items remain listed as long as you log in with any of your characters at least once every 7 days.

This is the best change. I am so tired of having to transfer all of my loot to my mule. Additionally, you can put up a lot more stuff now.

Travel Changes:

• Griffon travel services are now being offered in the Butcherblock Mountains. Mount stations can be found near the docks, Greater Faydark and Lesser Faydark.
• Horse rentals are now available in the Greater Faydark to reduce your travel time. Hitching posts can be found near the Old Kelethin Acorn lift, Crushbone Keep and the Butcherblock Mountains.
• Citizens of Neriak may now use the power of the Sea Gate to travel to the Nektulos Forest and Thundering Steppes docks. Check it out at the Neriak docks.

The griffons in Butcherblock are much needed. It takes forever to travel from the docks to Greater Faydwer.

These traveling options are great. Many comment that quicker travel makes a game less immersive, but I think that it just increases the accessibility of the game. I do not play MMOs to simulate real life. I play them for fun. Are long travel times fun? NO!!!

Quest Changes:

• More quests in Antonica, Nektulos, and The Bloodline Chronicles now grant Achievement Experience.
• Items now show in their tooltip and examine windows if they offer or update a quest
• The first time you complete a repeatable quest it will now grant achievement experience.

It is so annoying when you turn in quests and they don’t give AA. Now more will this is a great change!!

The tooltip addition is also nice.

Achievement Changes:

• You can now respec your achievements and spend the points in another tree.

Next to the broker change, being able to respec your AA and spend the points in either tree is the best change. When I start a new class, too ofter I regret starting with one AA tree and not the other. Now I will not have to worry about this.

Tradeskill Changes:

• Crafters now gain tradeskill experience from completing tradeskill writs.
• Crafters who have respec’ed their crafting class and wish to exchange their crafting tool from the Village of Shin quests can now speak to Rai Faela Nurwin near the Village of Shin brokers.

These changes are kind of funny, because (i) I did not know the tradeskill writs did not give tradeskill xp and (ii) I did not know that there was a quest to get a crafting tool. Now I know!!

UI Changes

• You can now re-purchase your 10 most recently sold items at the same price.
  • No time limit!
  • Even after logging out or zoning!
• The intro movie will only play once when the game is installed. There is a new ‘View Intro’ button at the character select screen to allow viewing of the intro movie.

These two changes are great. It is so frustrating to realize that you just sold that legendary item for 1g. It is also frustrating to have to click through the into movie. Finally this has been removed.

Hopefully all of these changes get implemented into the actual game update. For some additional commentary about these GU 37, check out Stargrace’s blog.

SOE has finally released a picture of the Sarnac, Everquest IIs new race that will be introduced in the upcoming Rise of Kunark expansion.

Ogrebear has listed the Fan Faire panel discussions that will focus on EQ2. For those of us not able to attend, this list provides some good insights about information that we will be released from Fan Faire.

The swashbuckler is a very powerful class whose advanced achievements (AA) make them unstoppable in Everquest II. This guide will provide an overview of the swashbucklers AAs, a recommendation for a soloing build and a recommendation for a PVP build.

Rogue AA Tree:

Swashbuckler AAs are broken into two main trees with branches coming off each tree. The first tree that I want to describe is the Rogue Tree. I feel that this is the tree that beginning swashbucklers should add their first AA points.

Every swashbuckler who chooses to put AA points in the rogue tree is forced to put an AA point in this ability. “Pickpocket” allows the swashbuckler to steal money from a humanoid npc whenever the swashbuckler attacks a monster from behind. I have not found the money gained from this ability to be that great, but it is free plat.

The rogue tree has five branches that come off of the “pickpocket” AA ability; the strength line, agility line, stamina line, wisdom line, and intelligence line.  For every AA point you add to one of these lines you gain a certain number of attribute points in that particular attribute.  For example, for each AA point that you put into the strength line, your strength increases by 4.

Strength Line:

• Torporous Strike - Once a swashbuckler has put four points into the strength line, a swashbuckler can put points in the “torporous stike” ability.  The torporous strike ability decreases the casting speed of the target, inflicts a medium amount of melee damage on the target, and decreases the recovery speed of the target.
• Blackguard’s Defense - Once a swashbuckler has put four points into the Torporous Strike AA, a swashbuckler can increase his defense skill by putting AA points into this AA ability.
• Blackguard’s Luck - Once a swashbuckler has put four points into Blackguard’s Defense, a swashbuckler can increase his melee chance to inflict critical damage by putting AA points into this AA ability.
• Traumatic Swipe - Once a swashbuckler has put four points into Blackguard’s luck and a total of 22 points into the strength line, a swashbuckler can decrease the reuse speed of his enemy by 50% by putting two AA points into this ability.  The traumatic swipe ability also inflicts 118 - 197 melee damage on the target.

The strength line is one of my favorite lines on the rogue AA tree.  It is great for soloing and for pvping.  Please subscribe to my blog to make sure that you do not miss any articles within this series.