IGN Depths of Darkhollow Preview - Wow....

[Lyion]

EverQuest: Depths of Darkhollow Preview
The tenth expansion for the orignal EQ explored.
by Andy Patrizio

September 13, 2005 - Sony Online Entertainment has released Depths of Darkhollow today, the tenth expansion for EverQuest in the massive multiplayer online game's six-year history, and one of the more ambitious. Like all of the expansions before it, this one adds new zones and plenty of new creatures to kill and loot to gain. However, Sony is throwing in twists on the game beyond the usual hack and slash that are either going to be huge hits with its fan base or big flops.

DoD has six new static zones -- Corathus Creep, The Undershore, Stoneroot Falls, The Ruins of Illsalin, Dreadspire Keep and The Hive - and 60 missions, similar to the mission system in the last expansion, Dragons of Norrath. Like the last three expansions, it's for player levels 45 and up and will include raids even harder than the ones currently in the game, some of which are undefeated.

According to game lore, this is an area beneath the Antonica continent where creatures have lived since the beginning of time, out of sight from prying eyes. The battle between Firiona Vie (the blond female elf on the cover of all EverQuest software boxes) and Lanys T'Vyl opened an entrance to Darkhollow.


The Darkhollow area has its own faction, so maintaining it and building it is important for gaining missions. More than 40 single-group missions exist, and some of them have a unique twist. In one mission, you must take the form of a spider to complete it, using the new Spirit Shroud feature in the expansion. To obtain another, you had to kill and eat a mushroom.

For the high level player, DoD has two dozen events and raids, ranging from a 24-person raid for players at the Planes of Power elemental plane level, to a 54-person post-Asylum of Anguish level raid. This should keep people busy, as very few guilds have defeated the final mob in Anguish.

The mission progression consists of a set of missions in each of the static zones, similar to Dragons of Norrath. However, to encourage variety, DoD gives you a unique reward for doing each mission for the first time, so hopefully players won't do the same mission ad nauseum as they do now in DoN.

The drawback, as some beta testers have noted, is that getting to the mission can be harder than the mission itself, requiring players to fight their way through a lot of monsters, some times taking an hour just to get to their mission. One of the things people liked about DoN was there were no trash mobs to clear. You simply zoned in to the dragon's zone and there it was, kill or be killed.

Spirit Shrouds

Here's where Sony did something really different. EverQuest requires players to be within a reasonably close level gap. In a group of six, you usually won't find a gap of more than 10 levels between players. This means that friends might not be able to play together if one is level 25 and the other is level 65. On the other side of the coin, high level players may be nostalgic for old zones that they have "outgrown."

Spirit Shrouds are to EQ what the sidekick system is to City of Heroes. It lets the high-level player remake themselves as a creature within the game, but at a lower level. You can make yourself into something as low as level 5 or as high as level 65. By choosing between different monsters, you can be a melee, caster or priest class, as each has different skills.

There is another use for Spirit Shrouds, and that is to replace a missing class. On my server, at least, EQ suffers from a serious lack of melees while other classes - mages, necromancers, rangers, druids - are too plentiful, but can't fill some needed roles. So rather than sit around for an hour waiting for a warrior or a cleric, a player can simply make a shroud in the class they need. Need a warrior? Have a mage go to the Plane of Knowledge and get turned into a warrior-class spirit. The experience you gain while in the shroud will apply to your character.

You can only get your shroud in the Plane of Knowledge, which players may find a nuisance. However, the shroud remains with you until you return to the PoK and remove it, so you keep the illusion when you change zones. Since the shrouds are good only up to level 65, it's not a fix for high-end players needing that one last class for their group in Riftseeker's Sanctum. But for the rest of the player base, it could fill out their groups nicely. The success or failure of spirit shrouds will depend on whether or not the classes are appropriate for their levels and make a good stop gap, or are underpowered.

Monster Missions

There's another use for the technology that changes players into monsters, and that's monster missions. This may prove the most fun use for spirit shrouds, and that's role reversal. You get to play a monster in the game, fighting off an attack of player characters. There are 20 missions, half of them set in the old world of Antonica, where you and your group play monsters fighting off invaders.

The one that's sure to be a hit is the Lord Nagafen mission. One member of your group gets to play Naggy, the old red dragon from EverQuest's earliest days, and the other five play the giants who guard him. After a few minutes to get set up, you hear shouts of the approaching raid, and it's up to you to fight off the attackers. Talk about role reversal. You get to chew up warriors, breathe fire on clerics and send casters running with the Dragon Roar fear spell.



Other Changes

Depths of Darkhollow adds around 200 new advanced abilities for the player base and around three new spells per caster and priest class. One of the more interesting new ideas is evolving items. These items are wearable pieces of gear that grow more powerful as you use them. Killing certain creatures make them power up faster.

Even scarier, some items, called intelligent items, will actually talk to the player and give them advice. Just what I need, my helmet telling me how to play. But that's what they will do. Through emotes and tells, the pieces will give you advice and make suggestions. Some may prove a bit over zealous when the player is facing a creature they hate. I can just imagine the player base yelling at their gear to shut up. However, these items are said to be very rare.

Sony is also introducing Escape to Norrath, a free starter game/zone. Anyone can download the software here EtN is a revamped and upgraded tutorial that introduces players to the game. They can try it out and play up for a few levels. If they choose to continue with the character, it can be transferred to a regular server, and of course, the player will have to subscribe to the game and purchase the full software.

Depths of Darkhollow is in stores today, or available for download from Sony for $30.

[Manalope]

crazy shit dropping off trash mobs today, servers taken down

[Harrison]

That sounds fucking amazing...

[Tikker]

The one that's sure to be a hit is the Lord Nagafen mission. One member of your group gets to play Naggy, the old red dragon from EverQuest's earliest days, and the other five play the giants who guard him. After a few minutes to get set up, you hear shouts of the approaching raid, and it's up to you to fight off the attackers. Talk about role reversal. You get to chew up warriors, breathe fire on clerics and send casters running with the Dragon Roar fear spell.

omfg

[Captain Insano]

holy mother of god... I would play this just to kill Superheallerrr again, but in the form of Nagafen.

[Lyion]

http://eqvault.ign.com/screenshots/full_res.php?ss=559

Hmm, might have to pick this up and go check out EQ again

[Naginataka]

Wow.

All they need now is a graphics revamp.

[Darcler]

It's a really neat expansion. I did the Naggy mission yesterday. REALLY HARD. I think there was a nice glich.

You get to pick which char you want to be. Naggy, Magus, two priests and two of the warrior named giants. Then you use these sorts of AA's to customize the character, then pick up your abilities.
Then a whole slew of raiders come at you, none wielding weapons, all >52 but they hit like 70 warriors. I have NEVER punched for 98 on my cleric. ANYWAY.

We never got passed it. We couldnt get a good enough strat down. Once Naggy dies, the mission fails and you get ported outside.

We also did this neat orc one. We were the blue orcs fighting the green orcs. Then saved some dark elf guy...I dont know.

[Lyion]

Wow.

All they need now is a graphics revamp.

If they put EQ2 graphics on EQ, who'd play 2?

[Yamori]

From what I've seen so far, Darkhollow is a really great expansion - at least in the regard of providing actual novel content that almost anyone can do.

PS: Naggy events are fun stuff :D

They actually give extremely good xp (relative to accessability / simplicity) - something around 1.2AAs per 40 mins, so it makes an interesting end level grind alternative.

[Harrison]

It's a really neat expansion. I did the Naggy mission yesterday. REALLY HARD. I think there was a nice glich.

You get to pick which char you want to be. Naggy, Magus, two priests and two of the warrior named giants. Then you use these sorts of AA's to customize the character, then pick up your abilities.
Then a whole slew of raiders come at you, none wielding weapons, all >52 but they hit like 70 warriors. I have NEVER punched for 98 on my cleric. ANYWAY.

We never got passed it. We couldnt get a good enough strat down. Once Naggy dies, the mission fails and you get ported outside.

We also did this neat orc one. We were the blue orcs fighting the green orcs. Then saved some dark elf guy...I dont know.

I think you just gave me an orgasm!

Cong, you stole my virginity with words! (I won't tell my girlfriend, she's still clueless!)

[Darcler]

You orgasmed over a Naggy fight? Ew

[Harrison]

Not literally, but close...

[Darcler]

Ew.

[Gidan]

I tried playing EQ again, after about 10 minutes I logged off.

[Darcler]

He doesnt have the expansion. The missions are fun and are what keep my playing. well, what kept me playing that one day. I havent logged on since.

[Tikker]

I tried playing EQ again, after about 10 minutes I logged off.

yeah

i had some grandiose ideas of playing a couple times a week again, but I just can't get into it again

I dunno, maybe just losing interest in gaming in general

[Darcler]

Both of us are too. A lot of people are.

[mofish]

I dunno, maybe just losing interest in gaming in general

I was thinkin that too for awhile, but whatever they did to EQ2 is working. Cant stop playing now, when I couldnt stand to even log in before the changes.

[Thommus]

It's a really neat expansion. I did the Naggy mission yesterday. REALLY HARD. I think there was a nice glich.

You get to pick which char you want to be. Naggy, Magus, two priests and two of the warrior named giants. Then you use these sorts of AA's to customize the character, then pick up your abilities.
Then a whole slew of raiders come at you, none wielding weapons, all >52 but they hit like 70 warriors. I have NEVER punched for 98 on my cleric. ANYWAY.

We never got passed it. We couldnt get a good enough strat down. Once Naggy dies, the mission fails and you get ported outside.

We also did this neat orc one. We were the blue orcs fighting the green orcs. Then saved some dark elf guy...I dont know.

Strat = As many priest of nagafen as you can get. You can be mezzed, so have a few. Naggy goes for the clerics first, and whoever isn't CHealing Naggy mezzes the others (priests have a mez spell, and their CH is true complete, 32k no crits). Clerics can nuke for 500 when they have mana and the mezzes are taken care of.
GL.

[10sun]

I think the only reason I can get into it partially is because I play at work with the screens minimized 90% of the time.

-Adam

[Menlaan]

From http://www.fohguild.org/forums/showthre ... ge=2&pp=15

Here's some stuff I logged from my Nagafen and Guk missions. As you can see, the current devs have a good sense of humor and nostalgia.

--Nagafen--
[Sat Sep 17 16:28:01 2005] A greedy invader yells out, 'Everyone ready? Rez the fallen now out of AE range. One, two, three -- CHARGE! WAVE GO NOW!'
[Sat Sep 17 16:32:19 2005] an invading ranger's corpse says 'This isn't even funny anymore.'
[Sat Sep 17 16:32:33 2005] an invading paladin's corpse says 'Martyrdom, here I come!'
[Sat Sep 17 16:32:45 2005] an invading shadowknight's corpse says 'Foolish mortals.'
[Sat Sep 17 16:33:06 2005] an invading warrior's corpse says 'Next time let me hold agro!'
[Sat Sep 17 16:33:23 2005] an invading shaman's corpse says 'Slowed!'
[Sat Sep 17 16:33:53 2005] an invading cleric's corpse says 'On me, on me!!!'
[Sat Sep 17 16:33:56 2005] an invading rogue's corpse says 'What's evade?'
[Sat Sep 17 16:33:56 2005] an invading druid's corpse says 'Argh!'
[Sat Sep 17 16:37:37 2005] an invading monk's corpse is afk.
[Sat Sep 17 16:36:29 2005] [51 Channeler (Wizard)] Kelfka (Giant / Cyclops)
[Sat Sep 17 16:36:29 2005] [55 Myrmidon (Warrior)] Sindier (Lava Dragon)
[Sat Sep 17 16:36:29 2005] [49 Cleric] Tocatta (Giant / Cyclops)
[Sat Sep 17 16:36:29 2005] [52 Reaver (Shadow Knight)] Bumluk (Giant / Cyclops)
[Sat Sep 17 16:36:29 2005] [49 Cleric] Liendara (Giant / Cyclops)
[Sat Sep 17 16:36:29 2005] [49 Cleric] Ainmer (Giant / Cyclops)
[Sat Sep 17 16:38:20 2005] an invading enchanter's corpse says 'Tashed . . .'
[Sat Sep 17 16:38:37 2005] an invading wizard's corpse says 'If only I had clicky pants. . .'
[Sat Sep 17 16:38:38 2005] an invading beastlord's corpse says 'Grrrrr!'
[Sat Sep 17 16:38:54 2005] an invading berserker's corpse says 'Who didn't see that coming?'
[Sat Sep 17 16:39:15 2005] an invading bard's corpse says 'Le sigh.'
[Sat Sep 17 16:39:49 2005] an invading magician's corpse says 'Oops.'
[Sat Sep 17 16:40:00 2005] an invading necromancer's corpse says 'Nobody will even notice I'm gone. =('
[Sat Sep 17 17:08:06 2005] To this day, the great red dragon resides within his lair, fending off the hordes of greedy treasure-seekers.

--Guk--
[Sat Sep 17 17:22:00 2005] An elven paladin shouts, 'Camp check!'
[Sat Sep 17 17:22:00 2005] An iksar monk says, 'I think the group in the Assassin's room is gone. It's all yours now.'
[Sat Sep 17 17:34:50 2005] A barbarian warrior shouts, 'Is the Arch Magi up?'
[Sat Sep 17 17:34:50 2005] An erudite magician says out of character, 'Yeah, go for it!'
[Sat Sep 17 17:44:35 2005] A halfling druid says out of character, 'Anyone up for the cavalier camp?'
[Sat Sep 17 17:44:35 2005] An ogre shaman shouts, 'Meet you there.'
[Sat Sep 17 17:52:10 2005] A wood elf druid shouts, 'Is the exe room open?'
[Sat Sep 17 17:52:10 2005] A human monk shouts, 'Yep, we are just leaving.'
[Sat Sep 17 18:01:20 2005] A gnome wizard says out of character, 'Savant up?'
[Sat Sep 17 18:01:20 2005] A dwarven rogue shouts, 'Yeah.'
[Sat Sep 17 18:08:40 2005] A high elf cleric says, 'Anyone need a cleric?'
[Sat Sep 17 18:08:40 2005] A dark elf necromancer shouts, 'Please come to the Ghoul Lord room.'

That's pretty funny

Menlaan

[Lyion]

ok, where is this mission, and when are we gonna do it?