| EverQuest II | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Sony Online Entertainment |
| Platform(s) | Windows |
| Release date(s) | November 8, 2004 |
| Genre(s) | MMORPG |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | Teen (T) |
| Media/distribution | CD, DVD, Download |
| System requirements
Minimum requirements
Recommended requirements
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Seven full expansions for the MMORPG EverQuest II have been released, as well as three Adventure Packs.
With Everquest II, Sony Online Entertainment introduced the concept of Adventure Packs. Adventure Packs are meant to be smaller "mini-expansions" to the game, adding a plot line with several zones, new creatures and items to the game via digital download. These smaller Adventure Packs come with a smaller fee ranging from US$4.99 to US$7.99. However, recently the development team has decided to release free zones and content instead of making adventure packs. Some recent releases include a new starting city, Neriak, with a new starting race, Arasai;[1] and new high level dungeons The Throne of New Tunaria[2] and the Estate of Unrest.[3]
Expansions usually cost in the range of US$29.99 to US$39.99 and are shipped in boxes to stores, but can also be downloaded through a digital service. The retail versions often come packaged with a bonus feature such as a creature that the player can put in their in-game house. Expansions generally introduce many new zones with many plot lines, new features, many new creatures and items, new cities, and often come with a boost in the level cap or a new player race. While it may be easier to download the expansions digitally, traditional retail offers more content.
However the complaint remains, as is usual amongst nearly all MMORPG expansions that any additional content is all for Higher level players, thus blocking off the zones to all but the most dedicated player. On some Zones lower level players can visit, but it is of no real use, as even the weakest creatures would con as red, to low-mid level players (1-25) and thus a player would pay money simply to buy an expansion that he would not be able to use for quite some time, especially if they do not play all that often. (As stated this is a common complaint amongst nearly all MMORPG players.)
Contents |
| EverQuest II: The Bloodline Chronicles | |
|---|---|
| Publisher(s) | Sony Online Entertainment Square Enix (Japan) |
| Release date | March 21, 2005 |
The Bloodline Chronicles is the first Adventure Pack for EverQuest II. It introduced new areas, new items and new monsters.
| EverQuest II: The Splitpaw Saga | |
|---|---|
| Publisher(s) | Sony Online Entertainment Square Enix (Japan) |
| Release date | June 28, 2005 |
The Splitpaw Saga is the second Adventure Pack for EverQuest II. It introduced new areas, new items and new monsters. The adventure pack allows characters to use moveable planks, crates and barrels in a series of event-based zones where they will face gnolls opponents designed for players between 20th and 50th level.
| EverQuest II: The Fallen Dynasty | |
|---|---|
| Publisher(s) | Sony Online Entertainment |
| Release date | June 14, 2006 |
The Fallen Dynasty is the third adventure pack. It introduced new areas, new items, new monsters and quest lines. It added new content for characters levels 55 through 70:
| EverQuest II: Desert of Flames | |
|---|---|
| Publisher(s) | Sony Online Entertainment (US), Ubisoft (EU), Square Enix (JP) Gamania (China) |
| Release date | September 13, 2005 |
| Rating(s) | Teen (T) |
| Media | CD, DVD |
Desert of Flames is the first expansion for EverQuest II. It features a new land mass to explore, PvP arenas, a level increase from 50 to 60, a new climb ability and the standard new items and monsters. The major quest line for the expansion is commonly known as "The Peacock Line" - This series of 17 or so quests culminates with a raid requiring the player to group up with his guildmates to slay an entity known as "The Godking.
Players can choose from a selection of rewards to be used in the weapon slot depending on their class, for example a mage would receive an item named "Wand of Second life" which can also be changed at will into a two-handed weapon - "Staff of Second life". This quest takes place throughout the Desert of Ro from the sinking sands to the living tombs and eventually the Silent City.
New zones include the Sinking Sands, Pillars of Flame, Clefts of Rujark and the dervish city of Maj'Dul. Also many instances such as Poets Palace and Shimmering Citadel are available with Desert of Flames.
| EverQuest II: Kingdom of Sky | |
|---|---|
| Publisher(s) | Sony Online Entertainment (US), Ubisoft (EU) |
| Release date | February 21, 2006 |
| Rating(s) | Teen (T) |
| Media | CD, DVD, Download |
Kingdom of Sky features a new region to explore, located high above the skies of Norrath, known as the Overrealm. It includes a new level cap of 70 for adventurers and artisans, new items and quests, new monsters to fight, alternate ways of advancing your character (achievement points) and the ability to increase a guild to level 50.
Purchase of the expansion granted each character in any account that bought the expansion an Aviak hatchling. If the expansion was bought in a brick and mortar store, the account is granted one Carnivorous plant. The Carnivorous Plant acts as a house pet which can be fed items from the world, and depending on what is fed to it, will yield a useful item.
The Overrealm is composed of floating islands which originate from the Plane of Sky. Transportation to the Overrealm works like in The Shadows of Luclin; when a player wishes to go there, he or she obtains a teleportation shard from the overseer of a wizard spire on the ground. The overseer NPC then grants to the player character a teleportation shard which flags the player as one wanting to go to the Overrealm. Every five minutes, the spires activate, sending player characters to the Overrealm. If a player originates in Antonica or the Commonlands, he or she will be sent to the Tenebrous Tangle. If a player originates in the Thundering Steppes or Nektulos Forest, then he or she is sent to the Barren Sky. If the player originates in the Enchanted Lands or the Feerrott, he or she is sent to the Bonemire.
As with both the original game and the first expansion, a new epic quest line is included called the "Claymore" line. The start of this quest line can be completed solo in the outdoor areas, however, it will soon require a group and many segments require large investments of time "camping" the required NPCs to spawn and gain quest updates. The last parts of this quest must be completed within a raid (a group of 7+ players), the first being in an area known as "Ascent of the Awakened" in which you must have two groups (12 players). The final part takes place in Deathtoll, a zone intended for four groups (24 players), and requires an epic access quest in itself to enter. In the end players got to choose from an archetype specific reward (in some cases there are multiple choices) which at the current time was some of the (arguably) best items in the game.
Once a player has installed this expansion pack and reaches adventuring level 10, a character is granted achievement experience through discovering new areas, finding precious treasure and status items, killing monsters with specific names, completing select quests, and completing certain collections of items.
| EverQuest II: Echoes of Faydwer | |
|---|---|
| Publisher(s) | Sony Online Entertainment (US), Koch Media (EU) |
| Release date | November 13, 2006 (US) November 14, 2006 (EU) |
| Media | DVD |
Echoes of Faydwer introduced a new playable race (the Fae), the ability for player characters to equip visible cloaks, a second equipable earring slot, and add adornments (player-made enchantments) to existing items, 24 new subclass specific achievement trees, two new secondary tradeskill professions, and the return of the gods to the mortal realm. It also introduced a new starting city, the tree city of Kelethin, along with new overland, dungeon, instance and raid zones. There are zones for all levels of characters in this expansion.
The expansion raised the achievement point cap to 100 and the guild level to 60. The expansion also included 6 new Heritage quests and new races to combat like the clockworks, kobolds and bugbears.
The boxed retail edition of Echoes of Faydwer includes the base game plus the first two expansions: Desert of Flames and Kingdom of Sky.
| EverQuest II: Rise of Kunark | |
|---|---|
| Publisher(s) | Sony Online Entertainment (US), Koch Media (EU) |
| Release date | November 13, 2007 |
| Rating(s) | Teen (T) |
| Media | DVD |
Rise of Kunark is the fourth EverQuest II expansion pack. It introduces a new continent, Kunark; a new player race, the Sarnak; and raises the level cap for adventure, tradeskills and guilds to 80.[4]
| EverQuest II: The Shadow Odyssey | |
|---|---|
| Publisher(s) | Sony Online Entertainment (US), Koch Media (EU) |
| Release date | November 18, 2008 |
| Rating(s) | Teen (T) |
| Media | DVD |
The Shadow Odyssey is the fifth EverQuest II expansion pack. It contains content intended for levels 50-80. The expansion also gives access to all previous released expansions and adventure packs. The expansion introduces an additional achievement tree for each character class, 18 goal-based dungeons with a reward system for earning new equipment, new deities and raids.[5]
| EverQuest II: Sentinel's Fate | |
|---|---|
| Publisher(s) | Sony Online Entertainment (US) |
| Release date | February 16, 2010 |
| Rating(s) | Teen (T) |
| Media | DVD |
Sentinel's Fate is the sixth EverQuest II expansion pack. It raises the level cap from 80 to 90. The expansion also gives access to all previous released expansions and adventure packs. The expansion includes 2 new overland zones, 12 new dungeons, 400 new quests, over 2,000 more items, and hundreds of new monsters.[6]
| EverQuest II: Destiny of Velious | |
|---|---|
| Publisher(s) | Sony Online Entertainment (US) |
| Release date | February 22, 2011 |
| Rating(s) | Teen (T) |
| Media | DVD |
Destiny of Velious is the seventh EverQuest II expansion pack. The expansion also gives access to all previous released expansions and adventure packs. The expansion includes 2 new overland zones, 10 new dungeons, 300 new quests, over 1,000 more items, and more than 30 new monsters. The expansion also introduces flying mounts.[7]