Some times it’s really odd for me when I’m playing EQ and I happen across a zone that I practically live in when I play EQ2. It’s odd because I’ve actually encountered the zone in EQ2 first, and then I feel like I’m going backwards and playing it in EQ. It’s a pretty interesting feeling, and one that I came across yesterday quite a bit.
Since the necromancer is now 77 it was time for a new (fighter) pet spell. She’s got a level 75 rogue, and she’ll get another level 80 rogue once I finally make that climb. EQ has switched over to an EQ2 method of spell progression for a little while now, each spell used to only have one tier. Now they have three tiers. The first one is vendor sold. The second one can be crafted, or is researched. The third tier is raid dropped (from what I understand, I could be wrong about this) and I’m not sure if it’s from turn ins or simply from a pure no trade drop or what. I doubt very much that I will ever see a tier3 spell in my little necromancer life time, teehee.
The good thing about this is that number one, tier1 is still always an upgrade even if it is slight. Number two, pets don’t come in tiers. They’re just vendor sold rank1 and that’s all there is to it. In my necromancer way of thinking, her pet is just another (free) dot. I’m not a magician, or even a beastlord. My pet (even with aa) will not compare – but it’s nice to have a free dot, especially while I’m kiting. Anyhow, as I was saying, my level 77 pet is vendor sold and that’s how I found myself heading to Plane of Knowledge, then to Ak’Anon and from there – Loping Plains. It’s a zone I’ve spent countless hours in while playing EQ2 but had never set foot in while playing EQ and so the experience was quite surreal. Ultann (resident magician) summoned me to the vendor I needed, and a short bit away were the exact same alligators that I remember from EQ2.
I decided to try my hand at kiting (and hopped the mob didn’t summon) was all proud of myself for taking down a dark blue frog (remember, I’m still not quite used to soloing) and then was promptly eaten by another frog that added during the fight. Those things are deceptive, they hurt!
Ah, such is the way of EQ, and the reason why I love it.
Next Monday marks the 10th anniversary of this game, and I’m hoping people come back to give it another try, even if it’s just for a month. It certainly would not disappoint me to read nothing but EQ blogs for a whole month (or even longer if people are enjoying it). Fabled should also be put in game soon (rumor is Wednesday, since that’s the closest patch) and I’m looking forward to being able to farm some (even though I’m a little concerned over how camped it’s going to be). I’m really hoping that EQ and EQ2 offer some free character transfers sooner rather then later (I simply can’t afford to pay $50 to move characters when I have a virtual army of them) so that I can move my Kithicor characters (and friends) over to Najena (EQ2) and so that I can move around the various characters I have in EQ who are strewn all over the place. While both games have done this in the past, I know it’s probably unlikely, but that’s my birthday wish, teehee. When you have alt-itus as much as I do (and lets face it, I do in a BIG way) things can get pretty messy.
After Loping Plains the group broke for a while, Ultann headed off to see The Watchmen so Ninga and I headed to Nagafen’s Lair to play alts. The paladin is now level 43 with the ranger and bard close behind at level 42. I was trying to aim for 46 so they could all head to Plane of Time, but the experience has slowed down some what and I decided to take a break to make a birthday gift for Ultann (HAPPY BIRTHDAY). I hope everyone had an amazing weekend, and that this week is nice and relaxed.
Safe travels, and see you in Norrath!