Well the second bonus xp Sunday is over and done with, and we’re now on the eve of the Rise of Kunark expansion.  My gaming group had a good time again over the weekend, knocking out Runnyeye and several quests in the Enchanted Lands, trying to level up to a decent minimum to attempt Klak Anon.  Currently we’re all sitting in the 40 - 42 range, so I think in maybe 3-4 more levels we’ll be good to start working our way into the dungeon.  And just for the record, the SK/Necro combo is a nasty duo!!  They burn through mobs and content much easier than what I saw with the Berserker/Fury combo.

I had the opportunity to chat today with a fellow blogger who is also heavily invested in EQII and has been playing a lot longer than I have.  As we chatted, we talked about a lot of things - the RoK expansion, the graphics of EQII, general gameplay, and raiding.  One of the things we talked about were some of the early statements from the EQII team at launch about the graphics engine.  At the time, it had very high system requirements and most people had to play the game on very low settings.  The one thing the team said is that they were essentially future-proofing the graphics so that systems in the next several years could run the game at max settings and see the world in all its glory.  Well, I got to experience that over the weekend as I played for a good chunk of time at what you’d consider “screenshot” settings (I normally play on the equivalent of “quality” or so).  Wow, talk about some cool effects and visuals when you really crank those settings up.  Whether it’s minute detail on armor, the heat shimmers off of a fire, or the realistic textures on things like the canyon walls, it was clear that the graphics have held up well.

But more than that, I think EQII itself has really held up well.  Brandon Reinhart over at Madness & Games wrote an article recently expressing his view that people need to give this game a second look.  In reading it, I think he summarizes well what the game experience was like at release - it meshes up with my memory of what it was like to play during those initial few months and some of the problems that were present.  But as he notes, I think EQII really has evolved and developed into one of the best MMOs out there today.  Maybe it’s done so quietly, and with a few million less subscribers than WoW, but it doesn’t make it any less true.  With several expansion packs to its credit, not counting the one releasing tomorrow, the world of EQII is absolutely huge and full of interesting content.  But don’t take my word for it.  There are bloggers out there that know way more than me, and can give you far more info on the game.

With the Rise of Kunark expansion releasing tomorrow, the players of EQII are brimming with excitement.  And I think it’s an excitement that should be shared with a broader MMO audience.  This game is clearly a different (and imo much better) game than it was when launched in 2004, and people need to know that.  I think SOE is consistently building up a very solid base of content, making changes to game mechanics and systems where it makes sense, adding value for the players.   I think more than just Kunark may be rising - I think SOE and EQII have caught their stride and are rising as well.

Finally, for those of you anticipating RoK tomorrow and want to know when you’ll be able to get in the game, Gnobrin over at the official forums had this to say:

 At approximately 5:00am PST (1pm GMT), all servers (US, test and international) shall be brought down for the expansion update! The downtime is expected to be until 1:00pm PST (9:00pm GMT). During that time, please remember that we’ll be regularly updating EQIIPlayers as well as the official EQII Forums with update information as it comes! The official EQII Forums will also be hosting games and entertainment, brought to you by your crazy admins!If that’s not enough, that there are planned mini-events and games in the stand alone client for Legends of Norrath! You can learn more of those Legends of Norrath events HERE as well as how to get that stand-alone client, if you’re not already set!Get ready… the Rise of Kunark’s is on its way!

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