If we've learned anything in our long-term relationship with games, it's that no matter how much we love a title, sooner or later we're going to demand a bit of plastic surgery to bring back those youthful looks. Happily, EverQuest II's user interface got a much-needed facelift with today's GU57 patch. The update ushered in a new hotbar, merged windows, and a choice between a red and a blue theme.
GU57 doesn't just stop at the UI, however. New tradeskill quests now available at levels 10, 20 and 30, granting both advance recipes and mounts upon completion. Lowbie players should enjoy the revamped Greater Faydark and Darklight Wood zones, and SOE has moved a number of group-oriented spells to higher levels so that greenhorn characters won't feel as overloaded as they take their first few steps into the game. Players should also find that EQII's spell effects have a bit more of a kick to them.
In all of the hubbub of the new patch, it's important not to overlook EverQuest II's other big update: the kickoff of the public beta for EverQuest II Extended (EQ2X), the F2P version of the game. You can check out the full patch notes over at EQ2 Wire.
Reader Comments (34)
Posted: Aug 18th 2010 7:19PM Zantom said
If the UI in the screen shot above are the changes mentioned then it is a step in the right direction. That is a decent UI. I really didn't like EQ2's UI.
None of the latest EQ2 announcements have even come close to getting me to play again (even for free). EQ2 just doesn't do it for me anymore, but for those that enjoy it, good, enjoy away...
None of the latest EQ2 announcements have even come close to getting me to play again (even for free). EQ2 just doesn't do it for me anymore, but for those that enjoy it, good, enjoy away...
Posted: Aug 18th 2010 7:26PM Toggit said
Fact checking! They had to delay the release of the public til (with a bit o luck) tomorrow. Don't get my hopes up like that o.O
Posted: Aug 18th 2010 7:28PM (Unverified) said
Ah, that explains the launcher being stuck at "connecting"..
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Posted: Aug 18th 2010 7:30PM Jakeonium said
I don't think the public beta got released today. It was supposed to but there was a forum post on the Extended forums saying there were technical issues and it got postponed until Thursday.
Posted: Aug 18th 2010 7:31PM Sigma7 said
It's a pity they downgraded all of the Spell Effects tho.
New ones are underwhelming, the old Spell FX were awesome.
New ones are underwhelming, the old Spell FX were awesome.
Posted: Aug 18th 2010 7:39PM (Unverified) said
I'm going to try it in the hopes that they will also make vanguard and eq1 f2p. Never was a huge fan of EQ2.
Posted: Aug 18th 2010 8:42PM Rialle said
It seems quite a few EQ2 veterans are upset because they fear that EQ2X will hamper new blood from coming into the subscription servers.
To be honest, Vanguard may have been a better target for F2P for this reason. It seems that people are willing to give a game another go when it goes F2P, and they could have used it as an F2P experiment without upsetting EQ2 veterans.
To be honest, Vanguard may have been a better target for F2P for this reason. It seems that people are willing to give a game another go when it goes F2P, and they could have used it as an F2P experiment without upsetting EQ2 veterans.
Posted: Aug 18th 2010 11:54PM Tanek said
So if I have an account that was a subscription in the past, will I be able to get to the new servers, or will I need a separate account? And if i start playing on the F2P side, but decide I want a regular sub again, I ditch my new characters and go back to the old? Dividing things up like this seems a bit convoluted.
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Posted: Aug 18th 2010 9:44PM End Dream said
I am excited as hell . I have played the trial 2 times and really enjoyed it. But the pop wasn't there, this time it will be. I have already purchased gold subscription.
Posted: Aug 18th 2010 10:57PM Skitals said
I'm able to get to character creation, but when I continue it submits the character for approval, and it says "there are no servers available right now, please try again in a few minutes"
close....
close....
Posted: Aug 18th 2010 11:00PM madbassman39 said
What races are available for the free version?
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Posted: Aug 19th 2010 3:52AM (Unverified) said
Nick, the races you get for free are:
Human
Half Elf
Barbarian
Erudite
However the capability to at least get to the character creation screen yesterday revealed that the 'Race Packs' are going to be 650 SC each. They contain 3 races. As I predicted, the 3 races I want to play are ALL in different race packs which means almost 2000 SC -.- I think i'll skip the Dark Elf for now and go for my beloved Ratonga and Kerran.
Reply
Human
Half Elf
Barbarian
Erudite
However the capability to at least get to the character creation screen yesterday revealed that the 'Race Packs' are going to be 650 SC each. They contain 3 races. As I predicted, the 3 races I want to play are ALL in different race packs which means almost 2000 SC -.- I think i'll skip the Dark Elf for now and go for my beloved Ratonga and Kerran.
Posted: Aug 18th 2010 10:59PM Audacious said
How long have mini-maps been in the game?
Posted: Aug 19th 2010 12:08AM Tanek said
Actually, the EQII site says the move was from the 17th (the original announced date) to the 18th:
Server Downtime Update – GU57 Moved to Wednesday, August 18 at 5:00 AM PDT
And the latest news on there says the update went live. So it looks like either their site is wrong, or the other info came in a day late.
Server Downtime Update – GU57 Moved to Wednesday, August 18 at 5:00 AM PDT
And the latest news on there says the update went live. So it looks like either their site is wrong, or the other info came in a day late.
Posted: Aug 19th 2010 12:15AM Tanek said
Scratch that. Looks like maybe the update went live, just without the EQ2X part.
The delays, moves, and announcements are just as twisted as the new pricing model plan. :)
The delays, moves, and announcements are just as twisted as the new pricing model plan. :)
Posted: Aug 19th 2010 12:24AM shiningfury said
http://everquest2.com/_themes/default/images/extended/membershipMatrix.jpg
That chart explains the four different levels of access from free to a year-long subscription. The races and classes available for free are listed at the bottom.
That chart explains the four different levels of access from free to a year-long subscription. The races and classes available for free are listed at the bottom.
Posted: Aug 19th 2010 1:07AM (Unverified) said
I think i might just start a new Trial - Character on EQ2 today, i need to give the game another go & this update seems like as good a time as any.
Posted: Aug 19th 2010 1:45AM Nadril said
Does anyone know if EQ2X is going to have PvP servers? I'll give it a try if so.








