(Gallenite) Clarifications on the Rise of Kunark Announcement

[Official Forums]

A great many questions have arisen in the excitement since the Kunark announcement.; We wanted to get the biggest of them answered in one place.;


Q: Where can I get the latest information?

A: The Rise of Kunark Preview site (including FAQ) is available at: http://www.riseofkunark.com


Q: Why are there two versions of the feature list?; It seems to change slightly depending on which site I visit?

A: For the first 11 hours of the announcement, a draft version of the feature list was posted on http://eq2.allakhazam.com.; That draft version spent quite a few hours getting reposted.; The correct, final version is available at:
;;; http://eq2.allakhazam.com/news/sdeta...tml?story=9504
;;; and
;;; http://www.riseofkunark.com and clicking Overview in the bottom left

BLOGGERS/POSTERS: If you've reposted the feature list on a forum elsewhere on the web, or on your blog, we would appreciate it if you doublechecked to make sure you have the correct feature list!;


Q: What's the big difference between the two announcements?

A: The backstory and some of the features were clarified, and the new map system referred to in the original draft was removed as it is not intended to be an expansion-specific feature.

The new EQ2 map system is a project that we have been working on in the background for the past few months.; Since it will be replacing the existing map system in EQ2, it will release separately from the expansion, and will not be tied to this specific expansion's purchase.; When the map system releases, it needs to be a feature available to all players.

We do not have a precise launch date for this live feature, but we will be talking more about it on the forums as it gets closer to being available on test server.; We are currently not expecting all of the world to be re-mapped by the time Rise of Kunark launches.;


Q: The original announcement made reference to a zone count, but interviews since have referred to something else entirely.; What the story?

A: What's in the current announcement and the interviews is the correct information:; Rise of Kunark overland zones aren't directly comparable to what's gone before.;

Kunark's overland areas are comprised of vast regions that are in some cases three or four times the size of previous expansions' zones.;

The idea is: More environments available, with less time spent zoning.

For example, when you "zone" to the region called the Jarsath Wastes, you will be in an environment that houses both The Overthere and Skyfire Mountains, with all of the flavor and scope you would expect from those two full zones.; The world's appearance is totally different in the two environments, as are the skies, populations, and dungeons contained therein.;


Q: "The dungeons contained therein?"; Are you confirming Veeshan's Peak and Charasis (Howling Stones?)

A: Maybe.; There might also be a third, recently unearthed dungeon in that region as well.; The idea for Kunark is to present many of the areas that people have a fondness for, alongside new higher level content that takes advantage of the level increase.;


Q: Is this a full level 1-80 expansion?

A: No.; Especially with last year's release of Echoes of Faydwer, there is a huge, diverse field of high-quality mid range (20-65) content in EQ2.; There are already many choices for where to adventure if you are in that level range.;

There are two entry points to the expansion's content: One for the new player, where neutral races may begin and play through the level 1-20 experience in Timorous Deep, where all Sarnak start.;; The other is for the existing EQ2 player, on the mainland of the continent of Kunark, which is home to level 66-80 content.


Q: The feature list mentions quests for Class Epic weapons.; How many epic weapons are you planning on launching with?;

A: All 24 are currently slated to be in place at launch, or what was formerly referred to in EQ2's original class system as a "Subclass."; (e.g. Illusionists will have one quest series and weapon, and Coercers will have a completely different one.)

Our approach to Epic Weapons is that the initial incarnation of the weapon will involve grouping and some soloing.; That will yield a high-quality Legendary reward.;;

From there, continuing the storyline through Raid content will yield a high quality Fabled reward.


Q: With Achievement choice being based partially on which weapon I'm wielding, does that mean I am going to have to choose a specific Achievement tree to use with my weapon?

A: No.; This was one issue that needed to be addressed before we could commit to working on Epics, so don't worry.; By the time you obtain your Epic you will be able to use any Achievement line that you choose, and not lose the use of any Achievement abilities.


I know there are many more questions surrounding Kunark, and in due time they'll all be answered.;; For now, we wanted to make sure that the correct information regarding the broad strokes of what we're doing was out there as quickly as possible.;

- Scott



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