The consequence of creating a virtual world and have passionate, dedicated players along many years is that these games acquire a special value. It’s wrong to consider this just as a sense of nostalgia only valid for former players because the charm involves *especially* the new players who can sense a greater complexity and desire “to belong”. To be part of it.

This is similar to the way Tolkien wrote and the appeal of the world he created. The details were never fully declared and explained, instead they were only hinted in the background, leaving you with a desire for more. It gave you the impression that there was something past the book, a sense of continuity. It wasn’t anymore just a story strictly comprised between the first and the last page, but instead a whole world to slowly discover. Without confines.

Aggro Me writes that SOE is planning to remove the strict deadlines for the expansions (regularly every six months), slowing down the releases to give the devs more time to polish the new content and features. While on FoH’s forum there are hints about the possible content of the next expansion, with a return of the gods from the classic world. Planning something big to counter the release of WoW’s expansion.

I believe that these ties between the classic EQ and EQ2 have a great potential and shouldn’t be seen as interesting only for those former players. In the classic EQ I never went past level 20 so I’m a total noob to this world. But I’m interested to know more about the lore and I can definitely share the hype when things from past are evocated. It’s the charm of the discovery of a complex world with its own consistence and the desire to be part of it. This is a big resource for the game that can involve and appeal ALL players. The old players because the game recuperates and valorizes their knowledge and experience, making them feel to “belong” to this world, while for the new players it becomes a greater context, a complex world to slowly discover step by step.

What is fundamental is to offer the accessibility (as always). The developers shouldn’t fear to take advantage and inspiration from the classic EQ and bring back old storylines and zones. This is the very strength of this game and I agree with the players that they aren’t exploiting it as they should. The added value of a zone rebuilt and reinterpreted from the old world would be retained for all players. It is important that this content is designed so that the “narrative” is accessible for those who enter this world for the first time and still don’t know anything about it. This complexity of the lore and ties to the classic world shouldn’t be a special feature only for those players who can “get it”. It shouldn’t be a special “easter egg”, but the true focus of the game. Carefully designed so that it can involve deeply all players.

This potential for the “sense of wonder” is a precious resource that the game has and that should be used as a strength targeted to all kind of players. An unifying theme for the whole game.

I’m looking forward to play this but I hope it will be kept accessible. The developers should plan for different staring points and accessible quest lines that could work as introductions for those who don’t share the knowledge of the dedicated players. This doesn’t mean that everything should be revealed. The mystery is part of the fun of the discovery but it’s important that the game can introduce the new players to the lore and the important storylines and characters.

Summarizing: don’t understimate this feature and think it can only have a niche appeal for a small group of players. Plan its entrance in the game so that all players can have access to it and can benefit of this unique value. Don’t segment and select your playerbase, instead try to “bring people in”, opening different accessibility points to really involve everyone.

For now these are some guesses I collected from FoH:

Early guesses include: Symbol of Veeshan surrounded by that of the Gods symbols.

The text is Wood Elf it reads: The Future of Everquest 2

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With the very obviously Neriakish symbol though, really tempted to think they might be rebuilding the old city finally – would fit with the plans you always hear NPC’s mumbling about.

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That symbol wasn’t just limited to Neriak. It was a frequent symbol seen in a lot of the original content, mainly in evil parts of cities.

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The helm symbol is Rallos Zek and the swirly one is Innoruuk, don’t remember what the other 3 are.

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The one in the bottom right is Cazic Thule

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Just for completeness, the 9 dots represent Tunare. 3 wavy lines represent Prexus I think. And the other one is the dwarf god, can’t remember his name though.

More guesses:

The symbol in the middle is the symbol for the Dark Elves!!

Anyone remember back a while ago, there was a section on the official EQ live site where you can learn about each race, and each race had a symbol. The symbol for the dark elves was that!

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Vahlen: What you are gazing upon is more than a symbol. Where it was uncovered and who uncovered it could answer a lot, but not everything.

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While most still argue at one point these symbols represented Gods, they are undeniably the symbols that represent the Cities/Races of Norrath. As illustrated from the Firepots in TD, among other places.

The symbol thought to be Veeshan, is clearly also the symbol of Neriak. Sounds like it’s time to reclaim the old cities of Norrath.

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Those symbols look like Prexus, Brell and Tunare in the middle.

Waves, the underground and the candles and the symbol of the 9.

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The meaning of the ancient Teir’Dal symbol of Caerthiel is as follows. The symbol directly in the center is Veeshan. The head of a serpent with the wings of a dragon. The symbol directly left is of Tunare, nine dots that emulate the standing stones seen throughout Norrath. The symbol in the center above that of Veeshan is the symbol of Brell, denoted by the candelabra which is often depicted worn by Brell. The symbol directly to the right of Veeshan is that of Prexus, three lines to denote the waves of the Oceanlord. Surrounding the four symbols is a great circle which depicts the veil erected by the three in their pact to keep the Wurmqueen in check.

The four on the outside from left to right are as follows: Lower left hand corner is Rallos Zek, upper left is Innoruuk, upper right is Cazic Thule, and the lower right is Bertoxxulous…the four horsemen to bring about the end.

The Four Horsemen
There will be four Horsemen to bring about the final days of armageddon, the second war of the gods. First shall ride hate to bring the night. Then shall fear ride to cast its cloak of horror upon the lands. Plague and decay will ride thrice to spread its seed across the lands. The three shall give way to the fourth, and War will embrace the world in an icy wave of doom. The four horsemen shall ride and take their place in what will bring about the final battle for Norrath.

Innoruuk who showed his hand at the Battle of Bloody Kithicor. Cazic Thule when he corrupted the Lesser Faydark and the last unicorn, Equestrielle at the attempted summoning of Tunare’s avatar. The three fold plague of Bertoxxulous upon the Karana Plains. Rallos Zek who sits locked within his Plane of Power, awaiting freedom that he might wreak vengeance for his imprisonment at the last war of the gods. It is said even now in the lower planes where dwells the four can be seen evidence of emissaries and fiends from the realms of all four dark gods gathering their minions for the final hour. Such is at least spoken of within the Plane of Hate where reportedly is now also found a statue of Lanys T’Vyl.

The rumored title for the exp is “Echoes of Faydwer”.

(on March 9, 2006 the trademark ‘EverQuest II Echoes of Faydwer’ was registered by SOE in the US Patent & Trademark office)