Next Expansion

[Xislaben]

http://mobhunter.com/001478.html

The Serpent's Spine

Rumors on the EQ Live forums and some investigative work by those with far too much time on their hands, has revealed the likely title for the next expansion: The Serpent's Spine. No other new information has been revealed except that SOE designers stated that while level 80 is not entirely out of the question, it is much more likely to increase the level range to 75. Given the difficulty in creating new items, disciplines, spells, and AAs at each level, and the great amount of new content discussed in the new expansion, we are very likely to see the cap at level 75, not higher.

[Gustox]

Personally i'm getting sick and tired of seeing the level cap go higher and higher each time /sigh. If it was just an additive for AAs that'd be completely okay with me

[Rijak]

Actually, the level cap hasn't gone up for a few years. But I don't like the idea either. As always, it trivializes even more content. And if casual/group loot is upgraded again, even Qvic might become mostly irrelavant with this one.

[Nelran]

Originally posted by Rijak@Jun 16 2006, 02:06 PM
Actually, the level cap hasn't gone up for a few years. But I don't like the idea either. As always, it trivializes even more content. And if casual/group loot is upgraded again, even Qvic might become mostly irrelavant with this one.
Yes!! OMM you will be solo'd, one day...

When your loot is trivial and your zone empty.

[Croix, Whos Half Necro]

Originally posted by Gustox@Jun 16 2006, 06:53 PM
Personally i'm getting sick and tired of seeing the level cap go higher and higher each time /sigh. If it was just an additive for AAs that'd be completely okay with me
It hasn't gone up since OoW, which was September of 2004. Given that there's been no hard info, I'd say we're not likely to see the expansion until later Octomber/Early November, so that's over 2 years since the last 5 levels.

As for the trivializing content, this is somewhat true, and while it's frustrating, it's somewhat needed as well, since this opens up oppurtunities for casual gamers who'd otherwise be stuck right where they were, except with maybe a few new shinies.

Sure, Qvic will be replaced... as were the Elemental Planes with the release of Qvic, I'd say. It's called "Progression", which is much better than "Stagnation".

[Jebasiz]

Originally posted by Nelran+Jun 16 2006, 02:07 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Nelran @ Jun 16 2006, 02:07 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-Rijak@Jun 16 2006, 02:06 PM
Actually, the level cap hasn't gone up for a few years. But I don't like the idea either. As always, it trivializes even more content. And if casual/group loot is upgraded again, even Qvic might become mostly irrelavant with this one.
Yes!! OMM you will be solo'd, one day...

When your loot is trivial and your zone empty. [/b][/quote]
Anguish is instance only..ie there's not static zone version and therefore until you enter it/request an instance of it, it doesn't exist, making it empty!

Do to mechanics of the fight, I'd be shocked that if anytime within the next 2 years a force smaller then 24 has a shot in hell at downing him. Let alone reaching him with the zone clear.

[Rijak]

Originally posted by Croix, Whos Half Necro@Jun 16 2006, 02:17 PM
Sure, Qvic will be replaced... as were the Elemental Planes with the release of Qvic, I'd say. It's called "Progression", which is much better than "Stagnation".
I agree in part, but these days "progression" in terms of loot seems to mean make great loot easier and easier to get. For me, it started with Omens where one-groupable mobs appeared that would drop elemental level loot, and much of it wasn't even no-drop. Throw in all the group missions these days and what SOE has done is almost completely remove the incentive for casual raiding. Either you're hardcore raiding or hardcore missioning, and there is very little in between.

[Jebasiz]

Ya..it's really hard to argue for PoP progression when arcston, relic, elddar and DODH arcs are dropping better loot heh. Even Qvic loot can largely be supplanted by ToB trash drops. All you need is 2+ groups to do the 6 instance tasks to get flagged and then it's onward to more 225hp loot.

Casual guilds can easily do this if they've taken the time to get GM gear and aug'd it smartly. Combined with dodh and other task loot..tanks can get 10k unbuffed and never join a raid. Probably 11k...if not more.

[GnekroeGnomicon]

Combined with dodh and other task loot..tanks can get 10k unbuffed and never join a raid. Probably 11k...if not more. I magelo'd a warrior, with tanking aa's. GM cultural, DoDh mission rewards, a few quest pieces here and there, and then filled in with hp/ac augs which should be readily achieveable (my guild does them). I did this a bit ago now, you could probably work in some more random zonewides to up the hp a bit. You could pretty easily break 11k if you sacrificed some ac (honestly, wouldn't think about it till >2400 ac though).

Test Warrior - 10797 hp, 2347 ac
http://www.magelo.com/eq_view_profile.html?num=1297605

This would be for if I ever added a 3rd box :P

Just looking at it now, I bet I could with 1group upgrades still hit 11k, 2400 ac - actually many of the gear choices I have given him were based on what my guild could readily do, not necessarily even what is really "1 groupable". See a few areas where he could be beefed up just casually glancing over it. Shielding is the only thing that he truly misses I think with single group drops.

Would take a lot of time, pp (GM+augs+radiant kyanite's), and a lot of camping, but if this were someone's main I don't see why this isn't readily achievable by non-raid tanks.

[Feellia Flo]

I really don't mind the cultural stuff, that takes alot of time and actually some highend drops to really fill out some big stats.

Groupable drops kinda bug me, considering how much effort it takes to beat Uqua or make it to plane of time, heck even VT can be added in as an example.

Then again like Rijak said people doing these are from raiding guilds that don't have the luxury of building up as much DKP for raid drops with flagging added in as a bonus. When I mean luxury I mean less playtime.

As far as Qvic IMO it still smokes group drops. Necros can push over 8k unbuffed with full Qvic gear HP augmented through DoN and RSS drops in about one to two weeks of farming. It basically builds up way more speed for advancing a guild to way better loot., leaving the little guys in the dust.