Re: EQII - GU51: The Lavastorm Update
Jrral -- 2009-03-10 00:34:14
My impression of the fighter changes: if you're a group/raid main tank, throw away your offensive gear. You hold aggro by threat first, damage second. This is what seems to throw most tanks, because they keep insisting on trying to evaluate the changes in terms of how they're going to hold aggro by damage, even as the changes make it clear that tanking is no longer about dealing the most damage. As compensation, tanks in defensive stance get a lot more survivability. Having tried my 'zerker on Test, give him my guild's primary warden and he's an unkillable aggro magnet. Of course he needs to be 'cause he's dishing out almost as much DPS as the heal-specced warden is...
And if you aren't a group/raid main tank, you're a DPS class. You don't tank. Your abilities have been adjusted to make it difficult if not impossible to tank in offensive stance. You can't effectively hold aggro and deal damage at the same time. Which is where IMO the whole thing went off the tracks. There's more types of tanks than just group/raid MT.
Though... EQ2 Players says GU51's been postponed again. This'll make twice it's been put off.
And if you aren't a group/raid main tank, you're a DPS class. You don't tank. Your abilities have been adjusted to make it difficult if not impossible to tank in offensive stance. You can't effectively hold aggro and deal damage at the same time. Which is where IMO the whole thing went off the tracks. There's more types of tanks than just group/raid MT.
Though... EQ2 Players says GU51's been postponed again. This'll make twice it's been put off.
Re: EQII - GU51: The Lavastorm Update
Bakual -- 2009-03-10 00:57:47
Nice writeup, only that nobody ever said that GU51 will hit live servers today, it's only a maintenance downtime.
Re: EQII - GU51: The Lavastorm Update
Whilhelmina -- 2009-03-10 05:15:21
It's a very nice writup for this new zone revamp.
I would like to add that there are 2 timelines in Lavastorm : one level 80 timeline (still a bit bugged last time I looked) and a level 47-53 timeline. For this second one, you have to help the gobs and I should suggest you to take the time to read the dialogs as they're pretty funny. You have to kill a number of mobs, finishing just after Solusek Ro temple so it's interesting, level wise, to do those quests between Everfrost and Sinking Sands.
The mobs in the zone often dropped from heroic to solo but gaigned several levels. But travelling is not THAT easy because you still have to cross Sol Ro to reach the teleportation pad and second horse on the other side... and it's level 52-53 SEE INVIS...I'll have to level my test server conjuror I guess.
There is a short tradeskill timeline for tradeskillers level 40+. Red glowies are in LS and Zek and not both in Lava. A new tradeskill dungeon is added too.
As for the day of launch, our French red-name said it would be launched in the middle of march on the french section of the forum.
If I understood all of this well, they skipped the true GU51 that was intended for the middle of last month (the fighter revamp) and only hotfixed the things that were not fighters' related.
Then they renamed the GU 52 Lava revamp and said it would be GU51, but it wasn't on test at the time and so it will be released at the intended date for GU52, so mid-march. If i understood all of this mess right of course ;)
I would like to add that there are 2 timelines in Lavastorm : one level 80 timeline (still a bit bugged last time I looked) and a level 47-53 timeline. For this second one, you have to help the gobs and I should suggest you to take the time to read the dialogs as they're pretty funny. You have to kill a number of mobs, finishing just after Solusek Ro temple so it's interesting, level wise, to do those quests between Everfrost and Sinking Sands.
The mobs in the zone often dropped from heroic to solo but gaigned several levels. But travelling is not THAT easy because you still have to cross Sol Ro to reach the teleportation pad and second horse on the other side... and it's level 52-53 SEE INVIS...I'll have to level my test server conjuror I guess.
There is a short tradeskill timeline for tradeskillers level 40+. Red glowies are in LS and Zek and not both in Lava. A new tradeskill dungeon is added too.
As for the day of launch, our French red-name said it would be launched in the middle of march on the french section of the forum.
If I understood all of this well, they skipped the true GU51 that was intended for the middle of last month (the fighter revamp) and only hotfixed the things that were not fighters' related.
Then they renamed the GU 52 Lava revamp and said it would be GU51, but it wasn't on test at the time and so it will be released at the intended date for GU52, so mid-march. If i understood all of this mess right of course ;)
Re: EQII - GU51: The Lavastorm Update
Calain -- 2009-03-10 05:28:00
Nice writeup.
In addition to the above mentioned, the entrance you show in the pic is the entrance to the new x4 raid zone. The entrance to Ward of Elements is below Najena's Hollow Tower. You first need to clear Ward of Elements, before you are allowed to zone into the x4 raid zone. (I'm sorry that I don't know it's name.)
While a Dev said that GU#51 should go live beginning to middle march, that was three weeks ago, so the schedule might have changed by now.
In addition to the above mentioned, the entrance you show in the pic is the entrance to the new x4 raid zone. The entrance to Ward of Elements is below Najena's Hollow Tower. You first need to clear Ward of Elements, before you are allowed to zone into the x4 raid zone. (I'm sorry that I don't know it's name.)
While a Dev said that GU#51 should go live beginning to middle march, that was three weeks ago, so the schedule might have changed by now.
Re: EQII - GU51: The Lavastorm Update
Rijacki -- 2009-03-10 07:01:49
From Froech (Bruce Ferguson, the producer)
As many of you know, we've been working on Elements of Corruption (Game Update 51) for some time...there really is a lot of good stuff coming, including new zones, new raids, new quests, a revamp of Lavastorm, the list seems endless. However, we're not quite ready to release it. I know many of you were expecting us to do so this week or next, but at this point, we just need some more time to spend working on it so that it's just right for all of you. Please be patient with us while we finish polishing the update, and as soon as we have a good date that we can ship out all of this exciting goodness, we'll let you know.
Also, for those of you who are trying to claim the item as promised in the Beckett's magazine promotion, it will postpone that item as well. We hope you understand, and certainly appreciate your patience.
As for the Lavastorm revamp, I am looking forward to exploring it's newness :)
As for the fighter revamp. Those who have actually played with it, and haven't just looked at raw numbers in other people's posts compared to Live numbers, have been pleased by the direction it's taken. Those who are armchair devs, of course, think they know the game better than anyone else.
But, with the coming fighter revamp, my raid leader is talking about not needing a coercer any more or even wanting one on the raid force.. even though I am generally in the top 10 and often the top 5 of damage dealers on our raids, while being in the MT group, because I work like the dickens to do high damage and keep my equipment better than a lot of the players in the guild. And I provide a lot of power not only to my own group but beyond. Oh well. The top end guilds are jetisoning coercers just because the hate they make won't be as needed (though coercers will have the only direct, passive transfer after the changes).
Re: EQII - GU51: The Lavastorm Update
Tyraenna -- 2009-03-10 10:17:11
OK, the lava armor has me drooling! And I stopped playing EQ2 a while ago :)
[Brasse'edit: Tyr, the lava in the glowing cracks of this armor is animated. Yep, that's right, resub right over there... hehe]
[Brasse'edit: Tyr, the lava in the glowing cracks of this armor is animated. Yep, that's right, resub right over there... hehe]
Re: EQII - GU51: The Lavastorm Update
Bakual -- 2009-03-10 08:29:04
It's still a rumor that GU51 will not include the Fighter Revamp. As far as I know there is no statement from any dev that it is not included and thus the official statement is still "GU51 = Fighter Revamp + Lavastorm". Since Lavastorm would be ready to be rolled out from what we know, the only reason to delay GU51 would be the Fighter Revamp. If this revamp would not be part of GU51 anyway, then why delay the GU51 in the first place? Would make no sense to me. At least that would be my logic ;)
Re: EQII - GU51: The Lavastorm Update
Brasse -- 2009-03-10 09:58:39
You guys are awesome. Thank you for all the updates and additional information on the GU51 conspiracy. I still expect to see photos of alien autopsies and stuff...
;-)#
;-)#
Re: EQII - GU51: The Lavastorm Update
Gildan -- 2009-03-10 10:30:59
Fighter changes. By all accounts it will be significantly easier for fighters to hold aggro if the changes go through. Instead of hate transfer and tank dps being mandatory to hold aggro, taunts will actually be useful and a very necessary thing. Right now, tanking is a colossal mess in raids and groups because hate transfer is required for all the dps that is out there, and this limits group composition. It's immensely annoying to see groups that will only take coercers and dirges anymore for the utility spot(s).
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EQII - GU51: The Lavastorm Update
Brasse -- 2009-03-10 14:19:41
On Wednesday, March 4th, I attended a press tour of the Lavastorm revamp and introduction to the new raid zone, Ward of Elements. GU51 is definitely up on Test Server, but I am told by readers that it is NOT going live today as I had expected and that today's downtime is merely a maintenance patch. Or that maybe it is going live. I certainly assumed that it was going live after the press toured the place. As the saying goes, to assume makes an ass out of you and... well, ok, it makes an ass out of me.
Therefore, I'll just draw another flagon of ale, watch the official EQII forums, and let you know when I know.
Summary of GU51, a.k.a. "The Elements of Corruption":
New raid zones for us whiny level 80s (a x2 and a x4) as well as a buncha faction grinding and other quests are added as Lavastorm gets a content facelift. She was only FOUR at the time. Yeesh. She'll go for a tattoo next, or a piercing in an inappropriate place.
Edited Tuesday morning: I am told that GU51 may NOT include the fighter revamp after all. It was originally to be included, but has been pushed off. During the zone tour of Lavastorm that EQII hosted, the devs would not answer any questions about the changes to the fighter class. My apologies for the initial confusion for early readers of this comic. Not only are fighters unsure of how this is going to work, but apparently we won't know when this is going live, either.
Apparently, and I must have missed this, the fighter revamp, earlier referred to as GU51, is not called that any more. Much of what had been slated for "GU51" went live on February 5th, minus the fighter changes, and was merely called a hotfix patch. The Lavastorm revamp, originally called "GU52" is now called GU51. And people wonder why I am confused.
So let's talk about fighters anyway, cause I already did before I edited this piece.
FIGHTER REVAMP (cannot confirm or deny that it will come in with GU51):
I don't play fighters. I play the people that keep them standing upright while some giant critter stomps on their heads.
What DOES concern me is that so many fighters claim they have no clue how the revamp will affect them, or how they need to change tactics. Is this EverQuest II's version of an intelligence quiz? You must be this smrt to ride the tanky train!
I hope they've figured it out by the time the changes go live and I am on a guild raid, or there will be a whole lotta splatter goin' on. Note to self: lay in extra anaesthetic for that raid. Upgrade to 40-oz bottle.
LAVASTORM HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECT:
Meanwhile, let's look at the new Lavastorm. This was always one of my favorite open-air zones in EQII. The form, color, texture and complexity were, and are, fantastic. Seems complexity is not this year's buzzword, because Lavastorm is getting horse routes.
You don't even have to trudge to the destinations the first time, just hop the flaming steed and go, you slackers. The flamy ponies will transport you to Dagger Spires Pass, Goblet of Ro and Temple of Solusek Ro.
Aggro Goblins have been cleared out of the tunnel by the docks, and wandering Goblins will no longer attack on sight (I guess because wimpy elfinks got tired of being pushed around).
The zone revamp offers over twenty new quests, some of which are repeatable. While grinding faction generally results in grinding my teeth, some of the rewards are very cool. The craftable Lava Armor is gorgeous, and designed to be used in appearance slots. A new mount is on the list: the Goblin's beloved "Lava Cow," which looks like a Rhinoceros on fire. Only I think you need to describe it as "Rhino. On FI-YAH!"
Other changes to the zone include a new influx of Void-tainted humanoids in the Temple of Solusek Ro and the addition of faction-based merchants to the docks. The solo quest line for Lavastorm starts in the Shrine of Thunder, with Pallasa Rargon.
EQ2Players has a nice piece on Lavastorm that deserves a read-through for the background and lore alone.
Just to push Wren over the edge of sanity, this revamp also introduces seven new collectible quests to Lavastorm. The end results of the seven quests can then be combined to fulfill an eighth collection, which, it was promised, has "a really cool reward." If that description confused you, drink less, and think back to the way the newbie butterfly and moth collection quests work. Yah, you got the idea now.
Lavastorm also received two new "red glowy" quests for high level crafters. No, I am not going to call them shinies. Bugger off.
(Note: a reader has posted below that Lavastorm gets ONE red glowy quest, while the other will show up in Zek.)
NEW LEVEL 80 x2 RAID ZONE: WARD OF ELEMENTS
A new area has been revealed just west and a bit north of the docks, in an area known as "Najena's Cove." A wide beach leads to a cavern, while the distinctive form of a void portal is seen just off the coast. The latter is the entrance to the Ward of Elements.
Level 80 players can get their freak on with this new Epic x2 raid zone, after completing a short access quest which begins at the Shrine of Thunder, on the docks. In the entry room, a shining crystal will play an introductory sequence, a plea of sorts by the magician Najena, who has been captured by the servants of the Void, after they corrupted all of her greatest elemental servants. These very servants are now keepers of the wards that imprison the lady, and all must be defeated in order to release Najena.
The zone isn't linear in nature, so you can tackle the named mobs in any order you wish. Each one requires special tactics of course, and I am most curious to read about how different groups approach the challenges that the elemental lords present. Flickering images of Najena appear at crucial points along the dungeon, offering a few hints on how you must tackle the Warders.
Important note: Although the zone is accessed from Lavastorm, one of the otiginal EQII zones, the Ward of Elements is a Shadow Odyssey (TSO) zone. You will not be able to get in unless you have that expansion installed.
NEW LEVEL 80 x4 RAID ZONE: MUNZOK'S MATERIAL BASTION
I got nothin'. Haven't been there yet, though the screenshots I've seen look suspiciously like Anchor of Bazzul. It is pretty common to reuse zone elements, but I do hope that they've done more than just change the mobs. I'll get back to you on that.
Like Ward Of Elements, Munzok's will require players to own The Shadow Odyssey expansion to enter.
Below: the entrance to Munzok's Material Bastion, the x4 raid zone off Najena's Cove. The zone in to the x2 zone, Ward of Elements is inside a nearby cave. There goes the neighborhood!
NOTE: I will post the map for this zone asap when the zone goes live (whenever that is), so keep an eye out for it!
Elements of Corruption is a broad-based, well crafted revamp. Lavastorm was a zone I loved when I was in the right level range for it, and I do believe I have an alt just reaching 50 now... gah, wait, that's my Ratonga Shadowknight! I guess I'd better go read up on and try to make sense of those fighter class changes. BAH, homework!
;-)#
Brasse
ps. Thank you all for the fantastic and helpful comments below. I really appreciate it! ;-)#