People have been wishing and waiting for the "evil Fae" since before Echoes of Faydwer came out, but they mysteriously disappeared some time in Beta, leaving only faint cackles and whispers on the fell winds.

Game Update 35 brings to fruition the promise made back at the Consumer Electronics Show in January: that EQII would release additional free content when possible and aim for larger expansions at slightly longer intervals.

The Dark Elves have been searching for a way to return to their beloved Neriak for hundreds of years, and at last, we can follow them. The Fallen Gate we are familiar with was just that, the tumbled and broken great entry to Neriak that was brought crashing down to seal off and protect the heart of the great citadel of evil.

Neriak and the surrounding Darklight Forest are level 1-20, perfect breeding grounds for the new Arasai infestation. Remind me to pick up a bigger fly-swatter.

So it's not new RAID content, but it will be fun! You raidy types head down to the local pub for a while, Kunark will be coming soon enough.

Nopers, this free update is for us ALT-AHOLICS! To further ruin me (and others like me), EQII is allowing extra character slots (to make an Arasai of course, unless you plan to save that slot for a future Sarnak with Kunark).

Standard EQII subscription increases from 6 to 7 character slots.
Station Pass subscription increases from 10 to 12 character slots

Here are four random Arasai that I saw on Test server this evening. Ok, not entirely random; my innate vanity ensured that I post my gorgeous little evildoer among them. Don't worry, I am sure that the one you make will be almost as cool!



Already live with Game Update 34 are some things many of us have been wishing for: Top of my list for eons - quest sharing! Sure, it's been done in other games. Again, one of the things I love best in EQII is that the Devs are willing to take the things that really work in other MMOGs and adapt them to improve Norrath.

I can tell you it does get a little wearing to hear Wren lament, in every other game we play, "They don't have [feature x] like EQII does!" … but I can live with it.

From a practical, technical point of view, the ability to set and save custom graphics settings is a godsend. It was always such a chore to switch from casual to raid mode in an efficient manner, and I was always losing the bit of paper where I had noted my preferred settings. I think Alluvian got tired of me asking him where to move the sliders every week, hehe.

On a related note, being able to save custom and load custom UI settings is great as well. I am a lazy Dwarf and am always looking for ways to make my life easier. Hurrah!

Kunark… clearly that deserves another post (and comic) for another day!

;-)#
Brasse