Old School Gaming for the Win

by Shayalyn

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Once upon a time there was a game
called EverQuest. It launched waaay back in 1999, and let me tell you,
Sonny, it was no game for you wimpy World of Warcraft types. When we
died, we didn't go running to our bodies as some untouchable ghost,
nosiree! We returned nearly nekkid, to our bind points; and we had to
trek across dangerous zones--without the protection of our gear, mind
you--to retrieve our broken corpses. We didn't go flyin' everywhere,
neither...we ran for miles through misty forests and across burning
deserts to get where we needed to go. And we style="font-style: italic;">liked it that way.



For those old timers who truly did like it that way ( href="http://vanguard.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=324">and
I count myself among them),
Sony Online Entertainment has dished
up a little old fashioned revival in the form of its new progression
servers. The progression server consists of the EverQuest zones in
Antonica,
Faydwer and Odus that were available at launch back in 1999, allowing
players to relive (or experience for the first time) the way that EQ
was back in the day. Players will quest to unlock each game expansion
progressively (hence the name "progression servers") up to the current
EQ expansion, Prophecy of Ro.



Why does this matter to Vanguard fans? Because Vanguard is an apple
that will fall not far from the EverQuest family tree. Unless you've
been living in a cave, you're probably aware that Vanguard is being
developed by Sigil Games Online, a company founded by some of the
original minds behind EverQuest, namely Brad McQuaid (CEO), and Jeff
Butler (President). Vanguard promises to bring some of the original
challenge that was EverQuest back into MMO gaming, but wrapped in a
next generation package.



That's not to say that Sigil is sadistic. They've taken a bit of the
sting out of  EverQuest's hardcore bite. Corpse runs will still be
a reality, but players will have early access to mounts, on which they
can store a spare set of armor--no more naked runs through
monster-infested areas. Dying will still hurt, but it may not appear
quite as devastating thanks to an experience debt system (although
experience loss instead of debt is still under consideration by the
Vanguard team). While travel will not be instant, mounts will be easier
to come by, and players will have the ability to own ships, or travel
while offline via caravans.



The official Vanguard forums are full of gamers who miss the good old
days and long for a game that brings challenge back to MMOs. Will
Vanguard be that game? And are there enough people willing to ditch
"softer" games like World of Warcraft to make Vanguard a success? I
think so, and I think the popularity of the new EQ progression servers
stands as testament. Where do you stand?

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VOTE IN
OUR POLL!

What do you think of Vanguard's old school approach to MMO fun? href="http://vanguard.tentonhammer.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&p=3187#3187">Vote
in
our poll, and then share
your opinion on our forum.

Hell yeah! Naked EQ corpse runs rocked. I'm actually
disappointed that Vanguard is softening the blow somewhat Definitely! I'm up for a challenge. But I'm glad things
will be a little gentler and less tedious in Vanguard Meh! I'm not convinced I'm going to like all this old
school stuff, but I'm willing to give it a try
Dying on a corpse run and traveling everywhere on foot (or
horse, or boat) is not my idea of fun Old school scares me! I'm behind the couch shivering right
now Other