by Savanja on Dec 12, 2005
by Paul "SLiDE" Shortt
<!-- if (!document.phpAds_used) document.phpAds_used = ','; phpAds_random = new String (Math.random()); phpAds_random = phpAds_random.substring(2,11); document.write ("<" + "script language='JavaScript' type='text/javascript' src='"); document.write ("http://ads.tentonhammer.com/adjs.php?n=" + phpAds_random); document.write ("&what=zone:25"); document.write ("&exclude=" + document.phpAds_used); if (document.referrer) document.write ("&referer=" + escape(document.referrer)); document.write ("'><" + "/script>"); //-->The holidays are upon us once again as Everquest 2 continues on into its second year. Soon after EQII’s release in 2004, the developers put in some seasonal items for players to purchase like candles for player houses, food and drink. The food and drink weren’t reported to give any special benefits, but at least you could show off by consuming mass amounts of eggnog.
This year SOE plans on putting together a special event for the holidays, although they are being quite tight lipped about the whole thing. The test server notes seem to hint to something happening with “Frostfell”. Now, I won’t pretend to know what Frostfell means. Perhaps it’s a holiday name. As far as I know, it’s not a Norrathian month. I believe December’s equivalent is the month of Deadening.
Anyway, since we don’t actually know what’s going to happen for the game’s winter holiday event, I’d like to express some of the things that I think should occur.
Yeah, ok, I know that Everfrost has plenty of snow, but why doesn’t it ever Snow in other parts of Norrath? Perhaps it sits in some weird part of the globe where only one island is frozen. Bah, what would be cooler than jumping in my new sled and barreling down the Antonican hills knocking over a gnoll or two. Perhaps roping a wild deer for a dangerous ride through the snow on my new severed teak snowboard! YIPPIE!!
They’re vicious, they’re barbaric (no offense to the barbarians) and they smell kind of funny, but do they not bleed like you and I? Do they not have feelings? Do they not have families like our own? What? You don’t care? Well, neither do I, so let’s get together for a holiday slaughter. Who knows, maybe you won’t have time to pick up a Christmas turkey or ham. I hear gnolls taste similar to chicken, and I know for a fact that orcs are very pork like. Dinner is served. Merry Christmas you filthy animals! /battlecry
How can you not appreciate those burly dwarves? And, oh yes, I’m talking about the women too. They all don their beards with pride and speak in gruff voices that make many people smile. I even venture into the Down below just to hear Falin Shaloon yell out “If I don’t have what you want, Ya don’t neeeeeed it”.
I want to see them all in fabled Santa gear this holiday. Yes, I know that the Halflings have stomachs that shake like a bowl full of jelly, but they just can’t grow facial hair like a dwarf. Is it too much to ask? I think not. If the dwarves won’t do it for us, at least do it for the kids. Although people may take advantage and chase them down, asking for the latest prismatic weapons for Christmas.
Yep. Green hats and pointy shoes, duel wielding their little wooden hammers working to get those toys out. Those high elves are too haughty for my taste, so working for the man would do them some good.
Sony put in the option to PvP players throughout Norrath. Now is the time to add the /punt command. It would only be usable on gnomes, halflings and ratongas. What does this have to do with the holidays you ask? Absolutely nothing, but I guarantee it would put me in better spirits. If you haven’t tried punting those smaller than you, I highly recommend it, especially after a long, hard day of grinding. Dare I say it’s better than sharing a Hot Toddy with Tipsy Tina in Qeynos Harbor?
I hear that trolls mainly don’t believe in holiday spirit. I feel bad for them. The Devs should sneak into all their apartments or caves and lather them with pretty lights, ornaments, sparkles, and fruit cakes!! Oooh, here’s another idea. Force them to wear Rudolf antlers and red noses! Fun!
Blinky lights, lots of them. I want to see every tree in the Feerrott with pretty twinkle lights. Yes, I know it’s cruel because the lizard men will never see the splendor before them, but I care not. They’ve tried to eat the meat from my skeleton many times in the past. (Note: For those who didn’t know, the Lizardmen all seem to have cut out their eyes, for religious reasons.) I would like to see blinky lights on all of the giant stone conscripts also. I can see it now. I just don’t want to be the maintenance guy who has to find that one burnt out light that took out section 5 in quadrant C.
It would be nice to see some more candles for the season, however, if the Menorah or Kinara were used, I could just see patrons who celebrate these religions getting very angry every time a mischevious goblin or fairy would blow them out. Then we’d have a lawsuit on our hands, angry people, possible violence and a turkey being set on fire for some reason or another. And that’s just not festive in a happy way.
On a serious note, this is the holidays and it would be nice to put our griefing aside for some time and enjoy a great social game. I encourage people or guilds to put together gift exchanges. I encourage helping new players get acclimated with their new game. I also encourage singing carols and other holiday songs to group-mates using voice-chat clients. (I may get some hate mail for that last one).
Have a happy holiday everyone. Take it easy on the spirits at your holiday party if you plan on riding you horse or carpet afterward. They aren’t equipped with headlights, airbags or crumple zones.