by Savanja on Apr 20, 2007
by: Tony "RadarX" Jones
<!-- 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>"); //-->Some interesting rumors have been leaking from the Test server in recent days. While the Arsai race was discovered back in 2006, more and more information seems to be trickling in, so were going to do our best to present you with what we know and what we dont.
The following directory was added in the Test Patch: C:\Program Files\Sony\EverQuest II\UI\TestServer\UI\Neriak
These files have been found on numerous players PC's, and an SOE employee verified they were not supposed to have been in the Test patch.
Neriak is a reference to the EverQuest 1 city where the Dark Elves lived. There are areas of Fallen Gate called Little Neriak so realistically this zone should be found nearby.
After going through a number of files Josgar of Antonia Bayle posted on the EQ2-Daily Forums, I noticed descriptions for Qeynos, Freeport and Kelethin. They looked like this:
Page Location="0,63" Name="QeynosPage" ScrollExtent="288,495" Size="288,495" Visible="false"
Text BackgroundColor="#0000FF" Font="/TextStyles.VeryLarge.VeryLargeStyle" LocalText="Qeynos" Location="15,9" Name="CityName" ScrollExtent="243,28" Size="243,28" TextColor="#C1FCFF">:cbbb2e9fa72a23e1:Qeynos /Text
Text BackgroundColor="#0000FF" Font="/TextStyles.Large.LargeStyle" LocalText="The City of Hope" Location="15,37" Name="CityNameSubtitle" ScrollExtent="248,24" Size="248,24" TextColor="#82F9FF":
A little further down you see this
Page Location="0,63" Name="NeriakPage" ScrollExtent="288,495" Size="288,495 Text BackgroundColor="#0000FF" Font="/TextStyles.VeryLarge.VeryLargeStyle" LocalText="Neriak" Location="15,9" Name="CityName" ScrollExtent="243,28" Size="243,28" TextColor="#C1FCFF":cbbb2e9f0a0bb7f3:Neriak /Tex>
Text BackgroundColor="#0000FF" Font="/TextStyles.Large.LargeStyle" LocalText="NEED SUBTITLE" Location="15,37" Name="CityNameSubtitle" ScrollExtent="248,24" Size="248,24" TextColor="#82F9FF":
I think its safe to assume they are still writing the description for the city.
Screenshots have surfaced of a gate in the Commonlands:
These screenshots, which are at the bottom, came from EQ2Flames (thank you to Apollodon and LFG for providing them) and clearly shows 2 NPCs having a discussion, an unusual map, and gates. The following quote was extremely interesting:
Lord Razon Blayze says, These men owe a debt to the state and are being allowed to repay it. Do you question our Overlords decision?
Chief Engineer Bairgen says, No
no
of course not.
Lord Razon Blayze says, Good. Now this tunnel will be completed on time. The doorway to Darklight Woods will be opened to the Overlord.
Now this gate is confirmed by the person who took the screenshot to be in the Commonlands around 191, -45, -851. It mentions Darklight Woods which very well could be the starting area for the city.
There is an SOE Press Event in 2 Weeks:
The information provided to Ten Ton Hammer stated two new Intellectual Properties would be announced. This would be the perfect opportunity to announce a large addition or expansion to the game.
This is part of an expansion:
The files are all listed under Exp04 which if it followed the file hierarchy of the past would mean it is under the next expansion. This has not been verified or denied in any way.
This will be on Live servers soon:
This is also completely unverified. None of the information we have available would indicate this could come sooner or later. SOE is completely quiet on the timetable.
This is why GU34 is so light:
There is no denying in comparison to the last GUs the most recent one is a little lighter in the content department. Are they working on something big that is eating up Dev time? This is the most plausible of the rumors Ive seen. I received no official comment.
There is more raid content coming:
I would absolutely love to believe this is true. There are indications of a few more zones based on the file names Josgar posted. Nothing Ive seen would verify the type of zones being added but Im really hopeful.
As you can see, there is quite a bit of available to us but still a few mysteries. The only big answers most of us are looking for are what type of content is coming and when. Stay with Ten Ton Hammer as more information becomes available.
Neriak is Coming?