Yes, I know, this is my first gaming blog in a long time.
While reading the below, keep in mind this is all based on speculation.The Legends of Norrath team is releasing their eighth expansion come this October. Many players from the EverQuest AND EverQuest 2 communities are disappointed in the news as it now ties the card game directly to in-game content:
http://legendsofnorrath.station.sony.com/travelers.vm
Most of the time, I find myself very pleased with SOE's game development. This time, however, I find myself feeling ambivalent, even leaning toward the negative.
How will LoN tie into EQ and EQ2 now? Is this expansion going to unlock actual dungeons via loot cards? Are NPC's in EverQuest and EverQuest 2 going to offer quests that require you to duel? Will those quests be flags to access new areas and loot? Who knows? Let me explain why these changes potentially bothers me:
1. I recall it being said a few Fan Faires back that LoN would never directly affect gameplay in other games. From the notes for
Travelers, however, it is obvious that LoN will now be directly tied into EQ and EQ2 in some capacity.
2. The cash store and LoN already offer enough incentive for players to partake in microtransactions. I, like many other players, fancy myself a completist - I must finish everything. Am I now going to be
required to buy more LoN cards to accomodate my playstyle?
Must I now spend more money on top of my monthly subscription fee? If area unlocks come from loot cards, I
will feel required by my completist playstyle to spend a variable sum of money in hopes of loot card unlocks.
3. I don't play Vanguard because I was severely let down by the diplomacy system. Sure, it opened the game to different styles of play, but it felt like I was disconnecting myself from Vanguard every time I had to play it. Remember, I like to finish everything and thusly I say "had to". If this creates any diplomacy-like situations, I will be severely disappointed.
4. I would imagine that new unlockable areas/quests means that experience points will be gained from discovery and/or winning. The potions available in the cash store already push the boundaries of what many consider "game changing" items. I feel as if this could be a push too far; these changes are potentially seriously game changing.
5. The games have changed quickly as it is. Is this possibly a new way to introduce Adventure Packs back into the business model? If so, no thank you.
Those are my negative feelings on the coming changes. Keep in mind, of course, that
the details are vague and all my feelings are based on speculation. I do look forward to new standard loot cards and the new visible backpack for EQ2. I'll refrain from making any real judgements until details are announced in full.
Please feel free to share your feelings via comments.
