Ranger / Druid Starting Zone

[mmiles8]

Starting the thread for it as suggested by Nilbog

Half Elves start in Surefall Glade near Qeynos.

Human rangers start in Surefall Glade near Qeynos. (http://web.archive.org/web/20001109135900/eq.castersrealm.com/creationguides/Ranger.asp)


If you are a half-elf - make a level and hoof it over to Halas/Everfrost - best newbie zone in game...when you are done there at level 6 or so....go to the shaman guild in Halas, buy gate, and go home! (http://web.archive.org/web/20000303011102/www.eqdruids.com/newbie.htm)

Summary of combinations that start in SFG:


Half Elf Ranger
Half Elf Druid
Human Ranger
Human Druid

[Overcast]

Pretty sure this is correct. As the trainer you have to turn the note into - is in Surefall.

[RKromwell]

Yep, that is correct. It was odd to me when I started that I first spawned in Qeynos and had to run all the way to Surefall to turn in my note. On live, we were always born in Surefall.

[Ranger1930]

Half elf Ranger/druid's had the Choice of starting in kelethin OR Qeynos.
I remember this very clearly.

Well actually I don't understand why you have those notes in the game because those were not classic at all, Neither was the food on your person either.

When I started my half elf ranger back in 99 I clearly remember starting in Gfaydark(its why i fell in the love with the game)

and the only thing i had on me was a short sword. That was it.

I really don't think they started that note thing till either kunark or velious. I know it was introduced Very early, as well as the food supplies but neither were on the initial release.

[RKromwell]

You might have caught a bug but the guild notes where always there, along with a starting weapon and the book for the priest of Discord.

But yes, a half elf could start in Kelethin.

[Aeolwind]

I think what Miles is referring to is Karana druids/rangers starting in SFG vs Qeynos. Ranger1980 falls in with my recollection. The original starting place for Karana was in Qeynos and you had to run to SFG. All original starting points were at the priest of discord. So you had the option to turn in the book. There isn't/wasn't a POD in SFG in classic ergo, it could not have been a starting point initially. The point where it changed becomes the rub. I couldn't find data evidence indicating the change, so I'm not specifically sure when it should.

[mmiles8]

Half elf Ranger/druid's had the Choice of starting in kelethin OR Qeynos.
I remember this very clearly.

Well actually I don't understand why you have those notes in the game because those were not classic at all, Neither was the food on your person either.

When I started my half elf ranger back in 99 I clearly remember starting in Gfaydark(its why i fell in the love with the game)

and the only thing i had on me was a short sword. That was it.

I really don't think they started that note thing till either kunark or velious. I know it was introduced Very early, as well as the food supplies but neither were on the initial release.

If you click on the bottom link from the original post (http://web.archive.org/web/20000303011102/www.eqdruids.com/newbie.htm), you'll find all of the newbie starting items (including the guild tunic from newbie note) referred to, along with the changes in their progression since release.

If you didn't have a newbie note, this manual from March of 1999 explains why:

[Note: Some PC's do not start with this note, as their Guildmaster has not yet been added to the world. Not having a note does not is not a disadvantage, as membership to your profession's Guild is not required to receive training] (http://www.angelfire.com/nt/com1/playg.html)

Due to this, it seems as if Surefall Glade may not have been complete at launch.

I don't think a Priest of Discord was ever added to SFG. This could have been an oversight.
http://everquest.allakhazam.com/search.html?q=priest+of+discord
http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com/search.shtml?zone=14
http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com/search.shtml?zone=273

It seems likely that the listed classes above began starting in SFG when selected Qeynos as their starting city once SFG was complete.

--

I've been trying to find my old ROK/Classic discs. The Eqmanual.doc file should be identical on both, since when Kunark was released, there was a second ROK_Manual_Supplement.doc, rather than an edited manual. I did find my SOV disc and installed that, but it only installed Velious files, no core game files at all.

If anyone can dig up their old discs and host these files, it would be a handy resource for a number of things. Meanwhile, I'll keep looking.

[fwaits]

I've been trying to find my old ROK/Classic discs. The Eqmanual.doc file should be identical on both, since when Kunark was released, there was a second ROK_Manual_Supplement.doc, rather than an edited manual. I did find my SOV disc and installed that, but it only installed Velious files, no core game files at all.

If anyone can dig up their old discs and host these files, it would be a handy resource for a number of things. Meanwhile, I'll keep looking.

I have the old boxes at home. I'll try and remember to grab them tonight and bring them to work to scan in and upload if it will help with any data.

[mmiles8]

TY TY. If you have the original books, those have different content than the text files that installed into the eq folder I think. If you can upload both, that would be epic.

[RKromwell]

I tossed all of my disk about three months before I started here...go figure.

That being said, I know during beta my half elf ranger started in Surefall. First day I logged in was after they put in the weather. After I found my way out of that damn cave, I was in Qhills, looking at the rain coming down. It was a strong selling point for me. Not something I will forget any time soon.

[lesell]

Bumping as its been 7 years and I hope this is fixed eventually.

Qeynos Rangers/Druids starting at Qeynos PoD -- may have been base game but It was definitely not the case at RoK at least. I started playing the game at this point, and my main and very first character was a Half Elf Ranger. I distinctly remember starting in Surefalls, near the cabin. I remember because I autoran into the water and almost immediately drowned. I also was really confused, and thought the NPCs running around were PCs, and I kept trying to hail them. I also remember I didn't know how to get out, that the tunnel was insanely long, and my Pally friend in Qeynos and I were trying to find each other for a long time before we figured out I was two zones away. I also remembered it was really annoying when I died as the bind /charinfo point was near the Millers in Qeynos Hills, and not the newbie zone. My friend plays P1999 with me and he can verify this also.

I know its not an urgent thing but I do hope it's fixed eventually. While at the time it was ridiculously annoying starting in Surefall Glade instead of Qeynos, (no newbie zone, pain to run back when I died) when I remade my character on p1999 I was kinda sad it wasn't the same starting experience for me, and I do miss it.

Thanks for the consideration, and all the work you guys do.

[lesell]

Just another bump for this. Made another toon and was reminded about it being incorrect. Also, adding some proof via this archived 'Everquest Rangers' (http://www.oocities.org/eqrangers/races.htm) site. The site is undated, but the description talks about the Ranger/Hybrid experience penalty in the first paragraph, so we know it was made before they got rid of the penalty. In the Race descriptions it mentions that the starting city for Human rangers is Surefall Glade, and that Half Elves have a choice of Surefall Glade or Kelethin.

The site stops its spells at level 49 for ranger, which was pre RoK. So we know that pre RoK, the starting city for Human Rangers and Druids (and optionally HEFs) was Surefall Glade, not Qeynos. This should clear up any doubt as to whether starting in Surefalls was classic. It was.

[Dolalin]

Bump for Green.

[Dolalin]

Half-Elf ranger right at launch talking about starting in Surefall Glade:


3/19/99

I've been playing a Half-Elf Ranger and (when I can get a freakin'
connection) have been really enjoying it. I started in Surefall Glade, and
have been venturing over the Western Plains of Karana with some groups to do
some hunting. One thing I'm a little concerned with is the fact that we
spend most of the time hunting natural animals, especially lions for the
patchwork armor, and I'm starting to get a bit worried about losing some
status with my faction.


https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.games.everquest/Hbp2PIZUKgU/LjJ-de1Mg0UJ

Human ranger:


I'll never forget my first character... it was a Human Ranger... which
starts in Surefall Glade...


https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.games.everquest/HYwX-A-Kp30/BS_oRMuC7EoJ

Bind point for druid/ranger was outside Surefall Glade:


5/11/99

...

As for me i zoned the same time he did ( CRASH )
and i ended up outside Surefall Glade at my starting spot when i get killed
and spent almost an hour looking for a Non existant Corpse ( didnt realize
that i hadnt died and had all my stuff ) But never saw Surefall after Zoning
from W.Karana


https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.games.everquest/cDmh0QJf4mE/aH3eA0ZXVlQJ


The initial bind point is always in a newbie area close to where you are
first dumped into the game. For most races/classes, this will be an
area that people cannot get bound to, even though you start out bound
there:

Qeynos Hills, for races/classes that start in Surefall Glade
Tox, for good Erudites
Nektulos, for Dark Elves
Misty Thicket, for Halflings
Steamfont, for Gnomes
Butcherblock, for Dwarves
Everfrost, for Barbarians
Field of Bone, for Iksar
Innothule, for Trolls
Feerott, for Ogres


https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.games.everquest/LuC0G_k7uBE/ceHJplmJSTYJ

[Dolalin]

More threads and evidence, some from Telrin:

https://www.project1999.com/forums/showthread.php?t=212991&highlight=surefall+glade

https://www.project1999.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31156&highlight=surefall+glade

Also found more newsgroup posts:


4/15/99

When you first start the character, the game places you in a safe location,
usually near your guildhouse for your class. After the first time you die,
it places you near there, though perhaps in a not-as-safe place. For
instance, human rangers start in Surefall Glade right outside the guild
cabin, but once they die, they start outside in Qeynos Hills a bit aways.


https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.games.everquest/xq9L_b5dZB8/3DqM6s3A5hEJ


3/26/99

4. My best character (only Lvl 2) is a Ranger at Surefall Glade, which
has no bank, right? Could I make it to Qeynos at this level? I'd
like to put my meagre funds in the bank so I can explore without
worrying about dying. Just follow the road in Qeynos Hills south?


https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.games.everquest/wBWCNUjrbHQ/SrfS9foy3fkJ


3/31/99

I decided to tinker with a Druid last night, and created one. The city it
gave me was Queynos, but when I appeared I was in "Surefalls Glen" or
something like that.


https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.games.everquest/tYzlzEgG1zE/2YFin8d03PYJ

[Dolalin]

For where the actual starting and bind points are, there are some posts on P99 that are a bit more specific:


i believe rangers started at #4 and druids started at #8 on this map

and if i recall correctly, their initial bind point was in qeynos hills, near the guards, on the west side of the path


https://www.project1999.com/forums/showpost.php?p=968081&postcount=9

Map referred to is this one:
https://wiki.project1999.com/File:Surefallglade.jpg