Project 1999 - Level cap server - putting some challenge back in the game.

P99 EQ is the best EQ there is, we probably all agree on this.

However, it's all figured out. There's no challenge other than for a guild leader to motivate the troops enough to log in and get more unsurprising loot. Or to PL your Nth twink to 60 faster than others, etc...

But what if there was a new, offspring server, with a maximum PC level cap of 40? After a while (1 year?) merge the server to the existing Blue server and rince repeat, or something.

This probably wouldn't work for Red as Red population is already super low and there's a permanent challenge on Red called PvP anyway.

See how far that server would get. Start at Classic and maybe unlock Kunark then Velious after a set period of time. Would probably require to lift the level 46 requirements to enter planes, of course. Imagine the challenge (and the thrill) of breaking into Fear with a few groups of level 40s.

Why level 40? Because 39 is a level at which a few classes get their class defining spells (so allow people to max out level 40 exp as a safety buffer).

Clerics get CH and 50% exp rez at 39
Necros get Summon Corpse
Enchanters get Cajoling Wispers (their bread and butter charm spell until they are a lot higher). They already got Clarity at 29 so we're good on mana regen.

Almost (?) all melee skills are all learnt before level 40, bar the discs.

Epics would need to be equipable/usable at 40 instead of 46.

An option would be to up the level cap to 45 with Kunark unlocking, and to 50 with Velious unlocking (cuz face it - no amount of level 40s are going to take out NToV dragons.. or are they?) Also there are some port to Velious spells that require level 44.

Now think for a second how it would change the game.

Lower level dungeons become attractive since the loot you can get there will be attractive (no more fungi twinks since getting a fungi will be SO hard it won't go to a twink). People will actually camp Runnyeye king, Sol A, Paw, Dalnir - you name it - with a group, as opposed to a single level 60 mage or necro etc just raping the zone with their pet.

Lower Guk becomes a raid zone (how cool is that?).

The Hole, Sebilis, City of Mist, HS all become tough raid zones.

It's a way to rediscover EQ on hard mode - just like it was in 1999 when everyone was a noob and everything was tough.

Discuss.