I've continued to play on regular EQ servers until very recently (all in all about 7 of the last 10 years). I cancelled two accounts last week after 5 days on this server (yes, you guys will be getting some of that savings).
There were so many things that were done wrong - travel, corpse summoning, levels, extremely overpowered aa's and massive escalation in spells; the one that sticks in my craw more than anything is itemization.
I remember (and am now reliving) the days when everyone was fighting or saving for a bit more AC, a few more wis or AGI or DEX or whatever. There came, and came much too quickly, a point in the Sony's version of this game where everyone simply got maximum in every stat, and got it fairly early and easily. That, combined with required levels, is what really demolished the game.
I wouldn't mind (and would actually hope for) some occasional new zones and new content, as long as they represent a legitimately scaled increase over currently available items. If we ever get to the point where widely treasured items from the original expansion are no longer desired, even for low level players, then that will be the point of failure. I loved that almost everything was always available to any player at any level, if you could afford to buy it or could pass it down to an alt.
If there is any single great joke that Sony has made of itemization, it is summed up in 'fabled' items. My absolute favorite is the Fabled Fungus Covered Scale Tunic, which has 25 pt regen and much better stats than the original.... and is required level 65. The lore on that item should have been: "we are totally clueless."
Thanks for a great server.
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