What happen to Classic EQ2?

[Deadmantis]

EQ2 at launch was a lot of fun for me. Even enjoyed the first couple expansions. Did some raiding and got geared up, made some alts, but eventually moved on to WoW where my real life friends were.

Went back when it became F2P and they changed a bunch of stuff like starting cities, added new playable race and mercs. Essentially dumbing it down even more.

I thought the lore was that it was 500 years after EQ, set in the future after Luclin explodes and causes a catastrophe. But then I read somewhere that it was all a dream or an alternate reality or some shit. Not sure what they were thinking...