EQ1 Progression server launches June 28

[Simond]

Shouldn't you be out catassing? Or maybe betaing Vanguard?

Why did you repeat yourself?

[Morat20]

I'm not here saying my guild is better than yours, especially since I doubt most of you play games otherwise where would you find the time to sit around discussing them endlessly?

Actually most people here probably play more games than you. We also do a lot of things entirely unrelated to gaming. It's just that most of us don't spend all of our time catassing in one single game.

You know, this is even better than the UO thread -- but it's missing something. Maybe Dayeth can post a chart showing his Epeen over time? Perhaps one showing the ratio of his "badassery" to Haemish's "wankeriffic"?

'cause I want me some more charts, dammit.

[Savant]

Dude, you can save google searches and have it email you with updates.

Sweet!

[Azazel]

Shouldn't you be out catassing? Or maybe betaing Vanguard?

Why did you repeat yourself?

He might well be catassing in WoW, or, um, L2 at present. There's plenty of sweet sweet cat ass out there, ripe for the taking.

[Ironwood]

ew

[Simond]

Shouldn't you be out catassing? Or maybe betaing Vanguard?

Why did you repeat yourself?

He might well be catassing in WoW, or, um, L2 at present. There's plenty of sweet sweet cat ass out there, ripe for the taking.

This is true, but 'betaing Vanguard' directly implies catassing anyway, so there's redundancy from that point of view.

[Lum]

Wow, I googled myself and found press coverage on something I did that I hadn't seen before. I couldn't figure out how to save it though. I guess I need to level up my self-fascination skills.

[WayAbvPar]

Wow, I googled myself and found press coverage on something I did that I hadn't seen before. I couldn't figure out how to save it though. I guess I need to level up my self-fascination skills.

Lum, can you respond directly to my post so I can use you as a reference on my epeen resume?

[Soln]

The server is called The Combine right?  I thought that was a joke, then I read a bit more and I think it's real.  How ironic.  I'll skip this one. 

I too can quote myself.  How well I called this. 

Lesson-learned: do not invoke those-who-should-not-be-named.  Google channels them.

[Chenghiz]

Lesson-learned: do not invoke those-who-should-not-be-named.  Google channels them.

Wow, that's actually sage advice, and witty to boot!

[Signe]

I learned most of those things that Fibenoochi or whoever it was learned.  I'm much to lazy to check back for his name.  Except my postcount makes my epeen very very teeny which is good because I think a huge one would upset my husband.  I also learned that thingy what Soln learned.  Because I've been up all night ( ) I couldn't concentrate enough to read the article on Lum's link, but I think I learned his real name is Omar.

[Lum]

Wow, I googled myself and found press coverage on something I did that I hadn't seen before. I couldn't figure out how to save it though. I guess I need to level up my self-fascination skills.

Lum, can you respond directly to my post so I can use you as a reference on my epeen resume?

Sorry, no.

[Lum]

I couldn't concentrate enough to read the article on Lum's link, but I think I learned his real name is Omar.

You found my identity!

[Savant]

Great work on House, man.  Great work.

[WayAbvPar]

I think his best work is playing a white game designer. That is some serious acting!

[voblat]

I agree.

That games designer mindset thing is a hell of a challenge to get right.

[Savant]

Also, are you sure you're not this Omar?



Because Hangin With Mr. Cooper was the shit.

[Lum]

Actually I leave the pretending to be black to you, jefe.

[Savant]

I am black.

[Xanthippe]

Well, I guess he told you!

[Azazel]

He might well be catassing in WoW, or, um, L2 at present. There's plenty of sweet sweet cat ass out there, ripe for the taking.

This is true, but 'betaing Vanguard' directly implies catassing anyway, so there's redundancy from that point of view.
[/quote]

In a way, yes, but Vanguard seems to be not only a very special kind of catass, but also just the kind of thing designed for measuring your e-peen in terms of how much cat ass you've had. And he'd have to be blowing Brad and Sigil on their forums to get the Beta Invite, which makes it all the more delicious.

LFG to cut a tree? That's beyond normal levels of catassery, I think you must agree.

[Simond]

Good point.

Still, Vanguard should prove to be entertaining...to watch from a safe distance, at least.

[Tale]

I was on The Combine server last night and there were already two level 50s showing, plus about 10 more in the 40s. I think it took them less than a week to get to 50 on a new server. At that rate they'll probably have a raiding force next week :)

I think I figured out where a lot of The Combine's noobs have come from: EQ2. They've heard how EQ1 was more hardcore, but they were offline or in their childhood in 1999, and this is a chance to find out what it was all about. They know all the zone names and the lore because of EQ2, but they get laughed at in groups for their lack of EQ1 tactical knowledge and they suck at travel (Freeport-Qeynos etc).

[stray]

I think I figured out where a lot of The Combine's noobs have come from: EQ2.

Actually, the Combine has been around for quite a while. I had a friend who played with them in UO. As far as MMO epeening goes, they deserve some mention, I guess.

It's just that that silly bullshit has no place here really.


Or....Are you talking about a specific server called "The Combine" now?

I'm so confused.

[hal]

The combine server is an eq1 progression server, as of right now its the original eq1 as far as zones go, kunark will be unlocked before long im sure. but its a server, not a guild were talking about

[Tale]

I think I figured out where a lot of The Combine's noobs have come from: EQ2.

Actually, the Combine has been around for quite a while. I had a friend who played with them in UO. As far as MMO epeening goes, they deserve some mention, I guess.

It's just that that silly bullshit has no place here really.


Or....Are you talking about a specific server called "The Combine" now?

I'm so confused.

I'm talking about the EQ1 progression server called The Combine, which is the TOPIC OF THIS THREAD :P

[Azazel]

Stray probably got confused when that moron came in here waving his shrivelled e-peen around.

[Soln]

The Combine has been around indeed for years, and in other games.  Monika T'Sarn (who is an f13 member) was the first Jedi to unlock in SWG. 

Since it was brought up, what has happened to Vanguard?  I thought the Diplomacy stuff was innovative.  And I got over the whole trees-dropping-resources-as-loot thing.  Is anyone still in the Beta?

[Tale]

The Combine Empire as it relates to EQ1: (from http://www.graffe.com/library.php?id=81)

The last of the old races to decline was the empire of the Elves. The Elddar Forest spread across the entire southeastern quarter of Tunaria. Cities and villages built high into the trees housed thousands of Wood Elves, and the marble cities of the High Elves were built in the forest's clearings and meadows, their white towers and spires climbing out of the forest, higher than the tallest tree. But then came the last curse of the gods, as Solusek Ro, Lord of Flame, arched the spine of the serpent mountains, bringing heat from the burning sun to the ancient forest. The rivers ran dry, it rained less each year, and while the great elven druids fought long and hard, using their powerful magics to combat the change, they could only delay the inevitable. Slowly the forest gave way to desert, and eventually even great Takish-Hiz crumbled and the elves were forced to flee Tunaria, leaving much of their greatness behind. Thus began the Lost Age.

This next period of Norrathean history as it relates to many of the races is the least known. It is surmised by the more knowledgeable historians that while the elder races regrouped and reestablished themselves, a small group of Barbarians were suddenly transformed both physically and intellectually. Most believe this to be the last major and direct act of divine intervention, and perhaps the reason so little is known about this period is that the gods wish it to be so, deciding afterwards that they would have less to do with their creations. In any case, this small and enlightened group were the fathers of the Human race, and they rapidly gained a foothold throughout the lands, studying the lost art of geomancy. The Combine Empire, as this lost race of Humans is called, spread throughout the known world, but then died even more quickly than it grew, and for reasons still unknown. And while they are the ancestors of every Human on Norrath and their relics and ruins still litter the lands from Odus to Faydwer, little history of this period remains.

After the fall of the Combine Empire, the remnants of mankind dwelled mostly in the center of Tunaria, inhabiting primarily the vast and fertile plains of Karana. Villages appeared and prospered, several reaching the size of towns, and two even became cities. To the west a strong and noble band of Humans, lead by Antonius Bayle the First, founded Qeynos under the lofty principles of law. Freeport, to the east, became an active and dangerous port of call for all who dared to venture into the Ocean of Tears. Humanity, much to the disdain of the elder races who watched from afar, remained strong, even daring to rename their home after one of their own instead of one of the gods. The great continent of Tunaria would forever more be known as Antonica. This is not to imply, however, that humanity was at peace. Competition was fierce, and when resources grew scarce for one reason or another many groups abandoned the promises and alliances of their past and fought. A few leaders spoke out against the violence, urging the masses to remember why they had fled the cold north. Others reminded them of their former glory and the might of the Combine Empire. These leaders insisted that humanity adhere once again to those principals to which all had agreed. Explorers and adventurers returned from afar with tales of elves, dwarves, and other strange creatures, as well as descriptions of ancient abandoned cities. A few even came back with limited knowledge of sorcery and the mystic arts. And when that discontent minority of leaders heard all of this, they became both jealous and determined.

A small, frail man of great intellect called Erud led this group, and he formed them into a council. They quickly became irritated, even disgusted, by their fellow man. Leaving a small network of spies behind, the remainder of Erud's followers fled the city of Qeynos and boarded a small fleet of ships. They sailed to the west and landed upon the barren coast of the island of Odus. The land was sparse and uninhabited and quite appealing to the council and their people. They quickly built a city of their own, dissimilar in almost every way to both Qeynos and Freeport, for it was almost entirely a towering castle. Erudin it was called, and within it the scribes and scholars, who called themselves High Men, gathered and analyzed reports, captured books and scrolls, and other artifacts brought to them by their spies. The first human mages since the Combine Empire were born – wizards, sorcerers, and enchanters occupied the great halls of Erudin and grew immensely in both power and knowledge. Thus began the Age of Enlightenment.

[Tale]

FoH has apparently killed Lord Nagafen already: http://www.fohguild.org/index.php

[Jayce]

These leaders insisted that humanity adhere once again to those principals to which all had agreed.

Is this really written by (then) Verant?  Because shouldn't that be principles?

[Engels]

These leaders insisted that humanity adhere once again to those principals to which all had agreed.

Is this really written by (then) Verant?  Because shouldn't that be principles?

No, they all agreed to have those same high school principals come and regulate Norrathian detention. Otherwise known a PoP raid.

I kill me!

[Koyasha]

Isn't detention more like being the ones that have to sit out on a GoD+ Age raid (where most instanced raids are limited to 54 or less)?

That's one of the amusing things about the Planar Age.  First raids got up to requiring more and more people, allowing up to 72 in Time, then they brought down the 54 person cap for most later raids.

Although, Furor throwing a fit because Phase 1/2 of Time require a guild to split into five groups was perhaps one of the most entertaining moments in EQ drama.

[Evangolis]

So the first three bosses, Vox, Naggy, and Phiny, are down in 10 days on the Combine, opening the Alter Planes, and FOH is gearing up in Hate to take down the planar bosses.  It might take them a week, two would surprise me.  And there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth on the official boards and in chat channels.   We'll be in Kunark before July ends. 

It isn't just FOH, everybody is ripping through the old world content.  Most players I've met are very old vets indeed, and even casuals know the content very well.  Despite the proclamations, this really isn't too tough, and it isn't 'Old EQ'.  It lacks that confusion.

Oh, there are no POK books, and no Paudal Caverns, but many of the really nasty parts of early EQ are gone.  No corpse runs until level 6, soulbinders in most every zone, mana bonus (breeze) from level 14, there are many changes from the original.  Not enough, not when a small guild is spread over three continents, divided by all manner of hostile NPCs.  This is one place Shadowbane got things very right; your guild starts every play session in the same place, at least until your city burned.  Not so in EQ, even within the confines of the old world.  Kunark will stretch the small guilds even harder.  I trust this is old news to the designers out there.

Some zones have vastly updated graphics, namely Freeport, Nektulos Forest, Lavastorm, the Desert of Ro.  Much of the rest is unchanged so far.  If you have fond memories of Blackburrow, don't go back, the graphics will burn your eyes.

All in all, this really is rather like a condensed version of EQ.  Everyone is rocketing along, but the Ubers are pulling away.  It's like watching a familiar movie on fast forward, a blend of nostalgia and slapstick.

Oh, the patch just before launch nerfed the Stein of Moggok quest.  Ogguk was filled with crestfallen enchanters.  It was a lot like old school EQ.

Edit:  Looking at my tag, it would appear I'm not special like everyone else.  Predictable, really.

[Engels]

I cannot stand the new Nektolous forest. What is that, a WoW theme park? That was my fookin home for months, damn it! They totally hosed the spooky dark atmosphere of that zone with the new one. Remember that wierd unexpected hole with the 5 shadowmen in it? The hill down to the halfling druid circle? All gone!

If the point of the 'classic' server was to cater to those with nostalgia, they screwed the pooch as far as I am concerned.