There’s much to celebrate for the EverQuest Franchise, with the arrival of Laurion’s Song and Ballads of Zimara.
While you’re here, be sure to subscribe to The EverQuest Show for the latest episodes and news updates and 2024 promises to be a HUGE year for the franchise, and there’s a LOT of EverQuest Show content coming your way!
Let’s get started by heading to the Realm of Heroes in Laurion’s Song
Review : Laurion’s Song – EverQuest’s 30th expansion
It’s hard to believe that nearly 25 years after launch, the game that started it all is launching its 30th expansion.
It’s been a long and exciting road. We’ve been to the moon and back, to distant worlds, to the planes, but now it’s time to dive deep into the heroic tales of Norrath’s past, as EverQuest introduces Laurion’s Song.
The main features of the expansion are its level cap increase to 125, along with the associated spells, AAs and combat abilities, as well as 7 new zones.
And though the zones are completely new, they have their roots in familiar places and the lore of Norrath’s past.
In fact, the entire expansion is a lore lovers dream, called the Realm of Heroes.
In a similar fashion to the way Seeds of Destruction went back to various important storylines in EQ, this expansion takes you to pivotal defining moments in Norrath’s past.
Each zone can be thought of as a snowglobe…an important memory of norrath’s history.
Now, as adventurers, it’s our job to piece together exactly why we’re doing this and it does all tie together quite nicely. No spoilers here though.
Laurion Inn
You’ll begin in Laurion Inn, a sort of traveler’s lodge for Norrathians, with various doors inside that lead to the other snowglobe zones.
You can think of it as the hub of the expansion, with many of the merchants and quest givers there to provide you with plenty to do.
But once you’re outside the Inn, the zone itself is quite a hunting area. Wide open spaces and plenty of room are quite the difference from being inside Luclin, or in the lunar darkness.
There are a wide variety of mob types and archetypes, for whatever your specific heart desires. Animals, elementals, undead and summoned.
And the expansion is a feast for the eyes.
Not only are there a huge number of new everquest NPC models in the game, like chickens, deer, foxes, and badgers just to name a few, but the zones are beautiful as well.
Pal’Lomen
In Pal’Lomen, an ancient Elddar elven village of the past, the scenery doesn’t disappoint.
The Laurion trees, for which the expansion draws its name, are visually beautiful and the style of the Elddar village is unique, but subtly hints of the Elddar elves distant future as wood elves in Greater Faydark.
Here, the Rallosian armies are set to attack.
But these are the Rallosians of the past. Intelligent ogres, goblins and orcs, that possessed magic and strength, before the curse that left them in their present state.
And much of the expansion gives you snapshots of these Rallosians and the events that shaped Norrath due to their invasions.
Unkempt Woods
The unkempt woods has long been a legendary place, labeled on maps since the beginning of EverQuest.
In this expansion you’ll learn the tale of what happened here, as the Elddar elves sought refuge, and allied with the dwarves in what shaped Faydwer into what we know today. Again, no spoilers, but you probably know this dwarves name.
Ankexfen Keep
And the Rallosian theme continues in Ankexfen Keep, but this time a focus on a goblin stronghold in the frozen north, near what would become Halas.
And you’ll find familiar areas here as well. We’ve been here before….or perhaps we will be here again in the future.
The goblins built an imposing stone stronghold here complete with statues to Rallos Zek. These ornate edifices are in contrast to the primitive structures in current day Norrath. These are the goblins before the Rallosian curse.
Their stronghold houses a prison where the captives of the Rallosian war are taken.
Moors of Nokk
Over on the Ogre side of things, we find the Moors of Nokk. The ancient city of Nokk is something we’ve heard before, as any adventurer in Crescent Reach can tell you.
The relics of that forgotten city are all around.
Well, in Laurion Song, you’ll learn about the city of Nokk, and the moors that surround the city, which become Blightfire Moors.
But these ogres are enlightened and intelligent. And though this serves as the heart of the Rallosian ogres, not all agree with the cruel ogre way of life.
Timorous Falls
If all this Rallosian talk has you searching for a serene walk by a river, look no further than Timorous Falls.
A beautiful mill on the banks of a river, complete with a rainbow in the mist of the falls.
But of course, not all is at is seems. Even though Eureka’s Tumble is a joyous place to grab a pint, you’ll discover sinister plots as you adventure around the tavern.
Hero’s Forge
Finally, in Hero’s Forge you’ll delight in a giant forge used to create weapons for the heroes of Norrath.
Nestled in a mountain wilderness, the forge is a place where magical beings create the powerful equipment of Norrath, and phoenixes take them to the top of the mountain to be wicked away to Norrath.
Here you’ll discover why the Realm of Heroes was lost and rediscovered.
Thoughts
Overall there is a good amount of content for this expansion.
In Beta I talked to many players of all styles, and they all seemed pleased by the content, adding that there is certainly lots to do for all play styles, from groupers to raiders of different tiers.
If you’re a fan of the story and lore of Norrath, you’ll give this expansion a 10 out of 10 for sure, and the art style of the expansion certainly makes it beautiful to play in.
The wide variety of new models in the expansion is a bit of a surprise, and it drives home that this is a part, or time of Norrath we’ve not seen before.
Alternate Personas
But now to the big question mark in the expansion.
The announcement of the expansion touted Alternate Personas. The development process and beta testing has been fraught with bugs and problems, and as of this edit, issues were still arising.
However, I did play with the feature on Beta and I really liked it.
It’s essentially creating different classes with your character but while maintaining your name, flags, tradeskills and other unique character defining traits.
The way it seems to be implemented doesn’t seem to be any different than creating a new character, which isn’t game breaking, but the fact that you retain your name and can play as different classes is a nice feature.
However, I hesitate to comment further, as this feature is still in the development as of this story and may change before it is implemented fully.
Conclusion
Laurion’s Song has plenty going for it, including the art style and lore of the 30th expansion for EverQuest.
Not to be left out, the score for the expansion is nice as well. The music style certainly fits the mood of the expansion, especially in Laurion Inn…..
And I enjoyed the diddies that nicely blended into the background without become repetitive or numbing….
There are still some questions about alternate personas that will need to be worked out.
There is a decent amount of content, though it is sparse in some areas, like group missions. However, it does allow for easy to implement additions of content seeing that Laurion Inn has plenty of doors unused at the Inn. Perhaps we’ll see more for future expansions or events.
But altogether it’s a satisfying expansion to be released nearly 25 years after the launch of the original game.
Ballads of Zimara – EverQuest II’s 20th expansion – Review
It’s one of the most aesthetically beautiful expansions in a decade!
That was how one player described their thoughts on Ballads of Zimara to me in Beta. And I have to say. I agree wholeheartedly. It is absolutely stunning.
But let’s start with exactly what you get with the with expansion.
EverQuest II’s milestone 20th expansion, Ballads of Zimara is now available and from the key art to the depths of the expansion, it took my breath away.
There are four new gorgeous zones, each more beautiful than the last, along with adventure and tradeskill level increases to 130.
There are also several new features, including advanced research, chrono dungeons and though small, surprisingly helpful and player approved, Player Notes in the Quest Journal.
A full signature line of quests is available for the expansion, which was quite enjoyable to work through even though I didn’t get a chance to finish in Beta.
But perhaps one of the bigger changes is in the Tradeskill line of quests. The tradeskill line was much shorter compared to previous expansions like Renewal of Ro, and unlocked flying and the other zones much more quickly.
Even as a relative newb to EverQuest II, I was able to complete the tradeskill line relatively quickly, providing me access to flying and all the zones in the expansion. This really made the expansion fun for me.
Most players agreed this was a nice change and makes Ballads of Zimara much more accessible early on than say Renewal of Ro was for players.
And I have to admit, I REALLY enjoyed playing in the expansion. Being mainly an EQ player sometimes I find it difficult for EQ2 to hold my attention for a significant time or have me wanting to go in for more, but this expansion did that in a way that I hadn’t experienced before with EQ2. And I loved it. I’m craving exploring and playing more.
What’s Going On?
So what about the story in the expansion? What’s happening?
Well, it begins with the hooluk?
Who?
Yes. The Hooluk, a race of sentient owl people who can use your help.
It seems that sections of the Plane of Sky have become unstable and are slipping into the upper atmosphere of Norrath. This includes the home of the Hooluk in Splendor Sky Aerie.
Splendor Sky Aerie
Though you’ll need to start in The Barren Sky to get access, essentially Splendor Sky Aerie is the starting zone.
And from the moment you step foot in the zone, the scenery takes your breath away.
Beautiful palette of greens and pinks and a wide variety of flora and fauna greet you in Splendor Sky. Your adventures take you through assisting the hooluk, gaining their trust and finding out what’s happening with the plane and the mysterious metallic Djinn that have started to appear.
A significant portion of the zone is essentially one giant tree and “Sanctuary” that is the home of the hooluk.
You’ll spend a good bit of time questing around Sanctuary and going up and down that tree before you unlock flying, which, given an expansion full of islands in the sky, you’ll be thankful when you do.
From its colorful leaves of the hooluk’s home of Sanctuary, to the waterfalls within and the hills of native critters that abound, you’ll get a good handle on where the story is headed as you work through Splendor Sky Aerie.
One of the critical tasks when you arrive is upgrading your armor, mount and familiar so that you can handle the dangers of the expansion. This has been a hallmark of the past several expansions.
Thankfully a beginning quest walks you through how to do this, use Tishan’s Lockbox and make sure you have the proper mount and familiar buffs on.
As an EQ2 newb, I found this extremely helpful and probably the first place you should start once you venture into Splendor Sky.
Zimara Breadth
Adjacent to Splendor Sky is the second zone in the expansion, Zimara Breadth, an expansive collection of sky islands that contrast from barren and exposed to secluded and serene.
Here the Plane of Sky is literally deteriorating and the Djinn are on the move, along with their armies to control the plane.
Again, you’ll find beautiful scenery with each of the islands providing a slightly different look and feel as you explore and unlock the story of what is happening.
Aether Wroughtlands
And just when you thought you’d seen all the beautiful touches put into the expansion, you arrive in Aether Wroughtlands.
As I traveled around this zone, all I could say is WOW.
It is absolutely breathtaking. Each section of the zone has identified a signature color palette and it makes for incredible views, with hidden pockets of creatures.
Amber light pouring through the trees into pools of metallic tangerine liquid.
Spires of Copper and Emerald reach upwards and create unique verdant structures.
Violet and violence converge as purple lightning cascades through Amethyst lakes and waterfalls.
Among this beautiful landscape you’ll find a lightning dragon pacing upon a perch. But don’t get too close.
Colorful rivers run through a monochromatic landscape, populated with dangerous beasts to match.
Until you traverse the boundary of the next palette of scenery only to delight you again.
This is by far my favorite zone in the expansion and the mix of vibrant colors make one zone feel like a dozen different zones.
It is reminiscent of Deepshape in EverQuest 1 with its colorful pockets of hues and tones in different sections of the zone.
Vaashkaani
But the visual feast doesn’t stop when you enter the final zone of the expansion, and home of the Djinn Sovereign called Vaashkaani.
It is the stronghold of the Djinn and their leader. And it too is a sight to behold.
From the opulent rooms to the beautiful details, you’ll find yourself taking a break from finishing your quest to admire the attention to detail that went into the zone.
The colorful prismatic and kaleidoscopic nature of the zone is in contrast to the serene ponds that contain a variety of waterfowl that you’ll find relaxing and unconcerned with your arrival. A juxtaposition of dangerous foes made of metal with calming ponds and the quacking of ducks.
Another gorgeous set of views to admire.
And it’s not just my opinion that the expansion is beautiful, player after player that I asked said they enjoyed the expansion, but that the artwork was hands down some of the best they’d seen.
Chrono Dungeons
In addition to the content within those 4 zones, Ballads of Zimara also contains Chrono Dungeons.
It allows previous old world dungeons to be upgraded to level 130 content so players can experience those older areas with renewed challenge.
Admittedly I didn’t have a chance to experience this feature, but EQ and EQ2 players are suckers for nostalgia and replaying content. I also didn’t get a chance to explore the Advanced research option, also touted for this expansion, so I’m unable to comment on the details of how those work.
Finally, while I know many don’t play with music or sound on, I generally enjoy hearing the ambiance that comes along with each zone and area within.
The score for Ballads of Zimara is a subtle score that enhances the visual feast. There were a few notable standouts where the music set the tone for sure, especially in some of the more serene nooks and crannies of the expansion.
Wrap Up
So, overall, To mark the 20th expansion for EverQuest II, the development team and players really should be proud of Ballads of Zimara.
The beauty and artistic flair put into the details of the zones is certainly one of its defining characteristics and the source of glowing reviews from players.
Will the content be enough to hold EQ2 players until expansion number 21 comes out? Time will tell.
But I certainly love what I’ve seen so far, and it did exactly what I think the 20th expansion for EQ2 needs to do, entice players current, former and new to the game with stunning visuals, and provide an enjoyable playing experience that makes you want to keep playing and see what the next quest unlocks.
Swag Store Update
Congratulations to the team at Darkpaw and a big thank you from the players and from the EverQuest Show on shipping 2 amazing expansions.
And speaking of that beautiful art from Ballads of Zimara, you can now find items in the Swag Store from the latest expansion.
Mousepad game mats as well as posters for Ballads of Zimara are available in the Swag Store, and though there isn’t much EverQuest 1 swag there just yet, stay tuned for items to appear as we approach the 25th anniversary of EQ in March of 2024.
The EverQuest Show 