Is this like a private server?

No. If you read the full text on the main page, you'll see that we're proposing a "server within a server." Basically we're choosing to play a certain way, avoid certain zones and items, and keep a completely closed economy in order to emulate how EverQuest was in it's golden years. One e-mailer put it nicely when he said, "[it is] a creed to live by on [a] regular server..." Someone else put it another way, "So we're basically going to be Amish." That's right! The point is to purposely limit ourselves to old content as effectively as we can on a live server.


What about all the other EverQuest revival projects out there?

Even a brief search of the internet reveals the widespread effort of old EQ players to bring back a classic version of the game. There are emulators, so-called private servers", other well structured reconstruction projects, official progressions servers, petitions for SOE to create a "classic" server, and even people pointing out that the Mac server is still un-updated since 2004. We fully support all of these efforts and are in no way attempting to steal support for these projects. All of the above listed options have their problems. Our idea has one major problem as well: it isn't perfect. We've already pointed out that there are some things which can't be corrected just by our gameplay choices (e.g. revamped zones). But what we offer is an option which is fully operational right now, perfectly legal, and not reliant on volunteer programmers. So if you favor one of the other options, continue to support it until it comes fully online, but we urge you to join us in the meantime!


Why are you doing this on Zek, the PvP server?

The first answer is simple: because the authors of this project originally played on Tallon Zek. There are, however, more objective reasons. One is that most of the other EverQuest revival projects are completely PvE. PvP mechanics are much harder to emulate than PvE content, so many projects have not included it in their plans. Old EverQuest provides a PvP option for the many players from those servers who wish to relive the golden age of EQ.

If you have never tried PvP consider that much of the feeling you got when you first played EQ resulted from the newness of it, and joining us on Zek will add some of that newness back into your experience. To make a brief case for PvP in general: It's much more realistic that characters wouldn't have to both agree in order to fight one another. Guild rivalries are brought to a whole new level in a PvP environment. Gear choices and play styles are more complex when PvP is always a possibility. If you're concerned about playing on a PvP server, all I can say is that with the current server population and considering the zones we'll be in, PvP is likely to be a largely optional facet of the game.


What about the new death penalties?

Exp death sends you to your bind point like usual; but now you get 2 min of minor rez effects. There is nothing we can do about this. The bigger problem is that now you keep your gear; all that's on your corpse is your lost exp. This is inconsistent with game lore, it's a nod to WoW, and it feels like cheating too. When you die, do your corpse run as usual. Do not bank or swap out gear before getting to your corpse. Try to avoid fighting any mobs which you couldn't if you were naked while on your corpse run. Basically, just pretend your gear is still on your corpse and you'll be fine. You'll also be tough as nails for not taking their WoW-style handout!


Whats to stop someone from going to the Bazaar and buying a bunch of defiant gear?

Nothing. Everything is self-imposed. Therefore it is pointless to "cheat" since you'll only be hurting yourself and screwing up what everyone else in our group is trying to do. If you get frustrated with how hard it is to stick with the system, blow off steam with another character.


Can I loot new drops and sell them on my non-member trader?

Yes, as long as you keep it all straight and make sure you keep all profits out of our economy. If you don't keep it straight, I'll bring you to Crusgbone and root you underwater in the blood fountain until you drown.


Will I get kicked out of the guild if I break the rules?

That depends... If you accidentally take a 500pp donation for a port or loot a piece of defiant gear, it's up to you to reverse the pollution. If it becomes a recurring problem you will be asked to stop. If you don't respond to warnings, you will be removed. This type of thing will really be self-governing, since other members will most likely refuse your help or grouping if they suspect you broke the guidelines to obtain your level, money, or gear.


What do you mean by "pollution?"

The whole premise of Old EverQuest is that we're starting from scratch, and will be playing within a closed system (money, exp, and items). If someone transfers money from their shared bank, takes a big donation, or sells items to outsiders for hyper-inflated prices, that person is robbing the rest of us of our part in building up our new old economy. The same goes for getting PLed, gear donations, etc. The whole closed system depends on everyone's cooperation. Remember, you only hurt yourself and your guildmates by introducing "polluted" goods, services, and pp into our pure economy.

Ports used to be 20pp, C3 was 50, and rezzes were 100-300. Recently I've seen people who won't be bothered to click their stick on a corpse right in front of them for 1000pp. When I first saw pp sold on our server it was $10 for 1k pp. Now you can get almost 100k pp for that price. That's 10,000% inflation in the last 6-7 years. All pp on a server is generated from cash loot or from selling looted items to NPC vendors. The millions of pp on each server today was the result of years' worth of looting mobs by hundreds of characters. So with only our group generating pp from old world mobs, it better take a looooong time to build up a cash base. Therefore it will be easy to tell if people are polluting the economy. Since these are all self-imposed rules, we hope and believe it won't be a problem.


When will this all go down?

Soon. We've had to add this FAQ due to the positive response. Target start date was Mid January, but a couple of us will be patching and re-subscribing by the time this FAQ is live. Get on the e-mail list to keep updated.


What else can we do to make it oldschool?

Use old character models. Go to all your favorite zones. Use an old UI skin. Type out item stats. Try a new class or area so it seems harder, like it used to be. Call your friends with excitement when you get the eboots you've been trying to get for a week.


What about revamped zones?

If you like em, good for you. But if you're looking at this website, you probably hate em. We can't do anything about them. Although...we could bitch about them in ooc and shout -- maybe come up with a slogan like, "DEVAMP NORRATH NOW!"


What can I do to help?

We need outdated spell vendor lists, old tradeskill info, loot info, etc. Sign our guestbook to show your support and interest and get on the e-mail list.

Exp death sends you to your bind point like usual; but now you get 2 min of minor rez effects. There is nothing we can do about this. The bigger problem is that now you keep your gear; all that's on your corpse is your lost exp.

Ports used to be 20pp, C3 was 50, and rezzes were 100-300. Recently I've seen people who won't be bothered to click their stick on a corpse right in front of them for 1000pp. When I first saw pp sold on our server it was $10 for 1k pp.

I remember selling binds at the freeport gate for 1pp. *shakes cane*

EQ2 Heritage Quests bring back that nostalgia without the need to go back to the original EQ. I love those things.

/jboots