EverQuest II (Preview)

Dunjin Master, GamePro

25/02/2004 15:51:48

For almost a year now, there hasn’t been much of substance to say about EverQuest II, other than the fact that it was one of the coolest games at E3. That was before Sony Online released the full class tree for the sequel to the big papa of the current MMORPG crop and gave a glimpse into how the game will play.

Players will start out as commoners and will play as simple folk until Level 5. At that point, you’ll be given a choice to become a fighter, mage, priest, scout, or artisan. At Level 15, you’ll have another choice within each category. Fighters can choose among Warrior, Crusader, or Brawler, for example. Then, at Level 30, you can further specialize into what appear to be good and evil versions of each (Paladin vs. Shadow Knight, Ranger vs. Assassin).

Counting all the base classes, EQII will feature 47 classes, more than any other class-based MMORPG on the market. Some look like new versions of old favorites (Warrior, Monk), while others look like original EQ classes split in half (Enchanters become Illusionists or mind-controlling Coercers). Of course, the Artisan class tree is specifically noncombat and exists for those who want less hack-n-slash and more social interaction.