EverQuest

EverQuest
Developer(s)	Sony Online Entertainment
Publisher(s)	Sony Online Entertainment
Release date	1999 (NA)
Genre	MMORPG
Mode(s)	MMORPG
Age rating(s)	ESRB: T
Platform(s)	PC Template:Infobox/media Template:Infobox/input
Credits | Soundtrack | Codes | Walkthrough

EverQuest is an MMORPG created by Sony Online Entertainment. Originally released in 1999, it has since had 14 expansions, and is presently on an annual release schedule. The game has as been called "EverCrack" due to it's addictive qualities. As of Spring, 2008, there are some 270 zones or distinct areas of play, not counting various instanced (individual) versions of static (shared) zones.

Gameplay takes place in a high fantasy setting on the six continents and moon of the world of Norrath, as well as dozens of other planes of existence. Characters are created prior to world entry by selecting a race and class (See table, below), as well as a sex and diety.

Ability Scores

After one selects a race and class, with relevant starting ability scores, there are 30 ability points to distribute. This assignment of starting points can have a big impact on the early game, but by the higher levels the benefits from equipment will render those few starting points meaningless. However, for the beginner, one should endeavor to have no ability below 75 to avoid penalties.

Strength determines how much weight one can carry, and affects how much damage one does in melee.

Stamina affects how many hit points one gains per level.

Agility affects one's ability to avoid melee damage.

Dexterity affects one's chance to hit a target with a ranged weapon, as well as to get critical (exceptional) hits or generate a proc (short for process) effect with a melee weapon.

Wisdom affects the amount of spell casting a Priest (Cleric, Druid, Shaman) or Priest Hybrid (Beastlord, Paladin, Ranger) can do.

Intelligence affects the amount of spell casting a Caster (Enchanter, Magician, Necromancer, Wizard) or Caster Hybrid (Bard, Shadowknight) can do.

Charisma affects the prices offered by vendors, as well as the outcome of some Charm and Pacify abilities.

Races and Classes

The races and classes are as follows:

Races	Classes	Archetypes of Classes
Barbarian Dark Elf Drakkin Dwarf Erudite Gnome Guktan Half Elf Halfling High Elf Human Iksar Ogre Troll Vah Shir Wood Elf	Bard Beastlord Berserker Cleric Druid Enchanter Magician Monk Necromancer Paladin Ranger Rogue Shadowknight Shaman Warrior Wizard	Melee These classes do not use mana or cast spells, but fight up close and personal, with weapons and special abilities called disciplines: Berserker, Monk, Rogue, Warrior Priest These classes provide healing to group members, as well as having capacity to inflict or enhance damage and provide utility: Cleric, Druid, Shaman Hybrid These classes do not fall neatly into the other archetypes, but generally melee as well as casting spells: Bard, Beastlord, Paladin, Ranger, Shadowknight Caster These classes inflict damage and/or provide a means of limiting the number of enemies attacking, usually from outside of melee range: Enchanter, Magician, Necromancer, Wizard

Note: all races are humanoid. Barbarians are large, with a Viking/Celtic culture; Drakkin are Dragon-Human hybrids with special abilities; Erudites are dark-skinned and larged-brained; Guktans are small frog-people; Iksar are lizard-people; Vah Shir are cat-people. Other classes are in keeping with high fantasy expectations.

Race and Class Matrix

The following table shows (circa Spring, 2008) which races may be which classes:

Playable Races and Classes in EverQuest, and When Introduced

Classes as of Spring, 2008
Races	BRD	BST	BER	CLR	DRU	ENC	MAG	MNK	NEC	PAL	RNG	ROG	SHD	SHM	WAR	WIZ
Barbarian		SoL	GoD									EQ		EQ	EQ
Dark Elf				EQ		EQ	EQ		EQ			EQ	EQ		EQ	EQ
Drakkin	TSS			TSS	TSS	TSS	TSS	TSS	TSS	TSS	TSS	TSS	TSS		TSS	TSS
Dwarf			GoD	EQ						EQ		EQ			EQ
Erudite				EQ		EQ	EQ		EQ	EQ			RoK			EQ
Froglok				LoY					DoN	LoY		DoN	DoN	LoY	LoY	LoY
Gnome				EQ		EQ	EQ		EQ	SoL		EQ	SoL		EQ	EQ
Half Elf	EQ				EQ					EQ	EQ	EQ			EQ
Halfling				EQ	EQ					SoL	SoL	EQ			EQ
High Elf				EQ		EQ	EQ			EQ						EQ
Human	EQ			EQ	EQ	EQ	EQ	EQ	EQ	EQ	EQ	EQ	EQ		EQ	EQ
Iksar		SoL						RoK	RoK				RoK	RoK	RoK
Ogre		SoL	GoD										EQ	EQ	EQ
Troll		SoL	GoD										EQ	EQ	EQ
Vah Shir	SoL	SoL	GoD									SoL		SoL	SoL
Wood Elf	EQ				EQ						EQ	EQ			EQ
Arch	H	H	M	P	P	C	C	M	C	H	H	M	H	P	M	C
Role	U	D	D	H	H	U	D	D	D	T	D	D	T	H	T	D
Armor	P	L	C	P	L	S	S	L	S	P	C	C	P	C	P	S

Key

Archetype: Melee, Priest, Caster, Hybrid

PRIMARY Role: Tank, DPS, Healer, Utility

Armor Type: Plate, Chain, Leather, Silk

Chronology of Expansions

Abbr.	Release Name	Release Date	Level Cap	Region	Zones
EQ	Original EQ Release	March 16, 1999	50	Antonica, Faydwer, Odus	72
ROK	Ruins of Kunark	April 24, 2000	50	Kunark	28
SOV	Scars of Velious	December 5, 2000	60	Velious	18
SOL	Shadows of Luclin	December 3, 2001	60	Luclin	28
POP	Planes of Power	October 28, 2002	65	Planes	29
LOY	Legacy of Ykesha	February 24, 2003	65	Ykesha	5
LDN	Lost Dungeons of Norrath	September 9, 2003	65	Antonica, Faydwer	5 (~25)
GOD	Gates of Discord	February 10, 2004	65	Taelosia	20
OOW	Omens of War	September 14, 2004	70	Discord	9
DON	Dragons of Norrath	February 15, 2005	70	Antonica	7
DOD	Depths of Darkhollow	September 13, 2005	70	Antonica	7 (~30)
POR	Prophecy of Ro	February 21, 2006	70	Antonica	9
TSS	The Serpent's Spine	September 17, 2006	75	Antonica	13
TBS	The Buried Sea	February 13, 2007	75	Odus	9 (~9)
SOF	Secrets of Faydwer	November 13, 2007	80	Faydwer	14

Playstyles

EverQuest is a Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game, or MMORPG, and while there is some solo content (and classes which solo well), it is designed around player cooperation to achieve goals. While few players commit entirely to one type of play, the general playstyles are as follows:

Solo

This means what it sounds like - taking one character and "going it alone".

Group

The primary unit of player cooperation is the group. A group consist of up to six characters, and will usually include one Tank to absorb the attacks of the Mob (the computer controlled Mobile OBject), one Healer, and sometimes one Puller or Crowd Control character (to control how many adversaries the group is fighting at once); the remainder will be expected to contribute to killing the mob and provide extra utility, like Evac (teleporting the group to safety).

Raid

The biggest challenges with the greatest rewards require up to 48 characters (formerly up to 72) working together, and is called a Raid. While there are opportunities for "pickup raids", where characters get together regardless of guild membership, most raiding is done by single guilds, which are affiliations of characters.

Other Styles

Some would argue that Duo (two character) and Trio (three character) playing is another style, but they are essentially just very small groups.

Some players run multiple accounts, giving them the ability to "2-box", "3-box", or in some cases even "6-box" an entire group. One player has actually run four full groups.