As a veteran EQ player, I can say that the thing I've missed the most from the early days of the game would have to be Lake of Ill Omen chat. You'd get class arguments, personal attacks, bad jokes, and even the odd bit of cyber broadcast over the OOC channel (*hides*). I'd say it was the place I spent the most time in EQ, and now it's back, as EQ Allakhazam introduces the next EQ II expansion, Rise of Kunark.

Not sure if they are of anticipation or dread, but I got chills just thinking about it.

The expansion opens up the lost continent of Kunark for the second time - we really need to chain it up or something - complete with new a new starting area, new quests, new equipment, and a new Rhino mount. It also sees the return of three of the old gods, as Bertoxxulous, Karana, and the Tribunal return to meddle in the affairs of mortals again. All level caps are being raised to 80.

Then there is the new playable race. If you played EQ you know them. You love them. You can't get enough of those whacky Sarnak! Those half-dragon creatures often seen following me in large packs as I ran screaming for the zone line are back and ready to take their homeland back from the Iksar once and for all.

My excitement is only dulled by the realization that SOE has pretty much been building EQ2 by misplacing most of EQ1 Norrath and then slowly finding it again until they create what the players wanted in the first place, but at least they're heading in the right direction. Michael Fahey

EverQuest II: Rise of Kunark [Everquest II Allakhazam - Thanks Cyanbane!]