Sony sends word of some mammoth updates to Everquest II. Live update 18 recently went live with a ton of new content, features and even a special holiday event. Some of the highlights include new horses and titles for level 40 guilds, redesigned subclass armor and the new Fallen Gate area.

The jump has an enormously long and detailed list of all the changes.

*** Frostfell ***

- It's Frostfell time in Norrath!
- Talk to Gardy Giftgiver in either Qeynos Harbor or West Freeport once a day for lots of fun presents! He has 15 to give you in all, including new music boxes that play your favorite EverQuest Live tunes.
- Those Gigglegibber goblins are up to no good again. Help the Frostfell Elves save Frostfell! Just talk to Pinchy Presentpeeler to start the quest.
- Celebrate the holidays by having snowball fights with all your friends.
- Buy decorations for your home from the Frostfell elves.
- The festivities commence in Qeynos Harbor and West Freeport. Look for the Frostfell tree!

*** Questing ***

- An NPC that will offer, update, or complete a quest now has an indicator above its head.
* A quill indicates that the NPC will offer you a quest.
* A book with a quill indicates that the NPC will update one of your quests.
* A book indicates that the NPC will complete one of your quests.
* NPCs that offer a quest 10 or more levels above or below your adventure level will not display these indicators.
* You can turn off these indicators in the Options menu (User Interface -> Name and Chat Bubble -> NPC Overhead Quest Icons).
- Zone maps now display a circle where there is a nearby NPC that offers, updates, or completes a quest.
* NPCs that give a quest are indicated by an open yellow circle.
* NPCs that update or complete quests are indicated by a filled yellow circle.
* Mousing over these icons will show you the name of the NPC.
* NPCs that offer a quest 10 or more levels above or below your adventure level will not be shown on the map.
* You can turn off the quest giver map icons in the Options menu (User Interface -> Game Features -> Show quest icons on map).
- The Quest Journal will now display quest rewards—no more guessing what you'll receive for performing a task. You will also be able to see quest rewards before accepting a new quest.
* Not all quests will show their rewards; some special rewards are meant to be a surprise.
* You can turn off the display of rewards in the Options menu (User Interface -> Game Features -> Show quest rewards).

*** New Guild Level 40 Rewards ***

- New mounts have been trained for use by level 40 guilds.
- The Mistrunner is available to Qeynosians with plain, blue, and purple saddles.
- The Nightmare is available to Freeportians with plain, black, and red saddles.
- There are now titles available to members of level 40 guilds: Lord and Lady.

*** Subclass Armor Quests ***

- The armor rewards for the level 20 subclass armor quests now have a unique appearance per subclass.
- All of the armor now has unique stats appropriate for each subclass.
- If you have already completed your armor quests, speak with the assistant next to the NPC you originally did the quests for.

*** Dungeon Exploration ***

Fallen Gate
- The Fallen Gate has been invaded by Thexian explorers and Tseralith is stirring.
- The population within Fallen Gate has been improved, now with 50% more evil.
- Discover new treasures by exploring the Fallen Gate and vanquishing its denizens.

*** Summoned Pets ***

- Summoned pets now have consistent and distinct appearances at each spell level. For example, the level 52 Conjurer ability Tellurian Myrmidon is the only spell that will summon a rock elemental pet; the Necromancer ability Rotting Thrall is the only spell that will summon the previously overused zombie. Other levels will summon different creature types.
- Summoned pets in a given spell line have a distinct look at each quality tier. For example, the Necromancer's Diseased Servant spell summons a skeleton warrior. As the spell is increased in quality tier (Apprentice I, Adept I, etc.), the skeleton looks more impressive.
- Temporary pets also have new appearances. For example, the Shadowknight's Tainted Sacrament line will change in appearance with upgrades.
- Persistent summoned pets start out with a base number of abilities. An additional ability is granted to the pet at each spell level upgrade. Pet spells in the level 52 to 60 spell range now have an additional ability that they did not have before.
- Temporary Pets (e.g. Conjurer's Roaring Flames and Necromancer's Ghastly Stench) will now cast their close-range AoE spell more often.
- Pets will no longer inherit abilities based on their creature type.
- Temporary Pets now display their owner's name.
- Fighter and Scout pets now use their combat arts more often.
- Fighter pets now taunt more often, and their taunts have a lower chance of being resisted. Their taunt effectiveness should now scale properly with level.
- Some Conjurer Fighter pets now have interrupt/knock-down effects, while some Necromancer Fighter pets now have root/stifle effects.
- Scout pets had their damage adjusted based on the reuse timer of the combat art. Slower combat arts now do increased damage, while faster combat arts now do less damage. Overall, Scout pets should deal about the same amount of damage they did before.
- Mage pets focus more on AoE spells than they used to. These spells have generally been made more effective.
- Mage pets are much more resistant to spell damage than they were before, and the size of their power pool has been increased. Casting times on their spells were generally decreased, and their single-target spells will land more often than they did before.
- The Illusionist pet spell list now also includes Stunning Array, Lock Mind, and a direct damage/mez spell. They no longer try to cast DoT spells on their target.
- Summoned pets now have the same base run speed as their owners.

*** Enemy Mastery ***

- Player characters can now choose from four new Enemy Mastery options at level 52: Cyclops, Djinn, Harpy, or Naga.
- You will automatically be granted the ability to choose your new Enemy Mastery option—just click the blinking character advancement icon.

*** Veteran Rewards ***

- If you own Desert of Flames, you will receive 90 days added to your Account Age, which is used to determine which Veteran Rewards you are eligible for.
- It's our way of saying thanks to those of you who are enjoying our expansion.

Update details [Sony Station]