EverQuest, also known as EQ, is one of the greatest massively-multiplayer online roleplaying games (MMORPG) there ever was. Launching in 1999 from 989 Studios (Sony), the game originally featured a massive, adventurous fantasy world with many challenges for everyone, and has since expanded many times over through various expansions. In fact, the game just celebrated its 10th year anniversary and is still going strong along with an existing concurrent sequel and even a movie in the works. I could write forever about the origins, awesomeness and legacy of EQ, but instead it is best to go read up on it at Wikipedia if you wish by clicking here.
This then brings me to the topic and purpose of this post. The Classic EQ Petition at ClassicEQPetition.com is seeking to have the original game (with its first two expansions) reinstated on a special server for those who wish to return to the original glory days of EverQuest. The following describes the mission of the petition:
There have been whispers and pleas, even shouts of excitement about a return to Classic EverQuest. Many have considered our numbers to be too few, or our convictions too varied, but the pleas and efforts of those who yearn for Old Norrath to achieve what we desire are too strong to be ignored. One result of this collective desire was the creation of the Classic EverQuest Petition.
The ruleset outlined in the Classic EverQuest Petition is a request to breathe life into the old game we all have come to enjoy throughout the years and bring back meaning to the original zones and lore. Those who long to stroll down Norrath’s well traveled paths once again are many in number, but being spread across many game worlds, it has remained a silent longing… until now.
The Classic EverQuest Petition hails a return to a style of gameplay that is long forgotten by modern games, yet remains greatly desired; one that has since been replaced by ever increasing mudflation driven by a desire to receive advancement with little effort spent to achieve it. We do not desire easy mode gameplay with its rapidly earned experience, equipment which has no fame among the lands yet carries ever heavy bonuses, and its focus on very high end raiding over all else.
We are the players who desire to play a game that has its focus on the lore in the lands we tread upon, challenge that is risky but not without its rewards, and maybe even to best a dragon or two… but most of all we long for the social environment that can only exist in such a game. We believe that these are all found back in Old Norrath, and after battling long and hard in many lands we are ready to take up arms yet again in the place we all once knew as home.
These lofty desires we hold cannot be fulfilled in Modern EverQuest simply by limiting ourselves to certain content, or by creating a server with content simply locked off. To truly capture the style of gameplay and social environment we long for requires all of the rules and mechanics of the Classic era, with all the challenge and hardship they carry. Each and every rule contributed to the experience. It was not just the newness of the world that attracted us, but the focus of The Vision on building a world rich in lore… and unforgiving in consequences; much like another world we know.
It may not be a perfect world, but it is our world… and we want to be in it again!
The full text of the actual petition is found here.
Please consider signing the petition, if not for yourself, then on behalf of the thousands of people (including myself) who would love to return to the origins of our beloved game! It is a simple process which is described on the site. In consideration for your online privacy, only your initials are shown on the viewable petition until it is privately submitted.
Thanks for reading… your support is invaluable!!
UPDATE: The Classic EQ Petition site now has a forum, so feel free to go visit!
The first three expansions? Blasphemy!
I’m holding out for pre-Kunark EQ and the return of rubicite armor!
Thanks for visiting! In my original post there was a typo (now corrected) where I wrote first three expansions, but I actually meant first two expansions, as outlined on the petition site.
I’m sure rubicite might still be included, but Kunark + Velious expanded the game to a more viable level in my opinion; however, the very original is great too!
It is also affectionately known as Evercrack
Hi, interesting post. I have been wondering about this issue, so thanks for sharing. I’ll likely be coming back to your site. Keep up the good posts.
[...] course, this isn’t enough nostalgia for some. I saw a post the other day that was pointing toward yet another Internet petition drive, this one asking for SOE [...]
Why beg SOE, when you can buy or breakout your titanium edition, and start playing classic EQ now.
http://classicbetatest.guildlaunch.com/
Interesting, I had not heard of this project! I will definitely take a good look when it goes live.