After UO on the Sullon Zek server of Everquest...
Dark Age of Camelot
The official shipping date for Dark Age of Camelot is October 9th, if you pre-ordered it. Yes, its very EQ-like, but with many differences which I'm sure are being discussed on the message board of your choice. Personally, I'm not going to twist anyone's arm to play it. For that purpose, the Powers That Be created the one known as Anduan Lothar. And I'm not going to compare it with Shadowbane, because the Beast has already spawned a champion of all-things-shadowbane, and his name is Punisher. I'll be playing DaoC, and the several TC that are going to be in it will be joining up with another guild from Acheron's Call called House of Sagacious. After DAOC is underway, we'll post what server people are on and how to get in touch with those Cabal members who are playing DaoC.
Shadowbane Has an Official Publisher!
Ubi Soft has signed on to be the North American distributor for Shadowbane. While this is great news for everyone who has been looking forward to Shadowbane, since it brings SB out of the world of vaporware and closer to being a completed project, the press release did contain at least one very discouraging line. It says, "Shadowbane is expected to launch online commercially in the first half of 2002". And here I used to jokingly misquote Punisher about SB's release date, and now that's what it really is. Doh! I shall now reset my expectations for a 2003 launch of Shadowbane. Everyone please return to your current online world in an orderly fashion; there's nothing to see here; lets all just move along now . . .
TC to Launch Counterattack against RL
In this last week alone, three of our oldest and favorite guild members have defected to join RL. Avenger, Darktower and Perlaze have all been retired from online fantasy worlds and The Cabal. DT recently informed me that he was getting remarried and moving on from these types of pasttimes, while both AV and Per have turned their focus to college and work. We will welcome them back to The Cabal in the future should they make a return for Shadowbane or another MMORPG. The other Cabal members and I are left searching a way to make RL pay for the sadness it has brought to us through this loss. RL must pay! Hmmm, if only there was a way . . .
50th Level Characters Already?
In the first two or three weeks of a brand new server, Sullon Zek has already seen its first 50th level druids, bards and even clerics. That's both amazing, and to be quite honest, a little disturbing. I remember how Diamond Dog once said that things will heavily favor those who play all day, and it seems he's right (though his expression was "those who have no lives", but oh well). As of today, the highest TC/GC folks are currently in the 29th to 31st range.
I spoke to one of the 50th level guys, and he explained that the character was played 24 hours a day by two different people. The character was hardly ever offline from the point the server opened. They had both played EQ for two years straight and knew exactly where to go for the best progression. Hmmm, I still enter most zones and go, "ooo, cool, what's in here?" The faster leveling characters from all sides have gone out and begun raiding the distant zones of their enemies. Verant is keeping stats on who's out killing early (shown on left menu link), and it seems TC/GC will have to do some catching up to these early killers. I actually look forward to playing the role of an overlooked newbie underdog, yet again.
Guild Leadership While On Sullon Zek
Since the majority of TC/GC players are currently on Sullon Zek in EQ, we've appointed a GM for the Guardian's Chosen in that world. Dartanion will resume the role of GM when Shadowbane launches and we start the guild there. Anduan (Lothar) is the GM of GC in EQ, with the three primary recruitment officers being Obsinius, Maell (Punisher) and Cabansis (Keldan). Milabar will serve as guild treasurer, directing guild contributions towards our blacksmith, jewelers, and other trade skill characters, etc. Please direct questions you have about such matters as guild direction, recruitment and platinum to these particular Cabal members . . . and not me.
Also, we've had to enact certain rules of conduct for EQ due to the disrespectful behavior of a certain GC member, Roxxin. As of today, there will be no cheering each and every single time you kill a mob, no continual practicing of combat moves on players that are meditating, and no eating after midnight. If you protest any of these rules, please send Roxxin a tell and just ask him a question . . . any question.
New Player Spawns Established by Verant
For those TC/GC looking to find easier areas to earn xp and cash in the overcrowded spots, the EQ staff has changed the spawn rates in certain zones. Sphincter reports that good-aligned players mages are now spawning near Quellious. These mages seem to have a very long aggro range towards evil HE rogues, but they also seem to drop rather quickly in melee. For money, you might want to try the East Commonlands near Neriak, where Bizanich is camping a neutral halfling spawn for about 2 plat a pop. All of these player mobs are at least 6th level and have a hive mentality, so watch your backs when you take one on. Its hard to keep up with all of you until we get guild chat, so please tell us your early PvP stories on our message board.
No Guilds on Sullon Zek Until July 5th
Verant says their guild database will be ready for new guilds on SZ on July 5th, so until then, level damnit. Our acting GM-type person in EQ until that time is Anduan Lothar (aka 'Anduan'), so any GC that have started up on SZ please contact Anduan in order to let us know your status and to be added to the guild on the 5th. We'll also announce recruiting officers on that day for people too lazy to walk to Neriak.
A Large Rat Slain; Local Dark Elves Suspected
Funeral services for 'a large rat' will be held round the clock today in Nektulos forest. The helpless large rat was cut to ribbons only -0.0047 seconds after birth yesterday afternoon around 4pm CST when the new Sullon Zek server opened to the public. Witnesses described the murder as "laggy" and "that was mine!". Dark Elf law enforcement official, Guard L'xvvrnn, currently has 300 to 400 suspects under a close eye, but evidence has been difficult to gather due to the other 2,347,918 similar murders that took place just outside Neriak that same day. Newbies to Sullon Zek are advised to avoid the zone until the suspects have all reached at least 6th level.
TC/GC Starting Up on EQ Sullon Zek Server
Its official, a group of TC/GC will be starting up on the new EQ Deity Team PvP Server, Sullon Zek, when it arrives on June 27th or later. We intend to try and change things up a bit and worship evil gods this time instead of our standard good-aligned deity, The Guardian, at least until he apologizes to me for that UO Third Dawn stunt he tried to pull last month. I've added a couple EQ info links to the left menu (for those who are new to EQ), along with a list of TC/GC members who intend to play there. It will actually be a mix of members from The Cabal and Guardian's Chosen, our IB and NC allies, and some new GC apprentices that were not with us on Siege. They all said they would definitely be there, or "Lothar, if I say yes, will you stop asking me?", or something like that. We hope to enhance our understanding of 3D pvp after playing UO for so long.
As for established EQ players on other shards who don't want to build a new character, we've heard rumor that they may allow character transfers (with no equipment) from other shards, but not sure if that's definate or whether they might intend to allow that sometime in the future. Will AO or SB come along and make us change our minds about EQ? We'll just have to wait, and wait, and wait, and see.
A Quick Review of Anarchy Online Beta
I wrote a little synopsis of the Anarchy Online Beta and my experiences there so far. The AO beta is open and in final testing, so take a look at it and see if its a MMORPG you'd like to try when it releases here in the next few weeks. Other Cabal members known to be creeping around in the AO beta include Viper Relismonne and Kitty. Please feel free to make comments about the AO beta on our message board.
New Everquest Deity-Based PvP Server
For those of you looking for a change of pace, EQ will have a new PvP Server with different rules than Rallos Zek. Read about the new EQ Server PvP rules and let us know what you think. Its in testing right now, but will available sometime around June 27th. I know Loth and Spart and a few others from TC/GC plan on going there, and UDL is rumored to be starting up their with a good portion of their guild. If your prefer PvP on good ole' Rallos Zek, look to hook up with Obsinius and Inistis from TC.
World War II Online
Aside from those TC/GC checking out the Anarchy Online beta, several TC members have started up in World War II Online. They seem to be having problems with server overcrowding and such, but how many releases come out perfect on day one? The TC folks play on Server 4. Ask for Dartanion if you are looking to hook up with them. And yes, they are playing the bad guys.
What's Next? AO? SB? DAOC? Something Else?
While many of TC/GC have stayed loyal to their UO ways and others still cling to their EQ existance, I gotta wonder about the release date of the next MMORPG that actually captures all of our interests. Anarchy Online seems to have the closest release date (their page says June 27th) and AO is already in general beta release. Its a futuristic MPORG, so it'll be a change of pace from all these classic fantasy environments. Might be worth checking out. Shadowbane has released some Combat FAQ for us to snack on, but they're still only in a 2nd closed beta, so can't guess on their release date. Dark Age of Camelot is in a 3rd beta, and they're aiming at Fall of this year. If anyone of you is in these betas, drop us a message to let us know what you think of them. Also, if you notice anyone misspelling words on our site, please report your obsessive spellchecking behavior to your shrink during ur next skeduled vizit.
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