EverQuest Next Landmark

[Regolyth]

Has anyone else messed around with Landmark yet? I haven't had the opportunity, but I'd really like to.

[Morreion]

I know Jaema is chomping at the bit to get into this game, I'm going to get at least the Settlers Pack I'm pretty sure...unfortunately it looks like release won't be until next spring by the look of things (after they talked about 'winter release').

[Regolyth]

Oh, okay. I thought it was out already. I guess that shows how much I was paying attention.

[Morreion]

Actually they'd been saying that they'd have some kind of playable form of the game by 'this winter'. Now it looks like Feb. 28th 2014 is the earliest players can get in beta by buying one of the more expensive promotional packs

Remember when the holiday season was release time for MMOs? Winter is the best time for gaming!

[Morreion]

EverQuest Next Landmark livestream delves into player-made structures (Massively)

One of the most touted features of Sony Online Entertainment's upcoming EverQuest Next Landmark is most certainly the ability of players to alter the world and build their own structures within it. If you're a would-be architect who wants to get more details on EQN Landmark's construction process, then you're in luck because yesterday's official livestream consists of over 50 minutes of building-related questions, answers, and even gameplay.

The Tattered Notebook: The EQN Landmark founders pack fallout (Massively)

Some folks are dubious about the whole "pay to test" philosophy and ascribe that to Landmark. I can see where some of those concerns come from. But I have some information that might help clarify that matter.

Think back to the olden days when an alpha build was bare bones and had a loooong way to go before it was even looking like a game. I was in alphas back then, and they were pretty rough. On that same note, even betas still had plenty of glitches to report and bugs to squash, but they were smoother and gave testers a vision of the upcoming polished game. I've been in those betas too. And I can tell you right now that as of my play time, the state of EQN Landmark is further ahead than both of those. By the time we reach alpha (an industry phrase now more commonly used just to denote "before the actual launch") for Landmark, the game is going to be light years beyond those test stages. I am convinced we won't be alpha testing as it was known in days of yore; we're basically testing server load that used to come more in open beta (and getting a headstart to get to know the tools in the bargain).

Some Assembly Required: How EverQuest Next Landmark could redefine PGC (Massively)

For one, building will be policed by the devs and the community. Players will be able to report inappropriate creations, and the studio will investigate and take action. If you see something suspect, then speak up. That goes not only for highly inappropriate creations but ones that are immersion-breaking on the Norrath-enforced continent. You see, the studio has found a way to give both types of folks what they want -- the immersion lovers and those who just want to build anything. There will be a Norrath only continent in each world for folks to build on and stay within the EQ theme, and then there will be other continents where anything (appropriate) goes. So players don't have to worry about a spaceship of Orcs ruining their ability to get lost in a fantasy world. SOE is even giving players a way to search for their preferred content!

The Tattered Notebook Extra: EQ Next Landmark livestream talks tools, demonstrates mining (Massively)

Staking your claim

While more details about claims is expected in January, the devs offered a few insights about how claims work. In order to encourage players to explore the world a bit, claim flags will not be available upon first logging in. Instead, players will have to gather resources then buy that first claim flag for in-game currency. Players will also be able to own multiple claims by acquiring secondary claim flags, available in-game and possibly for Station Cash.

One thing devs wanted to emphasize during the steam is that building is not restricted to buildings. Players really can let their imagination run wild. As an example, a dev populated a mountainside with gigantic stone spiders.

Critically, interacting with the land on your claim is different from interacting with the land on your claim. For instance, the land on your claim will not automatically heal over time, and building is done with the building interface tools, not in-game tools for harvesting. Additionally, players cannot harvest trees they plant on their claim as decorations. If a tree is a prop used in decorating, it cannot be chopped down for resources.

EverQuest Next Landmark beta keys available in US PC Gamer (Massively)

First, PC Gamer UK brought us the news of three new classes in EverQuest Next. Now the US version is keeping with the EQN theme by offering subscribers EQN Landmark closed beta keys. This gives players another option for gaining access to closed beta besides purchasing a Founders Pack or hoping for the best during a lottery selection. In the print version of the mag, you'll receive an exclusive, one-week access to the sandbox when it hits beta. Along with the keys, the magazine offers impressions on the gameplay, and you can also read Massively's own hands-on experience in Landmark.

EverQuest Next Landmark alpha coming 'last half of January' (Massively)

Remember back when SOE said that EverQuest Next Landmark's alpha would happen on or before February 28th, 2014? According to CEO John Smedley, players will likely be seeing the game a month (or more) sooner than that. Smedley tweeted, "It's looking like our alpha for EQNL is going to start sometime in the last half of January." That's some pretty good news for folks who are excited to get in and test the building tools in the sandbox for themselves.

[dortmunder]

I bought it friday night to give it a go. It was mostly down or not working right over the weekend though. Seems everything you built didn't save. They apparently fixed that last night.

So I started building again. I'm starting simple, learning the tools etc.

www.twitch.tv/dortmunder98/b/500662592

If you skip to 2h 36m you can see what I've done so far. You can watch further back to see how I built it etc, but it's pretty long

I'm really enjoying it so far, but it still needs a lot of work for sure.

[Jaema]

I'm looking forward to playing with this, but I'm in the last group of beta founders. I had hopes we'd get in earlier than the projected late March, but since the alpha didn't start until the last day of January I think I should be realistic about anything opening up 'early'

[Morreion]

Great video, Dortmunder!

[Morreion]

How Will Claims Work in EQN Landmark? (EQN Landmark)

Q: Is it possible to run out of land and have nowhere left to claim?

A: There will be a maximum number of claims permitted in each area. Once that limit has been reached, nobody else will be able to claim land in that area until one of the existing claims is removed. This ensures there will always be land to explore and mine. If the continent you are visiting is full, you will always have the option to move on to explore a new continent which is not yet full. The procedural content generation we use to create the world of Landmark means that we’ll be able to add new continents very rapidly as needed.

Videos produce EQN Landmark crafting details (Massively)

While we already knew that crafting would take place at communal crafting stations in hubs throughout the world, Mann revealed a new type that is randomly spawned in the world: altars. Altars, which create better and even unique items, are only found by exploring and will disappear after use.

EQ Next Landmark alpha begins tonight (Massively)

Later today, we will begin the Alpha for EverQuest Next Landmark and open up the game to our most committed and passionate players. This is the earliest point in the development process that we've ever let players into a game. We are empowering these players to do much more than test the game for bugs. For the first time, our players can join alongside us as part of the development team. They will have a significant voice in how the final game takes shape."

EverQuest Next Landmark Initial Impressions (Keen & Graev)

Building is… hard. I guess I thought I would have the talent of the SOE artists who build during those streams. I am clearly more akin to a finger-painting toddler. One of my friends told me, “That’s nice Keen but you made a hole in the ground.” I told her I would fix it, after which she replied, “Keen, you just made the hole bigger.” There are many subtle nuances to how you can manipulate the building tools by pressing tab, shift+tab, and using the mouse wheel. Every single little detail, angle, and embellishment can be tweaked. I’m out of my league, but I’ll get there.

Landmark Map Feedback (Keen & Graev)

Connect the Maps

Right now the only way to travel between these maps are the wizard spires. I’d like to see them connected. Think about it like traveling from North Karana Wizard Spires to the Desert of Ro. You can run the distance or teleport between them. I think this would give the world a much greater sense of contiguity.

SOE lifts EQN Landmark alpha NDA (Massively)

"Technically the alpha is holding up very very well, better even than expected. So, based on the requests of our alpha players, (and in spirit of transparency) we've decided to lift the nda immediately."

My first two hours in EQN Landmark (Massively)

That aside, Landmark is an absurd amount of fun. I long ago lost patience with MMO alphas and betas, mainly because each new game was in fact the same old game, so why would I bother to test another tired take-two on mechanics popularized by themepark grinders like WoW and the original EverQuest? Landmark thankfully eschews all of that in favor of the player's imagination, and the result is a staggeringly ambitious virtual world of the type that MMOs exist to facilitate.

Georgeson on the state of Landmark's alpha (Massively)

How's the Landmark alpha going? Pretty well, according to SOE producer Dave Georgeson. Earlier this evening Georgeson posted a lengthy state-of-the-alpha update on the game's forums (you'll need to be logged in with your SOE account to view the link). In it, he says that developers are currently working on server stability, logout position issues, and template fixes. He also mentions art team deliverables like new biomes, character customizations, and props.

Finally, Georgeson announced on Twitter that Landmark will only support 64-bit operating systems going forward. He explains why in the aforementioned forum post.

Georgeson on Landmark's crafting specializations, NDA, and roadmap (Massively)

Addressing the land rush

With the flood of new people eager to try the game, finding a plot of land to call your own became nigh impossible fairly quickly, even though the team estimated each world holds 16,000 to 17,000 claims. "As far as land space goes, we slightly overestimated about how many claims people could put down on an island by about a third," Georgeson disclosed. The team wasn't sure exactly how organized players would be when claiming land; they turned out to be more haphazard than expected. If players had fit the claims together in a more orderly fashion, they'd have been able to squeeze many more onto each island.

To those who can't find a spot now or would prefer a different one, you'll have the chance to claim a new spot soon. More worlds, each with its own set of island maps, are incoming: one tonight named Serenity, two very soon (as in days), and a whole bunch more when the ordered hardware is delivered. It is expected that many current players will pull up stakes and move to these new worlds, opening up the current worlds up for new players to stake claims.

[Regolyth]

Nice area Dortmunder.