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The end of EQI is at hand...

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 6
Date: April 20, 2003
Author: Amazon User

With the introduction of SoL and many accompanying features introduced to the game, we're now seeing the end of the game as we know it. EverQuest II is due to be released at the end of '03 and there's no doubt that Sony will want everyone to switch over.

But why? Weren't we all happy with EQ I? Yes, but they'll apparently be able to make more money off EQII. And so, they've got to compromise this edition of the game in many crucial ways so as to ensure we'll all make the conversion.

The first way was to introduce the KEI spell. Now, anyone with this cast on themselves can dramatically increase the amount of killing they can do, thus level much, much faster. As a result, high level characters aren't as meaningful as they once were.

And now with PoK, traveling the world with a level one character is entirely doable. In the old days you had to walk or hitch a ride off a Druid or Wizz. This forced you to learn the land--the ins and outs--for youself. It also taught you to get to know people and learn to interact with those that were in a position to help you. The world was much larger in they way players percieved it. Now there's no sense of vastness to the lands at all. Erudin is as easy to get to as Ak'Anon. Just hit a PoK book and off you go.

EQ has created a number of ridiculous expansions but this one takes the cake. I'm still an avid EQ fan, and I'm sure I'll be first in line to try EQII but I see what's happening and I don't like it.

Don't listen to some of these

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 3
Date: August 06, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Whoever said that you can't go into POK before 50, is lying. Flat out lying. You can get into pok at level 1. Plane of tranquility is at level 46, and as of a month ago, Plane of nightmare, innovation, disease, justice, can be accesed at 46. Valor, Storms, Decay, Torment can be accesed at 55. HoH and bastion of thunder are accesed at 62. If you don't have a level 46 plus character, buy this expansion solely for the ease of travel. No more taking the boat from butcherblock to freeport !

First Of The Post-Verant Letdowns

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 3 / 7
Date: August 22, 2003
Author: Amazon User

"EverQuest: Planes Of Power" was obviously designed to cater to "Uber-Guilds," an expression used in the EverQuest online community to denote player guilds which are rather advanced in skills and prior experience, and large in numbers. The single adventurer, as well as the casual gamer or relative newcomer, will find little to no content whatsoever which is available to them in this expansion pack (past a certain point). It is all about groups and large scale raids. Solo gameplay in the "Planes of Power" zones is next to impossible, and that is appparently by design. In fact, several player class abilities were "nerfed" by Sony just prior to the release of this expansion, ostensibly to "better balance the classes." It is far more likely that those "nerfs" were enacted to prevent any possibility of traditional solo classes (such as Wizards and Druids) from being able to do any effective soloing in the new zones.

Another problematic feature of this add-on is the overpowered "gear" that one can obtain from the high-end encounters featured in "PoP." Introducing too much "uber gear" to an MMORPG game is precisely what ultimately ruined "Diablo 2" when the "Lord of Destruction" expansion was released. For many gamers, the focus becomes shifted away from roleplaying and game content, and instead toward greed for items which they can strut and show off to other players. It also tends to make player characters who *can* manage to obtain those items a bit too powerful, which hardly seems to fit in with Sony's highly questionable assertions... that several prior ability nerfs were done to "better balance the classes." If anything is true about "Planes of Power," it's that it is decidely UN-balanced in the extreme.

Painfully short on game content, all too few and sloppily written quests, overly lengthy encounters and a generally poor payoff in the "Plane of Time" endzone are what one can expect from this mediocre expansion pack. Whilst it is a "must have" for all EverQuest players, it hardly stacks up well against prior expansions such as "Scars Of Velious" or "Shadows Of Luclin" so far as actual depth, atmosphere and overall content is concerned. This is also the first EverQuest expansion set which the original game designers (Verant International) had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with, and it shows. Moreover, "Planes Of Power" is an expansion pack which 99% of all players will never see the bulk of, due to their being unable to assemble the "muscle" required to fully explore the additional zones and adversaries. Not being able to see three quarters of a game you pay for is rather disappointing (to say the least), so unless you already belong to a highly-skilled player guild, do not expect to progress past a very superficial point in this add-on to EverQuest.

Lastly, "The Planes Of Power" tends to look and play more like a Sony PlayStation 2 game than an add-on for a classic PC based MMORPG. Storyline depth and roleplaying content has been replaced in favour of eye candy, overpowered enemies, and ridiculously and unnecessarily overpowered items designed to appeal to player egos. "PoP" is not entirely without merit, but depending on what you look for in a roleplaying game, you may be disappointed overall. Defenders of this add-on have often said to me "Well, Sony knows what sells, that's why PoP is the way it is, and that's the bottom line." Naturally, I have no problem with manufacturers of PC games making a profit on their merchandise, but I see no reason why profits and product integrity need be mutually exclusive concepts.

Thumbs down overall, but a necessary add-on for all EverQuest players.

This game is only fo certain people

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: November 22, 2002
Author: Amazon User

You have to understand that Everquest is a world (+moon and other dimensions) that is completeley center around fantasy roleplaying. I have owned the game since it has come out (almost 3 years) and I still enjoy it. However, if you are lazy and uncommitted to what you're doing, you probably wont enjoy it. If you are coming into the game new, I'd suggest only buy the trilogy (first and next 2 expansions). If you get to at least 30 and still like the game, go for Shadows of Luclin (Expansion4, but make sure your computer can handle all the new requirements, because lag is no fun. Planes of Power (Expansion5) for the most part will not do you any good until you are level 46 or higher, except to make traveling the whole world a little faster, and you usually don't do that too often. In all, if you are looking for a game with magic, swords, dragons, and other people who like magic, swords, dragons (and more often than not Monty Python), EverQuest is a very entertaining game...

Big...Huge waste of money

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 3 / 10
Date: November 20, 2002
Author: Amazon User

The recent nerfs have taken a significant amount of fun out of the game. This includes nerfs to the wizards, monks and mod rods. This game is a pitiful way for Sony to suck more money out of you. It offers nothing more than more time sinks, which in turn adds more money to line Sony/Verants pocket books. I play a 60 wiz and have purchased this game, and have played in the the new "planes", Dont waist your time, and money folks. This game has become more of a frustration than anything.

Waste of Time and Money

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 3 / 13
Date: November 13, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Another Expansion? What the heck they just came out with one about what 5 months ago geez i think the word Greedy comes into play . Come on I mean 1st they bring out a Expansion that requires you to upgrade your computer in order for it to work.... then they jack up the subscription Fee and now this . Save your money Folks for Star Wars Galaxies or World of Warcraft

If you play EQ, you NEED this one

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: May 16, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Quite simply, the PoP expansion changed the way the game has been played for years.

The ability for non-wizards/druids to move around the world in a brief period of time has changed the landscape of the game. The increase of maximum level to 65 also changed the game.

If youplay EQ, you HAVE to have this expansion.

PoP is essential at any level

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 3
Date: December 18, 2002
Author: Amazon User

No matter what level you are, PoP is a must have. Druids and Wizards will still be invaluable for escape or for getting quickly to other spots in the world, but if you have time to zone three times to travel across the world (or moon) PoP is great! I can go from Kelethin to Qeynos now without a TP and without waiting for the nexus spires to trigger and running through WK (YUK!).

Jonathan Biviano
Author of Fate Rides Wicked: Volume I of the Lerilon Trilogy, available at Amazon.com

EQ soon to be replaced by EQ 2

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 1 / 4
Date: November 09, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Planes of Power isn't bad, its nice to see Verant has addressed some travel time constraints with potports. Used to be you'd spend several hours if you wanted to get someplace, waiting on boats etc. Verant took their complaints seriously and three and a half years later we have PoP. If you're not high level, there's nothing in the Planes for you. If you are high level you've probably heard what you need about it from your guild.

If you're thinking of starting Everquest, don't bother. Verant will be coming out with EQ 2 soon enough and even then with their habit of nerfing classes (monk class was made into gimps with most recent nerf), I'm in no hurry to play EQ2. Star Wars maybe. Though expect to see jedi knights nerfed three years down the line.

Don't waste your money

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 1 / 5
Date: November 12, 2002
Author: Amazon User

I've played EverQuest for almost 2 years now. Planes of Power has nothing in it for a character unless that character is almost level 60. Even then, Sony/Verant is slowly but surely destroying this game. One example would be the recent nerfs (class wimping) of the Monk class and the Wizard and Mage classes. Also Sony/Verant's customer service is notoriously bad. This expansion is not worth it.

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