I was checking out the EQ2 Players webby today and noticed their latest zone review request is listed, encouraging the community to do a review of the zone of Everfrost. Well, I’m going to do something a little different as I am sure a whole lot will be letting SoE know their views on the zone and submitting a review. What I aim to do, is everytime SoE ask for a zone review on a specific zone I am going to give a review of my memories and experiences of the ‘old norrathian zones’ – if a direct correlation exists of course. In this case one does! Obviously Everfrost was originally a zone just off Halas and Blackburrow. For those struggling to recall the layout…
So what was the zone like? Well, the very first time I ever ventured to Everfrost was when a friend had a created a Barbarian Shaman. From what I recall Udrath my Dwarvern Warrior was only about level 12 or 13 and just getting across Norrath from Freeport was somewhat of a challenge. At the time I couldn’t quite believe the distance I had to run on my stumpy little legs and I started to get an appreciation as to how large Norrath actually was. I hadn’t even been to Qeynos at that point. Zoning in from Blackburrow you are first met with the fairly restricted view of the chasms that populated the area North of BB and head all the way towards Halas. I can recall my frustration as I kept getting lost in the gullies and chasms that seemed to always guide me to the open area to the east.
After meeting up with my friend, we decided to do some hunting and headed out in to the plains. From what I can recall we didn’t head that far out as the mobs were generally too tough for us the closer we got to the frozen river. Later on in levels I remember quite clearly camping the temple (#9 on map) and hunting Redwind. I spent a fair amount of time there on my Druid kiting and having fun. Overall, because of it’s remote location I didn’t use Everfrost too much. As such I am trying to recall what parts of the old Everfrost resemble the new..and I am coming up with a complete blank. Apart from the snow obviously. I do recall a mob or two that can be found in both, such as Karg Icebear and Miragul (The Menagerie guy), but aside from that I am struggling to recall any resemblance. Which is strange as in other EQ2 zones the tribute to EQ1 is quite apparent..just look at Unrest..almost a carbon copy. From what I remember though my times in Everfrost were happy, just not memorable with clarity. I wonder what that says about the zone? I mean looking at other zones in EQ1 I can remember everything about them. Maybe it was the small amount of time spent there? It never did seem to be an over populated zone with very few hunting there as I recall.
Redwind at the Temple, Everfrost, Everquest.
