The Original EverQuest MMORPG Going Free to Play in March
SOE's original oldie-but-goodie EverQuest MMORPG is finally going free-to-play in March.
EverQuest producer Thom Terrazas said on Monday that Sony Online Entertainment's (SOE) former flagship MMORPG is (finally) going into free-to-play mode in March -- probably March 16, exactly thirteen years after it went live for Windows-based PCs. The news arrives after Sony introduced a free-to-play model for the game's successor, EverQuest 2, in December 2011 which experienced a 40-percent increase in log-ins as a result.
"We're excited to be expanding the EverQuest experience by making the game more accessible to every type of player so that you can choose to play the game in a way that suits you best," Terrazas said in a community letter. "Anyone who wishes to start, return or continue to play one of the "Best Games of All-Time" can simply download and play EverQuest on their terms – think of it as Free to Play, Your Way. Recurring subscriptions, non-recurring subscriptions, Silver or Free memberships, item unlockers, and more. The game will now be setup to be flexible so that *you* can decide how much to pay, based on how much fun you're having."
Oh my.
As noted, EverQuest becomes an official teenager on March 16. To celebrate, Sony will host additional events within the game starting that week and leading up to the Special Birthday. New items are currently being introduced within The Plane of Knowledge to give existing members a taste of what's to come. Other changes and additions include a revamped EverQuest.com website once the F2P model goes live, and an improved Map system.
"Also at the free-to-play launch, all players will receive a Welcome Pack containing items to add to your gameplay experience," he said. "You'll be able to summon a unique Mercenary to fight by your side and we're including some Bayle Marks to help pay for the services of your newly summoned Mercenary. A couple of Experience Potions are also included to help you increase your experience gained while adventuring. For all the collectors that like to show off all the great wares to your friends, we're giving you an item to display in your home and add to your collection. And finally, you'll be able to customize the appearance of one of your weapons with a Weapon Ornamentation - also included in the Welcome Pack. So be sure to check the claim window for your free gifts."
Terrazas added that the EverQuest development team will host a Community Webcast on Thursday February 2, 2012, covering the F2P details. Until then, it's easy to assume the classic MMORPG may feature a three-tier structure similar to EverQuest 2, offering a basic free account, a silver account providing extra perks once players spend $5, and a full-blown monthly subscription granting access to everything EverQuest has to offer.
Since its launch just before Y2K, EverQuest has seen eighteen expansions in its lifetime, ranging from The Ruins of Kunark in April 2000 to Veil of Alaris in November 2011. The franchise has also produced a large number of spinoffs including Champions of Norrath for the PlayStation 2, Lord of EverQuest for the PC, and EverQuest Hero's Call for Pocket PC.
Seriously, how long has it been since you've played the original EverQuest?

I actually have the disk neatly tucked away inside my desk, there's not even a scratch on it either.
Everquest is probably the main reason i am an Engineer today. Needed to build a decent PC in order to play EQ, learned i was good with computering, stuck with it and still with it.
on another note, you are completey useless in the higher end of the game if you are ftp
1-60, my favroite levels, those are doable with the 250 aa limit, any higher than that and you are almost useless to the party you would be in,
5$ a month gets you to level 75
15$ a month and you are set for everything...
they also dont give you the most soloable classes (shadow knight, and mage) for free.
but that level 1-60... best levels in the game, i always hated the higher levels because its no longer about levels and gear, its about how much aa you have, and to be relevant at a high level, be prepared to grind for 6 or so months, not leveling at all... they need to fix the aa system to award you with some aa points every time you level through to level 80 or 85, it wouldnt break the game, but it would speed crap up to get people to the higher levels without the insane grind requirements.
Quit about 9? mo. ago.. but I never let go of the possibility of returning.
Dont hate.. plug inc
For those of you who are going to try this ftp EQ out... Travelers of Norrath on the Saryrn server is currently a casual/family guild recuiting all levels/classes. If anyone is looking for a guild just for chat and people to group with, contact Draysa.
www.tonsaryrn.net
^^ dont lie you miss this type of spam 0.o
than finding out that there is a top player who boxes 6 characters and has saved up enough dkp to buy everything in the raid for the next year. yea, thats how a few of the guilds i was in that raided worked, would rather /ran 100 for the loot...
but that's what everquest next is suppose to be, a reboot of eq1 with the things that made eq great in there already... hoping to hear more about it at e3... if the project wasn't canned, though i doubt that would happen.