EverQuest Nostalgia Tour – Fippy Darkpaw Edition

My first post on this blog, over four years ago, was about nostalgia for EverQuest, about how new and exciting and different EverQuest was on day one and wondering whether there was any way to recapture that feeling. (And I am certainly not alone in this venture.)

I have gone back to the game numerous times since then, and while it does help the memories flow back (especially the sounds from the game… odd how sounds can influence you so in a game that is primarily focused on a graphical experience) the feeling of being there on day one is something that is tough to recapture.

Worse than tough, it is probably impossible.  I am too familiar with the game to feel that sense of awe I did back in March of 1999.

So I make do with a sense of nostalgia and memories.

And I have another chance for nostalgia.  SOE is launching a new progression server, and they are launching it TODAY! (Though not quite yet.)

There is a FAQ up about what a progression server is, but in essence the game is held to a certain level of content, starting with the 1999 launch content (sort of) until certain events are accomplished which unlock further content.  Some new stuff, like zones that received graphic updates since launch, will remain updated.  And I am going to guess that we won’t be able to accidentally attack friendly NPCs by mistake as used to happen back in the day.

The server is called Fippy Darkpaw, which is especially meaningful for me since I started in Qeynos back in 1999, where that gnoll of renown lives.

Fippy Awaits

And to ensure that I take the opportunity to peek in on this new server on day one, SOE has kindly activated my account.

Account Activated

Actually, they appear to have activated all the accounts I have ever had, which is a few.  I even got an email at an address indicating that my original account was still out there, though I gave it to a friend years back.  He didn’t change the email address on it, or so it seems.

And SOE is certainly playing the nostalgia card with their pitch to come try out this new server.

Are you ready to relive the greatest memories that you’ve ever had in EverQuest? On February 15, 2011 you can roll a new character and jump into the Fippy Darkpaw Progression Server and race through Norrath starting with the legendary first three continents and planes. To get you started, we are thrilled to invite you to come back to play for FREE from 2/10/2011 – 2/21/2011.

How can I pass that up?

So tonight I will roll up a character.  It will almost assuredly be on the Qeynos end of the world, which has received no graphics updates to my knowledge.

I am thinking about a barbarian shaman for a character.

I’m certainly not going to roll another half elf ranger.  That was my first character in EQ.

I should have gone with a druid.

Anyway, we shall see what a first day server event is like nearly 12 years after the original launch.

So who else is going to be there on Fippy Darkpaw?