EverQuest: Dragons of Norrath Previews

[GameBanshee News]

Two more hands-on previews for Sony's newly launched EverQuest: Dragons of Norrath expansion have hit the web. The first is over at IGN's EverQuest Vault:

Another big thing for the expansion will be the Task System. We were not able to test drive tasks, but from how they were explained it sounded like a much more advanced version of LDoN missions. Task areas are partly instanced, and you will earn crystals, a form of currency that can be used to purchase items. A few of the upgrades coming with DoN will be available to all players. Trade-skillers will be happy to learn that the new cap for trade skills will be 300, although to get there you’ll want the expansion. Also coming with the expansion is a new Bazaar zone. Brenlo said it’s much larger and will not require players to constantly look at the ground. Perhaps the largest addition will be the mail system. With just a few clicks you will be able to send offline messages to everyone in your guild or to all of your friends. Not only will players receive mail messages in-game, but they will also be sent to the e-mail address associated with the account. Overall the expansion looks to be shaping up well. The new zones, guild hall, barter system, and mail system are great additions to EverQuest, and if the task system is even half as popular as LDoN missions, this expansion will be huge.

And the second is at EQ Trader's Corner:

The new mission system provides more ways for folks to get into mischief and earn a chance at goodies, but with a few twists. Among other things, unlike LDoN adventure points, you earn shards that can be traded and sold to other players, making for some interesting chances for barter. Also (if I am understanding this correctly), unlike adventures, you won't be grabbing an adventure and zoning into your own private instance, but heading out into zones where others are, having special instanced content trigger for your party.