The Shadows of Luclin
Shadows of Luclin is the third expansion of EverQuest and was released on December 4, 2001.
The expansion takes place on a moon of Norrath called Luclin and introduces the Vah Shir, a playable catlike race, and the Beastlord character class. Notable NPC races that were added to the EverQuest universe are the Shissar, a snake-like race, and the Akhevans. The Shadows of Luclin also incorporates a new game engine, new character models and gives players the ability to design graphic user interfaces. The appearance of the player's character was completely redesigned, giving them more layers and rounder shapes. Mounts were also introduced with this expansion – they allow players to regenerate their Health and Mana without generating as much aggro (hatred from monsters). Alternate Advancement started with the Luclin expansion which allows players to further grow and customize their classes.
The game includes many zones in which players of all levels can experience several raid encounters such as the Lord Inquisitor Seru and a high-end raiding zone, Vex Thal. SoL also introduced some new events that made some encounters more challenging than before, especially in the Ssraeshza Temple zone.
The Shissars (serpent-like creatures) were extremely powerful beings who once roamed the continent of Kunark where they had enslaved the Iksars. Rile, an Iksar hero, started a revolution and called upon a mystical force referred to as the Greenmist, who then killed the Shissars. Fleeing Norrath because the atmosphere became toxic, the surviving Shissars were helped by the Combine Empire and were sent to Luclin and the underwater sanctuary introduced years later with "The Buried Sea".
On Luclin, the Shissars built the temple of Ssraeshza - home of the powerful Emperor Ssraeshza (powerful enough to slay gods according to game lore). To protect themselves from the Greenmist, the Shissars magically sealed the Grey, a place where no atmosphere exists, and built their temple. Ssraeshza Temple (also known as Ssra) is part of the access to the high end zone of Vex Thal. Defeating the Emperor required completion of a key "quest" inside the zone, requiring the player(s) to track down, kill, and collect many other items, as well as collecting special weapons which did special damage to the emperor; The Emperor is immune to regular weapons, making the special weapons necessary for his death. Such weapons were introduced with SoL and are referred to as Bane Weapons. Later on, a Shadow Knight only quested weapon was introduced in Cabilis and called the Greenmist (Sacred Khukri of Rile), the most powerful Shissar-bane weapon.
Under the seas the Shissar had built the sanctuary of "Zhisza" which was introduced in "The Buried Sea" expansion, a formerly hidden sanctuary on Norrath in the sunken city of Katta Castrum. Zhisza, and the Katta Castrum Shissar, followed a new set of leaders, independent of the Emperor on Luclin.
Zones in Luclin
- Acrylia Caverns
- Akheva Ruins
- Dawnshroud Peaks
- Echo Caverns
- Fungus Grove
- Grieg's End
- Grimling Forest
- Hollowshade Moor
- Jaggedpine Forest
- Katta Castellum
- Maiden's Eye
- Marus Seru
- Mons Letalis - HOT ZONE
- Netherbian Lair
- Paludal Caverns - HOT ZONE
- Sanctus Seru
- Scarlet Desert - HOT ZONE
- Shadeweaver's Thicket
- Shadow Haven
- Shar Vahl
- Ssraeshza Temple
- Tenebrous Mountains
- The Bazaar
- The Deep - HOT ZONE
- The Grey
- The Nexus
- Twilight Sea
- Umbral Plains
- Vex Thal
Zones Added Later
- 23rd Anniversary: Shadeweaver's Thicket: Whispers in the Dark
Features
- Over 25 new zones, including adventure areas, dungeons, and cities.
- A new player race of noble cat people: The Vah Shir
- A new player class: The Beastlord.
- All new high-poly player character models with high-resolution textures.
- Armor that attaches to your characters as pieces of geometry rather than simple textures.
- More visible pieces of armor.
- The ability to advance beyond level 50 with EverQuest characters.
- The ability to engage in alternate forms of advancement for those above level 50.
- Dozens of new creatures to encounter.
- Hundreds of new quests.
- Thousands of new items.
- Innumerable new challenges.
- A completely redesigned user interface, completely customizable via ann XML definition file (this will be available to all subscribers, regardless of expansion registration status).
- A new graphics engine that includes features such as Hardware Transform and Lighting as well as other recent DirectX improvements.
- All new high-resolution textures for classic EverQuest and expansion zones.
The Ruins of Kunark • The Scars of Velious • The Shadows of Luclin • The Planes of Power • The Legacy of Ykesha • Lost Dungeons of Norrath • Gates of Discord • Omens of War • Dragons of Norrath • Depths of Darkhollow • Prophecy of Ro • The Serpent's Spine • The Buried Sea • Secrets of Faydwer • Seeds of Destruction • Underfoot • House of Thule • Veil of Alaris • Rain of Fear • Call of the Forsaken • The Darkened Sea • The Broken Mirror • Empires of Kunark • Ring of Scale • The Burning Lands • Torment of Velious • Claws of Veeshan
