Q: What is the Progression Server?
First, this is specifically not a classic server. We are not attempting to revert EQ back to its original state. Not only is that a technical impossibility, but the nostalgia people have is due more to it being the first large persistent world that people encountered than any specific gameplay mechanic that has since been changed. That feeling is no more able to be recaptured than the feeling of a first kiss.
This server is primarily a new-player server, it just has a twist in how the content is unlocked to allow players to play through the progression of content as it was released to the game. At its core, what we're doing is simply locking out expansions, similar to what would happen if you didn't own them at all, until some in-game criteria has been met. Generally, this will be defeating the end game content for the expansion. Defeating Vox and Nagafen, for instance, will likely open up Kunark for the server.
That does mean that anything that is tied to an expansion will not be available until that expansion has been opened up. So, when the server first launched, you won't have Iksar, Vah Shir, Frogloks, Beastlords, or Berserkers. It also means that anything that has been opened up to all players over the years will be available from the start. In-game maps is a good example. Also, anything that has been added since release or changed since release will still be there on the server. Freeport and Ro will be using their revamped graphics, for instance, and boats won't work on the new server any better than they do on other servers.
There are a few exceptions to those rules that we will be making and a few more we are still discussing.
* While Plane of Knowledge and the Bazaar are no longer expansion locked, we will likely keep those turned off until Planes of Power is opened up.
* Veeshan's Peak will likely be reverted to a previous state since that's the end game content of Kunark.
* [Removed something which was no longer accurate: See FAQ question regarding the tutorial below.]
Rashere
