Kingdom of Sky Press Release: Part 4

Alright, a few final notes on the KoS press release today.

"25 new enemies to fight."

Hmm...25 mobs. Probably they fly. Okay here goes with 25 flying monsters (some new versions of the ones that you've seen already): Dragons, Aviaks, Griffons, Hippogriffs, Gargoyles, Killer Bee Swarms, Sentient Thunder Clouds, Faeries, Giant Mosquitoes, Pegasi, Wyvern, Levitating Demons, Dragonets, Giant Moths, Djinn, Vampires, Flying Monkeys, Rocs, Pterosaurs, Hawks, Winged Snakes, Harpies, Eagles, Cockatrice, and, um, Evil Gnomes Wearing Jetpacks.

I'm just having some fun...I have no idea what the mobs will be and I'm sure some will be land based.

"All new Heritage Quests allow players to gain amazingly powerful items, personal status, adventure experience and even a reward made famous in the original EverQuest."

I thought this was a really weak area for DoF. I hope there are some good ones in KoS.

"All new player titles."

Unnecessary press release padding that should have been cut.

Okay, that wraps it up for the press release, but I'm also going to take a look at Gamespot's coverage of KoS from CES 2006.

"Aside from the requisite new lands, quests, monsters, and so on, the biggest news for the thriving online RPG is the addition of player-versus-player combat. But then, all players will have access to the same feature through a downloadable patch released around the same time as the expansion."

Translation: Apart from the confusing sentence structure ("But then?") this tells us that SOE has succeeded in linking PvP with the expansion in the eyes of the public. I still think this is a bad play but there might be a marketing/pr concept I'm missing.

"Players will begin to see in-game clues, such as NPC dialogue, indicating that those reaching a high enough level will be able to erect "teleportation spires" that they can then use to travel to the Overrealm..."

Translation: The expansion will be released with a live event. Or at least I hope that's what it means.

We got to see one particularly fearsome bone dragon dungeon boss that ought to provide some nice loot for fearless adventurers.

Translation: Bone Dragon raid mob?

The islands and architecture of the Overrealm have a classical, Middle Eastern-influenced look to them, as well.

Translation: Sounds like some graphical continuity between DoF and KoS.

Speaking of loot, SOE is adding a number of unique, high-level armor pieces to the game that should give players who seek them out a more distinctive appearance than the masses of less-ambitious quest-takers.

Translation: Diversity in armor models.

These items won't be incredibly rare or difficult to track down--you'll just need to increase your strength to a high enough level to obtain them.

Translation: I guess that means there will be cool non-Master drop armor and weapons that you can get from normal group play, questing or even solo play. I think that's a good thing.

Since, I originally wrote this, I came across another preview of KoS at IGN. Be sure to check it out, but here's a few key points:

"...the Overrealm uses a much brighter and richer color palette than the base game or its first expansion." I think this is a much needed change.

The bone dragon is named Aviax.

And most importantly, "you'll see pirate-esque hats for swashbucklers and pointy caps for sorcerers, for example." Nice. Very nice.

I am personally looking forward to this expansion but I'll be sure to let you know if it doesn't live up to my expectations. As more information on KoS arises, I will do my best to bring it to you.