Returned to Game, Need some infoFollow

Tribute system - By donating items or plat to certain NPCs, you can gain tribute. Basically, you get a certain amount of tribute points per item, and those points can then be used for beneficial effects. For example, you can use the points to buy clarity for your character. The spell costs a certain number of tribute points per hour, and can be turned on/off at any time.

Radiant/Ebon Crystals - These are a feature of the Dragons of Norrath expansion. You can either buy these, or earn them by doing missions (similar to LDoN adventures) in DoN zones, then trade them in for gear and spells.

Leadership - This allows you to defer a portion of your regular experience into leadership experience. You can use this leadership experience to buy certain upgrades that effect your entire group while you are the group leader. Such upgrades include increased hp/mana, increased attack, increased mana regeneration, and more.

Bandolier - This allows you to switch between different sets of weapons without manually changing them out. You can program different sets into the bandolier, then change between them quickly and easily.

Voice Macro - Using a voice macro plays a sound file corresponding to that voice command. It is not a speech-to-text feature, but rather uses programed sound files to play when you use a macro. Voice commands include "Stop", "Heal", and "Retreat."

Shroud Progression - I also just recently got back into the game, and this is a new feature. Don't know.

Expeditions - These are just like LDoN adventures, except with small changes. They take place in instanced zones, but there is no level restrictions, and you can add and drop members in the middle of the expedition. Also, there are no time limits, so you can stay as long as you like. Basically, an expedition is a mission in an instanced zone.

Edited, Sat Sep 24 17:09:58 2005 by Demea

Thanks a lot for your reply. Another question, do I need any particular expansion(s) to enjoy any of these new features? Also, if you figure out the shroud stuff, please let me know.

One more thing, I've seen quite a few people who have "of Innoruuk" or some such. Is this a result of the tribute system?

Shift + T will show you what titles you have access to. For most new polayers, the only ones available are server titles, i.e. "of Innourruuk" or "of Povar". Later on, certain activities will unlock other titles like "Lord", or Tradeskill titles like "Master Smith", etc.

Shrouds are a DoD feature, you must own Depths of Darkhollow to use them. They work in two ways: first, there are Shroud Keeper NPCs in the Plane of Knowlege that will cast a shroud on you, changing your appearance, class, or even level. The appearance is set by the class you choose; rogue shrouds are Goblins, for example. And the level you choose can be any level below your true level, in multiples of 5.

For example, my main character is a 56 rogue. However, I have a friend with a level 32 warrior. Normally we could not group, but with a shroud we can. I can choose a complementary class (for example, a healer) of an appropriate level (multiples of five, so 30, 35, 40, or maybe 45) and we can group up.

So to hang out with my 32 war friend, I can choose to turn myself into a level 35 healer (I would look like a kobold). While shrouded for all intents and purposes I am a level 35 character. I cannot use any of my rogue's normal gear or abilities, and I can only recieve buffs that would stick on a level 35 character. Mobs that would normally be green to me would now give me xp, and any xp or items I get while shrouded can be transferred to my rogue once I remove the shroud. Also, while shrouded, I slowly earn "shroud xp", which is used to unlock new shrouds (hence "shroud progression").

The second way shrouds are used in DoD is in Monster Missions. These are special missions where any players of any level or class can group together, because once in the mission we will all be shrouded into a different level and class for the duration of the mission. A level 15 mage, a level 70 cleric, a level 34 enchanter, and 3 other players of any class/level could all do the Faerie mission in Nektulos, for example, because once in the mission everyone gets changed (shrouded) into level 25 ranger faeries. While in Monster Missions, you do NOT recieve shroud xp towards unlocking new shrouds.

In both normal grouping and Monster Missions, shrouds are given a certain set of abilities. To use these abilities, you must go to your inventory and hit the Alternate Advancement button at the bottom. This brings up a menu of your shroud's abilities and points that you can spend to improve them.

As stated, you must have Dragons of Norrath to spend Radiant or Ebon crystals. Alo, if I recall correctly, the lowest crystal bought items have a required level of 47. Better items have required levels of 53, 58, 65, or 70. So, even if you buy crystals in the Bazaar, if your character is only level 30 there will be no items you can purchase with those crystals that you can use right away. DoN is also required to use the Bandoleer, Potion Belt, Guild Lobby, and Guild Hall.

Omens of War is required to do the expiditions (they're located in an OoW zone).

Tribute, Leadership, and Voice macro were all avaialable to me when I installed Everquest Platinum, so I don't know which expansions (if any) are needed fo those features.

Hope that helps!