From EQLive, here some answers to common questions surrounding the upcoming "Hero's Forge" feature:

With the addition of this incredible new feature, we've seen a lot of questions from the community on how Hero's Forge will add to their EverQuest experience. With that in mind, we've prepared the following FAQ based on your questions:

1. How will I gain access to Hero's Forge?
Hero's Forge will be available via the Marketplace on a per character basis. Simply purchase Hero's Forge for the character you wish to use it on and a whole new world of graphical adornment will be available to you!

2. Why is there an additional charge for this feature?
Development of features for the Marketplace allows us to pursue larger projects that cost more in terms of development time and resources in addition to the release of regular expansions. Because of the very intensive nature of developing features such as Hero's Forge, by selling this feature in the Marketplace we can make it immediately available to players who desire such content much more quickly and without tying it to an expansion. Additionally, Gold members with a recurring subscriptions receive 500 SC per month, which can be used to obtain this feature for all their characters at no additional cost over time if they so choose.

3. What is included with Hero's Forge?
As soon as you purchase Hero's Forge you will receive the ability to use Hero's Forge items to alter your character's appearance. You also receive a set of Hero's Forge items (either Hero's Forge Plate, Hero's Forge Chain, Hero's Forge Leather, or Hero's Forge Cloth, depending on your class armor preference) to immediately alter your appearance Finally, and most importantly, you will be able to use the huge number of drops throughout Norrath to further customize and refine your own individual look. With more than 10,000 individual Hero's Forge items created by the EQ art team, and hundreds available to any particular character, you'll have the freedom to express your individuality in a way like never before in EverQuest!

4. Do Hero's Forge items provide additional stats or in game power?
We have not added any stats to Hero's Forge items. Armor obtained via the Hero's Forge feature functions very similar to appearance weapon augments, and will have a dedicated slot on each piece of armor.

5. How do we acquire additional Hero's Forge items in game?
Simply by playing! Hero's Forge items will be available in many different ways, so no matter what you like to do, there will probably be some way to earn Hero's Forge items. At launch, we'll have items available through the following methods: achievements, missions in current content, various types of NPC drops, raids, and raid bosses. Additional items will be made through tradeskills very soon after launch. If you take a look at the image below, you can get a better idea of how different sets are tiered much more clearly.

6. Will there be achievements for completing different sets of Armor?
Yes! You will be able to earn achievements in game for completing many of the different sets of armor. These achievements will be available for you to see via the achievements window, like other achievements currently in game.

7. Will there be new robe appearances available via Hero's Forge?
Yes! We definitely wouldn't want to leave out our robe wearing brethren.

8. What are the plans for expanding Hero's Forge after launch?
We definitely plan on continuing to expand the system, especially with more specialty items. We've been hearing a lot about wizard hats specifically, items such as these are definitely a direction we will strongly consider. We're also considering items themed for special accomplishments, in-game holidays, and all sorts of other exciting avenues!

9. What if I don't take part in Hero's Forge, how will this feature benefit me?
If you don't pick up Hero's Forge (or don't pick it up right away), you can still acquire these items in your adventures throughout Norrath. It will be your choice; do you save these items for yourself (for when you do decide to purchase the feature) or sell them to your fellow adventurers? The Hero's Forge system gives a whole new category of items for all adventurers to buy and sell to one another, regardless of your choice to participate in Hero's Forge directly. Tradeskillers will also be happy to hear that their skills will be in even more demand with their ability to craft Hero's Forge items for their fellow adventurers!

We hope this helps you all get a deeper understanding of Hero's Forge. We're incredibly proud of this offering and can't wait to see how you all use it in the game! If you have further questions, please post them on our forums and we'll do our best to continue to answer!