Frostreaver - Preparing for Shadows of Luclin

What Luclin Adds to Character Progression

Luclin introduces several new systems that expand character progression without increasing the level cap beyond 60.

Spells Luclin adds new spells across the existing level range, giving established characters new tools and abilities to obtain. Alternate Advancement Experience can now be directed into permanent AA abilities instead of ordinary level experience, creating an entirely new layer of character development. Keying and Access Some of Luclin's most important content is gated behind progression and keying, including the Arx Key, Ring of the Shissar and Vex Thal Key. Tradeskills & Bane Weapons Luclin introduces important tradeskill requirements for progression, including the components and crafted weapons needed to defeat mobs associated with important equipment upgrades.

Equipment and Bane Weapons form the next stage of this progression. The specialised weapons produced through the Luclin component and crafting chains are used to defeat mobs that require bane damage, opening the way to important equipment upgrades.

The Shadows of Luclin

Shadows of Luclin is the third major expansion for EverQuest. Following The Ruins of Kunark and The Scars of Velious, Luclin changes the scale of the game once again by taking adventurers away from the familiar lands of Norrath and onto its mysterious second moon.

For the first time, players can explore an entirely new world beyond Norrath itself. Luclin contains new cities, new peoples, ancient ruins, hostile empires and a huge collection of new hunting grounds, quests and raid encounters.

The level cap remains at 60. Instead of another increase in levels, Luclin expands the ways in which a level-60 character can progress. The most important addition is Alternate Advancement, which allows experience to be converted into permanent abilities.

The expansion also introduces the Vah Shir race, the Beastlord class, mounts, the Nexus and the Bazaar, alongside its new group and raid content.

Luclin changes the meaning of progression. Rather than simply pursuing another ten character levels, level-60 characters now have new abilities to learn, new progression systems to complete, new areas to unlock and new equipment to pursue.

Major Luclin Factions

Faction is an important part of Luclin, but there is no need to catalogue every faction in the expansion. For a player preparing for Luclin, several major powers provide the most useful context.

The Vah Shir of Shar Vahl

Shar Vahl is the home of the Vah Shir and the principal centre of their society. The city provides merchants, trainers, quests and other services, making it an important destination even for characters who are not Vah Shir.

The Vah Shir are descendants of the Kerrans who were transported to Luclin from Odus. Their society is strongly community-focused, with spiritual traditions and professional orders playing an important role in their culture.

The Loyalists of Katta

The followers of Tsaph Katta are the remnants of the Combine Empire who escaped Seru's coup and eventually established themselves on Luclin. Their centre is Katta Castellum.

The Loyalists represent one half of the old Combine conflict and become an important part of Luclin's political and progression story.

The Inquisition of Seru

Lord Inquisitor Seru and his followers represent the other side of the Combine conflict. Their power is centred on Sanctus Seru, with the imposing Arx Seru at its heart.

The conflict between the Loyalists and the Inquisitors is one of the major political stories of Luclin and becomes directly relevant to high-level progression.

The Shissar

The Shissar are an ancient and extremely dangerous civilisation rather than a faction that adventurers should simply seek to befriend. Their stronghold is Ssraeshza Temple, where Emperor Ssraeshza rules over the surviving Shissar.

The Shissar become one of the central antagonistic forces of Luclin and are particularly important to the expansion's later progression.

Shadow Haven is also worth knowing, although it is better understood as a major neutral city and commercial centre rather than one of Luclin's principal political factions. It becomes an important base for adventurers and contains useful class vendors, including Shaman spell vendors.

The Major Progression Paths

Luclin contains a great deal of content, but several areas form the backbone of high-level progression.

Sanctus Seru

The stronghold of Seru and the Inquisition. Its content leads toward Arx Seru and forms one of the major high-level progression paths on Luclin.

Ssraeshza Temple

The Shissar stronghold. Keying, Shissar progression, spells, research materials and bane-weapon components all make this an important destination.

Vex Thal

One of Luclin's major endgame destinations. Access requires substantial preparation and a dedicated keying process, making it a longer-term objective.

These progression paths are not isolated. Key components, spells, equipment, tradeskill materials and raid progression frequently overlap, which is why the remainder of this series treats them as connected parts of the Luclin experience.