EQ: The Serpent's Spine Brings First New Race In 3 Years

If you happen to know exactly how many expansions the original EverQuest received up until now, then, by God, you deserve this new one as well. They say it's the 12th one or something - not that I care really - but some of you out there may be interested to know that EverQuest: The Serpent's Spine (that's what SOE calls it) will bring the first new playable race since the Frogloks were added to the game seven expansions ago (that's more than three years ago!).

The new race in Serpent's Spine are the Drakkin, who were created from both human and dragon blood to protect the future of all dragon kind. Several colors and customizations will be available to make each Drakkin character unique, such as elegant scale markings and horns.

The level cap was also increased to 75, complete with new spells, abilities, raids and quests for greater power, and word is you can even play through every level of the game (from 1-75) without ever leaving the Serpent Spine Mountains. Other features include:

- New Starting City: Crescent Reach is a fully functioning city with all that is required to learn and thrive in EverQuest, including merchant, quest, combat and tradeskill areas.

- Dynamic Features: New zones, NPCs, destructible and interactive objects.

- New AAs, Spells: Experience new spells and Alternative Advancement abilities.

A first batch of screenshots is now available locally, or on the game's expansion's website. Sony Online Entertainment says that EverQuest: The Serpent's Spine will only be available via digital download beginning in September, for the suggested price of $29.99. And finally, here's a little flavour text for the lore lovers among you:

"Nestled in a great ravine in the Serpent Spine Mountains is an ancient abandoned ogre city now called Crescent Reach, which is home to a new race born to protect the future of dragon kind, the Drakkin. Six dragons defied the council of the ancient dragons of the Nest and chose to create a new race to protect their future. The Drakkin are borne of humans touched by a dragon's blood and their colors and appearance represent the dragon that created them. Rapidly aging and reaching maturity in only months, the Drakkin forget their human beginnings and make their pilgrimage to Crescent Reach, the home of their dragon creators and the rest of their kind."

(N.B. Archive text, links removed)