Editing The Darkened Sea

'''The Darkened Sea''' ('''TDS''') is EverQuest's 21st [[Expansions|expansion]].  It was released for [http://www.soe.com/allaccess All Access] members on October 28, 2014 and for [[Free to play]] accounts on November 11, 2014. [[#Editions|Purchase of either the Standard or the Collector's edition]] is required to access TDS.

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| align="center" | [[File:The Darkened Sea Final02 KeyArtwLogo.jpg|thumb|center|500px|<center>Firiona Vie and Lanys T`vyl battle for control of The Darkened Sea<br /><small>Image: Sony Online Entertainment</small></center>]]


'''Links'''

[http://everquest.allakhazam.com/wiki/eq:The_Darkened_Sea_Overview Allakhazam: The Darkened Sea Overview]

[http://tds.eqresource.com/ EQ Resource: The Darkened Sea Overview]

[[Mount Key Ring]]
<br/><br/>

'''Zones'''

[[Arx Mentis]] {{·}}  [[Brother Island]] {{·}}  [[Caverns of Endless Song]] {{·}}  [[Combine Dredge]] {{·}}  [[Degmar, the Lost Castle]] {{·}} [[Katta Castrum: Deluge]] {{·}}  [[Tempest Temple]] {{·}}  [[Thuliasaur Island]]
|}

== Editions ==
* [https://forums.station.sony.com/eq/index.php?threads/dive-into-the-darkened-sea-with-these-bonus-items.214362/ SOE forum announcement: Dive into The Darkened Sea with these Bonus Items!]
''The Darkened Sea'' comes in two editions, Standard and Collector's.

=== All Access discount ===
{{Cquote|If you’re an All-Access member, you can purchase and play this expansion two weeks early (starting on Tuesday, October 28) and you can take 10% off your purchase of either the Standard or Collector’s Edition of The Darkened Sea!||| [https://forums.station.sony.com/eq/index.php?threads/sense-heading-grinding-xp-in-the-darkened-sea.214449/ Roshen, SOE Community Relations]}}

=== Standard Edition ===
The Standard Edition of The Darkened Sea will be available for $39.99.  It will include (in addition to access to The Darkened Sea):

* Four paintings for your house or guild hall: 
:Painting: Coastal Brigand
:Painting: Forgetful Strike
:Painting: Speed of Faith
:Painting: The Darkened Sea
* Contract of the Lizardman - Lizardman [[mercenary]] (for each character on your account)
* Metamorph Totem: Ankylosaurus - Summon an Ankylosaurus dinosaur pet or transform your current pet into an Ankylosaurus dinosaur (for each character on your account).

=== Collector’s Edition ===
The Collector’s Edition of The Darkened Sea will be available for $89.99. If you already own the Standard Edition, you can upgrade it to the Collector's Edition for $50.00.  It includes all of the items from the Standard Edition, plus the following:

* [[Heroic Characters|Heroic Character]] - Players will be able to claim a single Heroic Character.

:The Heroic Character will come with:
::15,000 Platinum
::Jungle Raptor Mount
::Two 24-Slot Bags
::Spells
::Thousands of Auto-Granted Alternative Advancement Abilities (AA’s)
::Full Set of Equipment, including weapons, armor, Power Source and Charm
::Food, Drink, and Ammo
::100 [[Alternate_currency#Bayle_Marks|Bayle Marks]]

* The Wayward Lady House - You will receive one sailing ship house.
* Contract of the Arc Worker - Arc worker [[mercenary]]. Each character on your account will be able to obtain a Contract of the Arc Worker.

[https://forums.station.sony.com/eq/index.php?threads/game-update-notes-december-11-2014.215763/ The December 2014 game update] added [https://forums.station.sony.com/eq/index.php?threads/two-more-reasons-to-buy-the-darkened-sea-collector%E2%80%99s-edition.215717/ the following items to the Colllector's Edition]:

* Brother Island Parrot Whistle - This item transports you directly to [[Brother Island]] using a VERY large parrot. This item has a 1 hour recast on it.
* The choice of one of three colors of armored mounts:
:: Bronze Armor Battle Cat Saddle
:: Cerulean Armor Battle Cat Saddle
:: Crimson Armor Battle Cat Saddle
This mount grants the Mount Blessing Dena Buff (400 mana, 500 health, 120 armor). 

In addition, if you want additional Armor Battle Cat colors, they’ll be available in the Marketplace for 2995 [[Station Cash|SC]], only for players that own The Darkened Sea Collector’s Edition.

Those who already own the Collector's Edition are able to /claim these items after the game update.

== Features ==
* Level Cap Increase to 105
* New Spells, AAs, and Items for Level 105
* [[Mount Key Ring]]
* New Tradeskills, new cultural gear.
* New Spells
* New AAs
* Auto-Granted AAs from House of Thule to All Access characters (if auto-grant enabled).
* New [[Hero's Forge]] armor sets.

=== Level 101+ Pre-CotF XP nerf ===
{{Cquote|Once you hit level 101, content released prior to [[Call of the Forsaken]] will grant less experience. This includes tasks, rewards, and farming NPCs.||| [https://forums.station.sony.com/eq/index.php?threads/sense-heading-grinding-xp-in-the-darkened-sea.214449/#post-3135999 Sense Heading: Grinding XP in The Darkened Sea]}}

=== Mob hit points ===
{{Cquote|It's worth noting that there are two different tables of NPC tuning that were used in the expansion. The first is a "normal" HP table that was an increase over past expansions, but it should be about what you're used to for normal difficulty increased between expansions. Eye balling it, it's about 20% up from CotF for tier 2 (Caverns of Endless Song, Brother Island), and another 20% for Tier 3 (Thulliasaur and Arx Mentis). The second table has double the normal HP and double the XP mod. As mentioned by other ins in the thread there many classes that have abilities that are better suited to longer fights, and wanted to make those more widely useful. Most zones have a majority of the normal monsters you're used to, with a sprinkling of the higher HP monsters usually distinguished by unique names or appearances.

Tier 2 normal monsters have about 2.8M for base population with rares having about 10M.

Tier 3 normal monsters have about 3.3M for base population with rares having about 14M.

If you see something dramatically out of bounds from that then its probably an error.||| [https://forums.station.sony.com/eq/index.php?threads/just-because-we-are-all-thinking-it-mob-hps-in-tds.214729/page-2#post-3141100 Rytan, EQ Developer]}}

{{Cquote|I should have also mentioned they do about 80% of the damage of a normal mob to somewhat mitigate the downsides of a longer fight.||| [https://forums.station.sony.com/eq/index.php?threads/just-because-we-are-all-thinking-it-mob-hps-in-tds.214729/page-2#post-3141143 Rytan, EQ Developer]}}

== Zones ==
Higher tier zones are locked [[#Progression|until you complete certain missions]].

'''Tier 1:'''
* '''[[Katta Castrum: Deluge]]'''
* '''[[Tempest Temple]]''' - Hub zone. Worshipers of Karana seeking to create the perfect storm.

'''Tier 2:'''
* '''[[Brother Island]]'''
* '''[[Caverns of Endless Song]]''' - Siren queen.  Some swimming but most fighting out of water.

'''Tier 3:'''
* '''[[Arx Mentis]]''' - Final zone.  This zone is a floating fortress of the Combine Empire.
* '''[[Combine Dredge]]''' - Mining platforms to harvest from the bottom of the ocean.  Raised from the ocean by magic.
* '''[[Degmar, the Lost Castle]]''' - Insane dwarves.  Magical barrier keeps out the sea.
* '''[[Thuliasaur Island]]''' - Dinosaurs and lizardmen.  And Drogmor.  Temple to Cazic-Thule.

=== Getting to TDS ===
* Characters will be able to zone from The Buried Sea (Monkey Island) to [[Tempest Temple]] (hub zone).
* The guild portal item "Drowned Katta Castrum Powerstone" takes you to [[Katta Castrum: Deluge]].
* Druid teleport spells to Tempest Temple (Ring, Circle, Zephyr) sold for about 14k platinum each by [http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com/search.shtml?id=47700 Marcas Hanrahan (Druid Teleportation Spells)] in Tempest Temple.
* Wizard teleport spells to Tempest Temple (Gate, Portal, Translocate) sold for about 14k platinum each by [http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com/search.shtml?id=47701 Researcher Adrastea (Wizard Teleportation Spells)] in Katta Castrum: Deluge.

=== Zone connections map ===
[[File:TDS zone connnection map.png]]

=== Binding ===
It is believed that all classes can bind in [[Katta Castrum: Deluge]].  Casters and priests can also bind in [[Brother Island]], [[Tempest Temple]] and [[Thuliasaur Island]].

== Progression ==
Some zones will be locked until you complete certain missions.  

Here is the zone order to unlock ([[Katta Castrum: Deluge]], [[Tempest Temple]], and [[Brother Island]] unlocked just by owning TDS):
* [[Caverns of Endless Song]]
** [[Degmar, the Lost Castle]]
*** [[Thuliasaur Island]]
**** [[Combine Dredge]]
***** [[Arx Mentis]]

=== Zone unlocking ===
Completing the following missions will grant you access to [[Caverns of Endless Song]]:
* '''A Rising Storm''' - Given by Mate Rominald in [[Tempest Temple]].
* '''Gathering Clouds''' - Given by Krinoch Jal in Tempest Temple.
* '''Clearer Skies''' - Given by Ognit Eznertob in Tempest Temple.
* '''The Pellarus Sanctum''' - Given by Head Mage Antius in [[Katta Castrum: Deluge]].
* '''The Edge of Balance''' - Given by Firiona Vie in Katta Castrum: Deluge.
* '''The Absent Scholar''' - Given by Firiona Vie in Katta Castrum: Deluge.


Completing the following missions will grant you access to [[Degmar, the Lost Castle]]:
* '''Just Recompense''' - Given by Jameswell Dagmire in Brother Island.
* '''The Cover of Night''' - Given by Quigley Barnables in Brother Island.
* '''Loyal is the Heart''' - Given by Brother Dilgen in [[Caverns of Endless Song]].
* '''Leave No Brother Behind''' - Given by Brother Dilgen in Caverns of Endless Song.
* '''Two Sides of the Shield''' - Given by Brother Visius in Caverns of Endless Song.


Completing the following missions will grant you access to [[Thuliasaur Island]]:
* '''The Sacred Profaned''' - Given by Thubr Axebringer in Degmar, the Lost Castle.
* '''Castle Relic''' - Given by Priestess Gli'helin in Degmar, the Lost Castle.
* '''Crying for the Dead''' - Given by Thubr Axebringer in Degmar, the Lost Castle.
* '''Burden of the Past''' - Given by Thubr Axebringer in Degmar, the Lost Castle.


Completing the following missions will grant you access to [[Combine Dredge]]:
* '''An Endless Cycle''' - Given by Lyirae Oakynd in Thuliasaur Island.
* '''To Remake Eden''' - Given by Galeth Veredeth in Thuliasaur Island.
* '''Fit for the New World''' - Given by Galeth Veredeth in Thuliasaur Island.


Completing the following missions will grant you access to [[Arx Mentis]]:
* '''A Fickle Wind Blows''' - Given by Firiona Vie in Combine Dredge.
* '''What Hate Begets''' - Given by Firiona Vie in Combine Dredge.
* '''Deep Lies the Snow''' - Given by Firiona Vie in Combine Dredge.

== Raid progression ==
New to TDS are "One Off" raids.  These raids will give participants a 4.5 day lockout upon requesting the raid.  The lockout remains even if you fail.  Both One Off raids spawn when you beat ''Defense of the City''. However, ''Praetor Vitio'' spawns in the Tier 2 part of the zone and not accessible without flagging. 

All seven raids take place in the same instance of [[Arx Mentis]]. You can request the raids from Firiona Vie in both [[Katta Castrum: Deluge]] and Arx Mentis.

[[Campfires]] do not work inside raid instance.  [[Guild banners]] do work inside instance.

You have to flag for access to Tier 2 and Tier 3 raid instance areas. Unflagged players entering the higher tier areas get kicked to the entrance area. 
{{Raid progression in The Darkened Sea}}

== Spells ==
'''Rank I'''

Rank I are purchased from vendors in [[Katta Castrum: Deluge]].  They can be found using the Find window (Ctrl-F).

''' Rank II'''

Rank II spell essences drop from any random mob, more often from named mobs.  Right clicking on the essence will pop-up a reward window, no need to turn them in.

* Minor Briny Essence - Level 101
* Lesser Briny Essence - Level 102
* Median Briny Essence - Level 103
* Greater Briny Essence - Level 104
* Glowing Briny Essence - Level 105

'''Rank III'''

Rank III spell essences are gotten from raid chests. Right clicking on the essence will pop-up a reward window, no need to turn them in.

* Minor Essence of the Citadel - Level 101
* Lesser Essence of the Citadel - Level 102
* Median Essence of the Citadel - Level 103
* Greater Essence of the Citadel - Level 104
* Glowing Essence of the Citadel - Level 105

'''Teleport spells'''
:''See: [[#Getting_to_TDS|Getting to TDS]]''

== Armor ==
* [http://everquest.allakhazam.com/wiki/eq:The_Darkened_Sea_Armor_Guide Allakhazam: The Darkened Sea Armor Guide]
* [http://tds.eqresource.com/creatingarmor.php EQ Resource: Creating TDS Armor]

There are three tiers of group gear and one tier of raid gear.  

The armor system remains like that of the past few expansions.  Group armor templates drop from named mobs.  Raid armor templates come from raid chests.

Armor templates are combined inside a Synthesis Chamber. The Synthesis Chamber is not used up in the process. For tier 2 and tier 3 group armor, if you have the lower level armor piece, you place it in the Synthesis Chamber with the template and hit combine.  If you do not have the lower level armor piece, you need to combine the template with a [http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=118700 Combine Armor Matrix].

[http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/npc.html?id=47752 Seersmith Caius (Armor Templates)] in [[Katta Castrum: Deluge]] sells Synthesis Chamber for about 13k pp and [http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=118700 Combine Armor Matrix] for about 15k pp.

=== Group ===
* Tier 1 dropped item is "Castaway <slot name>"  It makes "Castaway <slot name> of <class specific name>"
* Tier 2 dropped item is "Tideworn <slot name>"  It makes "Tideworn <slot name> of <class specific name>"
* Tier 3 dropped item is "Highwater <slot name>"  It makes "Highwater <slot name> of <class specific name>"

=== Raid ===
* Dropped item is "Darkwater <slot name>"  It makes "Darkwater <slot name> of <class specific name>"

== Alternate currency ==
TDS introduces two new [[alternate currency]] types.  
* [http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=118684 Arx Energy Crystal] - This currency is earned by completing raids.
* Piece of Eight - This currency is earned by doing TDS [[Heroic Adventures]].

== Faction ==
:''Main article: [[The Darkened Sea factions]]''
For TDS, faction matters once more.  In order to get some quests, you need good faction with various groups.  See the [[The Darkened Sea factions|main article]] for details.

== Quest reward chests ==
Most quests and instanced missions in TDS do not have rewards chests for completing them. Some do.
{{Cquote|Here's a list of missions / instanced quests with chests at the end:<br />
Tempest Temple - Clear Skies<br />
Katta Castrum: Deluge - The Edge of Balance<br />
Brother Island - The Cover of Night<br />
Degmar - Burden of the Past<br />
Thuliasaur - Fit for the New World<br />
Dredge - Deep Lies the Snow<br />
Arx Mentis - All Rivers Lead to the Sea<br />
Arx Mentis - Confronting Calix||| [https://forums.station.sony.com/eq/index.php?threads/update-bugs-12-11-14.215762/#post-3154466 Chandrok, EQ Developer]}}

== Lore ==
{{Cquote|Firiona Vie has been traveling the world on a mission from the goddess Tunare to bring the realm back into balance. Her latest efforts have brought her to the Buried Sea, seeking to heal the ruler of the Combine Empire, Tsaph Katta.

Now it’s time for you to travel to the domed city of Katta Castrum and find Firiona! After Firiona came here with her allies to heal Tsaph, the city was attacked by Lanys T`vyl and a corrupt splinter faction of the Combine. In the chaos, Tsaph was kidnapped. Now it’s up to Norrath’s heroes to find and rescue Tsaph, foil the nefarious plans Lanys has, and acquire amazing loot along the way!||| [http://forums.station.sony.com/eq/index.php?threads/what-lurks-beneath-the-darkened-sea.213158/ What Lurks Beneath The Darkened Sea?]}}

== Video trailers ==
=== SOE Live Keynote ===
'''[[SOE Live]] 2014: EverQuest - The Darkened Sea Expansion Keynote'''
{{#ev:youtube|-SdSyBpEO28}}

=== Preview videos ===
Preview videos below released by SOE. Note that they are all without sound except for the robes video:

(Videos open in new tab)

{|
| [http://everquest.fanra.info/fanra/video/arx_mentis.mp4 Arx Mentis]
|
| [http://everquest.fanra.info/fanra/video/endless_caverns.mp4 Caverns of Endless Song]
|-
| [http://everquest.fanra.info/fanra/video/combine_dredge.mp4 Combine Dredge]
|
| [http://everquest.fanra.info/fanra/video/degmar.mp4 Degmar, the Lost Castle]
|-
| [http://everquest.fanra.info/fanra/video/tempest_temple_stills.mp4 Tempest Temple]
|
| [http://everquest.fanra.info/fanra/video/thuliasuar_island.mp4 Thuliasaur Island]
|-
|
| [http://everquest.fanra.info/fanra/video/robes_2.mp4 New Robes]
|
|}

All are welcome to use them for fan websites or personal use. Videos copyright Sony Online Entertainment LLC. 

=== Official trailer ===
{{#ev:youtube|zZCEBqlRUX0}}

== Pre-order ==
{{Cquote|As announced at SOE Live, The Darkened Sea will be our 21st Expansion and it will be launched in a slightly different way than in years past. We do not plan on having a Pre-Order period this year before the launch date. However, if you are an All-Access Member, you will be able to buy and get into the expansion on October 28, two weeks earlier than our full release on November 11, 2014. We are also working on an easy way for players to purchase the expansion plus a monthly subscription to get in quickly and avoid getting left behind. Stay tuned for those details very soon.||| [http://forums.station.sony.com/eq/index.php?threads/the-darkened-sea-beta-soe-live-and-additional-updates.213677/ The Darkened Sea Beta, SOE Live, and Additional Updates, Thom "Phathom" Terrazas, EverQuest Producer, Sept. 15, 2014]}}


{{Expansions}}


[[Category:EverQuest]]
[[Category:Expansions]]
[[Category:The Darkened Sea]]
[[Category:Video]]