Gates of Discord

Gates of Discord (GoD, GOD, Gates, or simply the Gates expansion) is the seventh expansion released for EverQuest — a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). The expansion focused on high-level content, providing a number of zones meant to be used by large groups of players, and many extremely powerful monsters to fight.

General information

The expansion takes place on the continent of Taelosia and introduced the Muramites, as well as the berserker character class.

Controversy

Many players and reviewers were dissatisfied by the Gates of Discord expansion; some claimed it was thus far the worst EverQuest expansion, or at least the worst since The Shadows of Luclin. Gamers perceived Gates of Discord as an unfinished product and criticized Sony Online Entertainment (SOE).

Several "uberguilds" (highly powerful and influential groups of players), including Fires of Heaven, Afterlife, and Keepers of the Faith, departed from EverQuest around this time. Many of these players acted as beta testers for World of Warcraft, which was in development for release later in the year.

In response to the overwhelming exile of players and the players' criticism towards the expansion, SOE organized a summit in the summer of 2004 to hear the main concerns of the playerbase towards Gates of Discord and EverQuest in general. The summit's guests included a handful of players from guild leaders and fan websites, among them Woody Hearn of GU Comics.

In the end, the expansion was characterized, similar to its name, by the playerbase's discord: time sinks, unfinished and broken content, unfinished and broken software, and very little lore.

Zones

• Abysmal Sea – location of The Queen of Thorns which serves as a city
• Barindu – The Hanging Gardens
• Ferubi – Forgotten Temple of Taelosia
• Kod'Taz – Broken Trial Grounds
• Natimbi – The Broken Shores
• Nedaria's Landing
• Qinimi – Court of Nihilia
• Qvic – Prayer Grounds of Calling
• Riwwi – Coliseum of Games
• Txevu – Lair of the Elites
• Yxtta – Pulpit of Exiles

Instanced zones

• Ikkinz – Antechamber of Destruction
• Inktu'ta, the Unmasked Chapel
• Sewers of Nihilia – Emanating Crematory
• Sewers of Nihilia – Lair of Trapped Ones
• Sewers of Nihilia – Pool of Sludge
• Sewers of Nihilia – Purifying Plant
• Tacvi, Seat of the Slaver
• Tipt – The Treacherous Crags
• Uqua – the Ocean God Chantry
• Vxed – The Crumbling Caverns