The idea behind creating an expansion can be multiple: to refine or enhance gameplay elements, introduce new content, expand the game’s territory, and to fix existing problems in the game are some of the aspects that may be addressed.

EverQuest: Dragons of Norrath is the ninth expansion in one of the massively multiplayer online genre’s oldest titles. Sony Online Entertainment has hit on almost every aspect of the reason for an expansion with this release, including one not mentioned – making the game a little easier to play. This comes courtesy of the barter system and interactive maps, but more on that in a moment.

Be forewarned: this expansion is not a stand-alone title – you will need the original version of EverQuest to play it.

Dragons of Norrath challenges players to journey to the lands between Halas and Lavastorm to discover the birthplace of the dragons. Those who have played EQ before know that dragons (for the most part) are not an overly friendly lot, so – of course – the trip is fraught with peril. There are new monsters to battle, and new zones to play in. The game has 48 distinct zones, many of which look much crisper (graphically) than original areas. The game also features new drops, and new tradeskill (crafting) recipes.

The map has taken on point-and-click aspects that make navigating so much easier. You can readily switch from one map to another. It is rather amazing that something so simple can have a nice benefit in that it makes traveling less of a trial and error.

The guild system has also undergone some improvements. There is a Find Guild command for those players looking for a guild (and conversely there is a Looking for Members command), and there are new features for the guild halls, like the altar for mass corpse summoning (when that raid has gone horribly wrong) and regeneration pools. The Guild Bank is also accessible to all players and items stored there can be reserved for specific members, which makes transferring items between players more convenient. If you don’t want to keep items in-guild, but would rather sell to other players, the game also sports an improved barter interface.

The inventories have undergone addition refinement and players will be able to slot different weapons in a bandolier to switch quickly. 

Other features include raids that can support up to 36 players, “personal”  zones, and a potion belt for easy access to those items needed to survive some of the encounters.

While the previous expansion (Omens of War) was a nice addition to the original EQ franchise, Dragons of Norrath is much better, and features much better content and improvements.  

EQ: Dragons of Norrath is a sterling expansion to an old friend. It brings new danger and excitement to a game that is not slowing down in the slightest. This is an expansion that must be in your library if you play EQ.

Gameplay: 8.8
The new features, in terms of the interactive map, bandolier and potions belt, make the gameplay much easier. The core gameplay elements are still intact, but the new additions make it a bit faster experience in terms of accessing weapons and potions.

Graphics: 8.7
Some of the new zones look crisper, and it may be the imagination, but the new monsters look markedly better than one is used to in EQ. 

Sound: 8.0
Robust musical score and solid voice acting.

Difficulty: Med./Hard
While the new gameplay elements make the experience a little easier, you are still talking about EQ and the core challenge of that game is still present.

Concept: 9.1
The new guild system is a winner. This expansion does what any expansion should do – takes the core game and improves the experience.

Multiplayer: 8.8
You can interact with other players easier and with mass corpse summoning altars, the group aspect is reasserted.

Overall: 8.9
This expansion scores on almost every level in bringing new and improved changes to the game. While the essential elements of EQ remain, Dragons of Norrath makes it easier for players to find a guild and embark on all the elements this game has to offer.