EverQuest II: Destiny of Velious

Overview

Destiny of Velious, the seventh expansion for EverQuest II, was announced by John Smedley at SOE's Fan Faire 2010. It entered closed beta in early January 2011, and was released in on February 22, 2011. Continuing the story of Sentinel's Fate, Destiny of Velious will feature the return of the continent of Velious and and the story of the twin Swords of Destiny.
  

Level Cap

The level cap for both adventuring and tradeskilling remains at 90, the same as it is in Sentinel's Fate.  The Alternate Achievement (AA) cap was increased from 250 to 300.   

New Playable Race

In December 2010, a new race, the Freeblood, were revealed.  This race, along with an icewolf mount and other rewards, will be available to all players who have an active EQ2 or EQ2X subscription on December 15th 2010, January 18th 2011, and who purchase the Destiny of Velious expansion by December 31st, 2011.  Players who did not have an active account on those days, or who who wish to have early access to the race may purchase the Freeblood Unlock item in the EQ2 Marketplace.
 

New Zones

Two new overland zones were introduced with Destiny of Velious. 
  

Great Divide

Great Divide is a zone for levels 86 - 90.   It starts with the Othmir in Fina's Retreat, and includes entrances to Thurgadin, City of the Coldain, as well as the dungeons in the Tower of the Frozen Shadow.  Great Divide is the first zone players in DoV will experience, and includes both Public Quests.
  

Eastern Wastes

A zone for level 90 characters.  Travel to it requires a flying mount. 

Public Quests

Battle of Storm Gorge

Held on even hours PST.  The Battle of Storm Gorge is a battle between players and NPC Coldain dwarfs against the forces of the Order of Rime.  Like every PQ, it scales according to the number of players. 
 

The Ring War

Ghostly remnants of the Coldain and Giants fight eternally in this PQ held on odd hours PST.  There is a griffon station right by the PQ, which mkes this PQ a bit more popular than Storm Gorge. 
 
Public Quests offer unique rewards, including multiple armor sets, a fabled chest piece, a fabled weapon, money, AA advancement, transmuting items, and more as rewards.  The fabled weapon and armor are considered to be rare drops. 
   
Collections
Both PQs have collection items which spawn once the PQ is over.  These act similarly to other shinies.

Factions

Othmir of Velious

The Othmir offer a number of introductory quests in Velious, as well as daily faction missions in both Great Divide and Eastern Wastes. 

Snowfang Gnolls  

A group of gnolls suffering from starvation and the attacks of the undead.  They offer daily quests in the Great Divide.
  

The City of Thurgadin

Tizmak Clan

 

The Order of Rime

Back from Rise of Kunark, the Order of Rime offer new quests and rewards to player who have maximum faction with them.   The Order oppose Thurgadin, and those who seek faction with one may lose it with the other.