I spent so many hours camping HK back in the early 2000's on live. It's one of my all-time favorite spots in EQ, especially because it felt far away and secluded (adding to your point about it being high up in the mountains). Nothing like being able to sell and bank after grinding exp, then logging in a safe spot and picking it back up the next evening. Great great times here.
i really love what you said at 18:54 about the simplicity of EQ, but that's exactly where the magic is! and to answer your question, a few of my other favorite camps are throne room in crushbone, basically all of tower of frozen shadow, the hill outside of KC in dreadlands, frenzy in velks, and splitpaw. but there really are too many to list.
Man this so good...100% with you on this, High Pass was by far my favorite camp while leveling. I milked that zone as long as I could: bank, vendors, and quest items right there in zone.
I started in 1999, about 3 months after launch. One of my earliest memories of really pushing in a stupid direction was my then level 5 ranger, upon the advice of another level 5 ranger who I had only just met, decided to run from Kelethin to this place called Qeynos where I was assured the exp was great. No in-game maps, no out-game maps other than a cloth 'world map' that came with the game. I just knew that Qeynos was 'west'. So, we set off on our nightmarish journey. Running to the guards in Butcherblock, being awestruck as we took a ship across the sea, getting lost in Freeport and trying desperately to avoid the giants in the Commonlands. Kithikor wasn't anywhere near as dangerous then compared to what it would become, but it was still perilous and we inched around the zone wall to finally get to High Pass. There we realised our error. The eastern path was patrolled by orcs many levels higher than us, and the western path was similarly guarded by gnolls. Luckily in those days, High Pass was permanently full of players, and in one of the kindest acts I've seen in game, a group of players in their late teens escorted us across the zone, killing orcs and gnolls that got in our way, and then bid us farewell into the Karanas. My traveling companion would meet a grisly and wretched end, spluttering about in the dark waters in East Karana before being mauled to death, but by sheer luck and nervous energy, I found the bridge in the dark, and somehow made it to Qeynos and secured that all important Bind. Whenever I think of High Pass, I can't help thinking of that little adventure. So yea, it holds a special significance for me too.
That is an incredible story! I think we all have these types of moments that stick with us. I'm actually working on a video that addresses a similar topic right now!
My favorite camp?? There is two, and it depends on my mood is to which one is my favorite.... A: The Throne Roon, Crush Bone. Sit behind the table, can pull the entire throne room the royal guards on the stairs behind the throne, Emperor, and the Ambassador. B: The Stairs, HHK. You are at one of my favorites in this video. On live servers, where I was mostly, the stairs pull that room, the room off to the right is usually a separate camp, the first room off to the right going down with third camp, and the bottom room with the raiders was a fourth camp. If no one was there, and you had a good group, you could own the entire bottom by sitting at the stairs.... I think I have a 26 or 27 level Val Shair BL parked in front of the bank....
Grats on 29. :) Highkeep is an awesome zone. The only downside is that it's pretty hard to get out of, which sucks if you're not a class that can move around easily. Imagine being a rogue or something, heading to HK for goblins, finding the group is full or just not inviting, and having to go find something else to do. That was my experience every time I tried to do those goblins, to the point where I don't even attempt it anymore, haha. Favorite camp though? The longsword sisters of OOT. Ascania Halvbin and Larisa Gelrith. Did that camp from 26 to 36 on my wizard. 6 minute spawn, 11p per kill. Perfect camp for a wizard, as we're one of the few classes that can take full advantage (most folks have to go on a long journey out of the zone to sell the longswords). Was killing them well into hell level 35 despite being high green. The money was just too awesome, and they paid for my jboots in the end. I still went there every so often even into my 40s whenever I needed an infusion of cash. Beautiful scenery too, who doesn't love a green island paradise getaway? xD
My nostalgia camp is definitely main room in unrest. I remember hitting 17 on my paladin in crushbone and getting invited to unrest. No other game has made me feel like there was so much at stake, after that dangerous journey and having to face the horrors lurking around in the old haunted places.
So nostalgic. Spent so much time at stairs. Then I spent another ridiculous time farming nobles, even reconnected with an old friend up at nobles (Mowin, if your out there, I still remember you, my halfling brother!)
I don't think I spent a lot of time in my high 20's in Highpass, but I remember loving being in the holiday hotspot Cazic Thule. Plus you could get rubicite before it got nerfed. Thanks for the memories!
Weirdly I have never done a HK camp. For me the top ten has to include Orc Hill in the Greater Faydark. I guess because it would have been my first camp back in 1999. There was such a viceral sense of striking out into that looming dark forest. Teaming up with unfamiliar classes to hit back at the orcs who had stalked the road between Kelethin and Felwithe. If I want a dose of nostalga, orc hill is where I go.
HHK is one of the coolest zones. It also had a great mix of levels as well. I leveled my gnome cleric there in goblin groups for a long while and fell in love with the area.
Lower and Upper Guk beats everything else in original EQ for me. Such a great, compact design with so many great camps. I'll admit it's not conveniently located. Otherwise, though...
I remember reading somewhere in the game the reason that goblins are present in High Keep is because the humans enslaved them to do mining and tunnel digging for them but somehow lost control of them and their population exploded out of control to become a threat to the residents.
I loved HPK camp way back in the day. Sadly I had my lowest point in my life while camping HPK and haven't been able to camp there without being reminded of it since.
I have to say, you have some compelling arguments. And it's funny, in my 20ish years of playing EQ, I have never, and I mean never even one time, went to Highkeep for exp. In truth, aside from cities, Highpass and Highkeep are my two least favorite zones in the game. I hate them, I hate them so much. I try to avoid them as much as I can. I never want to go there, they're just awful. But your reasonings for why this camp is a great camp seem pretty sound. I don't know if I have a favorite camp... in the classic era, probably my favorite dungeon zone is Lower Guk, and there are some great and fun camps there like ass/sup; I like that one quite a lot, but picking an absolute favorite is probably too hard for me.
Same thing happened with me in this camp. And the one downstairs. This really was my first true dungeon camp. Same thing in guk, same thing in kc, it’s perfect
@@SageFreke1 You definitely have the microphone abilities to speak in an fun and engaging way nonstop. I know Twitch can be distracting because of people talking to you in chat but there are options. One option is you only check chat every 15 minutes or so, answer questions, then proceed. Another option some streamers use is that they only answer questions that come with tips, and the tip questions are read aloud by Twitch (it has an audio AI that reads text) and then you can just answer quickly like a regular conversation without taking your eyes off the screen. Just some ideas because you’re really good on the mic, you have exemplary speaking skills! 💎✨
HHK is my favorite zone though it's typically guards I go after. I need to go back to to P99. The revamped zone of Highpass on retail is not memorable.
I spent so many hours camping HK back in the early 2000's on live. It's one of my all-time favorite spots in EQ, especially because it felt far away and secluded (adding to your point about it being high up in the mountains). Nothing like being able to sell and bank after grinding exp, then logging in a safe spot and picking it back up the next evening. Great great times here.
i really love what you said at 18:54 about the simplicity of EQ, but that's exactly where the magic is!
and to answer your question, a few of my other favorite camps are throne room in crushbone, basically all of tower of frozen shadow, the hill outside of KC in dreadlands, frenzy in velks, and splitpaw. but there really are too many to list.
Man this so good...100% with you on this, High Pass was by far my favorite camp while leveling. I milked that zone as long as I could: bank, vendors, and quest items right there in zone.
I started in 1999, about 3 months after launch. One of my earliest memories of really pushing in a stupid direction was my then level 5 ranger, upon the advice of another level 5 ranger who I had only just met, decided to run from Kelethin to this place called Qeynos where I was assured the exp was great.
No in-game maps, no out-game maps other than a cloth 'world map' that came with the game. I just knew that Qeynos was 'west'. So, we set off on our nightmarish journey.
Running to the guards in Butcherblock, being awestruck as we took a ship across the sea, getting lost in Freeport and trying desperately to avoid the giants in the Commonlands. Kithikor wasn't anywhere near as dangerous then compared to what it would become, but it was still perilous and we inched around the zone wall to finally get to High Pass.
There we realised our error. The eastern path was patrolled by orcs many levels higher than us, and the western path was similarly guarded by gnolls.
Luckily in those days, High Pass was permanently full of players, and in one of the kindest acts I've seen in game, a group of players in their late teens escorted us across the zone, killing orcs and gnolls that got in our way, and then bid us farewell into the Karanas.
My traveling companion would meet a grisly and wretched end, spluttering about in the dark waters in East Karana before being mauled to death, but by sheer luck and nervous energy, I found the bridge in the dark, and somehow made it to Qeynos and secured that all important Bind.
Whenever I think of High Pass, I can't help thinking of that little adventure. So yea, it holds a special significance for me too.
That is an incredible story! I think we all have these types of moments that stick with us.
I'm actually working on a video that addresses a similar topic right now!
My favorite camp?? There is two, and it depends on my mood is to which one is my favorite....
A: The Throne Roon, Crush Bone. Sit behind the table, can pull the entire throne room the royal guards on the stairs behind the throne, Emperor, and the Ambassador.
B: The Stairs, HHK. You are at one of my favorites in this video. On live servers, where I was mostly, the stairs pull that room, the room off to the right is usually a separate camp, the first room off to the right going down with third camp, and the bottom room with the raiders was a fourth camp. If no one was there, and you had a good group, you could own the entire bottom by sitting at the stairs....
I think I have a 26 or 27 level Val Shair BL parked in front of the bank....
Two great camps!
@@SageFreke1
I also like the Estate of Unrest....even if it was "Grand Central Station" in it's heyday.
Grats on 29. :)
Highkeep is an awesome zone. The only downside is that it's pretty hard to get out of, which sucks if you're not a class that can move around easily. Imagine being a rogue or something, heading to HK for goblins, finding the group is full or just not inviting, and having to go find something else to do. That was my experience every time I tried to do those goblins, to the point where I don't even attempt it anymore, haha.
Favorite camp though? The longsword sisters of OOT. Ascania Halvbin and Larisa Gelrith. Did that camp from 26 to 36 on my wizard. 6 minute spawn, 11p per kill. Perfect camp for a wizard, as we're one of the few classes that can take full advantage (most folks have to go on a long journey out of the zone to sell the longswords). Was killing them well into hell level 35 despite being high green. The money was just too awesome, and they paid for my jboots in the end. I still went there every so often even into my 40s whenever I needed an infusion of cash. Beautiful scenery too, who doesn't love a green island paradise getaway? xD
My nostalgia camp is definitely main room in unrest. I remember hitting 17 on my paladin in crushbone and getting invited to unrest. No other game has made me feel like there was so much at stake, after that dangerous journey and having to face the horrors lurking around in the old haunted places.
That's a great story! I think we all had *that* moment.
i've had wonderful time here, here are bank, zone line for train, most of time safe mob pulling.
So nostalgic. Spent so much time at stairs. Then I spent another ridiculous time farming nobles, even reconnected with an old friend up at nobles (Mowin, if your out there, I still remember you, my halfling brother!)
I don't think I spent a lot of time in my high 20's in Highpass, but I remember loving being in the holiday hotspot Cazic Thule. Plus you could get rubicite before it got nerfed. Thanks for the memories!
Excellent video! Thank you for making these. You are a great communicator regarding the lore of Everquest.
Weirdly I have never done a HK camp.
For me the top ten has to include Orc Hill in the Greater Faydark. I guess because it would have been my first camp back in 1999. There was such a viceral sense of striking out into that looming dark forest. Teaming up with unfamiliar classes to hit back at the orcs who had stalked the road between Kelethin and Felwithe. If I want a dose of nostalga, orc hill is where I go.
ah, always happy to find a good new project 1999 channel, time to binge your videos! 😁
I have always thought this too! it's like a mini beginner dungeon, right when most classes were starting to learn what they are.
HHK is one of the coolest zones. It also had a great mix of levels as well. I leveled my gnome cleric there in goblin groups for a long while and fell in love with the area.
Man there goblin problem has been going on for 24 years those goblins dont give up
I admire their persistence
You could have bet me that I was looking at a goblin from Runnyeye if not Solusek's eye. Great new spot I've never been or hear of.
Sol A is another great camp in this level range!
Lower and Upper Guk beats everything else in original EQ for me. Such a great, compact design with so many great camps. I'll admit it's not conveniently located. Otherwise, though...
I remember reading somewhere in the game the reason that goblins are present in High Keep is because the humans enslaved them to do mining and tunnel digging for them but somehow lost control of them and their population exploded out of control to become a threat to the residents.
sick intro-fade-in
Guard camp is my jam. Plat plus xp bonus! Bank and merchants in zone, too good to be true
I spent a lot of time in Highpass. Good memories
I loved HPK camp way back in the day. Sadly I had my lowest point in my life while camping HPK and haven't been able to camp there without being reminded of it since.
Well done
I have to say, you have some compelling arguments. And it's funny, in my 20ish years of playing EQ, I have never, and I mean never even one time, went to Highkeep for exp. In truth, aside from cities, Highpass and Highkeep are my two least favorite zones in the game. I hate them, I hate them so much. I try to avoid them as much as I can. I never want to go there, they're just awful. But your reasonings for why this camp is a great camp seem pretty sound.
I don't know if I have a favorite camp... in the classic era, probably my favorite dungeon zone is Lower Guk, and there are some great and fun camps there like ass/sup; I like that one quite a lot, but picking an absolute favorite is probably too hard for me.
In live on bertoxxulous server the goblins were split into 3 camps. Lowest room, hollow enclave above it and the more open area above that
I remember stopping here on my qeynos to Freeport run. I remember checking out the gnoll camp
Same thing happened with me in this camp. And the one downstairs. This really was my first true dungeon camp. Same thing in guk, same thing in kc, it’s perfect
Love this camp. I remember on live it was 3 camps on my server. Went here on p999 on my monk from 26-35
Yeah, three camps on my live server, too.
Hey Sage Freke, been really enjoying all your videos man. I wonder, do you have a Twitch? Would love to follow you and watch you play live if so! 🙂
I've thought about doing a Twitch but haven't started one up yet. Maybe in the future!
@@SageFreke1 You definitely have the microphone abilities to speak in an fun and engaging way nonstop. I know Twitch can be distracting because of people talking to you in chat but there are options. One option is you only check chat every 15 minutes or so, answer questions, then proceed. Another option some streamers use is that they only answer questions that come with tips, and the tip questions are read aloud by Twitch (it has an audio AI that reads text) and then you can just answer quickly like a regular conversation without taking your eyes off the screen. Just some ideas because you’re really good on the mic, you have exemplary speaking skills! 💎✨
That is so kind! Thank you. I am definitely considering it after that confidence boost!
At 2:20 is that a painting on the wall of chickens playing cards like the ones we see of dogs playing poker?
I think so!
Guards, merchants, SoW...even a bank! Also my favorite. What level should a rogue head there?
HHK is my favorite zone though it's typically guards I go after. I need to go back to to P99. The revamped zone of Highpass on retail is not memorable.
Guk live-side entrance.
Unrest is my favorite.
Great zone but with a brutal corpse run if you're coming from faydwer
Are you saying I should bind there?!
@@SageFreke1 i had a strange relationship/philosophy around binding in EverQuest
I think I only ever rebound 4 times total in the 6 years I played
Also I died a few times just finding the place 😅
Paludal caverns
*Looks at Kelethin*