My favorite thing here is that you mentioned WarSheol, purely because I knew them. Great person, with a variety of alts, all with Sheol at the end, on the Erollisi Marr server. Miss you WarSheol!
I remember the first time I discovered the chessboard was at night and I was way too low of a level to be snooping around there. I got my ass handed to me, fortunately I was bound in Freeport so it only took me 5 days to get back to my body.
Started back when Kunark came out, still play on live but use old models and play in old zones 😂 At one point, in the Glory Days, I made a Troll Shammy. Random high level DE running thru Grobb gave me a FULL SET OF JAUNDICED BONE ARMOR...which I lost because I ran to FP and died to an npc the EC zone line. Had no bearing of the game at that point and had only gotten to the Commonlands by following someone; died, spawned in Grobb, deleted character. Great fucking times 😍💯
The Chessboard in EQ is also a reference to the old MUDs (text based online RPGs) that inspired EQ's creator Brad McQuaid. Chessboard was a stock zone, meaning it came with the source code for the MUD. Other developers could then modify the stock MUD to create their own MUDs, some of which would remove the stock zones entirely, but many MUDs kept atleast a few of the stock zones around and Chessboard was usually one of them in my experience.
The chessboards were indeed played by "the gods". Also, they were all originally supposed to have a secret way to be able to move NPCs around the board doing battle, but the feature never got to the implementation stage. Cheers -Rp
I'll never forget going into work one day back in 99 and my manager was like "DUDE! I FOUND A HUGE CHESS BOARD LAST NIGHT!!" All other employees were genuinely concerned over our sanity.
I love all your EQ videos, please keep making them. It's just the right amount of silly nostalgia for me without getting myself sucked back into actually playing. EQ has so many weird, seemingly pointless side areas that I never understood, possibly because there's nothing to understand - but I love seeing you prove that wrong.
No.. no.. no.. Do allow yourself to be "sucked into" the game again! It's as much as an adventure now as it was back in the hay days. Be casual, a few hours a week, it'll come right back at you.
Please never stop making these. I never played EQ in the prime, started with EQ2, but I love your mysteries series. Your voice is great, the editing is great, I will watch these forever.
You are one of my favorite youtube channel of all time and that comes from a guy who obsessively watches all RLM content at least 5x over bare minimum. Please never stop what you are doing. 2x uploads in one day is more than we deserve. Please if you have a patreon or twitch or paypal or something please let us know. I want to give you my money and this comes from a cheap bastard that never gives anyone anything online. I cant say in words how good your content is so please let me give you my money in lieu. They should have sent a poet.
Brilliant closing line for your great post, referencing the awe that Jody Foster's character, Dr. Ellie Arroway, has in "CONTACT" as she beholds the grandure of the cosmos. I too, enjoy Michael's EQ uploads; the most entertaining by far!
Found these and shared with my friends from EQ. I'm loving these please make more! There used to be an Undead Pyramid in Nektulos forest too that was really cool. I'll never forget me and a friend were camping in in our 10's. We watched as a wolf just walked by a terrifying mummy, and the mummy stood up and like one shoted that wolf.. and we were like DAMNNNN this is the best game ever. Are the Pyramids just Wizy teleports or something?
Watched your original EverQuest video way back in the beginning! Man, I LOVE your content! Played a High Elf Magician back in the day, and still play a High Elf Magician on P99! Your videos are amazing! I've always wondered things about the lore and story of the game that the strategy books couldn't explain, and you explain them all perfectly!
One of my earliest memories realizing the power I had as a solo Necromancer! Man, hadn't thought about this in over 20 years! _Love_ these videos, man, can't say enough how much I appreciate the work.
Wow, I had no idea that sound plays at the BB chessboard at night! Had no idea! I'm fascinated by this video and I wish It was longer I wish more info was found about all these chessboards this was really entertaining thank you!
ty! the same sound plays at the UFO in qeynos.....which is another artificat of the gods... Rodcet Nife to be precise. A coincidence?! I think more research is required on this topic
Wow a reply by the famous Micheal from Department of Fun I am honored! Thank you for your time making these videos and providing free entertainment it's very kind and generous of you!
The year is 2020. EQ was born even before I was born and to this day I so enjoy this game. Bravo on your montage and editing skills. Wonderful story telling. I know I'm late to the party but I've hit subscribe! Well done, Champion!
You sir, are amazingly great at this and the EQ world should know if they don't already..... too good and its the lore that ive never taken the time to study, cause.... you know..... the XPs and pixels i need. thanks again, keep them coming
I use to camp this spot, expecting some rare mob to spawn, can't remember if it did or not. Whilst i'm here, i'd like to tell a little story if i may. I was a ranger, a wood elf ranger in fact. I was in a group, camping a room in Karnor's castle, which room i forget, but it was the one that dropped the Lupine Dagger. I remember a pull the went wrong, and i unfortunately died, and on the way back was told that not only had the rest of the group survived, but the DAGGER had dropped. I get to group, and the cleric (I believe it to be the cleric) handed it over.. No 'if's, no 'buts', just handed this super expensive, no bind on pickup crap, over to a complete stranger! Made my day, and EQ gave me this memory. Nothing will come close to Everquest again, and this saddens me greatly.
So glad you're making more of these videos. If you ever feel like it, I would love to see a National Geographic style video of Runnyeye. I'm trying to build up a p99 character, but sadly I'm not there yet.
Maybe the next video will be about fire beetles. The clacking. The shining red eye. And there's some weird stuff going on with the "Royal" beetles in Qeynos, I'm sure of it.
Awesome video! This is why EQ is so great. Sure you can grind to max level and raid, but you can also take the time to explore the world. Earned a sub from me.
I think I can explain the presence of the chessboard in EverQuest. Before there were graphical MMORPGs, there were text-based ones called MUDs (or sometimes MUSHes, or similar). MUDs and the like are to EverQuest what books are to movies - there are no graphics, everything that happens is expressed in text and you type in commands to do things in the game world. And basically, EverQuest is one of the first "graphical MUDs". And here's the thing - in the MUD community, there used to be a saying that went "All self-respecting MUDs have a chessboard area". And the MUD I've spent most time, 3 Kingdoms, did indeed have at least one chessboard area. So I'm pretty sure this is the reason there's a chessboard in EverQuest - because Brad was aware of this saying, and as sort of a joke included such an area in EverQuest.
WTF, this video caused my entire 1999-2005 Everquest life to flashback. There are entire EMOTIONS I've forgotten existed. To everyone I ripped off in EC tunnel, I'm sorry. To my old guild, I'm sorry. To my enemies I'm sorry. To my friends, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for Everything. This video is amazing.
Fun fact about Plane of Mischief's chessboard: Using the spell Minor Illusion on it will transform you in a gigantic pawn! And for those who haven't been in PoM, there is gorillas on the chessboard. Their name : A random piece Another piece That bishop thingy ... :)
0:52 sorry but i have an urge to say that it is possible to be in double check if its the checked king turn and that the white pawn is not threatening the black king (although it is on the 8th rank so it should have already been promoted to a queen but i guess they just didnt care)
ok I'm confused - what do you mean by the white pawn not threatening the king? the white pawn has the king in check? also when starting a game of chess the bottom right corner should be white right? which means that the pawn isn't on the 8th rank..... feel free to drop some knowledge bombs on me lol my chess lore isn't what it used to be
You are correct I did not look at the board correctly... guess i am not used to see the knight like this. Lets hope none of my friends will see that comment.
I've been around online RPGs for a long time and want to shed some light on the chessboard. Everquest drew heavy inspiration from older online text RPGs called MUDs (Multi-User Dimensions). Brad McQuaid a lead Everquest designer was known to play a MUD called ROM (Rivers of MUD). The ROM code was highly duplicated many times throughout the MUD-verse and a well known leveling area on ROM was the 'Chessboard'. Brad incorporated many design elements from MUDs in early EQ (so much so that EQ was actually sued for taking code from ROM, the matter was settled out of court). But still, the influences of MUD remain in EQ even to this day, and one of them is homage to the old Chessboard area of ROM that we see in Butcherblock.
Guy Eddy Ah man that brings back some memories. At least one or two MUDs that I played had a chessboard as a leveling area. I recall it being a great spot for coin/raw money loot. Seems like it may have been one of those areas that made its way around in a bazillion different MUDs (City of Midgard, Drakyri Isle, etc)
You can put a king in double check in chess. Not... the way the board's set up there, but let's assume you have a bishop lined up with a rook or knight or something like that. The rook/knight moves so it's in check with the king, and that frees up the board spot so the bishop is also putting the king in check, assuming the king's in the right spot. I don't know why I felt the need to mention this but it's chess lore!!! I guess!!
my brother always drug me over there to kill skellies. I was scared of the zone at the levels he would take me there. was very curious about what the board was all about. Thx for shedding some light. plz do more lore or stories like brother balatin. request: ambassador dvinn and crushbone : )
The creators of the game used their D&D campaigns for inspiration when fleshing the game out. So some mysteries have to do with their campaigns lore and not a cohesive Norrathian lore.
I think the chessboard is one of the more iconic set pieces in the game. I'm trying to think of other things that are more well-known, but eeevverybody knows that damn chessboard. At least everybody I can think of. Which is just me. Hello!? Edit: Holygaucamolee!
I got suspended on live for saying "ass" on a test server. During that week a guildmate of mine let me borrow his account with a bard on it. His only condition was I keep the character in PoM. It was a week of insanity. I think I spent a full 24 hours in that rat maze in the basement. It was a trip.
i actually got in there when it was the original PoM and bound there for 2yrs when the only way in was through ntov. those rats made for some fun soloing plus it helped me get my Necro robe pieces. it was always such a nice change of pace from doing the puppets/AiW areas.
but why do only skeletons inhabit the chess board?. being undead are they the only ones old enough to remember the legendary game of chess that was once had here?
Loving your videos on everquest, i still miss this game, need to emu it one day, do you know about the cat room in befallen? Would make an interesting video if the info is out there
My favorite thing here is that you mentioned WarSheol, purely because I knew them. Great person, with a variety of alts, all with Sheol at the end, on the Erollisi Marr server. Miss you WarSheol!
I remember the first time I discovered the chessboard was at night and I was way too low of a level to be snooping around there. I got my ass handed to me, fortunately I was bound in Freeport so it only took me 5 days to get back to my body.
lol
Started back when Kunark came out, still play on live but use old models and play in old zones 😂 At one point, in the Glory Days, I made a Troll Shammy. Random high level DE running thru Grobb gave me a FULL SET OF JAUNDICED BONE ARMOR...which I lost because I ran to FP and died to an npc the EC zone line. Had no bearing of the game at that point and had only gotten to the Commonlands by following someone; died, spawned in Grobb, deleted character. Great fucking times 😍💯
Scott Blubaugh ahahaha
Funny how this game is so memorable. Do you still play? P99 or EQ Live?
My husband and I met on EQ 20 years ago and held our in game wedding on this chessboard. It was a lovely setting.
Holy cow, 5 years later and these videos are still a treasure!
The Chessboard in EQ is also a reference to the old MUDs (text based online RPGs) that inspired EQ's creator Brad McQuaid. Chessboard was a stock zone, meaning it came with the source code for the MUD. Other developers could then modify the stock MUD to create their own MUDs, some of which would remove the stock zones entirely, but many MUDs kept atleast a few of the stock zones around and Chessboard was usually one of them in my experience.
The chessboards were indeed played by "the gods". Also, they were all originally supposed to have a secret way to be able to move NPCs around the board doing battle, but the feature never got to the implementation stage. Cheers -Rp
I'll never forget going into work one day back in 99 and my manager was like "DUDE! I FOUND A HUGE CHESS BOARD LAST NIGHT!!" All other employees were genuinely concerned over our sanity.
I love all your EQ videos, please keep making them. It's just the right amount of silly nostalgia for me without getting myself sucked back into actually playing. EQ has so many weird, seemingly pointless side areas that I never understood, possibly because there's nothing to understand - but I love seeing you prove that wrong.
No.. no.. no.. Do allow yourself to be "sucked into" the game again! It's as much as an adventure now as it was back in the hay days. Be casual, a few hours a week, it'll come right back at you.
Please never stop making these. I never played EQ in the prime, started with EQ2, but I love your mysteries series. Your voice is great, the editing is great, I will watch these forever.
I'm so happy about this one, I'd like it twice if I could. Every character I ever played did some early levels at that chessboard
you know, I've never leveled there - I would go there just to look at the thing lol
You are one of my favorite youtube channel of all time and that comes from a guy who obsessively watches all RLM content at least 5x over bare minimum. Please never stop what you are doing. 2x uploads in one day is more than we deserve. Please if you have a patreon or twitch or paypal or something please let us know. I want to give you my money and this comes from a cheap bastard that never gives anyone anything online. I cant say in words how good your content is so please let me give you my money in lieu. They should have sent a poet.
your too kind! I don't know how to handle it! thank you : )
Brilliant closing line for your great post, referencing the awe that Jody Foster's character, Dr. Ellie Arroway, has in "CONTACT" as she beholds the grandure of the cosmos. I too, enjoy Michael's EQ uploads; the most entertaining by far!
Found these and shared with my friends from EQ. I'm loving these please make more!
There used to be an Undead Pyramid in Nektulos forest too that was really cool. I'll never forget me and a friend were camping in in our 10's. We watched as a wolf just walked by a terrifying mummy, and the mummy stood up and like one shoted that wolf.. and we were like DAMNNNN this is the best game ever.
Are the Pyramids just Wizy teleports or something?
I spent so much time on this chessboard and running around Greater Faydark, oh man it was so much fun. The music, and the memories. THE MEMORIES!
I fucking love these videos.
Watched your original EverQuest video way back in the beginning! Man, I LOVE your content! Played a High Elf Magician back in the day, and still play a High Elf Magician on P99! Your videos are amazing! I've always wondered things about the lore and story of the game that the strategy books couldn't explain, and you explain them all perfectly!
I love this channel!!!!
I don't know how to start this
Maybe Bristlebane was having his minions recreate the game in BB to see how he lost. There is a book right near the board as if they were researching.
One of my earliest memories realizing the power I had as a solo Necromancer! Man, hadn't thought about this in over 20 years! _Love_ these videos, man, can't say enough how much I appreciate the work.
Dude that was trippy... I watched the beholder video when this one wasn't up and you're character literally told me this one was just added.
not an EQ player, but your videos are really entertaining and compelling, might one day play the game fr
Wow, I had no idea that sound plays at the BB chessboard at night! Had no idea! I'm fascinated by this video and I wish It was longer I wish more info was found about all these chessboards this was really entertaining thank you!
ty! the same sound plays at the UFO in qeynos.....which is another artificat of the gods... Rodcet Nife to be precise. A coincidence?! I think more research is required on this topic
Wow a reply by the famous Micheal from Department of Fun I am honored! Thank you for your time making these videos and providing free entertainment it's very kind and generous of you!
Everquest has some underrated music.
one of the best ost's of all time!
DING!
Excellent!!! More mysteries please!!! I gotta know stuff!!!
The year is 2020. EQ was born even before I was born and to this day I so enjoy this game. Bravo on your montage and editing skills. Wonderful story telling. I know I'm late to the party but I've hit subscribe! Well done, Champion!
This video reminded me that there is a new progression server opening up soon.
And by that, when I looked, it's already open.
Thanks.
You've done it again. ANOTHER. GREAT. VIDEO.
Seriously, please keep this series going!
I'm glad we got an "answer" on this one! At least a fairly convincing postulation
Love all of your eq videos, they definitely take me back.
These are incredible, you've made a huge fan and rekindled my adoration with EQ.
You sir, are amazingly great at this and the EQ world should know if they don't already..... too good and its the lore that ive never taken the time to study, cause.... you know..... the XPs and pixels i need.
thanks again, keep them coming
Mayong Mistmoore and Kerafyrm were one of my favorite NPC/lores in EQ
Thank you so much for making these, takes me back to late nights filled with soda and candy playing EQ all night with my friends.
I use to camp this spot, expecting some rare mob to spawn, can't remember if it did or not. Whilst i'm here, i'd like to tell a little story if i may. I was a ranger, a wood elf ranger in fact. I was in a group, camping a room in Karnor's castle, which room i forget, but it was the one that dropped the Lupine Dagger. I remember a pull the went wrong, and i unfortunately died, and on the way back was told that not only had the rest of the group survived, but the DAGGER had dropped. I get to group, and the cleric (I believe it to be the cleric) handed it over.. No 'if's, no 'buts', just handed this super expensive, no bind on pickup crap, over to a complete stranger! Made my day, and EQ gave me this memory. Nothing will come close to Everquest again, and this saddens me greatly.
you're a norrathian hero good sir! I simply CANNOT wait until the next installment.
These are highly entertaining. I like the regular releases on these now.
So glad you're making more of these videos. If you ever feel like it, I would love to see a National Geographic style video of Runnyeye. I'm trying to build up a p99 character, but sadly I'm not there yet.
Hmm the clickity clack of the scarab beetle legs at the end of the video... Does it mean anything? I certainly don't know!
Maybe the next video will be about fire beetles. The clacking. The shining red eye. And there's some weird stuff going on with the "Royal" beetles in Qeynos, I'm sure of it.
Turns out i was right! He ended up making a video about the fake expansion involving fire beetles! Muhaha
Please keep making more videos, because you are giving me life! :D
Love that you film these in full totemic. PLEASE MAKE MORE
Awesome video! This is why EQ is so great. Sure you can grind to max level and raid, but you can also take the time to explore the world. Earned a sub from me.
Please keep making these videos! I love the EQ nostalgia!
Your editing and vocal delivery = hysterical. Love your videos
Dude your videos are so freaking funny I need them in my life and the editing is so good pls never stop making them
These videos are AMAZING!!! Keep them coming!
I think I can explain the presence of the chessboard in EverQuest.
Before there were graphical MMORPGs, there were text-based ones called MUDs (or sometimes MUSHes, or similar). MUDs and the like are to EverQuest what books are to movies - there are no graphics, everything that happens is expressed in text and you type in commands to do things in the game world. And basically, EverQuest is one of the first "graphical MUDs".
And here's the thing - in the MUD community, there used to be a saying that went "All self-respecting MUDs have a chessboard area". And the MUD I've spent most time, 3 Kingdoms, did indeed have at least one chessboard area. So I'm pretty sure this is the reason there's a chessboard in EverQuest - because Brad was aware of this saying, and as sort of a joke included such an area in EverQuest.
Always a happy surprise when I see one of your vids come out :)
I think this is my final video of yours to watch! I enjoyed them all, thank you for making me laugh so much!
i love the fact that people are making videos about eq like this, p1999 devs saved classic eq :')
WTF, this video caused my entire 1999-2005 Everquest life to flashback. There are entire EMOTIONS I've forgotten existed.
To everyone I ripped off in EC tunnel, I'm sorry. To my old guild, I'm sorry. To my enemies I'm sorry. To my friends, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry for Everything. This video is amazing.
Lunsterful is that you fansy the bard?
I yell halelujah everytime you upload one of these
Make more EQ lore videos! They are the best!
Your videos are my secret indulgence. You're so weird. Keep it up.
Your videos are amazing and I think you need to develop the Chess: Kaladim Street Rules game. You would make a killing!
Fun fact about Plane of Mischief's chessboard:
Using the spell Minor Illusion on it will transform you in a gigantic pawn!
And for those who haven't been in PoM, there is gorillas on the chessboard.
Their name :
A random piece
Another piece
That bishop thingy
... :)
Holy shit i used to play with Warsheol. Guild leader of . What a random blast from the past.
I never clicked something so fast
0:52 sorry but i have an urge to say that it is possible to be in double check if its the checked king turn and that the white pawn is not threatening the black king (although it is on the 8th rank so it should have already been promoted to a queen but i guess they just didnt care)
ok I'm confused - what do you mean by the white pawn not threatening the king? the white pawn has the king in check? also when starting a game of chess the bottom right corner should be white right? which means that the pawn isn't on the 8th rank..... feel free to drop some knowledge bombs on me lol my chess lore isn't what it used to be
You are correct I did not look at the board correctly... guess i am not used to see the knight like this. Lets hope none of my friends will see that comment.
ahh don't sweat it! I saw the board that way as well, all the way up until i made this video and really had to study it
these everquest videos are extremely entertaining, and i don't even play the game lol
Lol the fuckin Chessboard sound - I wish there could be 100 of these videos.
I've been around online RPGs for a long time and want to shed some light on the chessboard. Everquest drew heavy inspiration from older online text RPGs called MUDs (Multi-User Dimensions). Brad McQuaid a lead Everquest designer was known to play a MUD called ROM (Rivers of MUD). The ROM code was highly duplicated many times throughout the MUD-verse and a well known leveling area on ROM was the 'Chessboard'. Brad incorporated many design elements from MUDs in early EQ (so much so that EQ was actually sued for taking code from ROM, the matter was settled out of court). But still, the influences of MUD remain in EQ even to this day, and one of them is homage to the old Chessboard area of ROM that we see in Butcherblock.
Guy Eddy
Ah man that brings back some memories. At least one or two MUDs that I played had a chessboard as a leveling area. I recall it being a great spot for coin/raw money loot. Seems like it may have been one of those areas that made its way around in a bazillion different MUDs (City of Midgard, Drakyri Isle, etc)
Yeah they definitely copied/pasted areas from one mud to another (Mob factory, anyone?) what good memories of MUDding
Love the series!! Can't wait for more! :D
I love your work!! Keep up the good work... detective?
I love and miss the chessboard. Great vid. /subbed
You got the most PogChamp videos bro.
I LOVE THIS GIANT CHESS BOARD!
Baby dressed as tootsie roll? :thinking:
Here is Michael making videos about mysteries, but the greatest mystery is Michael HIMSELF!
Another great video, subscribed and liked.
You can put a king in double check in chess. Not... the way the board's set up there, but let's assume you have a bishop lined up with a rook or knight or something like that. The rook/knight moves so it's in check with the king, and that frees up the board spot so the bishop is also putting the king in check, assuming the king's in the right spot. I don't know why I felt the need to mention this but it's chess lore!!! I guess!!
This is what got me into EQ!
Michael where have you gone? We need more EQ Shenanigans!!
my brother always drug me over there to kill skellies. I was scared of the zone at the levels he would take me there. was very curious about what the board was all about. Thx for shedding some light. plz do more lore or stories like brother balatin. request: ambassador dvinn and crushbone : )
I miss this game
The creators of the game used their D&D campaigns for inspiration when fleshing the game out. So some mysteries have to do with their campaigns lore and not a cohesive Norrathian lore.
Please...I need fire beetle mysteries...I'm starting to itchh!!
I promise fire beetles and disappointment in the near future
I think Kithicor would be a good Mystery
these are great! make more please :3
Kathy Cat What she said!
Great video again!
Tell us about Tondal and his pet Stratcat. First appeared in Overthere then... migrated somewhere else?...
I think the chessboard is one of the more iconic set pieces in the game. I'm trying to think of other things that are more well-known, but eeevverybody knows that damn chessboard. At least everybody I can think of. Which is just me.
Hello!?
Edit: Holygaucamolee!
EverQuest DID have a game-in-game. It was called Gems
I wonder if Bristlebane tried to cheat and that's why we ended up with the double checkmate
BRISTLEBANE'S BEHIND IT ALL
I got suspended on live for saying "ass" on a test server. During that week a guildmate of mine let me borrow his account with a bard on it. His only condition was I keep the character in PoM. It was a week of insanity. I think I spent a full 24 hours in that rat maze in the basement. It was a trip.
i actually got in there when it was the original PoM and bound there for 2yrs when the only way in was through ntov. those rats made for some fun soloing plus it helped me get my Necro robe pieces. it was always such a nice change of pace from doing the puppets/AiW areas.
0:22 nice tab in background.
idunnowhatyourtalkinabout
but why do only skeletons inhabit the chess board?. being undead are they the only ones old enough to remember the legendary game of chess that was once had here?
keep making more until you uncover everything!
Keep these coming
Another excellent video!
this is great thanks for making them
Thats also the sound the UFO makes in Queynos.
love your vids so much
Loving your videos on everquest, i still miss this game, need to emu it one day, do you know about the cat room in befallen? Would make an interesting video if the info is out there
Amazing stuff man. I love your edits and enthusiasm. Do you stream on twitch?
Time to do the Qeynos UFO...
It makes the same sound that plays at the chessboard!
Clearly there is a connection!
2 is a coincidence, 3 is a pattern! - I wonder if there are any other relics of the gods in game.....
I miss EQ very much. Your videos bring up old memories thank you. Good video editing skills, what exactly do you use may I ask?
Awesome. Requesting Iskar lore! Iskar lore!
Can you please research why when I was afk in the skeleton cave in crescent reach why I came back to see I was an erudite ghost
3:20, subtle. I like it
michael what do you use for editing your videos i love your effects and style!
ty! I use sony vegas pro 13
great stuff man