Froglocks from EverQuest II
Developer: Verant Interactive / Darkpaw Games | Platform: PC | Release Date: November 9/11, 2004 | Payment Model: Free2Play | Status: Still active
What kind of race is this? When the MMORPG community discusses the coolest races (for example, here on Reddit), various mentions from both EverQuest parts are always among the most positively evaluated suggestions. No wonder, as the character creation options in EverQuest and EverQuest II are as large as they are colorful.
At this point, I could have showcased, for instance, the rat-like Rattonga or the scaled Iksar. However, my personal favorite is the race of Froglocks. Who would answer the question “Which race would you like to play in a role-playing game?” with “Clearly humanoid frogs!”? Only fairytale lovers who are keen on a princess.
In the world of EverQuest II, the kind-hearted Froglocks are regarded as virtuous and clever. As a good-aligned race, they stand against corruption and evil. They provide strong fighters as well as healing priests. In the MMORPG subreddit, the adventures of the “Healing Frog” have almost become legendary (Example post on Reddit).
What do I need to know about the game? After the massive success of EverQuest, Verant Interactive wanted to quickly follow up. The developments of WoW and EverQuest II began around the same time. At least this competition was ultimately won by Verant, with a 2-week head start over the major competitor.
However, the actual duel was lost. While WoW brought the MMORPG genre into the mainstream, EverQuest II fell short of expectations and has been competing with its still-available predecessor for the fans of the universe – and this continues to this day.
The sequel was a logical and comprehensive evolution of the first EverQuest, with enormous effort spent not only on the content but also in areas such as synchronization and soundtrack. And: EverQuest II was the first MMORPG with an integrated pizza ordering service. You can learn more about this and other milestones in the world of online role-playing games here: 10 notable records from the world of MMORPGs
