Recommended Levels and ZEM List

Q: What is a zone experience modifier (ZEM)?

If all things were equal, you would receive an equal amount of XP for killing equivalent mobs in different zones. This is not the case. Some zones give a higher amount of experience than others. Some zones actually give a significantly lower amount of experience.

Q: Are ZEMS really known?

In the old days of live EQ the server sent the actually ZEM values, which were recorded by studious players. These values were used as a basis for the EQEmu numbers, and so are in place on most stock EQEmu servers. However, the following important caveat applies:

Caveat

Warning! The devs of p1999 have stated that they will not publicly release the current ZEM list (in the spirit of classic EQ).

The "stock" values given here, which may be representative as a whole, have definitely been changed in some zones.

ZEM List

The p1999 column, currently empty, can be used to denote discrepancies from the stock values. If there is any systematic study done, or someone who can present some cohesive evidence of actual numbers, we can include them there. References: ref1 ref2 ref3 ref4 ref5.

Continent	Zone Name	"Stock" Modifier	p1999 Modifier/Notes
Antonica	Befallen	160
Antonica	Blackburrow	100
Antonica	East Commonlands	75
Antonica	East Freeport	75
Antonica	Eastern Karana	75
Antonica	Erud's Crossing
Antonica	Everfrost Peaks	75
Antonica	Feerrott	75
Antonica	Gorge of King Xorbb	75
Antonica	Halas	100
Antonica	High Keep	150
Antonica	Highpass Hold	80
Antonica	Innothule Swamp	75
Antonica	Jaggedpine	75
Antonica	Kithikor Woods	75
Antonica	Lake Rathe	75
Antonica	Lavastorm Mountains	75
Antonica	Lower Guk	80
Antonica	Misty Thicket	75
Antonica	Nagafen's Lair	80
Antonica	Najena	130
Antonica	Nektulos	75
Antonica	Neriak- Commons	100
Antonica	Neriak- Foreign Quarter	100
Antonica	Neriak- Third Gate	100
Antonica	North Freeport	100
Antonica	North Karana	75
Antonica	North Qeynos	75
Antonica	North Ro	75
Antonica	Oasis of Marr	75
Antonica	Ocean of Tears	?
Antonica	Ogguk	100
Antonica	Permafrost	90
Antonica	Qeynos Hills	75
Antonica	Rathe Mountains	75
Antonica	Rivervale	100
Antonica	Runny Eye	100
Antonica	Solusek's Eye	130
Antonica	South Karana	75
Antonica	South Ro	75
Antonica	Splitpaw Lair	90
Antonica	Surefall Glade	100
Antonica	Temple of Cazic Thule	85
Antonica	Upper Guk	150
Antonica	West Commonlands	75
Antonica	West Freeport	75
Antonica	West Karana	75
Faydwer	Ak'Anon	100
Faydwer	Butcherblock Mountains	75
Faydwer	Castle Mistmoore	90
Faydwer	Crushbone	160
Faydwer	Dagnor's Cauldron	75
Faydwer	Felwithe	100
Faydwer	Greater Faydar	75
Faydwer	Kaladim	100
Faydwer	Kedge Keep	100	Noticeably higher, ~150-200
Faydwer	Kelethin	100
Faydwer	Steamfront Mountains	75
Faydwer	Lesser Faydark	75
Faydwer	Ocean of Tears	?
Faydwer	Unrest	130
Odus	Erudin	100
Odus	Erud's Crossing	?
Odus	The Hole	100
Odus	Kerra Isle	90
Odus	Paineel	75
Odus	Stonebrunt Mountains	75
Odus	Toxxulia Forest	75
Odus	Warrens	150
Kunark	Burning Woods	75
Kunark	Cabilis	100
Kunark	Charasis	85
Kunark	Chardok	85
Kunark	City of Mist	85
Kunark	Dalnir	?
Kunark	Dreadlands	75
Kunark	Emerald Jungle	75
Kunark	Field of Bone	75
Kunark	Fironia Vie	75
Kunark	Frontier Mountains	75
Kunark	Kaesora	110
Kunark	Karnor's Castle	85
Kunark	Kurn's Tower	150
Kunark	Lake of Ill Omen	60
Kunark	The Mines of Nurga
Kunark	Sebilis	85
Kunark	Skyfire Mountains	80
Kunark	Swamp of No Hope	75
Kunark	The Overthere	75
Kunark	Timourous Deep	?
Kunark	Temple of Droga	?
Kunark	Trakanon's Teeth	75
Kunark	Veeshan's Peak	?
Kunark	Warsliks Woods	75
Velious	Cobalt Scar	75
Velious	Crystal Caverns	85
Velious	Dragon Necropolis	85
Velious	Eastern Wastes	75
Velious	Great Divide	75
Velious	Iceclad Ocean	75
Velious	Icewell Keep	85
Velious	Kael Drakkel	85
Velious	Temple of Veeshan	?
Velious	Siren's Grotto	85
Velious	Skyshrine	85
Velious	Sleeper's Tomb	90
Velious	Thurgadin	85
Velious	Tower of Frozen Shadow	85
Velious	Velketor's Labyrinth	85
Velious	Wakening Lands	75
Velious	Western Wastes	80

Recommended Level Range by Zone

The different areas of Norrath are inhabited by creatures of greatly varying level. It is usually wise to adventure in zones that are level appropriate for your character. Of course, a full group can tackle a particular dungeon or area at a lower level than a solo character. Still, one can get a general idea of the levels ranges recommended for experiencing in any given zone.

Coming soon. ref