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12-09-2005, 07:57 PM
| #1 (permalink) |
| Romo is a manwhore  Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 2,763
 | EQ2 Test Update #18 Since it looks like they're not splitting this up I believe it'll go out next week. The quest changes are long overdue. Immersion or no, being able to clearly see quest NPCs and the rewards you are going to get is such a huge plus to playability that it's a wonder they didn't get this done sooner (or maybe they've really been working on it all this time since I heard they wanted to do this way back near the beginning of the year). Anyhoo, the notes: --------------------------- *** Headlines *** - 'Tis the season for Frostfell time! - Find quest givers easier with new quest indicators! - Want to know the reward for completing a quest? No problem! - New horses have been trained for Level 40 guilds--Mistrunners and Nightmares! - Subclass armor has a new look and class-tailored stats! - Get ready to explore the new Fallen Gate! - Summoned pets get more distinct looks! - New enemy mastery choices at level 52! - New EQII Expansions Reward: Receive bonus veteran reward time for owning Desert of Flames! *** Frostfell *** - It's Frostfell time in Norrath! - The festivities commence in Qeynos Harbor and West Freeport. *** Questing *** - An NPC that will offer, update, or complete a quest now has an indicator above its head. * A quill indicates that the NPC will offer you a quest. * A book with a quill indicates that the NPC will update one of your quests. * A book indicates that the NPC will complete one of your quests. * NPCs that offer a quest 10 or more levels above or below your adventure level will not display these indicators. * You can turn off these indicators in the Options menu (User Interface -> Name and Chat Bubble -> NPC Overhead Quest Icons). - Zone maps now display a circle where there is a nearby NPC that offers, updates, or completes a quest. * NPCs that give a quest are indicated by an open yellow circle. * NPCs that update or complete quests are indicated by a filled yellow circle. * Mousing over these icons will show you the name of the NPC. * NPCs that offer a quest 10 or more levels above or below your adventure level will not be shown on the map. - The Quest Journal will now display quest rewards--no more guessing what you'll receive for performing a task. - You will also be able to see quest rewards before accepting a new quest. *** New Guild Level 40 Mounts *** - New mounts have been trained for use by level 40 guilds. - The Mistrunner is available to Qeynosians with plain, blue, and purple saddles. - The Nightmare is available to Freeportians with plain, black, and red saddles. *** Subclass Armor Quests *** - The armor rewards for the level 20 subclass armor quests now have a unique appearance per subclass. - All of the armor now has unique stats appropriate for each subclass. - If you have already completed your armor quests, speak with the assistant next to the NPC you originally did the quests for. *** Dungeon Exploration *** Fallen Gate - The Fallen Gate has been invaded by Thexian explorers and Tseralith is stirring. - The population within Fallen Gate has been improved, now with 50% more evil. - Discover new treasures by exploring the Fallen Gate and vanquishing its denizens. *** Summoned Pets *** - Summoned pets now have consistent and distinct appearances at each spell level. For example, the level 52 Conjurer ability Tellurian Myrmidon is the only spell that will summon a rock elemental pet; the Necromancer ability Rotting Thrall is the only spell that will summon the previously overused zombie. Other levels will summon different creature types. - Summoned pets in a given spell line have a distinct look at each quality tier. For example, the Necromancer's Diseased Servant spell summons a skeleton warrior. As the spell is increased in quality tier (Apprentice I, Adept I, etc.), the skeleton looks more impressive. - Temporary pets also have new appearances. For example, the Shadowknight's Tainted Sacrament line will change in appearance with upgrades. - Persistent summoned pets start out with a base number of abilities. An additional ability is granted to the pet at each spell level upgrade. Pet spells in the level 52 to 60 spell range now have an additional ability that they did not have before. - Temporary Pets (e.g. Conjurer's Roaring Flames and Necromancer's Ghastly Stench) will now cast their close-range AoE spell more often. - Pets will no longer inherit abilities based on their creature type. - Temporary Pets now display their owner's name. - Fighter and Scout pets now use their combat arts more often. - Fighter pets now taunt more often, and their taunts have a lower chance of being resisted. Their taunt effectiveness should now scale properly with level. - Some Conjurer Fighter pets now have interrupt/knock-down effects, while some Necromancer Fighter pets now have root/stifle effects. - Scout pets had their damage adjusted based on the reuse timer of the combat art. Slower combat arts now do increased damage, while faster combat arts now do less damage. Overall, Scout pets should deal about the same amount of damage they did before. - Mage pets focus more on AoE spells than they used to. These spells have generally been made more effective. - Mage pets are much more resistant to spell damage than they were before, and the size of their power pool has been increased. Casting times on their spells were generally decreased, and their single-target spells will land more often than they did before. - The Illusionist pet spell list now also includes Stunning Array, Lock Mind, and a direct damage/mez spell. They no longer try to cast DoT spells on their target. - Summoned pets now have the same base run speed as their owners. *** Enemy Mastery *** - Player characters can now choose from four new Enemy Mastery options at level 52: Cyclops, Djinn, Harpy, or Naga. - You will automatically be granted the ability to choose your new Enemy Mastery option--just click the blinking character advancement icon. *** Veteran Rewards *** - Accounts with Desert of Flames activated now receive 90 days of bonus Veteran Reward time as our way of saying "thank you" to our players. *** Desert of Flames *** Zones and Population - Be on your toes. The Hall of a Hundred Doors is now faster than before. - The Black Queen in the Court of Al-Afaz is now more difficult to vanquish. - Wandering Djinn and all named creatures within the Poet's Palace now see invisible players. - A heroic giant encounter will no longer spawn after killing solo devils and falcons in the Pillars of Flame. - Increased chances of Anaz'Mal diviners spawning in the Sinking Sands. - Increased spawn rate on Anaz'Mal relics slightly in the Sinking Sands. - Increased spawn rate of Sandscrawler Magus goblins and slightly reduced spawn rate of Sandscrawler grunts/menders in the Sinking Sands. - Increased the spawn rate of the Sul'Dal skeletons in the Eye of Anuk in the Sinking Sands. - Charra'zon, Uphian, Zathos, and King Vach should be more of an appropriate challenge now. *** Gameplay *** - Ungrouped players are now chosen first to be kicked out of an instance that has raid size limits. - Coercers can now duel with a charmed pet. - Poisons (as well as other applied effects that have a chance to proc on a successful attack) now only trigger upon successful attacks made with the weapon in the primary hand. Note: Weapons with an inherent damage proc (like all crafted imbued weapons) are unaffected and will continue to proc regardless of which hand they are equipped in. - NPC movement speeds have been increased proportionate to Live Update #17's player run speed increase. *** Quests *** - Fethar Lothki and Ethri Vasou's group writs now point at Spiritbound apothecaries instead of mystics. - You can again talk with Deputy Stoutgut to complete "I Hate Those Wimmin." - Mooshga in the Commonlands will now allow adventurers who have already been working for her to complete "Mooshga's Good Eats." - Blood vipers instead of fairy seekers are required to complete the "Outlying Freeport Creature Catalog" quest. - The rock for the Robe of the Invoker no longer spawns on the ground, but will drop more frequently from creatures. *** Zones and Population *** - Players will be able to advance through Nektropos Castle after completing the Everling Lockets quest and killing Lord Everling without having to complete the event again. Those who have previously completed it before this change will have to complete it one last time. *** Items *** - Subclass armor quest rewards now have updated appearances. - Item Health and Power regen rates now all use the same regeneration standard and cap out at the following currently: * In-combat HP regen cap is (3 x Level ) * In-combat Power regen cap is (.5 x Level) * In-combat item HP regen cap is (3 x Level x 0.5) * In-combat item Power regen cap is (1.5 x Level x 0.5) *** Spells and Combat Arts *** - Stone skin effects will now work regardless of the level of the attacker. Assassin changes: - Assassin's Blade had its damage reduced by 6%, but its reuse timer was lowered by 40%. - Assassin's Mark had its reuse timer lowered to 30 seconds, and its proc rate was reduced to 5%. It now procs only once, and places a debuff that causes the target to take damage for every melee hit instead of damage over time. - Friendly Shadows can now only be cast on another player character. Berserker changes: - Provoking Stance and its upgrades now place a heavy snare on the caster instead of a root. Coercer changes: - Damaged Psyche is now less likely to be resisted. Enchanter changes: - Daunting Gaze and its subclass upgrades now have a casting time of 2 seconds. Guardian changes: - Goading Defense and its upgrades now place a heavy snare on the caster instead of a root. - Entrench now breaks less often, costs less power, has a reduced casting time, and has a shorter reuse timer. Its duration now increases with level. - Tower of Stone reduced the amount of shield damage received. - Sentry Watch now has a reduced casting time, a larger radius of effect, and a shorter reuse timer. Illusionist changes: - Disappointment is now less likely to be resisted. Paladin changes: - Amends now siphons slightly less hate. Priest changes: - Instant group heal spell lines had their radius increased from 10 meters to 20 meters. Ranger changes: - Dance of Trees had its icon changed to match the rest of the ability line. Shadowknight changes: - Summon Squire can now be toggled, and will persist across zone lines. - Pox Sword will now appear under Combat Arts. Sorcerer changes: - Concussive is a new level 15 spell that will reduce hate with the next spell that lands on the Sorcerer's target. Summoner changes: - Call Servant is a new level 15 spell that will teleport a summoned pet to the Summoner. Swashbuckler changes: - Swarthy Distraction can now only be cast on another player character. - Flamboyant Strike's examine info should now be correct. Templar changes: - Beams of Faith now has a shorter reuse timer. - Reverence had its heal percentage increased. - Unyielding Benediction is now a more appropriate upgrade to Vigilant Benediction. Warden changes: - Hierophantic Genesis had its initial power cost reduced. It also grants a small amount of power recovery over time to the recipient. - Winds of Frost had its power cost increased to be more appropriate for the amount of damage it deals. - The healing effects of Protecting Grove will now match the range indicated on the spell. Warlock changes: - Boundless Fury is now correctly set as a level 56 spell instead of level 58. The recipe's level was also adjusted. - Toxic Grasp and Virulent Grasp now have examine info that matches each spell's effect. - Netherous Realm now also triggers procs from disease-based spells. Warrior changes: - Hold the Line now places a heavy snare on the caster instead of a root. Wizard changes: - Fiery Inferno is now correctly set as a level 56 spell instead of level 58. The recipe's level was also adjusted. *** Tradeskills *** - The following level 50+ food and drinks now have an increased duration: * Artichoke Stew * Beer Braised Camian * Caiman Pasta * Dried Pear * Eel Soup * Herring Sandwich * Pear Muffins * Coriander Grilled Caiman * Coriander Grilled Herring * Fiery Sabertooth Steak * Macadamia Pie * Shrimp Pasta * Artichoke Kalish * Chai * Creamed Maj'Dul Coffee * Dark Pear Ale * Gingerbread Man * Glogg * Golden Eye * Mulled Pear Wine * Pear Fizzlepop * Pear Sparkling Wine * Pear Tea * Starcrest Kiss * Starcrest Coffee * The Overlord * Mental Core Breach (This is a six step recipe, so it additionally increases the user's power pool by 100). - Many level 50+ Provisioner recipes are now "finish" recipes rather than "interim." - Unhallowed Aura (Shadowknight) should now have the correct name in its corresponding Alchemy recipe books. *** Art *** - The following items now have an updated appearance: Gloves of the Dark Disciple, Sandals of the Dark Disciple, Gi of the Dark Disciple, Shoulder Pads of the Dark Disciple, Skullcap of the Dark Disciple, Rujarkian Woven Gi. *** Commands, Controls, and User Interface *** - The base resistability of a hostile spell is now shown in the spell's examine info. - The faction window will now automatically keep factions sorted as they change. - Pet combat now shows under its own chat category (Combat -> Melee Combat -> Your Pet Hits, etc) - Pet damage bubbles will appear colored to the owner: * Pet hits something: yellow * Pet gets hit: dark red - Combat bubble colors can now be changed in the options (User Interface -> Combat Bubble Colors) - The count of house items on your house window will now indicate how many actual items you have and how many count toward the max for your house type. *** UI Files Updated *** eq2ui_inventory_store.xml eq2ui_inventory_market.xml eq2ui_journal_quest.xml eq2ui_mainhud_map.xml eq2ui_mainhud_persona.xml eq2ui_newcharscene.xml eq2ui_popup_rewardpack.xml |
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12-10-2005, 12:08 AM
| #3 (permalink) | |
| Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 196
+14 Internets | Quote:
What it means is that you got +90 days added to your "Account Age" that the Veteran Rewards (/claim) pay attention to. It's not anything big enough to (or intended to) make people run out and buy an expansion - But it should bump a few people up a vet reward tier, or get them closer to their next one. Kind of like the opposite of a preorder incentive. A post-order "hey, thanks," because someone had an idea for a cool and relatively easy thing that we could do. - Scott | |
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12-10-2005, 12:43 AM
| #8 (permalink) |
| Romo is a manwhore Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 2,763
| It wasn't a holdout. I had it confirmed to me tonight that the process to do this took about six months of between 1-3 people working on it. The quest system, it appears, is flexible, but there was still a load of work to do in order to implement this. |
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12-10-2005, 03:58 AM
| #11 (permalink) |
| SOS-dan #76564674  Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Near a big fucking castle, the UK
Posts: 6,045
| This plus the death & runspeed changes in the last live patch for EQ2 almost make me want to go dredge up the threads where the EQ2 players were flaming WoW for making game-life too easy.
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12-10-2005, 04:10 AM
| #13 (permalink) | |
| Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 4,321
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12-10-2005, 04:35 AM
| #14 (permalink) | |
| Romo is a manwhore Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Dallas, TX
Posts: 2,763
| Quote:
The only thing really left is what I call guided questing. They have something of that once you get into the series quests that they added a while back, but in the beginning it's pretty haphazard. Basically, guided questing is when you complete a series quest and then the final NPC sends you to another zone to talk to a friend. WoW does this very smoothly and it's very easy for a person to get guided through Dun Morogh over to Loch Modan and then Wetlands and Arathi Highlands and beyond by completing certain quests and then getting shuffled off to the new area. Personally I think it's rather ingenious and it takes a lot of the guess work out of finding out which zones to hunt in. Not that you needed much guessing in EQ2 since the breakup of the zones are pretty clear cut. But a bit of gentle prodding never hurts anyone. | |
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12-10-2005, 08:08 AM
| #15 (permalink) |
| Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,856
| Sorry to say, I quit again, after having came back the last few months. The population seems to be way down. One thing I'll give them, is they're trying hard to update and make good changes. However, people sure as hell don't seem to be sticking around for them. The guild I was in had about 30 active members a couple of months ago, as of last month, we were having like 5 to 10 people on a night. Fun. They didn't go to other guilds, either, they just quit playing. |
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