Removal (or not) of PC/Pet Push on NPCs on Hold

When asked if Push is going or staying, Elidroth (EQ Game Designer) replied:

I don't have that answer right now. I think push is dumb on a personal level.

In another post in that thread he went on to state:

All I can do is remind people that this is something players want, and see where it winds up in the task priority list, which I don't set, or get a vote on.

Harm Touch Fix Due in August Patch

Posted by Elidroth Renato (Doug Cronkhite), Game Designer, Sony Online Entertainment, LLC, on the SOE forum:

I put the fixes in for the DOT [component of Harm Touch] today. August patch is when they'll go out. I asked about a hotfix and was told no.

Patch Scheduled Tuesday July 26, 2011

From the SOE forum:

All EverQuest Live Servers will be coming down on Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at 4:00 am US Pacific (US Pacific-PST is -8 GMT: 5:00 am MST, 6:00 am CST, 7:00 am EST, 12:00 pm GMT, 13:00 am CET) for a game update. The servers are estimated to be unavailable for approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour. Keep an eye on the EQ Players website and the forums for status updates and for news if additional downtime is needed..

Some details:

This update will include fixes for Shadowknight Harm Touch, Convergence of Spirits, and Extended Ingenuity amongst others.

Possible Hotfix July 22, 2011 - POSTPONED

In order to address several issues that have arisen as a result of the last patch, there may be a hotfix occuring [sic] around 10:30am Pacific Time. This hotfix might result in a complete repop of all zones, and will be messaged in game. Please be aware that during the repop, it will be advisable to find a safe spot in game.

The AB server may have this hotfix slightly delayed so as to not adversely effect game-play during a high concurrency time frame.

Thank you for your understanding in this matter,

- Piestro, EverQuest Community Manager

UPDATE:

Looks like due to some testing difficulties our hot-fix is being delayed until Tuesday morning.

-- Steven S. Klug, EverQuest Lead Programmer

Hardcore Heritage Ends

In an hour and a half from this posting, EQ's Hardcore Heritage will end.

Despite the fact that a bug prevented the proper raid loot from dropping in the Clan Crushbone Demise of the Emperor raid, causing people to lose several days worth of opportunities, there is no sign that it will be extended to compensate.

Hardcore Heritage should be back next year, although by then the Clan Crushbone loot is expected to be overshadowed by the newer Veil of Alaris loot.

EQ Players Unable to Show Characters or Signature Banners, Being Worked On

Currently, attempts to view a character at EQ Players results in getting the following error message, "CatalogManager.properties catalogs com entity.catalog struts.xml". People who have their character's EQ Players banner as part of their forum signatures (on any forum) have also discovered they are not working.

We, as in Customer Service, do not provide direct support for the Station Players website. I did have the pleasure of sitting with SKlug today who assured me that the CatalogManager.properties catalogs com entity.catalog struts.xml issue, specifically, is being looked in to and should be repaired as soon as possible.

-- TSR Joshua M., Technical Support Representative, Sony Online Entertainment

Other issues with EQ Players, such as outdated leader boards and many other problems, will not be addressed until some time in the future when a new web site team is hired / assigned.
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Antonius Bayle Server Instance Loading Bug Top Priority for SOE

I am actively working on this. It's not a load issue. There's something very odd going on that I haven't been able to track down yet. It's my #1 task at the moment though.

-- Steven S. Klug, EverQuest Lead Programmer

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Hotfix Under Development For Patch Issues

A number of bugs from the July 20 patch are due to be resolved with an upcoming hotfix. Some quotes from SOE Devs and Programmers on these issues:

An update:

Going to hotfix all of this [melee beneficial ability duration timers]. Putting changes in-place currently, we'll test them out, and then it'll get scheduled. I'm hopeful we can do all this without bringing the servers down (thanks to some recent SKlug magic).

Working on a hotfix for the AA issues in this thread including melee's beneficial ability durations being shorter than they should.

Also working on the illusion issues and HT issues.

Update.. The Beastlord illusions issues with things that turn you into the image of your warder can't be hotfixed because they're actually hard coded fun. So those issues will have to wait until we can patch and bring the servers down. Pretty much everything else can be hotfixed.

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Patch Scheduled July 20, 2011

From SOE forums:

All EverQuest Live Servers will be coming down on Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at 3:00 am US Pacific (US Pacifc-PST is -8 GMT: 4:00 am MST, 5:00 am CST, 6:00 am EST, 11:00 am GMT, 12:00 am CET) for a game update. The servers are estimated to be unavailable for approximately 5 hours. Keep an eye on the EQ Players website and the forums for status updates and for news if additional downtime is needed..

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Crushbone Raid "Demise of the Emperor" to be Off Limits to Mercs

Now on the Test server with the expectation of arriving on live servers on July 20:

Crushbone's raid will no longer allow mercenaries.

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Nerf to Fast DoTs Coming

This nerf is designed mainly to rein in necros but will be done for all fast DoTs.

Lower the damage fast DoTs do against raid bosses only.

The thread on the SOE forums describing the nerf and the discussion is here.

This is currently on the test server with the expectation of arriving on live servers on July 20.
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Patch Scheduled for Next Week, Maybe

In keeping with SOE's policy of not revealing classified information because of the risk of tipping off al-Qaeda, there is no official word of a patch next week (July 20).

However, "loose lips sink ships" and Chandrok forgot to censor his post:

This charm should be working a bit better after the patch next week.

[bold added]
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The Executioner's Crimson Trophy Charm to be Fixed

The Executioner's Crimson Trophy has terrible stats unless you are "holding hands" with a cleric. This is contrary to the description on the item and impractical in gaming.

This charm should be working a bit better after the patch next week.

-- Chandrok, EQ Developer

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Hardcore Heritage Glowing Armor Problems

From this thread on the SOE forum:

People have reported being unable to get two bracers of this type of armor because they are lore, even though they don't say so. You must give back the first bracer you get to Thach Jerden who will then give you a different type of bracer. At that point you will be able to get a second bracer.

Breastplate emblems are currently broken on the armor and will be fixed soon(tm).
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Epic Ornamentation Quests On Hold Until After Veil of Alaris

Under development are quests for each class to gain an ornamentation that allows any weapon to look like your epic weapon. That development has been put on hold until after the Veil of Alaris expansion ships in November.

"An Epic Request" (Epic Ornamentation aug quests) are on hold til after expansion. 14 out of 16 are already done.

Put simply, it's a LOT more than a few days, and he's currently tasked with a lot of other work that MUST take priority. Consider that Dzarn had been doing these quests, and ONLY these quests for a very long time prior to him actually becoming a full designer (not an intern) on the team. It has nothing to do with anything other than getting our work done in time for beta for Veil of Alaris. The epic ornamentation quests will get done and released when they're done, and I completely agree with not releasing them until they're ALL done.

-- Elidroth Renato (Doug Cronkhite), Game Designer, Sony Online Entertainment, LLC

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Original Memory Mode Should Not Be Used, Will Soon Be Removed

From this SOE forum post:

Definitely do not use Original Memory Mode. In fact I will be removing it as soon as I get the chance.

-- Steven S. Klug, EverQuest Lead Programmer

This is referring to the setting under Options > Display > Advanced > Memory Mode.
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SOE Forums, Websites and Games Will Go Down for Maintenance July 12, 2011

From SOE forums:

Beginning July 12, 2011 at 1:00 a.m. US Pacific Time, we'll be performing maintenance on all games and services. During this maintenance, our forums, websites and games will also be unavailable. The estimated downtime for the maintenance is 7 hours.

We apologize for this interruption and will resume the affected services as soon as the maintenance is completed.

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Optional Security Token (key fob) Live On All SOE Games

Incorrectly reported here as part of the new Veil of Alaris expansion, the Security Tokens are currently live on all SOE games.

They were given free to all Fan Faire attendees. It seems anyone else who wishes one will have to pay SOE for it.

Security Tokens work by creating a number which is synchronized with the game servers. Upon logging in, you are asked to provide the number in addition to your normal password. The number is different every time you log in and is displayed on the token, which is a small key fob. Anyone attempting to log into the account will be unable to do so without the number. This will be optional for those who want extra security.

Details will hopefully be announced soon.
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Next Expansion: Veil of Alaris

On July 8, 2011 at the annual Fan Faire, SOE announced the eighteenth expansion, '''Veil of Alaris'''.

* Brand new guild halls. Guild halls will be put in the neighborhoods.
* 12 New Zones
* Hotbar Revamp
* Level cap increase to 95
* New continent

Release date is planned for late November 2011.

As we discover more information, it will be posted on the wiki at: http://everquest.wikkii.net/wiki/Veil_of_Alaris
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Patch Scheduled July 6, 2011, Also Clan Crushbone Raid Loot Fixed

Posted on the SOE forums by Aristo, EQ Designer:

The hotfix for this [Clan Crushbone raid loot] (and several other issues) has just been pushed live and data should be completely updated within the next hour or so. There's going to be a brief (about an hour) downtime at 4 AM to get the updated spells and items out.

Assume that is 4am Pacific time.
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Recruit-A-Friend Program Announced

The only thing better than playing EverQuest is playing EverQuest with some of your best friends! With this in mind we are proud to announce our brand new Recruit a Friend program. The new Recruit a Friend program makes it easier and more beneficial than ever to help friends get introduced to EverQuest, with fantastic benefits for both Recruiter and Recruitee!

Read more about it on the SOE forums here.
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Emergency Patch Friday July 1, 2011

From the SOE forums:

All EverQuest Live Servers will be coming down on Friday, July 1, 2011 at 5:30 am US Pacific (US Pacifc-PST is -8 GMT: 6:30 am MST, 7:30 am CST, 8:30 am EST, 1:30 pm GMT, 14:30 CET) for a emergency maintenance. The servers are estimated to be unavailable for approximately 2.5 hours. Keep an eye on the EQ Players website and the forums for status updates and for news if additional downtime is needed.

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