Game Update 57 Notes

Today marks the introduction of Game Update 57 to the live servers. Key features of this update include:

• The EQ2 User Interface has received a facelift, with a new toolbar, a refresh of various windows, and a merged Character/Inventory/Profile window. The default theme is red, but easily switchable to blue by typing /loadui and choosing the Blue graphic set.
• More character classes are now neutral and may start in either good or evil cities.
• Spell animations and effects have been revamped.
• Intrazone travel now supports path linking. Travel within Kingdom of Sky has been improved.
• Erudin group instances (level 86-90) are now easier to reach.
• New tradeskill quests have been added in the level 10, 20, and 30 tiers. These quests reward a mount as well as access to what have previously been overpriced Advanced recipe books.
• Starting areas in Greater Faydark and Darklight Wood have received substantial revamps. Gorowyn has received further architectural rebuilding to improve navigation.
• All classes have had some group-specific spells postponed until later levels to reduce the number of spells new players get in the first 20 levels.
• Fighter heals will no longer critically heal.
• The “Notable Norrathian” contest winning paintings are now available within Norrath but only during the monthly City Festivals (next is Sept 1-7). They are guild hall placeable.
• Lucan D’Lere has returned to Freeport.

• Today’s update contains no new dungeons or raid zones.

EQ2X

Also going live today is the public beta for EverQuest II Extended, the Free-to-Play alternative to a monthly EQ2 subscription. Game Update 57 will arrive simultaneously on both servers. EQ2X, as it’s being abbreviated, may be discussed on the separate EQ2X Forums.

Here are your detailed Game Update 57 Notes for August 18th, 2010:

QUEST REGIONS OF INTEREST

• Many quests will now highlight areas on the map to show where updates can be obtained.
• Quests must be active in the quest helper window for their RoIs to display.
• Mousing over a quest in the quest helper window will highlight its corresponding RoIs on the map.
• Mousing over RoIs on the map will display info on the quest they are associated with.
• Quests in the following zones currently support this feature:
• Frostfang Sea, Darklight Wood, Greater Faydark, Timorous Deep, Lavastorm, Kylong Plains, Butcherblock, Steamfont, The Barren Sky, The Bonemire, Tenebrous Tangle, and Sinking Sands.

USER INTERFACE UPDATES

• The Default UI now ships with two color options; red and blue.  Use the /loadui command to change color schemes.
• A clock and compass have been integrated into the mini-map window (the old compass and clock UI elements were not removed and can be opened using Alt-N and Alt-C respectively).
• At the bottom of the screen you will now find the Nav bar, which replaces the old experience bar and includes the EQII button and shortcuts to various UI windows (you can right-click minimize/maximize the NAV bar to hide the various shortcut keys, except for the SC and EQII buttons).
• New tutorial windows have been created to help ease new players into the game.
• The Marketplace window has been upgraded for easier browsing.  An item preview pane has also been added.
• The Welcome window layout has been reorganized to make it easier to read.
• The Inventory and Persona windows were merged to create the Character window (the shortcut key for this new window is C).
• Z is now the default for crouch.
• The casting, breath and PvP immunity bars have been updated with a new look.
• The hotbar has been reworked and is now easier to manipulate.
• If a new spell is a newer version of an old spell on your hotbar it will replace the older version rather than adding a new button on your hotbar.
• Spell effects that are not able to crit will say “This effect cannot be critically applied” in the spell description.
• You can now freely move any UI window when viewing them in F10 mode.
• You can now disable the confirmation when spending AA points under Options -> UI -> Game Features.

CHARACTER CREATION

• The character creation process has been reorganized for a better flow (models will now default to their SOGA versions during character creation).
• More classes are now neutral:
• Neutral: Troubador, Dirge, Ranger, Assassin, Templar, Inquisitor, Fury, Warden, Coercer, Illusionist, Wizard, Warlock, Bruiser, Monk, Guardian, and Berserker
• Good: Swashbuckler, Mystic, Conjurer, and Paladin
• Evil: Brigand, Defiler, Necromancer, and Shadowknight

SPELL FX REVAMP

• We are updating, optimizing and standardizing every class spell visual in the game.  AA and Entertainment spells are next on the list and will be revealed in a later game update.

• The purpose for these changes are primarily to optimize and individualize as many spells as possible so there will be more uniqueness to each class.   Also we would like for more players to have the ability to keep the spell FX active during group and raid content and still be able to tell what is going on.

• We analyzed the text and effects of each spell and made every effort to standardize the type of damage being done or the type of buff, heal, summon, etc.  Also since we picked a single name for the spells instead of getting a new name with every spell upgrade, we tried to give the spell a visual that not only matched the damage done, but also the name of the spell.

• When you start a new character you will have Apprentice spells.  This spell tier along with Journeyman will have a beginner level of FX in both size and quantity.  Later when you acquire Adept or Expert versions of the spells the level of FX will increase.  Finally when you acquire Master and Grandmaster versions of the spells you will experience the full FX force of that spell.

• One of the unique features of spells in EverQuest II is the leveling of spell skills.  As you cast destructive spells your skill in Disruption increases.  Healing spells increase Ministration.  Buff and debuff spells increase Ordination and Crowd Control and Summon spells increase Subjugation (see figure a in the Game Update Notes forum section).  Other than the chat window there was no real indication which spells increased which status.  Therefore we created the spell wheel.  Mages, Bards and Priests will see the spell wheel spin while casting and the corresponding Rune will show up when that skill is used.  Casting runes will all emanate from the caster’s feet as part of their traditional casting rings.

• Finally we set up Icons for the various other buffs in the game to show players when they are getting an increase or decrease to Intelligence, Wisdom, Focus, etc. (see figure b in the Game Update Notes forum section)

TRAVEL

• Inner zone travel locations now support path linking. This means when travelling via sokokar/horse/balloon you will be able to select any location in the zone that is an available travel point and let the mount do the rest.
• The KOS cloud pads can now teleport you to any other pad within the same zone.
• Cloud travel around KOS zones can now be done via the Overrealms Tour Agency.  They offer tour route services for Tenebrous, Barren Sky, and Bonemire.
• The zone-ins for the erudin group instances have been reworked:
• ·         All three zones are now reachable by clicking the appropriate object at Marred Plateau.
• ·         When entering these zones it should now zone your group in like other group instances.
• ·         Entering the Palace of Roehn Theer has not changed.

APPEARANCE SLOTS

• Weapon appearance slots are no longer restricted to being the same wield style of your equipped weapons.
• Appearance slots are no longer restricted to levels 20 and higher.

GENERAL

• Linkdead timeouts should now occur less frequently.

POPULATION

• Lucan D’Lere has returned to Freeport! His Lucanic Knights have retaken the streets of from the Dreadnaughts and Thexians.
• The hooluk collector in the Barren Sky is now in the Windgazer’s Hideout with the banker.  The hooluks have also joined the wider trade community of Norrath and installed a broker and mail kiosk.
• New neutral class trainers have opened for business in Qeynos, Freeport, Neriak, Kelethin, Gorowyn and New Halas!

ITEMS

• The book, “The Case of the Lost Lute” is now available for purchase from the Sage NPCs in South Qeynos, North Freeport and New Halas if player is a troubador, level 80+ and does not already have the book.
• The “Halasian Weapon Rack” now mounts properly in houses.
• The Vambraces of plated ice have had their stats adjusted to be consistent with similar healer shoulder items in Icy Keep.
• The Band of the Corrupter’s effect Pure Corruption now also procs agility.
• The “Bauble of Holidays Past” description has been made a bit more specific, and the particles should be easier to see.
• The appearance armor sets sold in Erronson’s Fur and Leathers shop in New Halas are now heirloom instead of no trade.
• It is now much easier to change which holiday-themed effect is triggered by The Bauble of Holidays Past.
• Swift Claws from the Claws of Jojo will no longer cause stacking issues with Furious Blows.
• The Seeker’s Disc of Darktruth is now usable by level 80 crafters.

AMENITIES

• The “Guild Hall Kunark Writ Agent” now offers writs to Guild members that are citizens of New Halas.
• Guild hall harvester hirelings no longer spam you with a list of every item they brought back.
• Shiny Tinkerfest Cogs and raw vanilla can now be placed in supply depots.

PVP SPELLS

• “Call of City” spells now properly apply their new reuse and casting speed on PVP Servers.

ALTERNATE ADVANCEMENT

Crusaders

• Legionnaire’s Focus now is 2% heal potency rather than 2% heal crit bonus per rank.

Paladin

• Allied Prayers now gives 4% heal potency per rank rather than 3% heal potency and 3% critical chance.

Coercer

• Coercive Healing now affects Chilling Invigoration.

Necromancer

• Lifeburn can no longer be dispelled.

QUESTS

• The quest book “Remembrances – Tel’riia’mil’an’ane’ie” will now update in any zone, not just in the Obelisk of Lost Souls, which should make evil eyes easier to obtain.

• The named nightbloods required for “The Mysterious Drafling” quest should now spawn automatically if you are on the quest, and will not appear at all if you are not.

• New Halas writs have been added to the Moors of Ykesha.

• Writ giver Ankinil Zo’Ro in Butcherblock now offers Gorowyn citizens city writs from level 20.

• Neriak: Players of any evil alignment can now speak with Zintra for the quest “Eight Legs Are Better Than Two.”

• The quest “Exile to Neriak – Sun Dazzled Vamps” now allows you to use the sunstones on any of the T’Rethir vampires, not just priests.

• Players tagging chokidai together for the quest “Keeping Tabs” will now receive updates as a group.

• It is now easier to obtain quest updates for “Caustic Action”, “A Key To The Past”, and “Far Seas Requisition – TS0703-SCO”

• A number of quests in the Sanctum of the Scaleborn and the Feerrott now have a greater chance to obtain the quest item when a creature is killed.

• The quests “The Mystery of the Cursed Tower” and “Watching the Watchman!” should sort properly by current zone in your quest journal.

• “Battle of Ages Past” should now give you the Jin’tu’s gift ability along with the item. If you already have the item all you need to do is use it to receive the ability in your book.

• The quest “To Catch The Sky” now directs you to a new, safer location to catch the piece of sky.

• Mist essences now only drop from cloudmist walkers when you are actually on the quest “The Inhabitants of Cloudmist Isle”.

• The “Enervated Vel’Arek” guardian weapon can now call upon Vel’Arek  to offer the quest “Revitalizing Vel’Arek” or progress it.

• Halas Citizens with the quest “A Final Froglok Word” will now find they can converse with Lady Erillis.

• Quartermaster Lewyn in Qeynos Harbor will now converse with New Halas citizens if they have found the patterns she is interested in.

TRADESKILLS

• Scholars can now make level 10-19 bracelets.
• Representatives of the Ironforge Exchange and Coalition of Tradesfolke are now stationed in New Halas and may have crafting work to offer to players tradeskill level 10 or higher.
• The Totem of Escape and Totem of the Great Chameleon are now usable at level 30.
• Artisans of the 20th rank or higher who are interested in working for the Far Seas Trading Company should seek out trade liaison Cordelia Galeston at the Butcherblock Mountains docks for more information.
• “Pristine” has been removed from all tradeskill equipment as the name was a holdover from when you used to be able to make multiple qualities of the same item.  All tradeskill equipment should be title cased as well.
• The tinkered weapons Troll Snot Flinger, Gnarmy, and Tinkered Turkey Launcher now have improved visual effects.
• The names of Vampire Bats, Raging Blow, and Body Check recipes have changed slightly (e.g. Vampire Bats II is now Vampire Bats III) so tradeskillers may wish to double check which level of these spells they are creating for customers.
• Karalyn Cinderton in the Steamfont Mountains is seeking assistance from tradeskillers level 30 and higher.

GOROWYN

• Academy of Logistics engineers have completed their changes to the layout of the city of Gorowyn.  They sincerely hope that the improved city layout will be easier to negotiate for Gorowyn residents, will promote more tourism to Gorowyn, and will reduce the number of completely lost rangers that the guards keep finding in obscure corners of the city.

GREATER FAYDARK

• The Nursery in Greater Faydark is under attack!  New characters starting in Greater Faydark will have to help save the blooms of the Nursery and thwart the plans of the Grobin clan of goblins.  Can you help the Matron and her friends ensure the safety of the unborn fae?

DARKLIGHT WOOD

• Hate’s Envy has come under attack by Sablevein elementals! Adventurers starting there will find themselves quickly enlisted to repel the assault before all of Hate’s Envy is razed!
• Thexian invaders continue to cause trouble within Darklight Wood. Members of the Dread Guard are seeking the assistance of adventurers at T’Vatar Outpost!
• Several Nerian citizens have gone missing from Wanderlust Fair. New adventurers emerging from Neriak should speak with Malyl N’Vazin to look into this matter.

FROSTFANG SEA

• New Halas City Faction merchant, Mirva Kilgour, is now selling titles!
• Pilgrims’ Landing is under attack by Ry’Gorr orcs!  Adventurers starting there will find themselves being thrust into the fray, very quickly.

EMPEROR ATREBE’S LABORATORY: THE FABLED CITY OF KOR-SHA

• The zone boss Ka’El Ka’Vrish should do significantly less damage when casting Ravage.

NEKTROPOS CASTLE

• “The Idol of Mor’Tael” book can now be obtained within Nektropos Castle.

BATTLEGROUNDS

• Fixed an issue where sometimes characters could get stuck in a battleground.
• Players who are reviving when a battleground match completes will still get credit for completing the match.

…..

CLASS PROGRESSION / ABILITY CHANGES
Fighters

• Fighter heals can no longer critically heal.
• Fighters will no longer automatically receive “Intercept” at level 6.
• Crusaders will no longer automatically receive “Pledge of Armament” at level 17.

Berserker

• Berserkers will no longer automatically receive “Enrage” at level 8.
• Berserkers will no longer automatically receive Mock and Mock II.
• Berserkers now receive “Body Check” at level 8.
• Berserkers now receive “Rupture II” at level 6.
• Berserkers now receive “Reckless Aide” at level 21.
• Berserkers now receive “Destructive Rage” at level 18.
• Berserkers now receive “Abandoned Fury II” at level 16.
• Berserkers now receive “Raging Blow” at level 3 and “Body Check” at level 2.
• Berserker “Perseverance” now has a 60 second reuse time.
• The Berserker ability “Body Check” no longer requires a shield.
• “Wall of Rage” no longer snares the caster.

Bruiser

• Bruisers will no longer automatically receive “Slurred Insult” and “Slurred Insult II.”
• Bruisers will now receive “Pummel II” at level 6.
• Bruisers will no longer automatically receive “Abuse” at level 8.
• Bruisers will now receive “Shrug Off” at level 21.
• Bruisers will now receive “Smoldering Fists II” at level 16.

Guardian

• Guardians will no longer automatically receive Provoke and Provoke II.
• Guardians will no longer automatically receive “Shout” at level 8.
• Guardians now receive “Bash II” at level 8.
• Guardians now receive “Overpower II” at level 6.
• Guardians now receive “Never Surrender” at level 21.
• Guardians now receive “Battle Tactics” at level 18.
• Guardians now receive “Forward Charge II” at level 16.
• The Guardian ability “Shield Bash” is now “Bash” and no longer requires a shield.
• “Hunker Down” no longer snares the caster.

Monk

• Monks will no longer automatically receive “Silent Threat” and “Silent Threat II.”
• Monks will no longer automatically receive “Challenge” at level 8.
• Monks will now receive “Tranquil Vision” at level 21.
• Monks will now receive “Flow Like Wind II” at level 16.
• All versions of Will of the Heavens can now be cast while the monk is feared.

Paladin

• Paladins will no longer automatically receive “Clarion” and “Clarion II.”
• Paladins will now receive “Faith Strike II” at level 6.
• Paladins will now receive “Wrath Stance II” at level 16.
• Paladins will now receive “Crusade” at level 18.
• Paladins will now receive “Resolute Faith” at level 21.
• Paladin “Judgment” is now a Fist for the Heroic Opportunities.
• “Heroic Dash” no longer requires a shield or symbol to be equipped.

Shadowknight

• Shadowknights will now receive “Painbringer II” at level 6.
• Shadowknights will now receive “Devious Evasion” at level 21.
• Shadowknights will now receive “Unholy Strength” at level 18.
• Shadowknights will now receive “Dark Blade II” at level 16.
• Shadowknight “Unholy Strength VI” no longer has a casting time.
• Shadowknight “Malice” is now a Fist for the Heroic Opportunities.
• “Hateful Slam” no longer requires a shield or symbol to be equipped.

Scouts

• Scouts will no longer automatically receive “Evade” at level 6.

Assassin

• Assassins will no longer automatically receive “Murderous Design” at level 11.
• Assassins will now be granted Villainy at level 11.

Brigand

• Brigands now receive “Mug” at level 6.

Dirge

• Dirges now receive “Tarven’s Crippling Crescendo” at level 6.

Ranger

• Rangers will no longer automatically receive “Primal Reflexes” at level 11.
• Rangers will now be granted “Hunter’s Instinct” at level 11.Assassins and Rangers now gain the new spell “Hilt Strike” at level 6.

Swashbuckler

• Swashbucklers now receive “Double-Cross” at level 6.

Troubador

• Troubadors now receive “Vexing Verses” at level 6.

Mages

• Mages will no longer gain “Bind Sight” automatically. It is now a fun spell and can be bought from the class trainers.
• Dispel Magic is now Absorb Magic and now also drains a small amount of power. It no longer has a power cost.

• Summoners will now receive their first version of Vampire Bats at level 10.
  Summoners: “Aqueous Stone” is now “Aqueous Soul” and no longer summons an item that grants water breathing. It now simply casts water breathing on the target.

Warlock

• Warlocks will no longer automatically get “Nullify” at level 10.
• Warlocks will now get “Vacuum Field” at level 4.
• Void Contract now costs less health to cast below level 40.

Wizard

• Wizards will no longer automatically get “Cease” at level 10.
• Wizards will now gain “Ice Spears” at level 4.
• Vital Transfer now costs less health to cast below level 40.

Coercer

• Coercers will no longer automatically receive “Mesmerize” at level 1.
• “Shift Mana” now has a lower health cost at low levels.

Illusionist

• Illusionists will no longer automatically receive “Entrance” at level 1.
• “Extract Mana” now has a lower health cost at low levels.

Priests

• Priests will no longer receive the spell “Summon Food and Water.”
• Priests will now receive “Wrath” at level 6.
• Clerics will now receive “Soothe” at level 30.