Another Day Another DDoS Attack — Day 3!

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Game Updates & Maintenance

kid-computer

It seems that an H1Z1 player who is unsatisfied with a certain ruleset did not get their fill with last night’s disruption of Daybreak Games and have decided to DDoS the company once again. Due to Daybreak’s interconnectedness, when one game is affected, all services are impacted. Updates as we have them…

Update: EQ2 servers should now be up and available after the extended downtime.

After the jump, the timeline of events…

   

Update Notes: Tuesday June 14, 2016 — Six Hour Maintenance, Windows XP Break

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Game Updates & Maintenance

All Servers: 7:00am~1:00pm PDT | 10:00am~4:00pm EDT | 15:00~21:00 BST | 16:00~22:00 CET

From the EQ2 Forums:

All EverQuest II Servers, both US and EU, will be brought offline on Tuesday, June 14th, 2016 at 7:00AM PDT* (2:00 PM GMT) for an update. Estimated downtime is approximately six hours.

From the EQ2 Forums:

IMPORTANT NOTICE

  • Due to recent required client updates, EQ2 will no longer run on Windows XP or older machines.

QUESTS

  • Alchemist’s Component – Leelee Brewbubble has been convinced that the components you have obtained are useful, once again.

ABILITIES

  • Fixed a bug that was preventing Ancestral Support from working.

GUILDS

  • Skyshrine Capital Guildhall guild tickets are now available for purchase from the Marketplace.
  • Highhold Guildhall guild tickets are now available for purchase from the Marketplace.

TLE

  • NPC Encounters will no longer have a chance to double attack on the TLE server.
  • NPC Encounters now have a chance to strike through avoidance, the higher the level and tier of the encounter, the higher the chance to strikethrough.

Late addition:

Summoners

  • Corrected an issues that reduced summoner mitigation when summoning a pet.

Daybreak Games Undergoing DDoS Attack

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Game Updates & Maintenance

Quick-Change

Daybreak Games seems to be undergoing a DDoS attack. More as we have it…

Update:

On Test: Moonlight Enchantments 2016 Update

Written by Feldon on . Posted in Art, Appearance, Housing, EQ2, Game Updates & Maintenance, Live Events

Moonlight Enchantments Banner

From Kaitheel on the EQ2 Forums:

Moonlight Enchantments is active on the Test server!

Why, you ask? Because there are 25 new items available through the different grotto merchants!

Jump in and get a sneak peek at these new items available now on Test, before they are live on 6/20. Please post any feedback you might have pertaining to them in this thread.

Moonlight Enchantments runs on live servers the 20th-21st of every month.

Niami Denmother of EQ2Traders has updated her website with a preview of the new items!

Double Ethereal Coins Extended for EU Server (Thurgadin)

Written by Feldon on . Posted in Game Updates & Maintenance

European-Union-008

Normally, Game Updates are delayed for the EU server so that they are applied early the next morning rather than disrupting primetime gaming. However when a Game Update includes new content and new items, these updates are done simultaneously with the US patches so that everyone is on the same footing. This morning’s launch of the Summer Ethereal event only applied to the US server, with the EU server (Thurgadin) having to wait until a 9pm PDT / 6:00 CEDT update. Because today also launched a Double Ethereal Coin event, the result was a double whammy of the EU server being almost an entire day behind. The EQ2 team have recognized this and so will be extending the Double Ethereal Coin event (actually quadruple for All Access subscribers) for an additional day.

From Roshen on the EQ2 Forums:

We’ll be extending this first double Ethereal coin promo on Thurgadin. On Thurgadin, the first double Ethereal Coin event for members will be extended until 1:59PM Pacific time on Tuesday, June 14, 2016.

Summer 2016 Ethereals Begins! — Double Ethereal Coins June 7th – June 13th

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Game Updates & Maintenance, Grouping, Itemization

We already posted an article about them, but here’s the official announcement.

From EQ2 Brand Manager Roshen on the EQ2 Forums:

ethereal_summer2016-merchant

Summer Ethereal Items are here!

During the event players will be able to pick up Ethereal missions from the mission NPC’s in Thalumbra, the Ever Deep. These missions will grant you [eq2u]Umbrite Ethereal Coin[/eq2u]s, and a chance at the current accessory reward or an Ethereal Rune. Umbrite Ethereal Coins may be used to purchase any of the available rewards from the Lylleia, the Ethereal Merchant.

In addition, over the course of the event there will be several periods of time that award bonus Ethereal Coins. Starting TODAY and running until 11:59PM PT on Monday, June 13, 2016 players will receive DOUBLE Ethereal Coins. Don’t miss your chance to stock up on coins early, and pick up the Ethereal items that you’re looking for!

This is in addition to the bonus that All Access members get every day to their alternative currency earned in-game. That means double DOUBLE Ethereal Coins for members during the times for bonus Ethereal Coins.

Summer Ethereals Start Tomorrow, June 7, 2016

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Game Updates & Maintenance, Grouping, Itemization

With tomorrow’s update, the Summer Ethereals event goes live for 2016.

In the past, I have come to view these events a mixture of excitement and dread. Yes, it becomes easier to find groups, however you have to be lottery-lucky to acquire these game-changing items as [eq2u]Phelony, Deathbringer[/eq2u], [eq2u]Fai Thass, The Ravager[/eq2u], and ability resetting items such as Essence of Duality. With the focus on weapons shifted to later this year, the Summer Ethereals this time around are jewelry — Necklaces, Bracelets, and Earrings. In addition, some of the very popular but exceedingly rare Ethereal Runes are now also available through heroic content this summer.

ethereal_summer2016  ethereal_summer2016-item

A view of the Ethereal merchant as seen by a Mage. Different items are offered for Scouts, Fighters, and Priests.

RNGQuest

In years past, the only way to acquire these Ethereal items was through repetition. It might take 300 or more dungeon runs to acquire your preferred item. This year, the rewards are presented in such a way that you will either get an [eq2u]Umbrite Ethereal Coin[/eq2u], which can be used to buy Ethereals from a merchant, or you will get an Ethereal item. Please note that the Ethereal Coin currency is NO-TRADE which is necessary to keep the cost low.

Update Notes: Tuesday June 7, 2016 — Summer Ethereals!

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Game Updates & Maintenance, Grouping, Itemization, Raiding, TLE/Prestige Servers

There was no downtime notice, but…

US Servers: 7:00~8:00am PDT | 10:00am~11:00am EDT | 15:00~16:00 BST | 16:00~17:00 CST
EU Servers: 9:00~10:00pm PDT | 12:00~1:00am EDT | 05:00~06:00 BST | 06:00~07:00 CST

From the EQ2 Forums:

SUMMER ETHEREAL EVENT

  • Summer Ethereal Items are here! Characters may pick up a new mission that will grant an Ethereal Coin with a chance at an Ethereal item. Ethereal coins may be used to purchase Ethereal rewards at a new merchant in Thalumbra: the Ever Deep.
  • Ethereal daily and weekly heroic missions are now available in Thalumbra! Speak to Holstin Coresprock for the daily mission and VV.E.E.K.I_.Y IIIissi0N5 for the weekly mission.

ZONES / POPULATION

  • Collectibles near Monolith of Woe and Ember Hive in Kylong Plains are no longer buried by snow or rock.
  • Harvestables and shinies will now despawn 5 minutes after opened instead of 2 minutes.

ITEMS

  • Tier 2 raid armor from the Scourge Wastes now grant the correct 6 resolve.
  • Paying Homage to the Past – Is now available from Navarius Orvalis <Sage> in Freeport.
  • The city Sages have received a huge shipment of Lore & Legend books, available for those who have completed the corresponding Mastery.
  • Fearknight is now available to purchase from Noble Tark Validus <Loyalty Merchant>.
  • Staff, Sai, Katana, and Mace of the Hua Mein are now heirloom

Update Notes: Wednesday June 1, 2016

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Game Updates & Maintenance, Grouping, Itemization, Raiding

US Servers: 7:00~9:00am PDT | 10:00am~Noon EDT | 15:00~17:00 BST | 16:00~18:00 CET
EU Servers: 7:00~9:00am PDT | 10:00am~Noon EDT | 15:00~17:00 BST | 16:00~18:00 CET

From the EQ2 Forums:

ZONES / POPULATION
The Siege [Raid]

  • Sanctifier Goortuk should now have lower resolve when fought in normal mode.

Barren Sky

  • The 3 Princes have had their encounter level lowered

ITEMS

  • [eq2u]Spine of Ancient Terror[/eq2u] now has the correct 14 resolve.

and…

MARKETPLACE

  • Legends of Norrath loot card packs are now available on the marketplace. Specific campaign packs will be available for a limited time and will alternate after a set period. When opened, each Legends of Norrath loot card pack will grant a single tradeable reward bag. Once that bag has been opened the item contained within will be bound to that account.

Bonus XP Weekend and 40% Off Marketplace for All Access May 27-31

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Game Updates & Maintenance, Live Events

double_xp_2016-05-27

From EverQuest2.com:

Norrathians – are you ready to take advantage of everything this long weekend has to offer?

Beginning at Noon PDT on Friday, May 27, 2016 and continuing until Noon PDT on Tuesday, May 31, 2016, All Access members will receive double XP (Adventure, Tradeskill, and AA)!

Plus, as an added bonus, All Access members will also receive 40% off all marketplace purchases, so pick up those items you’ve been eyeing before the discount ends!

Not an All Access member yet? With bonuses, discounts, access to new content, and more, there’s never been a better time to join!

Time Zone Conversions

  • PDT: Friday May 27 @ Noon — Tuesday May 31 @ Noon
  • EDT: Friday May 27 @ 3:00pm — Tuesday May 31 @ 3:00pm
  • BST: Friday May 27 @ 20:00 — Tuesday May 31 @ 20:00
  • CET: Friday May 27 @ 21:00 — Tuesday May 31 @ 21:00

Ethereal Coins & Vendor Coming This Summer

Written by Feldon on . Posted in Commentary, EQ2, Game Updates & Maintenance, Grouping, Itemization, Raiding

pain_reliever

MMOs like EverQuest II can’t help but include a loot chase. While EQ2 offers many different styles of gameplay from crafting to decorating to soloing, those players who elect to group or raid find themselves on the loot treadmill and want to be able to point to forward progress. In recent years, the EQ2 team have scattered a few best-in-slot items throughout the content so that crafters and soloers get some “Whoa!” items. Still, most Progression items come from extremely difficult content that requires substantial coordination. There’ll always be that one ridiculously difficult heroic zone. There’s always that Wing 3 of raid content. With Terrors of Thalumbra as well as Altar of Malice (after some post-launch tuning), the heroic content has been made accessible so that more people get to enjoy it. But as with any organized sport, the tolerances between success and failure shrink the higher you go into more challenging fare.

I don’t envy game developers who are forced to create enough content to last a year. What has concerned me about Ethereal runes, Ethereal weapons, Mythicals, and Ancients is that they are acquired almost entirely based on the luck of the dice roll, not player skill or effort. It saps the sense of accomplishment when you say “This item took me 374 heroic runs!” after the person next to you says “I got it the first time through. Now what?”

May 2016 Producer’s Letter: Prestige Servers, Premium Guild Halls, Fabled Fallen Dynasty, Summer Ethereals, and More

Written by Feldon on . Posted in Daybreak Cash, EQ2, Game Updates & Maintenance, Grouping, Itemization, TLE/Prestige Servers

Fallen_Dynasty1_1600

 

From the EQ2 Forums:

Happy Springtime, Norrathians!

Time is zipping by as usual! I wanted to drop in and let you know what we’ve been up to.

As you continue with the Terrors of Thalumbra expansion and take part in GU100, the team has been toiling away on future plans. And what are those? Well….

By the end of June we are going to introduce two new servers! We wanted to hear what kind of servers the community wanted so we recently ran an in-game survey. Given the results, we decided to launch two servers, each with different rules. There will be details coming soon, but here’s the summary:

Update Notes: Tuesday May 24, 2016

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Game Updates & Maintenance, Grouping, Itemization

US Servers: 7:00~9:00am PDT | 10:00am~Noon EDT | 15:00~17:00 BST | 16:00~18:00 CET

EU Servers: 9:00~11:00pm PDT | Midnight~2:00am EDT | 05:00~07:00 BST | 06:00~08:00 CET

From the EQ2 Forums:

ZONES / POPULATION

  • Encounter [enemy] resolve buffs have been reallocated to take stacking resolve buffs into account.

Kralet Penumbra: The Hive Mind [Raid]

  • The Penumbran Chanter should no longer spawn in unreachable areas in the Kraletus encounter

Thalumbra, the Ever Deep

  • Koolor Ironblood has moved to within the Abandoned Fungus Farm to avoid Vanlith’s wrath

Sebilis Merging into Antonia Bayle on Thursday, May 26 @ 4AM PDT

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Game Updates & Maintenance

Server-Merges-2016

From the EQ2 Forums:

The server consolidation with Sebilis and Antonia Bayle servers will start on Thursday, May 26th, 2016 at 4AM PDT (11 AM GMT). This downtime is expected to take 24 hours, and Antonia Bayle is scheduled to unlock to players at Friday, May 27th, 2016 at 4AM PDT.

Important Notes for Players:

Players should pick up No-Trade items from shared housing (such as Guild Halls) BEFORE this downtime. This will prevent losing ownership of placed items during server consolidation.

When the consolidation is complete on Friday, players should delete their “logincache” folder or else LaunchPad character logins may fail.

Tomorrow: Resolve Buff Won’t Penalize Class Stacking

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Game Updates & Maintenance, Itemization, Raiding

armor-female

EverQuest II players have a long memory. The unpopular Critical Mitigation stat was removed from the game over four years ago, yet player suspicion towards progression stats seems to have hardly faded in the intervening years. Buried amongst the update notes for GU100: The Siege of Zek came a new stat, Resolve. Even though the stat is thus far confined to the five strongest raid targets and does not affect Heroic content at all (at least until this fall’s expansion), players have responded strongly.

Over the years, Crit Mit, Crit Avoidance, and Resists have all been used to stratify content and provide a steady treadmill for players to consume dungeons and vanquish raid content. However in the absence of one unifying progression stat, developers have fallen into a vicious cycle of compounding player power at an astonishing rate. Player damage output has grown by a factor of 5,000 in recent years. Whether we want it or not, we need a progression stat to keep growth of the other stats in the realm of sanity. Resolve, rather than a guaranteed death or failure, has been described as a kinder, gentler mitigation stat in our interview with the EQ2 team. The stat affects incoming damage for both players and enemies. With exceptional healing, a shortage of Resolve can be worked around, while the reduction in damage received by the enemy may be an even bigger obstacle.

   

EQ2 Official Support for Windows XP Ending in June 2016

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Game Updates & Maintenance

In November 2014, the EverQuest II team spent additional time debugging the game’s graphically demanding Altar of Malice expansion to make sure the game continued to work on the end-of-life Windows XP and soon-to-follow Windows Vista. In November 2015, further effort was expended making sure the in-game Marketplace supported these obsolete systems. However it seems that time is running out on legacy Windows support.

According to an announcement on the EQ2 Forums, EverQuest II will receive some kind of update in June 2016 which will render the game unplayable on Windows XP. Vista may share the same fate at some future date. While it may be possible to institute further workarounds to get the game working, players will not receive official support from Daybreak in these attempts.

As mentioned in the Terrors of Thalumbra expansion, the minimum system requirements to run EverQuest 2 at this time is Windows 7 and we have not offered support for [previous] systems since it’s launch in 2015. While an older OS may have continued to function, after the first game update in June these may no longer be able to run the game in an optimal manner.

Please ensure you have reviewed the specifications here.

Windows XP, introduced in 2001, is fully end-of-life and stopped receiving any kind of security or stability updates on April 8, 2014. It should not be used except on internet-disabled computers for mission critical applications. Windows Vista, introduced in 2006, will reach its official end-of-life next April 11, 2017 and will no longer receive updates either. The announcement thread is locked from any customer replies, so clearly the topic has reached an “end of discussion” stage.

 

EQ2Wire Interviews the EQ2 Team About Game Update 100: The Siege of Zek

Written by Feldon on . Posted in Commentary, DGC Wants Feedback, EQ2, Game Updates & Maintenance, Grouping, Itemization, Raiding

gu100-the-siege-of-zek-logo-eq2wire

On April 28th, EverQuest II launched its level 100 content release “The Siege of Zek“. The update takes us back to Zek, the Orcish Wastes and a lot has changed in 12 years. While the original level 35-appropriate zone can still be accessed, players may now choose to travel to the new level 100 Scourge Wastes. The update contains updated versions of classic Zek zones in Advanced Solo, Heroic, Event Heroic, and Heroic Contested versions as well as a Raid zone. Rather than a simple up-tiering of existing zones, the Designers and Art Team have put a lot into this All Access-only update with totally redone Orc models and many other touches that make this content feel fresh.

As it had been a couple of weeks since the release of the Siege of Zek, we had an opportunity to peruse the official EQ2 forums for player questions and concerns. The EQ2 team are already working flat out on EverQuest II’s thirteenth expansion slated for later this year, so our interview focuses on the few questions that I submitted about itemization and some of the new systems in the update including Heartbound, which is an in-game celebration of the real-life bonds that players have developed, and the new progression-tied Resolve stat.

After the jump, our interview!

Terrors of Thalumbra Rare Heroic Loot Merchant is Live

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Game Updates & Maintenance, Itemization

tot-rare-heroic-loot-merchant

From the EQ2 Forums:

A “Merchant of Rarities” has rare heroic drops from Terrors of Thalumbra dungeons available to players that are looking to pick up an item that has been eluding them, or to get a character caught up to adventure in Thalumbra and beyond!

Are you looking for awesome new Green Adornments? Koolor Ironblood has them!

Koolor Ironblood can be found in Thalumbra: the Ever Deep. He has items to purchase for status, for platinum, and for Coin of the Eternal Queen. What items are YOU most excited for?

UPDATE from Kander:

We missed the rare raid trash drop cloaks and belts. We will be adding them to the merchant next hotfix.

We will absolutely not be adding the rare mythical weapons.

After the jump, the complete list of items available from the merchant…

Update Notes: Tuesday May 17, 2016

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Game Updates & Maintenance, Grouping, Itemization, Raiding

US Servers: 8:00~10:00am PST | 11:00am~1:00pm EST | 16:00~18:00 GMT | 17:00~19:00 CEST
EU Servers: 8:00~10:00am PST | 11:00am~1:00pm EST | 16:00~18:00 GMT | 17:00~19:00 CEST

From the EQ2 Forums:

GENERAL

  • Fervor will no longer apply twice when damage is being duplicated from another source.

ZONES / POPULATION
The Siege [Raid]

  • The Weapon of War’s “War” buff can now be properly removed. Hardened By War remains unable to be removed.

Scourge Keep [Both Versions]

  • Prime Vigoth Ansleborg’s flanking order should be less strict to follow for fighters.

Update Notes: Tuesday May 10, 2016

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Game Updates & Maintenance, Grouping, Itemization, Raiding

US Servers: 8:00~10:00am PST | 11:00am~1:00pm EST | 16:00~18:00 GMT | 17:00~19:00 CEST EU Servers: 8:00~10:00am PST | 11:00am~1:00pm EST | 16:00~18:00 GMT | 17:00~19:00 CEST

From the EQ2 Forums:

GENERAL

  • A new Prestige Server Poll has been launched, check your in game mail for details!

ZONES / POPULATION

  • The lizardmen in The Fabled Temple of Cazic-Thule will now drop Thulian Puzzle Boxes.
  • Pork Chop should no longer barrel through walls when running in fear in Scourge Keep.

The Fabled Sanctum of Fear [Heroic]

  • Golem hearts are no longer needed to spawn Dread, Fright, or Terror.

Update Notes: Thursday May 5, 2016

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Game Updates & Maintenance, Grouping, Itemization, Raiding

US Servers: 8:00~10:00am PST | 11:00am~1:00pm EST | 16:00~18:00 GMT | 17:00~19:00 CEST

EU Servers: 8:00~10:00am PST | 11:00am~1:00pm EST | 16:00~18:00 GMT | 17:00~19:00 CEST

Extended Update
Today’s update, slated to take two hours, took nearly four. A now locked Discussion on the EQ2 Forums.

From the EQ2 Forums:

ZONES / POPULATION

  • Fixed a bug where characters logged out in membership only zones would not be playable if your membership lapsed.

Scourge Keep [Heroic]

  • Added a gong to the arena which can be struck periodically after the arena starts to summon a single enemy combatant a time.
  • Undead orc combatants will enter the arena at a slightly increased rate.

Game Update 100: The Siege of Zek Info Around the Web

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Game Updates & Maintenance

gu100_eqtraders_zek_banner

EQ2Traders maven Niami Denmother has delivered another extensive writeup for the recent Game Update 100: The Siege of Zek. Her site documents the new recipes and crafting which are now available for All Access subscribers:

eq2traders

Meanwhile EQ2Library has developed an entire GU100: Zek  the Scourge Wastes page with copious information about this update:

Game Update Notes: Tuesday May 3rd

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Game Updates & Maintenance, Grouping, Itemization, Raiding

US Servers: 7:00~9:00am PDT | 10:00am~Noon EDT | 15:00~17:00 BST | 16:00~18:00 CET
EU Servers: 9:00~10:00pm PDT | 12:00~1:00am EDT | 05:00~06:00 BST | 06:00~07:00 CET

From the EQ2 Forums:

ZONES / POPULATION

  • Lowered the hit points of monsters in Level Agnostic dungeons.

The Siege [Raid]

  • Durtung should no longer be immune to the same damage types as his adds are immune to.
  • Required resolve for all bosses have been lowered to compensate for duplicate classes in raid makeup.
  • Sanctifier Goortuk should no longer kill players when logging in from a linkdeath due to assumed low power level.

Scourge Keep [Both Versions]

  • Some things required to spawn something are now stackable.
  • Qulkor’s dungeon key should be much more visible.

Update Notes: Friday April 29, 2016

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Game Updates & Maintenance, Grouping, Itemization

US Servers: 7:00~9:00am PDT | 10:00am~Noon EDT | 15:00~17:00 BST | 16:00~18:00 CET
EU Servers: 9:00~10:00pm PDT | 12:00~1:00am EDT | 05:00~06:00 BST | 06:00~07:00 CET

From the EQ2 Forums:

POPULATION / ZONE PROGRESSION
Zek, The Scourge Wastes

  • Killing Warrider Steeltusk before killing his lackeys will no longer result in them attacking you while invisible.

Shard of Love

  • The non-agnostic version of the zone has been re-added to the zone entrance in Everfrost for those who do not want to run the Agnostic version.
  • The health of the creatures found in the Agnostic version of the zone have been slightly lowered.

Fabled Chamber of Immortality

  • The door in Thundering Steppes now allows more than 2 players to zone in.

Fabled Sanctum of Fear

  • The door in Thundering Steppes now allows more than 2 players to zone in.

ITEMS

  • Removed the effect Perfect Being from Siren Scale Pouch.
  • Corrected the item tier on charms from the Scourge Wastes.

Game Update 100 “The Siege of Zek” is Now Live!

Written by Feldon on . Posted in EQ2, Game Updates & Maintenance, Grouping, Itemization, Raiding

From Laylaih on the EQ2 Forums:

The moment we’ve been talking about for months has finally arrived: it’s the launch day for GU100! Are you ready to voyage to the Scourge Wastes and take on terrifying new adversaries? Will you be scouting for shinies to complete over forty new collections? Is your heart ready to connect itself to its true mate? All this and more awaits you with the launch of GU100!

gu100_now_available

Access to special zones is one of the perks of having an All Access membership. In GU100 we’ve added Zek, the Scourge Wastes and Scourge Keep. Also, Fabled versions of Ruins of Varsoon, Temple of Cazic-Thule, Chamber of Immortality, and Sanctum of Fear that have been updated for level 100 players. You’ll need an active membership to adventure in these zones.


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