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written by Sarthin | 1609 Views | 5 Replies
Halls of Honor update
To make gearing for T3 and T4 more engaging, less repetitive and to smooth out the randomness of it, we've introduced new mechanics in Halls of Honor beyond simply collecting tokens and summoning bosses in Airplane.
First, rest assured that Airplane remains unchanged: you can still use uncombined tokens to spawn T3 bosses and combined tokens to summon T4 bosses as usual. Token drop rate in HoH also remains the same as always.
In Halls of Honor we’ve introduced the T3 bosses from Airplane. Now, there’s a chance for trash mobs to trigger a shake and emote, followed by a T3 boss spawning. These bosses use the same loot tables as the token-spawned T3 bosses in Airplane. Some types of NPCs in Halls of Honor will spawn particular T3 bosses, while others may summon one at random. Note that T4 bosses will not spawn in Halls of Honor, and that the T3 bosses share the same difficulty as those in Airplane with adds spawning and what not.
The changes will go live once Draca has time to push the changes over to prod.
PS: You will need to update your hohonora_chr.txt before you can view the T3 boss models in HoH.
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written by Draca | 1166 Views | 2 Replies
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written by Draca | 3569 Views | 17 Replies
Player input regarding T12
T12 (Vex Thal) is under construction, and while it seems like these developments get to a point fairly quickly and then everything becomes a slog from there, I'm at a point where I would like some input from the community.
So, a few questions:
• Assuming current Kael difficulty as a baseline, would you like to see new content:
Much Harder
Slightly Harder
Same
Slightly Easier
Much Easier
We have also been working on the idea/scripting to implement a 'hard mode*' in new content, so if you think the general zone should be slightly easier with hard mode, then that's good as well.
*Hard mode would be an increased difficulty for all NPC's in the zone, both in damage output and hitpoints, but they would also award loot more often, and possibly multiple kill credits for quests etc.
• Do you find the background lore, NPC emotes, quest background stories etc. engaging or entertaining, or don't really care much either way?
• Is there any mechanic that we've used previously that you would, or would not like to see repeated?
• Feelings on bane weapons?
• Aside from the content, what would you like to see 'fixed' as part of this Tier? Example I've heard: Item effects are not very useful/being re-used. But it's open ended, whatever you'd like to see done better in some way, or fixed.
• Since this post will probably get people's attention, is there anything currently broken or janky that you feel needs to be addressed? (completely separate from the Tier).
Anything else that comes to mind, by all means let us know here.
Draca & Sarthin
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written by Draca | 5138 Views | 5 Replies
There is a new NPC in Nexus named Gerald. Gerald doesn't say much, but if you tell him 'hard' or 'easy' he will flag you for 'hard mode' content that doesn't really exist. However, if you want to give it a try, you can get flagged for hard mode (it flags by account) and head to Vex Thal (there's no loot or anything particularly special in VT at this point) and test that it's working. It will check for more than 50% of characters in a zone are flagged as hard mode, and will scale NPC's if so. If this is implemented, it would provide much more challenging content, in exchange for more rewards. Scaling is currently quite aggressive in hard mode, and this is absolutely, by no means a final product, nor indicative of what the final scaling will be.
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written by Draca | 7001 Views | 10 Replies
Just wanted to put out a quick post on what to expect for the back half of 2024. Disconnection IssuesIf anyone is still experiencing disconnection issues, please let me know here, or in game, or on Discord. Based on what I've seen, I am pretty sure the server code devs were able to find the issue. For anyone interested in what that was you can find the information HERE. Wings of the AngelI don't think I ever actually did a forum post about the cost associated with Wings of the Angel when it is cast on lower level characters. Quite simply, Wings is incredibly powerful even for higher level characters, and results in completely trivial content in the lower tiers. Originally the cost should have been added at the same time as the duration for the buffs was increased, but was not included at that time (I couldn't make it work properly). So while players can still buff individually with the class buffs included in Wings, casting it amongst lower characters will result in a cost of 2,500,000 per character level 76 and below. Cost for Wings was removed as part of the investigation into the disconnections, as it was added about the same time as the server code update that ended up causing us problems. Since that is/was not the issue, expect the cost to be added back in the near future. Difficulty, Group Size & Time Requirement DiscussionsBoth Sarthin and I, have had discussions amongst ourselves, talked with players interested in constructive discussions as well as reading forum posts, Discord messages and OOC chatter regarding the difficulty of content, group size and the time required to complete newer content. We'll go through some bullet points... • Kael, overall, takes too long. We agree with this general sentiment, and are working towards some tuning that will hopefully result in a more reasonable time investment requirement than it currently takes to complete T11. Now, as a player it may seem like this is an easy fix, just increase spawns & drops, adjust NPC difficulty where they may be too hard for the average player, and everyone is happy. From our side, it requires some degree of finesse to both maintain what Sarthin's vision was in the gameplay for T11, while addressing player concerns. Our initial changes will start rolling out sometime this week, and continue until we are happy with it. As we've mentioned before, neither Sarthin or myself have any experience in game development, and there will be areas where that shows. One of our shared faults, is that we don't want to see our hard work steamrolled in a couple weeks by the likes of Pubise, Fec, Denzig amongst others who run large highly efficient armies, which the solution for which creates some unacceptable collateral damage for players who just want to log on and have a good time, so that needs some adjustment. • Group sizes are a bit out of control for the average player Sarthin and I both prefer difficult content, and between Veeshan's Peak, Rallos event, Kael Drakkel and Fear Itself, we've tried to create more challenging content than is typical for EZ. This creates issues in trying to balance our desire for challenging people to play better than they've had to in the past (eg. not just auto-healing with a single Paladin), while not driving up the number of groups needed to effectively work through the content. It is easy to make certain classes more desirable, which can in turn results in people feeling the need to bring a whole group up, because why go through Abyss and Sunderock for a couple characters, when you can just bring up another whole group. This of course results in the effective group size meta going from 18 to 24 to 30 to 36 in short order, which is understandingly daunting for people just starting out. Smaller groups have always required much closer attention to min/maxing, and a focus on farming the best gear before moving on, and that just doesn't seem to happen as much anymore. Now, we just end up recommending adding another 6 rogues instead of trying maximize their current DPS, instead of trying to maximize what they have. There is no easy answer here. While it's possible to impose group size limits on content, and some people, even with large armies, agree that this is a possible solution, it's not without a host of legitimate complaints from people who have spent countless hours bringing up group after group to try and keep up with the current meta. We could scale content much more aggressively as groups get larger, and while this is a less direct way of trying to control group size, it would also be a hard pill to swallow for some, though it's certainly still in the running as an idea going forward. Currently, our planning for T12 will see easier NPC difficulty (relatively speaking) than we've seen in VP, KD or Fear Itself, but NPC scaling will ramp up in difficulty as more are pulled. This mechanic was used in Misty Thicket (the caster/fighter guild alternative) to control twinked characters from being able to effectively zone pull, and will be used similarly in T12 - Vex Thal. While some players will be able to pull more than others, and there won't be a coded hard cap, there will be a functional hard cap. This will work in unison with the group size scaling similar to what's already in place in Kael and Fear Itself. • Difficulty. I think it probably goes without saying, not everyone is a fan of super difficult content, and while we definitely see more people excitedly talking about killing their first Enslaved Dragon in Veeshan, or bosses in Kael than we do spawning Vampire Bats in Loping Plains, these can also be a great source of frustration when you just can't get over the hump. So, T12 will move away slightly from these extra difficult encounters, and go back to a slightly gentler NPC difficulty level, and we'll gauge the response from there. While Sarthin and I, somewhat selfishly, want to create content we'd like to play, we also understand we are not the majority, and while we obviously need to make decisions that may be unpopular from time to time (mostly me, Sarthin ain't got no juice!  ) , we do want to make content that people enjoy playing. What now? • Expect changes soon-ish to Kael. It's not going to be shortened in half or anything, but we'll start making incremental changes, and go from there. • Tier 12 - Vex Thal's development will continue. It is going to be a fairly basic tier, but some fun surprises. Expected _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ , 202_. • Fear Itself concerns - we've seen them, nothing concrete to announce regarding that. • Any other concerns, please keep them to yourself, we all have problems, deal with them like adults....just kidding, post them here...or send direct messages to Sarthin, he's a good secretary. For Akkadius & Sarthin,
Draca
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written by Sarthin | 6823 Views | 11 Replies
4th OF JULY EVENT! Halloween Event - Running
Fear Itself - Open.
Double Loot - Running.
Double Exp. - Running.
Credits - Closed.
Rallos Zek event - Closed
Events will be available on EZ from today and until the 10th of July.
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written by Sarthin | 8443 Views | 11 Replies
MEMORIAL DAY EVENT! Halloween Event - Running
Fear Itself - Open.
Double Loot - Running.
Double Exp. - Running.
Credits - Closed.
Rallos Zek event - Closed
Events will be available on EZ throughout the weekend. Enjoy!
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written by Sarthin | 7764 Views | 6 Replies
Welcome to...
Thule Dream, Event Zone
Fear Itself Story:
In the vast, mysterious realm of Norrath, where legends and nightmares intertwine, there exists a place shrouded in darkness and fear. It is a realm beyond the waking world, where the fabric of reality frays, and the nightmares of mortals come to life. This realm is known by many names, but most commonly as "Fear Itself" or "Thule Dream."
Legend has it that Thule Dream is a plane of existence created by the dark deity Cazic Thule, the God of Fear. Deep within the darkest corners of Norrath, where the shadows whisper and the night is eternal, lies the entrance to this twisted realm. It is said that those who dare to venture into Thule Dream find themselves lost in a dream of terror, where their deepest fears manifest into horrifying realities.
The creatures that inhabit Thule Dream are as varied as the fears of those who tread its twisted pathways. From grotesque monsters born of nightmares to malevolent spirits that haunt the shadows, Thule Dream is home to some of the most dangerous and terrifying beings in all of Norrath. Here, the laws of nature bend to the will of Cazic Thule, and chaos reigns supreme.
Now, as the veil between worlds grows thin and the shadows lengthen, the gates to Thule Dream creak open once more. The air is thick with dread, and whispers of ancient evils echo through the land. Adventurers brave enough to venture into the depths of Thule Dream will face trials unlike any they have encountered before, for in the realm of fear itself, only the strongest will survive.
Zone information:
• Fear Itself will have a level 79 level requirement.
• The mobs in the zone are tuned similarly to the present Kael difficulty.
• New mechanics we've not seen on EZServer before.
• Various quests for powerful items, some which are class specific.
• A new currency, and a vendor where you can spend it.
• Some nostalgic bosses may appear if you're lucky.
• ....and much more.
I've made a short teaser on YouTube that you can watch while waiting for the event to start if you don't mind SPOILERS. Click on the picture below to watch the teaser.
Zone Files:
Remember to download the new zone files for Thule Dream. You NEED to update spells_us.txt, dbstr_us.txt, thuledream_chr.txt and thuledream_EnvironmentEmitters.txt to play in the zone.
Event information:
Draca and I wanted to give this zone a test run for you all, and we figured that doing it on the day after the Norwegian Constitution Day was perfect  The event will run for a day or two, so we can collect some data on how you're all doing in there and make adjustments if necessary. Some values may be set higher than intended on purpose for this first run, just so you know not to expect everything to be set as final in this first round.
Assuming that things go smooth with some transfers and setups, we'll start the event on coming Saturday around 12pm GMT +2, but delays may occur.
Hope you all enjoy!
For Akkadius & Draca,
-Sarthin
EZ Admin Team
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written by Draca | 10382 Views | 4 Replies
Changes...and not.
First, some changes I didn't make.
I had previously announced changes to Guardian Charm that would have made it pretty useless after level 75, I have shelved those changes. It's difficult to pull the trigger on changes as drastic as that, there's a whole back and forth (in my head) about whether, given the amount of time it's been as-is, it's the right thing to do to change it. Not to say it may not happen in the future, but for now it remains as is.
T10 - Sunderock
We have made some changes to Tier 10, that will reduce the amount of time required to complete it.
These include:
• Lowered plagueborn kill count (from 1000 to 750)
• Increased faction gained per kill quest completion (previous base 75, new base 125)
• Lowered T10 Expedition cooldown (from 48 to 36 hours)
• Faction weapon quest count reduced (from 100 to 60)
• Boss soul drops increased slightly
• Sarnak boss spawn chance increased
T11 - Kael Drakkel
Tier 11 is also going to see some changes related to it's current difficulty. Both trash and bosses will have a hit point and damage reduction to bring it down to a more playable difficulty for the average player.
I have started and stopped on several long winded explanations about Kael's difficulty, but ultimately it is just incredibly difficult to tune content without going too far one way or the other, so we've resisted any major changes to Kael until we had enough data logging to make an informed decision. It's still a bit of a guessing game, but it's time to take our best guess. Expect these changes shortly.
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written by Draca | 15591 Views | 20 Replies
This morning there are a few changes coming over.
Further reduction in the hitpoints of mobs in Kael Drakkel (T11)
While some people like the level of difficulty in T11, and appreciate the challenge it presents, it is not in line with the typical difficulty for a progression Tier. Many players cannot dedicate the amount of time that is required to work through T11 with any efficiency, and are not seeing many rewards because of it. We've also adjusted the scaling to better align with raid sizes. There have been no other changes, as the loot drops and damage output from the NPC's seem acceptable, and manageable.
Kael boss drops
People have noted that bosses don't always drop anything useful, or much of anything at all, and this is what comes from the balance of either adjusting spawn chances where you may not see a boss in an evening of gameplay but would definitely get loot, or you get some bosses, but take what RNG gives you, loot wise. Our choice was, as you can tell, to have bosses spawn more frequently, but with a chance to karate kick you right in the balls with some less than stellar loot. Nothing changed here, just wanted to address that.
VP Loot
Several things to point out with Veeshan loot:
• As noted in the changelog in-game, EZ Credits were removed from VP.
• More dramatically, following this morning's update there will be a considerable reduction in the sheer amount of loot drops in VP. Loot in VP, in particular the amount of zone essences and other previously valuable items, has been a great disappointment for me. My experience was lacking during VP's development, and because I intended for the zone to be considerably more difficult than it is now, I never intended for people to mow through it as fast as they can. This is obviously shortsighted, as clearly people would grow more powerful over time and with new content, but the mistake was made. I have resisted changing it, because it feels unfair to short people who never got the chance to be in the zone in it's current loot pinata form, but unfortunately the change needs to be made.
• Tunare will drop a GoW on every kill. (Map has been removed).
Guardian Charm
Guardian Charm is an overpowered item, changes will be coming in the next few weeks to dull it's effectiveness level 75+
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written by Sarthin | 13188 Views | 6 Replies
Welcome to...
T11 - Kael Drakkel
The War of the Giants in Kael Drakkel Product of Norway (and Canada). Story:
For decades, the frigid citadel of Kael Drakkel stood as a testament to the might and ferocity of the Kromzek and Kromrif giants. Under the rule of the formidable King Tormax, the Kromzek worshiped the god of war, Rallos Zek, and their citadel echoed with the sounds of battle drills and the fervent prayers to their patron deity.
We all know the story about how the giants and other creations of Rallos Zek were cursed by The Rathe for making war upon the gods themselves. That curse did not seem to apply to these giants, though how they managed to escape divine wrath is still a mystery.
At the outset, the Kromrif clan reveled in the splendors of Velious. However, as time unfolded, discontent seeped into their once contented hearts, disenchanted with the Kaelian way of life and the rule of the Kromzek King, Tormax. Fjordavind, a formidable giant among the Kromrif, emerged as a charismatic leader. He united his kin and embarked on a journey to the northern realms of Antonica, seeking refuge in the unforgiving and icy expanse of Valdeholm.
Driven by the ambition to strengthen their own position, the Kromrif chieftains devised a daring plan. In the dead of winter, under the cover of a blizzard, the Kromrif launched a surprise assault on Kael Drakkel. The element of surprise was their greatest ally, catching the Kromzek off guard and plunging Kael Drakkel into a bitter war of giants.
In the midst of this chaos, a new and ominous presence emerged in the form of Velketor the Sorcerer. King Tormax, recognizing the threat posed by the Kromrif assault, summoned Velketor from his lab to aid the Kromzek in their time of need. Velketor, a master of dark sorcery, lent his formidable powers to the Kromzek cause.
The Kromrif, however, were not without their own formidable leader. Fjordavind the Fearless, chief of the Kromrif clan, led his warriors with unmatched courage and tactical brilliance. Fjordavind's presence on the battlefield brought a renewed sense of determination to the Kromrif forces, as they sought not only to claim Kael Drakkel but to prove their worthiness to Rallos Zek.
The centerpiece of the conflict remained the grand chamber housing the Statue of Rallos Zek, the sacred symbol of the god's favor. Both factions saw control of the statue as the key to securing Rallos Zek's blessing. The Kromzek fought to maintain their long-held dominion, while the Kromrif sought to seize it and reshape the destiny of their clan.
In the concealed depths of the icy pools within Kael Drakkel, Sirens, mystical denizens of the ocean depths, have long remained veiled in mystery. Unseen by the giants engaged in their relentless battles, these enchanting beings have observed the ebb and flow of elemental energies resonating from the heart of the citadel.
Navigating the icy halls with a singular goal — not to quell the conflict, but to turn it to their advantage — the adventurers strike at opportune moments. They target key figures, crucial positions, and exploit the discord among the warring factions. In the shadow of giants, both Kromzek and Kromrif, the adventurers aim to reshape the destiny of Kael Drakkel and bring an end to the giants' powerful reign in Norrath.
 T 11:
The time has finally come to welcome you to Tier 11, Kael Drakkel. I dare say me and Draca are about as excited as you all are to see this finally happening. While the players of EZServer have seen some additional content being added in the last years, it's certainly been a minute since we last saw a complete progression tier. As we have mentioned previously, T11 was for a time supposed to be Dragonscale Hills, but now you can all look forward to yet another progression tier later this year.
As all new tiers on EZServer have had a habit of being, Kael Drakkel will also be challenging for many. Especially when you're first breaking into the zone. It also depends on the manner of which you enter the new tier, gear wise. There are a good variety of upgrades to be found in the zone, so eventually we're sure you'll handle things more smoothly than to start with.
I've been on EZServer since 2009 and I've seen the server grow into a more and more including place over the years. I have faith in this trend to continue. If someone has issues in this new tier and is asking for help, I'm sure there are plenty of people that can share their points on how to overcome various challenges both in game and on the forums/Discord.
When it comes to balancing the difficulty of the new tier, we have had to take into account the huge stat gain people have gotten from Sleepers and Veeshan's Peak. If we did not ...... Read More
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written by Draca | 9506 Views | 0 Replies
In anticipation of the launch of T11.
Double Loot
Double Exp
Halloween Event
Now thru 2/18
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written by Draca | 12797 Views | 6 Replies
It is with great anticipation, and excitement, that we announce the release date for Tier 11 - Kael Drakkel.. Sunday, February 18th. 5am PST (UTC -8:00) This will be preceded by a short double loot/double exp weekend from 2/16 until Kael Drakkel's launch. Official launch post to come. For Sarthin & Akkadius, Draca EZ Admin Team
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written by Draca | 9700 Views | 1 Reply
Quick UpdatesWanted to post a quick update about some recent changes that have made their way to EZ, as well as a T11 Update, and some persistent bugs. T11 Update Sarthin and I continue to work feverishly on T11 - Kael Drakkel, and can almost see the finish line. As previously posted, we need as many T10+ players as possible to jump into (Live server) Dragon Necropolis, and do their best against the NPC's there, so we can try to hit a reasonable tuning spot prior to release. While it's completely possible that we could shoot low or high on tuning, with more feedback, we have a better chance of getting it right. It will likely release overtuned, and be scaled back as needed, but we don't want it so difficult that people are deterred. Which leads me into: don't overreact to anything in T11 within the first couple weeks of release. There is no way to account for everything, and there is no way for everything to be so fully tested that changes or fixes need to be made. T11 is a fully fleshed out Tier. There a number of quests and items above and beyond just the progression aspect, and I think it will be an exciting addition to EZ's progression. Sarthin has dedicated hundreds of hours to this development, poring over every detail, and refining everything to be as smooth as possible. I think you'll like it (I mean, you're gonna die...a lot....but you know, enjoyably.) BugsThere have been a few bugs reported lately, primarily an issue with pet procs not doing any damage, and an issue with Auras not working. Both of these issues seem to be at a server code level, but an immediate solution is not likely. I am not going to work on a big work around for either of these issues at this time, as hopefully the EQ Emulator devs can fix the issues in server code. Recent ChangesQuick comments on some recent changelog activity: • Monk/Berserker Epic Augment (10) was revamped - these only effect the 10th level Epic Augment, as balancing DPS through lower tiers simply isn't worth the time right now. Both changes resulted in DPS increases, specifically Monk's Tiger Claw combat ability sees a significant increase in damage, so make sure that's worked into your combat spam key. Obviously some other classes need some tuning as well, but we don't want to do it in a hasty fashion, so they will happen when time permits. • Idol of the Jailed had it's Twincast effect removed, and nuke damage increased to compensate. This is related to giving us headroom on spell effects that we need to have available for upgrades going forward. Twincast is powerful, but between a few overtuned item effects, it was already becoming too inflated. • Curious Creation I/II/III - This change was a spell effect switch, as the previous version would not properly stack with other spell effects in use, and resulted in little to no benefit. This should be better now. • Stonewall Reduction - Stonewall (melee damage mitigation) is an incredibly powerful spell effect, and simply cannot be tuned for if it's allowed to be used to it's fullest effect. As most know, Warriors max out at 79% stonewall, but with varying buffs and abilities, could previously get to 99% stonewall rating (mitigating 99% of incoming melee damage - basically unkillable), before it was previously reduced to a maximum of 85%. This is also too high to tune for. Players have found that by chain casting Tower of Vie spells, and varying which ranks you cast, you could maintain 85% pretty easily over the course of a difficult fight, or pull. While the difference between 79% and 85% doesn't seem that big, in reality it is a huge advantage, and again, impossible to tune for. As such, stonewall's maximum effective percentage has been reduced again to 81%. We aren't just trying to make everything more difficult, but our longer term plans require that players can't trivialize encounters through this mechanic. There have been a few other things here and there, but nothing of major consequence. Admin TeamSarthin and I have been working on T11 together, and as I expected when I asked him to join me as a developer, we're working very well together. I have some experience he can lean on when he needs it, but he also has the freedom to work out issues on his own when he feels like he can. Our thoughts and ideas are very similar, and we both have a passion for EZ, and developing quality content for all of you. T11 is just a start, and while Sarthin has certainly been burning the candle at both ends trying to get T11 out, we will both find our natural pace, and continue with future content together. My focus will shift back to Dragonscale Hills (T12) once we get T11 out the door, while Sarthin will begin the outlining and brainstorming process for a new 'Halloween' zone. Everything comes in due time, but it's an exciting time for EZ. Akkadius' support of our work is unwavering, and we'll continue to make sure we earn that. For Sarthin & Akkadius, -Draca EZ Admin Team
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written by Draca | 17721 Views | 14 Replies
We need some testing done for NPC difficulty for T11. We have set up scripting in Dragon Necropolis (necropolis) that allows players to spawn groups of NPC's with varied difficulty (HP's/Damage), and need people who've completed at least T10 to give some feedback.
Each spawn will consist of 4 NPC's, which can be pulled individually as needed. We need to know for the different levels, how many you could handle at once, how long (on average) it took to kill them, how many characters you had in the fight, and any other input you'd like to add. To access the available commands, /say T11 Test while in Dragon Necropolis. NPC's spawn right near zone in.
This is critical to the rollout of T11, so the more the merrier (make instances).
Sarthin/Draca
I
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written by Raygan | 11116 Views | 5 Replies
Anyone in the mood for RZ event? I know I want to see him pay his due for bringing war to Norrath!!!!! I am working with Draca to do an event tomorrow (Saturday). Please post if you are interested. 
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written by Sarthin | 10870 Views | 7 Replies
Tier 11 Update I wanted to give you all an update on our progress with T11. The plan was originally to release Dragonscale Hills as our next tier, and for my first EZ project to be T12, Kael Drakkel. However, as Draca has informed you, he's been dealt some busy real life cards, while I on the other hand have way too much vacation. We quickly found out that Kael was making good progress and we decided to go with that zone for our T11. Dragonscale Hills is also a larger project than Kael Drakkel, so all in all it also requires a lot more work to complete. That's not to say KD is a small project. I've been working on it just about every day for about 5 weeks now and it's really taking shape. It will have the usual stuff that one would expect from a complete tier on EZ along with some surprises. At this point much of the tier is complete. We still need to do some minor polishing on various things as well as properly balance and test the zone. I will do this myself once it's ready. We will not be opening the test server for Kael Drakkel. However, the initial release of the tier to the live server will effectively serve as a second-phase test. Players should anticipate changes if we find them necessary in relation to our original intentions for the zone. One of the last pieces of the puzzle is to add spells to the tier, both as free standing spells for classes and as click effects on various items and armor. We've saved those on purpose for last, as the spells needs some adjusting globally to mend some inconsistencies and make sure it's more sustainable and predictable for players and for us developers. Not just for this tier, but for future tiers as well. There are so many different items with a lot of modifiers on them. Some were made for a different time on EZ and some were added more recently, yet still have effects that cause players to be confused as to what is best. While many spells have been tuned to stack and work already, there is still some work cut out for us here. With no item/spell in mind, as an example, we don't necessarily want a level 73 item to be the "go to" item to boost the DPS for a level 79 player, rendering newer and intentionally better items, worse. By having a clear vision on which items do what, and avoid using all sorts of modifiers to spell, melee and healing crit across the board, we will have more control of the flow of the classes powers. These adjustments will also be a work in progress post T11 release, so don't expect everything to be fixed before launch. This means some effects will change, maybe some will be removed or replaced by a more logical effect for the item. I do not have a list of items currently, but I will update you once we start working on it. We're definitely not doing any nerfs that will put your characters long term state in a worse place than it is now. Kael should also bring on many things that will improve your DPS as well as future tiers will do as well. No changes are set in stone either. We may do adjustments that pending live testing proves to be wrong. We always listen to constructive feedback and hope you all will be part of the process, providing us with feedback if needed. Once this issue has been worked on, and it's hard to predict just how long it will take, we will be close to opening T11. Take this with a grain of salt, but we're hoping to get Kael released by end of January, but expect it to take longer, maybe sometime in February. Things have a tendency to appear at last minute, creating issues that might take time to solve. We are pretty close though, relatively speaking  
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written by Draca | 10130 Views | 5 Replies
Code was reactivated this afternoon to combat the rampant use of fan botting instances. This code will cause you to go link dead if you are fanning out multiple single characters across instances. Players are makings dozens and dozens of instances, and in many cases zone pulling all of them simultaneously, which causes extreme, and unnecessary load on the server. This was partially the cause of the server shutdown this afternoon. During a routine update of the test server, the load generated by the code compilation, coupled with multiple, simultaneous zone pulls caused a memory usage spike that was enough to shut down both servers. This type of fan botting is not allowed, as the majority of these consist of one click zone pulls that automatically begin looting following the successful zone pull. Continued abuse may result in some extreme measures to combat it, up to, and including large cast time increase on Scorpion Spears, or we will rescind the allowance of automatic loot macros and plugins, with zero tolerance for their use.
Our server hardware is quite robust, it is in line with PEQ's hardware, yet has much, much higher resource usage, despite a much smaller population (1/3rd at best), but there's only so much hardware can do against what amounts to an internal DDOS attack on server resources.
General Guidelines:
• Minimum of 6 man groups in each zone being zone pulled.
• Stagger zone pulls amongst your boxes by at least 30 seconds.
*EDIT* To clarify, this code is not specific to people zone pulling, or creating multiple instances. It will also disconnect zones with 1 or 2 characters in the zone.
-Draca
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written by Sarthin | 9527 Views | 4 Replies
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written by Draca | 9283 Views | 13 Replies
New Blood!
Akkadius and I would like to welcome Sarthin as the newest full time member of the EZ Server Admin Team!
Past Contributions:
Sarthin has been extremely helpful to me during my developments as both a very effective and thorough tester, and a very well thought out sounding board for various ideas that pass through my head (and should stay there). His input and constructive criticism has been incredibly useful to me, and his knowledge of the game, and love of EZ Server is apparent. He has never asked me for anything that would have put me in a bad spot, and has always done as much as he can to help the server as whole, and individual players where he can. He also has never shied away from having difficult discussions with me, but is willing to accept that where I may not always be right, he won't always be right either. This give and take collaboration between us makes me believe that we can do excellent things together.
Sarthin outlined and developed the Misty Thicket CG/FG alternate zone, which while limited in scope and availability, was executed very well, and very quickly. His attention to detail, and his desire to create quality content was apparent from the first time he began working on it.
First Steps:
Sarthin still needs to be made a GM on EZ, as well as get the access he requires to develop content, check logs etc., but when he does, he will be able to help with the same issues I can. His addition to the Admin Team can only result in good things for EZ, and increase the availability of GM help when needed, as well as double the output of content and fixes. Sarthin, as I am, will be monitored for the changes and additions he makes, both of us are held responsible by Akkadius to make sure that what we do is always true to what EZ Server has always been about, as Akkadius holds himself to keeping EZ as it's been since he began his stewarship of it. While Sarthin will have many of the same abilities to develop and perform GM duties as I do, I am ultimately the one who is responsible for what happens with EZ Server, so will still be the final word (Akkadius notwithstanding). This isn't a matter of pride or ego, but there has to be someone who makes a decision when it needs to be made, and that will remain with me.
What about me?
As I noted in my previous post, I remain as excited and passionate about developing EZ Server as I ever have. Time is my enemy at this point as it relates to developing, but that will change.
Tier 12?
Sarthin will be working on a few things, spells and spell interactions for one, but his first major development will be Tier 12 -- Kael Drakkel and the War of the Giants. His initial ideas look exciting, and Kael Drakkel has been a zone longed after by players to re-visit with EZ style content. As his development begins, KD will need to be locked out, so go check out KD one last time in the next 3-4 weeks, before it's locked until T12's launch.
Final Thoughts:
I am really excited about what's ahead, this addition only strengthens EZ Server, and adds someone with a passion for the game, but a bigger passion for EZ. Please welcome him to the team.
For Akkadius & Sarthin,
-Draca
Your EZ Admin Team
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written by Draca | 11927 Views | 15 Replies
Hello all, wanted to post a quick update regarding T11, as it's been some time since I put up a proper post about it. First thing, I continue to work to finish T11 as quickly as possible, however I have had a few personal issues that have run me down a bit. While there's obviously no requirement that I detail my issues, I am going to anyway.
For those who don't know, I own a Harley-Davidson dealership in California. While owning a business is rewarding, it can also have times where the work extends beyond business hours, and sometimes into a 7 day a week job. This has been the case off and on the past 6 months, as staffing challenges mean that work I can't do during the day, I have to finish at night. This is actually a relatively small aspect of my personal issues, the main one being that I have been spending about 3 weekends a month riding to LA (200 miles) to visit and help my parents who are staying in a motorhome to be closer to the UCLA Medical Center. My mom has been fighting progressively worsening COPD, but is on track to be accepted for a lung transplant, but to this point the number of tests and appointments she has had, has been pretty intense, and requires either my sisters or myself to go help her get to them. My Dad has been plagued over the past couple years by increasingly debilitating headaches, which despite Stanford and UCLA consultations, they don't have a diagnosis for, much less any treatment beyond laying down in a dark room. As his headaches have worsened, he seems to be developing dementia-type symptoms, which may be from the utter lack of sleep he gets due to his discomfort. Ultimately, they just require more attention than they would really prefer, but it also takes me away from my ability to put my full efforts into T11 as consistently as I'd like. While I do take a laptop with me, and can work on that, I am used to a 3 monitor setup where I can have everything I need up all at the same time, so tabbing through really slows me down to nearly worthless.
I am not saying this for sympathy, although I appreciate that people who don't really know me would genuinely care about my problems. I just want everyone to understand I am by no means burning out, I'm not going anywhere, I'm just a little run down as of late. I know that people will thank me for my work for EZ, and that it's a volunteer position on a free server, but just being around isn't the standard that I hold myself to. I want to produce quality content, fun content and most importantly content that is in keeping with EZ's legacy. EZ's community, while smaller than some, is the greatest game community I've been a part of, and it's one I'm proud to be a small part of carrying on. Akkadius has put a lot of faith in me, as have all of you, to deliver content that you can enjoy playing through, and take you away from your real problems if even for a bit. I am proud to be a part of the EZ Admin Team, and to carry on what has been passed down from Hunter and Basher, through Hateborne and Rent, and absolutely enjoy sharing what I do with all of you.
T11 is coming, I'm sorry it's not out already.
Some additional news coming soon regarding future developments.
-Draca <GM>
EZ Server Admin Team
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written by Draca | 6647 Views | 2 Replies
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written by Draca | 6647 Views | 6 Replies
Welcome to...
Misty Thicket!
Fighters and Casters Guild Quest v. 2.0 Product of Norway. Story:
Misty Thicket was once a place of harmony, where halflings and animals lived in relative peace. One day this mighty forest was overrun by Zargaroth the Enthraller, an evil shaman that sought to subdue other powerful beings of Norrath into doing his bidding. Zargaroth once walked the path of balance, then his lust for power led him astray. He sought dominion over the very forces he once revered.
Zargorath's tendrils reached far and wide, his whispers ensnaring even the mightiest of creatures. The legendary figures of ancient Kunark became ensnared and corrupted by his malevolence. Orcs, a simple-minded race, succumbed to his deceitful promises. The allure of strength and authority proved irresistible, and chaos tainted these sacred woods.
 Zargorath has shrouded his most formidable minions beneath the guise of both orcs and animals within the depths of Misty Thicket. Those embarking on the mission to complete the Casters- or Fighters Guild quest might encounter these once proud, now unwilling servants ensnared under Zargorath's rule. Garanel Rucksif is still trying to convince you that he never did such a thing as killing his family back in Kaladim. The fate that resides with him now is far worse than when Quellious made him a ghost and exiled him to the Unrest Estate. Quests:
Meet the UnderfootsDaisy and Finnegan presents you with tasks to undertake, each brimming with potential opportunities. Could there be financial gains, or perhaps something even greater? It's an enigma you must unravel on your own. Zargorath's most loyal apprentice holds a strong aversion to interruptions while diligently carrying out his master's commands. Should you thoroughly explore Misty, it's quite likely that you might discover a way to disrupt his focus, just be prepared if you do. Notes:This zone is intended for new players, and is not an alternative to farming the original NPC's if you are of higher level. There have been a number of complaints over the course of my run as GM about the roadblock that is the 'Guild' quests. Not that they are hard, or the grind too much, but its simply boring. Yes, there is some nostalgia to making the run to Lower Guk and killing the Ghoul Lord, or Froglok King, but having to kill them ad nauseum to equip a group for the Caster or Fighter's Guild quests isn't exactly exciting. Following a conversation about this in Discord, Sarthin made this comment: To which I asked the following question, and resulting conversation: In short order, Sarthin had a zone selected, and a good gameplan on what he wanted to do, and he got after it. Using his own server, he was able to learn and execute all of the NPC spawning, boss and quest scripting, a few items created, and generally pulled it out in an amazingly short period of time. Important Clarifications:• This is strictly a level appropriate zone, (ie. level 70) if you want to check it out, make some alts. • This is not a powerlevel through the Guild quests zone. Buffs are stripped on zone in, so you buff what you can buff. • There are a few fun reward items (with charges) to give new players some idea of what's available. • No doubles/triples/zone pulls (you can make a double or triple zone, but won't get double or triple loot). • It should take about as long as a normal farm for CG/FG items, on a per character basis. However, bosses spawn here based on the quest needs of anyone in the zone, so while it may take 2 hours under ideal conditions to farm a normal CG 'kit', if you have a full group, expect it to take 12 hours to complete all 6 in here. It's not intended to be an easier solution, but it allows you to play the game in a fun way, while possibly earning some plat and fun rewards. • As noted in the Discord chat picture, this isn't an admin position for Sarthin. All decisions made to this point have been cleared through, or made by me, and from this point on any changes will strictly come from my observations. For Akkadius & Rent, With great thanks to Sarthin for all his work on this, -Draca EZ Admin Team
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written by Draca | 6753 Views | 6 Replies
Dragonscale is Open.
Fixing a few issues that popped up during testing today, will resume tomorrow sometime.
Thank you to Sarthin, Denzig, Orkiho and Raygan for coming over today and poking around. There's enough missing right now that it doesn't really have a risk vs. reward feeling just yet, but finding what's broken, and some tuning information is super helpful.
Just a few things. Obviously the zone is incomplete, so you'll have to excuse the empty chunks of land, but what's needed for testing now should all be there. If possible, keeping track of how long the quests are taking to complete is important, as well as reporting any bugs or issues in OOC there. There is a new zone _chr file in the server files download for Dragonscale. I will be in and out of game, and there may be the odd random repop as fixes/changes get pushed up, but I'll try to announce first, and keep those to a minimum.
T11 is progressing along, but there is need for some testing of the first 15-20 entry quests. While the quests themselves should work, there is need to test NPC tuning, faction gain tuning, along with general gameplay in the zone. There is still portions of the zone that will be unpopulated or underpopulated, and spells have yet to be added to NPC’s, and won’t be by the 9th. Everyone is welcome, however this is early testing, so if you A) don’t like spoilers, or B) are prone to overreacting to difficult content, then it’s not for you. I need information like well thought out reviews, time to finish quests, time for faction gains, times to kill XYZ mobs with X sized raid. It is not at all a completed zone, and while it’s a framework for the entry quests, it’s all subject to changes and tuning. It’s possible it’s too easy in it’s current state, or it’s possible it’s too hard, but if you have the dedication to push through the difficulty, than I need you. Character data is right at 2 weeks old on Test, so most should be close to their current state.
Also of import to this testing, the Draca Sigil of Stability will not remain in it’s current state. I have been quite open about mistakes I’ve made being new to development, and that is one of them. It’s an unnecessary cause of friction, and rightfully so, as it’s a powerful item. It will be changed to simply a cosmetic token of my thanks, but lose it’s stats and buff click. Test and Production servers are currently on different server versions, however once testing is completed for T11, I will be able to update them to the same version and the change will be brought over to Prod. Changing this item in no way lessens my appreciation to those who are willing to spend their time grinding on content for no real gain, but it’s super important to bringing an exciting and balanced Tier to EZ.
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written by Draca | 6150 Views | 4 Replies
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