Update Notes: December 20, 2005 12/20/2005 7:00 AM
*** Headlines ***
- 'Tis the season for Frostfell time!
- Find quest givers easier with new quest indicators!
- Want to know the reward for completing a quest? No problem!
- New horses have been trained for Level 40 guilds -- Mistrunners and Nightmares!
- Subclass armor has a new look and class-tailored stats!
- Get ready to explore the new Fallen Gate!
- Summoned pets get more distinct looks!
- New enemy mastery choices at level 52!
- New EQII Expansions Reward: Receive bonus veteran reward time for owning Desert of
Flames!
*** Frostfell ***
- It's Frostfell time in Norrath!
- Talk to Gardy Giftgiver in either Qeynos Harbor or West Freeport once a day for lots
of fun presents! He has 15 to give you in all, including new music boxes that play your
favorite EverQuest Live tunes.
- Those Gigglegibber goblins are up to no good again. Help the Frostfell Elves save
Frostfell! Just talk to Pinchy Presentpeeler to start the quest.
- Celebrate the holidays by having snowball fights with all your friends.
- Buy decorations for your home from the Frostfell elves.
- The festivities commence in Qeynos Harbor and West Freeport. Look for the Frostfell
tree!
*** Questing ***
- An NPC that will offer, update, or complete a quest now has an indicator above its
head.
- A quill indicates that the NPC will offer you a quest.
- A book with a quill indicates that the NPC will update one of your quests.
- A book indicates that the NPC will complete one of your quests.
- NPCs that offer a quest 10 or more levels above or below your adventure
level will not display these indicators.
- You can turn off these indicators in the Options menu (User Interface
-> Name and Chat Bubble -> NPC Overhead Quest Icons).
- Zone maps now display a circle where there is a nearby NPC that offers, updates, or
completes a quest.
- NPCs that give a quest are indicated by an open yellow circle.
- NPCs that update or complete quests are indicated by a filled yellow circle.
- Mousing over these icons will show you the name of the NPC.
- NPCs that offer a quest 10 or more levels above or below your adventure level
will not be shown on the map.
- You can turn off the quest giver map icons in the Options menu (User Interface
-> Game Features -> Show quest icons on map).
- The Quest Journal will now display quest rewards--no more guessing what you'll receive
for performing a task. You will also be able to see quest rewards before accepting a new
quest.
- Not all quests will show their rewards; some special rewards are meant to be a
surprise.
- You can turn off the display of rewards in the Options menu (User Interface ->
Game Features -> Show quest rewards).
*** New Guild Level 40 Mounts ***
- New mounts have been trained for use by level 40 guilds.
- The Mistrunner is available to Qeynosians with plain, blue, and purple saddles.
- The Nightmare is available to Freeportians with plain, black, and red saddles.
*** Subclass Armor Quests ***
- The armor rewards for the level 20 subclass armor quests now have a unique appearance
per subclass.
- All of the armor now has unique stats appropriate for each subclass.
- If you have already completed your armor quests, speak with the assistant next to the
NPC you originally did the quests for.
*** Dungeon Exploration ***
Fallen Gate:
- The Fallen Gate has been invaded by Thexian explorers and Tseralith is stirring.
- The population within Fallen Gate has been improved, now with 50% more evil.
- Discover new treasures by exploring the Fallen Gate and vanquishing its denizens.
*** Summoned Pets ***
- Summoned pets now have consistent and distinct appearances at each spell level. For
example, the level 52 Conjurer ability Tellurian Myrmidon is the only spell that will
summon a rock elemental pet; the Necromancer ability Rotting Thrall is the only spell
that will summon the previously overused zombie. Other levels will summon different
creature types.
- Summoned pets in a given spell line have a distinct look at each quality tier. For
example, the Necromancer's Diseased Servant spell summons a skeleton warrior. As the
spell is increased in quality tier (Apprentice I, Adept I, etc.), the skeleton looks
more impressive.
- Temporary pets also have new appearances. For example, the Shadowknight's Tainted
Sacrament line will change in appearance with upgrades.
- Persistent summoned pets start out with a base number of abilities. An additional
ability is granted to the pet at each spell level upgrade.
- Pet spells in the level 52 to 60 spell range now have an additional ability that
they did not have before.
- Temporary Pets (e.g. Conjurer's Roaring Flames and Necromancer's Ghastly Stench) will
now cast their close-range AoE spell more often.
- Pets will no longer inherit abilities based on their creature type.
- Temporary Pets now display their owner's name.
- Fighter and Scout pets now use their combat arts more often.
- Fighter pets now taunt more often, and their taunts have a lower chance of being resisted.
Their taunt effectiveness should now scale properly with level.
- Some Conjurer Fighter pets now have interrupt/knock-down effects, while some Necromancer
Fighter pets now have root / stifle effects.
- Scout pets had their damage adjusted based on the reuse timer of the combat art. Slower
combat arts now do increased damage, while faster combat arts now do less damage. Overall,
Scout pets should deal about the same amount of damage they did before.
- Mage pets focus more on AoE spells than they used to. These spells have generally been
made more effective.
- Mage pets are much more resistant to spell damage than they were before, and the size of
their power pool has been increased. Casting times on their spells were generally decreased,
and their single-target spells will land more often than they did before.
- The Illusionist pet spell list now also includes Stunning Array, Lock Mind, and a direct
damage / mez spell. They no longer try to cast DoT spells on their target.
- Summoned pets now have the same base run speed as their owners.
*** Enemy Mastery ***
- Player characters can now choose from four new Enemy Mastery options at level 52: Cyclops,
Djinn, Harpy, or Naga.
- You will automatically be granted the ability to choose your new Enemy Mastery option --
just click the blinking character advancement icon.
*** Veteran Rewards ***
- If you own Desert of Flames, you will receive 90 days added to your Account Age, which is
used to determine which Veteran Rewards you are eligible for.
- It's our way of saying thanks to those of you who are enjoying our expansion.
*** Desert of Flames ***
*** Zones and Population ***
- Be on your toes. The Hall of a Hundred Doors is now faster than before.
- The Black Queen in the Court of Al-Afaz is now more difficult to vanquish.
- Wandering Djinn and all named creatures within the Poet's Palace now see invisible
players.
- A heroic giant encounter will no longer spawn after killing solo devils and falcons in
the Pillars of Flame.
- Increased chances of Anaz'Mal diviners spawning in the Sinking Sands.
- Increased spawn rate on Anaz'Mal relics slightly in the Sinking Sands.
- Increased spawn rate of Sandscrawler Magus goblins and slightly reduced spawn rate of
Sandscrawler grunts / menders in the Sinking Sands.
- Increased the spawn rate of the Sul'Dal skeletons in the Eye of Anuk in the Sinking
Sands.
- Charra'zon, Uphian, Zathos, and King Vach should be more of an appropriate challenge
now.
- Terrorantula can now be attacked from a greater distance.
*** Quests ***
- The quests for the treasure chest keys in the Clefts of Rujark are now repeatable.
- Shing Ho and Shu Fang Qi will now allow characters currently on "Disciples Edicts" and
"Service to the Order" to complete those quests when the characters' faction is kindly or
above.
*** The Splitpaw Saga ***
- The Vault in Acts of War and Brutal Acts of War should no longer be grey to lvl 60
players.
- Kitty can no longer be found in the Hidden Cache; it seems that a bucket of fish has taken
up residence where she once was.
*** Gameplay ***
- Poisons and potions will no longer drop when you die.
- Heroic Opportunities will now only appear for nearby members of your group. Group members
who are not near each other can now initiate heroic opportunities with separate encounters.
- Pets will hide when riding the griffon or transport carpets, instead of having to dismiss
them.
- Ungrouped players are now chosen first to be kicked out of an instance that has raid size
limits.
- Coercers can now duel with a charmed pet.
- Poisons (as well as other applied effects that have a chance to proc on a successful attack)
now only trigger upon successful attacks made with the weapon in the primary hand. Note:
Weapons with an inherent damage proc (like all crafted imbued weapons) are unaffected and will
continue to proc regardless of which hand they are equipped in.
- NPC movement speeds have been increased proportionate to Live Update #17's player run speed
increase.
*** Quests ***
- Fethar Lothki and Ethri Vasou's group writs now point at Spiritbound apothecaries instead of
mystics.
- You can again talk with Deputy Stoutgut to complete "I Hate Those Wimmin."
- Mooshga in the Commonlands will now allow adventurers who have already been working for her
to complete "Mooshga's Good Eats."
- Blood vipers instead of fairy seekers are required to complete the "Outlying Freeport Creature
Catalog" quest.
- The rock for the Robe of the Invoker no longer spawns on the ground, but will drop more
frequently from creatures.
*** Zones and Population ***
- Players will be able to advance through Nektropos Castle after completing the Everling
Lockets quest and killing Lord Everling without having to complete the event again. Those
who have previously completed it before this change will have to complete it one last
time.
- Some named creatures within the Feerrott and Cazic-Thule can no longer be charmed.
- Centipedes will no longer count as snakes when hunting for quests in the Thundering
Steppes.
*** Items ***
- Many level 50+ tradeskilled bucklers now provide a wisdom benefit.
- Item Health and Power regen rates now all use the same regeneration standard and cap out
at the following currently:
- In-combat HP regen cap is (3 x Level)
- In-combat Power regen cap is (1.5 x Level)
- In-combat item HP regen cap is (3 x Level x 0.5)
- In-combat item Power regen cap is (1.5 x Level x 0.5)
- Raid leaders who have set group loot options to leader-only will be able to distribute loot
to any member of any group in the raid.
- A dog catcher has passed through the Thundering Steppes and the ankle biter population is
once again under control.
*** Spells and Combat Arts ***
- Stone skin effects will now work regardless of the level of the attacker.
Assassin Changes:
- Assassin's Blade had its damage reduced by 6%, but its reuse timer was lowered by 40%.
- Assassin's Mark had its reuse timer lowered to 30 seconds, and its proc rate was reduced to
5%. It now procs only once, and places a debuff that causes the target to take damage for every
melee hit instead of damage over time.
- Friendly Shadows can now only be cast on another player character.
Berserker Changes:
- Provoking Stance and its upgrades now place a heavy snare on the caster instead of a root.
Coercer Changes:
- Damaged Psyche is now less likely to be resisted.
Enchanter Changes:
- Daunting Gaze and its subclass upgrades now have a casting time of 2 seconds.
Guardian Changes:
- Goading Defense and its upgrades now place a heavy snare on the caster instead of a root.
- Entrench now breaks less often, costs less power, has a reduced casting time, and has a shorter
reuse timer. Its duration now increases with level.
- Tower of Stone reduced the amount of shield damage received.
- Sentry Watch now has a reduced casting time, a larger radius of effect, and a shorter reuse
timer.
Illusionist Changes:
- Disappointment is now less likely to be resisted.
Paladin Changes:
- Amends now siphons slightly less hate.
Priest Changes:
- Instant group heal spell lines had their radius increased from 10 meters to 20 meters.
Ranger Changes:
- Dance of Trees had its icon changed to match the rest of the ability line.
- Stream of Arrows is no longer resisted as if it were a spell.
Shadowknight Changes:
- Summon Squire can now be toggled, and will persist across zone lines.
- Pox Sword will now appear under Combat Arts.
Sorcerer Changes:
- Concussive is a new level 15 spell that will reduce hate with the next spell that lands on
the Sorcerer's target.
Summoner Changes:
- Call Servant is a new level 15 spell that will teleport a summoned pet to the
Summoner.
- Fighter pets should now use attack animations more often when they use combat arts.
Swashbuckler Changes:
- Swarthy Distraction can now only be cast on another player character.
- Flamboyant Strike's examine info should now be correct.
- Hail of Steel is no longer resisted as if it were a spell.
Templar Changes:
- Beams of Faith now has a shorter reuse timer.
- Reverence had its heal percentage increased.
- Unyielding Benediction is now a more appropriate upgrade to Vigilant Benediction.
Warden Changes:
- Hierophantic Genesis had its initial power cost reduced. It also grants a small amount of
power recovery over time to the recipient.
- Winds of Frost had its power cost increased to be more appropriate for the amount of damage
it deals.
- The healing effects of Protecting Grove will now match the range indicated on the spell.
Warlock Changes:
- Boundless Fury is now correctly set as a level 56 spell instead of level 58. The recipe's
level was also adjusted.
- Toxic Grasp and Virulent Grasp now have examine info that matches each spell's effect.
- Netherous Realm now also triggers procs from disease-based spells.
Warrior Changes:
- Hold the Line now places a heavy snare on the caster instead of a root.
Wizard Changes:
- Fiery Inferno is now correctly set as a level 56 spell instead of level 58. The recipe's
level was also adjusted.
*** Tradeskills ***
- The following level 50+ food and drinks now have an increased duration:
- Artichoke Stew
- Beer Braised Camian
- Caiman Pasta
- Dried Pear
- Eel Soup
- Herring Sandwich
- Pear Muffins
- Coriander Grilled Caiman
- Coriander Grilled Herring
- Fiery Sabertooth Steak
- Macadamia Pie
- Shrimp Pasta
- Artichoke Kalish
- Chai
- Creamed Maj'Dul Coffee
- Dark Pear Ale
- Gingerbread Man
- Glogg
- Golden Eye
- Mulled Pear Wine
- Pear Fizzlepop
- Pear Sparkling Wine
- Pear Tea
- Starcrest Kiss
- Starcrest Coffee
- The Overlord
- Mental Core Breach (This is a six step recipe, so it additionally increases the
user's power pool by 100).
- Many level 50+ Provisioner recipes are now "finish" recipes rather than "interim."
- Unhallowed Aura (Shadowknight) should now have the correct name in its corresponding Alchemy
recipe books.
*** Art ***
- The following items now have an updated appearance: Gloves of the Dark Disciple, Sandals of
the Dark Disciple, Gi of the Dark Disciple, Shoulder Pads of the Dark Disciple, Skullcap of
the Dark Disciple, Rujarkian Woven Gi.
*** Commands, Controls, and User Interface ***
- The base resistibility of a hostile spell is now shown in the spell's examine info.
- The faction window will now automatically keep factions sorted as they change.
- Pet combat now shows under its own chat category (Combat -> Melee Combat -> Your Pet
Hits, etc)
- Pet damage bubbles will appear colored to the owner:
- Pet hits something: yellow
- Pet gets hit: dark red
- Combat bubble colors can now be changed in the options (User Interface-> Combat Bubble
Colors)
- The count of house items on your house window will now indicate how many actual items you
have and how many count toward the max for your house type.
- The raid window will now correctly highlight group leaders.
- You can now search for food and drink by level range.
- You can now search for drinks separately from food.
- Group loot messages will now contain links to items.
|
