Dragon Spine Staff should be droppable in VP 1.0?

[Fountree]

Found some evidence that Dragon Spine Staff http://wiki.project1999.com/Dragon_Spine_Staff should be droppable in VP 1.0 today when researching it's proc on Allakhazam (http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=482#m103461387124288):

Multiple posts indicate that it was switched over to NO DROP status sometime in 2002:

Hrm...
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# Oct 14 2002 at 12:02 PM Rating: Decent
SirhcTurren
*
133 posts
We had two of these drop yesterday. (10-13) They are now No Drop.

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# May 06 2002 at 11:46 PM Rating: Excellent
tuttie
3 posts
Got this thing tonight and looks like they changed it. First it is now NO DROP. Everyone I talk to that has one says its pretty worthyless just a toy they use. Who can use is DRU ALL. It dont say nothing about Beastlord. Last for those who was wondering about casting time its 23.5 seconds. Really not worth carrying around at 7.5 weight.


Nohal
Lanys T'vyl


RE: the great thing would be....
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# Jun 17 2001 at 3:12 AM Rating: Default
Anonymous
Anonymous
My mistake, its a triggered effect, which means Right-click. This item is priceless and will never be sold, and more than likely never traded. Good luck folks.


-Ivy of Aro


why?
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# May 17 2001 at 12:53 PM Rating: Default
Anonymous
Anonymous
why would they put htis weapon on a high mob like Silverwing? i mean by the time you can get to VP your WIS is maxed and there is no need for the WIS on it. the dmg/del on this sux ass. unless bolt of karana is some awesome DD or DOT spell then this weapon is not worth the risk. but if you are in VP like we were and this dropped, then almost everyone will give it to a twink like i did cause no one wanted it.

If anyone could add something tangible to go along with these comments it'd be appreciated; if it was nerfed to NO DROP, when on the timeline that was, etc. I think that some of the language in these comments (2 direct ones, couple of indirect references it it being droppable) hold some serious weight though.

[Ele]

The information around Dragon Spine Staff is strange, perhaps there were 2 versions floating around? I can't find anything about a retroactive nerf or otherwise regarding the no drop status.

September 2000:
http://web.archive.org/web/20000915232803/http://gameznet.com/eq/equipment/dragon_spine_staff.html

http://i.imgur.com/zsGeMNJ.jpg

Druid's Grove thread from 2002, indicating not no drop. But check classes versus races and last update June/2001, which doesn't make sense with Beastlord being attached to it.
http://thedruidsgrove.org/archive/eq/t-3314.html

Was in Veeshan's Peak the other night and I picked up this thing on a rolloff with other druids:

Dragon Spine Staff
LORE ITEM MAGIC ITEM
Damage: 8
Delay: 20
Ratio: 2.5 Excellent
Wis: +14 Mana: +65
Weight: 7.5
Weapon Skill: Two Hand Blunt
Classes: Druid Beastlord
Races: Halfling Wood Elf Half Elf Human
Inventory Slot: Primary Melee
Required: Yes
Can be stored in Medium and larger containers
Last updated: Wed Jun 13 10:05:49 2001

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Effect: Bolt of Karana
Type: Triggered
Charges: Unlimited

Trying to figure out what the effect is for....what I know so far:

Melee Range to cast, 13.5 second cast
200 point DD (125 on other PCs), outdoor only
BUT, leaves a dot/debuff counter on the target

I remember when we got one of the first ones anywhere. My druid guildy who got it spent the next hour in VP trying to figure out what it did. It didnt even do any damage at the time.

it used to be a spamable dd.... before it was nerfed into uselessness with a 13.5 second cast time. it's ok for backing up booboo when farming spiders and that's about it.

But counter that with Legacy of Steel's updates, but these seem weird given the 2002 posts on Zam indicating recent no drop status:

October 2000:
http://www.legacyofsteel.net/Archives/Post/2000-10-28
http://www.legacyofsteel.net/home/archives/2000-10-28/sw_loot_1027a.jpg

January 2001:
http://www.legacyofsteel.net/home/archives/2001-01-08/dragonspinestaff.jpg

June/July 2001 discussion on EQDruids forum, no mention of trading the staff, just banking it since it was useless. http://web.archive.org/web/20010816205232/http://pub13.ezboard.com/fthedruidsgrovedruidicequipment.showMessage?topicI D=3274.topic

The Caster's Realm site lists Dragon Spine Staff a "new" weapon in the Kunark->Velious time line, but the links to the individual item page are dead in archive.org

[Aeolwind]

There are loot booboos in VP. Due to how long it has been I won't be nerfing them, yet. But it is coming.

[Erati]

There are loot booboos in VP. Due to how long it has been I won't be nerfing them, yet. But it is coming.

making this staff tradeable wouldnt b a nerf to me!

WTB Dragon Spine Thingy

[Ele]

There are loot booboos in VP. Due to how long it has been I won't be nerfing them, yet. But it is coming.

Winter :D

[Littlegyno 10.0]

Winter :D

aww god winter is coming.

[Aeolwind]

I can't say this is 'fixed', but it is definitely improved.

[Erati]

I can't say this is 'fixed', but it is definitely improved.

so this is tradable now?

this is great news !

[Aeolwind]

so this is tradable now?

this is great news !

Actually, the point in time that this fix will entail would be passed the droppable phase of this item, and it was retro-nerfed along with a long list of other items to be NO DROP.

[Erati]

Actually, the point in time that this fix will entail would be passed the droppable phase of this item, and it was retro-nerfed along with a long list of other items to be NO DROP.

oh....anyway we can see the list of items that are changing or is this stuff kept secret?

I was reading the clicky on the staff anyway and got less and less excited about it being tradable

[Aeolwind]

oh....anyway we can see the list of items that are changing or is this stuff kept secret?

I was reading the clicky on the staff anyway and got less and less excited about it being tradable
I'll dole it out after patch notes. I'm still doing research, so there might be more.

[Trax]

When Kunark and VP were launched, a handful of VP items were droppable for a short period of time. I think only AL and FoH were in VP at the time. It was quickly nerfed.

[Buriedpast]

Instant clicks shissar staff please