P99 is a custom easy mode server

[azxten]

Never forget everything that has happened on P99 occurred with EQEmu channeling code. Level 1 you have 70% success rate compared to 30% in classic. You're basically a level 40 caster starting at level 1. Finding this out and putting in the work for this bug report is what ruined P99 for me.

https://project1999.com/forums/showthread.php?t=395675

I don't know what the staff thinks about this because they haven't said a word since I originally told Nilbog I was looking into this and he said he would check it out. I believe he said something like "next week." So did they change anything? Are they using stock EQEmu channeling? I don't know but I do know I confirmed on P99 at level 1 you've got ~50-70% success rate when I started this research.

So even if they want to provide the usual snarky response after months/years of ignoring the community, I'd contend it's a dick move to tell someone you're going to look into hours of work they put into your project then ghosting them when it seems to reveal the server is wildly unclassic and basically easy mode.

Just remember every single time you channel a spell you're experiencing custom easy mode EverQuest. Especially if more than one mob is hitting you because EQEmu just applies an adjustment for multiple attack hits up to a cap around 15 but in classic every hit required a separate channeling roll and if any of them failed you wouldn't cast.

This is before we even get into things like experience rates, raiding, and all the other easy mode aspects of P99.

[loramin]

I hear Quarm is going to at least have "close to classic" resist rate: maybe not Velious era, but at least Luclin era.

Regarding resists: TAKP's resist system is modeled off of the resist revamp that occurred late into Luclin, which is mostly what is still used on Live. A Sony dev posted pseudocode of it a decade ago and I parsed a ton of logs so it's quite accurate. It is however more forgiving than classic to Velious era resists in most cases, not harsher. I've no clue on the specifics of p99's implementation so I can't say how it compares to p99. Classic era resist logic is high on my wishlist of things I'd like to know.

As for P99 ... Nilbog has been working to recreate classic here for over a decade here. That's a really long time!

I 100% agree with you about P99 being "easy mode", and I've been been the old man yelling at a cloud about it in these forums for years. But at the same time, I've had a ton of fun on this "easy mode" server, and I'm extremely appreciative of Rogean's, Nilbog's, and any many others' efforts to let everyone play here.

If, after more than ten years, Nilbog has given up on keeping it classic, and he's ok with keeping it "easy mode" ... well, I think he's earned that :)

[Rygar]

I'm sure calling him out here will motivate him to reply to other people in the future. Good job OP.

Also beware the "seemingling easy" fix that may really be a rat's nest of client hacks that may be very technically challenging to incorporate into a server that has been patched for 15 years with bandaid code.

[Infectious]

Never forget everything that has happened on P99 occurred with EQEmu channeling code. Level 1 you have 70% success rate compared to 30% in classic. You're basically a level 40 caster starting at level 1. Finding this out and putting in the work for this bug report is what ruined P99 for me.

https://project1999.com/forums/showthread.php?t=395675

I don't know what the staff thinks about this because they haven't said a word since I originally told Nilbog I was looking into this and he said he would check it out. I believe he said something like "next week." So did they change anything? Are they using stock EQEmu channeling? I don't know but I do know I confirmed on P99 at level 1 you've got ~50-70% success rate when I started this research.

So even if they want to provide the usual snarky response after months/years of ignoring the community, I'd contend it's a dick move to tell someone you're going to look into hours of work they put into your project then ghosting them when it seems to reveal the server is wildly unclassic and basically easy mode.

Just remember every single time you channel a spell you're experiencing custom easy mode EverQuest. Especially if more than one mob is hitting you because EQEmu just applies an adjustment for multiple attack hits up to a cap around 15 but in classic every hit required a separate channeling roll and if any of them failed you wouldn't cast.

This is before we even get into things like experience rates, raiding, and all the other easy mode aspects of P99.

Bozo got curved by Nilbog and now thinks he speaks for the community.... LOL. Channeling is perfect here. Go critique else where you clown.

[magnetaress]

don't forget to put agi in ur stats

[magnetaress]

#meetoo also

like i can't play on p99 even tho i love what they did for the community they are retired tho

i actually had one of these once in a data center like a real fuckin data center with multiple floors and access to big backbone pipes and halon and fuckin security with uzis ok

https://i.imgur.com/eiv4EgX.png

and we where running some mail service on this lil bitch

i imagine this is what p99 is now

and that is OK

no need to hurry it along ppl will def fall ill and into despair along with this projects demise

OP is 100% right tho and I called that shit 60 years ago today

[azxten]

I'm sure calling him out here will motivate him to reply to other people in the future. Good job OP.

Also beware the "seemingling easy" fix that may really be a rat's nest of client hacks that may be very technically challenging to incorporate into a server that has been patched for 15 years with bandaid code.

Holding people accountable is important. I've donated money to this project. I've contributed code changes. I'm going to continue pointing out that the staff have seemingly abandoned this project or are embracing a custom server path.

They have bait and switched the community that supported P99 and seem to be fine appealing to people who have no notions of what classic EQ was like in order to maintain a population here and reduce any effort on their part to actually provide a classic experience.

All the excuses about volunteers, time constraints, it's their project, and so on are just that. They're excuses for the people running this project who aren't keeping their word. A lot of people here played and contributed because we believed the staff would continue to promote classic EQ in the way they had years ago when all of this started.

That has all changed though and although the now expected lack of communication offers a lot of room for speculation, none of us know why they act the way they do. Many of us are sick of dealing with it though and this includes former staff who also quit because of inaction and apathy. I'll continue to express my displeasure with the direction P99 has taken as a long standing community member who was given financially and technically to the project.

[Naethyn]

Probably step back and evaluate if it is worth your time and energy. Otherwise this is going to turn into another cry for help. If you go too far with it your subconscious will eventually find a way for you to quit (ban). You aren't unique here. Many have traveled this path.

[azxten]

Probably step back and evaluate if it is worth your time and energy. Otherwise this is going to turn into another cry for help. If you go too far with it your subconscious will eventually find a way for you to quit (ban). You aren't unique here. Many have traveled this path.

The thing is it is worth my time and effort because if P99 staff would stop putting the entire thing on their own shoulders by virtue of refusing to leverage community input then I wouldn't have to remake everything.

I'll gladly keep poking them in the hopes they remember the good old days and consider my suggestion they leverage community contributions by overhauling the bug report process instead of ignoring everyone. It would be a lot less effort on my part if they did that and I could get obvious classic mechanics implemented in P99 than it is to rebuild everything.

There is a tremendous amount of community contribution that has gone into P99 but many of these people are left feeling unappreciated. It's obvious to me that back porting TAKP source changes into EQEmu with content flagging and releasing an open source community server where people can collaborate without waiting on Nilbog/Rogean is the way to go for classic EQ. We don't need them as gate keepers anymore so they can either wake up and return to the goal P99 had and admit the community has built P99 so it deserves consideration and communication or we can go around them.

[loramin]

https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53e3bacbe4b022bcdbe1f538/1504716575618-V35N1IC3TKVGQZHX9DR7/Take-a-Break.gif

[azxten]

https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/53e3bacbe4b022bcdbe1f538/1504716575618-V35N1IC3TKVGQZHX9DR7/Take-a-Break.gif

I haven't played EQ in like 3 years. I need to stop taking a break but P99 is garbage now. Don't tell me when I've had enough!

[Toxigen]

why dont you take all this pent up rage and go help secrets w/ quarm instead of posting in rnf

[azxten]

why dont you take all this pent up rage and go help secrets w/ quarm instead of posting in rnf

Because Secrets wants to make another closed source garbage box server with Uthgaard whereas I want to make P99 better or create an open source community collaboration server. Secrets has posted for years now about wanting to run a server. I don't want to run a server it's a pain in the fucking ass and I don't blame P99 devs for walking on this community I only blame them for not admitting it and telling everyone.

Watch out for server admins desperate for power and to "run it all from behind the curtain" it never ends well. Uthgaard himself is already a notorious power tripping hack as a GM so it speaks volumes they're teaming up.

[booter]

uthgaard is involved? lol

[Naethyn]

Because Secrets wants to make another closed source garbage box server...

TAKP is fully open source and Project Quarm will be as well. The server, while I'm going to keep it up forever.

https://github.com/SecretsOTheP/EQMacEmu
https://github.com/SecretsOTheP/quests

The DB will be uploaded in full with its era-accurate changes in the EQMacEmu repository on my Github.

I have the support of some of TAKProject's dev team - namely Torven, solar, and Elroz. Uthgaard will be assisting with content / expansion flagging as he did on Project 1999, and I'll spend time mentoring and assisting all disciplines, including the CSR team, as needed.

Feel free to contribute to the project. I'll be keeping a section for the development of the server even post-launch in Discord.

[BigPlays]

One thing I learned on P99 is that the devs try to make things classic based on things that were said on old forums like Alakazam etc.

Not even the OG EQ devs know 100% for sure how things were coded or how things worked. If I learned anything from the dev interviews it was "It probably was this" or "It might have been that". Somehow the original source code was lost and you can only guesstimate.

I do remember being a druid that I would get tons of fizzles at lower levels...like a lot.

[Pootle]

One thing I learned on P99 is that the devs try to make things classic based on things that were said on old forums like Alakazam etc.

Not even the OG EQ devs know 100% for sure how things were coded or how things worked. If I learned anything from the dev interviews it was "It probably was this" or "It might have been that". Somehow the original source code was lost and you can only guesstimate.

I do remember being a druid that I would get tons of fizzles at lower levels...like a lot.

So instead of researching old forums and Alakazam, they are supposed to instead go by what you "remember"?

[BigPlays]

So instead of researching old forums and Alakazam, they are supposed to instead go by what you "remember"?

Have you read those forums? Half of the posts end up in people just calling each other faggots etc.

[Arvan]

Have you tried calling Rogean's work? I heard that has a 100% response and results rate.

[long.liam]

Have you tried calling Rogean's work? I heard that has a 100% response and results rate.

Lol. One way ticket to Ban town. I'm honestly surprised Rogean and Nilbog even allow people like this here. If I were in charge of the server, I'd be handing out permabans to people like this left and right. I don't have the patience to deal with whiners.

[Secrets]

Because Secrets wants to make another closed source garbage box server with Uthgaard whereas I want to make P99 better or create an open source community collaboration server. Secrets has posted for years now about wanting to run a server. I don't want to run a server it's a pain in the fucking ass and I don't blame P99 devs for walking on this community I only blame them for not admitting it and telling everyone.

Watch out for server admins desperate for power and to "run it all from behind the curtain" it never ends well. Uthgaard himself is already a notorious power tripping hack as a GM so it speaks volumes they're teaming up.

Project Quarm will be fully open source, as is TAKProject. I hope P99 benefits from it in some way.

"Power" doesn't really get you anything tangible like you think it does, by the way. I don't get anything out of running this. It's a massive burden on peoples' personal lives to run something like this.

[BigPlays]

Would be nice to get a PvP server as well. One with limited rules aside from hacking/cheating etc.

[Seducio]

I'm extremely appreciative of Rogean's, Nilbog's, and any many others' efforts to let everyone play here.

This is my general stance on the server. Although I would never volunteer my time here based on way too many observations of seeing folks not get appreciated for their contributions. So I get you OP.

P99 really should be open source for what it is offering. The fact that it isn't is something that gets more and more indefensible over time.

OP in the long run the server you wish for will emerge.

The tools exist now if you really wanted to build your Field of Dreams.

Cheers

[mycoolrausch]

Harder doesn't mean more challenging. It just means more limited. More limited in what classes are effective in a certain situations, more limited in how many people you need to bring for a certain encounter. Etc.

Modern MMOs "nerfed" "easy mode" things like pack splitting into single pulling. Nobody think it made those games more challenging. You just have to fight the packs a specific way with a specific number of people. It's more limiting and more boring. The channeling nerf seems much along these lines.

[Naethyn]

EQ isn't hard because of the environment. In fact that is what EQ is probably at its weakest. What makes P99 unique and hard is the other people.

[Seducio]

The number of high level people doesn't make it hard rather it creates scarcity that didn't exist on live. Scarcity doesn't make the game hard. It makes it so everyone wants the same crap once they are 60. This creates the guild structures that currently exist, raid rules, UN discord etc. On live this was never an issue due to new expansions and increased level caps.

Basically p99 just extends the Velious end game indefinitely and the longer you stay the more RNG will favor you. However just like a casino that hooked you. The house always wins. What did you gain? A gaming experience. What did you lose? Time forever. Yet, you keep coming back.

[Trexller]

This is my general stance on the server. Although I would never volunteer my time here based on way too many observations of seeing folks not get appreciated for their contributions. So I get you OP.

Rog-Bog aren't running this for appreciation

[Seducio]

Trex that is less than half a thought. What are you saying.

"Our goal is to restore the magic and difficulty of the original Everquest game, including the mechanics, interface, and challenges of Original Content, Kunark, and Velious. Project 1999 is the most popular and most accurate reincarnation of Old School Everquest."

[Trexller]

yeah what part of that statement suggests anything like

"Please give us praise and appreciation"

the ass kissing plebs around here are always like, "DURR I appreciate the work they do"

as if the P99 devs actually give a fuck whether you live or die

They don't

back in like 2008 a group of nerds on ventrilo were like, "Hey I wonder if we could emulate the live EQ servers, specifically the classic EQ game"

then they did it

that's it

[Seducio]

Project 1999 is the most popular and most accurate reincarnation of Old School Everquest."

Your right they don't care that p99 is the most popular server. They don't care at all. They care so little about that fact that they even put it on the front of their site advertising the server.

Since you are so brilliant though go ahead and continue to show the world that you figured it all out.

[Seducio]

Shitty humans that lack the ability to show gratitude are fun to talk to.

[unsunghero]

The only and I mean ONLY way to show appreciation that anyone gives a fuck about is

You guessed it

Money

Everyone appreciates money. I donate, and I hope others donate, especially the chronically online people no-life-ing the fucking bottleneck items in this game. But I doubt they do!

In fact, I bet that some of the people who play the most, donate the least

[Grumph]

Was expecting another riff along the lines of that poll on worst carebear decision.

But I do appreciate the time and energy you put into nerfing monks.

6.5/10

[Rygar]

The only and I mean ONLY way to show appreciation that anyone gives a fuck about is

Money

Oh there are more ways. I was going to say accurate bug report posts with linked evidence. That way you are helping the end goal of the server and you leave it a better place.

[BigPlays]

The number of high level people doesn't make it hard rather it creates scarcity that didn't exist on live. Scarcity doesn't make the game hard. It makes it so everyone wants the same crap once they are 60. This creates the guild structures that currently exist, raid rules, UN discord etc. On live this was never an issue due to new expansions and increased level caps.

Basically p99 just extends the Velious end game indefinitely and the longer you stay the more RNG will favor you. However just like a casino that hooked you. The house always wins. What did you gain? A gaming experience. What did you lose? Time forever. Yet, you keep coming back.

This. While I find it nice to pop in every so often, my days of putting time into this are long gone. People still play this like it they did back in the day...16 hour sessions, 3am batphones and in the end nothing to show for it.

[Arvan]

Lol. One way ticket to Ban town. I'm honestly surprised Rogean and Nilbog even allow people like this here. If I were in charge of the server, I'd be handing out permabans to people like this left and right. I don't have the patience to deal with whiners.

The person who did this reversed their ban. So its a one way ticket to unban town!

[loramin]

Oh there are more ways. I was going to say accurate bug report posts with linked evidence. That way you are helping the end goal of the server and you leave it a better place.

Just to circle back, isn't that exactly what azxten did? He presented a bug post with evidence to help make this place more classic, and the staff said:

https://y.yarn.co/befc4fc4-1c11-4708-8fe1-98e66650213c_text.gif

Or am I missing something?

[Ooloo]

Kind of a sidebar issue but I have noticed lately a lot of strange spammy GM server messages. Today for example "Hey send this other gm a joke! You get a prize!" or "Everyone send tells to X they just leveled!". Or gm's showing up at EC tunnel and turning everyone into a spider. It just comes off as spammy and makes the server seem like an emu being run out of some kid's basement.

[booter]

Kind of a sidebar issue but I have noticed lately a lot of strange spammy GM server messages. Today for example "Hey send this other gm a joke! You get a prize!" or "Everyone send tells to X they just leveled!". Or gm's showing up at EC tunnel and turning everyone into a spider. It just comes off as spammy and makes the server seem like an emu being run out of some kid's basement.

turns out it's just been an emu being run in some dude's basement this entire time

[Infectious]

Because Secrets wants to make another closed source garbage box server with Uthgaard whereas I want to make P99 better or create an open source community collaboration server. Secrets has posted for years now about wanting to run a server. I don't want to run a server it's a pain in the fucking ass and I don't blame P99 devs for walking on this community I only blame them for not admitting it and telling everyone.

Watch out for server admins desperate for power and to "run it all from behind the curtain" it never ends well. Uthgaard himself is already a notorious power tripping hack as a GM so it speaks volumes they're teaming up.

Or you're legit retarded with napkin math. No one wants a problem like you part of their project.

[Ooloo]

turns out it's just been an emu being run in some dude's basement this entire time

I've played on it since 2009 and I don't remember so many wacky GM antics that are totally disconnected from the themes and lore of the game, just saying it's kind of off putting.

[loramin]

It's a catch-22 situation. For years here everyone complained that there were no GM events, so now the GMs responded and gave us "GM Events"

https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExbHVuZmowYjYxZnQwdG5qNzhoOHV6YWR 4ejB0Z3E0Y2I1MGxzaWd4MyZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjd D1n/qs6ev2pm8g9dS/giphy.gif

... and now people complain about the events instead.

Of course, if the staff did actual/classic GM events, instead of just illusion trolling, I'm sure everyone would love them and there would be no complaints ... except for the GMs themselves.

Evidently they hate running classic GM events (I'm not putting words in their mouth, I'm just going by the fact that they never run them). So in summary:


run no events: players complain
run illusion events: players complain
run classic GM events: GMs complain


There's no way to make everyone happy.

[Ooloo]

Yeah that's very true. And 99% of the time I have nothing but sympathy for the people who volunteer to steer this whole thing. It's just the random arbitrary yellow text shouts that are kind of jarring. When I see yellow text I immediately think it's a quake, then you read it and it's like oh.. uh, doofus mcgee leveled? Who is that? Why is a gm shouting this? Why are we being instructed to send somebody tells? What is going on?

The bristlebane thing was really cool, that's the type of gm event I love.

[nilbog]

Never forget everything that has happened on P99 occurred with EQEmu channeling code. Level 1 you have 70% success rate compared to 30% in classic. You're basically a level 40 caster starting at level 1. Finding this out and putting in the work for this bug report is what ruined P99 for me.

https://project1999.com/forums/showthread.php?t=395675

I don't know what the staff thinks about this because they haven't said a word since I originally told Nilbog I was looking into this and he said he would check it out. I believe he said something like "next week." So did they change anything? Are they using stock EQEmu channeling? I don't know but I do know I confirmed on P99 at level 1 you've got ~50-70% success rate when I started this research.

So even if they want to provide the usual snarky response after months/years of ignoring the community, I'd contend it's a dick move to tell someone you're going to look into hours of work they put into your project then ghosting them when it seems to reveal the server is wildly unclassic and basically easy mode.

Just remember every single time you channel a spell you're experiencing custom easy mode EverQuest. Especially if more than one mob is hitting you because EQEmu just applies an adjustment for multiple attack hits up to a cap around 15 but in classic every hit required a separate channeling roll and if any of them failed you wouldn't cast.

This is before we even get into things like experience rates, raiding, and all the other easy mode aspects of P99.

Without getting into all the vitriol, I again, thank you for the interest/work you did regarding the subject of channeling. At the time it was posted, we had more source code devs than are active now, and (this one bug report) has not been finalized for a patch. If we use any portion of what you suggested, you will certainly be credited.

Kind of a sidebar issue but I have noticed lately a lot of strange spammy GM server messages. Today for example "Hey send this other gm a joke! You get a prize!" or "Everyone send tells to X they just leveled!". Or gm's showing up at EC tunnel and turning everyone into a spider. It just comes off as spammy and makes the server seem like an emu being run out of some kid's basement.

What GM server messages are you talking about? Send me a PM and describe specifics if you want. From a cursory glance, I don't see them.


Of course, if the staff did actual/classic GM events, instead of just illusion trolling, I'm sure everyone would love them and there would be no complaints ... except for the GMs themselves.

Evidently they hate running classic GM events (I'm not putting words in their mouth, I'm just going by the fact that they never run them).

Do you have enough evidence to 'run classic GM events'? That's the blocker I came across; I don't. There are ongoing efforts to do several classically 'inspired' events, but to simply say, oh yeah, run classic GM events without knowing requirements. That's not happening.

[Ripqozko]

We need the best GM event, Project M still. Orc pawn gang gang

[Rygar]

Just to circle back, isn't that exactly what azxten did? He presented a bug post with evidence to help make this place more classic, and the staff said:

https://y.yarn.co/befc4fc4-1c11-4708-8fe1-98e66650213c_text.gif

Or am I missing something?

Did they really say that or say "we'll look into it"? Don't give me some 'silence speaks volumes' BS either. Peeps have real life that doesn't cause them to fix things instantly. and like I said, some seemingly simply mechanics can be very tricky to implement. As an example Telin was unable to increase frequency of mage pet casts just by playing with database values. +mana cap on items has very good evidence, but who knows how this client handles things. Sneak Pulling / Push to interrupt NPCs was the silliest easy mode thing that was super not classic and lasted for like 10 years or something before being fixed.

The fact is this server emulates classic everquest extremely accurately as back in the day. Meta junkies need to chill the fuck out and stop bitching when a fix doesn't go their way immediately and just be thankful for what they have. If they never patched P99 ever again it would still be an awesome museum server to the original EQ.

[aussenseiter]

We need the best GM event, Project M still. Orc pawn gang gang

There's lots of bad legends server loot available, it doesn't all have to be guises.

[magnetaress]

It doesn't matter if the majority of archived allahkazam or eq castersrealm agrees with us tho. Or if we post evidence.


All it takes is one opinion to the contrary on 2002 allahkazam and a half assed showeq cloning of EQmac missing tons of data to "prove" a community of OG EQ addicts who where there in 1999 "wrong" on basis of "feels for how dragons in NToV" should be like and "fairness".

The EQ i remember was nothing like the p99 of now mostly tho because those still playing play in a specifically biased way (that leads to more unclassic changes) than the majority who played classicly.

[Rygar]

Such exaggerations up in here about "single zam post waaaah". That is hardly ever the case except for low barrier things like proving an item existed at a certain point in time.

Raid rules aside the game is legit classic, and obviously working towards constant improvement

[Infectious]

Did they really say that or say "we'll look into it"? Don't give me some 'silence speaks volumes' BS either. Peeps have real life that doesn't cause them to fix things instantly. and like I said, some seemingly simply mechanics can be very tricky to implement. As an example Telin was unable to increase frequency of mage pet casts just by playing with database values. +mana cap on items has very good evidence, but who knows how this client handles things. Sneak Pulling / Push to interrupt NPCs was the silliest easy mode thing that was super not classic and lasted for like 10 years or something before being fixed.

The fact is this server emulates classic everquest extremely accurately as back in the day. Meta junkies need to chill the fuck out and stop bitching when a fix doesn't go their way immediately and just be thankful for what they have. If they never patched P99 ever again it would still be an awesome museum server to the original EQ.

Exactly. Let them turn off this server and see what people have to say.

[enjchanter]

If I get my cast interrupted at level 1 I will have more fun

Tru or tru

[loramin]

Do you have enough evidence to 'run classic GM events'? That's the blocker I came across; I don't. There are ongoing efforts to do several classically 'inspired' events, but to simply say, oh yeah, run classic GM events without knowing requirements. That's not happening.

I have no such evidence, unless you count screenshots of a Luclin-era event :(

https://i.imgur.com/hRI5xoA.png

What I meant by a " classic GM event" was what you called ""classically 'inspired'". In other words, I don't think getting the classic details right is what's important. What's important is that instead of just a GM casting illusions, the event would involve ... well, more fun:


a new NPC, ie. GM with a special model, shows up somewhere (seeing new NPCs is fun)

around the same time, or maybe after the NPC talks a bit, a threat spawns (seeing new mobs is fun)

that threat is probably too high for the zone and will mow down some lowbies (even getting killed in a GM event is a fun story)

the players in the zone have a short amount of time to interact with the NPC (trying to figure out what's going on is fun, and it offers some time to bring your friends in on the fun)

before the zone overflows with people, the GM asks everyone for assistance somehow: kill the summoned monster, or bring him a certain item, or whatever (trying to solve a unique quest is fun)

the winner(s) get a coveted GM Item ... maybe a truly unique and special piece of gear, but more likely a cool one-shot like Can of Whup Ass (getting new items, even useless ones, is fun)

afterwards the GM hands out illusions, and maybe some fun no-rent items or weird food/drink (illusions are even more fun when they're part of an "after party")


But of course, all that is a ton of work! I completely understand that our all-volunteer staff has man-children to police, and other duties that don't allow for the dozens of hours of prep time the above would require.

That's what I meant by my flippant comment about the staff not "liking" such events: I didn't literally mean you hate GM events, just that ... as evidenced by their lack of existence ... you don't "like" (ie. have the bandwidth for) them.

[loramin]

Did they really say that or say "we'll look into it"? Don't give me some 'silence speaks volumes' BS either.

Nilbog said he'd look into it ... two years ago:

I haven't had the time to review this yet, but if it is an improvement on our existing system, it will certainly be considered and credit given where it is due.

A forum post is a dialogue, is it not? If one side stops communicating for an extended time, doesn't that communicates something too? I don't think it's unreasonable to draw some conclusions after two years of radio silence to Azxten's post (https://project1999.com/forums/showthread.php?t=395675).

The fact is this server emulates classic everquest extremely accurately as back in the day. Meta junkies need to chill the fuck out and stop bitching when a fix doesn't go their way immediately and just be thankful for what they have. If they never patched P99 ever again it would still be an awesome museum server to the original EQ.

I 100% agree with all that, except for the implication that people who want classic EQ are "meta junkies".

Look, this channeling thing has a major impact on the game. Fixing it could make this game noticeably more like it was in '99-'01 ... not just in an arbitrary "meta enthusiast" way, but in a real/meaningful "balance unbalanced classes" way.

I think everyone who has bought into this server's mission should support that.

[loramin]

just that ... as evidenced by their lack of existence ... you don't "like" (ie. have the bandwidth for) them.

I'd like to amend this statement, as I just found https://wiki.project1999.com/Players:GM_Events.

Evidently y'all did make "fun"/classically-inspired/not-just-illusions events ... back in early 2010/2011.
Presumably y'all had more bandwidth for such events back then?

[magnetaress]

I can garantee if you have to strafe run to channel root on a wizard u will have a lot more fun because i did that on live

same with putting ur cleric and chanter in a corner -- there are two components to channeling that are really screwed up on emu the push element and the hitdmg element

it should be much harder in both cases to get casts off

fighting more than 3 mobs as a caster should be very dangerous unless ur a lvl 60 wizard with shields up standing in a corner casting AoE in sola event then rly dangerous in planar gear but doable

just

also hving to use lvl 39 aoes in this instance because u will not be able to channel anything longer than 3-4 seconds

[Rygar]

A forum post is a dialogue, is it not? If one side stops communicating for an extended time, doesn't that communicates something too? I don't think it's unreasonable to draw some conclusions after two years of radio silence to Azxten's post (https://project1999.com/forums/showthread.php?t=395675).

Seriously? If I was a dev on a project and this was the logic people are concluding my posts would be limited to "Fixed, Pending Update" only.

"Hurr durr... they do that anyways!" Hm... I wonder why.

[loramin]

Seriously? If I was a dev on a project and this was the logic people are concluding my posts would be limited to "Fixed, Pending Update" only.

"Hurr durr... they do that anyways!" Hm... I wonder why.

I'm arguing that it's reasonable to assume, when you're having a conversation with someone and they don't respond for two years, that they aren't interested in continuing the conversation. I would argue this applies to any conversation: one on Reddit, one with a real life friend over email, one with a company you sent feedback to ... or one with a P99 developer.

If you don't consider two years to be reasonable a reasonable time frame for such an assumption, how many years do you think it should take?

[Rygar]

I'm arguing that it's reasonable to assume, when you're having a conversation with someone and they don't respond for two years, that they aren't interested in continuing the conversation. I would argue this applies to any conversation: one on Reddit, one with a real life friend over email, one with a company you sent feedback to ... or one with a P99 developer.

If you don't consider two years to be reasonable a reasonable time frame for such an assumption, how many years do you think it should take?

Stop assuming conclusions and making these comparisons to emailing friends or whatever. If anything nilbog let the community know "possible channelling changes are on the radar". He doesn't need to tell all the status updates or if he's focusing on some other low hanging fruit or whatever.

You are assuming he 'isn't interested in continuing the conversation' when maybe he doesn't want to be pestered by folks or cry babies, or maybe has a policy of just contributing to the bug report rather than updating on status. I'm sure there's hundreds of other reasons, no clue why the conclusion is "well... devs think channeling is fine since he didn't say anything in 2 years. Must hate classic."

[unsunghero]

I'm arguing that it's reasonable to assume, when you're having a conversation with someone and they don't respond for two years, that they aren't interested in continuing the conversation. I would argue this applies to any conversation: one on Reddit, one with a real life friend over email, one with a company you sent feedback to ... or one with a P99 developer.

If you don't consider two years to be reasonable a reasonable time frame for such an assumption, how many years do you think it should take?

Still better than Blizzard’s communication has been at times…

[Seducio]

In general Loramin is correct that as an adult 'responsiveness is respect'. Regardless of medium.

Rygar I get what you are saying that devs don't owe us any explanations and I have made similar case elsewhere, in particular with regard to new server plans. There is an exception in that the devs want this server to be as accurate as possible and asked for feeback/contributions to make it more accurate. OP obliged re: channeling and it's been some time since he had gotten word back. OP reached the point of frustration and wrote this post.

Nilbog entered this RnF thread and thanked OP. Also said OP would get credit if the change ends up made with any of OPs contributions. OP hasn't responded yet.

Nilbog has shown respect. It's up to OP if that is adequate after no communication for quite some time on the matter.

Whether the response should take as long as it has seems like something the players will decide for themselves is ok or not. Rygar doesn't see an issue with the delay on feedback and Loramin does see an issue. Other adults can decide for themself.

Fin.

[magnetaress]

now HUG

[Deathrydar]

Still better than Blizzard’s communication has been at times…

..and we paid a monthly fee for that...

[loramin]

Stop assuming conclusions and making these comparisons to emailing friends or whatever. If anything nilbog let the community know "possible channelling changes are on the radar". He doesn't need to tell all the status updates or if he's focusing on some other low hanging fruit or whatever.

You are assuming he 'isn't interested in continuing the conversation' when maybe he doesn't want to be pestered by folks or cry babies, or maybe has a policy of just contributing to the bug report rather than updating on status. I'm sure there's hundreds of other reasons, no clue why the conclusion is "well... devs think channeling is fine since he didn't say anything in 2 years. Must hate classic."


Loramin does see an issue.

I want to be very clear: I'm literally not talking about Nilbog or his motivations here. I'm talking about Azxten.

Nilbog could have any number of reasons not to respond to Azxten, and I've expressed zero judgements about those reasons. What I said, and continue to believe, is that whatever his reasons for not responding, it's a simple fact that Nilbog didn't for two years ... and after two years of no response, I believe it's reasonable for Azxten (or anyone else) to feel a conversation has ended.

[mycoolrausch]

Casters soloing Tserrina to farm a robe is easy mode and trivializes the content.

After the channeling nerf it will finally be a proper experience. A monk can stand in front of her and auto attack her until she's dead. Now we're fully immersed in Velious.

[long.liam]

Casters soloing Tserrina to farm a robe is easy mode and trivializes the content.

After the channeling nerf it will finally be a proper experience. A monk can stand in front of her and auto attack her until she's dead. Now we're fully immersed in Velious.

Pretty sure any channeling nerf, if it ever happens, will only apply to players. NPCs would continue to have their overpowered channeling skill.

[Tormmac]

Casters soloing Tserrina to farm a robe is easy mode and trivializes the content.

After the channeling nerf it will finally be a proper experience. A monk can stand in front of her and auto attack her until she's dead. Now we're fully immersed in Velious.

need endurance system in place to nerf them

[azxten]

Without getting into all the vitriol, I again, thank you for the interest/work you did regarding the subject of channeling. At the time it was posted, we had more source code devs than are active now, and (this one bug report) has not been finalized for a patch. If we use any portion of what you suggested, you will certainly be credited.

You're welcome and thanks for letting me troll people here so much.

[Duik]

I dont feel trolled. Should I feel ripped off?
So many questions.

[azxten]

I dont feel trolled. Should I feel ripped off?
So many questions.

Yes, you should feel ripped off. Current day P99 is nothing like classic P99. I'd really like to recreate the nostalgia of classic P99 before we had the Wiki and knew everything.

[long.liam]

Yes, you should feel ripped off. Current day P99 is nothing like classic P99. I'd really like to recreate the nostalgia of classic P99 before we had the Wiki and knew everything.

Good luck with that. I don't think anyone will support you on that. Maybe you can make a server for yourself, to play by yourself, and don't use the wiki.

[Duik]

Yes, you should feel ripped off. Current day P99 is nothing like classic P99. I'd really like to recreate the nostalgia of classic P99 before we had the Wiki and knew everything.

Go to the prison system, recruit 50 - 100 prisoners who have never played EQ have an offline server started up and rehabilitate them with teamwork, faction work (obeying rules) quests and rewards(jobs) etc. 60% serious suggestion.

Ya never gonna get a willing group of free people enmasse to self regulate non wiki guides and googling stuff. A few? Maybe, 50 - 100 never. Someone will always cheat.

Good luck and learn to troll better.

[azxten]

Just remember every time you think you got pixels on P99 it was a lie because channeling is overpowered. No amount of DKP is ever going to change that.

[Tormmac]

Just remember every time you think you got pixels on P99 it was a lie because channeling is overpowered. No amount of DKP is ever going to change that.

melees were OP due to no fatigue system anyways dude, its never been perfect

[unsunghero]

Speaking of ez mode, what I would like is a server with almost a cheat console command to give your character levels and gear. Sort of like how retail EQ gave an option to create a level 80ish char (which at the time was a bit below max) with decent gear

I would use it to test what other classes are like at high lev. The only other way would be to watch vids of them but that’s not the same as playing

And doing it on a custom server would be easier than trying to find someone and beg them to share info on acct

[loramin]

Speaking of ez mode, what I would like is a server with almost a cheat console command to give your character levels and gear. Sort of like how retail EQ gave an option to create a level 80ish char (which at the time was a bit below max) with decent gear

I would use it to test what other classes are like at high lev. The only other way would be to watch vids of them but that’s not the same as playing

And doing it on a custom server would be easier than trying to find someone and beg them to share info on acct

This already exists: several guilds even have their own servers like this for practicing raid encounters. You could easily start your own.

Of course, they're all stock EQEmu servers, which don't have the P99 tweaks, but if you just want to test a class out they should be sufficient.

[magnetaress]

all i want for xmas is

red2.0

and channeling code fix

or Azxten to make his DWARVES VS ELVES custom server and randomize the loot and levels a bit so its not easily wikiable! <3

[loramin]

The thing is randomized loot doesn't necessarily solve anything. If you just randomize once, at the server's start, then everyone just makes a new wiki for your server with all the new locations.

You could randomize constantly, and that would "solve" the wiki ... but then the game would lose a lot of its fun. You'd have the same (extremely low) chance of getting an item no matter where you went, so you'd have no reason to go anywhere. Everyone would just gravitate to the easiest camps.

To really make an "un-wikiable" server you'd have to change the itemization semi-frequently. You couldn't change too often, because you'd want players to be able to learn that certain items drop in certain areas ... but you'd have to change often enough so that once people get comfortable with a particular location for item X (and mark it in the wiki), then it would change to some other location.

[aussenseiter]

To really make an "un-wikiable" server you'd have to change the itemization semi-frequently. You couldn't change too often, because you'd want players to be able to learn that certain items drop in certain areas ... but you'd have to change often enough so that once people get comfortable with a particular location for item X (and mark it in the wiki), then it would change to some other location.

https://media.tenor.com/BxBXA_6u-PQAAAAC/lotr-keep-it-safe.gif

[unsunghero]

This already exists: several guilds even have their own servers like this for practicing raid encounters. You could easily start your own.

Of course, they're all stock EQEmu servers, which don't have the P99 tweaks, but if you just want to test a class out they should be sufficient.

Hmm how could I access these? Could I with the titanium client? It’s all I have

[loramin]

Hmm how could I access these?

I'd talk to someone in your favorite uber-guild, as they probably have one. Alternatively you could explore random servers, looking for one with the commands/merchants to level you up and equip you appropriately. Or, you could just start your own EQ Emu server.

Could I with the titanium client? It’s all I have

Yes. You know how when you login to the game, all of the P99 servers are listed under "Legends Servers"?

If you scroll down, you'll see the "Preferred Servers", and then if you keep scrolling you'll see the "Standard Servers". Player-/guild-run servers are in that last category.

[unsunghero]

The game just ate my -Mr gear

I went to give a piece of -Mr gear (rusty shoulders) to a charmed mob, right as I clicked trade, charm broke

I checked my bags for the piece as I re-charmed the mob, nope. I checked the charmed mob’s body after I killed it, nope, not there

What the fuck!!

[unsunghero]

^
Is there any way to put like a ticket in for this? Don’t even know how to do a ticket though

Will probably just have to eat the loss

[magnetaress]

The thing is randomized loot doesn't necessarily solve anything. If you just randomize once, at the server's start, then everyone just makes a new wiki for your server with all the new locations.

You could randomize constantly, and that would "solve" the wiki ... but then the game would lose a lot of its fun. You'd have the same (extremely low) chance of getting an item no matter where you went, so you'd have no reason to go anywhere. Everyone would just gravitate to the easiest camps.

To really make an "un-wikiable" server you'd have to change the itemization semi-frequently. You couldn't change too often, because you'd want players to be able to learn that certain items drop in certain areas ... but you'd have to change often enough so that once people get comfortable with a particular location for item X (and mark it in the wiki), then it would change to some other location.
I dont mean random in like diablo just jostle it up butt keep the tables static

so instead of Firegiant skarlon dropping https://wiki.project1999.com/Razing_Sword_of_Skarlon raizing sword of skarlon

maybe it drops off the gobbo king who is instead a lvl 46 mob with like 10k hp who is like so high MR that even with tash and malo mez is resisted 75% of the time

[magnetaress]

like the other gobbo king in runnyeyeye instead and maybe solb is a lower lvl zone instead ! and like sola is like a teens zone and solb becomes like a 30-40 zone !

[magnetaress]

same mobs same mob names and stuff tho so it feels pretty much like eq and ppl know basically where to find stuffs

0-0000 this would tie in real gud with the dwarves vs elves server cuz tho cool zone connections its going to have between solba -and like crushbone or something

[magnetaress]

i forgot the custom zone connections already butt they where the biggest selling point of that server for me as a pvp server !

[long.liam]

^
Is there any way to put like a ticket in for this? Don’t even know how to do a ticket though

Will probably just have to eat the loss

Yeah just put a petition for it. Might take like 6 months to get it restored though. They do them in large batches. What Shoulders was it? If it was the Rusty Spiked Shoulderpads, they are easy as fuck to farm again on your own.

[unsunghero]

Yeah just put a petition for it. Might take like 6 months to get it restored though. They do them in large batches. What Shoulders was it? If it was the Rusty Spiked Shoulderpads, they are easy as fuck to farm again on your own.

Yea it’s just rusty, not worth the hassle, I’ll just eat the loss

[Dolalin]

It's harder to change client code than it is to change content. P99 has several content developers, and it has fewer people who can untangle messy C++ stuff. This imbalance in skillsets plus needing to work around Rogean's availability to do patches and complex client stuff explains pretty much everything about how fast P99 can release changes. At least this is what I have gathered from my own observations over the years. It's not some crazy conspiracy, it's lots of people with other things to do in their lives making time for this stuff as and when they can.

[Seducio]

It's harder to change client code than it is to change content. P99 has several content developers, and it has fewer people who can untangle messy C++ stuff. This imbalance in skillsets plus needing to work around Rogean's availability to do patches and complex client stuff explains pretty much everything about how fast P99 can release changes. At least this is what I have gathered from my own observations over the years. It's not some crazy conspiracy, it's lots of people with other things to do in their lives making time for this stuff as and when they can.

P99 chooses not to leverage open source developers who have this knowledge. It's a choice the devs here have made. If competing servers become popular they might have to reconsider.

TAKP devs made a different choice by releasing their code as open source already.

The scene currently is being moved forward by TAKP's open source release.

Assuming Project Quarm is the first of many iterations of the EQEmu scene becoming more mature, it may lead to P99 eventually having to evolve how it competes. Not yet though.

Perfect competition is good for the consumer and would be good for the player base as a whole over time.

[Ooloo]

Servers that aren't p99 aren't really in competition with p99 unless you're talking about another vanilla-velious server.

The vast majority of people who play here want to specifically play vanilla-velious content, and not luclin\pop content.

[loramin]

The vast majority of people who play here want to specifically play vanilla-velious content, and not luclin\pop content.

I don't think that's true. Of course, that's just my opinion, and you'd need a poll to get an objective answer, but I strongly suspect the majority are here not because of the expansion limits, but because P99 is the best emulated EQ server.

No other server offers single-boxing, and our population levels, and our quality GM staff, and our anti-cheat code, and our (relatively) bug-free game code, and our wiki, and ... in short, no one else offers the high quality EQ experience that P99 does.

If you did make a poll, I truly think "overall high quality" would win out massively over "Velious-limited". And in fact other polls that have been conducted, like this one (https://www.project1999.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56452), suggest as much: even back in 2011 there was more support for "Luclin"/"Other" (combined) than there was for "Velious".

[Seducio]

Servers that aren't p99 aren't really in competition with p99 unless you're talking about another vanilla-velious server.

The vast majority of people who play here want to specifically play vanilla-velious content, and not luclin\pop content.

I agree the competition isn't really there yet. That could change is what I'm getting at. The tools exist to actually compete and some jump starts are going to give it ago. P99 seems light years ahead with regard to CSR and that is actually the biggest difference I find between it and other servers besides TAKP.

To your second point, my feeling in connecting with many players over the years on Green is that the Velious end point isn't as charming or interesting as it was back when P99 began in '08 and '09.

After years and years of Blue and Green many have had their fill of Velious. Many still love it of course. Others are ready for something new. Everquest kept evolving so we'll see if p99 continues to evolve.

Green is most popular server currently no doubt about that.

[Seducio]

in short, no one else offers the high quality EQ experience that P99 does

I find TAKP offers a consistent high quality EQ experience. My hope is PQ will do so as well. Having three amazing servers would be better than only having to be stuck with p99 or TAKP alone. Any kind of success PQ experiences would probably have a positive impact here. The devs are elf pals.

[Trexller]

It's the single box rules.

Yeah P99 is a great place to play classic EQ, and they more or less work hard to police the players, and the anti-cheat stuff is good, but mechanics wise it's guess work and make believe

The vast majority of people play P99 because it's single box, this is like reasons 1 thru 5 on why P99 has 10x the population of TAKP.

People want single box EQ.

I don't understand it personally, multi-boxing is extremely entertaining. You wanna socialize in your elf sim? play with other boxers then

over the years anytime I'd bring up another server there's always a bunch of folks who are like, "Yeah that is pretty great, but it allows boxing"

If I made an emu server, it would have a 2 box + bazaar trader limit... somehow...

let people duo in peace by themselves or get 2 others for a full group

[Seducio]

Well reasoned post. I agree popularity of P99 stems from one box and also I'd add from progress through the first two expansions only. PQ is testing the theory that a one box past Velious could be popular.

Most p99ers don't like boxing. That said those who like to multibox tend to enjoy higher APM play than EQ was designed for. These are playmakers in other games and find EQ slow. No judgement Trex. I like both P99 and TAKP. I've found more knowledgeable players there than here. The top players here have a political edge to them from all the UN shenanigans. The top players on TAKP understand the EQ world deeper.

All that said, you'd be surprised that something like 80% of p99 players would rather low APM warm body their way to DKP victory. They're watching Netflix. EQ is just their second distraction device.

[Tethler]

It's the single box rules.

[Lune]

I find TAKP offers a consistent high quality EQ experience. My hope is PQ will do so as well. Having three amazing servers would be better than only having to be stuck with p99 or TAKP alone. Any kind of success PQ experiences would probably have a positive impact here. The devs are elf pals.

Gonna be a shitshow unless they change their stance and find a way to effectively police ShowEQ and MQ

[Tormmac]

allowing showEQ is an absolutely insane decision

[Tormmac]

remember before our anti-cheat was good staff had to spawn multiple fake versions of mobs all over a raidzone to juke all the showeq cheaters? lmao

[loramin]

Technically I don't think he's allowing ShowEQ or any other cheat program. ShowEQ and other programs are banned on Quarm ... they're just not caught by a client-side anti-cheat mechanism, like here on P99.

Personally I'm skeptical that a ShowEQ user who is trying not to get caught ... ie. they're not wandering from zone to zone checking for rare nameds and making a beeline for them, they're simply playing the game and using their "secret super-ranger powers" to occasionally "check on" a mob that they know is up ... even can be caught.

But again, technically the program will be banned, and if anyone is (somehow) caught using it, they will also be banned.

[Arvan]

allowing showEQ is an absolutely insane decision

people cheat all the time on p99 and get away with it hope this helps sometimes they are even caught and let off the hook!

[Zwieback]

P99 is for people that are done watching all porn you can find online.

[Topgunben]

I played on dial up back in the day, and it seemed channeling was affected by a poor connection and latency as well.

I also remember that I could not outrun a single mob on my barn warrior without sow. But on p99 I am able to.

[azxten]

The way eqemu channeling works there is also a glitch involving player and mob position involving X/Y axis. I'm not going to give away the details but it is possible to juice the already stupidly unclassic channeling to nearly never fail.

There are several bugs like this I've discovered and never seen anyone else figure out. The code is still quite shaky.