New EMU Under Development - EQ Launchpad
 

Hi there:

I've been running an emu for several years, mostly as a playground for my P99 guild (Omni) to practice on. Over the past few months I've been working on beefing up the server to get it ready to offer a more robust experience for players. Here's what I was planning to do with Launchpad:

* A Trilogy server that will form the basis of new custom expansions which will maintain the same feel as Trilogy, not trivialize older content, and not cause mudflation.
* Intended to be difficult (classic xp rates, death penalties, CRs, minimal fast travel etc.) and challenging
* Some modern client conveniences - We will be leaving in some conveniences in the client such as guild management, raid management etc. that do not impact game play. Otherwise we will try to follow the classic experience as closely as possible, but if someone says NOT CLASSIC they'll be told to go play on P99.
* Multi-client support - use Titanium, Underfoot, RoF, RoF2 etc. as well as any future supported clients. Expect to download a special DLL to turn some client stuff off.
* Allow limited two-boxing - want to do an xfer in EC or buff your baby alt? Fine by me. As long as you're not getting xp feel free. Anyone found xping using boxing will however be subject to progressive discipline.
* Expansions that might include releases of content close to Live where it fit well with the Classic kind of feel (for example we're talking about a fairly stock PoP expansion (except no PoK per the "no fast travel" rule) as well as complete custom expansions to introduce playable races like Vah Shir and Frogloks).

Questions:
* Would you play on this server?
* What would you like to see change?
* Are you interested in taking on a role on this server eg Guide, Developer, GM etc.
* Would you like progression from Classic to Velious on a fixed timeframe or just start in Velious and start building expacs?

Your input is appreciated either on this thread or on the forums at:

http://eqlaunchpad.freeforums.net

Currently the Dev server is up and running with Betabuffers (to 60 with Velious gear) at most banks and at Vox / Naggy (52 with classic gear) hosted on a scalable Amazon EC2 instance. Hosting will be top notch, no basement home network stuff. Beta planned for Sept 1 and live Dec 1 2015 with Trilogy content so people can start levelling up.

I'd love to hear your input!

Regards,
Mg

started with stock EMU & PEQ db? If so, how much work has been put into it so far to bring it back to a classic feel.

Also what client, Titanium? (Nevermind I missed that part - multiclient)

And is Launchpad the name of the server?

oh boy, a new forum to join! ;)

Answered there :)

EQ Launchpad Dev (Trilogy, Legit, RoF2, betabuffer) is what the loginserver says -- Mg

So far just a lot of blowing stuff away thats post-Velious, PoK books, Wayfarers Camps, etc. Decided to start fresh a while back (the PEQ database I had was pretty old and had a lot of issues so starting fresh with something that would work well with the new autoupdate stuff seemed a good idea) so most current emu code and database. Now going through all the zones removing NPCs that don't belong there and removing stuff from merchants. Turning off frogs and cats as well. Lots to do :)

Regards,
Mg

Good luck with the new server sir!

Personally I don't see myself starting on a fresh normal xp server unless it went to POP. But its a cool idea and I am sure you will get a good pop if its done right, judging by the Hidden Forest server there is a demographic for this.

Thanks Bob - you caught this one is probably going straight to PoP after Velious right? There seems to be a lot of interest in a good PoP server atm...

Regards,
Mg

I read it as custom pop content after velious...i took that as hidden forestesk custom zones.

If everything but PoK is in game than I would play that.

only allow 2boxing until a certain predetermined population number.
allow global ooc until you hit the same # to assist with group finding.
how will you prevent and enforce MQ2/SEQ?

dont listen to players. build what you want. if its good people will play. if you try to please everyone, most times you'll please no one. do what you want to do, and you may love it. if you love it the project will do better. you shouldnt need other people/players to validate your ideas ;)

good luck