[loramin]

Programming-wise doing something you already know how to do, just at random intervals, is not hard, so basic logic implies there's something else logistical that is making them do earthquakes when they do.

I suspect there's a disconnect between A) the fact that players would like truly random earthquakes, B) as you said classic "earthquakes" happened at certain times, and ...

C) we have an all volunteer staff team, and when an earthquake happens they need one (or more?) staff members online at that moment to handle the fights that occur between raid forces. Obviously volunteer staff availability does not create truly random windows.