I've decompressed all the patch .zip files on
www.everquest.com.tw and their eqnews.txt files are there to view:
https://github.com/dbsanfte/eq-archi...ter/eq-patches
So if you want to blow holes in my theory please install the EQCaster.exe given there, and do so. You'll have to answer these questions though:
1) Why are there Live eqnews.txt files in these zips if they're supposedly Test server patches?
2) Why do the patch dates line up perfectly with Live patches?
3) Why does the 15/11/2000 spdat.eff (and all previous ones back to April, 2000) have the Torpor mana drain, but the 16/11/2000 spdat.eff doesn't?
4) Why does the 16/11/2000 patch say that 'Torpor received an unintentional reduction in effectiveness', and the Mana Drain is removed?
Let me know what you come up with.
Here's the Patch Notes page for reference (I've curated most of this):
https://wiki.project1999.com/Patch_Notes