Test Server:: March 11, 2005 update notes : EverQuest 2 General Discussions

Note: This partial update is being moved to our Test server a bit early to give extra testing time to our new content. Additional fixes and features for Live Update #5 will be moved to the Test server next week.


*** The Bloodline Chronicles ***

- We invite our Test server players to venture into the new zones introduced for The Bloodline Chronicles! All characters on Test can access the new zones and /claim their D'Morte ring. Dare to venture into the Tombs of Night and let us know what you think!
- This Adventure Pack is intended for characters that are levels 30 to 45.
- New weapons, armor, spells, combat arts, and tradeskill recipe books are available in the new zones. Players who don't purchase The Bloodline Chronicles can buy these and other goods from adventurers who explore the caverns below Nektulos Forest.
- To download the files necessary for the Adventure Pack, run EverQuest II and click "Download Options" on the launchpad. Under "Optional Downloads," check the box next to "Adventure Pack #1: The Bloodline Chronicles." If you wish to receive the files right away, check the box next to "Download Immediately." If you would prefer to let the files download in the background while you use your computer for other tasks, leave the box unchecked.


*** Gameplay ***

- Characters revived underwater will now appear with a full breath bar.
- Corpses and chests that were slightly out of reach should now be easier to loot.
- Attempting to swap items by dragging and dropping them should now work more consistently.
- Mini-dings now occur every gold XP bubble (10% of each level) instead of every other. Skill increases will still happen every other bubble.
- The Disarm Trap skill now has a 50% chance of going up anytime you disarm a chest regardless of the level of the encounter that dropped it.
- The red border around an aggro NPC's name should no longer change when the encounter is locked.


*** Paying House Upkeep ***

- Housing upkeep can now be prepaid and shared among characters. To prepay rent, just press the "Pay Upkeep" button before your next upkeep payment is due.
- To share rent, use the account that is now linked to each house. Any character with Friend access or higher can contribute coin, status, or both to the account. Characters with Trustee access or higher can pay the upkeep fees from this account.
- The account retains a history of who has contributed to it (up to 250 people), how much was contributed in total, how much was contributed in the last deposit, and the date of the last deposit. The account also retains a history of the last 52 rent payments made from the account, who paid them, and when.
- The housing menu is now accessible from outside by friends and trustees when upkeep is due.


*** Mentoring ***

- The Target and Implied Target windows now only show the character's effective level when Mentoring.
- Effective level, actual level, and class name are shown in the Persona and Inspect Player windows.
- Mentors should no longer gain combat XP if they have it disabled.


*** Zones and Population ***

– The Niscanith encounter should now present a greater level of challenge.


*** Items ***

- Sharpscar and the Scorched Wood Staff are now attuneable instead of No Trade.
- The Fishgut Ring can now be equipped.


*** Quests ***

- The fifth stage of the Glowing Black Stone quest should now properly take the Palladium Torque.
- Sir Valinayle's intro quests should now correctly display their quota count on updates.
- J.P. Feterman in the Commonlands has some new quests to offer: "A Hunter's Tool" and "Grizzlefang's Mane".
- Those working on Bendik Jonkers' quest will now be able to enter the Murkwater Nook. Adventurers can enter the zone again after they have completed the quest.
- Varski will now allow players to complete his third and fourth quests out of order.
– A Tallon lugger in Oricsh Wastes has been changed to a Vallon lugger in order to allow completion of a quest.
- The Amazon Thunderbow quest now requires only ten crater fish to complete.
- The Bloody Fistwrap quest now requires only one metal stud and one metal clasp to complete. Instead of killing a ghost to complete one of the steps, you will now be tasked with killing orcs.
- The Giant Slayer now requires only one club head to complete. It also directs players to find the wire on a giant.
- Gnoll Weaponry now requires only one blade to complete.
- A Bloodstained Blade now requires you to kill a Dragoon lieutenant to progress the quest.
- The Veriche Maul quest now requires you to kill a Deathbone Savage to progress the quest. The target for stage three of the quest has been changed to an Infernal Rock Heap.
- The Rage will now direct you to kill ten Gul'Thex Rage.
- Strange Mutations will now progress when you kill mutated rats.
- Shadows of the Past can now only be progressed by killing undead within Nektulos Forest.
- A Heavy Lockbox now requires one set of keys to be found instead of requiring you to kill ten raiders.
- Something Sounds Rotten now directs you to inspect the item rather than seek another out.


*** Spells and Combat Arts ***

- Casting single-target spells on an implied target (e.g. casting a heal on the enemy attacking you so that you get the heal) and auto-target spells (such as pet-only or caster-only) should now display where the spells are actually landing.
- Examining a spell's description will now indicate if its effects are suspended during combat.
- Resurrection spells can now be cast on fallen members of your raid party.

Assassin changes:
- Spitting Viper (Adept I) now has the correct name (Spitting Viper vs. Killer Instinct).

Brawler Changes:
- Thundering Fists will now stun your enemy and display a message in the chat window.

Defiler changes:
- Baleful Countenance will now display a chat message when the fear proc goes off.

Fury changes:
- Toxic Quills' description now indicates that it decreases the attack speed of the target.
- Savage Mask's description now indicates that it increases the caster's power pool.

Mystic changes:
- Fading Spirit's proc should now go off 100% of the time.
- Runic Shield's description is now more accurate.
- Path of the Grey's description now indicates that it also regenerates the health of your ally.

Paladin changes:
- Ancient Wrath now inflicts a small slashing DoT effect.
- Holy Sunder now inflicts a small slashing DoT effect.
- Judgment Strike now inflicts a small slashing DoT effect.
- Condemnation's slashing and crushing resistance modifiers now match.

Ranger changes:
- Longshank: If you turn auto-attack off before the attack lands, you will go into stealth mode. Your target will also be ensnared when this attack lands.
- Lunging Thrust will now appear in the maintained spells window.
- Raven Embers now has the appropriate duration.
- Natural Selection's icon background is now green to indicate that it is an AoE spell.

Shadowknight changes:
- Sorrow will now unleash an AoE disease attack in addition to the DoT.

Swashbuckler changes:
- Flight of Fancy now gives a greater amount of hate reduction.

Templar changes:
- Greater Intercession now adds AC appropriately and will no longer erroneously display the "No Eligible Target" message.
- Combative Faith's description now indicates that it also has a DoT effect.

Warlock changes:
- Aspect of Vul will now display the name of the caster in the chat window rather than the recipient.

Wizard changes:
- Surge of Flames no longer displays an interrupt message each time it is cast.
- Benumb will now appear in the maintained spells window.
- Enfeeblement will now appear in the maintained spells window.
- Distorted Visions' description is now more accurate.


*** Tradeskills ***

- There are now additional types of harvesting tasks available for alchemy and culinary components.
- There are now harvesting tasks available that call for items from level 30+ zones.
– Wholesaler society tasks will now be issued based on the character's highest harvesting skill rather than their adventurer or tradeskill level.
- Tier 2 recipes have been added for daggers, great spears, war hammers, cudgels, and kite shields. These recipes can be found in Craftsman Essentials Volume 14, Outfitters Essentials Volume 14, Advanced Outfitter One Handed Weapons Volume 12, Advanced Craftsman Volume 14, and Advanced Outfitter Dual Weapons Volume 14.
- Changed the name of cinnamon, honey, and cardamom to raw cinnamon, raw honey, and raw cardamom.


*** Commands, Controls, and User Interface ***

- The number of slots in the Maintained window has been increased to 30.
- The Inventory window now has an area that lets you drop items to be moved into your inventory.
- Added the /house_kick command which allows the owner of a house to remove an unwelcome guest. Just typing "/house_kick" will remove the targeted player, while "/house_kick NAME" boots a specific character. Only house owners can use this command. The kicked player will appear outside the home as though they had left normally.
- Using the /togglebags command or a hotkey to open all your inventory bags will no longer open containers inside other containers.
- A raid window toggle has been added to the default keymap options.
- Maintained spells now show Concentration used if applicable.
- Skill increase messages now show your character's current and max skill levels. The skill gain message stays on screen one second longer.
- If your target is immune to an attack due to weapon level or quality, a message to that effect will be displayed in the chat window.
- The option setting for "allow windows offscreen" will now save properly.
- "Druid Ring" is now spelled correctly on the Orcish Wastes map.
- The list of respawn locations should now be sized correctly within the window border.
- The right-click option to buy items from the Market window has been removed.


*** Art ***

- Fixed the teeth on those nasty kholrats.
- Corrected some weighting issues with vanguard armor on human males.


*** UI Files Updated ***

images\widgets03.dds
images\icons\icon_is61.dds
eq2ui_ImageStyles.xml
eq2ui_mainhud_mail.xml
eq2ui_mainhud_openedmail.xml
eq2ui_popup.xml
eq2ui_popup_setprice.xml
eq2ui_popup_setpricestatus.xml

those 2 are new yay for mail system!

I didn't even notice that, a mail system would be very nice...