Enlightened Dark Returns September 1st

[Mariomario]

As some of you have seen Enlightened Dark has been back on the server listing as locked and a new release date on September 1st. Let me first off say thank you to the developers of the PEQ DB for giving me a solid base to start with. It has helped a ton in learning scripting, mob placement and a ton of ideas. I would also like to say thank you to the several 100's who helped with testing during the on and off times since it's first release almost a year ago last September 9th. The server has undergone plenty of changes, new additions, events, quests, mobs among others since it's initial release. I planned for the release around then as I have had some setbacks regarding the Omens of War expansion, along with a new wave of ideas on how to do certain things and how to introduce further expansions. Now regarding the server here is some information.

The current content featured is the Omens of War expansion which includes 8 zones from the expansion. Instancing was done away with for now as it could be buggy at times. The zones featured are:
--Dranik's Scar: Level 35-60
--The Bloodfields: Level 55-75
--The Ruined City of Dranik: Level 65-75
--Noble's Causeway: Level 60-75
--Wall of Slaughter: Level 60-75
--Muramite Proving Grounds: Level 65-75
--Riftseekers' Sanctum: Level 70-80
--Citadel of Anguish: Level 70-80

The current level cap is 70 so don't let those ranges fool you. The level cap will be raised in the future. The server also contains almost 300 fabled mobs ranging from classic through Velious expansion. The server contains loots and spawns and quests accurate to live, but experience is accelerated, events are tweaked to be ONE groupable, and items are modified based on a scale to keep the game soloable/groupable. At no given time will you be required to need more than one solid group. Now this DOES NOT mean everything can be boxed. Some events are tricky and require the use of multiple players, not just toons.

There are custom quests developed within the server such as a trophy hunting quests for some great gear by farming fabled mobs, planar progression was completely revamped into a task based progression, custom epic 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 quests and plenty more to be experienced here on Enlightened Dark. Gates of Discord expansion was also revamped into 4 complete zones with customary events compressed from each zone into 1 zone from each of the 4 tiers of Gates of Discord so all of your favorite items are out there to be gained.

This server is not a server you will master and complete within a week or two. There is plenty of content to experience along with the new custom development to explore through. Boxing is allowed here upto 6 toons simply because of the "oh well my roommate or brother or family or whatever wants to play". This gives both people the opportunity to box 3 toons if desirable. Don't think if you're a solo player this place isn't for you as well, as there are plenty of people that would look to group together when the server was current. There is a plan in the works to make platinum effective all together creating some sort of economy and people seeking those attuneable and droppable gears.

I realize this post is pretty long, but it sums the server up along with the direction I'm attempting to bring it. I am the only GM for the server so development has been casual. There is no donation system in place and no favoritism is shown, therefore everyone will work for everything they gain. There is another month until release so until then I will continue to put effort and time into the server to bring the best solo/group progression experience possible while following the trail of live with my own twisted custom content. Feel free to ask any questions you have regarding the server in the meantime and I will answer them to the best of my ability. Can't wait to have the server live again in one month!

[Amer]

Wrath,

Glad to see you're still around. Good luck with the server reboot, I'll probably check it out. Shoot me a message if you need help testing or what not.

Amer

[OoDemizeoO]

Congrats man, glad to hear it! Good luck!

[Mariomario]

Thanks both of you. It's definitely crunch time and there's so much I would like to get done but finding the time to get it done is a hassle. I honestly sit at work with a note book and pen and any ideas about stuff I'll jot down that way when I get the time I've already got my guidelines, so I'll just have to get the scripting and placements down.

[boweq]

not long now mario :) , 12-13days and hopefully itll be out so i can get on and have a blast

[Mariomario]

Its definitely going to be fun, I finished with most of the tweaking for Omens and boy will you guys have quite a challenge ahead. Its going to take some team work and most likely will NOT be boxable by any means until much later on. The one group ability is still in effect, but will take some strong coordination from a solid group of 6 well rounded players, but as always the more the merrier.

[boweq]

haha Soo how far in am i going get with just my simple 3box? :) , i just hope theres gonna be people palying close to my time zone :( otherwise wont progress haha :)

[Mariomario]

Youll be able to play in most of the higher end zones like MPG and RSS, but doing the MPG trials for CoA access might be a bit hard and as far as CoA youd be able to do trash, but most if not all of the main encounters will need a solid group.

[boweq]

Ahh Cool , , gonan be fun to play again anyways

[Apricoth]

That's awesome! I am perusing a way to get things working again so I can play on these servers. Been awhile. If I can figure that out, would love to play with you guys again - or at least chat. Have you drafted the old school members into coming too? :D

[Paladinsteve]

You Planning on a Char wipe? Part of Me wishes there is one.

[Mariomario]

I have always said I would not do it, simply because those people that have put in countless hours here have also helped make the server what it is. There was no actual 'beta' phase for testing. It was just a play as you go, and before I released I played through the current available content and made fixes where necessary. I always test my content before hand and ensure things are working as they should be. Most bugs found were mostly from people doing something wrong, or me adding in a safeguard fix so people wouldn't get frustrated.

I have weighed the option of one so people who are actually top end geared don't skip right into the flagging for CoA and such, but this is also the way of the expansions on live. The current top end geared move into the end game, and other people both new and casual have new zones for obtaining slightly better gear easier. I believe this is rightfully so, considering even with all other servers, the introduction of new content you don't see a character wipe.

I realize I never really gave a direct answer, merely giving reasons about why or why not I should do a character wipe, but the fact is I will not. I don't believe in punishing those that have put in the time to reach the areas they have. Nothing has ever been given out, they have all worked for what they have achieved on their own and it should not be taken away.

[boweq]

yeahh , im glad there isnt a server wipe , i put COUNTLESS hours in my toons :), I just wish some of the olderpeople come back to the Server

and Myst Soulkeepers Becomes top guild again :-)

[Mariomario]

Only 4 more days until release. I am trying to get together as much stuff as I can possibly get done in the time frame. I am also trying to introduce as many new AAs as I can get in as well, without having to modify the source. I will be attending school for C++ and Java scripting along with database administration starting Saturday as well and going for an associates in applied sciences in Computer Information Systems.

All of this stuff intrigues me so why not make a career out of it? The more I know and learn, the more I can input into my server as well as put back into the community as well. People will just need to bare with me on the amount of content developed will not run as quickly as it once did with me having such a full schedule, but I will do the best of my ability to provide a great place for people to enjoy themselves.

[boweq]

ooohhhh New AAS?

What kind of AAs? :P

looks like , Ive got 4days to get my 4th box on live to level 95 ( 92) easy , then get some AAS and take a break to grind out on ED :D

[Mariomario]

Currently I have added Color Shock, Ancestral Aid, Call of the Wild, Savage Spirit, Crippling Strike, Stunning Kick, Heart of Flames - Ice - Stone - Vapor, Imitate Death, Blood Pact and have many more I know I can implement without needing to delve into the source code. I have also made a fix for the Swarm of Decay necromancer AA to work correctly as well.

Development will continue on as always.

[boweq]

Please Do some for Sks :)

like Touch of the Cursed :D
Soul Abrasion :P

Things like that :P

[Mariomario]

This weekend has started to fill quickly and will be keeping me away for most of the weekend, so as a treat i will be unlocking the server to the public around 8pm EST. I have pretty much the main stuff i wanted done, done. New content includes the Omens of War expansion, new custom 1.0 and 2.0 quests. 8 new zones, hundreds of new items, plenty of new encounters, 40 new fabled mobs from the kunark era, approximately 15 new AAs from the Omens era, and more.

Welcome back old players and welcome to the new players.

[boweq]

any plans on revamping spell system? cause as it stands , its gonna force people to do pop progression for people to get 66-70 spells

[Maze_EQ]

Should probably allow SoD and UF

[Mariomario]

I do allow SoD and UF, thats.mainly what my server is based around. I dont make updates for Titanium.

[Maze_EQ]

Oh, Banned, Hrmm...

[Mariomario]

Well that's what happens when you hack onto someone elses account and delete all of their hard work. This isnt the first time that I know of it happening either. I have your IP logged on not only your one account, but three of his, with his entire inventory disappearing shortly after. This time that user is actually going to Rogean about the matter, and I have data to back up exactly what he is saying if Rogean requests my input on the matter.

[Apricoth]

Yikes. :(

I made a character on your server this morning. I got mighty distracted by GW2. Also playing a bit of FFXIV. Little one started first grade this morning - trying to settle into that schedule! I hope to play more on your fabulous server!

[boweq]

yes , this is the 2nd time its happened to me , luckily the GM was around shortily after i logged on to help me sort things out stress-free , I would Like to say thank you
I have send Rogean a PM , You did this rougly 10months ago on me aswell
Thank you for reading

[Apricoth]

I had a great time last night - I was actually able to dedicate a large chunk of time for this yesterday. A wonderful player picked me up, let me join his group and power leveled me and his alts from 5 to 70. :D Now I have to decide on a second character for myself!

[dedaoff]

Pretty good server.

The admin is most of the time online or at least checking whats going on around the server.
Many many updates done already and many to come.

Lot of helpfull players always willing to help you level up or get new gear.

Well, I've played alot around on eqemu and definetly this one is a good one. And just now people are starting to arrive at the big content, so everyone have chance to come up

[dedaoff]

Its double exp weekend.

[dedaoff]

Update as of today:
Beastlords
- Feral Swipe AA increased to 4x original amount

Paladin:
- Hopebringer, Bloodstone Blade of ZM, Blade of Forgotten Faith procs changed to pure group targeted AE, rather than single target DD + recourse Group heal, This should help increase aggro control for paladins
- Pious Fury spell proc damage increased from 175 to 425 and made magical to be affected by focus effects to help increase paladin DPS

Bard:
-Instrument mods were given a x5 value

Honor augments:
-Each effect was given a x3 modifier to increase the effectivenes of the procs

Aspects:
-Illusion was removed so people can use their own illusions if they wish since aspects have become so popular.
-Screech effect added as to prevent stacking.

Gem system:
-6 new gem types are now droppable for the Hand, Helm and Weapon Type 10 slots
-NPC for further upgrade information can be found in Nexus
--Diamond, Amythest, Ruby, Emerald, Sapphire and Topaz each with 14 ranks from lowest to highest
--Chipped, Flawed, Regular, Flawless, Perfect, Radiant, Square, Flawless Square
--Perfect Square, Radiant Square, Star, Flawless Star, Perfect Star, Radiant Star

Weapon augments:
-New weapon augments and an ammo slot click for casters each with 5 ranks
-NPC for further upgrade information can be found in Nexus
--Inferno Strike, Blizzard Strike, Soul Devour, Barrier, Divine Judgment, Arcane Lapse
--Each augment is upgraded by fusing 2 of the same rank together with its material type

Global Item Changes:
-All items have had their recommended and required level dropped.
-All items containing under 725HP have been made droppable to allow for some fun alt twinking.

[dedaoff]

There were major updates!!!

A very custom augment was included on global drop. (Yes, even level 1 snake can drop them)
There are augments for Hand / Head slots, weapons and ammo slot for casters.

The augments can be increased, just combine 2 of the same gem to get a better one of that kind. Some of those augments have: HP, Crit Heal, Damage on crit melee, crit spell, increase weapon base and magic damage, etc...

There is a new custom way to spend your "banked" AAs, so if you are fully AA'ed you still can xp to get more stuff, such as 125% more xp clicky, CoTh clicky, and damage clickies.

PoP progression was revamped, so you dont need to do all quests, with the exception of PoTime, which will require you to grab a quest and kill the elemental gods.

Pets have been buffed up with damage, hp and levels.

[Apricoth]

I was going to jump in on the server but didn't see it! Is it down? D:

[Mariomario]

Server is down indefinitely. My HDD crashed a couple weeks ago, but ive been working on a new project and bringing a new server online here in the next 2-3 months. Brand new ideas, starting from scratch and keeping some old ideas as well as implementing a ton of new ones. Completely new setup.

[Akkadius]

Server is down indefinitely. My HDD crashed a couple weeks ago, but ive been working on a new project and bringing a new server online here in the next 2-3 months. Brand new ideas, starting from scratch and keeping some old ideas as well as implementing a ton of new ones. Completely new setup.

Where are your backups!!!!

[Mariomario]

Unfortunately I didnt have any sort of external HDD or even though about saving a copy on the thumb drive I owned for school. Alas everything was on that one computer, but I had several offer a possible program that might help to restore some stuff even after a format. Unfortunately it didn't save anything.

Now I have a new server in the works and with the years worth of knowledge I've gained along with the ideas and learning the spell values, more perl scripting, and tons on tons of ideas on how to create a new server I've thought that even though starting fresh sucks this will give me a new start with a brand new way to introduce content, items, events, progression etc. Instead of working with a server to keep trying to tape that broken piece that just keeps breaking instead of just ordering a new piece so nothing else breaks.

I feel I will be able to produce another successful server and this time around it will be even better than the last.

[Drajor]

Your talent and creativity is obvious, I am very eager to see what you do next!
I had 54 days /played on ED and I enjoyed it :)

[Apricoth]

Alright. Good luck!!

[Maze_EQ]

Where are your backups!!!!

Mine are backed up daily to 2 different machines....Failover ftw

[carpediembr]

good to know..

I always like Wrath`s server....

[carpediembr]

any news on the server?

[Mariomario]

I have actually been away from the development side of things for quite some time now. 5 days of works, 3 days of school, gf is expecting leaves me zero time to develop. I had something in the works then abandoned it as I got into Tera Online.

Though playing this game and with it soon going F2P and the future of it questionable I may return to developing in my off time. I have ideas brewing in my head about a completely new way to do things with new ideas from other games and implementing certain aspects along with the more I learn in school, the more I learn how to change things.

I might be busy, but one day you might see another server on the lists developed by me.