Legitamacy

[DannMann99]

Well, i have seen this be thrown around by Image, how he is switching his server around. I want to know though, will every server become legitamate? I feel that they should, fooling around is alright once in a while, but i like EQ for the way it is, having to hang out with friends on a raid to get that last peice of a quest. Grouping for endless hours trying to ding 55 before you have to go to work. Hoping and Praying that no one will beat your roll of 74 for that Ubertastic item.
Im just wondering when will the legit servers come? When will we get our game?

[Avila]

dont fear. legit servers are slowly starting to appear. Eq clasic is a good example. Also i have a legit server in the makings. Items, quests mobs(and respawntimes and loot tables)

[DannMann99]

Well my dilema is that with these servers, they are unstable. As in one day the server will be up, the next the server isnt up for weeks.

That is a big reason why the jerks that pissed off Image hurt themselves. Image had a dedicated server, atleast most of the time. Better then anyone elses that have servers and i personally saw it host 30some people. Now tell me another server that can do that. Can your server do that? Probably not.

[Avila]

Well one server that can do that is Freedom Alliance. It is up 24/7 unless there are problems. Like right now the server is down because there is no one running it.Aalron(ServerOP and owner) is gone for a little while, but the server should be back up in a few days.

And my server will be able to support around 50 people, be up atleast 24/6, only legit items, massive dynamic quests, and best of all will be close to EQLive(minus a few things EQEMu doesnt support yet). The peoblem is finding people that would be willing to play on the server.

[DannMann99]

i think its great, but the thing is is that instead of having 3 legit servers (yours, eqclassic, and that other one) maybe we should just have one, this way the most people can be on it. It would be great to have a legit server up as close to 24/7 as possible that has a peak user amount of 50
That would be just perfect.
but can we do it?
yes.

Start publicising the Emu on forums and such. Dont make it to big or else it will really piss off sony. But just lay down the site. Introduce people to it and more will come. Thats what we need.

[raventy]

Yea im all for the Legit servers as I run one myself! (-==Radimus Eq Simulation Server==-) hence the part of its name "Eq Simulation Server" refering to how its trying to be like the real EQLive servers. My server is currently Legit except for you lvl up faster than the EqLive Servers....Right now ppl are lvlin up to fast though.. like within an hour they'll be lvl 20... Im going to lower that alot or make it bak to normal EqLive Lvl UP status depending on how ppl like it. Besides having an Item u always wanted and being that really high lvl u always wanted to be, it seems like me and many others just want a free server just like EqLive with maybe a few adjustments. Lets face it, ppl will get bored once their lvl 65 for a few days and have all the best items... Eq was adictive and fun because u had to really work ur way up to the higher lvls and go on hard quests to get certain items. Once you have all the items u want or are at the highest lvl, the game is no longer fun, as u have no goal anymore. Right now because the Emu is not complete or near EqLive status, I belive it is ok to lvl up to a higher lvl SOMETIMES if a user really wants to..but only for the time being or because their stuck do to Emu restrictions, or just so they can try out a higher lvl for a day because theyve never been that high b4 but then go back down to the beging. Currently because of the internet network in my town upgrading their lines and systems, my server is not up 24/7 nor at really fast speeds when it is. But im hoping come another 1-2 weeks my server should be up 24/7.

[Aragain]

If you can change the leveling speeds, then couldnt you change the way certain classes play?

Like say, an un-uber ranger able to solo well? Like a real ranger should.

Is anyone going to make a legit server that isnt an exact clone of EQ? Possibly one that goes back to it's roots of AD&D a little?

If it's possible of course.

If it is, I'd like to help get the server up and running, passing in my "special privledges" when the server goes legit, so i can play.

*notices he sounds really dumb when hes tired*

Im going to bed.

[inkubus]

I'm personally working on a 'legit' server and I strongly support real roleplay servers where the gameplay directly relates to everquest world. Although i can see the advantage of providing EQLive clones to users not able to pay and play on SOE's servers, I believe that now we have the power to provide something new to our players it should be sat down, planned and then provided slowly.

One of the main problem's i'm finding at the moment is stability. Although disabling most 'admin' commands to users providers alot more stability there are still issues that will confuse users new to everquest and possibly not cause them to stay. However, with all the work the EQEmu development team is doing (\o/ Yay to the devs \o/) I feel we're soon going to have server software and database tools (\o/ Yay to Windcatcher \o/) that will allow us worldbuilders provide very interesting and new ideas to players that will pull in high player bases and hopefully make stable servers that will give us that little something different that most are wanting to see.

Lets see how things go from here :)

InKy

[Aragain]

Well a good idea would be to put back in a lot of the ideas from the beta EQ, like tinkering pets, guild halls, and mobs(especially gaurds) dropping what they actually wear.

SOE took out a lot of promising stuff from Beta, sheesh just a guild hall would have improved the experience so much.

What bothers me the most about EQLive, is that in the end, its really about loot. The creatures(which would include the players) of Norrath, have absolutely no effect on the world. Mobs are just there, and players are just there, to beat each other up, forever, until a new expansion comes up, with the worlds history evolving and the creatures having no effect on it.

The world of EQ itself evolves with every expansion, but the players, and the gameplay didn't. While the graphics, and the history that we never really experienced got better, all we did was the same thing, kill, loot, sell.

Thinking of migrational coding i saw somewhere on these forums, that would make EQ SO MUCH BETTER. It's a big step into morphing nature with the creatures.

Guild halls would provide us with an actual reason to have a guild, and would make for some nice guild war oppertunities. But that could be discussed later.

Some of the EQ classes play as they shouldnt. Everywhere you go, I dont care what book, what game, what movie. A ranger can take care of himself on his own. But in EQ, come around level 40, if you were not insanely twinked, a light blue would have ease with you in EQ, as a ranger. That makes no sense to me, but remember this was 7 or so months ago, i think.

I guess what im looking for is a more authentic world, which uses the EQ engine, possible its history for a backbone. Then the history itself would evolve with the players, and vice versa. GM events would more then just... a goblin rampaging in the woods, if you catch my meaning.

Of course I can wait though, for stability to not be an issue anymore. I like playing on non-legit servers just becuase I can have fun an not worry about KILL LOOT SELL for once in my life.

Bottom line, EQ has a lot of untapped potentiel, SOE has shut that out, and with money not in mind, the EQEmu devs, and supperters, have a chance to untap that.

[inkubus]

I love the idea of guild halls and guards. Having vendors that you can actually drop and leave in game to sell your items would also be a big bonus.

I'm willing to wait and help them for however long the devs need!

[fnemo]

I'm preparing a french legit server but i have several questions :

the hardware needed (CPU/Ram) ?
the internet connection (im on ADSL 1024/256 kbps) ?

how many people may i handle with a P200 / 128 Mo Ram ?

Thanks.

[Aragain]

Yah UO did it, and some UO shards have improved it.

Wish I could help you on the server question... I know theres a post around here somewhere asking a similar question, that had answers... Ill look for it

[Aragain]

Ah here it is

http://forums.eqemu.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4273

has some info.

[fnemo]

thx aragain for the hardware infos. thats what i thoug. i gonna try in first time (untill i get cash) on a P200 (maybe a bit more) for a couple friends then i will get a new one as a huge server ... only if i can get the bandwidth information .

what should i have as kbps in upload per player ?

i have to say that the server will run with the debian 3.0 in shell mode so less system used by the system...

[DannMann99]

Everything you people are bringing up is great in theory, and i actually did like the guys post about guildhalls and making mobs be involved in history.
Right now, and probably forever the servers cant handle that. Wandering mobs causes lag in servers, now we have mobs that do things to zones? Dont get me wrong i do love the idea but the only possible way i can see coming close to that is many GM events.
I did like the idea about the guildhall and this is another suggestion you can have for an upcoming legit server.

You should place vendors in each classes guildhall, work out the faction so that guards that guard the guildhall are KOS to everyother class. Put vendors in the hall with certain items that are good, then you can divy up items. Just a suggestion, it has potential maybe.

Also. Everyone seems to have legit servers. Thats great, i love the idea but we should have less this way we can pack the most people onto the best server. I feel that you guys hosting legit servers should just compare to see who couldhost the best, fastest server, open the longest. Then that person should be the one hosting the only legit server. So as to push everyone to join that one server, this way instead of splitting the 30 people that want legit server into 10 servers, we can have all 40 play together.

Just ideas, think about them

[fnemo]

Originally posted by DannMann99
Right now, and probably forever the servers cant handle that. Wandering mobs causes lag in servers

Is it real lag (bandwidth over-used) or server side over-used ?

(sorry about my bad english, i'm french)

I was wondering about an EQemu like the SETI program ... a worldwide cluster... every EQemu only emule zone(s) and not world ... just as VI do (i.e. Karana Server is not one server but a cluster : every part-server emule a zone or group of zone ... add the eqlogin and the eqpatcher...)

this way, EQemu community will be more effective ... we could use this to get a Test EQemu Server and several server. instead of getting 15 EQemu, we may you 3 real servers and each are compose of 5 computers ....

Just my 2 cents.

[DannMann99]

That is a good idea, it might work but it has the potential to work best when the several computers are operated out of one household (as in one person owns those and uses them) The problem with that though is that they are all using the same modem. I have seen avila (sp?) toss that around with me at the beginning of this thread, in which she was saying that she has a T1 with 4 computers to use to operate the server. Thats great, and i think that a T1 would be able to host quite a few, not a huge amount, but it is certainly more then the amount of avid Emu users.

Also to keep in mind, more players will come once EQoA is released because of the addicting fact of EQ people will probably venture to look online about it, not want to pay the 13.95 a month and decide to Emu it, thats why it would be great to have a Dedicated 24/7 Legit server for when they do, so as to catch their attention and make them decide to stay and play on the PC as well.

[raventy]

about the wondering mobs causing lag, is it just because the server is not powerfull enough to handle it or because of bandwith? If its because the server is just not powerfull enough I wonder if id lag on my server? Its an Athlon Xp 2200+ 512MB DDR333 RAM,ect ect... Hhhmm someday wondering mobs will appear... someday.... ;)

[DannMann99]

im not sure about the server being able to handle mobs, they might have some trouble but they can might work. The thing is though, that every zone has wandering mobs, some... like say dreadlands, is made up of wandering mobs, now when you have say 20zones being used by users, each zone is making the server send information about mobs moving. that can get up to hundreds of mobs, even more.

[bobmook]

I found an answer I was looking for here (Server hardware stuff) but it also brings up more questions.

1. Wandering mobs cause lag? I was under the impression this was not implemented due to hogging memory. I also wonder if the mobs could only be in zones which are actually in use,,,,, I think wandering Mobs are eventually a must for legit type servers................unless
2. 24/7 gms are in place. I have the resources to host a 24/7 server pretty easily, and if some sort of clustering IS the answer to the mob question I have access to parts to be able bring up at least 3-4 athlon 2000+ machines, but there's no way I could GM it enough to make up for the lack of wandering mobs.
A legit type server would need many GM volunteers. I'm also wondering if a quest engine could be scripted.........
3. How many of these hypotheical questions will 4.0 render moot in a few days?
4. What EQ always lacked in my opinion , was some of the intimacy and competition the old M59 servers had. Guild halls owned by guilds to defend.
A bunny slope which led to all out pvp.
Not having so many players you didn't know anyone and the thrill of guild wars alongside people you really liked and opponnents you really hated.
I'm hoping to be able to eventually create a server with that type atmosphere and hopefully the players will come........

[Aragain]

Undoubtably(sp?) the players and ex players of EverQuest are the answer to making the game more fun, and continuosly exciting. Unlike SOE's method of pumping out expansions to keep itself above water.

Exactly what I had in mind was guild halls that you could defend, specifically ones that would have an influence in the area.

Just an idea...

Think of a large guild hall in the Faydarks, possibly a Keep, but not too big that it would look very out of place in the woods, and there could be many different models of Guild Halls. Wether this would be permantly placed for RP reasons, or not, is debatable.

Now, hopefully a guild that followed Tunare, or possibly Karana, would take control of that Keep, and basically take control of the Faydarks, keeping peace in the zones, and evil out in times of need.

If by chance another guild wished to take control of the Faydark's, they would do so by starting a guild war, I suppose after a certain amount of time, some event occured(maybe capturing the flag or something), the Keep would be turned over to another guild.

If this was in fact an evil guild, then the land would be in peril, orcs would probably get a more agressive, skeletons would begin to grow in numbers, and so on.

In the name of RP, and regaining a safe area for young elves to grow up, a dwarven guild from butcherblock may join in on the fight to restore peace.

I think something this has A LOT of potential...

But sadly, in order to do so, a VERY good server would be needed, and possibly around 200 players registered on the server.

Also time would be an issue, but after a while, such events could take place, and RP would take up where blind action once stood. For this time you would kill for your believes, wants, or your life, and those to come after you.

Just an idea...

Aside from my, possibly, crazy dreams, if you have the power to run a legit server, then with what skills I could provide, I shall, and will, help. Even if just to make sure things are running fine, a volounteer GM, as long as I could play along too =P.

Honestly though, if a server were to implement the guild halls, some new skills that would liven up the game, change around the classes a bit to fit what they should be, and the amount of people playing not to mention(i.e. less people playing there will be less groups, so nerf and changing something may be needed). the migrational codes, constant GM intervention with events, and a good player community of people that you would have a connection to everyone with(I would know one person, who would know so many people, who would know so many people, and in the end, its a real community).

Maybe just dreams, but promising ones I think, If all I can do is provide ideas for such a server, then I shall, just ask. But I REALLY want to be part of such an event.

Enough said for now.

[DannMann99]

That has to be one of the single best ideas i have ever heard to improve upon EQ. but it all just makes me want to laugh, with hope.

firstly that would never happen, you would have to edit the zones, then include a new building, it may not sound hard but remember that it is currently impossible to edit zones at all, we dont even know how to open the files with 3DSMAX, but we have come to some conclusions that EQ uses 3DSMAX for atleast mobs.

secondly, it sounds great and it would get a ton of dedicated players but, it is currently and for the very long future impossible to do something as you plan. Having the mobs get changed would cause a great deal of pain to the server host because the only way possible is to change the database, which means everytime some guild decides to take over a zone the spawns of mobs has to be changed, and factions edited so as to not have those mobs attack the people in control of zone (if thats what you meant)

sure it sounds good and i would really love to see it happen but i dont want to get anyones hopes up at all, you may look forward to it but look in terms of years, not weeks.

[Aragain]

Was never a short time goal on my part, I assure you.

Sony almost did it though, and Sony has changed a lot of stuff since before EQ was even born, to this day on it's last breath of air, trying to spit out it's last expansion.

Well "the flag", so to speak, could be a mob I think, and through some simple talking commands, certain events could be triggered and mobs start to spawn. That is doable.

If only there was a way to place things that weren't static in EQ. I suppose it's codable, but no doubt, VERY HARD to achieve.

Still the idea is something to work on, or use as inspiration to develop other methods.

Or, once we are able to edit the zones, one day, then someone could fill several zones that they wanted, with castles, keeps, simple guildhalls, and such, and have someone download JUST THOSE new zones. Once of course, we somehow get an editor.

Just thinking though, if doors arent static, then maybe existing buildings could be used, and through some coding "guild keys" could be designed. Even if it meant having a GM fashion them all, which I wouldn't mind doing really, would be a big step.

Simply though, I alot of the "RP coding" could be done through mobs. There are several quests on the EQlive servers that when done right, spawn other mobs, or trigger other events to occur all over the world.

I'm thinking once the guild hall has been taken, the mob would periodically trigger an event spawning orcs here and there, now and then, not necissarily changing factions, unless its easily possible.

Still, it's an IDEA! But then again, i'm pretty sure thats how UO shards started out, and now there are custom maps and coding just like one day we may be seeing in EverQuest.

By the way having the guild hall have, "a flag", would be kind of non-rpish. Maybe an obelisk would be more apropriate,

[bobmook]

It seems to me there are plenty of existing buildings in the zones which could be adapted for guild hall usage. Beside sI would think Guild halls should be relatively rare, thus more prized.

[Wiz]

Wandering mobs don't eat too much memory, but the constant position updates do cause a high datarate.

[DannMann99]

Yep, i agree with all of you. But i just really dont want to think about it much until i can help out. Right now im brushing up on my C++ skills and hopefully i can help out soon on the Development.

Dann Out~

[fnemo]

Wandering mobs don't eat too much memory, but the constant position updates do cause a high datarate.

what kind of updates ? the DB ones or the local request ?

BTW, i'd like to know if i can use an online MySQL for my local EMU server or do i have to run mysql on it ?

[exdruid]

Wandering mobs don't eat too much memory, but the constant position updates do cause a high datarate.

Thank you for trying to break up the hijack there. :)

As zones seem to be shut down when not in use, this would be in direct relation to the players on the server. The bandwidth required to host a server for even 100-200 people is what causes most of these projects to be locked into obscurity.

Image had the potential to provide a stable, central server for us all. I don't see anyone else out there waiting to claim the top spot.

[DannMann99]

ive heard good things from Hogie and a Avila, each of which seem to have 4 computers hooked up, i know avila has T1 but im not sure on hogie.

i just hope they get up ;)

Dann Out~

[DannMann99]

ive heard good things from Hogie and a Avila, each of which seem to have 4 computers hooked up, i know avila has T1 but im not sure on hogie.

i just hope they get up ;)

Dann Out~



EDIT: nice, wow that posted twice for some reason. hmm, thats inexplainable

[bobmook]

I can't imagine connection speed being that big an issue these days. I have 1500 down and 256 up and one phone call and ten dollars a month more could make that up speed match the downlink speed. I'd like to experiment w/ running two maybe three machines (probably old p-400s from surplus at work) running zones and an active/active win2k adv server cluster with athlon 2000+ cpu's and a gig o' ram per node running the eqemu server app. If I can get that config to work, then I can seriously start to talk about some legimate hosting.
The only problem I really foresee is the shared drive and the quorum drive, since I can't really set up a true scsi array at home unless I find a really good deal on ebay or something.

[DannMann99]

you gotta remember though that T1 + is expensive for most people. Also, i got an idea, maybe the people with the uber setups should get together, converse, and agree to host continents. Its less strain on the system and proves to be easier to host more without lag. but still, it might not matter much if we dont get more then 20people to be on at a time.

ooh well.

Dann Out~

P.S.- Yesterday morning, i was sitting at my computer in my room, right by the window and a bullet almost skewered my head. Kind of funny, i was at this site at the time. Atleast im alive eh.

[Pneu]

Going back to earlier in the topic, there was debate about levelling up and that 'legit' servers should have slow progression like eqlive.

Personally I don't like the mundane xp grinding. My EQlive main is 58th, my 1st alt 55th, my 2nd 48th and my 3rd 42nd. I dual box so for me to get to 40th on EQLive with a brand new melee is a days work but it's boring as hell to do so.

What makes the game interesting for me is a) new content and b) quests.

The route I plan to take on my own server (If I can get a stable empty db) is to remove the ability to summon items by guest players and make them quest for anything better than fine steel. Your server is as rich as the content you put in it, mindless xp grinding is mindless content, but a well written quest is as entruiging as a good book or a hollywood blockbuster.

I cannot see the point in faithfully trying to emulate the EQlive servers, there's some good content, but most of us have seen it already and in a far more stable environment.

If you want high server populations, you have to provide something new and fresh, else your trying to sell a Ford Capri to the owner of an Aston Martin (no offense intended).

Pneu

[Aragain]

Pneu, I will follow you until the end of time!

Your thoughts are almost exactly what I truely wished for, though in all honesty, I had no idea how to do so.

I always said to myself, and friends who would listen, EQ WAS great, when the best thing in the game wasnt the items in it, to me at least, it was adventuring. Well now, that element is lost, and its all about items, items which routenly(sp?) drop from mob after mob after mob, until they throw out another expansion.

In my mind, a named "special" item should be hard as hell to get, or have an individual story behind it, itself. Much like in D&D, where for most of your gaming life, your wearing regular, armor, give or take the +3 bonus and such.

Wow, all I can say is that what your trying to accomplish, has A LOT of potential. I could blable all day long about how much, but that would take up too much time needed to get a server like this running.

Keep us updated, and if you need help, ask =P

[exdruid]

This is probably pointless to ask as this thread was hijacked a few pages ago, but does anyone know of a 4.0 server that has gone legit?

I see Winters Roar, but it's still running 3.13 according to it's records.

[DannMann99]

It is a great idea, what you all have been talking about. Now the mobs are set though. You would have to change every mob in the game (almost) for it to be enjoyable and not excruciatingly hard to kill one. In example, EQlive isnt set up so you have a SSOY and feel its uber when you are in Dreadlands and Karnors. I mean, it would still be dooable, for everyone to level and such, but the xp "gring" as it were would be much greater, seeing as you have less benefits than in EQlive compared to the same mobs. If anyone is following me.

I dont really know, i like PvP a heck of alot more than questing honestly, PvP was so much fun, when you were evenly matched, having to use pure strategy, getting up your 8 (or9) spells, hoping that they dont resist your initial malosi (playing a mage as my main)

That is what i liked, i also liked the idea of questing (a few posts back). It would be a good idea to set up mobs to drop things like, for every weapon you need a basic component ( I.E. Rusty or FineSteel weapon) so say you want a SSOY, you might have to combine a FineSteel LongSword, and a "shard of ykesha" (item i made up on the spot) and you combine the two and it makes the SSOY, but you might have to either quest, or just kill a mob for it.
I dont know.

Also, LoL to the guy posting above me. Im sure the legit servers should begin turning over to 0.4.0, its just that maybe they dont have the time to take down the server and put it back up atm. Im sure tho that you will see winters fury, and EQclassic being put up in version 4.0

Dann Out~

[exdruid]

I wrote a huge post here, but it didn't keep my login cookie and then it wiped my post. I'll be starting a new thread anyway...

In short, we need more legit servers. Players will put up with bugs, downtime, and all sorts of annoying stuff as long as the server exists. Currently there are two (and they are down) legit servers and god knows how many uberd00d zone exploring servers. After four years of waiting for a good server that replicated and improved on what we want, is the best thing that we can come up with a slightly improved version of a hexedit on the tutorial?

[inkubus]

I agree completely with the posters that are supporting the 'legit' servers. It is alot of work and i think maybe it's time some of us got together and banded our ideas together and worked on a server with a fast connection. With a collection of around 8 world builders a couple of developers to make amendments to the code and a few GM's we should be able to keep upto date and release zones alot more quickly than doing it alone.

If anyone is interested please post here :)

InKy

[exdruid]

I think we're all interested. The main problem is that we'd need a couple (at least) dedicated servers with ssh access for devs. This server would need to support at least 1500kB up and down initially, and possibly doubling that if interest picked up. It's an expensive proposition for a lone person.

Then again, we had that, but a few people decided that image needed to be removed...

[inkubus]

Fortunately i have control over the router at work and i've been running one here on our leased line. It's cleared by my bosses but if it ever gets to a point where it affects users inside i'll have to move it to a box in Redbus telecenter.

[DannMann99]

You see, im liking your ideas. But frankly they are getting alittle redundant (no offense to anyone) but the thread is 3 pages long about peoples hopes and aspirations for the emu project. We know all of this stuff. We aren't going to get anywhere until we actually get a server up, or am i wrong?

I want some things done, i want someone to post here who is willing to host a server 24/7 or as close to it as possible. Then i want us all to come up with a name for it, so as to not have to call it some formal thing. Then you guys post (within reason) things you want changed from the Emu Currently, and i will see if i can play with the emus code to allow for it.

Alright?

::EDIT:: Now im not a great programmer when it comes to C++, so i wouldnt mind alittle help my way if we got some more volunteers, my background is VB.

[Aragain]

Very true DannMann.

A name would help a lot, then maybe we could set up an irc chat room, and leave this post alone. Question is, we need a name to match the server, and we don't even know what the server will offer yet, let alone if we have a good enough server to use.

Will it be a clone of EQ Classic, EQ with all the expansions, EQ with a different storyline, EQ using the EQ storyline and a different style of gameplay(pneu's idea comes to mind).

That has to be established first. I think for the sake of simplicity, and getting things to work the way we need them to, a clone of EQ Classic, or EQ with all its expansions. Classic being the simplist to mimic, and could be a good place to branch off from in the future.

Still an irc channel would help =P

[DannMann99]

I agree, thats why i was trying to get everything laid out. Although we might not even get more then 10people to play on the server.

Ill try my best, and see what i can do. :wink:

Some possible server names-

Al'Kabors Inferno
Waves of Prexus

I really like the Al'kabors Inferno

but lets not forget, please post here if you would be able to run a dedicated legit server, running as close to 24/7 as possible.

Dann Out~

[Trumpcard]

You asked for my input... So, here it is...

What do you need to support a stable, legit server?

1) Bandwidth - a cable modem/adsl line for a really good game world probably just isnt going to cut it.. You can probably handle 20 users at a time, but above that and Im guessing you'll start to swamp. Downstream on cable is fine, its the upstream thats the problem. Find someone with a T3.

2)Machines. - I can run 10-20 zones with minimal problems on a linux server with 1gig of RAM, so I dont think you need 1 zone per computer as I've heard people suggest. 1 computer per continenent more like, and you probably will want all those zones to be static, not dynamic, so you dont lose zone states (there is functionality to hold zone states, Im just not sure how functional it is) . Alternately, run a machine or a few machines with 30 zones set dynamiclly, forget about zone status (people would exploit this to get rare mobs and such to repop), and hope you never have more than 30 people in 30 seperate zones. As a player, accept the limititation. Sometimes you'll just have to wait to get to the zone you want to go to.

3)Content - You need people to create content. There are a million quests in EQ live, most have been collected, but there is no tool to convert them into a NPCID.qst file format thats usable by the emulator. Create a converter and/or start creating custom content.

4)Balancing - Can you start as a lvl 1 and level to 20 naturally from Qeynos, from LesserFey, from Nekulos, from Halas? If not, you need to tweak the mobs, or alter the attack code. You need to ensure you've balanced the game for someone wanting to play. You need testers to do this. Write down the issues you find and submit. Some of the things we'll be able to help you with from a code standpoint, some are going to just be problems with your database.

5)Support - You're going to need GM's, testers, admins,etc.


As a start, I would think about the game from a low end standpoint. Start out a new character at lvl 1 and think about what he needs to progress. See if they are supported (different classes to, special attacks that need to be implemented, skills, etc). If they're not supported yet, put in a request so one of us can look at it, or if you're code saavy, do it yourself and post it so we can add it into the code. Start playing as a newbie character. Take a day to flesh out 1 zone as a starter zone, put in newbie quests, ways for the characters to initially get skills (skill trainers need work, just hasnt been on the high priority list).

Above all, organize and communicate. Keep checklists, post things you think we need to work on, correct things that you can yourself. Make it a team effort. If you post a request to look at some piece of the code (say you want to see 'flying kick' activated and its not currently working), throw a post up, I'll be happy to look at it. Hopefully the development team will continue to expand and we'll have more people that can look at more code issues.

Getting the people together and organized is a big piece of the battle.
Make a plan, and work through it..

Thats my 2cp worth !

[DannMann99]

Thx, especially for the server info, (i.e. how many zones, people and such per computer) Puts things into perspective.

We are going to hopefully get things done, first we need the actual server up so as to test these things.

I wish i could get my DB working, maybe thats what ill try to do today. Then i could atleast go zone by zone, implement newbie quests and take it from there. Its a hard thing though, cause then you have to tweak drops and such. Honestly, im not even sure if things drop off mobs... Does that work yet?

Well im off to check out my DB


Dann Out~

[Artadius]

This is probably pointless to ask as this thread was hijacked a few pages ago, but does anyone know of a 4.0 server that has gone legit?

I see Winters Roar, but it's still running 3.13 according to it's records.

Winters Roar says 3.13 but does support the dec 5th patch...so it is essentially a 4.0 server...I know this because thats where I'm playing currently. Its a great legit server, and is showing some good potential. Swing by ex and we'll group up and kill some bandits :D

btw, I believe as of me writing this, that Wiz is updating Wintersroar to be fully 4.0 compatable in order to fix a few bugs.

[DannMann99]

I would like to start work on quests in the DB, just noob ones for now,but ill see what i can do.

Dann Out~

[DannMann99]

You know what i will do for the DB, ill make new recipies. Which need certain items. for blacksmithing and such, but it will take little skill. So you can "make all your items" kind of like questing sort of. i dont know. post let me know what you all thing

its like my theory of creating a ssoy by combining a "ykesha shard" and a short sword. using the blacksmith skill. Tell me what you think. I figured that its a good way to work things, and for uber items you can make blacksmith skill real high to make item

[Aragain]

Questing, no. Making sense, yes.

Rare armors should be few and far between, most adventurers should be found wearing cloth, leather, hide, ringmail, and maybe a few pieces of platemail. Guards and people who have a meaning in society, which does exclude adventurers if you think about it, would be wearing either cloth, merchant tradesfolk, or platemail, guards and nobles. Much was the way of our own world. Course armies were always supplied with a diversity of armor.

I dont think that making armor should be so simple, or making GOOD armor should be so simple. Tailors would probably be more popular among the lesser folk, and smiths more popular among the rich, and noble ones.

I think different animals should drop different hides, able to make better or worse armor. There should never be regular "leather armor". Hair or silk should make cloth, hide should make leather, ore should make, well metal armor.

Then there would be soandso many stages in between turning the raw material into something useful. Ore into ingots, into whatever. If you catch my meaning.

Then again, this may only apply to strong player based tradeskill economy servers, where a Rat Skin Hide Tunic would make a lowbie adventurer well kept for the time being.

In other words, it could get real complicated. How to get most of the material is pretty easy. A bear could drop a bear pelt, when you skin that pelt you get the hide, and hair. The hair can be thrown away, or used to sew. The hide can thrown away, or refined and used to make armor.

Ore on the other hand, could be a problem. Maybe there is a way to code it in... make a mob that looks like a rock for instance, when you attack it with a pick, you have a chance of recieving the mineral it would supply you with. This may be possible, kind of like a pickpotting skill, for a miner unto a rock. If that at all makes sense.

Gemcutters would pay miners to find rare crystals(Crystal caverns comes to mind), that could only be found in one place, or hides of unimaginable strength, could be found on only one beast(dragons =P).

Just some thought, if not too much.

[DannMann99]

It IS a good idea, but it is also a VERY HARD idea. Its a tough time working just what im trying to do in.

That is some insane stuff.

How about we just lower drops on mobs to almost nothing. and just leave the current trade skills in tact?

[Pneu]

Returning briefly to the original topic, EqEmu could attract more players by making it easier to access emulated servers. What could be more easier you wonder?

The point is to access emulated servers an end user must first download all of EqEmu (which will instantly be a turn off to many not interested in running their own server) and then they must read the readme inside the documentation folder, alternatively wade through the forums and wealth of information on the forums.

I would be more than happy to write a small tool to allow switching between live and emulated servers and optionally make a seperate emulated EQ folder all pre-configured. To work it would need to be a featured download on the main EqEmu webpage.

From an end-user point of view playing on emulated servers just got a whole lot easier...

Another idea I just had is when Wind Catcher updates the admin tool perhaps it would be more useful to list it with whatever is the then current eqemu version so that we can use the right tool for the job?

Pneu

[DannMann99]

Well, your wrong, and i dont like saying that because it generally tends to piss people off.

First, to just play on the hack server all you need to do is have eqw (which almost everyone does) and change the eqhost.txt Now how hard is that, its just a copy and paste maneuver.

Secondly to change back all you have to do is select "Patch" in the eqw window. Thats hard?

Also, windcatcher already released his new EQadmin.
go check it out. :wink:

[exdruid]

Swing by ex and we'll group up and kill some bandits :D

btw, I believe as of me writing this, that Wiz is updating Wintersroar to be fully 4.0 compatable in order to fix a few bugs.

That's where I've been playing. :)

The update is done, but it's currently on a rebootathon. Once it's running stable I'll be on all the time. I'm a level 5 cleric. I think the name is Aenar or Aedar or something like that. My compass is covering up my name. :)

[DannMann99]

cough cough back to topic. :wink:

i see winters fury (i think thats it) server is a legit server that seems to have a few people on it (as in the post above) maybe we should offer to help out with them. Better to have us all helping on one project than on many a different ones.

Join the mIRC chat and see what you can do, right now i hear its not 24/7 cause its a dev server, but i heard it will be 24/7 come the bugs worked out.

Lets see what we can do. 8)


Dann Out~

[exdruid]

It's Winter's Roar, and I get the feeling that it's SUPPOSED to be a 24/7 server, but that just isn't working out. If you're looking to do some scripting for a good server, that'd be the one to go for. It seems to have an acceptable supply of bandwidth, which is more than can be said for 90% of the servers that pop up.

The whole 'it will be put up when all the bugs are gone' thing is what keeps a lot of servers from launching. Of course they'll never be fixed. There will always be some tiny problem in the code. In the meantime they're blowing a whole lot of time and effort trying to create a bug-free server or a 'storyline' or something else that will never materialize. EQ Classic Test anyone? :)

[Wiz]

WR isn't supposed to be 24/7 atm. I have a powerful box waiting to host it, but I want it stable before then.

THEN it will be 24/7.

[exdruid]

I stand corrected...

My previous point applies here. It was silly being stuck in the cat room, and it wasn't too fun not being able to cast after the update, but every time I check in on my downloads I load up eqw to see if the server is up yet. Stability or no, it's still fun. :)

[Aragain]

Thing is, WR isnt your run of the mill EQclassic server. Its a custom server, with a custom history, and a custom map(moving zone points around mind you). In the end, it worked out nicely I thin, especially since it is really the first of its kind, and will probably be here for a while.

Well you could join us(i say "us" becuase we are all family in there, and i get yelled at a lot from women, so undoubtably they want to be family), in the chat room #wr.

Also there is a forum, and I believe a webpage in the makes. Here, http://wiz.addr.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard/ikonboard.cgi

[Pneu]

DanMann

I know what I said sounds wrong, but try to log onto EqEmu and think like an end user coming to EqEmu for the first time in search of playing EQ for free. Pretend for a moment that you don't explore the My Computer icon and that you do most all your clicking on the start menu and on web pages.

The web page is designed, and fairly well, for the emulation software - it doesn't make things easy for the less technically inept but worthwhile community member often referred to as, the end-user. These are special members of the human race who have had their IQ surgically lowered to keep customer service staff amused.

My suggestion was to make a totally idiot-proof method to play on emulated servers for the benefit of these people and give it a presence on the EqEmu main web page.

Those of us who have the knowledge the setup servers are not your average user, everyone here is - *desperately searches vocabulary* above average *smirk* in terms of ability. The problem of course is if there are 200 EqEmu users, there are 200 servers...

Pneu[/b]

[hydrocyanic]

either remove the ^&*%*&%^ tradeskill or make it easier(ALOT!) to increase skill... i don't mind making dragon sclaed armor from dragon scale, but don't make me take 50hours to raise ONE skill to moderate...
mobs dropping armors are quite lame.. make them drop tradeskill items are good, make that there is quest to kill certain stuff to give mod to tradeskill and increase your skill too, and trade in item for increase tradeskill, etc etc...
the current tradeskill thingy from VI is deep fried BS...

[Pneu]

I agree with hydrocyanic, which is one reason I asked if the quest engine could have a check for minimum skills on another thread. I want to do exactly that but it would kinda suck if it accepted a quest handin that lowered your skill.. :)

Pneu

[Edgar1898]

Forgive me if this has already been discussed, but it seems that the bandwidth/performance issues are going to always be a problem as long as you have one server trying to control the whole world. Why dont you have multiple people run different zones on the same server? Have like 10 or so people each run a few zones for the server and that would greatly improve lag. Granted it would rely on more people to keep your server up 24/7, but i think you could make a logon system for servers so that when a new server joins the world server the world load is redistributed across the network. I personally think it would work out pretty nicely, what do you guys think?

[Pneu]

That can pretty much already be done can't it? By running zone servers remotely but connecting to your world.exe.

I could only see it falling over with persistent zones and when a server logs out, what do you do? If my understanding is correct then you'd just accept half a continent just logged out to play Quake :lol: but the next person to zone back in will ressurect that zone on the next spare zone server. With non-persistent zones I cannot see any problem with that as things stand.

Pneu

[RangerofStrife]

Back to a few posts before, mobs dropping armor is rediculous...if they aren't wearing armor in the first place.

If I go kill a goblin he probably won't be wearing any armor and shouldn't drop any, however the goblin LEADER itself may have been able to get his hands on a leather piece of armor, is stronger than most goblins (hence is the leader because of both these points) and if I kill the leader I should be able to loot his leather armor (provided I didn't put too many holes in in in the process of killing him.

But I agree, armor should not be easy to come by. If I remember correctly in EQLive the first 10 lvls it actually was pretty hard to get even leather armor because you couldn't afford it(provided you weren't given free armor or money).

[IAcbdarden]

I am interested in playing on a legit EQ server. I find it hard to believe you would have trouble finding people willing to play on it. I am all too willing to be a part of a legit server, and would have a lot of fun being a part of it. And as soon as i get some extra cash, I hope to put up one of my own, or perhaps help someone else out. I don't want Guilds to defend, I just want to have some good old fashioned EQ action, and have an enjoyable time doing it.

cbdarden (cbdarden@yahoo.com)

[Aragain]

RangerofStrife:

In beta guards dropped armor, no one, do i think, anyone said naked goblins would drop full leather.

You misunderstood the post, Mobs that should drop armor, would drop it, if a newbie happens to come along on a dead guard and feels like looting it, so be it.

Varant took that out to opress its players before EQ was released, becuase by god the only people who could kill a guard safely, would be a caster who couldnt it.

They compromised and came up with random armor loot, with lead to more opression, and so on, eq become what is today, l33tquest.

[exdruid]

I am interested in playing on a legit EQ server. I find it hard to believe you would have trouble finding people willing to play on it.

You would be surprised. We all rant and rave about wanting a legit server, but back before this was a reality the most asked question was something along the lines of 'Can I be level 60 with full <whatever the coolest gear was> and GM abilities?'

Beyond that, it also takes a lot of work to design a legit server. The default db is not designed for very low level areas. The are no wandering mobs, no quests, and by default everyone starts out pretty far apart. There are also a lot of zoning issues. All the uber zones are fully populated though, which just goes back to my first point.

It also requires a dedicated staff. You have to want to give the players their game. This right here cuts out the vast majority of the enthusiasts. The players will want resolutions (well, for things not caused by the emu that you can actually fix) and uptime. It's your choice whether you want to try your best to give them their game, or condemn them for demanding so much. Unfortunately, it's usually the latter.

[IAkc7wzl]

I am interested in playing on a legit EQ server. I find it hard to believe you would have trouble finding people willing to play on it. I am all too willing to be a part of a legit server, and would have a lot of fun being a part of it. And as soon as i get some extra cash, I hope to put up one of my own, or perhaps help someone else out. I don't want Guilds to defend, I just want to have some good old fashioned EQ action, and have an enjoyable time doing it.

cbdarden (cbdarden@yahoo.com)

I defanly be willing to play expt one MAJOR Problem!!! Server stablility. you try to play and every 10 to 50 mins you get booted. you know how anoing that is. I meen heck if they were stable I would have no problem playing the game the old fashion way. working at it . but at the state of the servers been so buggy and disconnecting all the time. playing legit sever has no point becouse it would take years to level up insted of days and months.

but like I said if some one makes a stable server ie does not constantly boot you. heck I would play that server almost non stop. it would be like my new home.

kc7wzl

[hydrocyanic]

I am interested in playing on a legit EQ server. I find it hard to believe you would have trouble finding people willing to play on it.

You would be surprised. We all rant and rave about wanting a legit server, but back before this was a reality the most asked question was something along the lines of 'Can I be level 60 with full <whatever the coolest gear was> and GM abilities?'

Beyond that, it also takes a lot of work to design a legit server. The default db is not designed for very low level areas. The are no wandering mobs, no quests, and by default everyone starts out pretty far apart. There are also a lot of zoning issues. All the uber zones are fully populated though, which just goes back to my first point.

It also requires a dedicated staff. You have to want to give the players their game. This right here cuts out the vast majority of the enthusiasts. The players will want resolutions (well, for things not caused by the emu that you can actually fix) and uptime. It's your choice whether you want to try your best to give them their game, or condemn them for demanding so much. Unfortunately, it's usually the latter.


well, i don't have that problem, i don't like lvl1 legit, i want to start at later lvl instead and with a reasonable set of armor, say.. lvl 30 pal with full set of blessed knight(twilight sea armor quest) and a weapon along with it. is it unreasonable? up to you. i would say starts at lvl 50 and follow some low end or mid end guilds in eqlive's DKP system and give us certain points to equipe ourselves of our choice, or make our own upon creating the character and the DKP of the item is made by GMs. i can volunteer to be a GM to help the in game problem(dummy in script/programming)
problem is... someone has to start a server that does that
damn.. i am posting similar stuff for every topic, oh wait, all the topic are similar :twisted:

[IAkc7wzl]

but that is what the non legit servers are for to level up and what not it's up the player how they play.

if I am going to play a legit server (ie the origal consept just like liveEQ) I want to start at level 1 and work up other wise what is the point realy becouse as soon as the mobs and other stuff is figured out ie getting almost just like EQlive then it would be nice to have servers that alow every thing like current servers do. and also at our finger tips legit server that you play the games as intended. between the 2 sets you coud start out what ever you whant or do it the hard it's up to you.

once you start out players with bunch of stuff and higher lever your server is not a legit server becouse you would not be playing the game totaly as intended.

so all the poeple that say I want a legit server but I want to start out with X and X well your conderdicting your selves.

here is the consept deff. of legit server "a EQemu server that in almost in all ways emulates SOE servers"

you don't have to cheat given the power you know but a legit server willl not alow cheating.

[IAcbdarden]

Well just to be clear to anyone wanting to start a legit server, I'd be more than willing to play in it and help out anyway I can. Now if I can only get the character generation screen to let me create a character without disconnecting me...

[hydrocyanic]

but that is what the non legit servers are for to level up and what not it's up the player how they play.

if I am going to play a legit server (ie the origal consept just like liveEQ) I want to start at level 1 and work up other wise what is the point realy becouse as soon as the mobs and other stuff is figured out ie getting almost just like EQlive then it would be nice to have servers that alow every thing like current servers do. and also at our finger tips legit server that you play the games as intended. between the 2 sets you coud start out what ever you whant or do it the hard it's up to you.

once you start out players with bunch of stuff and higher lever your server is not a legit server becouse you would not be playing the game totaly as intended.

so all the poeple that say I want a legit server but I want to start out with X and X well your conderdicting your selves.

here is the consept deff. of legit server "a EQemu server that in almost in all ways emulates SOE servers"

you don't have to cheat given the power you know but a legit server willl not alow cheating.

starts like EQ and change accordingly, you won't see any different from lvl1 to 10 in everywhich way for sure b/c you can't
i am saying 30 cuz its in the middle, plug in any number that is 20+
anything before that there is nothing you could have done
i am not saying that giving all the stuff you want to have at the start and copying the whole eq later
change the mobs of a zone around, make it dynamic, add quests, new items, spells but starts at different lvl b/c classes are different from 30 and 1, at lvl1 classes are always tank/priest/caster, but at lvl30 its changed abit, of course you can change them at lvl 1, but everything around you need to change it as well, how so? it will take more time than you think to change them and balanced or it will never
i have never say make the server not legit, it will be as legit as any legit server is, guess what, when everyone starts at lvl30, its no different from starting from lvl1 but difference are obvious between classes
unless someone tell me how to change eqemu lvl1 game different from lvl1 in eqlive, there is no way to waste time in the lvl1 game, even starting at 50 is not unreasonable since aalvls are there, this would make you lvl 100s(if you count the aas), but 20 or 30 or whatever is much easier to handle than a lvl1
you will just have to work up the loots(since what you have on you sucks) and lvls as well, given more hp/mana/spells which the class should have, the game can have more variations than a lvl1(3classes)
how is the game not played intended when people create a character of a class they chosen with the stuff they have on them(no drops)? paladin is paladin, not a lower graded warrior, nec is nec, not a tapping wiz, druid is druid, not a crappy cleric, in no way you can define a class unless you waste the time to lvl up, but the time you lvl up a class to a class you have, its a waste of time, no matter how long it is, 1hour or 10days, you don't have to give cleric cheal or shaman slow or chanter clarity, do what you like