quest functionality and other questions
 

I've been wrestling with this install off and on since late last week and have just about hit the wall in terms of patience. Since vBulletin's search is less than stellar, I'm hoping this issue isn't one that's been asked and answered countless times.

My most pressing issue now is that quests don't work. I've read threads about others whose quests didn't work, but none of the info has helped.

The rundown: I've used this guide multiple times, learning more about the process as I go. After working through ActivePerl (5.10 x64 build 1001) and MySQL (5.0.37) issues, I'm still not able to get quests to work. Vendor NPCs let you buy, GM NPCs let you train (and talk to you during those transactions), but regular communication just doesn't happen. And for the record, I've also used ActivePerl 5.8.7, 5.8.9, MySQL 5.1.37, 5.1.37 x64, and 5.1.36 x64)

The only times I deviated from the aforementioned guide was to use SVN instead of CVS for collection of source or the various flavors of ActivePerl and MySQL.

Any advice you guys could offer would be most appreciated.

Another few questions:

1.) What's the difference between the EQEmu source code found in the guide (0.7.0 1129 Rev222...even though the link takes you to a site with Rev774) and the "EQEmu code" found here? I understand that the former is basically the server software with world.exe and zone.exe, but what's the purpose of the EQEmu code? Are you supposed to compile it somehow before use?

There seems to be a gap in the instructions here. Cavedude's guide is explicit (thank you so much! :) ) about how to get the latest db and quests and incorporate them into the database and folder structure, respectively, but there's scant explanation regarding that EQEmu code. It makes me wonder if my EQEmu server and my db collections are mismatched. Totally at a loss here.

2.) How can you tell which db revision works with which EQ Emu build? I've seen things said like, "Rev774 is compatible with version such and such," but is there a document with the compatibility lists?

3.) The only way I've gotten quests to work is to use the ProjectEQ prepackaged installer, which feels like cheating and is an assault on my dragonhood. How much functionality is missing by using the prepackaged version? I ask because I tried to replace quests and update the db with the latest SVN pull, which immediately bricked the server.

I'm not asking for ProjectEQ support here or anything; just looking for advice and some of the sage experience you guys have collected over the years.

Thanks for listening to these ramblings. This site has so much information (albeit some of it is totally antiquated) that it's hard to really tell what's useful and what's going to ruin your weekend with bad info.

I think number 3 from vales guide will answer this question.

http://www.eqemulator.net/wiki/wikka.php?wakka=ValesEQ

Thanks for the link to yet-another-setup-guide! :) Seriously though, thanks!

I think I came across the answer to #1 too. Correct me where I'm wrong: the source code is the binaries for those who want to compile the build into those directories that contain zone and world executables, right? So you compile them in Visual Studio or something?

An answer to #3 and/or a solution to why my quests aren't working when I build the server from scratch is all I need now. Then I promise to go away!

This explains how to compile the source on Windows if you ever wanted to do that:

http://www.eqemulator.net/wiki/wikka.php?wakka=VS2008

The wiki is full of loads and loads of useful information like that. Not all of it is completely up to date or accurate, but the majority of it is useful at the very least.

If quests aren't working, it is normally either because you don't have your quest files in the appropriate folder, or you didn't move the plugins from the quests folder into your plugins folder in the EQEmu folder. There are quite a few other reasons why certain quests might not function, though. It could be that the particular quest you are trying to use just doesn't exist, or it has a part in it that is broken. Make sure to check the quest folder for the zone you are in to see if an actual quest file exists for the NPC you are trying to speak with.

By quests not working, I am assuming that when you hail any NPC, none of them respond at all? Have you tried multiple NPCs, or are you basing this off of a single particular NPC? Also, have you tried watching your log files as your server loads to see if it reports any errors while booting up?

one thing i had issues with and searched and searched and also have the same issues, not all the info needed is in one location. i think there are several guides out there and none are absolute with all the info needed. not blaming anyone as its difficult to keep up. but if this helps you or not only you can tell. I found that inside quest folder is a plugins folder. you need to move that out of quest and into the plugins folder in server folder. give that a try. it fixed soul binder issues i had.

Thanks for the compiling instructions. If I get brave (or desperate), I'll take a look.

Yeah, I think that's what some of us have been saying...the info is really helpful until it isn't anymore. And that's when you find out certain steps have been deprecated, replaced by some neat new way to do things. After about 5 different guides, you get a real feel for what's happening during an install, so you can cater it to how you know yours needs to run. The problem is, it's 4 or 5 days after you started and all the excitement has been run out of the house and has been replaced by the Squatters of WTFrustration.

You're exactly right; neither hailing nor handins work either. I've tried class GMs and normal quest-givers. As far as directory structure goes, I've tried %EQ_Directory%/quests/[zone_name]/[NPC_name].pl. I've tried putting all the plugins in just the %EQ_Directory% as well as in BOTH the %EQ_Directory%/plugins and %EQ_Directory%/quests/plugins locations and neither works.

As far as errors go, the only errors I get from world.exe have to do with not being able to find rule_sets like AAexp modifiers and stuff--things that I think are db stuff.

Sounds like a map problem.