[smogo]

hmm, that would mean something is broken in perl->eval() ?

As this is where itemcount is built (and it's pure perl processing)

string hashname = packagename + std::string("::itemcount"); 
			perl->eval(std::string("%").append(hashname).append(" = ();").c_str()); 
			perl->eval(std::string("++$").append(hashname).append("{$").append(packagename).append("::item1};").c_str()); 
			perl->eval(std::string("++$").append(hashname).append("{$").append(packagename).append("::item2};").c_str()); 
			perl->eval(std::string("++$").append(hashname).append("{$").append(packagename).append("::item3};").c_str()); 
			perl->eval(std::string("++$").append(hashname).append("{$").append(packagename).append("::item4};").c_str());

Merely rebulds the %quest::itemcount hash everytime before EVENT_ITEM sub is entrered.
This part didn't change from 0.5.7dr6 to 0.5..8. Or did it ?

Strange, very strange ...