EQ2 Emulator?

Skarrde · #1 07-02-2007, 01:10 PM

i could live with most of their patches cuz i had a nice band of people that i would always play with. the patch that got me was when they screwd up the class selection. like you go on the isle of refuge already as a warlock, berserker. it was terrible NO MORE did you really get to learn your class and character. it made adventuring too easy. before i always had trouble finding a scout for the named mobs, but after that their everywhere. thats why i sorta hope that when this project gets finished they wont put in every patch. cuz like crabclaw said, every few patches the whole world was changed. oh well. makes me excited for when the emulator is done

John Adams · #2 07-04-2007, 06:44 PM

I have long hated SOE's expand-a-thons every 6 mos for exactly what you mention, Crabclaw. Spreading the dwindling player bases out even thinner than they were. Forcing people to spend $30 every 6 mos on top of their ever-rising monthly fees has put SOE at the top of my hate list. I am playing Vanguard now, and I am unhappy that I still have to maintain a now $30/mo station pass fee. When I started playing EQ in 2000, i was paying $9.95/mo. Now, I pay around $100/mo for all my accounts across various games.

This is the single motivation I have for progressing Emulators. I'm tired of shelling out cash monthly just to sit in a huge-ass MMO alone.

ZexisStryfe · #3 07-05-2007, 02:36 PM

Both Everquest and EQ2 have moved to a 1 expansion a year model and EQ2 has gotten rid of the "Adventure Packs." EQ2 has made some great strides since Echoes of Faydwer was released last year, and the game is more fun now than it ever was (in my opinion). With the November release of Rise of Kunark, EQ2 is also moving to a "Macro-zone" format, with massive multi-area zones.
I think getting the emulator to work from live is by far the best bet, because that way those who want the classic servers can have those, while those who enjoy the new content (like the new Neriak) and have those servers.
Optimally, I think it would be great if we could get Rise of Kunark also included in this emulator from the start, giving the Devs a year of development time before any other huge changes unfold (not counting the monthly updates, which have become larger and larger as of late).

saweb · #4 07-07-2007, 04:42 PM

I must say, I am so glad to see that this project is moving forward again!
It pleases me to see people work on this, because I have simply had enough WoW emu play.

If there is anything I can do for you (MYsql AdvAT) please let me know.

saweb · #5 07-07-2007, 04:44 PM

By the way,
Thank you LethalEncounter for what you are doing here. Its much appreciated.

saweb · #6 07-07-2007, 05:23 PM

LE, as we all know. . .currently your login server is closed beta. Not that I compromise your work in any way, its just that I think it would be better if you get an entire community working on such a project!.

Take for example how far mangos have gone, starting off with a single persons code, developed on forums.

Mangos, by the way (Massive Network Game Object Server) has an open source login server (intended for use with world of warcraft) that could easily be adapted to work with another mmo.

After all, they claim MaNGOS is an inter-mmo emu.

http://www.mangosproject.org/forum/index.php

John Adams · #7 07-07-2007, 05:48 PM

Some believe MaNGOS is in it's final days, regarding WoW emulators anyway. I disagree, but it seems the more direct C++ projects are taking over. I know Mangos was written in c++, but there has to be some reason why Antrix is taking over. Maybe it's just the database?

Second only to game functionality, is portability. I love using Linux for servers, but some projects limit only to Windoze. I think most good projects start in a *NIX environment and migrate after it goes "open source" to Windows.

**LethalEncounter** · #8 07-22-2007, 06:48 AM

Been away for a few weeks taking care of stuff, but I'm back now. Now that we can packet collect from live once again, the question becomes whether we want to wait until the next expansion comes out and do the same thing that eqemu did with Titanium. This is scheduled to be on November 13th. I could start working on updating the server, but because of the number of patches between now and then it will most likely be a closed beta. I might allow a few people to help test if they want to. This will allow me to concentrate on getting the server running.

image · #9 07-22-2007, 07:00 AM

I wouldn't expect vast changes if any at all to the login server or world server. Should just get a packet collector out that works now and start collecting packets so you have a good head start. Once the expansion comes around then you will only have minor changes to make, not to mention I believe the Rise of Kunark expansion does not come out till late November.

**LethalEncounter** · #10 07-22-2007, 07:16 AM

Yah, that is what I am thinking, but if I make it an open beta then I will get hounded with people saying: "Which version do I need to have?", "Why can't I login?", "How do I know which version I have?", etc. Making it a closed beta until the expansion is released will allow me to focus more time on coding and less time answering questions. Once the expansion is released we freeze the client and do like eqemu did with Titanium. The problem with releasing the packet logger right now is that if SOE finds out the method it is using to grab the key, they might shut it down for good. We might release it to the public around October, but any sooner will risk breaking the project again.

Hellbend · #11 07-22-2007, 01:24 PM

I think wait is the better idea. Wait 2 or 3 months is better than no one emulator never.

techguy84 · #12 07-22-2007, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LethalEncounter

Yah, that is what I am thinking, but if I make it an open beta then I will get hounded with people saying: "Which version do I need to have?", "Why can't I login?", "How do I know which version I have?", etc. Making it a closed beta until the expansion is released will allow me to focus more time on coding and less time answering questions. Once the expansion is released we freeze the client and do like eqemu did with Titanium. The problem with releasing the packet logger right now is that if SOE finds out the method it is using to grab the key, they might shut it down for good. We might release it to the public around October, but any sooner will risk breaking the project again.

I agree with you there LE. Have to answer questions like the stupid one I sent you in PM is just pointless if there coming in all the time, but thats why you got guys like John Adams or myself. We can swim around the forums and take care of most of the questions that may come up, like what version works and such. But anyhow, closed beta sounds best for those that can spare the time and have a available client to work. I myself think I have one, but not sure.

I think I recommend a few post back about freezing at a certain point and then catching up to that point in terms of content and performance. Granted we may have to move away down the line, but chasing live and adding the past two years of content in there is just way to much to ask.

The biggest thing though is where the project is located. Being a post in the Off-topic section of Everquest Emulator is the greatest thing as far as viewability goes. For example, anyone interested in a Everquest 2 Private Server will google it and the first result is a post in this off topic board that is 3 years old.

I dunno, I fell like maybe I should shut my mouth as I havent done anything for the project so I shouldnt be makeing any recommendations. Ignore me if you want to, but count me in when this gets going.

John Adams · #13 07-23-2007, 02:00 AM

I would also agree on closed beta, until you get something that is viable, playable, and that the average novice can setup at least as easily as EQEmu. We've waited a while, I'm sure we can wait a few more mos. I think the general panic is, there is one poor soul working on this. Should he get fed up or quit, the project dies (or at least stalls, since someone else would have to learn the code to pick up).

Not saying it'll go this way, and I am not saying there really IS one guy doing all the work (LE

) but that's what it appears, and I think that's the general sense around the forum. More people should help you with it... and not just the "me toos", but people who can communicate intelligently, know the language, and can dedicate the time.

I also feel EQ2Emu deserves it's own community. This thread is swell, but it's a lot to scan through to find specific info and will only get worse.

**LethalEncounter** · #14 07-23-2007, 09:04 AM

Aye, I might get a dedicated server again for this project that I could pay for using ad revenue (if the project ever becomes popular enough). Has anyone heard of AIT for dedicated hosting? Their prices blow everything else out of the water:

http://www.ait.com/dedicated-hosting.php

Just cant help but think there is a catch...

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Adams

I would also agree on closed beta, until you get something that is viable, playable, and that the average novice can setup at least as easily as EQEmu. We've waited a while, I'm sure we can wait a few more mos. I think the general panic is, there is one poor soul working on this. Should he get fed up or quit, the project dies (or at least stalls, since someone else would have to learn the code to pick up).

Not saying it'll go this way, and I am not saying there really IS one guy doing all the work (LE

) but that's what it appears, and I think that's the general sense around the forum. More people should help you with it... and not just the "me toos", but people who can communicate intelligently, know the language, and can dedicate the time.

I also feel EQ2Emu deserves it's own community. This thread is swell, but it's a lot to scan through to find specific info and will only get worse.

saweb · #15 07-23-2007, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LethalEncounter

Yah, that is what I am thinking, but if I make it an open beta then I will get hounded with people saying: "Which version do I need to have?", "Why can't I login?", "How do I know which version I have?", etc. Making it a closed beta until the expansion is released will allow me to focus more time on coding and less time answering questions. Once the expansion is released we freeze the client and do like eqemu did with Titanium. The problem with releasing the packet logger right now is that if SOE finds out the method it is using to grab the key, they might shut it down for good. We might release it to the public around October, but any sooner will risk breaking the project again.

Well I certainly do not suggest an open beta. Keep the project closed, . . . at least in the *vulnerable* first stages.

This project is alive again, I swear it. . .