Well, you can be connected to multiple LSs at once now. Here is an example config to set that up:
Code:
<!-- Loginserver information. -->
<loginserver1>
<host>eqemulator.net</host>
<port>5998</port>
<account></account>
<password></password>
</loginserver1>
<!--
<loginserver2>
<host>192.168.1.100</host>
<port>5998</port>
<account></account>
<password></password>
</loginserver2>
-->
<loginserver3>
<host>www.tsahosting.net</host>
<port>5998</port>
<account></account>
<password></password>
</loginserver3>
<loginserver4>
<host>login.peqtgc.net</host>
<port>5998</port>
<account></account>
<password></password>
</loginserver4>
Though, for your players to be able to log in through the other login servers, they need to have an account registered on it. Only certain trusted servers are allowed to let their players set their account password from in-game. Players can use the "#setlsinfo [email] [password]" command on trusted servers to register with the other login servers. This can be done on PEQ, and maybe on my server (Storm Haven) and possible 1 or 2 other servers.
Once their account has been registered on the other LSs, they can use them at anytime by changing their eqhosts.txt file. So, if the public LS is down, they can use one of the others. If they did not register their account on them, they will not be able to access them though.
With your 15/2MB connection, you can probably support 100-200ish players or so.
And yes, we do have monster mercs, but they are not the same kind from Live. They are just a custom temporary pet that we have setup and scripted.