Daybreak Games has given all of us Everquest players a teaser of what to expect from the upcoming patch next week!

(From the EQ Forums)

The March patch is scheduled for Wednesday, March 16, 2016 (the day of EverQuest’s 17th Anniversary!). Here are some highlights on what players can expect from this patch:

DoTs Improvements

Over the past few months, we've been reviewing the way DoTs work and how we would like to improve them going forward. As most of you know, there's a limited number of debuff slots available on any given NPC, which conflicts with DoT classes wanting to layer as many spells as possible on any given NPC in order to maximize damage. This layering has contributed to a lot of problems over the years; most notably, it takes a lot of spell slots away from players who want to maximize DoT damage, and it uses up many of the limited debuff slots available on raid targets.

In order to improve the way this works, we're starting this process with Beastlords, but we're planning to continue with it through all classes that use DoTs regularly. Here's what we did for Beastlords:

1. We went back to the first DoT in any given line, and doubled it (or more). This step may not happen for every class, but Beastlords in particular haven't been able to use DoTs for as much reliable damage as we'd like, so they needed the boost.
2. We looked at updates to those lines and increased their damage in a much more aggressive scale than we used to. This should mean that a new DoT will perform better than itself plus two previous levels of the same spell under the old scale.
3. We increased damage/mana efficiency over the entire line in a progressive manner. At each level you should be getting more damage per mana than before.
4. We categorized the new DoTs into lines which will prevent the same player from stacking multiple levels of the same DoT line on the same target. Other players can use DoTs in the same line on the same target, and the same player can use DoTs in the same line on different targets. The increase in damage should mean that a single player is dealing more damage with one DoT than they formerly did with three spells.

Taken directly from Daybreak's official forums:

"Hail Norrath!

It’s anniversary time for EverQuest and its 17th year!

The past year was fantastic, and we thank you for that! This year is also shaping up to bring healthy doses of Norrathian delights!

Coming next week with the anniversary, the team has created the Gnome Race event for everyone to enjoy on ALL servers! To participate, you'll need to create a new gnome in Ak'Anon. Look for Tipsy Teena near the exit from Ak'Anon to Steamfont Mountains and be prepared to drunk-dash and get flung across Faydwer all the way to the Estate of Unrest! Keep an eye out for world broadcasts when the race is about to begin because the prizes include brand new, awesome gnomish clockwork Hero's Forge armor pieces! For those not as adept at drunk-dashing, we will have an alternate set of clockwork Hero's Forge armor available in the marketplace.

What else? A fabled Legacy of Ykesha raid is coming for our players that raid on live servers for the anniversary! Woot! This raid and another bonus (wink, wink) will start on March 16th, so stay tuned for an announcement about that. Given the popularity of the dog and cat pets, and being true to our legacy, we felt it appropriate to bring you Gnolls in a Barrel. Do a barrel gnoll! This pet bundle will also be available starting with the Anniversary update on March 16th.

You have all shown us how much love you have for EverQuest, just like us, so we want to keep exploring new ways to enjoy this incredible game. Heading into summer, we have some big and fun plans in the works. We are still finalizing the details before we make any grand statements – and there should be a grand statement as we inch closer. The expansion for this year is well under way and looking incredible on the art front as well as design. We are really jazzed about where are new adventures will take you, and we’re excited to see what you think when we are ready to share more!

On top of all the stuff you will see, there’s some stuff you won’t! We are making some backend changes to improve server stability while also minimizing the loss of progress due to rollbacks. These changes will be mostly transparent, but it will help us to provide a better experience.

So, to all Norrathians, happy anniversary and thanks for all your support and commitment to EverQuest! Get ready to get your Gnome on and join us as we celebrate the anniversary with a drunken Gnome race on the Vox server on Wednesday, March 16 at 3PM PST.You can also join our team in a Twitch livestream on twitch.tv/everquestlive!"

A Legacy of Ykesha raid... that could be interesting. Some of the funnest lore/zones in the game in my view, but from the least impressive "exspansion" (it wasn't called that originally... just an extension) in EQ history. Now if they had made LoY a bit deeper (and have drops useful to the upper-tier population) and maybe completed it (there is a lot of evidence that it was nowhere near a finished product for quests and such). Anyway, I digress... Yay anniversary!

In a move designed to bring all Daybreak Games to a screeching halt, DBG announced this afternoon a GAME-WIDE general maintenance that will affect ALL of their games, including Everquest, Everquest II and the rest of their stable of MMOs.

Maintenance will begin Tuesday morning at 0-dark hundred (5:00AM PST), March 8th.  There is no ETA how long downtime should be expected; it varies depending on the game and service needed.  However, according to DBGs, if downtime extends for more than four hours, check the official game forums for an updated message.

 This general maintenance will likely impact the following DBG services across all games:

• Game Logins for all Daybreak Games
• Forum and Web logins for all Daybreak Games *
• Commerce and Account Management for all Daybreak Games.

Because this is a non-game specific maintenance, there will be no patch notes available.

(*yeah, so good luck checking the official forums for extended downtime)

Evil Mastermind?

How many different quests are currently live for this NPC? Our database says 2, but user input of late is suggesting there may be more?

Updated Quests: Behari is Missing ;  Enchanter Epic 2.0: Staff of Eternal Eloquence

Bestiary Updates: Tolkar Parlone ;  Garuc Anehm ;  Firwyn

New Items: Blue Vial ;  Phantasmic Plate Glove Seal of the Berserker ;  Fearlinked Silk Sleeve Seal of the Stargazer ;  Fearlinked Silk Sleeve Seal of the Assassin ;  Fearlinked Silk Sleeve Seal of the Cryomancer ;  Fearlinked Plate Boot Seal of the Arcanist ;  Fearlinked Plate Glove Seal of the Assassin ;  Fearlinked Plate Helm Seal of the Defiler ;  Fearlinked Plate Chest Seal of the Magus ;  Fearlinked Plate Sleeve Seal of the Magus ;  Fearlinked Silk Chest Seal of the Oracle ;  Fearlinked Leather Boot Seal of the Duelist ;  Fearlinked Leather Chest Seal of the Berserker ;  Fearlinked Chain Sleeve Seal of the Archer ;  Fearlinked Chain Glove Seal of the Berserker ;  Fearlinked Chain Chest Seal of the Stargazer ;  Fearlinked Chain Sleeve Seal of the Champion ;  Fearlinked Chain Boot Seal of the Advisor ;  Fearlinked Chain Wrist Seal of the Warmonger ;  Prize: Ping's Peaceful Potion Package ;  Prize: Nimbus of the Howling Wind ;  Prize: Jaled Dar's First Shielder's Pendant ;  Prize: Bracer of the Centaur Archer ;  Prize: Bridle of the Highland Lion ;  Prize: Bridle of King Kalakor ;  Prize: Painting: Fit For Kings ;  Prize: Rotting Contract ;  Prize: Painting: Terris-Thule ;  Prize: Mask of Scaled Cunning ;  Prize: Doll's Mask ;  Prize: Crown of Fire Nimbus ;  Prize: Dragorn War Mask ;  Prize: Miniature Eyepatch  ; ermit's Hideaway ;  rost Wurm Saddle ;  mber Wurm Saddle ;  Prize: Idol of Severilous ;  Prize: Baby Red Dragon ;  Prize: Rallosian Orc Contract ;  Prize: Dragon-Marked Amulet ;  Prize: Drake of Pure Nature ;  Prize: Dragonflame Ring ;  Prize: Building Block - Flat Rectangle - Draconic ;  Prize: Building Block - Cube - Draconic ;  Prize: Path of Ice Nimbus ;  Prize: Path of Ice Nimbus ;  Prize: Crown of Lightning ;  Prize: Path of Fire Nimbus ;  Prize: Painting: Terris-Thule ;  Prize: Painting: Estarim Family ;  Prize: Painting: Unrestrained Fury ;  Prize: Guard of the Fallen Dragon Ornament ;  Prize: Piercing Fallen Dragon Ornament ;  Prize: Crushing Fallen Dragon Ornament ;  Prize: Bow of the Emerald Dragon Ornament ;  Prize: Gnome Pirate Contract ;  Prize: Painting: Lady Vox ;  Prize: Painting: Lord Nagafen ;  Prize: Piercing Emerald Dragon Ornament ;  Prize: Slashing Emerald Dragon Ornament ;  Prize: Fist of the Emerald Dragon Ornament ;  Prize: Dragorn Contract ;  Prize: Terrifying Contract ;  Prize: Painting: Strength of Ganak ;  Prize: Fiery Dragonhide Pack ;  Prize: Slashing Fallen Dragon Ornament ;  Prize: Idol of Talendor ;  Prize: Tekko of the Vermilion Dragon Ornament ;  Prize: Venomous Raptor Saddle ;  Prize: Nature-Touched Wurm Saddle ;  Prize: Guard of the Vermilion Dragon Ornament ;  Prize: Firescale Wrulon Saddle


Bestiary Updates: Commissioner Edrun  ; Glorious Cistina ;  V`Dralk the Construct of Shade

*We are aware that the item collector has truncated some of the names. This usually sorts itself the next time an item is collected (which is soon because it basically tells itself "oh this item name has changed" when in fact it was just a collection error. --I personally don't know enough about it to say what causes this.

Duplicity

So we just had some Updates to Grevak and his "Lizard Doll" quest that make it clear this is a newbie home-city quest that fills the same niche as Cindl wanting polar bear pelts, that rumoured dwarf that likes crushbone belts and so on.

So what other starter cities have a parallel quest? (One would assume they all do). Clearly we need updates as to the full drop range of items from these. Are there multiple armor tiers in each city or just faction-based variations (Paladin guild bone chip quest in Kaladim is coming to mind here vs. the Crushbone belts quest out of the warrior guild).

Lastly, it looks like we could use additional screenshots of these NPC.

New Items: Dragon-Marked Amulet ;  Prize: Crushing Emerald Dragon Ornament ;  Prize: Emblem of Druushk ;  Prize: Painting: Ice Dragon Avatar ;  Prize: Building Block - Flat Square - Draconic ;  Prize: Bulwark of the Emerald Dragon Ornament ;  Prize: Claw of the Fallen Dragon Ornament ;  Prize: Building Block - Long Wall - Draconic ;  Prize: Building Block - Column - Draconic ;  Prize: Bow of the Fallen Dragon Ornament ;  Spell: Illusion: Arc Worker ;  Spell: Illusion: Relife ;  Spell: Illusion: Hadal ;  Spell: Illusion: Phantom Froglok ;  Spell: Illusion: Chetari ;  Spell: Illusion: Sarnak Warrior ;  Spell: Illusion: Lightning Warrior ;  Spell: Illusion: Plains Wyvern ;  Spell: Illusion: Dragorn ;  Spell: Illusion: Mastruq ;  Spell: Illusion: Silver Gnomework ;  Spell: Illusion: Ancient Sarnak Warrior ;  Spell: Illusion: Bokon ;  Spell: Illusion: Aqua Goblin ;  Spell: Illusion: Runic Tattoo Nihil Male ;  Spell: Illusion: Girplan ;  Spell: Illusion: Plaguebringer ; Legend of the Dragonbrood ;  Heartless Spines ;  Crypt-Hunter's Legionnaire Vambraces ;  Crypt-Hunter's Legionnaire Greaves

Updated Items: Large Patchwork Boots ;  Large Patchwork Pants ;  Large Tattered Shoulderpads ;  Large Tattered Wristbands ;  Splintering Club ;  Action Goblin: Blue ;  Action Goblin: Green

Updated Quests: Return Skalmarg's War Banner to the Wraithguard ;  Fergarin #1: Intercepted Correspondence ;  Fergarin #3: Confession ;  Bypass Heimgul ;  Favors of the Hopelost ;  Achievement: I'm a People Person!

Bestiary Updates: Chief Sanre`Rexsa ;  a twisted chest ;  Giladan the Botanist ;  Aedros ;  a coldain skinner ;  a treasure chest (The Rise of the Ancients) ;  Sliggles the Sneak ;  Bokon Revel the Reborn ;  an avatar of Tranquility ; a twisted chest ;  Giladan the Botanist ;  Aedros ;  a coldain skinner ;  a treasure chest (The Rise of the Ancients) ;  Sliggles the Sneak ;  Bokon Revel the Reborn ;  an avatar of Tranquility

New Items: Beloved Heartstopper ;  Teeth of the Beaten ;  Eye of Decay ;  Eye of Decay ;  Eye of Decay

Updated Items: Peacock's Cloak ;  Ruined Battleworn Morning Star ;  Fine Steel Short Sword ;  Skeletal Skull ;  Sunshard Dust ;  Skeletal Arm ;  Ornate Defiant Plate Helm ;  Shriveled Flesh

Bestiary Updates: Reania Jukle ;  risen commander ;  wandering warrior ;  rotting knight ;  decaying trooper ;  a chest (To the Brave, Go the Spoils)

Small but Dangerous?

The bestiary wiki listing says: "The spiderlings are the non-posionous version of the spiders. They are non-aggressive, but EXTREMELY social and will join in if you're fighting one anywhere near them. While they can be excellent xp for the younger player, they do come in a variety of level ranges. It is very important for the newer player to /consider the spiders closely to ensure they're of a reasonable level before taking them on."

But are they still social? I remember them being nuts in the Feerott ages ago, but my recent experiences in Nektulos on progression it didn't seem so...

Also, we could use some images of the other colour variations. I prefer my spiderlings in yellow myself.

Updated Items: Sunshard Dust ;  Velium Silvered Rune ;  Barbed Scale Whip ;  Diamond ;  Relic Fragments ;  Note ;  Buckler

Updated Quests: The Lost Circle ;  Plaguebringer Proof ;  Drosco the Zombie (good) ;  Achievement: Excommunication ;  Into the Temple (b) ;  In Defense of Health

Bestiary Updates: undead cleric ;  Guardian of the Glade ;  Marcia Attamilgad [Rare Items] ;  Yulin the Flameweaver ;  Crista Faelorin

Zone Updates: Sul Vius: Demiplane of Decay

Don't get wiggly, the Zam site may have changed but our beloved and favorite EQ website is still here!  And speaking of Everquest, here's the latest directly from Roshen on the EQ Forums:

War Games, the Plane of War anniversary event, is back for a limited time! This event is active NOW on live servers, and will be available until Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at 11:00PM Pacific Time.

This mission scales to your level, and can be requested by players that are level 65 and up from Commander Gorok who can be found in the Plane of Tranquility. Don't miss your chance to get a head start on collecting Commemorative Coins that can be used for special EQ Anniversary rewards!

Another direct pull from Roshen over at the Daybreak Official boards:

We’re having a Bonus Week here in Norrath! What does that mean? From 12:00PM (Noon) PST on Wednesday, February 24th through 12:00PM (Noon) PST on Wednesday, March 2nd, we’ve got two special opportunities happening in game.

MEMBER MARKETPLACE DISCOUNT INCREASED

Is there an item in the Marketplace you’ve been eyeing? Are you on the Phinigel server and planning on leveling up for the upcoming Kunark unlock? Good news! During Bonus Week, the Member Marketplace Discount will be raised to 30% OFF! That’s a significant increase from your standard membership discount (10%).

Not a member yet? This would be a great time to become one! Find our more details about the benefits of membership and purchase at https://www.everquest.com/membership.

DOUBLE RARE SPAWNS

If you’re on one of our regular servers, get ready for the fruits of your labor to be sweeter than ever. Why? This week, there are Double Rare Spawns!

(Sorry, TLP players – double rare spawns do not apply on Ragefire, Lockjaw, or Phinigel).

We'll see you in Norrath!