EQ2Emulator & Current Client Support

[John Adams]

All,

We are going to go out on a limb and make a few bold statements - hopefully none that our good friends at SOE will mind

It seems one of the biggest points of contention with our project is getting the players a supported client version in order to play. While we do not condone acquiring the Everquest 2 Client from any source other than officially purchasing a copy from Sony Online Entertainment, I see no reason why small, unofficial "patches" to a single binary file should be frowned upon.

We are now willing to go one step further for our Community Members and officially support the EQ2EmuPatcher.exe (original author: Image) as part of our Core Utilities. This will remain in effect until we hear otherwise from SOE or it's team of lawyers

Edit: Feb 29, 2012 --

Official Base Client* of the EQ2Emulator Project is:
DoV 7628L

* This means we are no longer building in support for RoK, TSO, nor SF clients natively. DoV+ has our only focus now.


How This Works:

• You, the player, are still responsible for obtaining a copy of the Everquest 2 Client via legal means (ie, purchase from SOE). Below is a list of our current supported client versions, simplified:
  
  • Rise of Kunark Box Set - Client Version 4412L
    The Shadow Odyssey Box Set - Client Version 5040L
    Sentinel's Fate Box Set (back-patched) - Client Version 6120L (NOT supported, see below)
    Destiny of Velious Box Set (patched) - Client Version 7628L
  This means, you will need to purchase ROK, TSO, SF, or DoV from Sony via any resource at your disposal.
  
  Once you have installed one of these supported versions, you can download and extract the EQ2EmuPatcher Utility. See this thread for discussions on how to use this utility in the In-House Tools forum:
  • Download and Instructions: EQ2EmuPatcher.exe Utility
  
  
  There are currently two non-box set binaries we support via this patcher method. There are many more EXE's that will work, just none we are willing to offer patching to, when these 2 additional options work fine.
  
  • The Shadow Odyssey Box Plus (patched from TSO Box) - Client Version 5122L
    Sentinel's Fate Box Minus (patched from SF Box) - Client Version 6118L
    The Destiny of Velious Box Plus (patched from DoV Box) - Client Version 7628L

Once you have installed the box set, and patched either TSO to 5122L, patched SF to 6118L, or patched to DoV 7628L, you should be able to connect and play on our servers without issue.

Details on how to use the EQ2EmuPatcher Utility are found here:

• Download and Instructions: EQ2EmuPatcher.exe Utility

This is a moderately risky move on the part of the EQ2Emulator Project, but we're willing to take the chance no one will get out their legal bat on us after all this time. We're just trying to find ways to make playing our servers a little easier on you, the Community.

Enjoy!
The Everquest 2 Emulator Team

[JCL]

This is great news. Looks like there is now an opportunity for new members to be able to connect!

[Chrisworld]

Might be off topic a bit, but anyone notice that a fresh install of the TSO box contains everything TSO related but the client startup logo is still rise of kunark?

[Zcoretri]

Its probably because when the DVD/CD's went to press they did not change the spalsh screen.

[John Adams]

Small update on this tool.

I have removed references to a bad URL (Thanks, Tilt!) and there is a new EQ2EmuPatcher.exe available. You should get it the next time you run the client Patcher.

I've also removed the unsupported client versions and added our newest supported client, DoV (7628L).

[John Adams]

Just an FYI, and trying to keep quiet about it

Anyone who currently patched to Everquest2.exe version 8295L should make a full backup of their files *before* patching any further with AoD in the coming weeks. Reason being, if we DO support this client, and it is ONLY a digital download, you're going to be screwed come client compatibility time.

As the weeks progress and we learn more about AoD, we'll let you know if DoV (Box) is our official client of choice, or if we're going to try for AoD, or whatever the next DVD set will be from SOE.

[deadlyasp]

Random thought today that I just had to stop lurking and ask, Will the conversion to F2P that came with AoD have any possible bearing on the project?

[John Adams]

Random thought today that I just had to stop lurking and ask, Will the conversion to F2P that came with AoD have any possible bearing on the project?

Hey DA

In respects to it "helping" us, no. Because many aspects of F2P are still limited to subscription, and the fact SOE still doesn't want hackers cheating by injecting the stream with malicious intent, F2P itself does nothing to help our cause.

As far as hurting us, not at all. Our goal here (for us devs anyway) is not to build an EQ2 alternative so people do not have to pay a fee. Our goal has always been to build a game engine that can then be customized by individuals to run their own adventures using the EQ2 engine.

For us, we're developing this server "just to see if we can", if that makes sense.

[xinux]

Steam currently has the AoD release day client available for download for those that want a copy.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/201230/

[John Adams]

So this Steam thingy, will be there FOREVAR?????? so from this day til the world ends in 2012, players can go there, get Steam's version of AOD (free?) and will be compatible with us?

If so, Winning.

[Gilraak]

The thing is, Steam has updated in the past by its self. Say that John gets the client working and it stays version 8001.77 for a while, Steam will sometimes auto update and you'll have version 8002.77. EQEmu has this issue with Steam and its now House of Thule client, which was Underfoot and before that Seeds of Destruction oh..and before that Secrets of Faydwer.

But, if you can get the current Steam client working, an auto-update won't happen until SOE does a major game update, such as Game Update 600: EverQuest 2 Free-to-Play: Free to Play Edition


P.S
- I can confirm what I said as I use both my Steam and regular EQ2 install for simple two boxing. That and my EQEmu client is through Steam as well

[deadlyasp]

Good to know it doesn't adversely affect the project

[John Adams]

Edit: Feb 29, 2012 --

Official Base Client* of the EQ2Emulator Project is:
DoV 7628L

* This means we are no longer building in support for RoK, TSO, nor SF clients natively. DoV+ has our only focus now.

Please pay special attention to this note in the opening post, as of now EQ2Emulator.net plans to support only the DoV client moving forward.

RoK, TSO, and SF clients should still connect, and definitely should work with the ServerPacks 1.0 through 1.3, but after this it will be DoV+ only.


Any questions or concerns, feel free to post them here.