Future of EQ2 Emulator

[Zcoretri]

When it comes to the DB, you will use our project database editor, which only team members have access to.

Far as the DB goes, we're restarting our DB from zone 1, now that a DB has been released - we want to do it again, and do it right now that we've learned so much. Right this moment, there is NO content DB as I have not started the "clean slate" project yet. I was waiting to see how >this< thread turned out. Again, don't want to waste anyone elses time if ... well, you know.

Guess that explains why I can't log into the editor here lately.

[John Adams]

I just (re)fixed all our logins. Give it a try again Z.

[Zcoretri]

I just (re)fixed all our logins. Give it a try again Z.

Working

I have written a few spell scripts the past few days and had no where to put them because I had no access to the editor, so I modified them in my downloaded svn folders but could not commit them. Probably not the right thing to do, haha.

John, have you uploaded anymore collected files from Eradani?

[John Adams]

June 1st was a date for us to determine if the EQ2Emulator Project was viable enough to keep going. With that day upon us, I'd like to say the current interest level is far more than we've had in years, and that alone brings great hope for the future of the project.

I am going to start working with LE to move EQ2Emulator from his servers over to mine, which will probably take a while to get set up... and I'll probably buy the domain from him when it comes time to renew. I am willing to do this because we have not only players interested, but folks interested in collecting our data for us, and especially some C++ folks coming in to help out. Without all 3 of these things, we cannot be successful - so keep up the good work during this site transition.

I'll give everyone ample notice before the site goes down for transfer, and I imagine that won't be for at least a few more weeks.

I speak for our entire team when I say, Thank You... for saving EQ2Emulator.

[KainUK]

When the client is a bit more stable... I'll try and do my best to help test stuff.

I hope you're okay with Tess crashing. Apparently I'm good at crashing servers...

[John Adams]

Tess is there to be crashed. She likes it.

[Blizz127]

Banshee Realm server is backup to be crashed too. lol

[Minuss]

Sad times...

I'd hate to see this project go to waste because it has a huge potential.

Maybe this has been discussed before but considering the small number of people involved in it and the "hugeness" of the task, why not try to reconsider the objectives. Like what has been done with eq1emu, why not choose a stable and easy obtainable client, stick to it for now instead of chasing after the game updates?

I'm saying that because, for me, an emu is meant to allow server owners to design some custom content for people to play on. Even though creating custom content is already possible, not many custom servers projects have poped up yet. It would be interesting to have some feedbacks from people who thought about starting one to know what held them back from doing it.

That doesn't solve the lack c++ coders who are at the centre of the project at this stage, but maybe defining some new objective could give people a motivation boost to get involved.

I hope people will gather up and save this project, I really do...

[stevetcollins]

Well I think we also should support the box set of SF (the recent expansion)

[John Adams]

Steve, do you realize the Box you buy in the store has a specific data version that was never "live", so there will never be packet logs collected from it? It was version 1012. We do not have 1012 data, and cannot support that box client. When SF was open to the public on SOE servers, the first thing it did was patch... patched all the way to version 1027. Then, and since then, SOE has bumped their versions consistently once or twice a week, til we are now at 1046 (last I checked).

In other words, it would be next to impossible to support the SF "out-of-box-experience", unless we guessed at everything.

[Eradani]

Sad times...

/\ this

It would be interesting to have some feedbacks from people who thought about starting [a custom server] to know what held them back from doing it.

I'll be making a custom server asap harvesting and crafting and pvp get coded. hehe

<- still working on harvesting. every time i go find more info, i find 10 more complications.

do you realize the Box you buy in the store has a specific data version that was never "live", so there will never be packet logs collected from it? It was version 1012. We do not have 1012 data, and cannot support that box client. When SF was open to the public on SOE servers, the first thing it did was patch... patched all the way to version 1027. Then, and since then, SOE has bumped their versions consistently once or twice a week, til we are now at 1046 (last I checked).

In other words, it would be next to impossible to support the SF "out-of-box-experience", unless we guessed at everything.

I'm guessing this applies to every Box version

[stevetcollins]

Well actually the Shadow Odessey box works. It's a shame that SF wouldn't work .It be great if it did because than every one could go out and own a copy

[JCL]

But he is right it takes a lot of work to update a version and they update faster than they get a chance to finish making it compatible. And they won't get anything done if they are just working on making it compatible. And you never know when this project will get updated so if you don't stay tuned you of course can miss out.

Edit: Guess official development is done. Guess we will see where this goes...

[Eradani]

I suppose that stopping at a version would depend on how long the unpatcher is going to work. But, if you ever wanted to move up a version here, it would be a lot of work.

I've got my SF unpatched to 6118L (or whatever it was) and I'm gonna just stay here for development.

[Minuss]

there will never be packet logs collected from it? It was version 1012. We do not have 1012 data, and cannot support that box client.

That's only an issue if we want to make a live server isn't it? Or do you use this data to understand the mechanics of the games that needs to be coded?

if you ever wanted to move up a version here, it would be a lot of work

There is no need to stick with the current live client or to upgrade as long as they don't add a major feature to the game.
When I think at what eq2emu should be, I always have in mind the example of shards of dalaya server for eq1 : instead of chasing to keep their client up with live, they've chosen one and developed their server on it, adding all the features they needed to it. Of course, they're limited in what they can do but the amount of things that can be done is huge, they've added new commands to the client, new AAs, and more...

Since we have no way to keep up with the live client, I think we should :
- choose one "ready out of the box" client that people can acquire easily and make the emu compatible with it (like titanium edition is for eq1emu)
- focus on adding features to the emu that are needed for the basic gameplay (harvesting, skills, ...)
- in the meantime, develop a custom server, with some basic but original content at start, to show people what this emu is capable of. This way we could attract some players and boost the community.

That suppose some c++ coders are still willing to work on this because world content developers alone won't be able to do much without them.