10-02 Patch (Instanced Zones)

[Detharzz]

Hello all.

Was playing Saturday early morning when a system message stated that all instanced zones were coming down for a patch. Notification time was 25 minutes; Estimated downtime was 1 hour.

The quote below was originally posted on the Official EQ boards concerning the 09-23rd patch.

Gullium Wrote:

I've spent nearly all my time, since the release off Omens, in Dranik Hollows. I'm pretty well versed on three certain expeditions:

1) The Murkglider Hive - Level 61 Instance
2) The Murkglider Hive - Level 66 Instance
3) The Fire Pits - Level 61 Instance.

The thing I noticed after Thursday(?) Nights patch... The Spawn rate on the 61 Level Instance of the Hive has gone from 2-4 Named an hour (Okay exessive I admit) down to about 1-2 Named every 4 hours. While I agree that the spawn rate was a bit high orginally, the adjustment was way to harsh for it to be even close to competitive with other OoW zones. I spent a good 20 hours + this weekend with different groups in the Hollows and saw about 5 named.

If not fixed, I'm afraid you will see a lot less use of The Hollows. The XP is BoT level (which is low for the expansion to begin with), the material returns have now been marginalized, the only thing left of any benefit is, you don't have to fight over the camp.

Dranik Hollows was once an asset to the expansion, please reconsider the spawn rate on the Named. Hate to see such a nice zone backshelved so quickly.

P.S. If you haven't fixed the Lvl 66 Instance of The Hive... please do. If you don't know - The spawn point for the level 70 named is Bugged hard. We spent about 4 hours there, before the last patch, and over that four hours a total of 9 lvl 70 named and 16 lvl 66 Rats spawned and remained up by the end. I pulled one pull to close to the PH/named pile and ended up with 3 Murkgliders and 16 rats in camp. Needless to say, it was funny but frustrating. (I really should have gotten a screenie... nothing like a wall of rats to make you chuckle). We did /bug the PH Problem that night.
Message Edited by Gulliam on 09-27-2004 10:56 AM


Gulliam Stormseeker
Essence of Darkness
Tholuxe Paells

Later on in the forum Xenaida, an EQ Designer Answered

Xenaida Wrote:

The bug with the Shrewd Dragorn has been fixed on Test and should be live soon. Also, the spawn rate on rares has not been changed since release.

Happy Hunting!

X

I am glad to hear that they didn't nerf the spawn rate or drops on the Dranik Instanced zones, however I would just like to know what the patch on 10-02 changed, as there was little notice before hand, to my knowledge. I do know that they once again changed the slow mitigation in the Dranik's Hollows Instanced zones. As of 10-01 the mobs mitigated slow again.

As this zone offers the best way for Necro's to solo for Rune drops, I think we should all keep a close eye on any changes that may effect that. (refer to "Solo LDoN" threads to see how this can be done. Search is your friend)

If you have any info please post here, and I will update this as I learn more as well.

[AnimocityStromm]

Has SOE ever admitted to nerfing droprates/spawnrates of gear/named 2-3 weeks into an expansion? Because they do it every expansion and everyone knows it, but I can't recall them ever admitting it.

[Detharzz]

Well, I agree but who can really prove it due to the "random number generater"?

*Warning* This got longer than intended....

But I was late checking out the Expeditions since I thought I was actually doing something taking out named mobs solo in Bloodfields. I got a few decent drops and the exp was slow but pretty easy. Plus new content makes for a little excitement at first.

I'm not exactly sure when I finally tried the expedition, but I know the Murkgliders didn't mitigate my slow when I went. I went with a group of friends and we cleared our way to the PH's, then we camped both PH's for about an hour. No nameds no drops. No biggie it's our first time there and our first hour in. One member has to go. So it's me and BST friend and my Cleric alt. (2 Box) So he stays for another hour and we get one named "Yellowfang" in Murkglider expedition. Got a lvl 68 rune and an ok bracer that goes to the Alt Cleric, cool. My lvl 62 Cleric alt got the expedition for us. Then the BST had to leave...

Well at this point I'm excited about the rune drop and I didn't have to work the next day. I stayed on, in the expedition for the next 10 hours, 12 total 2 boxing my lvl 66 Necro with my lvl 62 Cleric, which works rather well actually with buffs and the pet CH's during the named fights, and mobs that I can't slow.

In 10 hours I got about 8 more runes, including one Minor rune that I can actually use at this time as well as a few more bracers and some slippers with pretty low stats. I turned in the lvl 67 runes, thinking it won't be long till I need them, and sell the lvl 68 runes cause I'm broke. Set them up on trader and take a 4 hour nap (still have next day off too)

Get up, sold all the runes at 80kpp each, and I go back in an expedition solo, using my alts to get the expedition to lower the mobs levels a hair to allow me to better solo them. This time my lvl 61 SHM gets the expedition. Mob lvls are still 56, all DB. Get 6 more runes in about 6 hours. Very happy. No longer broke and purchase a few upgrades for my main in Bazaar. SHM even gets some new gear.

/Fastforward

Friday; I get exp solo. 6 Hours 3 named, drop crap bracer or crap slippers, no runes.... NP, bad run of luck, (you silly number generater you)

Yesterday; I get exp solo, 5 hours, 2 named, drop crap bracer or crap slippers, no runes. (This random generater isn't very random...)

Today; I get exp with partner, 4 hours 2 named, still no runes... (*Radar detects low flying stealth nerf*) BST friend from before also solo's his own adventure, he got 3 named and no rune.

Perhaps it's just bad luck, and maybe what I need is another good 10 hour session :). But that's hard when I'm working 12 hour shifts at the office too. At lvl 66 the exp is minimal, but it moves. I'm sick of seeing the stupid slippers rot, although Yellowfang does drop a +2 mana regen aug that is very nice. Worth the camp alone IMO, but still the purpose of this camp was the runes.

I do think the rune drops have been nerfed though. But if there's any chance they can drop from named in the lvl 61-62 instance, I'll still be very happy, just not as happy as before, when I was averaging 1 rune per hour. :)

Just posted these ramblings so that maybe others can compare the differences and see if there has been a change or if it's just "streaky" as some have stated, due to the random number generater. I hope to hear that some have been in after Saturday morning and have still looted runes from named in the lvl 61-62 expeditions....

[Arlania]

I did expeditions this morning Oct 03. Requested by 67, 61 level mobs. I got 3 named in 2.5 hours. It was the Murkgliders instance. We got the Scuttling Darkrat three times in a row. I was very happy.

Never did get the cavebat named just his PH. Unfortunately we had to stop due to RL issues but the loot was very good.

[Detharzz]

I guess what I'm trying to find out is, what is the lowest level that can request the expedition and the nameds still drop runes?

I had a lvl 62 Request the adventure from the start, and got lots of runes prior to the patch. Now the lvl 62 expedition either no longer drops runes (Named is Yellowfang and Swaying Murkglider), the drops are rare now, or I've just had a bad run of luck.

I duo these with lvl 61 SHM or lvl 62 CLE and haven't tried having my main get it yet, lvl 66. Since 01 OCT I've spent 4 hours a day and have seen maybe 10 named, and no more runes.

Has anyone been in a expedition started by a lvl 62 or lower and looted a rune? I know Yellowfang and Swaying Murkglider used to drop runes, Be a shame if they no longer drop them. My next step is to lvl my alt to lvl 63 and see if the nameds there drop runes....

I know if my lvl 66 picks the expedition the nameds will drop runes, but how easily can they be soloed/duoed? I also think the PH's are further apart in the lvl 66 expedition, in the lvl 62 expedition the PH's are 4 mobs apart, and you can keep them both cleared before repops.

If anyone knows please post, if I get a rune from this lvl expedition I'll post back here as well.

[Grishtin]

I also normally do the yellowfang/murk 59-64? instanced. Normally I get anywhere from 2-6 runes a night (2-6 hours). Yesterday I tried it out and in 3 hours I got 7 total named spawns with zero Rune drops.

Pretty much looks like they don't drop runes anymore, unless it's super rare now.


-Grishtin

[Detharzz]

Yeah Grishtin, that's what it's starting to sound like. I get off of work in 2 1/2 hours though and have the next 4 days off. So I'll find out for sure.

My friend told me that the level of mobs goes up with a lvl 63 getting the expedition, So my plan is to lvl my alt to 63 and then have him try to get that expedition.

If no luck there I guess my main will have to get the expeditions at lvl 66 and see if I can still 2 box there. It would really be nice though if the lvl 62 expedition still drops them... Even if rare atleast I know I can get my spells without having to group alot and pray for good rolls.

If anyone level 65 and lower starts an expedition (Actual person that hails and gets the mission) and gets a rune, please post here with level that started the mission and what named dropped the rune.

Thx

[Ezzaral]

I have heard from many people that expeditioins gotten by anyone under 66 will no longer drop runes.

[Detharzz]

Just an update on this. The 10-02 Patch indeed removed the rune drops from the lower lvl expeditions.

Now any expedition started by a character lvl 62 and under, will have no chance to drop runes from named mobs.

Lvl 63 and up can still get the expedition and the named mobs will drop runes. There is absolutely no difference between a lvl 63 getting the expedition and a lvl 67 getting the expedition.

The nameds still summon, but if you have any kind of slower, it's cake. Also remember Necro's, the Murkgliders are Undead, lvl 61 mobs that spawn right next to the named PH....