Game Update 67

Game Update 67 - " Darkness Dawns "
__TOC__
The Ages End storyline continues in EverQuest II: Darkness Dawns.
== PATCH NOTES ==
All servers came down at 6am PDT on Tuesday, July 23, 2013 for the Darkness Dawns patch. The full patch notes are now available below.
Your dedicated Guild staff brings you our coverage of the GU67: "Darkness Dawns" material to help guide you with the new content and features!
:* Daily Objectives
:* Personal Depots (crafted by Tinkerers)
:* Darkness Ascending (signature series)
:* Waters of Norrath (heritage quest)
:* All EQII Coverage
=== DARKNESS DAWNS OVERVIEW ===
The oracles still see chaos and uncertainty on the horizon even with victory for the New Combine army in Cobalt Scar. Join Field Marshal Vishra at Scarstone as he tirelessly guards the newly found Tear of Veeshan - an artifact that could turn the tides of war forever in this time of delicate peace (Darkness Ascending). Is it the key to preventing the end of the world foretold in the Ages End prophecy? Those that have completed "Tear in the Grotto" are being summoned to find out!
=== FABLED DUNGEONS ===
:* Fabled Clefts of Rujark (accessed from Sinking Sands and Pillars of Flame)
:* Fabled Scornfeather’s Roost (accessed from Sinking Sands and Pillars of Flame)
:* Fabled Djinn Masters Prism (accessed from the ‘Fabled Dungeon Portal’ in Pillars of Flame)
:* Fabled Pedestal of Sky (accessed from the ‘Fabled Dungeon Portal’ in Pillars of Flame)
=== NEW CONTESTED AVATARS ===
Three New Contested Avatar Raids: Pit yourself against three new contested avatars in the overlands - Prexus, Solusek Ro, and Drinal!
=== ARENA OF THE GODS ===
The Arena of the Gods is a raid instance that allows 24 players to challenge any of the 9 avatars that are in game (includes the new contested avatars released in this GU). Once you kill an avatar and are rewarded, you can continue to practice the encounters as much as you want (there is a 3-day lockout timer for rewards). Entrances to the Arena of the Gods can be found in the cities of Freeportand Qeynos.
=== CHARACTER ADVANCEMENT TEMPLATES (CATs) ===
This new system will allow you to store up to 3 personal AA profiles on your character and as many as you want on your hard drive!
Previous Alternate Advancements will not disappear and will be imported into this new system. Achievement mirrors will allow you to save your existing profile to your hard drive so you can load them in the new system.
When you select any AA tab in the ‘Character Development & Alternate Advancements’ window, you will notice a new selection box in the upper-right corner, which allows you to select from personal and server suggested AA layouts, or load locally saved layouts. There are also new buttons in the lower-right, which allow you to switch between profile 'View' and 'Build' modes, and 'Commit' profiles you have selected or created.
=== CAT instructions for View & Build modes: ===
:* Editing current personal profile: To edit your current profile, just begin spending AA points normally. It will switch you to 'Build' mode automatically. Once you are done spending points, click on the 'Save' button. Choose which personal slot to save over (you can rename the slot if you wish) and hit 'Save' which should then commit those changes to your character.
:* Choosing a different personal or server profile: In the selection menu, choose a new personal or server profile. Once selected, you can either make edits of your own or use the profile as is by clicking on the 'Save' button. Choose which personal slot to save over (you can rename the slot if you wish) and hit 'Save'. Then push 'Commit' to apply those changes to your character.
:* Saving a profile to your hard drive: Once you are done setting up a profile, click on the ‘Save’ button. Enter the template name you wish to use to identify the file. Then click on the 'disk' icon which will save the profile inside of your root eq2 install folder. The save file format will be, “CharacterName_TemplateName.aa”.
:* Loading a profile from your hard drive: Click on ‘Load…’ from the selection menu and it will bring up a list of the profiles found on your local hard drive. After loading the profile you want, you can make any edits you wish, and then click the 'Save' button. Choose which personal slot to save over (you can rename the slot if you wish) and hit 'Save'. Then push 'Commit' to apply those changes to your character.
:* If you wish to start creating from a blank template, select ‘New’ from the drop-down menu.
On the right-hand side of the AA window, there is now a list of AA icons representing a timeline of how the AAs for the currently selected profile are to be spent. In 'Build' mode, if you click on one of these icons it will roll your layout back to that point (removing all spent points below that icon).
You are able to build a profile beyond your currently available points, and the points will auto-spend as you level!
Remember to ‘Commit’ your changes to your character if you switch profiles, for uncommitted changes will be reset when you zone!
=== NEW DAILY OBJECTIVE SYSTEM ===
You can now earn a ‘Loyalty Point Token’ each day by completing two of several daily tasks. Look in your journal under the new ‘Daily Objectives’ tab for more information on current tasks. Special merchants in Freeportand Qeynos will accept these tokens in trade for unique items.
=== GENERAL ===
Updated new character armor! Both the new and legacy starter armors have been added as crates to the class trainers.
=== POPULATION / ZONE PROGRESSION ===
==== General ====
City Sages now have The Book of Sacrifice, The Book of Power, and The Book of Trials available for those that completed the accompanying quest.
==== Halas ====
Trainer Hawk Dunlop in Frostfang Sea is no longer giving advice about the elementals that are attacking Darklight Woods.
==== Chelsith: The Ancient Vault ====
Murmaz the Believer should no longer spam "requires Beastlord" when hitting him when he has Frigid Barrier active.
==== Cobalt Scar ====
Harvestables should no longer spawn at the same location as the recovering othmir involved in Recurring Ministration.
==== Freeport ====
Kaherdin Surechest has been moved to a different prison cell in the Freeport Militia House, to avoid any conflict with a weary Kor shaman.
=== PLAYER HOUSING ===
A new “House-Lore” item flag has been added. A house can only have 1 of any item flagged as “House-Lore”.
=== TRADESKILLS ===
:* The Personal Harvest Depot recipe now creates a larger version of the Personal Harvest Depot.
:* New Personal Depots can now be crafted! The recipes to make these have been added to the existing Personal Harvest Depot recipe group.
:* Material conservation effects will no longer function when crafting the Insignias of the Deep.
:* The Mirror of Reflected Achievements recipe has been changed to produce A Polished Mirror instead. This produces a normal tradable mirror. Swapping your AAs is now handled entirely via the Character Advancement Template system.
=== MERCENARIES ===
Added a /useabilityonmerc command that performs the same basic function as /useabilityonplayer, but attempts to use the ability upon the active mercenary of the specified player (or the mercenary itself, if specified directly).
=== ABILITIES / ALTERNATE ADVANCEMENT ===
==== General ====
:* Level restrictions on Alternate Advancements have been removed. You can now access all of the abilities once you reach level 10.
:* Impairments that reduce mitigation now further reduce the chance for player spells to be completely resisted.
:* Dumbfire pets now have an increased chance to critically hit.
==== Mage ====
Root Mastery now increases root duration by 6% per rank instead of 2s per rank.
=== PvP ABILITIES / ALTERNATE ADVANCEMENT ===
==== Beastlord ====
Beastlords can now tame the "Cobalt brownhide" bears in Cobalt Scar as an exotic warder!
==== Brigand ====
In PVP combat, Cuss can now dispel increments of Frozen Solid and Toxic Aura.
==== Swashbuckler ====
In PVP combat, Tease can now dispel increments of Frozen Solid and Toxic Aura.
==== Druid ====
In PVP combat, Serene Symbol can now dispel increments of Frozen Solid and Toxic Aura.
==== Mage ====
In PVP combat, Absorb Magic can now dispel increments of Frozen Solid and Toxic Aura.
=== QUESTS ===
:* New Heritage Quest: Level 95 adventurers can start their path in Siren’s Grotto - Alluring Embrace (Solo). Help restore the Waters of Norrath, and you will be rewarded!
:* The War of Skyshrine: Keeping Enemies Close - Quest category has now been set as Signature.
:* Ry'Gorr Mining Operations - The barrel search region is now highlighted on the map.
:* Egg-cellent - Quest associated regions are now highlighted on the map.
:* Egg-cellent - Entering Goahmari Village via flying mounts will now trigger the intended ambush.
:* On the Run - Finding the mysterious liaison now updates for the entire group.
:* The Lands Above - Quest journal now specifies that you must speak with Field Marshal Vishra in the Withered Lands to complete this quest.
:* Little Tarby Lost – You now have more time to react to the hungry wolves after speaking to Tarby. Tarby can also survive a bit longer now if attacked.
:* Seek out Controller Kenjedeau - Quest journal now gives an accurate description as to Kenjedeau's location.
:* Over Their Heads - Gallie now recognizes that the saliraptor is standing next to her for the last step of the quest.
:* Writs are now offered to players up to level 85 from NPCs on the dock in Kylong Plains.
:* Lost Soldiers - Injured Combine Soldiers no longer can be hailed while running back to camp.
:* Unexpected Weather - Alvian farmers will no longer give multiple updates.
:* The Broken Hand - Aggressionnow has a quest target flag.
:* Conflict Among the Kobolds can once again be turned in.
:* “Refurbished Goods”, “Remnants of a Traitor”, and “Shards of the Eye of Stormhammer” - Each can now be repeated for those that have deleted and regained “The Stormhammer” quest, after finishing them.
:* The Book of Sacrifice now awards "Book of Sacrifice" house item.
:* The Book of Power now awards "Book of Power" house item.
:* The Book of Trials now awards "Book of Trials" house item.
=== ITEMS ===
:* Cloak of the Vipers now has an improved appearance.
:* All vitality potions and baubles now require level 4 to activate.
:* Psionic Conversion now properly drops when the target dies, rather than switching to the caster.
:* Mounts can now be cast and dismissed in dungeons (like before the mount will not be visible and give no run speed buffs in dungeons).
=== PvP ITEMS ===
:* The merchants in Champion’s Respite now charge less Havoc Marks for their wares.
:* New Chaos Bringer PVP gear is now available for purchase in Champion's Respite!
:* Imperial PVP gear can be upgraded into Chaos Bringer gear!
== Darkness Dawns on Tuesday, July 23 ==
On Tuesday, July 23, 2013, the next Game Update, Darkness Dawns, will launch in EverQuest II!If you read Holly "Windstalker" Longdale's Producer's Letter and Follow-Up Note, you probably have an idea of what to expect next week.For those of you who may have missed it, here's a quick rundown of some of the features you can expect with Game Update 67:
* Fabled Dungeons - new high-level versions of old favorite dungeons
* Character Advancement Templates (CATs) - a way to build and save templates for spending Alternate Ability and Prestige Ability points
* New Contested Avatar Raids (3) - contested avatars in the overlands
* Arena of the Gods - a raid instance allowing 24 players to challenge any of 9 avatars in-game
* Tradeskill & PvP - new high-end tradeskill apprentice goodies and PvP rewards
* Daily Objectives - a system where players can earn tokens to spend on unique and useful loot
* Personal Depots - lots of storage for harvested, crafted, and other items
The storyline of Darkness Dawns picks up where Scars of the Awakened leaves off. Haven't finished Scars of the Awakened yet? This weekend is the perfect time! Until Sunday, July 21 at 11:59 pm PDT, you can earn Double Experience in EverQuest II! Also, if you're a gold member, make sure you're using your Gold Rush buff for even more boosts.
If you want to do some final testing on Darkness Dawns before it hits live, you can copy your character over to the Beta server and check out the content! If you haven't copied a character to Beta, you can follow these instructions.
If you're testing out the new features, make sure you leave feedback for our Developers in our In Testing & Test Server Updates subforum.
Best of luck on your adventures, Norrathians, as you prepare for Darkness Dawns!
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== Original Announcement ==
Producer's Letter (Text Version)
: We are pleased to announce our next Game Update titled “Darkness Dawns” coming on July 30! For our 67th game update we have great stuff in store for you!
: We are really excited about a new story quest line that will pick up from our last game update in April (GU66: Scars of the Awakened). We can tell you that there is an EPIC event brewing in Cobalt Scar that could turn the world on its head and YOU are the catalyst. SPOILER: At the end of GU66, players uncovered an artifact of power -- a Tear of Veeshan -- that will lead into the story quest line in Darkness Dawns. The events you will experience are jaw-dropping and the team has been pouring its energy and passion into making this very special -- from art to dialogue. You, our hero, will be central to the story that will change the world!
: Here are some of the features we have lined up for Darkness Dawns!
: 1. Fabled dungeons: We've taken some dungeon favorites from the very first EQII expansion “Desert of Flames” and created additional versions of them with current high-level content and loot. You can experience Clefts of Rujark, The Djinn Masters Prism, Scornfeather’s Roost, and Pedestal of Sky at a high level range!
: 2. Character Advancement Templates (CATs): With the vast amount of points to spend on Adventure and Tradeskill Alternate Advancement and Prestige Abilities, it can be very tedious to spend all your points and decide the best way to specialize your character. We have a great new feature to solve all that!
: With Character Advancement Templates players can select fully completed character builds that will spend advancement and ability points as they are earned with a scrollbar that shows how all past and future points are allocated. Each character will have access to pre-built templates from us that can be exchanged and rebuilt at will with no need to pay any re-specialization fees. The player can also save three custom templates on our servers to be used anytime, anywhere the player logs in. Not only that, players can save unlimited builds locally to upload and share. Changing templates requires a cast time and for the player to be out of combat.
: The data format (xml) of the templates will be made available soon for fansites and players who may want to start tinkering with CATs in advance. (Meow.)
: 3. Three New Contested Avatar Raids: Pit yourself against three new contested avatars in the overlands – Prexus, Solusek Ro, and Drinal!
: 4. Arena of the Gods: The Arena of the Gods is a raid instance that allows 24 players to challenge any of the 9 avatars that are in game (includes the new contested avatars released in this GU). Once you kill an avatar and are rewarded, you can continue to practice the encounters as much as you want (there is a 3-day lockout timer for rewards).
: The loot from the arena avatars is not as powerful as loot found on contested avatars, but worth getting. The arena avatars are the identical avatar fights from the overland zones so you can train your raid force for the real deal!
: 5. Tradeskill & PvP: We’ve got new high-end tradeskill apprentice goodies and new PvP rewards too.
: I’m so proud of this team! They give their all to bring you new content at this unprecedented pace of updates. We are working on a few things for SOE Live too and will have some cool expansion and feature announcements and previews. We’re putting some final touches on the heroic Dreadcutter tournament zone right now too that will be a lot of fun with a prize pool of $10,500! Join us for SOE Live: www.soe.com/soelive.
: And finally, on June 21, we’ll be starting our Summer Gold Rush promotion. Until Sept. 21, existing and new Gold members will get access to a 4-hour daily spell (in your spell books or in an available hotbar slot) that gives you +15% Coin Loot, +10% Experience, and +5% Mount Speed while it’s active!
: We will be talking a lot more about Darkness Dawns and SOE Live over the coming weeks, so stay tuned for more details.
:: See you in game!
:: Holly Longdale aka Windstalker
:: Sr. Producer, EQII
Windstalker, Jun 14, 2013
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Category:Game Updates
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