Because of all the hard work in pushing for 2.5, and the addition of SoD to the main EQemu login screen, many changes are being conducted in the following weeks to improve quality of life on SoD. The goal of these changes is to improve the overall satisfaction of existing players, and to assist new players enjoy all of what shards has to offer.
Bounty System
-Rank 1 bounty posters extended to 4 per day up from 2
-Rank 2 bounty posters extended to 2 per day up from 1
-Removed the restriction of having to have completed several unique bounties before repeating a bounty. This unnecessary restriction caused difficulties in forming groups.
-Added several new pieces of armor for purchase on bounty merchants. Allowing some gear customization and to facilitate a progression path for our new players, who may or may not have access to raids.
-The bounty choker stats have been modified and has been converted into an XPable item. This is to encourage players to purchase and neck and ease travel for players farming bounties.
Travel
-MoP is now available to the Murk / Dreadlands - After the heroic efforts of Dalayans defeating the forces of Kaezul, the MoP restrictions to Ikisith have been relinquished. The flag quest will still be required in order to use these portals, and it will port you into the heart of the Gruplok/Refuge establishments, so perhaps pay them a visit before popping in unannounced.
Buffs
-Permanent and Soulbond buffs have been restored to players. Each character may have up to 5 Soulbond/Permanent buffs at any given time. Grab your favorites and go spend more time killing and less time in Athica!
Tradeskills
-Mystic Ash / Balsam / Ectoplasam / Robot Oil have had their drop rates increased. This includes existing drop locations, and these items have been added to the loot tables of mobs where it made sense to do so.
-Shadow Silk have had their drop rates increased. This includes existing drop locations, and these items have been added to the loot tables of mobs where it made sense to do so.
-Deepmetal Ore is now slightly easier to find
-Pristine Ikisith Hides can now be found on wildlife throughout Ikisith. This can be used to create high quality T5 augs. This is to adjust for the price discrepancy between T5 and T2 augs, and to give the snow kobolds a break.
-Added one new blacksmith pattern, difficult to farm and hard to combine, akin to Mantle of the Forest. Check your local Tradeskill vendor for details.
-Added one new Jewelcrafting pattern, difficult to farm and hard to combine, akin to Mantle of the Forest. Check your local Tradeskill vendor for details.
Quests
-Added several *quest versions of various rare and contested NPC to improve quality of life and reduce bottlenecking on various quests. The spawn rate of these added *versions is not instant, but drastically improved. Looking at you Ancient Tarlisha Elthannar and Parcelian the Devourer to name a few.
-Increased the drop rate for "relic hunters" in the lower tier planar zones.
-Increased drop rate of Vah quest pieces in lower tier raid zones.
-New Quests - 1 new quest was added to the Darkwoods, Red sun Peaks and the Plaguelands. These quests are acquired and completed entirely in their respective zones. This is part of an ongoing effort to give people real incentive to travel to new zones. More to follow!
Treasure Maps
-Increased drop/fish rate of ED maps to correct for the hyperinflation in their value since the inception of the vah.
-Loot from VE/E/Mod maps have been reevaluated and slightly retuned to better meet the needs of the modern Dalayan adventurer. Keep on the lookout for a few new pieces as well, a few classes (tank) is underrepresented in this tier and these adjustments aim to correct that.
-E maps have had their waves adjusted to remove waves of light blue mobs.
-VE/E/Mod maps have had their drop/fish rate increased. Due to increased quality of loot be prepared to fight a few extra waves on average to earn your prize! The goal is to make maps a somewhat viable option as an XP in strange lands as well as loot scoop.
XP
-XP rates have been adjusted across all level 65 dungeons. The rate of adjustment is determined by the difficulty and tier of the zone. High end dungeons have received the largest adjustment. This is to give high tier players a reason to venture into more difficult zones.
-Area penalty remains intact. It is clear this is a strong aspect of the vision the staff holds for SoD. The numbers have been reevaluated however and the amount of xp required for a reset have been reduced.
Money
-Coin drop rates have been increased across all level 65 dungeons. The rate of adjustment is determined by the difficulty and tier of the zone. High end dungeons have received the largest adjustment. This is to give players incentive to group rather then solo farming DN rats for coin.
Charms/Tomes
No Change. With many of the new changes, it will be possible for more people to simply play the game. These achievements will come fluidly and naturally as people kill monsters with their new companions.
Oh to dream...
Bounty System
-Rank 1 bounty posters extended to 4 per day up from 2
-Rank 2 bounty posters extended to 2 per day up from 1
-Removed the restriction of having to have completed several unique bounties before repeating a bounty. This unnecessary restriction caused difficulties in forming groups.
-Added several new pieces of armor for purchase on bounty merchants. Allowing some gear customization and to facilitate a progression path for our new players, who may or may not have access to raids.
-The bounty choker stats have been modified and has been converted into an XPable item. This is to encourage players to purchase and neck and ease travel for players farming bounties.
Travel
-MoP is now available to the Murk / Dreadlands - After the heroic efforts of Dalayans defeating the forces of Kaezul, the MoP restrictions to Ikisith have been relinquished. The flag quest will still be required in order to use these portals, and it will port you into the heart of the Gruplok/Refuge establishments, so perhaps pay them a visit before popping in unannounced.
Buffs
-Permanent and Soulbond buffs have been restored to players. Each character may have up to 5 Soulbond/Permanent buffs at any given time. Grab your favorites and go spend more time killing and less time in Athica!
Tradeskills
-Mystic Ash / Balsam / Ectoplasam / Robot Oil have had their drop rates increased. This includes existing drop locations, and these items have been added to the loot tables of mobs where it made sense to do so.
-Shadow Silk have had their drop rates increased. This includes existing drop locations, and these items have been added to the loot tables of mobs where it made sense to do so.
-Deepmetal Ore is now slightly easier to find
-Pristine Ikisith Hides can now be found on wildlife throughout Ikisith. This can be used to create high quality T5 augs. This is to adjust for the price discrepancy between T5 and T2 augs, and to give the snow kobolds a break.
-Added one new blacksmith pattern, difficult to farm and hard to combine, akin to Mantle of the Forest. Check your local Tradeskill vendor for details.
-Added one new Jewelcrafting pattern, difficult to farm and hard to combine, akin to Mantle of the Forest. Check your local Tradeskill vendor for details.
Quests
-Added several *quest versions of various rare and contested NPC to improve quality of life and reduce bottlenecking on various quests. The spawn rate of these added *versions is not instant, but drastically improved. Looking at you Ancient Tarlisha Elthannar and Parcelian the Devourer to name a few.
-Increased the drop rate for "relic hunters" in the lower tier planar zones.
-Increased drop rate of Vah quest pieces in lower tier raid zones.
-New Quests - 1 new quest was added to the Darkwoods, Red sun Peaks and the Plaguelands. These quests are acquired and completed entirely in their respective zones. This is part of an ongoing effort to give people real incentive to travel to new zones. More to follow!
Treasure Maps
-Increased drop/fish rate of ED maps to correct for the hyperinflation in their value since the inception of the vah.
-Loot from VE/E/Mod maps have been reevaluated and slightly retuned to better meet the needs of the modern Dalayan adventurer. Keep on the lookout for a few new pieces as well, a few classes (tank) is underrepresented in this tier and these adjustments aim to correct that.
-E maps have had their waves adjusted to remove waves of light blue mobs.
-VE/E/Mod maps have had their drop/fish rate increased. Due to increased quality of loot be prepared to fight a few extra waves on average to earn your prize! The goal is to make maps a somewhat viable option as an XP in strange lands as well as loot scoop.
XP
-XP rates have been adjusted across all level 65 dungeons. The rate of adjustment is determined by the difficulty and tier of the zone. High end dungeons have received the largest adjustment. This is to give high tier players a reason to venture into more difficult zones.
-Area penalty remains intact. It is clear this is a strong aspect of the vision the staff holds for SoD. The numbers have been reevaluated however and the amount of xp required for a reset have been reduced.
Money
-Coin drop rates have been increased across all level 65 dungeons. The rate of adjustment is determined by the difficulty and tier of the zone. High end dungeons have received the largest adjustment. This is to give players incentive to group rather then solo farming DN rats for coin.
Charms/Tomes
No Change. With many of the new changes, it will be possible for more people to simply play the game. These achievements will come fluidly and naturally as people kill monsters with their new companions.
Oh to dream...
