*** Headlines ***

• - 'Tis the season for Frostfell time!
• - Find quest givers easier with new quest indicators!
• - Want to know the reward for completing a quest? No problem!
• - New horses have been trained for Level 40 guilds--Mistrunners and Nightmares!
• - Subclass armor has a new look and class-tailored stats!
• - Get ready to explore the new Fallen Gate!
• - Summoned pets get more distinct looks!
• - New enemy mastery choices at level 52!
• - New EQII Expansions Reward: Receive bonus veteran reward time for owning Desert of Flames!

*** Frostfell ***

• - It's Frostfell time in Norrath!
• - Talk to Gardy Giftgiver in either Qeynos Harbor or West Freeport once a day for lots of fun presents! He has 15 to give you in all, including new music boxes that play your favorite EverQuest Live tunes.
• - Those Gigglegibber goblins are up to no good again. Help the Frostfell Elves save Frostfell! Just talk to Pinchy Presentpeeler to start the quest.
• - Celebrate the holidays by having snowball fights with all your friends.
• - Buy decorations for your home from the Frostfell elves.
• - The festivities commence in Qeynos Harbor and West Freeport. Look for the Frostfell tree!

*** Questing ***

• * A quill indicates that the NPC will offer you a quest.
• * A book with a quill indicates that the NPC will update one of your quests.
• * A book indicates that the NPC will complete one of your quests.
• * NPCs that offer a quest 10 or more levels above or below your adventure level will not display these indicators.
• * You can turn off these indicators in the Options menu (User Interface -> Name and Chat Bubble -> NPC Overhead Quest Icons).

• * NPCs that give a quest are indicated by an open yellow circle.
• * NPCs that update or complete quests are indicated by a filled yellow circle.
• * Mousing over these icons will show you the name of the NPC.
• * NPCs that offer a quest 10 or more levels above or below your adventure level will not be shown on the map.
• * You can turn off the quest giver map icons in the Options menu (User Interface -> Game Features -> Show quest icons on map).

• * Not all quests will show their rewards; some special rewards are meant to be a surprise.
• * You can turn off the display of rewards in the Options menu (User Interface -> Game Features -> Show quest rewards).

*** New Guild Level 40 Mounts ***

• - New mounts have been trained for use by level 40 guilds.
• - The Mistrunner is available to Qeynosians with plain, blue, and purple saddles.
• - The Nightmare is available to Freeportians with plain, black, and red saddles.

*** Subclass Armor Quests ***

• - The armor rewards for the level 20 subclass armor quests now have a unique appearance per subclass.
• - All of the armor now has unique stats appropriate for each subclass.
• - If you have already completed your armor quests, speak with the assistant next to the NPC you originally did the quests for.

*** Dungeon Exploration ***

• - The Fallen Gate has been invaded by Thexian explorers and Tseralith is stirring.
• - The population within Fallen Gate has been improved, now with 50% more evil.
• - Discover new treasures by exploring the Fallen Gate and vanquishing its denizens.

*** Summoned Pets ***

• - Summoned pets now have consistent and distinct appearances at each spell level. For example, the level 52 Conjurer ability Tellurian Myrmidon is the only spell that will summon a rock elemental pet; the Necromancer ability Rotting Thrall is the only spell that will summon the previously overused zombie. Other levels will summon different creature types.
• - Summoned pets in a given spell line have a distinct look at each quality tier. For example, the Necromancer's Diseased Servant spell summons a skeleton warrior. As the spell is increased in quality tier (Apprentice I, Adept I, etc.), the skeleton looks more impressive.
• - Temporary pets also have new appearances. For example, the Shadowknight's Tainted Sacrament line will change in appearance with upgrades.
• - Persistent summoned pets start out with a base number of abilities. An additional ability is granted to the pet at each spell level upgrade.
• Pet spells in the level 52 to 60 spell range now have an additional ability that they did not have before.
• - Temporary Pets (e.g. Conjurer's Roaring Flames and Necromancer's Ghastly Stench) will now cast their close-range AoE spell more often.
• - Pets will no longer inherit abilities based on their creature type.
• - Temporary Pets now display their owner's name.
• - Fighter and Scout pets now use their combat arts more often.
• - Fighter pets now taunt more often, and their taunts have a lower chance of being resisted. Their taunt effectiveness should now scale properly with level.
• - Some Conjurer Fighter pets now have interrupt/knock-down effects, while some Necromancer Fighter pets now have root/stifle effects.
• - Scout pets had their damage adjusted based on the reuse timer of the combat art. Slower combat arts now do increased damage, while faster combat arts now do less damage. Overall, Scout pets should deal about the same amount of damage they did before.
• - Mage pets focus more on AoE spells than they used to. These spells have generally been made more effective.
• - Mage pets are much more resistant to spell damage than they were before, and the size of their power pool has been increased. Casting times on their spells were generally decreased, and their single-target spells will land more often than they did before.
• - The Illusionist pet spell list now also includes Stunning Array, Lock Mind, and a direct damage/mez spell. They no longer try to cast DoT spells on their target.
• - Summoned pets now have the same base run speed as their owners.

*** Enemy Mastery ***

• - Player characters can now choose from four new Enemy Mastery options at level 52: Cyclops, Djinn, Harpy, or Naga.
• - You will automatically be granted the ability to choose your new Enemy Mastery option--just click the blinking character advancement icon.

*** Veteran Rewards ***

• - If you own Desert of Flames, you will receive 90 days added to your Account Age, which is used to determine which Veteran Rewards you are eligible for.
• - It's our way of saying thanks to those of you who are enjoying our expansion.

*** Desert of Flames ***

• - Be on your toes. The Hall of a Hundred Doors is now faster than before.
• - The Black Queen in the Court of Al-Afaz is now more difficult to vanquish.
• - Wandering Djinn and all named creatures within the Poet's Palace now see invisible players.
• - A heroic giant encounter will no longer spawn after killing solo devils and falcons in the Pillars of Flame.
• - Increased chances of Anaz'Mal diviners spawning in the Sinking Sands.
• - Increased spawn rate on Anaz'Mal relics slightly in the Sinking Sands.
• - Increased spawn rate of Sandscrawler Magus goblins and slightly reduced spawn rate of Sandscrawler grunts/menders in the Sinking Sands.
• - Increased the spawn rate of the Sul'Dal skeletons in the Eye of Anuk in the Sinking Sands.
• - Charra'zon, Uphian, Zathos, and King Vach should be more of an appropriate challenge now.
• - Terrorantula can now be attacked from a greater distance.

• - The quests for the treasure chest keys in the Clefts of Rujark are now repeatable.
• - Shing Ho and Shu Fang Qi will now allow characters currently on "Disciples Edicts" and "Service to the Order" to complete those quests when the characters' faction is kindly or above.

*** The Splitpaw Saga ***

• - The Vault in Acts of War and Brutal Acts of War should no longer be grey to lvl 60 players.
• - Kitty can no longer be found in the Hidden Cache; it seems that a bucket of fish has taken up residence where she once was.

*** Gameplay ***

• - Poisons and potions will no longer drop when you die.
• - Heroic Opportunities will now only appear for nearby members of your group. Group members who are not near each other can now initiate heroic opportunities with separate encounters.
• - Pets will hide when riding the griffon or transport carpets, instead of having to dismiss them.
• - Ungrouped players are now chosen first to be kicked out of an instance that has raid size limits.
• - Coercers can now duel with a charmed pet.
• - Poisons (as well as other applied effects that have a chance to proc on a successful attack) now only trigger upon successful attacks made with the weapon in the primary hand. Note: Weapons with an inherent damage proc (like all crafted imbued weapons) are unaffected and will continue to proc regardless of which hand they are equipped in.
• - NPC movement speeds have been increased proportionate to Live Update #17's player run speed increase.

*** Quests ***

• - Fethar Lothki and Ethri Vasou's group writs now point at Spiritbound apothecaries instead of mystics.
• - You can again talk with Deputy Stoutgut to complete "I Hate Those Wimmin."
• - Mooshga in the Commonlands will now allow adventurers who have already been working for her to complete "Mooshga's Good Eats."
• - Blood vipers instead of fairy seekers are required to complete the "Outlying Freeport Creature Catalog" quest.
• - The rock for the Robe of the Invoker no longer spawns on the ground, but will drop more frequently from creatures.

*** Zones and Population ***

• - Players will be able to advance through Nektropos Castle after completing the Everling Lockets quest and killing Lord Everling without having to complete the event again. Those who have previously completed it before this change will have to complete it one last time.
• - Some named creatures within the Feerrott and Cazic-Thule can no longer be charmed.
• - Centipedes will no longer count as snakes when hunting for quests in the Thundering Steppes.

*** Items ***

• - Many level 50+ tradeskilled bucklers now provide a wisdom benefit.
• - Item Health and Power regen rates now all use the same regeneration standard and cap out at the following currently:
• * In-combat HP regen cap is (3 x Level )
• * In-combat Power regen cap is (1.5 x Level)
• * In-combat item HP regen cap is (3 x Level x 0.5)
• * In-combat item Power regen cap is (1.5 x Level x 0.5)
• - Raid leaders who have set group loot options to leader-only will be able to distribute loot to any member of any group in the raid.
• - A dog catcher has passed through the Thundering Steppes and the ankle biter population is once again under control.

*** Spells and Combat Arts ***

• - Stone skin effects will now work regardless of the level of the attacker.

• - Assassin's Blade had its damage reduced by 6%, but its reuse timer was lowered by 40%.
• - Assassin's Mark had its reuse timer lowered to 30 seconds, and its proc rate was reduced to 5%. It now procs only once, and places a debuff that causes the target to take damage for every melee hit instead of damage over time.
• - Friendly Shadows can now only be cast on another player character.

• - Provoking Stance and its upgrades now place a heavy snare on the caster instead of a root.

• - Damaged Psyche is now less likely to be resisted.

• - Daunting Gaze and its subclass upgrades now have a casting time of 2 seconds.

• - Goading Defense and its upgrades now place a heavy snare on the caster instead of a root.
• - Entrench now breaks less often, costs less power, has a reduced casting time, and has a shorter reuse timer. Its duration now increases with level.
• - Tower of Stone reduced the amount of shield damage received.
• - Sentry Watch now has a reduced casting time, a larger radius of effect, and a shorter reuse timer.

• - Disappointment is now less likely to be resisted.

• - Amends now siphons slightly less hate.

• - Instant group heal spell lines had their radius increased from 10 meters to 20 meters.

• - Dance of Trees had its icon changed to match the rest of the ability line.
• - Stream of Arrows is no longer resisted as if it were a spell.

• - Summon Squire can now be toggled, and will persist across zone lines.
• - Pox Sword will now appear under Combat Arts.

• - Concussive is a new level 15 spell that will reduce hate with the next spell that lands on the Sorcerer's target.

• - Call Servant is a new level 15 spell that will teleport a summoned pet to the Summoner.
• - Fighter pets should now use attack animations more often when they use combat arts.

• - Swarthy Distraction can now only be cast on another player character.
• - Flamboyant Strike's examine info should now be correct.
• - Hail of Steel is no longer resisted as if it were a spell.

• - Beams of Faith now has a shorter reuse timer.
• - Reverence had its heal percentage increased.
• - Unyielding Benediction is now a more appropriate upgrade to Vigilant Benediction.

• - Hierophantic Genesis had its initial power cost reduced. It also grants a small amount of power recovery over time to the recipient.
• - Winds of Frost had its power cost increased to be more appropriate for the amount of damage it deals.
• - The healing effects of Protecting Grove will now match the range indicated on the spell.

• - Boundless Fury is now correctly set as a level 56 spell instead of level 58. The recipe's level was also adjusted.
• - Toxic Grasp and Virulent Grasp now have examine info that matches each spell's effect.
• - Netherous Realm now also triggers procs from disease-based spells.

• - Hold the Line now places a heavy snare on the caster instead of a root.

• - Fiery Inferno is now correctly set as a level 56 spell instead of level 58. The recipe's level was also adjusted.

*** Tradeskills ***

• The following level 50+ food and drinks now have an increased duration:
  • * Artichoke Stew
  • * Beer Braised Camian
  • * Caiman Pasta
  • * Dried Pear
  • * Eel Soup
  • * Herring Sandwich
  • * Pear Muffins
  • * Coriander Grilled Caiman
  • * Coriander Grilled Herring
  • * Fiery Sabertooth Steak
  • * Macadamia Pie
  • * Shrimp Pasta
  • * Artichoke Kalish
  • * Chai
  • * Creamed Maj'Dul Coffee
  • * Dark Pear Ale
  • * Gingerbread Man
  • * Glogg
  • * Golden Eye
  • * Mulled Pear Wine
  • * Pear Fizzlepop
  • * Pear Sparkling Wine
  • * Pear Tea
  • * Starcrest Kiss
  • * Starcrest Coffee
  • * The Overlord
  • * Mental Core Breach (This is a six step recipe, so it additionally increases the user's power pool by 100).
• - Many level 50+ Provisioner recipes are now "finish" recipes rather than "interim."
• - Unhallowed Aura (Shadowknight) should now have the correct name in its corresponding Alchemy recipe books.

*** Art ***

*** Commands, Controls, and User Interface ***

• - The base resistibility of a hostile spell is now shown in the spell's examine info.
• - The faction window will now automatically keep factions sorted as they change.
• - Pet combat now shows under its own chat category (Combat -> Melee Combat -> Your Pet Hits, etc)
• - Pet damage bubbles will appear colored to the owner:
• * Pet hits something: yellow
• * Pet gets hit: dark red
• - Combat bubble colors can now be changed in the options (User Interface-> Combat Bubble Colors)
• - The count of house items on your house window will now indicate how many actual items you have and how many count toward the max for your house type.
• - The raid window will now correctly highlight group leaders.
• - You can now search for food and drink by level range.
• - You can now search for drinks separately from food.
• - Group loot messages will now contain links to items.

*** UI Files Updated ***

• eq2ui_inventory_store.xml
• eq2ui_inventory_market.xml
• eq2ui_journal_quest.xml
• eq2ui_mainhud_map.xml
• eq2ui_mainhud_persona.xml
• eq2ui_newcharscene.xml
• eq2ui_popup_rewardpack.xml
• eq2ui_mainhud_lotto.xml
• eq2ui_mainhud_society.xml
• eq2ui_options.xml
• eq2ui_inventory_inventory.xml