Posted @ Thu, Jul 12th 5:38 PM 2001 Score: Excellent[5.00]
I'd originally posted this under Kreizzen's Flame, but thought it'd be more fitting, and effective here. It may seem out of context a little because the original is in response to someone's comparison of items, but it should be clear.
Mrylokar's WAS one of the most damaging weapons discovered in the game when it was 12/16. However, enough people complained about its power being so immense that it would make the game unbalanced, they changed it to 11/17 with no AC and cut the proc to 1/4 its previous damage. Only ONE(1) of these daggers had been discovered by ONE(1) guild on ONE(1) server, and a cry of jealousy from someone who will never get one persuaded VI to nerf a beautiful weapon, which finally fulfilled risk/reward. The effort it took to get the dagger, and a few other items people complained about, is greater than any single achievement possibly in EQ to date. Quick run-down of what it took...
~70 of the most elite players in the game of EQ across all servers. ~50 of whom are from FoH. Every single one was level 60.
The mob that dropped this is guarded by 12, yes 12 LINKED dragons. These are North ToV dragons. The entire Northern area must be cleared to attempt this. Their fastest run was no less than 2 days. The fight with Vulak, the Lord of the Claws of Veeshan, lasted 14 minutes. Doesn't sound like a long time, but put it into context. One monster, 70 of the best equipped most experienced players all applying insane amounts of damage per second, with perfected technique. 12 groups, one mob. Warders in Sleeper's Tomb can be downed easily by one group of good players in a half-ass effort. They drop Primal weapons, sometimes as many in one kill to outfit the entire group.
Vulak drops only 3 items per kill. One person got a 12/16 10AC 100lifetap proc dagger with stats. One person in possession of what is in the long run really not much more than a token of what might be the cumulation of years of hard work and practice. This one dagger is not going throw off balance of the game. 3 of these daggers could not possibly do that. At a very maximum 2 damage per second gain over 13/20 primal, not counting the proc, the rogue would deal a very rough 1600 more damage throughout that fight, which is about... ~.2% of this mob's total HP. That's 1/500th of the mob's total hp throughout 14 minutes, and that's at best.
I'm sorry I'm rambling... Just trying to explain that FoH didn't have to release the stats on their most uber equipment yet. No one would ever have known about Hobart's Helm of War, Mrylokar's Dagger of Blood, or Crystasia's Crystal Ring, and nothing would have been nerfed. It may be hard to believe that a change like that can come about because of one or two letters from players even on different servers, but it happens, and has happened. Furor of FoH has vowed never to release equipment stats again because of this. What else could he do to protect his players from having taken away from them what's finally justified materially all their work and effort?
Neither the rogue that weilds this weapon, nor the enchantress who wears a 60AC +25all flowing thought robe will be able to solo anything they couldn't before. I guess I'm asking for us all to think about it, instead of whining when we see something we can't have. Perhaps I missed the discussion forum already on this topic. I apologize if that's the case. Anyway, please respond... Be safe, y'all. Leave some time for RL, although not too much
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PS. Visit SafeHouse and FoH message boards to follow this discussion more closely and read about it more firsthand.
PPS. Afterlife has recently killed Vulak as well.
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---Updated---
Ruluvien was the rogue of FoH who received the dagger.
The full stats WERE:
12/16
mag/lor/nd
prim/sec/range
+10all resists
15str
10dex
70hp
10AC
feast of blood 100pt lifetap
new stats are:
11/17
mag/lor/nd
prim/sec/range
15str
10dex
70hp
+10 all resists
Feast of blood: 25pt lifetap
He is starting a petition to VI. If you want to help him, and the entire EQ community, post your messages of support here, or email FoH.
Thanks. Be safe, y'all.
Hyden Endabrush
Expert Scout of the Fay