The /pet attack *named* exploit/bug/feature

[DMN]

So it appears that on P99 you guys have left this bit of a bug/exploit in where you can attack a named NPC with pet in order to "know they spawned" even thouh you have no idea they are up or not.

I find it interesting this feature is still in the game because it appears you have removed the more general version of this feature that any player could use with or without a pet, and that is simply sending the named mob a tell using their full/proper name. Why is one removed yet another remains?

[Ligma]

Pet tracking is classic but beyond that the /pet attack command has uses beyond pet tracking

[Dolalin]

From a careful reading of this newsgroup thread from 2000 I suspect the "Attacking so-and-so, master" message might not be classic. I will research more today.

https://groups.google.com/d/topic/alt.games.everquest/IfcHOVOt_Mk/discussion

[Sunderfury]

From a careful reading of this newsgroup thread from 2000 I suspect the "Attacking so-and-so, master" message might not be classic. I will research more today.

https://groups.google.com/d/topic/alt.games.everquest/IfcHOVOt_Mk/discussion

I believe you are correct, however you would /pet attack and then assist your pet to acquire target across the zone.

Interestingly I found no mention of this feature until Luclin. I have a feeling the exploit was only discovered due to a change with /pet attack that occurred in that era.

I would like to see an in era mention of this working.

[Dolalin]

There was a patch in May 2002 that mentions the /pet attack message "working again" after they fixed a targeting exploit (this one, actually).

I got nowhere on the newsgroups so I'll have to run a text search through my web archive. I bet it will be in the eqnecros or castersrealm forums.

[Sunderfury]

I meant that the message, I believe, is classic but would only work if target was in pet attack range.

[Dolalin]

Oh I see. I actually don't remember it at all, but we'll see. Maybe I can find it in some old logs.

[Sunderfury]

I think that the "aggro confirmation" message that we have on P99 is indeed non-classic.

Evidence:
https://www.project1999.com/forums/showthread.php?t=298463

This thread shows a full parse from casting of mage epic pet, attacking mob, and then finally gating out. Here is a snippet, as you can see there is the initial attack at XX:38 with no message, then finally a Taunting message at XX:43.

[Sat Dec 01 07:48:05 2001] Logging to 'eqlog.txt' is now *ON*.
[Sat Dec 01 07:48:14 2001] You begin casting Summon Orb.
[Sat Dec 01 07:48:24 2001] You begin casting Burnout IV.
[Sat Dec 01 07:48:30 2001] Lekn goes berserk.
[Sat Dec 01 07:48:38 2001] Lekn hits mist panther for 50 points of damage.
[Sat Dec 01 07:48:38 2001] Lekn tries to hit mist panther, but misses!
[Sat Dec 01 07:48:38 2001] Lekn tries to kick mist panther, but misses!
[Sat Dec 01 07:48:38 2001] Mist panther claws Lekn for 44 points of damage.
[Sat Dec 01 07:48:38 2001] Mist panther claws Lekn for 14 points of damage.
[Sat Dec 01 07:48:38 2001] Mist panther tries to kick Lekn, but misses!
[Sat Dec 01 07:48:40 2001] Lekn begins to cast a spell.
[Sat Dec 01 07:48:41 2001] Mist panther tries to claw Lekn, but misses!
[Sat Dec 01 07:48:41 2001] Mist panther claws Lekn for 59 points of damage.
[Sat Dec 01 07:48:41 2001] Mist panther claws Lekn for 8 points of damage.
[Sat Dec 01 07:48:42 2001] Lekn hits mist panther for 67 points of damage.
[Sat Dec 01 07:48:42 2001] Mist panther is slashed by shards of elemental power.
[Sat Dec 01 07:48:42 2001] Lekn hits mist panther for 60 points of damage.
[Sat Dec 01 07:48:43 2001] Taunting Attacker Master.
[Sat Dec 01 07:48:44 2001] Lekn bashes mist panther for 22 points of damage.
[Sat Dec 01 07:48:44 2001] Lekn hits mist panther for 55 points of damage.
[Sat Dec 01 07:48:44 2001] Lekn tries to hit mist panther, but misses!

After cruising threw newsgroups it seems pet classes indicated the time to gate in a dungeon was when you see your pet saying "Taunting Attacker Master" and you gave it no commands.

So my working theory is pet tracking was not classic:
1) the "/pet attack [name]" had a range limit (evidence needed)
2) Luclin dropped and "/pet attack [name]" had limit removed, allowing you to assist pet for target. (more evidence needed about range)
3) Exploit was identified and reverted back to having a range limit as evidenced here:
http://www.tski.co.jp/baldio/patch/20020612.html
Restored the range limit on /pet attack.
The use of the word 'Restored' is what lead me to believe it was expanded during Luclin.

More evidence is welcomed.

Side note:
P99 message for pet taunt is:
[Mon Jul 01 18:42:44 2019] Taunting attacker, Master.

P99 message for pet taunt SHOULD be:
[Sat Dec 01 07:48:43 2001] Taunting Attacker Master.

[Dolalin]

I have only negative evidence so far to offer. I can't find any mentions of the "Attacking soandoso, master" message before mid 2002.

I did find this newsgroup post commenting on the patch that did the /pet attack range fix:


5/8/02

> - Pets will once again tell you who they are attacking by sending its
> master a /tell

Again? I don't remember them doing that...

https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.games.everquest/ac1QnIho_Ec/XCOiFA0tlJwJ


I will keep looking.

[Dolalin]

I'll also check for info on the /pet attack/assist target range thing.

On a side note, I did see an exploit mentioned on the ShowEQ forums where a guild officer could /guildinvite a mob in zone and it would give different messages depending on whether it was up. Very early on I believe you could even just send a mob a /tell. I suspect there were many of these little known "tracking" bugs floating around. Not that I think P99 wants to mirror them, just that they did exist in classic times.

[Sunderfury]

I encourage you to post the evidence about the /guildinvite [mob_name] and the /tell [mob_name]. Let's just be impartial and let the dev team decide the direction they wish to take.

[Dolalin]

Guildinvite officer tracking is mentioned here, thread from August 2002:


You guys are pathetic. Why give all the hints you can as to the command and not just say it?

the command is /guildinvite by a guild officer.

You can guild invite a in zone mob for the message of if they are in zone or not.



http://www.showeq.net/forums/archive/index.php/t-1835.html

[DMN]

I'm not sure when/if they fixed the sending a tell thing, but it certainly existed up to at least kunark time period...

Also remember the syntax being a little strange on some of them. Like you would have to put underscores in the name, like "an_evil_eye".

Another quirk that was in EQ semi-related to this is if you try to trade an item with a mob and you were too far away, you'd always get the mobs proper name and if it was a generic mob it would look something like " A_froglok_fisherman04 is too far away to trade with" or something like that. Note the underscores and the number. There might have been an underscore beofre the number I can't remember.

[Dolalin]

Relevant thread here from August 2001.


> >unless I give it other commands before that.
> >If you are not within the PvP range then the pet will say you aren't a
> >legal target.
> >
> >I use that to sort through potential attackers when I am exp'ing (as
> >doing /who every 5 seconds is second nature to me).
>
> VERY nice feature. Although you must begin to know the names of people
> as time goes by, and know to get ready when the usual suspects zone in.

Also, once a pet is agro'd on an in-range person in the zone, I can
/assist my pet and the person who the pet is agro on will be targetted.
Even though they are 10 minutes walk away. Good for if you know someone
is going to try to kill you soon, so you just stand there with pet
agro'd, hitting the first offense spell hotkey until they get in casting
range.



https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.games.everquest/QL-EFbOCt8c/Dcv-8ICz5R8J

It seems there was a definitely short-ish range to /pet attack at that point, which supports your theory so far Sunderfury.

I imagine "PvP range" meant within range to cast/attack? Bolt spell range would be a reasonable radius imo. Just my interpretation.

[Brocode]

Althought it wont let you /assist your target if his target isnt within range of you.

[cubiczar]

Relevant thread here from August 2001.



https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.games.everquest/QL-EFbOCt8c/Dcv-8ICz5R8J

It seems there was a definitely short-ish range to /pet attack at that point, which supports your theory so far Sunderfury.

I imagine "PvP range" meant within range to cast/attack? Bolt spell range would be a reasonable radius imo. Just my interpretation.

I mean this is cool and all for red, but as we all know PVP rules were different from PVE rules. He's specifically talking about PVP range which makes it seem different from what the range would be for an NPC. I don't see any mention of a pet message, but that might mean nothing also. It's just too ambiguous, seems like logs would be an easy way to show no pet message but for targeting range you probably need something PVE given the other differences there were from PVP.

I mean honestly it seems like this is an exploit that could easily be argued for even without evidence given some of the other things done on this server that aren't classic but who knows.

[cubiczar]

Althought it wont let you /assist your target if his target isnt within range of you.

Yeah that is how it is now on p99, this obviously shows it was different back then (something that lines up with my memory). Back then you could /assist and get a target from across the zone according to this and personally I remember hitting my /assist key as a rogue as soon as I saw an incoming message from the puller and getting a valid target. Of course memory means nothing but this post seems to confirm my memory.

Of course this is all PVP so could be something weird with those rules, but usually PVP rules limited what you could do versus PVE rather than giving a bonus.

[Dolalin]

Things like targeting code are less likely to be PvP specific I think. But I'll keep looking and see if I can find a PvE mention.

[DMN]

i think it's certainly probable that the /pet attack never actually existed. I have zero memory of it ever existing and being in a guild competing for raid targets I was in the business of knowing these sorts of quirks. But the /tell mob name was certainly around awhile. However it could be that /tell was so much easier that i never bothered using the /pet attack even if I knew about it at some point.

[Dolalin]

Reading more of that thread it looks like I'm wrong. They are talking about PvP Level Range:


Pets are good range finders though. If you were in my zone I would type
"/pet attack James", and if you were in the level range (+/-4 levels on
RZ) then it will say nothing, but whenever you got inside its agro
radius it will attack you, unless I give it other commands before that.
If you are not within the PvP range then the pet will say you aren't a
legal target.

I use that to sort through potential attackers when I am exp'ing (as
doing /who every 5 seconds is second nature to me).


So given the mention about /assisting to target people who are a 10 minute walk away, I'd say the evidence points towards the ability to /pet attack a far away target and /assist your pet to get it targeted, at least in August 2001.

[DMN]

Reading more of that thread it looks like I'm wrong. They are talking about PvP Level Range:



So given the mention about /assisting to target people who are a 10 minute walk away, I'd say the evidence points towards the ability to /pet attack a far away target and /assist your pet to get it targeted, at least in August 2001.

I don't know about that... the post clearly states that if the target is a legal PvP target it says nothing. I would imagine mobs would always be flagged as "legal", hence would also "say nothing". Currently the pet will say "attacking target master".

And player versus pet/NPC behavior should never be compared or assumed to be the same in EQ.

[Dolalin]

Pets would not beeline for a target until it was closer, but you could still assist them in the meantime.

[DMN]

Pets would not beeline for a target until it was closer, but you could still assist them in the meantime.

Where are you reading this?

[Dolalin]

Which part?

For pets not beelining for targets until they're in range, lots of examples like the following:


8/30/00

But the pet
won't come engage until you get inside his "hearing" range,
wheter because you have hit /pet attack or because he
suddenly realizes something is attacking -you-

https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.games.everquest/rlikDrdNqz4/UIT2bX5WXjwJ


Edit: Another for good measure.


4/17/01

Of course, my nec doesn't have to worry about this, he just lets his
pet run down the mob, pet always waits until in range before attacking it
seems.

https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.games.everquest/l75HGo1dVsc/nIdSgZsWZdwJ


Edit: Yet another:


7/1/99

My elementals, using Guard Here have stopped
attacking everything unless I tell it to or until
something attacks me first. I think Verant has
changed this. My invis air elemental was set to
"guard here" when I went out looking for giant
skeletons. When I got back a Cyclops was standing
on my invis pet. Eventually it wandered off with
my pet sitting the contentedly until the skeleton
got in range (he had hit me earlier) and then
went beserk on the thing. I'd be dead if the
elemental attacked the cyclops. I've used guard
here in Nejana and Guk. Similar response. He
doesn't twitch, even when something spawns right
next to him. Even non-invis elementals do this.
I'd suggest trying pet guard here again. Verant
has changed it. I'm very happy now...

https://groups.google.com/d/msg/alt.games.everquest/skhVobjs0ek/GTXkrwRsVoEJ


(Actually that last post is a cool find because it documents the old behaviour of "/pet guard here", which was that the pet would guard a spot and attack everything that came in range.)

For being able to /assist a pet on a far off target, I'm referring to the post I quoted upthread from the RZ player.

[DMN]

Which part?


For being able to /assist a pet on a far off target, I'm referring to the post I quoted upthread from the RZ player.

Where exactly? i see nothing of the sort posted.

[Dolalin]

Also, once a pet is agro'd on an in-range person in the zone, I can
/assist my pet and the person who the pet is agro on will be targetted.
Even though they are 10 minutes walk away.



In this case "in-range" means in PvP Level Range.

[DMN]

In this case "in-range" means in PvP Level Range.

"but you could still assist them in the meantime"


Where? I'm not even sure what your point is or what you are posting any more.

[Dolalin]

Also, once a pet is agro'd on an in-range [ie, PvP Level Range] person in the zone


Pet is now aggro on a far off target. Won't head for it since it's a "10 minute walk away", it will just stand still. But in the meantime...


I can
/assist my pet and the person who the pet is agro on will be targetted.
Even though they are 10 minutes walk away.


...you can /assist the pet to get the far off target targeted.

I don't think that's too hard to follow.

[DMN]

oh, i sort of see now what the issue is. the person in question was incredibly loose in his use of the term "agro". He's basically using his own made up and misspelled version of what aggro is.

i'd still be cautious of information regarding targeting other players as opposed to NPCs. it sems strange to me that these same players who found a trick to target other players did not also try them out on NPCs, since 90% of the game is killing NPcs even on PvP servers.

[Dolalin]

I've found several posts on Allakazam that mention /pet attack and /assist pet in order to track named mobs.

This one is in era:


Sep 21 2001 at 7:26 PM

the last 3 days ive been camping trying everything finally spawns and i shred him get the ring then to nek for the rapier 2 hours 1 finally drops.. then easy to rathe right..nope get there and kill 8 drakes which are the very common then the monk spawns dont mess with him and he wont mess with you but u have to wait for despawn around 2 hours if u dont want to wait then dot yourself with vos if your a nec and die b4 doing this make sure your bound near no exp loss and when u get the patience again loot your corpse and rapier oh and to check for him cast pet use pet attack hastem or brother or drake to check which is up and use assist "pet" use pets name in assist then pet back off so u dont attack the monk :) hope this makes things easy for you

-Zeeh

http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/npc.html?id=3564&p=4#m100111841695314


And there are a few others on that page that basically say the same thing, but are from 2002.

[DMN]

I find it very strange they would nerf /tell named but leave /pet attack named, especially if the /pet attack is being bandied about on popular forums/web sites so openly. So again i wonder if /tell ever got nerfed at all in the classic time period.

[Dolalin]

Another tidbit I ran into. Until April 2001, /assist seems to have worked zone-wide(?). After this time, it had a range of 200 feet (units?):


- /assist has an added parameter. /assist on and /assist off will determine whether or not your character auto-attacks when you use /assist. So if you type /assist off, from that time forward using /assist will NOT engage your character's auto-attack. This change will be persistent, so it will remain as you left it when you log out. /assist also now has a range of 200 feet.


https://wiki.project1999.com/Patch_Notes#Improved_and_New_Features

[Videri]

Elemtal got pet tracking put in by posting in-era evidence. It appears to be classic.

https://www.project1999.com/forums/showthread.php?t=187509&highlight=%2Fpet+attacking+master