The most ridiculous quest

[jolanar]

https://wiki.project1999.com/Behead_the_Freeport_Militia

Kill a warrior GM mob and get a... level 34 cleric spell as a reward? Is anything else more ridiculous than this?

Do you guys think this quest has ever even been done on P99?

[DeathsSilkyMist]

It might give you a good chunk of faction for Knights of Truth and Priests of Marr, which would be the primary reason for doing the quest. It wouldn't suprise me if you get a good chunk of faction, since Lucan also provides a good chunk of faction when killed.


Never done the quest myself though, so can't confirm the faction hits.

[Duik]

https://wiki.project1999.com/Solvedi_Scimitar_Quest is pretty crap as well.

[Goregasmic]

Yeah the reward for the effort on a lot of quests is very silly but the itemization in general in classic is terrible. Like the rare on the stone spider is Brown chitin protector (https://wiki.project1999.com/Brown_Chitin_Protector) which is overall terrible for a druid and it drops from a mob still considered very annoying even to this day. Lots of pure caster stuff loaded with dex and agi. It seems like the guys who designed the classes never talked to the guys who created the items. Lots of stuff is basically useless to anyone.

[shovelquest]

The actual story behind the name Everquest is quite interesting, it's actually an example of mismanagement. The first, and original title was Neverquest.

[Reiwa]

Tigger warning (https://wiki.project1999.com/Cat_Courier)

[cd288]

Yeah the reward for the effort on a lot of quests is very silly but the itemization in general in classic is terrible. Like the rare on the stone spider is Brown chitin protector (https://wiki.project1999.com/Brown_Chitin_Protector) which is overall terrible for a druid and it drops from a mob still considered very annoying even to this day. Lots of pure caster stuff loaded with dex and agi. It seems like the guys who designed the classes never talked to the guys who created the items. Lots of stuff is basically useless to anyone.

IIRC there weren't teams working on quests vs items. It was just like a bunch of people all working on both individually. So you'd have one person working on a quest and the item it gave, and another person working on a different quest/item, and they all just get added to the game.

I would imagine that this being the first real DND style MMO also had something to do with the stats on the items. Like "AGI gives you avoidance so that might be good for a caster right? Since they're squishy and all." In theory, makes sense right? But then in practice AGI doesn't make enough of a difference for a squishy char with a low HP pool so those +AGI items don't actual matter. At least that would be my theory for how some of these items ended up with the stats they did...a bunch of theory that never worked in practice.

[Namsaknoi]

According to Allakhazam posts, it looks like the dude has high hp regen as well.
Even assuming the quest was pre-Kunark quest, and that he hit for 156, had 16khp and no regen, vs hitting for 356, with 32khp, and regen, it still is a ridiculous quest. It seems like you get about -500 faction hit, while getting a couple of +50 faction hit for the quest givers.

Regarding AGI, it was basically 9AGI = 1AC regardless of your class, and the below 75agi penalty, and that it helped with raising defensive abilities faster, and that it had hard cap of 255 like any other skills, I dunno if it had any softcap, so yes, pretty useless. Even less effective on P99 as AC isn't as effective here compared to live.

[Eagish]

https://wiki.project1999.com/Solvedi_Scimitar_Quest is pretty crap as well.

I have never laid eyes on the tiny giant in NK. I sometimes suspect he doesn't exist.

[Ghost_of_Fippy]

I have never laid eyes on the tiny giant in NK. I sometimes suspect he doesn't exist.

You say that, but I just saw him a few days ago, either Thursday or Friday afternoon.

My level 24 Gnome Necro was selling loot from Aviak city at the Gypsy camp, and while vendoring, I heard the foot steps of a hill giant coming up behind me. When I turned to run, it was Timbur the Tiny passing on the north edge of the camp. Conned blue to me. I let him pass, and continued selling.

And I will add, that was the first time I have ever seen him, and I have played this game on and off since March 1999.

[Reiwa]

IIRC there weren't teams working on quests vs items. It was just like a bunch of people all working on both individually. So you'd have one person working on a quest and the item it gave, and another person working on a different quest/item, and they all just get added to the game.

I would imagine that this being the first real DND style MMO also had something to do with the stats on the items. Like "AGI gives you avoidance so that might be good for a caster right? Since they're squishy and all." In theory, makes sense right? But then in practice AGI doesn't make enough of a difference for a squishy char with a low HP pool so those +AGI items don't actual matter. At least that would be my theory for how some of these items ended up with the stats they did...a bunch of theory that never worked in practice.

We'll never get caster AGI breakpoints parsed, it's just too much work for nothing.

[Jimjam]

I'm gonna say the monk sparring armor quest in cabilis.

I have a monk I've been hunting down pretty rare escaped frog slaves on for years.

It takes a hell of a lot of shackles to make one combine attempt. And as you receive more and more rewards the chances of getting one you don't already have get slimmer.

I started the quest for a full set in December 2012. I'm on my last piece now. The monk is level 12 - would be higher from years of killing froglok fishers and stuff ... if it wasn't for all the random high level kos mobs that path into the newbie area in SONH maybe he would be 13 haha

An optimistic estimate each escaped frog takes 15 mins of work to find, 6 frogs are needed per combine attempt. Lets say 30 hand ins total must be made to get each of the 10 rewards (i'll foolishly trust ai on this one), that is like 50 hours of play to complete this armor set (which isn't even a complete set of armor!!)

edit: feck a SoWed gaz warrior just ran up on me :( Just about kept level 12

[Goregasmic]

I have never laid eyes on the tiny giant in NK. I sometimes suspect he doesn't exist.

Don't know what his ph is but i spent 17-22 there recently as a ranger, constantly tracking and never seen him.

Speaking of which, the drop rate on the highland lion HQ hide is probably sub 5% on an already elusive mob.

[Ciderpress]

The itemization of classic (less so in kunark and velious) literally seems like there was no communication between different dev teams at all. Putting +int and no +wis on priest gear either means you're doing it on purpose as a troll, or you have no idea how the game you're ostensibly supposed to help make works.

It's like the original release was somehow a fan remake of itself, with all the guesswork that would entail.

[WarpathEQ]

The itemization of classic (less so in kunark and velious) literally seems like there was no communication between different dev teams at all. Putting +int and no +wis on priest gear either means you're doing it on purpose as a troll, or you have no idea how the game you're ostensibly supposed to help make works.

It's like the original release was somehow a fan remake of itself, with all the guesswork that would entail.

Maybe they just wanted a community full of well adjusted, rounded individuals that would work together to create utopia.

Maybe they foresaw some crazy min max meta that we have yet to discover where core stats were so plentiful that neglected stats become the thing to collect. Kinda like how stamina is for non-tank melee in 2024.

Or just maybe they wanted to capture the quirkiness of a "dungeon master" that might make decisions for his own amusement. Or enstill that all actions/decisions don't lead to positive outcomes.

[Eisai]

Op maybe wins. Until someone posts a quest with a higher target and/or a lower reward. "yes, and" is not valid in the debate. Sure eq has some dumb ones but ATM they are winning...

[jolanar]

Op maybe wins. Until someone posts a quest with a higher target and/or a lower reward. "yes, and" is not valid in the debate. Sure eq has some dumb ones but ATM they are winning...

The only thing I can think of is that at some point in development the class trainers were lower level and easier to kill.

[Eisai]

The only thing I can think of is that at some point in development the class trainers were lower level and easier to kill.

That sounds very plausible!

[Jimjam]

What i don’t understand is how they kept increasing guild trainer levels with expansions even though they become irrelevant at like level 35.

What is wrong with outgrowing your teacher? I guess they were worried about 50s xping on them in kunark?

On live they aren’t even attackable anymore.

[Ciderpress]

Mage epic quest lol

[Eisai]

Mage epic quest lol

Pretty decent reward though

[Jimjam]

The itemization of classic (less so in kunark and velious) literally seems like there was no communication between different dev teams at all. Putting +int and no +wis on priest gear either means you're doing it on purpose as a troll, or you have no idea how the game you're ostensibly supposed to help make works.

It's like the original release was somehow a fan remake of itself, with all the guesswork that would entail.

I like that the classic gears included 'useless' stats.

It didn't make sense that a very powerful, experienced priest whose abilities are hightened beyond what is natural to also be incredibly mediocrely intelligent. The level 50 cleric should be fairly intelligent, even if it doesn't improve their mana.

Perhaps the real mistake was having stats with zero impact. Really they could have just merged int/wis.

[Goregasmic]

Perhaps the real mistake was having stats with zero impact. Really they could have just merged int/wis.

True. I think technically you could be an int healer or a wis purecaster but itemization won't let you be any good doing so. Merge them or make them affect resists and mana regen so you have a reason to raise both or at least not have a stat entirely wasted.

I don't think agi/dex have enough of an impact to warrant being their own thing either. They could be merged or made better.

[Jimjam]

True. I think technically you could be an int healer or a wis purecaster but itemization won't let you be any good doing so. Merge them or make them affect resists and mana regen so you have a reason to raise both or at least not have a stat entirely wasted.

I don't think agi/dex have enough of an impact to warrant being their own thing either. They could be merged or made better.

Good point. dex doesn't really make a difference when low, agi doesn't make a difference when high. If you merge them they kinda have different phases of use across the spectrum. I like it :D

[WarpathEQ]

Yeah a few missed opportunities regarding stats that didn't become common until later games I.E. quest lines only being available above a certain level of intellegence or wisdom or things like Dex/Agi giving a chance to avoid a trap you otherwise set off.

In general I think the very initial release did a better job of making all stats relevant with emphasis on things like trade skills ect. From there expensions were just focused on adding mobs and loot mostly for raiding opportunities a never really added diversity to the game other than different landscapes.

[Goregasmic]

In general I think the very initial release did a better job of making all stats relevant with emphasis on things like trade skills ect. From there expensions were just focused on adding mobs and loot mostly for raiding opportunities a never really added diversity to the game other than different landscapes.

IIRC a dev said they really botched tradeskill implementation claiming they did them because they felt like they had to. Tailoring is notoriously garbage and slightly improved in velious but seeing there's nothing between 158 and 262 unless you're a particular race is a complete joke. Add the fact that if you're not like, a cleric/druid/mage/wizard, maxing your int/wis is somewhat of a bitch, if you're a hybrid/melee forget it.

Not sure for classic era but outside banded, blacksmith seems mostly useless unless you want to do spirit of grazicor... which is still more useful than baking/brewing/pottery.

The only ones I feel they somewhat nailed is jewelcrafting and research and research isn't super fun since if you fail or don't find the mats it might gimp you.

[Jimjam]

I feell like the tailoring and blacksmithing up to banded fit quite nicely into the game up to level 20 vanilla.

Sometimes the post 20 game feels like an afterthought tbh.

[loramin]

Not sure for classic era but outside banded, blacksmith seems mostly useless unless you want to do spirit of grazicor... which is still more useful than baking/brewing/pottery.

Pottery is useful for the Thurgadin Gate potion, and I think far more people use it than any of the Garzicor items.

But, your general thesis is correct: tradeskills were largely an afterthought until Luclin (and that was really just the start of them being useful, with that super popular Protection of the Cabbage quest item).

[Duik]

Spicey dark elf steaks, (made from darky guard meat) that grant 3-5 mins of illusion: dark elf would have added flavour. (sorry) Kill guards for hours. Make steaks. Sell fs weapons, shields to the stupid clueless merchants.

[Jimjam]

I like u Duik, but ur taking "u r wot u eat" too far.

[Eisai]

...
Sometimes the post 20 game feels like an afterthought tbh.

Makes sense; the D&D level cap.

[Ekco]

Makes sense; the D&D level cap.

Kedge Keep is the example i always use, that's the oldhead DnD design influence down to even the common drops only being wands because fuck you and people hated that shit.

the EverQuest we know and was successful was due to those people losing on design decision debates to younger people on the team/interns hopped up on redbull taking the cocaine that is Dungeons and Dragons and inventing crack.

[Reiwa]

new contender:

https://wiki.project1999.com/Tibrinn%27s_Quest

[Duik]

Which leads to https://wiki.project1999.com/Blizzent%27s_Fang_Quest

[Reiwa]

Which leads to https://wiki.project1999.com/Blizzent%27s_Fang_Quest

I get what you're saying, there's a whole lineup of 2h rune weapons for warriors throughout the expansions.

I think Runed Blade from Kunark is better(more agro) than that Velious weapon though?

Mad rare I guess.

[Duik]

I dunno, that solvedi quest gives up an 8 slot LRG non lore 35% WR bag for a 6/22 dru only scimitar.

[Namsaknoi]

In similar fashion to Solvedi, below may count also, but mainly because it used to be caster BIS pre-Kunark, but in Kunark the scale became used for Bard Epic, and Kunark/Velious gave so much more cloak choices for casters:

https://wiki.project1999.com/White_Dragonscale_Cloak_Quest

[Goregasmic]

new contender:

https://wiki.project1999.com/Tibrinn%27s_Quest

Oh shit, not only that slime staff comes from one of the most elusive mob in the game but it also requires a very rare item from a mob with ph on a 2h timer.

And why the hell would you turn in slime staff for a 10/34 staff when you can use it to get a blued two handed warhammer, flip it for 24k and buy 3 herbalist's spade?

The opportunity cost on this is insane.

[Jimjam]

You think perhaps they added the blued two handed warhammer to make the slime staff worth the while for actually camping?

[Goregasmic]

Pottery is useful for the Thurgadin Gate potion, and I think far more people use it than any of the Garzicor items.

But, your general thesis is correct: tradeskills were largely an afterthought until Luclin (and that was really just the start of them being useful, with that super popular Protection of the Cabbage quest item).

True, too bad they nerfed the velium chiseling last patch. That's some QOL removal we didn't need.

Tailoring has some decent rewards in velious but the path to get there is absolutely brutal only to end up with a 50% fail rate at best. Setting the trivial at 335 for most stuff with not much to bridge the gap from 158 is madness. All for stuff that is outclassed once you start raiding...

I mean, the shawl is nice but there's a reason most people stop at 162.

[Goregasmic]

You think perhaps they added the blued two handed warhammer to make the slime staff worth the while for actually camping?

Meh, maybe but they could just have upped the spawn rate on xorbb or buff the sap sheen staff, would have been far simpler than making a whole new questline.

[cd288]

Pottery is useful for the Thurgadin Gate potion, and I think far more people use it than any of the Garzicor items.

But, your general thesis is correct: tradeskills were largely an afterthought until Luclin (and that was really just the start of them being useful, with that super popular Protection of the Cabbage quest item).

Agree. Getting pottery to the level where you can make Thurg gate potions is useful. Especially since you can farm the ingredients for them pretty easily and have a bunch ready to make a new potion in the bank when you gate to Thurg.

Although I can see an argument of outside of things like Dain spawns it's not THAT necessary to have since with an OT hammer you can go to HH and bank through the wall in OT...unless you need to vendor and can't at the outpost.

[Goregasmic]

I think I found a solid contender:

https://wiki.project1999.com/The_Family_Chest_Straps

Phiny's backbone (same as bard epic) for a 5ac 3int -10agi +15hp healer/caster leggings.

[Ekco]

I think I found a solid contender:

https://wiki.project1999.com/The_Family_Chest_Straps

Phiny's backbone (same as bard epic) for a 5ac 3int -10agi +15hp healer/caster leggings.

yeah that's a unfinished/cut questline if ive ever seen one the writing quality shift from

You say, 'who is clrakk?'

Bjoskhua Blackfist says 'Clrakk is my youngest brother. He walks a path of shadows and deceit. If he were to battle, it would not be one without weapons or armor. I may use these as a bargaining chip some day. I do not think my family has any more need of these old chest straps.
You say, 'what chest straps?'

Bjoskhua Blackfist says 'The chest straps are simply a status symbol to some gladiators and warriors. They are passed down from generation to generation. When a warrior enters one of these contests of the fist, they wear the chest straps of their family. My family was awarded a set of the enchanted chest straps ages ago. None of my brothers save Clrakk would even consider entering the contest.
You say, 'what contests of the fist?'

Bjoskhua Blackfist says 'Ages ago there was a race of fish men named the Kedge. Prexus spread them throughout the waters of the world and they were prosperous. Rumors abound that even near the waters of velious they had great cities. All at once they seemed to be wiped from the face of Norrath. One of the travelers I recently spoke to informed me that a single Kedge may still live in the lands of Faydwer. As grotesque as it sounds, the backbone of a Kedge may be used to create indestructible scroll cases. Bring me the backbone of this fishman, if he exists, and you will find yourself a richer person.'

to

Bjoskhua Blackfist says 'Excellent, I guess his entire race is now wiped from Norrath. This will indeed make a wonderful scroll case. I am a giant of my word. Take your prized item and be gone, you greedy little beast!'

is hilarious.

[Duik]

It's waterproof.

[PatChapp]

The vehement sword is one of the best weapons a solo/self found tank class can attain. It's completely useable