I am, admittedly, an epic-seeking enchanter with a huge bias in this matter. Nonetheless, based on the research that I have done, I believe the Verina Tomb spawn window is distinctly
unclassic. This thread is an attempt to, at the very least, make the case for a different and more-classic-like variance than the current
five day window.
First, the evidence which (presumably) has lead to the neckbeardiest of camps for any epic mob (in my humble opinion):
https://www.project1999.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=60394
Our Lord and Elfquest savior, Nilbong, indicates that Verina Tomb will be a 2-7 day spawn in this thread. I've yet to see any other evidence that the decision was made off of any information other than that presented in that thread. So - what evidence did we base it on? A wonderful, but
out of timeline resource. The resource?
http://enchanter-epic.bjornstar.com/jeb.html - now, undoubtedly, bjornstar has been a great resource for the Enchanter epic quest. In fact, much of the modern wiki now appears to be based upon his research. However, the bjornstar website also said very different things when
in timeline.
I present the following, in-timeline links from the same source, which state VT is a 48 hour spawn:
Just after timeline - Feb, 2002 -http://web.archive.org/web/20020206052105/http://www.bjornstar.com:80/modani.html
Dec, 14, 2001 -
http://web.archive.org/web/200112140...80/modani.html
Oct 20, 2001 -
http://web.archive.org/web/200110201...80/modani.html
Aug 13, 2001 -
http://web.archive.org/web/200108130...80/modani.html
June 19, 2001 -
http://web.archive.org/web/200106190...80/modani.html
April 5, 2001 -
http://web.archive.org/web/200104050...80/modani.html
March 31, 2001 -
http://web.archive.org/web/200103311...80/modani.html
Feb 5, 2001 -
http://web.archive.org/web/200102050...80/modani.html
.... You guys get the point. Every single iteration of the
same source used to create the 5 day window specifies that it is a 48 hour spawn during the era.
Now, a few other things weigh in favor of this as well:
- There is no identified Vessel Drozlin spawn (from this source)
- Illia's consistently indicates that there is a window, but it is MUCH SMALLER than the 5 day window identified by Diku
- There are no other mobs (to my knowledge) with a spawn window this wide, including all of the Kunark dragons.
Now, as for what the window actually should be... (pulled from this page -
http://web.archive.org/web/200201201...html?id=5235):- Sept 24, 2001 - I camped her straight for 50+ hours. And finally got her! She is on a 48 hour spawn + 10% = 52.8 hours. Trust me - it's true. Best thing you can do is: time it after a patch and wait at her spawn point after 48 hours have past.
- Aug 26, 2001 - Did they nerf her spawn from 48 hours to 48 TO 90 hours? She should have spawned by now (I had it down to the minute) and it is now 5 hours past spawn time. =( I think they screwed both Vessel and Verina up.
- Apr 16, 2001 - o start off she has to be one of the easiest lvl 60 I've ever encountered while playing EQ. First I rolled a dark elf and placed him right where she spawns. I checked in everyone day to see if she spawned. Her spawn time is 48 hours. Finally she was there when i logged on. I called in for reinforcements, but it was 7 am and no one was on. Ended up with 1 lvl 58 war, 1 lvl 60 pally, a lvl 56 cleric and me a lvl 59 enchanter. Yes that was all it took to take her down... The war used an DE illusion and pulled her to the 3rd gate zone line. I tashed and slowed. The pally and war bashed her to death. She kept on casting spells which were mostly resisted. She only tried CHing twice, just keep her stunned. Most funny part was, the cleric only casted 2 heals throught out the whole fight. Would have been able to taken her down with just 1 tank. On a side note, there is a roaming guard near the 3rd gate zone line, you can either kill or have him mezed. She does not have any faction hits.
Now, the conclusion I have reached is the following:
- The evidence used to create the 5-day window is not in-era.
- The in-era evidence which exists suggests a 48+ hour spawn time, with some variance.
- There is no clear evidence (that I have found) that the total spawn would be GREATER than 90 hours (3.75 days). There is evidence (at the same link above) of at least 73 hours passing between spawns.
As a result, I propose a more-classic spawn window of 48-96 hours. I have found no evidence of anyone camping more than ~50 hours to get her to spawn, and the anecdotal evidence suggests that she is at least a 48 hour spawn, with a window that opens up to 73+ hours. Given the ~50 hour number that is a reoccurring theme... it seems pretty logical that a 48 hour spawn window would be a fair conclusion - after a 48 hour respawn timer.