So is it the march 14th 2001 patch that addresses the drop rates?
See Source:
http://www.tski.co.jp/baldio/patch/20010314.html
Epic Quests:
As part of the Plane updates, we've made several adjustments to Epic quests for a number of classes. Previously, questers of many classes were put in direct competition with regular non-questing adventurers for a few coveted spawns. In these cases, a new step has been added to separate the "Epic Encounter" NPCs from the "Epic Quest" NPCs.
For those who are mid-quest, all quest requirements have remained the same. In other words, if you turn the same items into the same NPC, the same reward applies. What has changed is that some components may be in a different location from where you expect them. It is recommended that you check with the last NPC in line or other adventurers to find where you need to go next.
Im starting to feel like you guys enjoy the drama of it all. Why not just make the final changes that Verant deemed neccessary? I am just not getting it I guess. If was coding all this and implementing these changes Id try to follow the KISS principle. Huge cock blocks on multiple Epic piece farms is really going to turn off the population from even wanting to do these in the first place. I am not saying it should be easy... but it should be doable without keeping your guild hostage at spawns so you dont risk loosing a mob you need for epic. Its all going to be 1 big giant cluster.