Out of era Gnoll Hide Lariat drops Splitpaw Commander, Blackburrow

[Jimjam]

Splitpaw Commander is dropping Gnoll hide Lariat out of era.

I can see evidence from as early as 18th June 2001 this item was removed from the Splitpaw Commander's loot table in Blackburrow.

https://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/npc.html?id=5163

I have just had one drop on Blue (the lariat should no longer be dropping from it - the loot is replaced by a mundane whip).

The mob should also drop Splitpaw masks and Tunics (no note on this page as to whether belts or necklaces were dropped).

Incidentally the page also notes that the mob is able to proc the whip - as I understand initially in EQ mobs (and by extension pets) were able to ignore level limits for procs. I believe pets were later changed to either use their master's level or their own level ( can't remember which).

[Jimjam]

Evidence for Gnoll hide lariat being removed (swapped to leather whip) from this gnoll at some point / not returning to spawn table in era:


Don't count on the lariat Feb 12 2006 Not even close to practical to farm this guy for the lariat. I thought it would be great to get a packfull of them for my pet but he has no steady spawn time/location that I could nail down.

lariat still gone Apr 03 2002 put my neck on the line and soloed commander as a no twink dru 14, with less than a bub of health i am victorious, and my spoils. you guessed it the leather whip, looked like a good item when he was hitting me for 30 with it, but it is worse than a rusty scimitar off a decaying skeleton



Also should drop onyx earring:

Dec 09 2002 KILLED HIM TODAY GOT A ONYX EARRING AGILITY +2 MAGIC, SOMEBODY ELSE IN PARTY SAID THEY GOT THE A WHIP(DON'T KNOW WHAT TYPE)_


This guy's levels are right Dec 08 2001 I'm a 16 Monk, and with a successful Mend or a tad bit o' help from just about ANY class (really, all I need are about 2 or 3 extra hits), I can tank the commander. So his levels are probably on point.

What is annoying, though, is he has yet to drop anything other than the lame earring and the WHIP; no lariat.

My loot sucked Oct 27 2001 I killed him today and all i got was a bit of money an onyx earring +2 agi and a whip

Date for removal of gnoll hide lariat


Evidence onyx earring was on loot table alongside the gnoll hide lariat:

drop Nov 27 2000 i was trying to find a little pk, then i see the commander, i ve killed it easily (maybe cause i was 22...) and he drop a gnole hide lariat and a +2dex earing
Arnalh Freesinger from Vallon Zek


Evidence the gnoll hide lariat stopped dropping in june:


No longer drops Jun 18 2001 The gnoll hide lariat no longer seems to drop from him. I was hunting BB as usual and killed several; they dropped leather whips, and did not stun during combat.


Weak evidence for mob dropping splitpaw-hide tunic and mask:

I got a different Loot Jul 22 2001 I have killed him once with a large group, rolled the dice and got 101. SO that meant I got the Rusty Spiked Shoulder Pads, off of the Splitpaw Commander. I also have a Splitpaw Mask and Leather Tunic Thing. Ralae


Evidence NPCs ignore required proc levels AND gnoll hide lariat was droppping before June 2001:

RE: LEVEL May 22 2001 Sorry, but you've been misinformed. The stun does indeed come from the Gnoll Hide Lariat, its stats are DAM 3, AC 3, DELAY 20 EFFECT: STUN. He also has a bash skill which can stun the target as well. This makes him very dangerous and a serious undercon - like most named critters in EQ.


Evidence NPCs ignore required proc levels (and stuns to rear was a thing in classic, as I know this change on p99 was a little contested):

RE: Cheater Nov 21 2000 You were stunned so many times because of the effect on the whip... also the funny thing is all mobs will stun you multiple times, for instance the halflings in Nektiklious Forest, I wtched as an Ogre warrior level 25 or so cleaned house on them he was stunned at least 30 times but a creature that comes up to his knees, and you cant stun a creature by hitting it normally, you have to bash it or use a spell!

MONSTERS WILL ALWAYS STUN NO MATTER WHAT LEVEL YOU ARE! I was stunned by a fire beetle with my 14 monk! go figure

RE: Cheater Mar 17 2001 The only way the ogre could have gotten stunned at all was if one of the halflings managed to get behind him


On the subject of game mechanics, support for the argument that NPCs (at some point) were able to use the delay of the weapon they were using
Tough guy! Oct 07 2000 They hit very fast, due to that they always weild the lariat, 3 attacks for every one attackof mine(axe of iron back)