Miscellaneous: 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/al..._Mk/discussion

[Sunderfury]

Originally Posted by Dolalin [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

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/al..._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/s...d.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....c/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.