Reasons that patching prevents connection to Emu?
 

Is there a known list of items (not a complete list, just a partial list) that change, and are the reasons we can't patch our clients against Live and still connect to an emulator server?

Do all of the opcodes change, or is it something more fundamental like changes to how an account logs in that makes the client incompatible, etc.

I think the simple answer to your questions is "yes".

I am not qualified to give a full accounting of "why" but the "why" changes from patch to patch as you hypothesized.

if you boil it all down to the common denominator. The most important reason for the lack of daily updates to the opcodes etc, is the availability of those particular EQ builds.

The build(s) that are supported need to be legitimately accessible to the potential players and server developers long after the SOE patcher has obseleted them. How can you justify supporting frequenct opcode and struct updates if you cannot also provide a LEGITIMATE source for whatever version of eq you are building eqemu against?

This is why we have Titanium, SoD, SoF and UF - because a specific build of each of those is legitimately available for purchase and download from steam and elsewhere (ebgames, amazon, egay).

RoF is still not really locked down the way the others are, so I don't think we'll see an officially supported client for EQEMU in RoF- maybe in a subsequent expansion if they sell it as a package on steam or elsewhere, then we will see a new expansion added to the list of opcodes and see support for it.

Opcodes change every patch. (some times they don't, but that's not the usual mode)

Packet structures can also change. Packets with position data change almost every patch to make ShowEQ not work right after the patch, but they're usually pretty quick about it.

Basically, we'd need a dedicated group of people that could quickly figure out whats changed and verify everything. ShowEQ usually just does some spawn stuff and doesn't really bother with the rest anymore.

It's just a pain :P Especially when you get something working and they patch again right afterwards.

QFT, Amen Brother.

Good to know. Thanks for the replies!