FYI about EQEmu v0.2.7 Release
 

Well, we thought we would give you guys a heads up on the next release. When we release 0.2.7, the database will be new for 3 tables (atleast, maybe more).

We are adding a GM Speed "hack" into the source so status 100+ can #gmspeed 1-5 and get to run superfast without spells (but you would need to zone). Doing this is causing us to change the account table to add a column. With this, we can do a simple ALTER TABLE to upgrade it for later (part of the upgrade.sql we will have).

We are also changing the players_ table up a little. We will be adding an x/y/z & zonename column that are where the player will be in the world. This allows people to change the zone and/or loc of a stuck character easily.

Finally, we are adding a few columns to NPC_Types which will let everyone configure mobs more (what spells they can cast, can they summon, flurry, enrage, etc). Hopefully these will be changes everyone will love, but it means old databases will be incompatiable with these features and newer eqemu versions.

Let us know how you feel about these types of changes.

One word....Woot!


'nuff said!

Hear Hear (or is it here here?)

OMG. LOL WOW.

Mob AI !!!!!!!!

"but it means old databases will be incompatiable with these features and newer eqemu versions." - Does that mean we have to re-make DBs from scratch?

Nah, the new database / structure will be included in the download of 0.2.7

Cheers to the Dev team once again :)

well i think there should be database convertor...

after all some people want to keep new uber items and charactor or whatever :)

im reasonable sure its easy to make version to new version convertor.

Suggestion
 

If you plan to change the db model, I think it would be a good idea to migrate some rules that are coded (skills per class, hp regen, class per race and so on) to the database as relation. It would allow for more flexibility (ie. in case of patch nr 2394).

We're currently deciding how we're going to do the character conversion process if it goes through. We're pretty sure we can do it with a mySQL script, but not promises. If we can't do it that way I'll try and make a convertor.exe type thing if worst comes to worst =P

I think that would be great if its not a whole lot of work.

I think sometimes folks forget though, that the project is still in alpha/early beta.

Personally, I'd much rather have valuable time spent working on coding additional enhancements or fixing existing bugs, over making it easy to convert existing items, chars to some new db format.

I'd be happy to have to use a clean DB with each release, if it would free up more time for further development. There'll be plenty of time down the road to get attached to chars and items.

Where i can download 0.2.7 version ?

2.7 is not out yet. I what it like no other though. NPC AI! I bet Shawn is testing it though! I want it =)

Sweet, you guys Rock!!

Sounds great! Especially the configurable AI.
But I hope there'll be a character converter of some sort, if not though it'd probably be easy to re-create characters with the admin program.

Just to clarify things - how does the AI spellcasting scripting in npc_types work?
Do you have to list each spell you want the NPC to use, or do you just specify what caster type/spell list (cleric, shaman, wizard etc) to use?