Chaos! =P
This thread isn't really the place to get into this discussion. But, since you brought it up, I might as well make a few points. First, the website and project name is Everquest Emulator. It isn't Custom Everquest Emulator. And it isn't Something-Other-Than-Everquest Emulator :P
The emulator was originally created on the hackersquest site I believe because the creator was pissed that his necro got heavily nerfed on EQLive. His idea was to emulate EQLive, but before the nerf took place. Eventually, the project started to grow and got more and more playable and finally it was moved over to eqemulator.net where it still resides. I think hackersquest was also responsible for creating the original showeq program.
In the beginning, customized servers weren't even considered, because they couldn't even get most of the normal stuff working to even think that far ahead. By the time that most features were working and the emulator was actually playable and fun, the emulation of EQLive had been the main focus for a long time. I think the idea was to create a free place for players to play and to have more options than on EQLive. Some people just wanted to explore, or play with GM commands, and some wanted to play a classic version of EQ from back when it was actually a really good game.
Without a good database, the emulator project would really suck. Having to make every zone from scratch would mean that most servers currently out there wouldn't even exist. PEQ and AX both strive to simulate live, which is great because they have a very full database and it is all fairly relatively balanced. With something to base their content off of, it means that they can really crank it all out and share it with everyone and not have to worry about balance issues. Can you even imagine what a pieced together database of multiple custom servers with multiple creators all going in different directions might look like? It would be completely useless or near impossible to maintain and balance.
The project needs to have something to strive for and something to base everything off of, and EQLive fills that need. Without PEQ/AX or something like it, this whole project would fall apart quickly. I can't thank them enough for what they do for us all. And in order for their database to work properly, the server code needs to emulate live as closely as possible as well. It still has a long way to go. But, at the same time, we also try to add in as many options as possible within reason to keep this entire project on track and still allow maximum customization.
Also, you have to take into account that we have a fixed client that cannot change legally. In order for the emulator to work properly, there are many limitations set by the client that we have no control over.
If you want something that is 100% customizable, then you would need to find another project other than EQ Emulator. I would personally love to see this type of community all working similarly on another project with an open sourced client. I think that if we had a badass client, the possibilities would be endless and the end result could be an entirely new game that blows away most MMOs. But, that isn't really an option and isn't what this project is about.
There are other options out there like Torque, or even Simple Client and others. Those types of projects are more towards the type of system you seem to want.
You have to look at the bigger picture here. This community thrives with the way that things are done right now. If anything was to change with the direction of the project, it could potentially ruin the whole thing. The client itself is very limited and the graphics suck by today's standards. So obviously it has to be the game play itself that keeps people coming back and playing. And, if you change that completely, then it is highly likely that it will ruin the way that things currently are.
I run a pretty customized server and have many things on my server that live has nothing like. So, I am all for customization in the emulator. But, at the same time, I don't think we need to be trying to change the core of the system. I think the main focus of custom servers should be content, not gaming mechanics. When it is possible to add more options, I am all for it. But, don't put down PEQ just because they don't want to do the same thing you want to do.
Yes, some people do play the emulator for the customized servers. But some do play because it is free instead of the high prices that SoE charges. Sure, 15$ a month isn't bad, but for some people, that is a lot. Also, some prefer to box multiple characters at once and multiplying that 15$ a month can add up VERY quickly. Some people also play because they are sick of the direction EQLive is going, but they still like EQ itself. Some just want certain PVP types, some want only classic, or maybe kunark, and some want other special rulesets that just aren't available on EQLive. So, there are many reasons to play the emulator other than just for custom servers. If you look at some of the general post from new members, many of them ask for recommendations for non-custom servers that are classic, or up to a certain expansion. So, there is definitely a need that PEQ is filling and I fully respect them for that and think that you should do the same.
I know you would like more rules, and I would too. But there are many cases where adding a rule would be so minor that it isn't worth it. If there was a rule for every little thing in the code, it would cause so much overhead that the servers would suffer heavily for it, which isn't worth it IMO.
I can understand where you are coming from, but you should realize that there are all sorts of people and not everyone likes the same thing or thinks the same way.
We may need to make a new topic and move this discussion there if this continues.
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