Quote:
Originally Posted by Robregen
could probably add in an optional rule to allow mercenary or what's not.
|
I believe PEQ has optional SQL that enables the Mercenary Merchants in PoK (at least). If someone doesn't want to use mercs, they just don't run that SQL. I know it changes the NPC names, but I am not certain if it changes their class to be Merc Merchant class or not. If it does change the class, then it should be fairly simple for servers to decide to use mercs or not by enabling the merchants or not. For anyone using Live collects (such as the ones Robregen has done), people would manually have to change all other zones with merc merchants like Crescent Reach or other newbie zones that might have them.
A rule would probably be fine, but I think the simplest rule would be to just have it disable the merchants. If it doesn't send class 71, then they can't get the mercenaries. We could probably add a rule to the fill spawn struct function to change class 71 to class 1 or something instead if mercs are disabled.
And yeah, from what I have read, confidence only effects how many NPCs they can have on their hate list before they start fleeing. There were some interesting posts on ZAMs about people finding ways around having their mercs flee when multiples were attacking. It probably wouldn't be too hard to copy that mechanic based on the info provided, but to me that sounds like implementing an exploit from Live just to try to copy it exactly.
I agree with Secrets that Live probably uses min/max for Mercs as well as stats instead of equiping armor. There is really no need to have them equip actual items unless they were going to allow those items to be changed out by players. Otherwise, it is just a waste of DB space for them and more DB hits than would be required without them.
I know there was a time when anytime you saw an NPC with a weapon, they actually had that weapon in their inventory. I am not sure exactly when that changed, but I am positive they don't do that all of the time anymore. I know at least by TBS they had started just sending weapon models with wearchange packets for NPCs that didn't actually wield the weapon they showed. I know this because I remember seeing an NPC in Stonehive with a weapon that wasn't on its corpse after I killed it (and wasn't something that is included with that NPC model). They probably changed that to be more flexible and maybe to mess with ShowEQ users as well, since I know people used to look for NPCs with weapons equipped so they knew which ones to go after.
BTW, awesome work so far, Secrets! Hopefully we will be ready to merge with the trunk soon.