Sandstorm, the EQOA test server

by Xylof/joukoq

photo by Muuv Stehpah

How to

To connect, download the appropriate patch/cheat file from the links below. Use an empty memcard (without any EQOA data). Set up networking normally.

Special DNS settings are no longer needed with the new patch/cheat files (if you want to use the old patches for some reason, set DNS to 139.162.238.221).

The new patches eliminate the need for any DNS queries for the game to operate, so you can leave DNS setting to automatic or enter any IP address manually, such as 1.0.0.0.

Both Frontiers US and the original Europe/PAL version should work. The original US pre-Frontiers version is not compatible at the moment.

You will also need

PCSX2 with networking properly configured. I use PCSX2 1.7 with the built-in networking, no DEV9 plugin. There seems to be little documentation for setting the built-in networking up but if you get it to work it might be more stable than 3rd party plugins.

Patch files

Place these in your cheats folder and enable it in PCSX2 settings. Right-click link and download. Tested with the latest PCSX2 1.7 nightly March 21, 2024.

Frontiers: eeee1fcc.pnach

EU vanilla: 973e3177.pnach

If you want to play on a real PS2, you'll have to make a modified copy of your DVD with DNAS removed.

Status

What basically works:

creating account
logging in
creating characters
moving around
combat and many abilities
leveling up to 25
database of over 21,000 NPC's and 8,000 items from the Hagley server team
some loot tables from Prima's Official Strategy Guide
about 90 starter quests up to level 20, more being added
chatting, who list, emoting
coaching/teleports
NPC pathfinding
looting, inventory, bank
roaming NPC's

What doesn't

line of sight calculations missing
aggro enabled only in a few zones due to missing faction definitions
roaming wildlife not yet populated outside Tunaria
etc.

Notes

ogre sometimes shows up in character creation, sometimes not, reason unknown

Contact

xylof at kiekko dot tv