Note: All of the control spell changes listed here are subject to change before they go live. In fact, since these notes were written based on data from 05/04/06 and Blackguard will be in LA by the time you read this, much of it has changed before even going to Test. The notes should be a lot more sane by next week when he gets back.

- All short knockdowns and many short stuns that were 2s in duration have been changed to a 1.5s duration.
- All knockdowns and many short stuns that were 3-4s in duration have been changed to a 2.5s duration.
- All knockdown effects will not work on epics.
- Adjusted all root, stifle, stun, mesmerize, and fear durations to have consistent linear progression in durations with level increases.
- There is now a new control state labeled "daze." Daze effects replace pacify effects that were attached to some spells. When a mob is dazed it cannot auto attack.
- Examine information describing control effects should generally be clearer than before.
- All Mesmerize abilities have their own immunity separate from Stun immunity.

Fighter changes:
- Guardian: Crumble - Reduced damage on melee hit portion of the combat art.
- Guardian: Concussion - Increased damage, now reduces casting skills of target instead of power damage.
- Berserker: Stunning Cry - Power cost reduced.
- Berserker: Vanquish - Is now a 6s stifle/root instead of a 6-7s stun.
- Paladin: Glorious Strike effect from Glorious Weapon - Reduced stun duration to 2.5 seconds.
- Monk: Instill Doubt - Changed from a Bruiser to a Brawler ability.
- Bruiser: Intimidate - This combat art line now shares its reuse timer with Instill Doubt.
- Bruiser: The Sucker Punch line now dazes opponents instead of knocking them down.

Scout changes:
- Scout: Cheap Shot - Reduced power cost. Duration is 4s instead of 6s on standard or weaker opponents.
- Dirge: Lanet´s Excruciating Scream - Changed into short duration daze effect that causes disease damage when it expires. The amount of damage was reduced. Reuse time increased to 30s.
- Dirge: Garsin´s Funeral March - Recast time increased to 45s from 30s. Overall break chance reduced to 25%.
- Dirge: Sapping Shot - Recast time increased to 25s.
- Troubador: Lullaby - Decreased duration and increased reuse timer to 20s.
- Troubador: Bria´s Entrancing Sonnet - Now works as a very short-term charm. Reduced casting time to 3s. Has full use of pet commands. Duration greatly reduced. Removed concentration costs. Increased reuse time to 60s.
- Ranger: Thorny Trap - Duration of Root effect has been reduced.
- Brigand: Blackjack - Changed from a 5s stun to a 6s hold direction and root ability. Reduced damage and power cost.
- Brigand: Strangling Throw - Reduced damage.
- Brigand: Double Up - Double Up list auto-adjusts to use abilities appropriate to the brigand´s level.
- Swashbuckler: Disarming Grin - Increased recast timer to 45s from 30s.

Priest changes:
- Templar: Sign of Pacification - Increased reuse time to 30s.
- Templar: Prostrate - Reduced casting time to 2.5 seconds, Increased Reuse time to 45s. Reduced power cost.
- Templar: Divine Arbitration - No longer distributes health from dead players in the group.
- Inquisitor: Fearful Conversion - Fearful conversion, has a lower chance to break than it did before and mesmerizes after the fear effect instead of a root.
- Inquisitor: Imprison - Increased Reuse time to 30s. Break chance occurs on damage only.
- Defiler: Primordial Terror - Recast time increased to 45s from 30s. Overall break chance reduced to 25%.
- Fury: Irritating Swarm - Has changed into a stifle and minor snare. It is now on a 60s reuse timer with a 1.5s casting time and shorter duration.
- Fury: Pact of the Cheetah - Also dispels hostile root effects.
- Mystic: Phantasmal Spirits - Reduced duration of Mesmerize to 5s.

Mage changes:
- Wizard, Warlock, Conjurer, Necromancer: Root Spells:
* Have 15% overall break chance instead of 20%
* Only processes break chances when damage is received, not on any hostile act towards the target.
* Duration reduced.
- Wizard: Tongue Twist - Lowers Hate instead of dealing damage.
- Warlock: Interference - Slightly lowers hate with encounter instead of dealing damage.
- Warlock: Gas Cloud - Reduced stun duration to 1.5s. Lowered reuse timer from 15s to 9s.
- Warlock: Dark Siphoning - Reduced casting time to 3s.
- Warlock: Devastation - Removed stun component.
- Necromancer: Fear - Recast time increased to 45s from 30s. Overall break chance reduced to 25%.
- Necromancer: Grasp - Lowered resistibility, reduced casting time to 1.5s, and increased reuse time to 45s.
- Conjurer: Petrify - Lowered resistibility and increased reuse timer to 45s.
- Conjurer: Shattered Terrain - Increased casting time from 2s to 3s, dazes but does not stifle.

- Coercer: Terrible Awe and Illusionist: Phantasmal Splendor:
* Resistibility increased
* Casting time increased to 2s
* Reuse timer increased to 15s.
* Removed number of targets restriction for PvE.
* Removes target from area effects.
* Mesmerize effect can now affect Epic targets.
- Coercer: Stupefy
* Functions as a medium-long duration target area effect stun.
* Resistibility increased
* Casting time set to 2s
* Reuse time is 40s.
* Stun effect can now affect Epic targets.

- Illusionist: Bewilderment:
* Functions as a medium duration target area effect Stun.
* Resistibility increased
* Casting time increased to 1.5s
* Reuse time is 40s.
* Removed number of targets restriction for PvE.
* Stun effect can now affect Epic targets.

- Coercer: Psychic Wail- Increased reuse to 45s. Stun effect can now affect Epic targets.
- Coercer: Channel - No longer distributes power from dead players in the group. Damage reduced.
- Coercer: Ego Shock - Changed Root into target encounter daze that always lands. Reuse timer changed to 30s. Damage reduced. Daze effect will affect Epic targets.
- Illusionist: Illusory Allies - Reduced damage and health of summoned illusions.
- Illusionist: Headache - Changed mez into daze that always lands. Reuse timer changed to 30s. Damage reduced. Daze effect will affect Epic targets.
- Coercer: Amnesia - Stun effect can now affect Epic targets.
- Coercer: Slumber - Mesmerize effect can now affect Epic targets.
- Coercer: Silence - Stifle effect can now affect Epic targets.
- Coercer: Medusa Gaze - Stun effect can now affect Epic targets.
- Illusionist: Sleep - Mesmerize effect can now affect Epic targets.
- Illusionist: Convincing Regalia - Mesmerize effect can now affect Epic targets.
- Illusionist: Overwhelming Silence - Stifle effect can now affect Epic targets.
- Illusionist: Confusion - Stun effect can now affect Epic targets.

Achievement changes:
- Warrior: Belly Smash - Removed additional knockdown effect.
- Predator: Point Blank Shot - Reduced stun duration, recast time lowered to 45s, and damage decreased.
- Bard: Round Bash - Upgrades affect the knockback stun duration. Increased damage.
- Cleric: Hammer Smite - Upgrades affect the knockback stun duration.
- Shaman: Crippling Bash - Upgrades affect the knockback stun duration.
- Summoner: Shockwave - Upgrades affect the knockback stun duration.
- Rogue: Walk the Plank - Added root effect to hold direction.
- Brawler: Eagle Spin - Added root effect to hold direction.
- Bard: Shield Focus - Properly roots bard in place and grants knockdown immunity.

*** Zone Access Changes ***

- The following zones no longer require an access quest. For many of the quests, there are new rewards attached in place of the old reward (gaining access to a zone):
* The Firemyst Gully
* The Sanctum of Fear
* Bloodskull Valley: The Excavation Site
* The Eternal Gorge
* Miragul´s Menagerie
* Icespire Summit
* The Forbidden Sepulcher
* The Trembling Lagoon
* The Obelisk of Lost Souls
* The Darkblade Den of Assassins
* The Serpent´s Lair
* The Murkwater Nook
* Maiden´s Gulch
* The Vault of Flames
* Nektropos Castle
* The Lair of the Necromancer
* The Vestibule
* Heroic: The Sullon Mines
* Heroic: The Tallon Hording Halls
* Heroic: The Darkened Den
* Icebound
* The Bastion of Flames
* The Cove of Decay: A Treaty for Treasure
* The Ruins of Varsoon

- The following raid zones now have an NPC you must speak with outside of the zone in order to enter:
* Shattered Stillness: Epic - Speak with Relana Everglade in Antonica
* Bloodskull Valley: Maulic´s Stronghold - Speak with Amulius Ramio in the Commonlands
* Echoes of Time: Epic - Speak with Overseer Melicinn in the Commonlands
* A Meeting of the Minds - Speak with Taryn D´Vat in the Feerrott
* Commune of K`Dal - Speak with Klogg Bindgear in Lavastorm
* Deathfist Citadel - Speak with Andala Oakenpath in Zek, the Orcish Wastes
* The Deserted Mine - Speak with Gragak Stinkyfeet in Zek, the Orcish Wastes
* The Court of Al´Afaz - Speak with Walheed Raffini in the Pillars of Flame
* The Gates of Ahket Aken - Speak with Muleek Mahaja in the Sinking Sands
* The Cove of Decay: Epic Angler - Speak with Googegguta in the Thundering Steppes

*** Desert of Flames ***

- "A piece of ancient parchment" should drop a little more frequently from individuals in the Pillars of Flame. Rumors exist that the leaders of these people have also begun to carry the parchment more often. The parchment is now able to be traded or sold.
- Eagles, Hooluks, Insectoids, Vultaks, Draconians now use a wider variety of combat moves. Mainly their ouches and dodges will respond more appropriately to the direction of attacks. Also, when fighting these creatures, player characters´ ouches, dodges and parries will match the direction of attacks.

*** Gameplay ***

- You are no longer limited to engaging 5 encounters.
- Charmed players will now cast spells from their knowledge books.
- Corpses of epic mobs now last much longer (unless looted) so the victors can take screenshots.

*** Quests ***

- Group members on the same step of the quests "Ishara´s Search" and "Brush with Celebrity" can now enter into the same arena instance.
- Vindain Greenfaith will now give high elves the flask he mentions when offering the quest "Components of Growth."

*** Items ***

- The Empowered Sleeper Totem and Sealed Book of Knowledge quest rewards now have 10 charges each.
- Tome pages found on the ground are now easier to see. They flutter in the breeze, so even if it is partly in the ground or snow, some of it will be visible while it is flapping.

*** Zones and Population ***

- The evac point for Permafrost is now within the zone rather than in Everfrost. There is also an additional revive point within Permafrost.

*** Combat ***

- Brigand: An issue that was causing combat art visuals to sometimes be played on the brigand has been corrected.
- Ranger: Surveil - Range lowered to 35 meters from 50 meters.
- Crusader: Lance - Damage over time effect will now stack with other allies.
- Predator: Intoxication - Damage over time effect will now stack with other allies.
- Shaman: Leg Bite - Damage over time effect will now stack with other allies.

*** Spell Changes ***

- Abilities that intercept damage received by an ally will now consider the intercepter´s mitigation to that damage. This will allow fighters in raids to make use of their mitigation and resists.

*** Achievements ***

- Bard: Bump´s examine info will now indicate its ability to steal from the target.

*** Tradeskills ***

- Tradeskill societies have been removed.

* Players can now enter any of the tradeskill instance zones at any time.
* All your tradeskill society status you have ever earned (not just in your current society) has been converted into personal status points (this will not add status to your guild).

*** User Interface ***

- In the spell effects window, non-beneficial spells will now be displayed before beneficial ones. This will allow you to quickly tell what negative effects you have on you by glancing at the first few icons in your effects bar.
- There is a new macro replacement:%c. This will be replaced with the name of the Icon your mouse is over. This will work on things like Effects, Maintained Effects, Inventory, Equipment, Macros, Hotkeys, Spells, Target Effects, and Implied Target Effects. Examples of usage:

* MACRO: /group I have (( %C )) please cure me!
* MACRO: /group %t has (( %C )) please cure %o!

- When you are offered a quest with a full quest journal, you will no longer get a dialog box indicating that. Instead, you will get the quest offer window, but the accept button will gray-out until you have deleted a quest.
- Items with a castable ability or ability when equipped will now show applicable durations in the examine info.
- Items that you cannot use due to level or skill will now show the proper values for their effects.
- There is now a "Mute All on Minimize" checkbox in the Sound tab of the Options menu.
- There are now options to "Show Third Party Damage" and "Combat Bubbles" in the User Interface tab of the Options menu.
- Lockout Timers window will now correctly sort by Time Left.
- The maintained spell and effect windows will no longer scroll with the mousewheel, potentially moving your spell off the visible space. Thanks, Actfive

*** UI Files Modified ***

eq2ui_mainhud_effects.xml
eq2ui_mainhud_maintained.xm

May 5, 2006 – Carlsbad & San Diego, CA – Sigil Games Online and Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE), a global leader in the online games industry, today announced that Sigil is working with Microsoft Game Studios on an arrangement to acquire the rights to its highly anticipated massively multiplayer online (MMO) game, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. These efforts have resulted in a tentative agreement for Vanguard to be co-published by both Sigil Games Online and SOE. All three companies will be showing the game at the upcoming Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) as they work closely together for a successful transition. Vanguard: Saga of Heroes is scheduled to launch this winter.

“As the development process is ongoing and constantly shifting, it became clear that MGS and Sigil had varying visions and direction for the title’s development,” said Brad McQuaid, CEO of Sigil Games Online. “In the best interest of Vanguard, it was decided that we would buy back the publishing rights from Microsoft.”

As co-publisher of Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, Sigil assumes greater control of marketing and PR, while maintaining responsibility for game development, community relations, media relations, customer support, and quality assurance. Under the terms of the agreement, SOE will provide distribution, marketing, hosting and back-end support -- including billing and technical support -- for the game. Additionally, SOE is tentatively planning on adding Vanguard, upon its release,to SOE’s Station Access™ subscription plan. Station Access allows players to enjoy all of SOE’s MMO titles for one low monthly price.

“We are very excited to be working with so many old friends at Sigil,” said John Smedley, president, Sony Online Entertainment. “Vanguard looks beautiful and has an incredibly rich game world. It’s the type of game that will appeal directly to SOE’s hundreds of thousands of players and should fit in perfectly with the current line-up of games available in Station Access.”

”This decision was made mutually by Sigil and Microsoft, in the best interest of the long-term goals for the title,” said Phil Spencer, General Manager at Microsoft Game Studios. “As a key Windows development partner, we will continue to work with Sigil to ensure Vanguard’s ongoing success.”

Vanguard: Saga of Heroes is the next generation of massively multiplayer online games. The journey takes place in the fantasy setting of Telon, a vast and ancient world of magic, intrigue and adventure. Facing the challenges of a war torn world, the diverse people here struggle to rebuild their once great civilizations. A fragile alliance has been struck, with the lands set upon by invading forces, the races must band together to survive.

Vanguard: Saga of Heroes is currently in a closed beta phase. The game will remain available via Fileplanet for existing beta testers during the transition to SOE. New information will be sent out to testers as the changeover occurs.

For more information about Vanguard: Saga of Heroes please visit www.vanguardsoh.com.

About Sigil Games Online
Based in Carlsbad, California, Sigil Games Online is a studio dedicated to creating massively multiplayer online (MMO) games. Founded in 2002 by Brad McQuaid and Jeff Butler, key figures in the development of award-winning EverQuest, the company plans to be a driving force in the continued evolution of this unique genre. Sigil Games Online is comprised of an all-star team of experienced developers with an impressive pedigree of commercially successful and critically acclaimed online games. For more information, visit www.sigilgames.com.

About Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, with hundreds of thousands of subscribers around the globe. SOE creates, develops and provides compelling entertainment for the personal computer, online, game console and wireless markets. Known for its blockbuster franchises and hit titles including EverQuest®, EverQuest® II, Champions of Norrath®, Untold Legends™, and PlanetSide®,as well as for developing Star Wars Galaxies™, SOE continues to redefine the business of online gaming and the creation of active player communities while introducing new genres on various entertainment platforms. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, with additional development studios in Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge games in development. SOE is owned by Sony Pictures Digital and Sony Computer Entertainment America.

SOE, the SOE logo, EverQuest and PlanetSide are registered trademarks of Sony Online Entertainment LLC. Untold Legends is a trademark of Sony Online Entertainment LLC. Vanguard: Saga of Heroes and Sigil Games Online are trademarks of Sigil Games Online, Inc. (registration pending). All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.