What ever happened to... ?

[Lornick]

<p>So I'm looking through my quest journal looking for something to do.  I noticed I still had Siren Lore and Legend quest to do and it's been there for like 2+ years.  I already got the auto update parts so I check the broker to see how much the dropped pieces are going for.  Wow.  Some of the ones I need sell for 50+ gold.  Screw that, I'll go get my own.  So I run to Thundering Steppes (well use my splitpaw shard) and go to where the sirens hang out near the kos spire and start blazing through the water broads.  I use my fishbone earring and my gnome water vision goggles and I'm like a torpedo of death.</p><p>After killing a bunch of them something weird happens.  This glowing relic looking thing spawns.  "Hmmm... what's this?"  So I right click it and I get this buff "weather protection".  A group buff that increases heat and cold resist for group by 480.  Mobs dropped a temporary buff instead of sell loot.  How cool is that?  And then I remember that this feature has been in game for like... ever.  But for some reason the only place that I EVER got one of these buffs is in Thundering Steppes.  I remember WAY back in the day when I was around level 20 or so killing gnolls in TS our group got a lion illusion buff that also increased stats by a little bit and everyone in the group was tripping out over how cool it was.  It'd been so long since I've seen one of these temporary buff things spawn that I completely forgot that it was a game feature at all.  How come these things don't drop in other zones besides TS?  How cool would it be if you were in Mistmoore killing vampires and a group buff dropped that turned the group into vampires and gave a lifetap proc for ten mins or so?  Or you're killing zombies and a noxious resist group buff dropped?  Whatever.  Make them rare drops, I don't care.  But bring this idea back to all the zones.  It adds a lot of flavor and uniqueness to each zone.</p>

[Umigo]

I have seen this in Sinking Sands, a strange looking chest would appear after killing a mob of Safegaurds, It gave a temporary stat buf. Saw it several times while doing writs. I only got it once in TS killing sirens. So there may be more, just rare.

[Nakaru-Nitepaw]

I don't honestly recall this ever happening to me hehe. It does sound like a good idea though. Something to widen the mood when carving your way through mobs.

[Lornick]

<cite>TheFever wrote:</cite><blockquote>I have seen this in Sinking Sands, a strange looking chest would appear after killing a mob of Safegaurds, It gave a temporary stat buf. Saw it several times while doing writs. I only got it once in TS killing sirens. So there may be more, just rare. </blockquote>I spent about an hour farming sirens for L&L parts today and I think I got 5 of those temporary buffs.  One was a mental, arcane, divine resist buff for 480.  One was a Str and Sta buff for 38.  One was Int and Wis buff for like 18.  And the fire/cold resist buff for 480 that I already mentioned. (and I got a duplicate buff or two)  That is literally the first time I'd seen these buffs drop in over 2 years... since the last time I was actually exping there.  I'm all for these things being uncommon.  But once every 100 encounters or so seems reasonable to me. 

[firza]

I have onbly seen this once in my EQ2 carriere. Inside Zek, killing orcs near where that invis dude runs around you need for one of the 2 HQ's in there.

[EtoilePirate]

Someone was saying in Test chat how they just got one of those buff chests last week. I think the last time I saw one, my main was in her 20s... so that's *math math math* March 2005, maybe very early April.  Over two years ago. I'd completely forgotten they were in the game, too.  Neat little idea.

[Kellin]

<p>They can appear anywhere you clear out a dynamic camp.  Dynamic camps consist of several encounters, usually 3-4 groups of mobs, that are arranged around a central point of some kind.  In the case of your TS sirens, it's the underwater temple.  In Antonica, it's the gnoll tents.  CL has siege machines.  Sometimes the central point will despawn once you clear the camp.</p><p>You also sometimes get distressed merchants around these areas.  Clear the camp, and the merchant becomes gratified, and will either sell you some interesting stuff or will buy things from you at best-price rates.</p>

[Jai]

Got one of these last night in Lavastorm. All I did though was click the remains for the Lost Legend HQ, turned around and a sparkly barrel was there. Got a nice STR buff out of it. Very nifty accessory drop. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Sometimes, I'd rather have a buff drop then 100 Undying Essences (which I still have no clue what they are for).

[mellowknees72]

The last one of these I saw was in Sinking Sands about 2 weeks ago. I was be-bopping down the beach, and here was one of those weird looking chests...so I clicked and got a buff and thought, huh, someone must have been killing beach combers or something and not noticed it. I think because the "buff chests" don't make a KA-CHUNK noise when they spawn (like regular treasure chests do), people don't notice them and walk away from them a lot.

[Agaxiq]

Just a ring event, they exist everywhere. Sometimes the ring event pops a name, other times it gives you these "chest" - like rewards with temporary buffs good for 30 minutes or so.  Other times a distressed merchant will be there etc. And the buffs are usually pretty good too. agressiv

[Lornick]

The point I'm making is that these events are way too rare.  I've been a pretty active player over the years doing all kinds of content.  And if I've only come across it a couple times then I know a good portion of the player base has probably never even seen them.  I think these types of buffs should have a chance to drop off of anything.  Making them specific to certain mobs and zones would add a lot of flavor to the game.  Keep them rare so it remains interesting and noteworthy when it happens, but I think having an expectation to see one drop in 3 hrs of gameplay is reasonable (vs every couple years).  It's just such a shame to see a cool idea go to waste like this.