Daybreak Games Cuts Back EQ & EQII GM Roles

Customer Service will be unable to assist with gameplay errors going forward.

Customer Service has been spotty since Sony Online Entertainment transitioned into Daybreak Games. First phone service disappeared, then customers started complaining that petitions were not being answered. March 4, 2015, Daybreak Games updated their Knowledge Base with an article called [EQ2] Cases where Game Masters will not intervene. They have severely restricted the role of GMs to "errors with the game and/or servers" and remove the GM ability to help with gameplay issues.

UPDATE:  Astute players have pointed out that EverQuest GM's have suffered a similar scope reduction. There's a very similar article called [EQ] Cases where Game Masters will not intervene. Below is the EverQuest II version:

Game Masters are available to assist with errors with the game and/or servers (such as crashes/rollbacks, zone down, etc)

Game Masters will not be able to intervene with simple gameplay errors. Gameplay errors should be resolved by further gameplay and players should use in-game means to address these errors.

Some examples of situations where Game Masters will not intervene:

  • Deleted items: Please reacquire any deleted items through gameplay.
  • Accidentally sold items: Buy the item back from a vendor. If it cannot be bought back, reacquire the item through gameplay.
  • Accidentally bought items: Sell the unintended item back to the vendor (not all items can be sold back unfortunately) and purchase the intended item.
  • Misloots: The Game Masters will not move items that were looted by accident or sent/traded to an unintended character.
  • Accidental item modification (transmutes, adornments, gems, etc): There are in-game means to correct this issue which the player should explore.
  • Renaming: The Game Masters will not change a character's first name, surname, or guild name upon request. Name change potions are available on the marketplace.
  • Guild Administration: The Game Masters will not administrate a guild or intervene in guild management affairs in any way. If your guild leader is absent, please create a new guild of your own or find another guild on the server that meets your needs.
  • Deleted characters: There are various mechanics in place to assure that characters are not deleted by accident.   Let's be careful out there.  Deleted characters will not be restored. Feel free to re-roll a new character.

That's right, Daybreak Games will no longer help you when your Guild Leader disappears from the game or your eight-year-old deletes a character to make room for his new "mouse pirate." So be careful out there, Norrathians, and be really sure before you click "Yes" and delete something!

 

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EQ
# Mar 27 2015 at 3:32 PM Rating: Decent
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I have been playing for 13 years and really enjoying most of it. Managed to live through all the changes, some good some bad, some really dumb. But I guess I will hang in there until they officially close the doors on us. Anybody want to buy some old game cd's? Jalithian Feyreheyre, Tunare Wizard 104
Oh boy! Here goes my Guide role I take it...
# Mar 22 2015 at 1:13 PM Rating: Decent
I have been a Everquest guide for almost 10 years. Doing fun things for the players, quests, weddings etc. But it looks like they may just be chopping the ol frogs legs off. We will wait and see... If so I will be leaving and not coming back as well. It was a fun ride while it lasted. 14 years for me. Peace all.

P.S. Never thought I would say it, but World of Warcraft may just get a new player.
Definitely winding EQ1 and 2 down
# Mar 10 2015 at 11:57 AM Rating: Default
They are definitely winding EQ1 and 2 down. They are seen as legacy products. If they didn't have any intention of winding them down, then they would have kept more staff on. They bought SOE for that stupid zombie game and probably EQN. I foresee an expansion later this year since its already been in development probably, but nothing massive like the old days. A continuation of the low content type expansions we are used to. Patching slowing down and a development stagnating over the next couple of years.

We aren't seen as customers that have invested 10-15 years into developing characters and making a home in EQ. We're just consumers to them.

The idea is to make everyone leave from their own accord slowly. When EQN launches, you'll see the wind down go into high gear probably. They want you to play that instead.

There are plenty of EQ emulators out there that will last longer than the official EQ servers will now, imo. Project1999 for classic era EQ has a high population. The Al'Kabor project or p2002 for up to PoP with different rulesets. There are others for newer content. It may be time to find a home elsewhere. I have a feeling with Daybreak in charge, its only going to get worse.

Definitely winding EQ1 and 2 down
# Mar 12 2015 at 7:51 PM Rating: Decent
I believe you're correct although I haven't personally seen very many MMORPG deaths. I have experienced basically the same thing happen when the developers of another game I played released new game. They fired half the developers (I just found out which is why I couldn't get any help), quit answering the phones, shortened work days and hours, and stopped answering any complaints.

So that really sliced off about 50% of the player base right there and people left in bunches which is what happened with EQ and EQ2 from what I read. Same MO - firing the devs, shortening the work, deleting the rest of the customer actions.

I think most people are going to play out that 2 year time that was purchased for the 'All Access' deal and then they'll find a new home like you said. It doesn't make sense that anybody will want to pay to play a new game with the same owners when they aren't treated well in this one.

I was hoping the new owners would at least try to meat the players halfway and try to fix some of these problems I read people having.

Edited, Mar 12th 2015 6:55pm by ImaDreamer
I think its dead and done deal Sadly.
# Mar 09 2015 at 2:36 AM Rating: Decent
Guess its time to do the EqEmu thing once they destroy this one of a kind game someday.
I think its dead and done deal Sadly.
# Mar 09 2015 at 7:37 AM Rating: Decent
edited out my question because I answered my question with an online search.

Edited, Mar 9th 2015 6:40am by ImaDreamer
Here it ends
# Mar 08 2015 at 6:58 PM Rating: Decent
I think Daybreak only bought the SoE games for a tax write off. They are not interested in keeping there player base. All the changes they have made are not for our better enjoyment of the game.
game is going to the dark side
# Mar 08 2015 at 3:34 PM Rating: Decent
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Geesh, that was one extremely unfriendly note. Was pretty much a "kiss my rear" all you EQ fans. I have played EQ1 since day one, then SWG and EQ2 from day one. Will totally miss it when it goes belly up.
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EQ2 Dreadzal 95 SK and so on

The End is Near To Us All
# Mar 08 2015 at 12:49 PM Rating: Decent
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I myself have been playing EQ1 for 13 years and have enjoyed every moment playing such a good game, I was not surprised that SoE pushed off the game to another company seeing it was on a downward slide. I do see an end coming soon due to lack of customer service and player interaction the game will fold because nobody really likes being brushed off by the rude comments the "New company" has posted and said to the people that pay for the accounts they have. Farewell EQ it has been fun. I have closed all my accounts since the handoff and canceled my subscriptions (I 6 boxed).
Saw this coming
# Mar 07 2015 at 5:33 PM Rating: Decent
I think these rules will be the thing that will now further reduce the population due to lack of GM support. Since humans play the game you're going to have human error and if Daybreak refuses to fix these kind of errors then it'll eventually affect the population of paying players like me.

It is true that employee upkeep is expensive however it will hurt the game and admins when there aren't enough paying customers. Slamming down harsh rules is going to be costly and will not help at all. I sincerely wish that Daybreak would reconsider part of this rule to keep happy customers coming back and not kill the game.

So I'll be praying for Daybreak to change their collective minds before this game dies.

I'd further like to ask the new admins why they purchased the game and what's the point of owning a game after you slice & dice?

Edited, Mar 7th 2015 3:38pm by ImaDreamer
What if your acct is hacked ...
# Mar 07 2015 at 2:00 PM Rating: Excellent
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158 posts
Seriously there should be some cases where they can bring back a deleted character, maliciousness of some hacker could completely destroy your game forever and you would never come back if you cant restore your characters.
not much of a change really
# Mar 06 2015 at 5:17 PM Rating: Decent
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654 posts
first of all, gm's don't give back deleted items on eq1 anyhow. that is done with reclamation tokens bought on the marketplace. gm's don't usually interfere with guilds on eq1 either. the guild is owned by the one who created it here, no matter who is the leader. this was a much bigger change on ew2 than on eq1. the main thing i didn't like was being told to get items in game when they get lost. some items you can't reget because they are from quests that are not repeatable. however, they still help in a lot of cases, like when a quest is bugged and you can't finish it.
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grogg
# Mar 06 2015 at 2:48 PM Rating: Good
40 posts
wow. Not that GM's had alot of say or anything anyways. I miss them old days when GM's would hang out on the server and chat with you or watch your guild as it raided Pogrowth, or PoTime. We had a GM on ECI named Grogg. This guy was the best. He would show up in PoK and people would stop and drop what they were doing just to get in line to be DT'd by him, or be punted across the zone to be slammed into a wall and die a horrible death.He used to hang out and watch us as we raided, or would do "let's run thru Kith at night and see who makes it alive" stuff. In the event of a server crash, he would be online to do rezzes and give out food and drink.He interacted with the server and his peoples. To me , thats what a GM should be doing..
re-roll
# Mar 06 2015 at 1:01 PM Rating: Excellent
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"Feel free to re-roll a new character."

I love it.
re-roll
# Mar 08 2015 at 6:30 PM Rating: Excellent
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Zero Customer service lead to Zero customers eventually. :(
re-roll
# Mar 08 2015 at 8:53 PM Rating: Decent
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You got that right...you want a good customer base....you provide "World-Class" customer service....you don't and they won't...PLAY THAT IS!
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Before
# Mar 06 2015 at 9:25 AM Rating: Default
Before the doom and gloom you have to realise one thing: employee upkeep is huge, with SOE losing a lot of money throughout the years it is simply a sign of mismanagement and cuts like these are expected. Players should be careful about what they are deleting (tho i still don't agree with deleted character's policy). This isn't a "Daybreak is dying" message, it is simply a necessary change in company policy to ensure the short and long term financial stability - starting with cuts like these which, honestly, it's player's fault.
All Access Members
# Mar 06 2015 at 7:07 AM Rating: Good
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87 posts
Although I've never done anything as boneheaded as deleting a character (well, not in a game --- working on my car, that's another matter :) ), accidents happen.
I would hate to think that a character into whom someone has put years of work is unable to be recovered, even if you're a paying All Access member.
This makes me wonder, since I know nothing about their server or backup systems, if they are only cutting back more staff, or current staff's duties, or are they reducing their backup options and/or equipment?
I'm not trying to start any rumors, so I'm posting this question here.
Daybreak needs to communicate the *reasons* and *means* by which this is implemented.
In communication with one's customers, clarity is key.

Edited, Mar 6th 2015 8:09am by Maccabee4
wow
# Mar 06 2015 at 4:58 AM Rating: Good
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Wow.. Such a disappointment.
I had a little hope that unexpectedly Daybreak will do better than SOE.
I was wrong.
Here it starts
# Mar 06 2015 at 12:54 AM Rating: Decent
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199 posts
Heres the beginning of the downward slide. I've never been one of the doom and gloom but this may be it. I'm sure that if you cant play it on PS or XBOX its going to be gone.
Here it starts
# Mar 11 2015 at 10:50 PM Rating: Decent
Ill be looking for other ways to spend my game time instead of EQ ....all 6 active gold accounts.
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