Sandstorm
About
Sandstorm is the first and so far the only public EverQuest Online Adventures server since the official servers shut down in 2012. You can play with an emulator such as PCSX2 or a real PlayStation 2.
The project started in late 2020, when no functional open-source server existed. It is independent of any previous projects and has been written entirely from scratch by me (Xylof), though I have been able to draw on knowledge and data gathered by earlier restoration efforts — see the History and Thanks pages.
Some milestones worth highlighting:
- A server setup that lets players connect easily and legally, without distributing memcard images containing SOE's program code
- The ability to push our own code updates and art assets to game clients
- Reverse-engineering the previously unknown ESF/CSF file format, enabling terrain and building data from the game disc to be loaded — required for pathfinding, line-of-sight, and the first rendered EQOA map
- Decoding the EQOA UDP protocol well enough to establish stable client connections
- By June 2025, practically all previously undocumented parts of the message protocol had been figured out (auctions, tradeskills, fishing, etc.)
- Creating the Sandstorm Control Panel (SCP) so that contributors can create quests, NPCs, spell rotations, items, procs, patrol paths and more without needing programming experience. A dedicated content creation team has formed since December 2023, including Lardubedu (no longer active), Renodor, xpli, ShadowRampageTV and Krumpzilla
- The Discord server, launched in June 2024, became the most active EQOA-themed community hub on the internet
Patch Files
Place the appropriate file in your PCSX2 cheats folder and enable it in PCSX2 settings. Right-click a link to save the file. Tested with the latest PCSX2 1.7 nightly (March 21, 2024).
The latest Frontiers patch does not work on a real PlayStation 2. The previous version should still work.
How to Connect
Download the patch file for your game version from the section above, place it in your PCSX2 cheats folder, and enable it in PCSX2 settings. Use a blank memory card (no existing EQOA data) and set up networking normally.
Special DNS settings are no longer needed with the current patch files. The new patches bypass DNS entirely, so you can leave the setting on automatic or enter any address, such as 1.0.0.0.
Both Frontiers (US) and the original European/PAL version are supported. The PAL version naturally lacks Frontiers-specific areas and some later features. The original US pre-Frontiers version is not compatible at this time.
If you run into trouble, see the PCSX2 Setup Guide by Jonathan Greenway. For real PS2 play, you will need a way to apply one of the cheat files or remove DNAS by another means.
Links
Status
Working
- Account and character creation
- Moving around
- Combat and most abilities
- Leveling up to 57
- Class masteries
- Database of 21,000+ NPCs and 8,000+ items (originally from the Hagley team, with thousands of our own updates)
- Loot tables from Prima's Official Strategy Guide and custom additions
- All starter quests and more
- Chat, who list, emotes, ignore lists
- Coaching, wayfinders, teleports
- NPC pathfinding, roaming, aggro
- Looting, inventory, bank, merchants, blacksmiths, spiritmasters
- Preliminary line of sight
- Item wear-down and repair
- Auctions
- XP debt
- Guild system
- Tradeskills
- Fishing
- Dueling
- And more…
Not yet working
- Some features added via client-side patches
- In-game support tickets
Contact
Email: xylof@eqoa.live
Sandstorm is a non-commercial project. Some of my other work:
EverQuest is a registered trademark of Daybreak Game Company LLC.
Sandstorm is not associated with or affiliated with Daybreak Game Company LLC in any way.