1.1 :: What is a FAQ?
FAQ stands for Frequently Asked Questions.
The purpose of this FAQ is to help answer common questions.

1.1.1 :: Who made this FAQ?
Draigon and TheeNos created this FAQ as well as some assistance from Ashran and Megaton.

1.1.2 :: Is everything listed here accurate and correct?
Most likely. We try to make everything listed here as correct, but please don't take it as fact or evidence.

1.2 :: What is the point of HackersQuest?
HackersQuest was started to develop programs for EverQuest and Ultima Online. These programs can be seen as learning tools, hacking programs, and what-not. However the focus has moved towards EverQuest only.

1.2.1 :: What is EverQuest?
EverQuest is a multiplayer roleplaying game developed by Verant Interactive. The official website for EverQuest can be located at: http://www.everquest.com/

1.3 :: Are you guys just making a virus and tricking people into downloading it?
We are not making virii, trojans, or anything of that nature. If any of our programs has a virus on it we were not aware of it. You should always run anti-virus software on downloads regardless of what we say. It is highly recommended that you download our files from this website and not any others. People have been known to hide a trojan in programs such as the ones you find on this website.

1.3.1 :: If you're not making a virus, how can you call yourself a hacker?
Stop watching movies. It's eating your brain. Hackers aren't always destructive. There are malicious hackers that develop programs with the intent to destroy something, but that does not apply to all hackers. HackersQuest is finding out how EverQuest works and possibly duplicating some aspects of the live servers. Not haxoring the main frame and watching spinning pi symbols.

1.4 :: Can I join?
Possibly. Depends on what you have to offer. If you think you can help a great deal speak with Ashran [ashran@mcb.at].

1.4.1 :: I don't know how to program, but I really want to help. What can I do?
Support HackersQuest. Our projects are for your usage. If you have any suggestions on any of our projects feel free to tell us. You can post a message on the forum or talk to us in IRC. There might also be times when we ask for help on the news page.

1.4.2 :: Are there other ways of contacting you?
You can try our IRC [Internet Relay Chat] channel at:
Server: irc.giblets.com
Port: 6667
Channel: #showEQ

1.5 :: What is IRC?
IRC stands for Internet Relay Chat. It allows you to communicate with others on the internet through chat channels. If you are running windows, I suggest getting mIRC [www.mirc.com]. If you are running linux, I suggest getting BitchX [www.bitchx.org]

1.5.1 :: How the hell do I run this thing?
Well I could type up a very long tutorial or you could just read the FAQ's located on the client site [where you downloaded the IRC client]. I'm sure you'll find all your answers there.

1.6 :: What is a packet sniffer?
While you are on a network [such as the internet] you are transmitting data through other computers. These computers you pass information through can view the data you are sending. Packet sniffing allows you to capture the data and view it.

1.6.1 :: What have you used a packet sniffer for?
Using a packet sniffer we have been able to see what information is sent to and from the EverQuest servers. Analyzing this data we have been able to display information previously hidden to the EverQuest player.

1.6.2 :: Can anyone detect that you are packet sniffing?
In order for a computer to know where to send the data it has to read the data packet. There is no way to tell that you are reading the data packet so that you can analyze the data or if you're simply passing it along. This is assuming you are running through a computer that has the packet sniffer and not running the packet sniffer on the same computer as EverQuest.

1.6.3 :: Is packet sniffing illegal?
Packet sniffing is not illegal. It's a network tool. However when you signed the agreement for EverQuest you agreed to not use 3rd party programs on it. Packet sniffing the EverQuest data packets is considered using a 3rd party program.

1.6.4 :: So basically as long as they don't know we're doing it, it's ok?
That's up to you to decide. We could start a legal debate over it which could last forever.

1.7 :: What are all these files in my EverQuest directory?
The files in your EverQuest directory are for graphics, sound, and preferences. There is no player information saved on your computer. This is to protect against people hacking the player data files and giving themselves anything they want.

1.7.1 :: So if I wanted to hack my character, I couldn't?
By editing the files on your computer, no. If you were to hack the EverQuest servers you could edit your character, but that is obviously illegal and you would obviously get in trouble for it.

1.7.2 :: What are these .xmi files?
The xmi files are xmidi files. These are the music files for EverQuest. You can download a xmi to midi converter from the internet if you want to listen to EverQuest music without being in EverQuest.

1.7.3 :: What are these .s3d and .pak files?
These are the archive files for EverQuest. These files contain all the bitmaps, models, and zones. You can use the EQInside program to view these files.

1.7.3.1 :: What is the difference between the different .s3d files?
Depends on the file. If it is zone.s3d then this loads all the textures and zone files needed for that zone. If it is zone_chr.s3d then this loads all the textures and models for that zone. If the model is not listed in the _chr file that it is not possible for that model to ever be in that zone. If it is zone_obj.s3d then this loads all the textures and models for the objects in that zone. Such as tables, boxes, doors, and the like.

1.7.4 :: What are these .pfs files?
These are the sound archives for EverQuest. These files contain all the sound waves. You can use the EQInside program to open these files.

2.1 :: What is Tutorial Hacking?
Tutorial hacking is manipulating the tutorial.exe to do things it was not intended for. There are surely more ways than one to hack the tutorial.exe, but there isn't much of a point to do so. The tutorial.exe program is a "gimped" version of the other EverQuest programs. In other words it's missing or disabled alot of the functions the normal EverQuest programs have. Instead of spending alot of time hacking the tutorial.exe it makes more sense to hack the other programs. However, the tutorial does serve as a handy zone viewer.

2.1.1 :: Is this really hacking?
Sort of. What I'm going to describe here is hex editing the tutorial program. Most people don't consider this hacking because it's easy, but I don't really care. I consider it a hack wether it's easy or not. Just remember this won't make you a hacker *grins*

2.1.2 :: This is a lame trick. Why is this in the FAQ?
Because it's a frequently asked question. Instead of replying every time I would rather point people here. [Duh! That's what this FAQ is for.]

2.2 :: What do I need to hack the tutorial?
You will need a hex editor. There are tons of them out there. You can do a search for them or just download one of the more famous hex editors such as AXE [www.kahei.com/axe/axe.htm].

2.3 :: Ok, how do I hack the tutorial with my hex editor?
Open tutorial.exe with your hex editor and look towards the bottom. If you really want to understand why this works you could read through some of it and find out why, but if you don't really care just look for the line that says "Couldn't connect to network, creating solo player..." Shortly after that you should see "Soandso tutorial" The word Soandso is the name of your character while playing the tutorial. You can edit that to make it anything you want. However if you want to load up a zone other than the tutorial, simply type the name of the zone you want to load. For example, say you want to load Grobb. Because the zone file for Grobb is "grobb.s3d" you replace the word "tutorial" with "grobb". You may have noticed this leaves you with "Soandso grobbial" The logical solution to this problem would be to hit the spacebar twice, BUT there is no file called "grobb .s3d"!! So this will not work. Look over under the section with all the numbers labeled "Bytes" This shows you the hex digits for the letters. A spacebar has a value of "20" You do not want "20", you want "00" which is null. In most hex editors if you select a letter under the ANSII section it will highlight the number under the Bytes section. So highlight the part that says "grobbial" Go over to the bytes that represent "ial" and type zeros until it reads "Soandso grobb" That's it. Save the file and try to run tutorial.exe. If you did it right it will load the zone you wanted.

2.3.1 :: I did everything you said and it still doesn't work. Why?
Well did you overwrite or insert? If you inserted text then you messed it up. The program does a check on itself to make sure it hasn't been tampered and if you insert text obviously it's been tampered with. Do the same steps except overwrite whats there and don't insert.

2.3.2 :: Do the same rules for the zone name apply to the character name?
Yes. You must have a null [represented by 00 under the bytes section] between the character name and the zone name. If you type over the null that was originally there then just type in a new one.

2.3.3 :: I did everything you said and this junk still doesn't work!
Keep at it. You'll get it. Be sure to save a backup so that if you really mess up you can just start over again.

2.3.3.1 :: Is there an easier way to do this?
Yes, actually. After the tutorial hack was discussed on message boards it gained a little popularity to some programmers with time on their hands. The only program I have seen that seems to check out virus-wise can be found at:
http://home.tampabay.rr.com/estembler/tristram/eze.htm

2.4 :: Why can't I run or use any of the commands?
It's a tutorial. Alot was disabled. There's really no way around that with simple hex editing.

2.5 :: Why is everything so dark and why are some zones in a little box?
Some zones will start you in a little box because that is where the 0,0,0 [x,y,z] coordinate is placed. It was placed there as a reference for Guides that teleport into the zone. The zones are dark because you are human. Everything is as if you are running in the tutorial except for the zone you loaded.

2.6 :: Where is everything? There are no doors, boxes, npcs.
It doesn't load the zone object files. So you are left with the tutorial NPC's and objects.

3.1 :: What is EQInside?
EQInside reads the EverQuest archive files and allows you to extract data from them.
It also reads the spell.dat file to display information about every spell in EverQuest.

3.2 :: What files does EQInside open?
The .s3d, .pak, and .pfs files.

3.3 :: What data can be extracted with EQInside?
Artwork, sound, models, and zone files. Anything placed within the archive files can be extracted.

3.4 :: Oh, cool. So I can make changes, save them, and view them in EverQuest?
No. Unfortunately that isn't possible with the way the EverQuest servers check to make sure you have the correct files. There are also CRC checks which will cause the program to close before you ever see the changes you've made.

3.4.1 :: So what is the point?
If you want to see the artwork for EverQuest and how they put the game together, EQInside is a good tool. Of course, it also makes a good tool for building an emulator.

3.5 :: I used EQInside to look up a spell, but all the information there was wrong. Why?
This is because it reads the spell.dat file. Occaisionally Verant sends fake spell data to throw us off. It's mostly accurate, however.

4.1 :: What is EQSpells?
EQSpells reads the spell.dat file and displays the information for every spell in EverQuest.

4.2 :: I used EQSpells to look up a spell, but all the information there was wrong. Why?
This is because it reads the spell.dat file in your EverQuest directory. Verant sometimes sends fake spell data

5.1 :: What is ShowEQ?
ShowEQ is a tool that shows you information hidden to the player while you are playing EverQuest.

5.2 :: Why is the FAQ for ShowEQ so damn small?
Because I didn't spend much time on it. If you have questions on ShowEQ send them to Draigon [draigon@purplenet.net] and I will include them in the FAQ [with the answer].