Here is the "sneak peek" version of today's patch message (from the patcher):

*** Highlights ***

- New Hot Zones are now available!: Hot Zones offer an increase in normal adventure experience for the zone and have the additional bonus of some new content. Franklin Teek in the Plane of Knowledge will be happy to point you to the current location of a Hot Zone appropriate for your level. Franklin also has a series of tasks that can be done in each of the current Hot Zones. Each task can only be completed one time each day. The following zones are now Hot Zones:

Here are some midweek updates for you:

Updated Items: Brightly Pulsating Chronal Shear ;  Pallorax's Frozen Flame ;  Titanium Ore ;  Immaculate Animal Pelt ;  Vanadium Ore ;  Aderirse Bur ;  Chronal Resonance Dust ;  Spell: Beam of Molten Dross Rk. II

Updated Quests: Warrior Epic 1.5: Champion's Sword of Eternal Power ;  Seeds of Destruction Rank III Spells ;  Discord Tower Event #5: Sacrifice

Updated Recipes: Intricate Nightkeeper Armband ;  Intricate Nightkeeper Gloves ;  Intricate Nightkeeper Helm ;  Intricate Ravager Armband ;  Intricate Ravager Gloves ;  Ornate Nightkeeper Cuirass ;  Ornate Nightkeeper Boots ;  Ornate Nightkeeper Gloves ;  Ornate Nightkeeper Sleeves ;  Intricate Reaver Armband ;  Intricate Reaver Boots ;  Intricate Reaver Gloves ;  Intricate Reaver Helm ;  Intricate Reaver Sleeves ;  Elaborate Brambleborn Greaves ;  Elaborate Brambleborn Cuirass ;  Cobalt Chain Collar Template ;  Cobalt Chain Faceguard Template ;  Cobalt Chain Belt Template ;  Cobalt Chain Spaulders Template ;  Cobalt Chain Cloak Template ;  Simple Servolinked Armband ;  Simple Servolinked Boots ;  Simple Servolinked Cuirass ;  Simple Servolinked Gloves ;  Simple Servolinked Greaves ;  Simple Servolinked Helm ;  Simple Servolinked Sleeves

A heads-up for some server downtime tomorrow - from EQLive: "All EverQuest Live Servers (except Al'Kabor) will be coming down around 2:00 am PDT (PDT is -7 GMT: 3:00am MDT, 4:00am CDT, 5:00am EDT, 9:00am GMT) on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 for a Game Update. The servers are estimated to be down for about 6 hours. We apologize for any inconvenience. We'll update the status if the downtime changes."

Here are some updates for today:

New Items: Nimbus of Midnight ;  Compacting Satchel ;  Aspect of the Eagle ;  Onyx Hydra Saddle ;  Bronze Slant Thread Pinion Gear Model VI ;  Essence of the Banshee ;  Writ of the Truthkeeper ;  Aspect of the Brood

New Quests: Warrior Pike #7 (Warlord Mancatcher) ;  Warrior Pike #8 (Pride of the Legion)

New Recipe: Two Dimensional Rotational Cam Pivot

New Bestiary: Timon Starlight ;  Ellisa Starlight ;  Warlord Xyzith ;  Warlord Xyzith

Updated Items: Aspect of the Brood ;  Pliant Loam ;  Legends of Norrath: Elddar Warden ;  Spell: Icy Stitches Rk. III ;  Pride of the Legion ;  Champion's Mancatcher ;  Geozite Tool ;  Unfinished Mancatcher ;  Forging Hammer ;  Warlord Mancatcher ;  Titanium Rod ;  Blue Diamond ;  Xyzith's Spirit ;  Broken Medal ;  Black Stone ;  Pride of the Legion Plans ;  Celestial Essence ;  Black Stone ;  Mirrored Gem ;  Head of a Traitor ;  Band of the Chosen ;  Symbol of the Legion ;  Xyzith's Belongings ;  Band of the Chosen ;  Rusted Shield ;  Broken Mancatcher Crown ;  Xyzith's Destroyed Belongings ;  Band of the Chosen ;  Concentrated Grade B Nigriventer Venom ;  Grade AA Nigriventer Venom ;  Flayed Paebala Leggings ;  Chetari Wardstaff

Here are some Friday night updates for you. Have a great weekend!

New Items: Combine Claymore Ornament ;  Iron Plated Timing Pendulum Model XXXII ;  Bronze Slant Thread Pinion Gear Model XXV ;  Silver Threaded Worm Gear Model XXIX ;  Iron Plated Timing Pendulum Model XXXVII ;  Bronze Slant Thread Pinion Gear Model XVIII ;  Jade Hydra Saddle ;  Fan Faire Celebration Summoner ;  Bronze Slant Thread Pinion Gear Model XXVIII ;  Gold Plated Contact Spring Model XX ;  Carefully Weighted Brass Pinion Model LXX ;  Iron Plated Timing Pendulum Model XL ;  Bronze Slant Thread Pinion Gear Model XXX ;  Silver Threaded Worm Gear Model XXXVII ;  Carefully Weighted Brass Pinion Model LIV ;  Shield of Scraps ;  Combine Katar Ornament ;  Writ of the Eagle ;  Nimbus of Daylight ;  Warlord's Bane IX ;  Magi Shield Ornament ;  Combine Dirk Ornamentation ;  Combine Lance Ornamentation ;  Combine Dirk Ornament ;  Combine Lance Ornament

New Quest: The Crimes of War

Updated Items: Emblem of Discord ;  Miniature Rallosian Left Boot Shell ;  Chronobine ;  Refined Binding Powder ;  Binding Powder ;  Irae Faycite Shard: Thricewoven Energy ;  Irae Faycite Shard: Splart ;  Salus Faycite Shard: Renewal of Cadwin ;  Irae Faycite Shard: Sermon of Castigation ;  Spell: Listlessness Rk. II ;  Spell: Finsternacht Orb Rk. II ;  Durus Faycite Shard: Charge for Power ;  Irae Faycite Shard: Eulogy ;  Irae Faycite Shard: Summer Solstice ;  Durus Faycite Shard: Trakanon's Chant of Disease ;  Spell: Jolting Swings Rk. II ;  Irae Faycite Shard: Bite of the Ukun ;  Irae Faycite Shard: Megrima's Decay ;  Irae Faycite Shard: Mind Twist ;  Irae Faycite Shard: Tsetsian Endemic ;  Spell: Chromassail Rk. II ;  Tempus Faycite Shard: Lesson in Toxicity ;  Tempus Faycite Shard: Defer Death ;  Tome of Combat Frenzy Rk. II ;  Tempus Faycite Shard: Heartpierce ;  Tome of Final Breath Rk. II ;  Shaded shield ;  Crude Defiant Cloth Sandals

Updated Quests: Key to Aerin`Dar's Lair (HoH access) ;  Gillamina's Elemental Research ;  Zryan #2: The Approach ;  Apprentice Jeweler Test ;  Safe Passage ;  Jaled`Dar Solo #2: Parley With Ganak ;  The Prince Must Die!

Updated Recipes: Cranial Cryofrost ;  Visionistic Pain ;  Mind Melt ;  Golden Gem-Bladed Bastard Sword ;  Golden Inlaid Bastard Sword Blade ;  Pale Gem-Bladed Short Sword ;  Pale Velium Inlaid Broad Spear Blade ;  Pale Velium-Bladed Great Sword ;  Platinum Gem-Bladed Bastard Sword ;  Platinum Gem-Hafted Mace ;  Runed Worked Potion Vial ;  Smooth Worked Potion Vial ;  Unfired Smooth Worked Potion Vial Set ;  Slice of Taelosian Cherry Mountain Pie ;  Slice of Taelosian Wildberry Pie ;  Taelosian Lemon-Orange Mountain Pie ;  Makeshift Formed Potion Vial

If you're in San Diego or close enough to get there, you should plan on going to SOE's annual Block Party!  This informal event is a fun-filled afternoon at SOE Headquarters with music, food, drinks, tours, previews of upcoming games, give-aways, raffles and special guests. There will be activities for kids as well. Meet game developers and staff, socialize with SOE employees and friends, and have a great time in the sunshine!

As usual this event is being held during Comic Con (but not AT Comic Con) on Saturday, July 25th. Everyone is welcome and admission is FREE!

• When:  Saturday, July 25th, 2009 4:00pm - 8:00pm
• Where: SOE Headquarters,  8928 Terman Court,  San Diego, CA 92121

For information on shuttle busses (parking is limited) and special room rates for folks from out of town, see this post on the Station.com forums.

We already reported it yesterday, but now it's official: Storm Break, the seventh Legends of Norrath expansion, was released today! The set adds more than 240 new game cards to the mix and marks the end of the Ethernauts saga.

Even though the expansion's now available, there's one new Storm Break preview article to check out if you're interested. Game Designer Evan "Heimlich" Lorentz explains how existing Legends of Norrath rules are used in new ways in Storm Break, such as the Lookout and Protector keywords.

Don't forget that sealed deck tournaments are scheduled to take place throughout the weekend starting Friday to commemorate the launch of Storm Break. You can find out more about the tournaments here.

Here are today's updates:

New Items: Obliteration Great Blade Ornamentation ;  Army of Light Staff Ornamentation ;  Obliteration Staff Ornamentation

New Recipes: Warlord's Bane IV ;  Warlord's Bane V ;  Warlord's Bane VII ;  Warlord's Bane X ;  Warlord's Bane XI ;  Warlord's Bane XII ;  Warlord's Bane XIII ;  Warlord's Bane XV

Updated Items: Grade B Gormar Venom ;  Grade C Larkspur Extract ;  Kromrif Bones ;  Kromrif Head ;  Simple Etched Rune ;  Fluxing Chunk of Ore ;  Star Rose Quartz ;  Cyclamine Corm ;  Tome of Overpowering Frenzy Rk. III ;  Consigned Bite of the Shissar I ;  Halfling Meat ;  Tog's Grog ;  Massive Rat Head ;  Chronobine ;  Bound-up Death Beetle ;  Flittering Wings ;  Polished Green Softstone

Updated Quests: Necromancer Epic 2.0: Deathwhisper ;  Screw Loose ;  Korafax Event: Mindshear Avatar ;  Beetle Wrangling ;  The Cult of Lakkung

Updated Recipe: Spell: Ethereal Conflagration Rk. II