Triggers 101
A trigger is a rule: when this line shows up in my log, do these things. Every trigger has three parts: conditions, capture phrases and actions.
What happens to each log line
EverQuest writes one line to your log for everything that happens. Nag reads each new line and runs it through every enabled trigger, in the same order every time.
- EverQuest writes
Log line
[Sun Nov 01 21:04:11 2026] Fizzlethorp tells you, 'pull in 30s'Nag drops the
[timestamp]first. - Capture tab, Character Classes tab
Conditions
Is the trigger on for this character? Do the class, cooldown and variable checks pass? If not, stop here.
- Capture tab, Phrases
Capture phrases
Does the line match? If it does, pull out the values:
{S1} = Fizzlethorp
{TS} = 30s - Actions tab
Actions
Run each action that is linked to the phrase that matched: Display Text, Countdown, Speak and so on.
- You see and hear
Overlays and audio
Text on an overlay, a timer bar, a spoken phrase or a sound.
Nag checks every enabled trigger against every new line. One line can fire several triggers. A trigger whose capture method is Any match also fires once for each of its phrases that matches.
The three parts
| Part | Where you edit it | Question it answers | Read more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conditions | Capture tab, Conditions group. Character Classes tab. Right-click a trigger folder and choose Folder Conditions. | Should this trigger listen right now? | Conditions and variables |
| Capture phrases | Capture tab, Phrases group | Is this the line I care about, and what is in it? | Capture phrases, Regex for Nag |
| Actions | Actions tab. Click New, pick an Action Type, then pick the phrases in Trigger on phrase. | What should happen? | Advanced Trigger Mechanics |
Each action only runs for the phrases you picked in Trigger on phrase. That is how one trigger can show a warning for one phrase and start a timer for another.
Words used on every trigger page
The same words are used in these pages, in the Regex Visualizer in the app and in the tester on Regex for Nag.
| Term | Looks like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Capture (slot) | {S1} {N1} {TS} (?<Target>…) | A part of the log line that changes, which Nag grabs. Round chip. |
| Value (insert) | {C} ${SpellBeingCast} +{Deaths} | Something Nag already knows and fills in: your character name, a stored variable, a counter. Square chip, blue. |
| Output only | {L} | Only works in text you display or speak. Never put it in a phrase. |
| Phrase | ^{S1} tells you, '{S2}'$ | The pattern a log line is tested against. |
| Rendered text | Tell from Fizzlethorp | Text after Nag has replaced the chips with real values. |
| Slot number | 1, 2, 3 | The order of the captures from left to right. Also the color used on these pages. |
Where to go next
- Capture phrases: plain text or regex, capture methods, cooldown and the Regex Visualizer.
- Regex for Nag: the few regex symbols you need, with a tester you can type into.
- Snippets and variables: every
{S1},{N1},{TS}and${Variable}code. - Conditions and variables: make a trigger listen only in the right zone, class or moment.