Curse

ShivaTwoDelta · Jan 12, 2010, 02:04 PM // 14:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fox Mulder

I've noticed the Nicholas the traveler craze ended quickly. Anet has us farm, YES I KNOW IT"S VOLUNTARY CHILDREN, for hearts that took 2 humans & 3 heroes 16 trips for 10. That was extremely good considering some of the disgusted posts in local chat! We also killed several ruby djinns along the way & also took out some in Forum Highlands yesterday during the boss bounty. We had maybe 2 essences that got salvaged! This endless grind is driving a guildie & me to scrabble, yahtzee & monopoly on Pogo. How about giving us a damn heads up on the following weeks grind? There is a dissatifaction looming w/ GW from many players & since ncsoft has suckered the cash from us there is little recourse except not buying GW2! Who loves getting a firewater or creme from the z-chest? Or a non max weapon? Lockpicks are expensive & it takes at least 5 to get a Q9 gold that sells for maybe 2k. This all goes to ncsoft just not caring anymore. Many of you have probably bought something from me in the past. When my storage is empty I will no longer be in Kamadan d1 selling. Good luck finding that Q9 fire wand people....

Well, like you said. Those who wanna do it, can do it. Its not like its an essential part of the game.
Fact is GW is getting old and Arenanet has ruined many things in this game.

The introduction of heros, the lack of inspiration in GW:EN (dungeons copying eachothers floors, wtf?), the solofarm nerf and so on. It's ingame economy has colapsed, and now only a few items are worth to go "wts" for. I remember 2006, Rago's flame staff = 90k!
Today? Noone wants it. And if they do, it'll be for a very low price.
Why? Well, they can get destroyer weapons, tormented weapons and every engame gives you another green weapon on top.

Sorry I go offtopic a lil maybe, but to me Guild Wars has been the most played game for over 4 years now (+7000 hours) and I saw it slowly changing from the excellent game it was into a title-hunting infected community who forgot what the game was about. The lack of skill in general in pugs today is significant and an indicator that it's best days are far behind us.

I've farmed with a friend for Nicholas' presents every week since he popped up the first time. We are quite persistent and refuse to give up after 4 hours of poor drops. But every week the level of disappointment grows bigger when we receive yet another pile of Merchantile summons and a couple transformation consumables.

O well, I guess it's up to each of us to decide if the farm is worth your time knowing the reward is most likely not gonna make up for it. Personally I went through all campaigns with over 10 characters and they all have a large equipment bag through zaishen coins. I dont join HA (I'm r6 and can't stand the idiots going need r10 or nap, kick nap pl0x), in RA (glad5) it gets so tideous to rank up especially with the amount of unexperienced players, so yah.. Nicholas is perhaps the only thing I and many others look forward to every week. The question is: for how long?

Snograt · Jan 12, 2010, 02:31 PM // 14:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by aspi

Before the ether hearts it was gold doubloons or something? I got those 5 in two runs, I wasn't even running for the traveller but farming a green rit item. I think I gave about 20 doubloons away for free.

Hmm, I struggled with them too - not sure why, if your drop rate was that good. Admittedly, I needed 10, but even then it shouldn't have been too bad.

Fril Estelin · Jan 12, 2010, 02:34 PM // 14:34

Strange, tried south of Tihark with spirit spammer and got nada in less than 10mins, tried dasha vestibule (needed a monk) and got one in a few mins. Go figure.

Wendigo · Jan 12, 2010, 02:54 PM // 14:54

15 runs from dasha entrance to boss and... nothing

dunno if there is a better place...

Fril Estelin · Jan 12, 2010, 03:18 PM // 15:18

After the first boss, continue on the left-hand side (north-west) there are more groups of djinns. Got my 2nd.

DBMan · Jan 12, 2010, 03:31 PM // 15:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShivaTwoDelta

Well, like you said. Those who wanna do it, can do it. Its not like its an essential part of the game.
Fact is GW is getting old and Arenanet has ruined many things in this game.

The introduction of heros, the lack of inspiration in GW:EN (dungeons copying eachothers floors, wtf?), the solofarm nerf and so on. It's ingame economy has colapsed, and now only a few items are worth to go "wts" for. I remember 2006, Rago's flame staff = 90k!
Today? Noone wants it. And if they do, it'll be for a very low price.
Why? Well, they can get destroyer weapons, tormented weapons and every engame gives you another green weapon on top.

Sorry I go offtopic a lil maybe, but to me Guild Wars has been the most played game for over 4 years now (+7000 hours) and I saw it slowly changing from the excellent game it was into a title-hunting infected community who forgot what the game was about. The lack of skill in general in pugs today is significant and an indicator that it's best days are far behind us.

I've farmed with a friend for Nicholas' presents every week since he popped up the first time. We are quite persistent and refuse to give up after 4 hours of poor drops. But every week the level of disappointment grows bigger when we receive yet another pile of Merchantile summons and a couple transformation consumables.

O well, I guess it's up to each of us to decide if the farm is worth your time knowing the reward is most likely not gonna make up for it. Personally I went through all campaigns with over 10 characters and they all have a large equipment bag through zaishen coins. I dont join HA (I'm r6 and can't stand the idiots going need r10 or nap, kick nap pl0x), in RA (glad5) it gets so tideous to rank up especially with the amount of unexperienced players, so yah.. Nicholas is perhaps the only thing I and many others look forward to every week. The question is: for how long?

A wall of text quoting another wall of text.

Kook~NBK~ · Jan 12, 2010, 03:46 PM // 15:46

I got mine (only needed 3) in about 30 minutes going out of the Bone Palace with a Spirit Spammer build + PI. I even got an extra on the way to Nick. I just didn't bother with the dual Sapphire Djinn groups. This week wasn't nearly as bad as last week's item.

isildorbiafra · Jan 12, 2010, 03:51 PM // 15:51

Like I sayed before this is anets idea of damage contreol since the market has been flooded with consumables from the wintersday event. Besides; New year will also be up shortly another weekend of mega consumables outflux. So dont get your hopes up to high for the next few weeks. I have a huntch next weeks item will be 1 glob of ectoplasm

Wendigo · Jan 12, 2010, 03:56 PM // 15:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fril Estelin

After the first boss, continue on the left-hand side (north-west) there are more groups of djinns. Got my 2nd.

Ty, ill try

qvtkc · Jan 12, 2010, 04:01 PM // 16:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBMan

A wall of text quoting another wall of text.

Takes 40 seconds to read. Maybe you should try it.

Voodoo Rage · Jan 12, 2010, 04:02 PM // 16:02

Nicholas is kind of a dick anyway. He parks himself right next to the guy who actually collects Ruby Djinn Essences ALL THE TIME. How is that guy supposed to make a living trying to trade his crappy blue stuff when you got some dude and his Yak giving away exciting mystery presents?.. No wonder the economy is in the crapper...

ShivaTwoDelta · Jan 12, 2010, 04:27 PM // 16:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wendigo

15 runs from dasha entrance to boss and... nothing

dunno if there is a better place...

I'm farming the explorable with 600/smite with a hero smiter and not one essence here either. Ridiculous.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBMan

A wall of text quoting another wall of text.

Got a tip for you, read the wall of text, maybe you would get the message. Then you could join the conversation. What do you think?

Verene · Jan 12, 2010, 04:28 PM // 16:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by DBMan

A wall of text quoting another wall of text.

Uh, no. A longer post (as in, longer than three sentences) properly broken up into paragraphs is not a wall of text.

Also, I think some of the probability math on the rare drops is off, here. The rare items all have a drop rate of well less than 1% - let's say about .25% on average for any of the minis, weapons, and moss egg (EL Cottontail is much less, I'm going to assume, but it doesn't have any droprate data on the unofficial wiki). That means that, on average, you have a one in 400 chance of getting one of those.

So Fril would be an example of someone who was extraordinarily lucky. The people who just get summoning stones, candies, and ale week after week are an example of the average with Nick gifts. I got a Mini Yakkington the very second week Nick was around and yes, I was incredibly lucky with that. Best thing I've gotten since then have been kegs of ale.

Just because there's a chance of something happening, doesn't mean it's guaranteed to. It just means that it's possible.

Wendigo · Jan 12, 2010, 07:07 PM // 19:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShivaTwoDelta

I'm farming the explorable with 600/smite with a hero smiter and not one essence here either. Ridiculous.

Hahaha, ridiculous? yeah, got 6 ether hearts!!!!!! LOL, BIG LOL

tmakinen · Jan 12, 2010, 07:11 PM // 19:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Verene

Also, I think some of the probability math on the rare drops is off, here. The rare items all have a drop rate of well less than 1% - let's say about .25% on average for any of the minis, weapons, and moss egg (EL Cottontail is much less, I'm going to assume, but it doesn't have any droprate data on the unofficial wiki). That means that, on average, you have a one in 400 chance of getting one of those.

Um, it looks like you are criticizing something that you misunderstood. There are 11 rare items in total (5 weapons, 3 minis, 2 ELs and an egg), and going by your .25% average estimate for the 9 non-EL items the probability of getting one of those (no matter which) would be 9 * 0.0025 = 0.0225 per gift which is substantially higher than the number that I quoted (0.0166 based on over 1500 opened gifts) and running with it would mean that getting only 4 rares so far would be only a low to average result and most people should have 5-8 rares per account by now which is certainly not the case. It doesn't matter if (and very likely when) some of the rare items are even much rarer than the others, the only number that counts is the aggregated probability.

Nuime · Jan 12, 2010, 08:26 PM // 20:26

Odd week... Tried the quick "out of the Bone Palace" farm yesterday for about an hour and got nothing. I hate the Hidden City of Ahhhgahghadhadkdkillmyself so I basically told myself I'd skip it.

Out of bordom last night I tried the desolation farm area again, going so far as to pick on the other groups that spawn on the way to Nich (can still do it from the wurm, just takes some patience) and I figured ...why not? Got one to drop after about another hour. Said eff it again.

Tried today... same run since I kinda like running around in the wurm anyway... got 4 in the next 5 runs I did. *shrug* Guess it all just comes down to luck.

As for what Nicholas gave me: Disco balls, Rando Summoning Stones, Bunny tonics, and blue candies. Eh... could be worse.

chessyang · Jan 12, 2010, 09:20 PM // 21:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Voodoo Rage

...... He parks himself right next to the guy who actually collects Ruby Djinn Essences ALL THE TIME........

lolz. i'm still at work and forgot to check the update. and now i know. It's funny to see that happen.

It would be funny if you gave him the essences then they both turn hostile and fight it out.

lilDeath · Jan 12, 2010, 10:45 PM // 22:45

Well... another 70 djinns killed tonight in 3 different areas, of which Ruby's were about 50%... not a single Ruby Essence has dropped... I've gotten 5 Sapphire essences though... still only have the one Ruby Essence from last night... and there I killed 125 djinns in the Hidden City.

Something really dodgy going on here... I am inclined to agree with the other poster that said ANet screws with the drop rates when Nicks needs the items that week... or the farming code sucks SOOO bad when more people are farming the same areas / item, the contention simply increases making the likelihood of drops slimmer.

Either / Or / both

To put it bluntly, I wouldn't put these methods past them.. they may have done it inadvertently or deliberately (due to people farming 10's of accounts weekly to increase their chances of rare drops and perhaps not liking it), but this is utter tripe.

EDIT: They should change this week's item to Ivory Bow's, since that's all the bastard Ruby Djinns are dropping for me... I would have had enough for 2 accounts already!

Mustache Mayhem · Jan 13, 2010, 02:08 AM // 02:08

I dunno if anet does it anymore but they used to have a warning come up on drop rates getting worse if you farmed the same area over and over.. the drops do get worse over time if you keep farming the same mobs- ever notice the first time you go into an area after a long time, the drops are fantastic.. like every mob drops a item on a solo farm

now re-run it few times.. you'll see it will get to the point of almost no drops at all

also when you spike all the mobs at the same time the drops get nerfed, why should spread the damage around a little before if your using aoe- even in hm the nerf still kicks in after a few runs

Fril Estelin · Jan 13, 2010, 05:09 AM // 05:09

2 more long runs in Dahja Vestibule (up to the room full of gold) for about 1h got me 3 more Ruby essence (and 6 more sapphire ones IIRC). Doable but not as easy as usual.