Running Locked Chests in NM or in HM? - Guild Wars Forums

Madeentje · Jul 02, 2009, 01:20 PM // 13:20

Hi, I'm wondering what's best for me to run chests in NM or HM, I've been doing research for several hours, but can't find a clear solution.

I want to max Treasure Hunter, Wisdom, Lucky and Unlucky. And I've been running Locked Chests in HM in Boreal Station in my title from ~400 to ~3500..

These are my current stats:

Wisdom: 3,879/10,000
Treasure Hunter: 3,479/10,000
Unlucky: 151,877/500,000
Lucky: 310,315/2,500,000

As you can see my Lucky title is pretty low, and Unlucky is pretty high. I would want to have Treasure Hunter, Unlucky and Lucky maxed at nearly the same time, if that's possible. And I was also wondering, will it be cheaper for me to run in HM for extra goldies, or just run in NM and buy them from other players then?

Can anyone help me out please? I know this is a very complicated question >_<".

EDIT: Also I make some nice amount of money from the Elite Tomes, Tomes and Mods I find from running in HM, I guess that won't be like that anymore when I run in NM as the weapons won't be max anymore?
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10359800
Does that compensate with the higher retention rate from running NM? Or is running in NM still much cheaper, even without selling anything from what you find, and finding not much golds. So that means I'll have to buy the Wisdom title afterwards. But when I'll run in HM, will I be able to max Lucky then, as now it seems I'm not going to, will it be maxed in NM then (or nearly maxed), or doesn't that change anything?

EDIT: I don't know if this would help, but before I started running Locked Chests in HM in Boreal Station I had these stats:

Wisdom: 1,700/10,000
Treasure Hunter: 400/10,000
Unlucky: 23,000/500,000
Lucky: 110,000/2,500,000
Also I've gotten about 500 points in my Treasure Hunter title during Easter.

Scott Ware · Jul 02, 2009, 01:34 PM // 13:34

Well, 1) you don't run chests expecting profit. Just won't happen. Unless of course, you happen to get some wicked great drop (which you won't from Boreal Station).
2) If you're looking to boost your lucky as well, go nm.
3) If money is no concern, go HM because you should (in theory) get a (slightly) higher gold drop rate, which will help your wisdom. Some might argue this point, but it's really opinion either way.
4) Don't expect to max your wisdom by chest running. You'll need to either farm for golds in addition or buy from others.

Madeentje · Jul 02, 2009, 01:41 PM // 13:41

I know I won't max Wisdom in HM or in NM, but in HM it will bring me MUCH closer, no? I find 4/5 drops in HM to be gold, and in NM only 1/5. And ofcourse I do know I'll never make money from running chests, I'm purely doing this for maxing titles, but I was wondering of the money I make from selling the mods, tomes and elite tomes compensates for running in HM instead of NM or not, and if I run in NM I'll also have to buy much much more golds afterwards then. But when I run in HM I won't come even close to max Lucky, does that change alot when I run in NM, or just a little or will it even be maxed when running in NM? And what about Unlucky then?

Scott Ware · Jul 02, 2009, 02:27 PM // 14:27

Honestly, only you can decide what's most important to you in this long journey. Both have their pros and cons.

HM (as I see it)
Pros
chance for Elite Tomes
More golds (though not a tremendous amount - I think you'll see longterm that the number of golds will lower on average than 4/5)
work on Unlucky title
Cons
Costs more per chest due to lockpicks lost
don't ge to work on Lucky as much

NM
Pros
Cheaper to max treasure hunter
work on lucky better

Cons
Cheaper drops
less golds
work on unlucky less

Personally, I would not even consider Lucky/Unlucky in this discussion because you're so far off that it really wouldn't matter either way.

Again, in the end, you decide what's best for you. I can't know how often you play, what your financial status in game is, or any other varying factors that would impact your decision.

Seriously, though. Good luck with your journey. It'll take a long time either way you go.

KIDGOOCH · Jul 02, 2009, 02:30 PM // 14:30

Use Boreal NM for treasure and Wisdom (higher pick retention)

Spend 100k+ on 9 Rings this weekend for Lucky/Unlucky

HAPPY AFK

BrettM · Jul 02, 2009, 02:46 PM // 14:46

Check the official wiki article on Treasure Hunter. It has a cost analysis table showing that running 600g chests in NM using lockpicks only is the cheapest way (around 4.7 million gold) to max TH, and will also get you to max Unlucky and nearly max Lucky.

imnotyourmother · Jul 02, 2009, 05:54 PM // 17:54

Boreal station is great place to get your title points. I did this in conjunction with my Legendary Survivor in HM.

Here is my point. Kill the snow wurms. Yes that slows you down but I did some calculating and it was like 3 gold in 10 runs (30 kills) and lots of purples and even one lockpick every 10 runs.

So killing the wurms slows you down but increases your Wisdom and gives to lots of skill points and Gold to buy more lockpicks.

I would do 10 runs in hard mode killing wurms and then open chests in NORMAL MODE.

Why:

If you retain your pick you get 250 lucky points REGARDLESS OF CHEST nm or hm.

Therefore, you want to MAXIMIZE your Unlucky points. I run chests in FORT RANIK MISSION. I have an 83% chance to retain my pick so I made 210 unlucky points every time I break my pick. I started with 80 picks and I now have 66 and gained 3000 unlucky points while racking up 15,000 + lucky points.

Now I understand that your treasure hunter and wisdom suffer but by getting to the next lvl in Lucky will increase your % to retain. I am going to continue the fort ranik mission runs until I get 500,000 lucky points. I need just under 60,000 more to do it.

then I will run in Normal Mode in the sothern shiver peaks (650 g chests) to get my treasure hunter up 2 more lvls and then try for the wisdom as it is the most costly to get cause you break a tone more picks in HM.

So even though you want to max all titles at the same time, forget it. Take a systematic view of one title helping you get the other titles and switching gears at certain times. Like going from 500,000 lucky for 2% more at 100,000 is just nuts. Grab the treasure hunter % up first to increase odds of retention.

Recap:
Lucky points - 50 gold chests
Unluck points - 50 gold chests - does not increase retention rate.
Treasure hunter - 650 gold chests in southern shiver peaks
Wisdom - HM chests - Borials station cause 1 chest 99% of the time or even Boxing

Madeentje · Jul 02, 2009, 06:03 PM // 18:03

Ok, thanks alot, I think I'll go NM then, and buy the Wisdom afterwards. I'll also stand AFK on Nine Rings this weekend to help my Unlucky/Lucky. And Scott Ware, if you'd like to know, my financial status is pretty good, although I don't have much money at most times because I invest al my money in Lockpicks, and I play about 4-8+ hours a day now (it's vacation now, at schooldays it's 1-3 hours). But it looks like Unlucky + Lucky will almost be maxed, and I guess if I stand a bit on Nine Rings they'll both be maxed, or very close to it. And I'll just buy the rest of Wisdom then, looks like it'll be cheaper, I've done some rough calculations.

And BrettM thanks for that, but I've already checked all the pages related to this subject, but problem is that I can't find a cost analysis about running Locked Chests in HM, only in NM. I'd like to know the progress of the Lucky and Unlucky title in HM.

EDIT: Thanks imnotyourmother, I guess I'll run some chests now in Fort Ranik to get my Lucky title back on track, and after that run chests in NM untill Treasure Hunter is maxed, and then if Lucky/Unlucky isn't maxed yet, run some more in Fort Ranik, I'll just see about Wisdom, guess I'll have to buy it at the end..

imnotyourmother · Jul 02, 2009, 08:00 PM // 20:00

Well it sounds like you are well on your way to maxing the titles.

A S L A N is my war that I run the chest with in the Fort Ranik Mission. If I find a chest before I come to the first boss - the point where the ascalon forces stop - I resign cause there are only 2 chests a run.

It takes me around 4 minutes to get the 2 chests.. I just run my war with Ranger as secondary.

I average close to 10,000 lucky points an hour.

Look me up some time...

Madeentje · Jul 02, 2009, 08:06 PM // 20:06

Ok cool

. I've tried to do few runs now, but only found 1 chest in 1 min, the other runs I didn't find anything, could you show me sometime please? And are you sure this is the fastest way of finding 50g chests? I've heard about 3-5 chests in Eastern Frontier in few minutes, or am I wrong?

Jul 02, 2009, 01:20 PM // 13:20	#1
Madeentje Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Belgium Profession: Me/	Running Locked Chests in NM or in HM? Hi, I'm wondering what's best for me to run chests in NM or HM, I've been doing research for several hours, but can't find a clear solution. I want to max Treasure Hunter, Wisdom, Lucky and Unlucky. And I've been running Locked Chests in HM in Boreal Station in my title from ~400 to ~3500.. These are my current stats: Wisdom: 3,879/10,000 Treasure Hunter: 3,479/10,000 Unlucky: 151,877/500,000 Lucky: 310,315/2,500,000 As you can see my Lucky title is pretty low, and Unlucky is pretty high. I would want to have Treasure Hunter, Unlucky and Lucky maxed at nearly the same time, if that's possible. And I was also wondering, will it be cheaper for me to run in HM for extra goldies, or just run in NM and buy them from other players then? Can anyone help me out please? I know this is a very complicated question >_<". EDIT: Also I make some nice amount of money from the Elite Tomes, Tomes and Mods I find from running in HM, I guess that won't be like that anymore when I run in NM as the weapons won't be max anymore? http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10359800 Does that compensate with the higher retention rate from running NM? Or is running in NM still much cheaper, even without selling anything from what you find, and finding not much golds. So that means I'll have to buy the Wisdom title afterwards. But when I'll run in HM, will I be able to max Lucky then, as now it seems I'm not going to, will it be maxed in NM then (or nearly maxed), or doesn't that change anything? EDIT: I don't know if this would help, but before I started running Locked Chests in HM in Boreal Station I had these stats: Wisdom: 1,700/10,000 Treasure Hunter: 400/10,000 Unlucky: 23,000/500,000 Lucky: 110,000/2,500,000 Also I've gotten about 500 points in my Treasure Hunter title during Easter. Last edited by Madeentje; Jul 02, 2009 at 01:36 PM // 13:36..

Jul 02, 2009, 06:03 PM // 18:03	#8
Madeentje Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Belgium Profession: Me/	Ok, thanks alot, I think I'll go NM then, and buy the Wisdom afterwards. I'll also stand AFK on Nine Rings this weekend to help my Unlucky/Lucky. And Scott Ware, if you'd like to know, my financial status is pretty good, although I don't have much money at most times because I invest al my money in Lockpicks, and I play about 4-8+ hours a day now (it's vacation now, at schooldays it's 1-3 hours). But it looks like Unlucky + Lucky will almost be maxed, and I guess if I stand a bit on Nine Rings they'll both be maxed, or very close to it. And I'll just buy the rest of Wisdom then, looks like it'll be cheaper, I've done some rough calculations. And BrettM thanks for that, but I've already checked all the pages related to this subject, but problem is that I can't find a cost analysis about running Locked Chests in HM, only in NM. I'd like to know the progress of the Lucky and Unlucky title in HM. EDIT: Thanks imnotyourmother, I guess I'll run some chests now in Fort Ranik to get my Lucky title back on track, and after that run chests in NM untill Treasure Hunter is maxed, and then if Lucky/Unlucky isn't maxed yet, run some more in Fort Ranik, I'll just see about Wisdom, guess I'll have to buy it at the end.. Last edited by Madeentje; Jul 02, 2009 at 06:09 PM // 18:09..

Jul 02, 2009, 01:34 PM // 13:34	#2
Scott Ware Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Texas Profession: N/	Well, 1) you don't run chests expecting profit. Just won't happen. Unless of course, you happen to get some wicked great drop (which you won't from Boreal Station). 2) If you're looking to boost your lucky as well, go nm. 3) If money is no concern, go HM because you should (in theory) get a (slightly) higher gold drop rate, which will help your wisdom. Some might argue this point, but it's really opinion either way. 4) Don't expect to max your wisdom by chest running. You'll need to either farm for golds in addition or buy from others.

Jul 02, 2009, 01:41 PM // 13:41	#3
Madeentje Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Belgium Profession: Me/	I know I won't max Wisdom in HM or in NM, but in HM it will bring me MUCH closer, no? I find 4/5 drops in HM to be gold, and in NM only 1/5. And ofcourse I do know I'll never make money from running chests, I'm purely doing this for maxing titles, but I was wondering of the money I make from selling the mods, tomes and elite tomes compensates for running in HM instead of NM or not, and if I run in NM I'll also have to buy much much more golds afterwards then. But when I run in HM I won't come even close to max Lucky, does that change alot when I run in NM, or just a little or will it even be maxed when running in NM? And what about Unlucky then?

Jul 02, 2009, 02:27 PM // 14:27	#4
Scott Ware Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Texas Profession: N/	Honestly, only you can decide what's most important to you in this long journey. Both have their pros and cons. HM (as I see it) Pros chance for Elite Tomes More golds (though not a tremendous amount - I think you'll see longterm that the number of golds will lower on average than 4/5) work on Unlucky title Cons Costs more per chest due to lockpicks lost don't ge to work on Lucky as much NM Pros Cheaper to max treasure hunter work on lucky better Cons Cheaper drops less golds work on unlucky less Personally, I would not even consider Lucky/Unlucky in this discussion because you're so far off that it really wouldn't matter either way. Again, in the end, you decide what's best for you. I can't know how often you play, what your financial status in game is, or any other varying factors that would impact your decision. Seriously, though. Good luck with your journey. It'll take a long time either way you go.

Jul 02, 2009, 02:30 PM // 14:30	#5
KIDGOOCH Krytan Explorer Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: MD Profession: R/Mo	Use Boreal NM for treasure and Wisdom (higher pick retention) Spend 100k+ on 9 Rings this weekend for Lucky/Unlucky HAPPY AFK

Jul 02, 2009, 02:46 PM // 14:46	#6
BrettM Desert Nomad Join Date: Aug 2008 Guild: Fuzzy Physics Institute Profession: E/	Check the official wiki article on Treasure Hunter. It has a cost analysis table showing that running 600g chests in NM using lockpicks only is the cheapest way (around 4.7 million gold) to max TH, and will also get you to max Unlucky and nearly max Lucky.

Jul 02, 2009, 05:54 PM // 17:54	#7
imnotyourmother Desert Nomad Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: in a house Guild: The Knitters Guild Profession: W/R	Boreal station is great place to get your title points. I did this in conjunction with my Legendary Survivor in HM. Here is my point. Kill the snow wurms. Yes that slows you down but I did some calculating and it was like 3 gold in 10 runs (30 kills) and lots of purples and even one lockpick every 10 runs. So killing the wurms slows you down but increases your Wisdom and gives to lots of skill points and Gold to buy more lockpicks. I would do 10 runs in hard mode killing wurms and then open chests in NORMAL MODE. Why: If you retain your pick you get 250 lucky points REGARDLESS OF CHEST nm or hm. Therefore, you want to MAXIMIZE your Unlucky points. I run chests in FORT RANIK MISSION. I have an 83% chance to retain my pick so I made 210 unlucky points every time I break my pick. I started with 80 picks and I now have 66 and gained 3000 unlucky points while racking up 15,000 + lucky points. Now I understand that your treasure hunter and wisdom suffer but by getting to the next lvl in Lucky will increase your % to retain. I am going to continue the fort ranik mission runs until I get 500,000 lucky points. I need just under 60,000 more to do it. then I will run in Normal Mode in the sothern shiver peaks (650 g chests) to get my treasure hunter up 2 more lvls and then try for the wisdom as it is the most costly to get cause you break a tone more picks in HM. So even though you want to max all titles at the same time, forget it. Take a systematic view of one title helping you get the other titles and switching gears at certain times. Like going from 500,000 lucky for 2% more at 100,000 is just nuts. Grab the treasure hunter % up first to increase odds of retention. Recap: Lucky points - 50 gold chests Unluck points - 50 gold chests - does not increase retention rate. Treasure hunter - 650 gold chests in southern shiver peaks Wisdom - HM chests - Borials station cause 1 chest 99% of the time or even Boxing

Jul 02, 2009, 08:00 PM // 20:00	#9
imnotyourmother Desert Nomad Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: in a house Guild: The Knitters Guild Profession: W/R	Well it sounds like you are well on your way to maxing the titles. A S L A N is my war that I run the chest with in the Fort Ranik Mission. If I find a chest before I come to the first boss - the point where the ascalon forces stop - I resign cause there are only 2 chests a run. It takes me around 4 minutes to get the 2 chests.. I just run my war with Ranger as secondary. I average close to 10,000 lucky points an hour. Look me up some time...

Jul 02, 2009, 08:06 PM // 20:06	#10
Madeentje Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Belgium Profession: Me/	Ok cool . I've tried to do few runs now, but only found 1 chest in 1 min, the other runs I didn't find anything, could you show me sometime please? And are you sure this is the fastest way of finding 50g chests? I've heard about 3-5 chests in Eastern Frontier in few minutes, or am I wrong?