Discount Lockpick - Guild Wars Forums

Destro Maniak · May 24, 2007, 04:32 PM // 16:32

I want to track on treasure hunter and lucky unlucky titles by lockipking melandrus hope. I have %43 to save the lock pick with a treasure hunter level 1. In wiki it says discounted lockpick has lower change of not breaking is that tru because it seemed me senseless.

JeniM · May 24, 2007, 04:46 PM // 16:46

No, wiki says you don't need as higher chance to break even as it's 300g cheaper. The chances of keeping it are the same as it's the same item just payed less for it.
I think the Wiki artical needs rephrasing

Angelic demoness · May 24, 2007, 04:48 PM // 16:48

Not to rain on your parade, and not actually answering your question, but if treasure hunter level 1 is the only title you have going for you, your chance of retaining the lockpick is actually only 13%.

There's a chart here showing the increase between levels of treasure hunter and lucky:

http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Lockpick

vergerefosh · May 24, 2007, 04:51 PM // 16:51

You get an additional % chance depending on the type of chest

tommarrow · May 24, 2007, 05:01 PM // 17:01

If you use them in normal mode you get a higher %.

GreatLich · May 24, 2007, 05:12 PM // 17:12

Here we go again (and again, actually)
oh well

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatLich

Reading comprehension ftw!
try reading it like this:

resulting in a substantial lowering of [the] survival chance [that you] need(ed) [in order] to break even(<- expression that means getting the money back you spend, so there's no loss.)

and no, there's nothing wrong with the text on guildwiki. afaict, it's both grammatically and semantically correct

lakatz · May 24, 2007, 09:47 PM // 21:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Destro Maniak

I want to track on treasure hunter and lucky unlucky titles by lockipking melandrus hope. I have %43 to save the lock pick with a treasure hunter level 1. In wiki it says discounted lockpick has lower change of not breaking is that tru because it seemed me senseless.

Are you referring to the sentence, "If you purchase your lockpicks from a Discount Merchant, the base price of lockpicks goes down to 1200g per key, resulting in a substantial lowering of survival chance needed to break even," under the heading, Economic value of using a lockpick on Normal Mode chests on the Lockpick page?

If so, I know it's confusing. He/she is talking about calculating the potential ROI (Return on Investment or Rate of Return) for lockpicks and keys with an emphasis on the breakeven point to determine which is the best investment in normal mode. Yet he/she uses the words lockpicks and key interchangeably in that sentence. He/she also says 'base price' rather than just 'price' when there's only one discounted price for a lockpick adding an additional element of confusion to the mix. Furthermore, besides the fact that sentence is not clear, it is peripheral information to that particular bulleted point, and the point can stand alone without it. I think the point would be a lot clearer if, instead, a column for discounted lockpicks was included in the comparison table.

In short, though the potential ROI on a discounted lockpick is higher than on a regular priced lockpick, the chance of breaking either lockpick remains the same.

WLlama · May 24, 2007, 10:47 PM // 22:47

It should be noted that the ROI used for these calculations is only number of chests opened and has nothing to do with the financial return of the item in the chests, since both methods (key or lockpick) yield an item.

If you find the language confusing on the wiki, you could always suggest improvements that will likely be implemented if the meaning is clearer while retaining the necessary information.

lakatz · May 24, 2007, 11:50 PM // 23:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by WLlama

It should be noted that the ROI used for these calculations is only number of chests opened and has nothing to do with the financial return of the item in the chests, since both methods (key or lockpick) yield an item.

If you find the language confusing on the wiki, you could always suggest improvements that will likely be implemented if the meaning is clearer while retaining the necessary information.

You know, I thought about mentioning that the item obtained from the chest isn't factored into the ROI equation in that article, but then I felt that would only serve to further complicate something people are already having a difficult enough time grasping, and I believe I understand why the author didn't include it. I'm really glad you pointed it out though because I believe it's important to note.

I think the article is, on the whole, good and valuable, and there's obviously a lot of time and effort invested in it. But that one little sentence has clearly become a source of confusion for many... as GreatLich says, "Here we go again (and again, actually)."

I've never approached anyone on the wiki with suggestions. I feel rather shy about it actually because those are some serious gamers writing it and I'm a casual player, but I'll give it some thought.

Thanks!

May 24, 2007, 04:32 PM // 16:32	#1
Destro Maniak Jungle Guide Join Date: Aug 2006 Profession: A/	Discount Lockpick I want to track on treasure hunter and lucky unlucky titles by lockipking melandrus hope. I have %43 to save the lock pick with a treasure hunter level 1. In wiki it says discounted lockpick has lower change of not breaking is that tru because it seemed me senseless.

May 24, 2007, 04:46 PM // 16:46	#2
JeniM Desert Nomad Join Date: May 2007 Profession: W/E	No, wiki says you don't need as higher chance to break even as it's 300g cheaper. The chances of keeping it are the same as it's the same item just payed less for it. I think the Wiki artical needs rephrasing

May 24, 2007, 04:48 PM // 16:48	#3
Angelic demoness Academy Page Join Date: Dec 2006	Not to rain on your parade, and not actually answering your question, but if treasure hunter level 1 is the only title you have going for you, your chance of retaining the lockpick is actually only 13%. There's a chart here showing the increase between levels of treasure hunter and lucky: http://gw.gamewikis.org/wiki/Lockpick

May 24, 2007, 04:51 PM // 16:51	#4
vergerefosh Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Sep 2006 Guild: Englishmen Don't Drink [Tea] Profession: W/R	You get an additional % chance depending on the type of chest

May 24, 2007, 05:01 PM // 17:01	#5
tommarrow Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Dec 2005 Guild: Shyft Machine [MYTH] Profession: E/	If you use them in normal mode you get a higher %.

May 24, 2007, 10:47 PM // 22:47	#8
WLlama Caged Mongrel Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Cage in a Dungeon Guild: Flaming Turtles Profession: N/	It should be noted that the ROI used for these calculations is only number of chests opened and has nothing to do with the financial return of the item in the chests, since both methods (key or lockpick) yield an item. If you find the language confusing on the wiki, you could always suggest improvements that will likely be implemented if the meaning is clearer while retaining the necessary information.