Does herding affect drop rates? - Guild Wars Forums

Cerixus · May 27, 2005, 05:04 AM // 05:04

The other night I partied with someone to go hunt drakes and they had me (tank) run through and herd them all up. She said they dropped better items when they were grouped. We didn't get many rares, but it prompted me to do testing. I normally farm Mergoyle Wavebreakers near Gates of Kryta. I usually get at LEAST 1 rare for every mob of 3 wavebreakers. Well, I tried herding them 2 or 3 times and got bumkis.

Here's a streaming video, for the curious. (not great quality)

So, it appears to me that it actually decreases the chance of getting rares. Well, it's more than appearance. Over the span of two days, I'm positive that for this particular area, grouping reduced rares significantly.

Any input?

edited: typo in the filename.

DrSLUGFly · May 27, 2005, 05:14 AM // 05:14

That's a very interesting experiment. It seems to make sense for me to get less rares since herding them together makes it easier to kill them (all my dmg is splash dmg) but for a warrior hitting 1 to 1 it should increase the chance... (if it were related to difficulty)

Tavenlen · May 27, 2005, 05:19 AM // 05:19

That's a very interesting question and one that I don't think I can answer. To me, it seems that herding wouldn't make one bit of a difference, but with SLUG's observation of it making it easier to kill them, it might lower your chances. Of couse, along the same lines, it could raise your chances due to the fact that you take more damage while fighting multiple enemies and would therefore be "harder".

I really can't say. Sorry that I can't give you a square answer. If you keep experimenting with it, maybe you'll find the answer and be able to enlighten us all!

Jigokunoinu · May 27, 2005, 05:22 AM // 05:22

Herding getting less drops doesn't make any sense. Each monster has its own chance to drop something.

The only way this could happen would be if in the game code it specified a maximum number of drops per unit of time. My own opinion is that this would be very unlikely.

Aaaaagh · May 27, 2005, 06:10 AM // 06:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jigokunoinu

Herding getting less drops doesn't make any sense. Each monster has its own chance to drop something.

The only way this could happen would be if in the game code it specified a maximum number of drops per unit of time. My own opinion is that this would be very unlikely.

Agree.

Cerixus · May 27, 2005, 03:09 PM // 15:09

Well, what I was thinking is that it's a chance per mob to get a rare. Once you aggro a bunch of them, maybe it's considered 1 mob? As I stated though, I am 100% convinced that with the creatures and area in question, I received considerably less rares/uncommons when I grouped them.

As for warriors and the 1on1 thing, if you watched the video I used Symbol of Wrath and Cyclone Axe exclusively.

Wolf89 · May 27, 2005, 04:08 PM // 16:08

Now what do you consider a rare I consider rares being purple or gold items blue items are not rare.

Cerixus · May 27, 2005, 06:07 PM // 18:07

I consider rare anything not white, since blue, purple and gold are all more rare than white...

Fye Duron · May 27, 2005, 06:15 PM // 18:15

Personally.. when ever I go Drake hunting I find that All I get is crafting materials. I have never gotten an Gold rare there. And I go by my self. No Hench and no healer.

Lestatbringerofdeath · May 27, 2005, 08:23 PM // 20:23

that videowas awsome. i loved it. the game is really fast paced. i never noteced that be fore.

shinseikaze · May 28, 2005, 12:45 AM // 00:45

the drops are just random at a time i got 3 rares ..........another time i got none from the same group

May 27, 2005, 05:04 AM // 05:04	#1
Cerixus Academy Page Join Date: May 2005 Guild: The Kaotic Order Profession: W/Mo	Does herding affect drop rates? The other night I partied with someone to go hunt drakes and they had me (tank) run through and herd them all up. She said they dropped better items when they were grouped. We didn't get many rares, but it prompted me to do testing. I normally farm Mergoyle Wavebreakers near Gates of Kryta. I usually get at LEAST 1 rare for every mob of 3 wavebreakers. Well, I tried herding them 2 or 3 times and got bumkis. Here's a streaming video, for the curious. (not great quality) So, it appears to me that it actually decreases the chance of getting rares. Well, it's more than appearance. Over the span of two days, I'm positive that for this particular area, grouping reduced rares significantly. Any input? edited: typo in the filename.

May 27, 2005, 05:14 AM // 05:14	#2
DrSLUGFly Desert Nomad Join Date: May 2005 Location: European Server or International	That's a very interesting experiment. It seems to make sense for me to get less rares since herding them together makes it easier to kill them (all my dmg is splash dmg) but for a warrior hitting 1 to 1 it should increase the chance... (if it were related to difficulty)

May 27, 2005, 05:19 AM // 05:19	#3
Tavenlen Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ohio, USA Guild: Aiwevorn Tirith Profession: R/E	That's a very interesting question and one that I don't think I can answer. To me, it seems that herding wouldn't make one bit of a difference, but with SLUG's observation of it making it easier to kill them, it might lower your chances. Of couse, along the same lines, it could raise your chances due to the fact that you take more damage while fighting multiple enemies and would therefore be "harder". I really can't say. Sorry that I can't give you a square answer. If you keep experimenting with it, maybe you'll find the answer and be able to enlighten us all!

May 27, 2005, 05:22 AM // 05:22	#4
Jigokunoinu Academy Page Join Date: May 2005 Location: Australia Profession: E/Mo	Herding getting less drops doesn't make any sense. Each monster has its own chance to drop something. The only way this could happen would be if in the game code it specified a maximum number of drops per unit of time. My own opinion is that this would be very unlikely.

May 27, 2005, 03:09 PM // 15:09	#6
Cerixus Academy Page Join Date: May 2005 Guild: The Kaotic Order Profession: W/Mo	Well, what I was thinking is that it's a chance per mob to get a rare. Once you aggro a bunch of them, maybe it's considered 1 mob? As I stated though, I am 100% convinced that with the creatures and area in question, I received considerably less rares/uncommons when I grouped them. As for warriors and the 1on1 thing, if you watched the video I used Symbol of Wrath and Cyclone Axe exclusively.

May 27, 2005, 04:08 PM // 16:08	#7
Wolf89 Krytan Explorer Join Date: Apr 2005	Now what do you consider a rare I consider rares being purple or gold items blue items are not rare.

May 27, 2005, 06:07 PM // 18:07	#8
Cerixus Academy Page Join Date: May 2005 Guild: The Kaotic Order Profession: W/Mo	I consider rare anything not white, since blue, purple and gold are all more rare than white...

May 27, 2005, 06:15 PM // 18:15	#9
Fye Duron Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: May 2005 Location: Chico, CA, USA Guild: Dragon Fang	Personally.. when ever I go Drake hunting I find that All I get is crafting materials. I have never gotten an Gold rare there. And I go by my self. No Hench and no healer.

May 27, 2005, 08:23 PM // 20:23	#10
Lestatbringerofdeath Ascalonian Squire Join Date: May 2005 Location: Stilwell America Guild: Knights of Jade [KOJ] Profession: R/E	that videowas awsome. i loved it. the game is really fast paced. i never noteced that be fore.

May 28, 2005, 12:45 AM // 00:45	#11
shinseikaze Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: May 2005 Location: Dark Side Of The Force Profession: E/Mo	the drops are just random at a time i got 3 rares ..........another time i got none from the same group