Should I Buy Istani Keys For Chests At My Level? - Guild Wars Forums

ccfrecc · Jan 16, 2010, 08:44 PM // 20:44

I am a level 13 D/Mo and have a question. Lately I have been buying "Istani Keys" for chests when I go out to Mehanti Keys in the beginner island. Now my question is: "Should I continue buying those keys for what I get out of it?" I usually only get a purple item that is worth about 25 to 35 gold. Now I can pretty much tell that I shouldn't continue buying them at this rate as the keys cost 80 gold and I only am getting about 27% of the gold back, but I ask your opinion because maybe you have had an experience where, like me, in the future I would get an item worth 200 gold. So, could this happen or should I stop buying the keys all together?

lishi · Jan 16, 2010, 08:47 PM // 20:47

They don't contribute to the title.

Max R9 scythe are easy as hell to find.

Now i would simple buy some lockpick and with them open all the chest i stumble upom so i can get lucky point

But that is me.

Btw, even for higher chest you almost never make the money back.

MisterB · Jan 16, 2010, 08:53 PM // 20:53

There's a question and answer forum on Guru; it's the first one in the list.

The price of keys exceeds the merchant value of items in chests that they open. Most of the time you lose money buying keys if you sell only to NPCs. One exception would be runes on armors, because of the fluctuation at the trader. Istani keys aren't worth purchasing in my opinion.

ccfrecc · Jan 16, 2010, 08:59 PM // 20:59

I have decided based on the fact that you do not make your money back when you sell to merchants, that I will not continue to buy the keys. And I probably could have said this myself, but, I am guessing I will not recieve any good items in the beginning of the game, so it's a no-go...

Thanks for your responses

Verene · Jan 16, 2010, 09:01 PM // 21:01

The most money those keys will make you is if you sell the ones dropped by monsters to a merchant.

So yeah, don't waste your cash buying them.

Eragon Zarroc · Jan 16, 2010, 10:22 PM // 22:22

no, its a waste.

**Marty Silverblade** · Jan 16, 2010, 10:48 PM // 22:48

In general, you'll make a loss with chests. You can sometimes get really really lucky and get a rare skin (though all the really expensive ones come from dungeon end chests), which will return a profit. You can also try selling the golds unidentified to people who want the Wisdom title, though you'll still probably make a loss and won't get to keep the items.

Bulletproof Maniac · Jan 16, 2010, 11:44 PM // 23:44

Most people prefer to use lockpicks because of increase of lucky/unlucky title and chance of retain.
You probably shouldn't open lower level chests in general unless with lockpicks because there is rarely anything of value.

Chuba · Jan 17, 2010, 12:45 AM // 00:45

You can use the extra Battle Commendations you get from Istani quests and turn them in for probably as many keys as you need for the duration of the starter island. The collector for the commendations is in Sunspear Great Hall.

Btw. when I said extra, I meant after you've got your "free" bags and runes of holding from the same collectors, as getting them with the commendations saves a lot of gold for a new player.

Trader of Secrets · Jan 17, 2010, 10:56 AM // 10:56

No, keys lower than 600g (i think its that) are a waste b/c they have no title value. However lockpicks are the best way to go, since there is a chance to retain it, can use to any chest, adds to 2 titles. Low-end chests were really meant for the time when GW first started out and there was no inscription and mods for all the weapons, so even searching for good low weapons was somewhat important.

jonnieboi05 · Jan 17, 2010, 10:57 AM // 10:57

It's all based on how high your lucky and chest titles are. If they are yielding you >50% retain rates then I'd say go all out and use a lockpick.

But that's me.... I like to gamble on chests. <_<

Quaker · Jan 17, 2010, 03:19 PM // 15:19

Generally speaking, Istani chests (or any low-end chests) are not worth opening. There is always a chance though, that you will get a better weapon or a useful mod on a weapon or armor.

In general, all chests will normally give you something that's worth less than the value of the key. But if you open enough chests and sell (or keep) the good stuff, you can come out ahead overall. And it's fun.

Always remember - it's just play money, meant to be played with. There's really no point in hording it.

ican the farmer · Jan 17, 2010, 04:50 PM // 16:50

I should stop buying keys since u just lose money

jonnieboi05 · Jan 17, 2010, 10:59 PM // 22:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quaker

Generally speaking, Istani chests (or any low-end chests) are not worth opening. There is always a chance though, that you will get a better weapon or a useful mod on a weapon or armor.

In general, all chests will normally give you something that's worth less than the value of the key. But if you open enough chests and sell (or keep) the good stuff, you can come out ahead overall. And it's fun.

Always remember - it's just play money, meant to be played with. There's really no point in hording it.

This sums it up very nicely.

I'll also add on that with a high enough retain rate-, when opening istani chests- you're practically getting a free 50-60g (I think the last time I've broke on an Istani chest was like a year 1/2 ago?) since you should not be breaking on them to begin with with the appropriate retain percentage. :P

Jan 16, 2010, 08:44 PM // 20:44	#1
ccfrecc Academy Page Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Wisconsin Guild: [KISS] Profession: N/Mo	Should I Buy Istani Keys For Chests At My Level? I am a level 13 D/Mo and have a question. Lately I have been buying "Istani Keys" for chests when I go out to Mehanti Keys in the beginner island. Now my question is: "Should I continue buying those keys for what I get out of it?" I usually only get a purple item that is worth about 25 to 35 gold. Now I can pretty much tell that I shouldn't continue buying them at this rate as the keys cost 80 gold and I only am getting about 27% of the gold back, but I ask your opinion because maybe you have had an experience where, like me, in the future I would get an item worth 200 gold. So, could this happen or should I stop buying the keys all together? Last edited by ccfrecc; Jan 16, 2010 at 08:54 PM // 20:54..

Jan 16, 2010, 08:59 PM // 20:59	#4
ccfrecc Academy Page Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Wisconsin Guild: [KISS] Profession: N/Mo	That basically makes me decide... No! I have decided based on the fact that you do not make your money back when you sell to merchants, that I will not continue to buy the keys. And I probably could have said this myself, but, I am guessing I will not recieve any good items in the beginning of the game, so it's a no-go... Thanks for your responses

Jan 16, 2010, 10:48 PM // 22:48	#7
Marty Silverblade Administrator Join Date: Jun 2006	In general, you'll make a loss with chests. You can sometimes get really really lucky and get a rare skin (though all the really expensive ones come from dungeon end chests), which will return a profit. You can also try selling the golds unidentified to people who want the Wisdom title, though you'll still probably make a loss and won't get to keep the items. __________________

Jan 17, 2010, 03:19 PM // 15:19	#12
Quaker Hell's Protector Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Canada Guild: Brothers Disgruntled	Generally speaking, Istani chests (or any low-end chests) are not worth opening. There is always a chance though, that you will get a better weapon or a useful mod on a weapon or armor. In general, all chests will normally give you something that's worth less than the value of the key. But if you open enough chests and sell (or keep) the good stuff, you can come out ahead overall. And it's fun. Always remember - it's just play money, meant to be played with. There's really no point in hording it. Last edited by Quaker; Jan 17, 2010 at 03:22 PM // 15:22..

Jan 16, 2010, 08:47 PM // 20:47	#2
lishi Forge Runner Join Date: Jul 2005	They don't contribute to the title. Max R9 scythe are easy as hell to find. Now i would simple buy some lockpick and with them open all the chest i stumble upom so i can get lucky point But that is me. Btw, even for higher chest you almost never make the money back.

Jan 16, 2010, 08:53 PM // 20:53	#3
MisterB Furnace Stoker Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Planet Earth, Sol system, Milky Way galaxy Guild: [ban] Profession: W/	There's a question and answer forum on Guru; it's the first one in the list. The price of keys exceeds the merchant value of items in chests that they open. Most of the time you lose money buying keys if you sell only to NPCs. One exception would be runes on armors, because of the fluctuation at the trader. Istani keys aren't worth purchasing in my opinion.

Jan 16, 2010, 09:01 PM // 21:01	#5
Verene Furnace Stoker Join Date: Jan 2009 Guild: [SOTA] Profession: D/	The most money those keys will make you is if you sell the ones dropped by monsters to a merchant. So yeah, don't waste your cash buying them.

Jan 16, 2010, 10:22 PM // 22:22	#6
Eragon Zarroc Atra estern?? ono thelduin Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Madness Incarnate Guild: [Duo] Profession: W/P	no, its a waste.

Jan 16, 2010, 11:44 PM // 23:44	#8
Bulletproof Maniac Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Aug 2009 Guild: We Carry Diseases [rat] Profession: A/	Most people prefer to use lockpicks because of increase of lucky/unlucky title and chance of retain. You probably shouldn't open lower level chests in general unless with lockpicks because there is rarely anything of value.

Jan 17, 2010, 12:45 AM // 00:45	#9
Chuba Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Finland Guild: New Dragons [NDR]	You can use the extra Battle Commendations you get from Istani quests and turn them in for probably as many keys as you need for the duration of the starter island. The collector for the commendations is in Sunspear Great Hall. Btw. when I said extra, I meant after you've got your "free" bags and runes of holding from the same collectors, as getting them with the commendations saves a lot of gold for a new player.

Jan 17, 2010, 10:56 AM // 10:56	#10
Trader of Secrets Jungle Guide Join Date: Jun 2006	No, keys lower than 600g (i think its that) are a waste b/c they have no title value. However lockpicks are the best way to go, since there is a chance to retain it, can use to any chest, adds to 2 titles. Low-end chests were really meant for the time when GW first started out and there was no inscription and mods for all the weapons, so even searching for good low weapons was somewhat important.

Jan 17, 2010, 10:57 AM // 10:57	#11
jonnieboi05 Forge Runner Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mableton, Georgia Guild: Guild Ancestors Reunited [?????????]	It's all based on how high your lucky and chest titles are. If they are yielding you >50% retain rates then I'd say go all out and use a lockpick. But that's me.... I like to gamble on chests. <_<

Jan 17, 2010, 04:50 PM // 16:50	#13
ican the farmer Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Rata Sum Guild: Myserious Farmers of [EcTo] Profession: R/	I should stop buying keys since u just lose money