A Few Questions About Solo Smite Farming... - Guild Wars Forums

Kiragi Yagami · Mar 10, 2008, 09:05 PM // 21:05

Ok, my dervish has been using the AoB Smite Farming build lately, after getting the skills needed. after about 20 test runs to learn the basics, i finally managed to kill a group of smites. i continued doing runs for a bit, getting better each time, and out of the 20 or so runs ive actually made it to the smites, ive gotten ONE ecto. not only that, but i usually only manage to kill about 4-5 groups of 3-6 smites before i get my ass handed to me by a miscast or a SoJ. my questions are, how often do ectos drop for most solo smite farmers, how many ectos have you gotten in one run (max/average), and what kind of things can i do to get better at this build? its not that tough, but if one of the smites gets off a SoJ (unless youre in a group of 3 smites), youre ka-f*cked.

for those wondering, heres the build.

[card]Avatar Of Balthazar[/card][card]Eternal Aura[/card][card]Ancestor's Visage[/card][card]Sympathetic Visage[/card][card]Mystic Vigor[/card][card]Mystic Regeneration[/card][card]Zealous Sweep[/card][card]Victorious Sweep[/card]

9 Insp
9+2 SM
8 Earth Prayers
10+2 Mysticism

EmptySkull · Mar 10, 2008, 09:09 PM // 21:09

My experience has been an average of one ecto per run. But I also use a solo Rt build for it. And no need to worry about SoJ

Covah · Mar 10, 2008, 10:53 PM // 22:53

Most people say 1-2 ecto every 2-3 runs.

take_me · Mar 10, 2008, 11:05 PM // 23:05

Sometimes no Ecto in 3 Runs, sometimes 3.
But I'd say about 1-1,25 Ecto per run, but I never really made any statistics... ^^

Navaros · Mar 11, 2008, 12:23 AM // 00:23

I'd advise not using a build that relies on "luck" to succeed. There's a few classes that can solo smites without any luck factor whatsoever. So you are setting up yourself for failure by using a class/build that requires luck. Pick another solo smite build/class instead.

As for average, it probably would average out to about one Ecto per full smite run kill over the long-term. But you will still have plenty of times where you will kill all the smites only to get zero Ectos. That's inevitable. Just the way it is. You cannot reasonably expect any Ectos for doing a full run.

MisterB · Mar 11, 2008, 02:03 AM // 02:03

You have SV/AV; they should not be able to use Shield of Judgement. Practice more. Try a Zealous Scythe instead of Zealous Sweep, and get a better scythe attack. I average 0-3 ecto/run. So call it one ecto per run, average.

Kiragi Yagami · Mar 11, 2008, 02:31 AM // 02:31

update. i went and did a run and not only managed to finish the ice wastes, (killed off all the smites), but i also got 2 ecto :P

and misterB, if i miscast a visage, i get owned (except for groups of 3 smites, in which i just put up enchants and wait). and yes, i know i need to practice more, and have been most of the day. and i use asterius' scythe (zealous, 15^50, ench 20%). and i find zealous sweep and victorious sweep work wonders. zealous gives me about 15-20 energy a pop (useful when i reeeealy need to put up regen or a visage), and victorious is a low-energy, quick recharge attack that if used at the right time can heal me for large amounts. can you suggest any better scythe attacks?

MisterB · Mar 11, 2008, 03:16 AM // 03:16

I just meant that you can't afford to miscast SV/AV which you can solve by practice, and you are already doing that.

I haven't run your build, so I am unsure of it's energy requirements. It's quite possible that Zealous Sweep may be needed, and I apologize for any confusion I may have caused. It's been ages since I played my Dervish.

Kiragi Yagami · Mar 11, 2008, 10:09 PM // 22:09

its alright. the original PvX build did not have zealous sweep (ZS is a EoTN skill, and the build was made before EoTN came out), it had eremites attack (plus damage for each adjacent foe). i decided to change it since i couldnt add many energy insignias/runes to my solo armor set, since i needed every insignia spot for windwalker insignias, and i needed a major scythe and mysticism. i seem to be getting better, though havent gotten any ectos today yet -.- oh well.

Mar 10, 2008, 09:05 PM // 21:05	#1
Kiragi Yagami Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Nov 2007 Guild: Elician Mercinaries [eLm] Leader. Profession: E/Me	A Few Questions About Solo Smite Farming... Ok, my dervish has been using the AoB Smite Farming build lately, after getting the skills needed. after about 20 test runs to learn the basics, i finally managed to kill a group of smites. i continued doing runs for a bit, getting better each time, and out of the 20 or so runs ive actually made it to the smites, ive gotten ONE ecto. not only that, but i usually only manage to kill about 4-5 groups of 3-6 smites before i get my ass handed to me by a miscast or a SoJ. my questions are, how often do ectos drop for most solo smite farmers, how many ectos have you gotten in one run (max/average), and what kind of things can i do to get better at this build? its not that tough, but if one of the smites gets off a SoJ (unless youre in a group of 3 smites), youre ka-f*cked. for those wondering, heres the build. [card]Avatar Of Balthazar[/card][card]Eternal Aura[/card][card]Ancestor's Visage[/card][card]Sympathetic Visage[/card][card]Mystic Vigor[/card][card]Mystic Regeneration[/card][card]Zealous Sweep[/card][card]Victorious Sweep[/card] 9 Insp 9+2 SM 8 Earth Prayers 10+2 Mysticism

Mar 10, 2008, 09:09 PM // 21:09	#2
EmptySkull Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Jul 2006 Guild: KaoS League Profession: E/	My experience has been an average of one ecto per run. But I also use a solo Rt build for it. And no need to worry about SoJ

Mar 10, 2008, 10:53 PM // 22:53	#3
Covah Forge Runner Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Guild: Catching Jellyfish With [소N트T ] Profession: Me/Rt	Most people say 1-2 ecto every 2-3 runs.

Mar 10, 2008, 11:05 PM // 23:05	#4
take_me Furnace Stoker Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Europe Guild: Country Roads [HOME]	Sometimes no Ecto in 3 Runs, sometimes 3. But I'd say about 1-1,25 Ecto per run, but I never really made any statistics... ^^

Mar 11, 2008, 12:23 AM // 00:23	#5
Navaros Forge Runner Join Date: Apr 2005 Profession: Mo/Me	I'd advise not using a build that relies on "luck" to succeed. There's a few classes that can solo smites without any luck factor whatsoever. So you are setting up yourself for failure by using a class/build that requires luck. Pick another solo smite build/class instead. As for average, it probably would average out to about one Ecto per full smite run kill over the long-term. But you will still have plenty of times where you will kill all the smites only to get zero Ectos. That's inevitable. Just the way it is. You cannot reasonably expect any Ectos for doing a full run.

Mar 11, 2008, 02:03 AM // 02:03	#6
MisterB Furnace Stoker Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Planet Earth, Sol system, Milky Way galaxy Guild: [ban] Profession: W/	You have SV/AV; they should not be able to use Shield of Judgement. Practice more. Try a Zealous Scythe instead of Zealous Sweep, and get a better scythe attack. I average 0-3 ecto/run. So call it one ecto per run, average.

Mar 11, 2008, 02:31 AM // 02:31	#7
Kiragi Yagami Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Nov 2007 Guild: Elician Mercinaries [eLm] Leader. Profession: E/Me	update. i went and did a run and not only managed to finish the ice wastes, (killed off all the smites), but i also got 2 ecto :P and misterB, if i miscast a visage, i get owned (except for groups of 3 smites, in which i just put up enchants and wait). and yes, i know i need to practice more, and have been most of the day. and i use asterius' scythe (zealous, 15^50, ench 20%). and i find zealous sweep and victorious sweep work wonders. zealous gives me about 15-20 energy a pop (useful when i reeeealy need to put up regen or a visage), and victorious is a low-energy, quick recharge attack that if used at the right time can heal me for large amounts. can you suggest any better scythe attacks?

Mar 11, 2008, 03:16 AM // 03:16	#8
MisterB Furnace Stoker Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Planet Earth, Sol system, Milky Way galaxy Guild: [ban] Profession: W/	I just meant that you can't afford to miscast SV/AV which you can solve by practice, and you are already doing that. I haven't run your build, so I am unsure of it's energy requirements. It's quite possible that Zealous Sweep may be needed, and I apologize for any confusion I may have caused. It's been ages since I played my Dervish.

Mar 11, 2008, 10:09 PM // 22:09	#9
Kiragi Yagami Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Nov 2007 Guild: Elician Mercinaries [eLm] Leader. Profession: E/Me	its alright. the original PvX build did not have zealous sweep (ZS is a EoTN skill, and the build was made before EoTN came out), it had eremites attack (plus damage for each adjacent foe). i decided to change it since i couldnt add many energy insignias/runes to my solo armor set, since i needed every insignia spot for windwalker insignias, and i needed a major scythe and mysticism. i seem to be getting better, though havent gotten any ectos today yet -.- oh well.