Curse

beltran13579 · Apr 22, 2007, 02:37 AM // 02:37

600ing sounds like a really good idea considering they attack faster so they will do more dmg to themselves

Star Alfur · Apr 22, 2007, 05:04 AM // 05:04

If I'm understanding this correctly, I will probably stick to normal mode for sake of overall speed.

After doing a handful of duo runs, I can see a few major differences. Nightmares (obviously) - I *think* they have around ~200hp, instead of the ~75hp in normal. Wand hits do fairly little against them.

The IAS of the enemies can be a problem if you mass aggro. Three groups of squids can overwhelm a 55/ps/breeze a bit faster (just needs faster reaction from monk), and tanking 3 groups of smites is more difficult. (I believe I was being overwhelmed even while in bonetti's O_O)

And yes, you can still mass aggro and kill efficiently in HM - and even before it. However, I believe most do slow-poke aggro (1 at a time), so the IAS won't be a problem, I guess.

NME · Apr 22, 2007, 06:35 AM // 06:35

o.O Explain how you do this mass aggro you speak of...

Ral Hanzo · Apr 22, 2007, 06:50 AM // 06:50

guys would it be normal or hard mode that ur m8 got the ectos ask him plz

kumarshah · Apr 22, 2007, 07:19 AM // 07:19

Normal Mode.

Damisel Of Death · Apr 22, 2007, 08:26 AM // 08:26

Omg I've done 4 run in Normal Mode and I found 4 ectos :O

Maybe I've got a lucky account -__-'

Dronte · Apr 22, 2007, 08:45 AM // 08:45

No, its not lucky, its normal.

Melko · Apr 22, 2007, 08:50 AM // 08:50

2ecto
1black
2gold perfect

fb2000 · Apr 22, 2007, 11:25 AM // 11:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melko

2ecto
1black
2gold perfect

interesting, i did 3 runs on HM yesterday with a guildie, no ecto, no black, only 2 golds dropped..
will probably do a few more later.

i do get an average of 1.5-2 ecto per smiterun on normal..

Gambino Star · Apr 22, 2007, 04:14 PM // 16:14

HM Trapping

http://img444.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gw299ef0.jpg

http://img444.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gw300rf7.jpg

Messy · Apr 22, 2007, 06:50 PM // 18:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by tamirxd

It is possible to solo with necro, i did it myself today, it much fast because of the 50% attack speed of the monsters[nightmares are no problem, let em rend you, then PS then Spoil Victor/Spiteful Spirit/Indisious Parasite,].

Solo and 2 elites

or I'm going to guess you mean either SV or SS. In that case which has worked best for you?

mwpeck · Apr 22, 2007, 07:12 PM // 19:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Bartel

I run 605HP monk + smiter and it works in HM (Spirit Bond + reversal is enough) The nightmares lvl 25 Kill theirself with the holywrath and retribution, then no problem with SB.
BUT i hadnt any ecto in 3 run (killing aatxes + smites), maybe luck isn't with me.

You are definitely unluck....my friend and I used a modified(but similar) 600HP + smiter build, firsts off, it works better than normal mode because the graspings heal him, so it makes it easier. Second, we did 2 runs(both aatxes + smites) and we both got 1 ecto each run(meaning 2 ecto's total, per run).....before hard mode, we usually got 2 per run if we were lucky, usually only 1 per run though. We also got 3 golds on each of the runs, as well as about 6 total purples.

ArKaiN · Apr 22, 2007, 10:27 PM // 22:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dont Mess WithMe

Solo and 2 elites

or I'm going to guess you mean either SV or SS. In that case which has worked best for you?

I'm pretty sure he means you can use any of those, since they're common choices.
In my experience, HM and Normal drops in elite areas is the same, pretty much. Maybe a little bit better in HM, but nowhere worth it in therms of work/reward.

Eldin · Apr 23, 2007, 02:01 AM // 02:01

I did a two-man trapping group in the UW a few moments ago (normal mode). I got two ectos, but we went by the 50/50 rule and gave one to my partner.

This was off the Aatxes, too (though that may have just been luck, I've only seen Aatxes drop an ecto one other time).

We probably would have gotten more, though lagspikes killed us during Clear the Chamber.

red13xx · Apr 23, 2007, 02:37 AM // 02:37

I went in UW and got 1 ecto first hour in group for testing. Then I went in solo 5 runs and nothing today. I dont kinow bad luck for me I guess.

jbwarrior · Apr 23, 2007, 02:40 AM // 02:40

Yeah, the drop radio is still the same as before the update. The drop rate is not that realy good, sometimes I get 3-4 ecto's a run and sometimes I do 4-5 runs and have 1 ecto

Carboplatin · Apr 23, 2007, 05:04 AM // 05:04

did a run with kcp's old solo necro build. not as fast as before due to the spirit bond nerf, but still good if you wanna kill the ataxes and the smites.

thanks to kcp again. i can dust off my necro and kill those fat cows

squan · Apr 23, 2007, 08:22 AM // 08:22

well i do solo uw with my ele, smites only. i do only normal mode and sometimes i get 3/4 ecto a run. not bad for a 13 minutes run. but i always get 1. once i had a group of 8 smites and they dropped 3 ecto. so normal for me

MASQUE EYE · Apr 23, 2007, 08:57 PM // 20:57

Definately Hard mode on my 55 necro , i like the challenge better w/ atts, NM's,grasps and smites. Also hard mode seems to give me better drops rather than regular.

Crazyvietguy · Apr 23, 2007, 08:59 PM // 20:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eldin

IIRC, Gaile said that loot scaling (aka how the amount of loot dropped is proportional to your party size) doesn't affect rare materials. I heard nothing about the actual droprate.

Well the simple fact is that they drop just as they used to, before the loot scaling update, in normal and hard mode. I've done both, one with a duo Monk (Holy Wrath) and the other soloing with my Rt. Both came out to be just about equal in drops.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eldin

During the free UW/FoW weekend, I got one ecto after a million UW runs, both solo and 2/3-man. The FoW was nicer and gave me a fair amount of shards, though.

Wow, you are incredibly unlucky then. During that weekend I got around 30 ectos, I only farmed for around 5-6 hours (over the whole weekend). However, it is true that FoW seems to yield more shards as compared to ectos but.. if you can do a UW run in 10-15 mins compared to a 30-45 min FoW run, the results speak for themselves.