Curse

SotiCoto · Oct 17, 2007, 06:59 PM // 18:59

WARNING :~ If you are afraid of micro-management... turn back now.

Having done the Hero FFF in Melandru's Hope plenty by now and figured out the nuances of its working... out of morbid curiosity I decided to test my luck on the equivalent quest on the Luxon side... on Mount Qinkai (outside Breaker Hollow). After much work, I actually found I COULD do it.... and I have conveniently gathered my findings together so that everyone (of Luxon persuasion or otherwise) might hopefully benefit from it.
For the record... it is NOT as fast as the Kurzick one, but at between 2 and 3 minutes for a run it is still viable IMHO:

The flag-point map:

The little crosshair marker demonstrates where I was standing (in Breaker Hollow) and basically where the whole thing starts. The RED blips demonstrate the final locations the heroes need to be in to complete the requirements of the quest.... and the BLUE blips mark flag-points along the way the heroes need to be flagged to in order to stop them colliding with the all-too-mountainous terrain (I mentioned micro-management).

Now.... for the test.... I was using my standard FFF hero crew: Zenmai, Melonni & Kahmu (though not in that order).... Each of them had Pious Haste and Dash (and I found out that no more than those two are actually needed).
I checked the optimal route needed for each destination and the minimum number of flags I could effectively get away with dropping... and then measured the time needed for a hero with optimal running speed (alternating Pious Haste and Dash) to get from each point to the next (East to West).... and the total overall. THIS is what I found:

Hero 1 = Kahmu (to the Caves)
Hero 2 = Zenmai (to the Gazebo)
Hero 3 = Melonni (to the Plateau)
Henchies = Talon, Eli, Zho, Aurora (to the Lake)

Kahmu (Caves):
#1 = 28 secs
#2 = 40 secs (1 min, 8 secs)
#3 = 28 secs (1 min, 36 secs)
#4 = 21 secs (1 min, 57 secs)

Zenmai (Gazebo):
#1 = 32 secs
#2 = 28 secs (1 min)
#3 = 9 secs (1 min, 9 secs)

Melonni (Plateau):
#1 = 32 secs
#2 = 40 secs (1 min, 12 secs)
#3 = 34 secs (1 min, 46 secs)

Henchies (Lake):
#1 = 46 secs

The henchies always run into a Naga group, but are generally fine. Only Hero 1 out of the three main guys ever runs into ANY potential trouble..... and that is with the occasional Oni spawn near the start (which oddly enough is rarely a problem at full running speed).

What I determined from this is as follows:

Kah1 = 28 secs
Zen1 = 32 secs
Mel1 = 32 secs
Hen1 = 46 secs
~~~~ Reflag KZM after 4 Pious/Dash cycles
Kah2 = 40 secs
Zen2 = 28 secs
Mel2 = 40 secs
~~~~ Reflag KZM after 5 Pious/Dash cycles
Kah3 = 28 secs
Zen3 = 9 secs
Mel3 = 34 secs
~~~~ Reflag K after 3.5 Pious/Dash cycles
Kah4 = 21 secs
~~~~ Finish after 2.5 Pious/Dash cycles

Sorry if this isn't explained too well... but basically the raw data is there for you to test with your own builds... and the time taken by each hero to get to their waypoint is likewise provided, assuming optimum speed (RELATIVE speed should hold true, provided all heroes use the same skills).

I've used this method to get to 10k Luxon faction quite easily (at least 400 every 3 minutes)..... which I technically don't need to do since I'm Kurzick..... but I felt like trying anyway. As far as I can tell, it is more efficient than doing the battles in Archipelagos and possibly more than Alliance Battling too.

Just for the record though... and to compare it to the Kurzick FFF:

DOWNSIDES:~
#1. Slower... about 3x. Not a HUGE disadvantage really.
#2. Requires careful reflagging. Putting a flag in the wrong place (i.e. in a cliff) can ruin an entire run, so getting to know the points precisely is important.
#3. Optimal timing of reflagging takes practice and careful time-keeping.

UPSIDES:~
#1. Does NOT require Shadow Form. There are NO threats to the heroes that cannot be overcome with Dash.
#2. Breaker Hollow, unlike Lutgardis Conservatory, does not deposit you at fixed locales within the area when you zone in... so you can zone in, then step backwards to zone back to Mount Qinkai.
#3. Becomes like second nature once you get used to the flag-placement and skill-timing.
#4. Luxons can FFF now too.... sort of.

Questions?

(If anyone wants me to draw up a more idiot-proof flagging map... I'd be glad to.)

Snoes · Oct 17, 2007, 07:14 PM // 19:14

Really nice guide, im gonna use this

thx

unknown1 · Oct 18, 2007, 12:48 AM // 00:48

awesome can anyone make a texmod for this like the kurzick one =)

always wanted one for luxon

Linksys · Oct 18, 2007, 03:24 AM // 03:24

This is great! I've been considering going for the Luxon titles if I max out the Kurzick one.

SotiCoto · Oct 18, 2007, 08:27 AM // 08:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by unknown1

awesome can anyone make a texmod for this like the kurzick one =)

always wanted one for luxon

I'm not sure about a texmod map.... since I never even saw such a thing for the original... but assuming it basically just marks the points on the map (and possibly the route taken) then it should be feasible. Anyone can do it if they feel like it.... or I could do it myself... Whatever works.

I do tend to think though that it would only be used once or twice.... as by the time I'd practiced this method a few times (which was necessary to actually devise it) I had the points completely memorised and it became a breeze. Honestly though, I wasn't sure how well it would take on given that some people really don't like this level of micromanagement (and it can be awkward to learn if you don't memorise action / time sequences easily).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linksys

This is great! I've been considering going for the Luxon titles if I max out the Kurzick one.

^_^
Your approval easily counts double for sharing the original with us, without which this wouldn't have come about.
Glad you like it.

Senrath · Oct 18, 2007, 11:10 AM // 11:10

Yup, the texmod just puts the proper places to click on the map. Nothing more, nothing less.

Nice post, by the way.

Savor Silversword · Oct 18, 2007, 01:25 PM // 13:25

Really nice guide, have to try it out

bog boy · Oct 18, 2007, 02:49 PM // 14:49

nice idea wudnt it just be quicker doing jade arena though?

p.scould sum1 pls private message me the text mod for the kurzick faction farm

SotiCoto · Oct 18, 2007, 02:59 PM // 14:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by bog boy

nice idea wudnt it just be quicker doing jade arena though?

Can Jade Arena runs be done in under 3 minutes each (from one exit to the next exit)?
Honestly, I've never tried that option (being Kurzick primarily) so I wouldn't know.

Imaginos · Oct 18, 2007, 06:02 PM // 18:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by bog boy

nice idea wudnt it just be quicker doing jade arena though?

p.scould sum1 pls private message me the text mod for the kurzick faction farm

Yes a textmod link to the kurzik FFF would be nice.

October Jade · Oct 18, 2007, 06:10 PM // 18:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by SotiCoto

Can Jade Arena runs be done in under 3 minutes each (from one exit to the next exit)?
Honestly, I've never tried that option (being Kurzick primarily) so I wouldn't know.

I used to run the arena every now and then. On average I made fifteen trips in an hour, including time for merchant/faction rewards.

With optimal hero setups, I bet it can be pushed to seventeen, possibly eighteen. I wasn't terribly concerned with cutthroat efficiency at the time.

royal mercenary · Oct 18, 2007, 08:23 PM // 20:23

really nice build
though it s nothing for me
i can t even click the stairs in kurzick fff ...

SotiCoto · Oct 18, 2007, 10:11 PM // 22:11

Has anyone else got this to work well yet?
And does anyone have good times to make a better average? I know I tend to do things a bit slow (it takes me about a minute to do the Kurzick one, where others get 45 seconds) ... so I figure someone else will manage to hit the 2 minute mark or thereabouts.

I Might Avenge U · Oct 18, 2007, 11:26 PM // 23:26

Nice find Soti, I'd thought you would never stop FFF.. I guess I'm right.. lol..

MisterB · Oct 18, 2007, 11:44 PM // 23:44

Nice guide, thank you.
For anyone who wants the Kurzick FFF texmod, it can be found here:http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Guide..._modifications
Direct .TPF Link:http://gw.zweistein.cz/FFF_Aid.tpf

SotiCoto · Oct 19, 2007, 08:10 AM // 08:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by I Might Avenge U

Nice find Soti, I'd thought you would never stop FFF.. I guess I'm right.. lol..

Y'know... I figure that if I can get enough of the Luxons FFFing too, they won't dominate Alliance Battles so much (which I put down to all the top Kurzick folks FFFing) and Echovald Forest will rightfully belong to the Kurzicks more often. ^_^;;
And THAT... will make it easier for my characters to get through Echovald with Kurzick blessings and get more points, rather than having to pick fights with every Luxon Priest along the way.

Whenever I see that Red Flag though, I can't help but think: "GET ORFF MOI LAAND!"

So yeah. Lets see if we can't send the Luxons back to the Jade Sea where they belong... ^_^

SotiCoto · Oct 21, 2007, 08:29 PM // 20:29

...... So sue me, but I'd rather not let this die just yet!
Perhaps I should post it in the community works board?...