Guild Wars Guru

Chests & keys: rant or praise

5 pages • Page 1
I
IndyCC
Lion's Arch Merchant
• #1
Tell me that this is just me:

I have now spent about 10k on keys, specifically Shiverpeak keys. I have been wandering the South Shiverpeaks for some time and used all of those keys. My return has been about 1k, an ROI of -90% seems hardly acceptable. Included in my loot has only been purple items, not a single gold item, runes I have already unlocked that only sell for 25g. I understand they have tried to make more gold sinks, such as the fee for entering a new guild. But, gee if I am going out of my way after killing a mob to hunt down and open a chest I should at least get rewarded for it. Additionally the notes say that keys drop of monsters. I have yet to see a single key drop, what is the deal with that.

So my question is am I on crack? Are other people having this same issue? Is this actually an issue or are keys in fact 100% worthless?...
Hemiipowered
Hemiipowered
Ascalonian Squire
• #2
Its not crack Indy....def PcP lol.....but i havent seen a key drop yet either....just have to be patient....IMO i think they put alot of the chests in to leave an updated element for the people who havent reached the end reaches of the game. Ive bought cheap keys and recieved a gold item before...since i dont have a massive amount of money or godly weapons so it helped me anyway
Nisha
Nisha
Ascalonian Squire
• #3
Keys do drop from monsters, I was in a group last night in Sorrow's Furnace and saw a Mine's Key drop for one of my party members. It's the only one I've ever seen though...
On a side note, when I first bought the keys I thought they'd work for all or at least more than one chest! Boy was I disappointed for 600g...
Chillin-N-Killin
Chillin-N-Killin
Frost Gate Guardian
• #4
I got a miners key last night in the furnace, and yes they are a waste because of the green drops from bosses now and with the falling prices of gold and purple because of the demand of greens IMO they are a waste but if your a newbie they are good again IMO.
S
Shmash Witdaclub
Frost Gate Guardian
• #5
I have had 2 keys drop for me in grenths in a group of henchies (which is a part of the shiverpeaks, so a shiverpeak key i received). Off the two chests I have opened I received one max dmg gold bow with lightening and 10% dmg vs undead and a sup rune of ranger marsmanship.

maybe i have good luck?

Shmash!
benjy01
benjy01
Academy Page
• #6
I tried my first key last night in the shiverpeaks (paid 600 gold for 1) and all I got was a lousy rune of minor illusion magic (worth 25 gold). Don't feel bad the suckiness goes around.
Chillin-N-Killin
Chillin-N-Killin
Frost Gate Guardian
• #7
you all know you should sell those minors and majors to the mechant before you salvage them you get more then 25 gold just id the armor then sell no salvage.
jdwoody
jdwoody
Krytan Explorer
• #8
I've gotten keys at loot from trolls and griffons in the shiverpeaks and the desert. But I agree, I won't be buying keys any time soon...
Raz Silverwing
Raz Silverwing
Frost Gate Guardian
• #9
My first key usage got me a monk superior rune of healing prayers. I got very lucky .
S
Shmash Witdaclub
Frost Gate Guardian
• #10
try using them in grenths if you want something nice, i did and i am happy. prolly same applies to furnace

Shmash!
l
lynx
Ascalonian Squire
• #11
I have spent a bunch on 6 keys and have only got stuff for my second profession and the section with NO attribute points! The stuff is not useable by me and from the market seems that no one else wants it..and the merchant who sold you a 600 or 700g key will only pay 60g if that much for the stuff.

I have been using them only in Sorrow's Furnace.
C
ChoKILLate[FDG]
Krytan Explorer
• #12
When soloing I see that my chances (~60%) of getting a gold item seems to be better then when I am in a group (~40%). I have already gotten over 12 gold items from various chests. Not all them are good and rarely do they sell for the price of the key....but that is not the point.

Keys are like gambling. You are hoping to get a good weapon for yourself. A majority of the time you get stuff for another class. Hopefully you have multiple characters. If not, I think they are trying to encourage you to make more characters! A lot of those items would sell for more than the price of the key, if you sold them to others! I know I would have bought some of my 12 items for more than the price of the 12 keys, so for me the gamble has payed off!
berryesw
berryesw
Ascalonian Squire
• #13
Quote:
Originally Posted by IndyCC
Tell me that this is just me:

I have now spent about 10k on keys, specifically Shiverpeak keys. I have been wandering the South Shiverpeaks for some time and used all of those keys. My return has been about 1k, an ROI of -90% seems hardly acceptable. Included in my loot has only been purple items, not a single gold item, runes I have already unlocked that only sell for 25g. I understand they have tried to make more gold sinks, such as the fee for entering a new guild. But, gee if I am going out of my way after killing a mob to hunt down and open a chest I should at least get rewarded for it. Additionally the notes say that keys drop of monsters. I have yet to see a single key drop, what is the deal with that.

So my question is am I on crack? Are other people having this same issue? Is this actually an issue or are keys in fact 100% worthless?...
I've had the same experience. I won't waste any more money on keys.
Diablo???
Diablo???
Forge Runner
• #14
Don't buy keys, hunt for them. Because technically, if each Key cost 750g (shiverpeak) then every item you get from using a key should yield 750+ gold, but that is not the case. We spend 750g per key only to open a chest once, and recieve a mediocre item that would sell for 120g at merchant, or if you're lucky 500g with some player... there's no source of income but a sheer chance at gambling for that "uber" item.
M
Mor Pheen
Ascalonian Squire
• #15
2 keys have dropped for me so far, so they do drop. However it would be nice if Merchants could buy stuff back for a decent price. Right now it's not really worth the headache of trying to sell some of the drops if you bought a key cause you're never gonna get your investment back half of the time.
Chillin-N-Killin
Chillin-N-Killin
Frost Gate Guardian
• #16
I buy keys get item from chest and sell them to other people just for the cost of the key.
last night i got a max gold hammer and sold it for 2k that is a small profit and i dont think i nailed anyone with that price.
I do agree the keys are over priced but what can we do other then not buy them?

side note i sold a +30 health hammer upgrade for 600 just the price of the key.
c
calamitykell
Banned
• #17
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex Weekes
The pricing for keys isn't just a simple calculation of "players might get an item from this list, which sells for X gold at the merchants so the keys should cost Y" ... the cost also takes into account that you are getting a guaranteed uncommon/rare drop, and thus potentially unlocking an item upgrade for your PvP characters. We also take into account that the player trade economy often places a much higher value on many items than the NPC merchants do. Ever tried to buy an unidentified item from another player?

The keys are not meant to provide you with a means to make a profit by selling items back to the merchants. They instead give you a chance at item unlocks and a guaranteed uncommon or rare item drop for each chest you find (thus increasing your chances of finding that weapon you want).
From another forum.
L
Loviatar
Underworld Spelunker
• #18
i have had 2 Kryta keys drop and one Ascalon key so far
Kamatsu
Kamatsu
Moderator
• #19
I've had 0 key's drop for me yet... and I dread getting a key because of my past luck with chest's and henchies...

does anyone know if you use a key on a chest and have a henchie party.. are you guaranteed to get the/a drop from the chest or will the henchies have their fair share at em?

I ask because before the update I seem to have not gotten anything from a chest 95% of the time.. pfft! Would hate to spend money on a key (or find one) use it and get nothing from it...
s
sledgeunderhill
Krytan Explorer
• #20
Quote:
Originally Posted by kamatsu
are you guaranteed to get the/a drop from the chest or will the henchies have their fair share at em?
It's your key, and the item that drops (and there always is a drop) is assigned to you. Everyone in the party that has a key gets to loot the chest one time.

Personally, the ROI on the keys is roughly break even. The earlier post referencing a comment that this gives the player an opportunity to find a good item for unlock or their own use is quite pertinent.

I've seen keys drop for Ascalon (I've actually gotten more keys than chests!), Shiverpeak, and a Miner's key in the GF area.