The famous -50 focus item

I've started a new character off, and I'm currently running him through the post sear Ascalon quests. On accepting the "Cities of Ascalon" quest though, I'm sure that the reward has been changed so that people can no longer get hold of the -50 focus item to build their 55hp Smite monks. Can anyone else confirm if the reward has been changed by Anet?

Why don't you do the quest and see for yourself? It's not like it's hard. During the heyday of the 55 invincimonk I farmed that quest and sold that item for 20K a pop.
Probably a bit harder to sell today.

Lucky you!

When the 55 monk was invented, I already had done that quest will 3 of my 4 chars and sold the bloody item to the trader because it appeared worthless (which it is to anyone except a 55 monk).

I'm at work at the moment, and while I've got a bit of time to sneak a visit to the forums, I think firing up GW here will be generally frowned upon.

I will complete the mission tonight and see what happens, but I was just making a general observation on the quest and the reward that could have an impact on anyone planning an invincimonk build, and thought it might be of interest. After all, we've had 20 zillion threads on the Prot Bond nerf, and the Dying Nightmares in UW, but nothing on that item.

I think the reward is the same. I managed to completely miss out this mission with my main characters because of where the giver stands. I happened across him a while back (this is after SF was released, I think), did the quest and I still got the -50 item.

Why in the name of Heaven would ANYONE buy the thing for any price, let alone "20K", if you could get one from doing a measly quest in Ascalon?

Some people have already done that quest with all of their chars and that quest is not repeatable.

You can make alot more than 20k in the time it takes to create a new character and get him through pre-searing and through most of Ascalon.

Yes it is still available.

You're right - I stand corrected. It's just been a while since I last had the "Cities of Ascalon" mission, and I thought it was a monk's weapon (It's a necro's) - Still, for the possibility of 20k, I think it's wise to hold onto it for a bit...

my question is where is the -20 hp one handed weapon at?

their is a -20?

Yep, I have a -20 item on my Monk as well. Another early quest gives this item, I don't remember which. -20 items are also possible to find as loot, although I have yet to see a -50 item found.

And even worse. . . sold the bloody item at the trader for a few measly gc. <====is one of them

I sold the one I got for 20K as well, just before the update, what a lucky break.

yeah i found a gold grim ciesta the other day in GF with +12 eneergy +5 armour and -20 hp

I've got a similary storm artifact.

The -20 that anyone can get is a focus from pre searing.

Also I have like 3 -50 items...

how do i get cities of ascalon quest?
which quests do i hav to do first?

grim ciesta in GF? whats GF, granite forge?

GF = Grenth's Footprint

Or monk secondaries.