Best challenge to farm minor XP elixirs?

[Snarglefrump]

What's the best challenge to solo farm ingredients to buy minor XP elixirs?

Phrased a different way, which House C challenge will give me the most ingredients per minute?

[redspecter23]

I still like Time is Money for ingredients. Many people prefer Extraplanar Mining, but I've spent probably 100 hours in the Lava Caves alone so knowing all the little details as well as all the static and potential circles helps out. You know you've spent too much time in there when you know exactly where to put a second teleporter to catch all the kobolds that you already know are going to walk around the long way instead of the shorter most direct path.

[Syllph]

Agreed, Time is Money. I used to be able to easily pull enough mats for 1-2 pots in 5 minutes with a good group.

[Vyder]

I run time is money or buying time, both 5 min. I like buying time better because once you meet your quota the red name spawns and you get a chest for killing her.

[kafrielveddicus]

Kobold chaos, solo with a low level toon, always pull 600-700 crafting ingredients per run!

[Syllph]

Kobold chaos, solo with a low level toon, always pull 600-700 crafting ingredients per run!

how long are the runs though? I thought that quest was 15 minutes long.

[Ancient]

I like buying time, but part of the reason I like it is I know it so well because... yeah, I like running kobolds

I think there are several good options, but a big part of it is going to be that the one you enjoy is the one you will keep playing and getting better at.

I would be very curious to see a thread about solo and team xp/ingredient awards broken down by challenge.

[Deathdefy]

I agree with TheNarc actually, and Kobold Chaos is a 15 minute challenge.

Kobold Chaos on a level 15 (if you have one), will get you at least 600 ingredients if you're going for stars. If you're actually just going for ingredients, not stars, you don't start the 3rd large extractor and can easily (read "will every time if you know it well") get over 1000.

[Snarglefrump]

Kobold Chaos on a level 15 (if you have one), will get you at least 600 ingredients if you're going for stars. If you're actually just going for ingredients, not stars, you don't start the 3rd large extractor and can easily (read "will every time if you know it well") get over 1000.

I obviously don't know it well enough; I've never gotten more than 1 large extractor started. :-)

What's your strategy? How many shards do you collect in order to yield 1,000 ingredients?

[Deathdefy]

Ummm I wrote up a guide a while back. I'll try and find and EDIT into this post.

Over 2000 shards banked are where I think the Djinn starts (potentially) coming out (if you are lucky - U17 is 'upping their spawn rate'). For >1000 ingreds I think about 2500 banked are enough? Haha don't quote me yet. 2 secs and I'll (hopefully) find the strategy post anyway.

The guide is a bit long to copy and paste wholesale, but it's here: http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p...2&postcount=10

[Snarglefrump]

Ummm I wrote up a guide a while back. I'll try and find and EDIT into this post.

I think I found it: http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p...2&postcount=10

[brian14]

I think I found it: http://forums.ddo.com/showpost.php?p...2&postcount=10

I tried to follow these instructions, and do not see how it is possible. I was using an third-life level 12 Arcane Archer with Longbow of Ooze and bunch of other tweaks. Every target, including red-named water elementals, went down in seconds. Still, first time I tried it small extractors kept getting destroyed, and I got to step 12 with less than 5 minutes to spare. I did not manage to activate second extractor. Two stars. Second time I placed a hireling near one small extractor, (#2 I think) and ran between other three. That worked better -- no small extractor deactivated before step 12, and I did get to step 22 before time ran out. Lots of mats, but no djinn and again only two stars -- and that with gulping Haste potions the whole time. Lantern Archon never materialized close to me, so no time to chase after it.

Normally I run a circuit of the island, hit all kobold islands, then defend NW large extractor. That way I am guaranteed two stars, sometimes three if Archon spawns right near me -- I crafted an Unholy longbow of Chaotic Outside Bane just for it. Still never seen "Island Djinn".

[Deathdefy]

I tried to follow these instructions, and do not see how it is possible. I was using an third-life level 12 Arcane Archer with Longbow of Ooze and bunch of other tweaks. Every target, including red-named water elementals, went down in seconds. Still, first time I tried it small extractors kept getting destroyed, and I got to step 12 with less than 5 minutes to spare. I did not manage to activate second extractor. Two stars. Second time I placed a hireling near one small extractor, (#2 I think) and ran between other three. That worked better -- no small extractor deactivated before step 12, and I did get to step 22 before time ran out. Lots of mats, but no djinn and again only two stars -- and that with gulping Haste potions the whole time. Lantern Archon never materialized close to me, so no time to chase after it.

Normally I run a circuit of the island, hit all kobold islands, then defend NW large extractor. That way I am guaranteed two stars, sometimes three if Archon spawns right near me -- I crafted an Unholy longbow of Chaotic Outside Bane just for it. Still never seen "Island Djinn".

Those instructions were exactly how I have 6 starred it multiple times solo, and is how I still do it (though this life I was in a duo while levelling which made it much easier). I would not revise anything in there from the many months ago when I posted it, apart from a typo 'being' not 'begin', unlike with my instructions to mansion where I now do bosses in a different order.

There's a link to a screenshot of my best 6 star solo (due to me being level 10) in that post as proof. Note though, that it took me a lot of practice (9000 crude talismans worth) to get there.

I've tried to explain all the tricks I thought of in the instructions, but I suspect you're not doing:
1) Start the small extractor before clearing the mobs. Move to start the next one as soon as they're cleared (ideally even before they're cleared; kill the last mob(s) from a distance as you run to the next extractor)
2) Upgrading a small every time you hit 75 crystals.

Losing a small is not something that can be allowed to happen until you have activated a large. If you are truly after 6 stars, I would just recall out (though practice is good so maybe not). Yes, you will drink ~50 haste pots.

Hitting step 12 with <5 mins to spare is multiple minutes too slow. I don't think you can complete from there, and a djinn definitely won't spawn since I think you need >2000 shards banked/score or something.

Don't use a hireling. Scaling sucks and I suspect that is making it harder for you.

You're not complaining about parts, which surprises me as they are by far the most difficult part but a hot tip I didn't mention in the original strategy but meant to is: Kill kobolds before taking their idol. If you kill kobolds after taking their idol, they will never drop parts.

Re: kill speed. It's just not super important. I mean taking down trash somewhat expediently matters, but red name dps is not a huge deal. Just get aggro off the extractors and then eventually you will get the kill via turrets / bow / manyshot / IPS or whatever you happen to have. Staying near-constantly-mobile, running between extractors, killing kobolds for parts every spare chance you get, etc are the more important parts by a mile.

Also, don't do it on less than CR 15 if you're somehow having crystals die. They have more HP the higher the rating you use. CR 12 is easier in a lot of ways, but only if crystals aren't dying.

What are the 2 stars you are getting?
- Completion (yes)
- Djinn (no)
- Archon (no)
- 3 Larges (no) <-- why did you not get this on your second attempt? Don't wait too long for the djinn before heading to the SW final large + kobold idol. In one of the 6 star successes I've had, I didn't even see him. He just died to the cannons.
- Idols? Why are you getting the idol star (the final idol being out of the way, far to the SW near the final large extractor) if you haven't got the 3 larges star? I don't understand and don't believe you are following the instructions - which is totally fine, but don't say it's not possible if you're not actually doing that.

I'm being more helpful than I'd like since others are reading this, but it certainly is possible, and please don't say it's not if you haven't even actually followed the instructions during either of your 2 (two) attempts.

Note, also, that it is genuinely difficult to 6 star solo - to the point that I believe I'm literally the only person on any server to have succeeded at it since the invisibility nerf.

[brian14]

Deathdefy –

I was not accusing you of lying. The phrase “do not see how it is possible” meant just that – it is possible, I just do not see how!

I've tried to explain all the tricks I thought of in the instructions, but I suspect you're not doing:
1) Start the small extractor before clearing the mobs. Move to start the next one as soon as they're cleared (ideally even before they're cleared; kill the last mob(s) from a distance as you run to the next extractor)
2) Upgrading a small every time you hit 75 crystals.

You are right. Especially on the second point – although that’s because I was not necessarily AT an extractor when I hit 75. I guess I was paying too much attention to killing mobs.

Hitting step 12 with <5 mins to spare is multiple minutes too slow. I don't think you can complete from there, and a djinn definitely won't spawn since I think you need >2000 shards banked/score or something.

Well, that was on the first try. As I said, second time went better.

You're not complaining about parts, which surprises me as they are by far the most difficult part but a hot tip I didn't mention in the original strategy but meant to is: Kill kobolds before taking their idol. If you kill kobolds after taking their idol, they will never drop parts.

That’s because I made sure to kill kobolds before hitting idol.

What are the 2 stars you are getting?
- Completion (yes)
- Djinn (no)
- Archon (no)
- 3 Larges (no) <-- why did you not get this on your second attempt? Don't wait too long for the djinn before heading to the SW final large + kobold idol. In one of the 6 star successes I've had, I didn't even see him. He just died to the cannons.

To get “3 Larges” star, do you need to fully upgrade all 3 Larges, or just activate them? IIRC, I ran out of time just as second Large was fully upgraded.

- Idols? Why are you getting the idol star (the final idol being out of the way, far to the SW near the final large extractor) if you haven't got the 3 larges star? I don't understand and don't believe you are following the instructions - which is totally fine, but don't say it's not possible if you're not actually doing that.

Hmm, maybe I only got 1 star on both attempts, and not 2. Since I already had 3 stars on that challenge, it was hard to tell. I definitely did not get last idol either time.

[Deathdefy]

Deathdefy –

I was not accusing you of lying. The phrase “do not see how it is possible” meant just that – it is possible, I just do not see how!

You are right. Especially on the second point – although that’s because I was not necessarily AT an extractor when I hit 75. I guess I was paying too much attention to killing mobs.

Well, that was on the first try. As I said, second time went better.

That’s because I made sure to kill kobolds before hitting idol.

To get “3 Larges” star, do you need to fully upgrade all 3 Larges, or just activate them? IIRC, I ran out of time just as second Large was fully upgraded.

Hmm, maybe I only got 1 star on both attempts, and not 2. Since I already had 3 stars on that challenge, it was hard to tell. I definitely did not get last idol either time.

Sorry for the 'tude! I feel sheepish and blame the imperfect medium of text.

Ummm... yep you do have to fully upgrade all 3, but not simultaneously. Running out of time just as the second large fully upgrades isn't too far off where you want to be. I start the run to the final extractor at the SW with about a minute to go, and usually have the first 2 fully up and running for between 1 and 2 minutes before making that run. So you're about 2-3 mins off, which I suspect you're losing on the smalls.

It sounds like you're not far off the mark at all. As soon as you reach the final extractor you will invariably have enough shards (1200) if the other 2 extractors are fully upgraded (or were and subsequently died) - they generate truly heaps in just the time it takes to run down to the SW. The 17 parts are usually the issue for me.

In other words, you grab the final idol, then go to the final large extractor and press the option for 'pay 1200 shards and 17 parts to instantly go straight to tier 3', then about 10 seconds later the challenge ends.

[brian14]

Wow, it sounds like you have to do everything with mathematical precision to get 4 stars -- without Lantern Archon! And fifth star is just luck -- if Lantern Archon spawns right next to you.