Low Level seeking GM path advice

[Trepan]

Hi all

I decided at an early age that I was going to start working on baking. So from day one, I scrimped and saved and finally got to a point where my baking was self sustaining in terms of what components I could forage/loot and what ones I had to go to vendors for.

So now I'm stocked up on eggs and milk and cream and various meats and have been throttling up my production of Halas meat pies.

I'm lvl 16 gnome shadow knight (mini-merchant of death and pie) and run with about a 148 INT when skilling. Up until now, the skill ups have been frequent enough that satisfaction has been easily obtained. But at 196, its slowing down.

Should I stock up on INT items, stick with the pies and then move on to Misty Thicket Picnics and go with them until I max out?

I only ask because it seems that all the rest of the recipes that I could gain expertise with require components from zones I don't have access to, or drop from mobs that consider ME a baking component.

- Trepan
"just don't ask whats in the pie..."

[drael]

I don't have a firm answer for you - my pally is just mushing on with her wis of 119. The picnics have been her choice because of the parts that can be bought. There is jumjum available in shadow haven - took running the amulet quest a few times. Her progress is very very slow - but my gm cleric with wisdom over 200 had very slow progress after 180. /em wishes she had kept notes to compare their skill up rates.

[Cigarskunk]

Re: Low Level seeking GM path advice

Originally posted by Trepan
But at 196, its slowing down.

These are the hell levels - things will stay bad (up to 100 combines or more per skill up) till you hit the 220s.

Should I stock up on INT items, stick with the pies and then move on to Misty Thicket Picnics and go with them until I max out?

Well, there have been scores of debates proving that MTP is superior to HMP as a means of skilling up baking - they are cheaper to make, they sell for more, they only require 1/10th of the farming and 1/4 as many total clicks - so I will hands down recomend that you switch over to MTPs - you can hunt the brownies you need in steamfront near the mino caves - be sure to auction WTB brownie parts as well.

or drop from mobs that consider ME a baking component.

LOL - best be careful then, my troll GM baker considers you a component too.

[Phabos]

I would definitely suggest picnics over any other recipe to skill up to 250. It is easier and more economical to make them, and they are much more efficient time-wise to make than are pies. I believe there is a thread on Primal Scream debating the merits of each, with extensive posting from either side of the debate, as well as the views on other recipes that may or may not be viable, depending on level and bank account.

I tried pies, did PoP and JP recipes as I could, and settled on picnics, but that was simply my preference.

Past performance does not guarantee future success. Your results may vary.

Good luck either way you go.

Oh, and Cigar, just remember, my Dwarf GM Baker has plenty of use for you as well.

[Toppo]

My best skill-ups at that range came from Lotus pies. Ingredients might be a little tough to get...but much fewer combines

The advantage of MTP's is the ingredients are easier to get; massive amounts of goodies to eat if you get tired of clicking; you get a nice product when you succeed

Besides, if you set up a regular routine MTP's will take you to 250 w/o worrying about anything else.

ps. don't be afraid to let ppl know you are a baker; they might have a character with nibblies they want baked into something useful

[Trepan]

Yup, I've decided MTPs are the way to go.. for a couple reasons

1) I like having an excuse to master a few other skills (like I wasn't going to anyway... but now I have an excuse )

2) They sell better than pies. Hell, I've got a couple trader packs full of pies. I've started giving them away as tips for people who bring me brownie parts.

3) No low level Gnome has ever been successfully attacked by a Marmalade sandwich. The mature cheese still eyes me dubiously, but I'm ok with that.

Thanks for the advice. I finally broke the 200 barrier this weekend after a couple marathon click fests. My goal was to reach 250 before I dinged 20, but since my group wants to do an LDoN adventure next week, it looks like I'll have to aim for some place between 20 and 25

- Trepan
lvl 17 Gnome Shadowknight
Mini Merchant of Death... and PIE!

[iasmin]

Having been the lucky recipient of some of his pies AND a member of his group, I can attest to the click fest he regularly engages in.... (how's the ice working on the click fingers, Trep?)

Got any extra wolf fillets kicking around?.... *evil grin*

What I'm curious about (shoulda asked last night while I was being rezzed, sorry) is how you would change what you did now that you've done it. I know I'm really aiming for GM tailoring someday, but in the meantime I've managed to up my baking pretty high.

What would you do differently at the earlier levels? Would you save everything and sell back very little to vendors in hopes of taking pies a little longer? Would you have started on some other skill combines earlier in hopes of having stock that would save you money? (Rich little bugger that you are... *hug*)

[Trepan]

Originally posted by iasmin What would you do differently at the earlier levels?

Given away more pies and developed supplier relationships with more people. I should have done more advertising in zones that I was looking for X and would pay, and continue to pay, for things like brownie parts.

I don't think I'd change anything in the sequence or timing. Those pies in the bank will be a good trickle income as time passes.

- Trepan
Why yes.. that IS a pie in my pocket! Thanks for noticing.