Trueshots as a viable alternative?

[Arrica]

Something I've had bouncing around in my head for a while now: How viable an option would making Trueshot Longbows be for skill ups? I know I could only get to 215 with them, but when all I have to spend, really, is the 10-12pp for a planing tool on each attempt, and can feasibly make that up by selling one or two for 30-40pp. The only problem I could see would be the micro servos, however, if one could get a decent stockpile built up, that might not be as big of a problem. I just would think, if it's a viable skill up option, it would be a whole lot cheaper than any other alternative at that skill range.

[Draggar]

Some NoDrop, Quest, and Lore items may make it a pain to use that as a skillup. Mostly quested and farmed, but I don't think it would be worth it.

Get the acrylia arrow components at the bazaar and condensed substances.

[sandfiddler]

Lore Item

The Trueshot is a Lore item so you can only have one at a time, they don't sell easily and that makes it a real pain to try and skill-up by making that bow. I agree with other post...stick to making arrows as long as you can.

[andyhre]

I was toying with this idea as well. What's wrong with destroying them or dropping them after a success?

[lonewylfe]

It's a pain in the bum to do skillups on these. With the amount of time I spent originally trying to do these, I could've had enough acry and condensed for a ton of combines.

My quote from March: "I did about 42 Trueshot combines the other day, only one skillup. And it took me about 4 days of 7 hour farming to get the servos...they don't drop as much anymore since the newbie armor stuff was added to their loot list."

If I remember correctly, I was at 211 skill or so at the time, got shammy buff for 255 dex. Not sure if the servos are still such a pain or not, I've heard varying reports. I actually sold the ones I made off to the vendor for about a silver (like the cultural fletching kit, but you can buy that back for about the same) but the buyback was insanely high, so I started just giving them away. There's nothing wrong with destroying or dropping, just seems a waste.
I think (not really sure) that if you have a lore item on you and you make another, that you still get a chance at a skillup (even though if you're successful it just poofs).

They trivial at 235 btw.

[Arrica]

Originally posted by andyhre
I was toying with this idea as well. What's wrong with destroying them or dropping them after a success?

Exactly my thoughts. The only cost you'd really be eating would be the approximately 10pp or so for the planing tool, a little more if you don't farm the spiderling silks yourself, but being in Steamfont anyway for servos, why not just kill spiderlings there? Maybe it's just the way my mind works...but wouldn't it be cheaper to destroy 10pp on a sucessful Trueshot combine, than to fail a Shadewood and eat 400+?

[gnormy]

Fast (vendor bought) or cheap (trueshot) - both are viable in my opinion. If anything, the shared bank slots makes the trueshot ALOT easier to do now.

[Newmoon]

I did trueshots on 2 of my characters, both barbarian shammys. I still have not maxed it for either. I did it because I still got xp for killing the missionary, plat for killing brownies, spiderling silks while waiting for respawns, and most importantly, I WAS ALWAYS BROKE. I couldn't afford to skillup any other way. I sold trueshots for 100pp a piece. I got into lvl hell back in the day, and it took over 200 combines to get 1 pt. However... they have an extremely low fail rate too. If you don't mind not earning the plat fist over fist, and are a medium level, trueshots are immensely cheap. If not, go raiding for a couple hours, and you'll have plenty to blow at the vendor stand. Farming greenies SUCK. I got xp off the missionary til around lvl 35ish (don't really remember) He was deep blue to me at 30, and would empty a mana bar on me to kill him. My druid at 43 was green, but still ate half a mana bar. Of course, this was about a year ago, haven't done any recently.

[tatanka7th]

It's a viable option, but needs to be weighed against two questions:

1) how long does it take to gather the materials to make an attempt, and if you're not destroying/dumping them, how long to sell them since they're lore? Compare this to farming acrylia/condensed, is it less time or more time spent? And the acrylia won't cost you the 10pp per attempt (if you're farming it), either, will stack, and isn't lore.

2) In the time it takes to farm TS components, how much plat would you normally make just hunting in normal XP groups? If it's at least 25-30pp, that's enough to make an attempt at acrylia, buying the components in the Bazaar. And you're getting XP instead of farming greenies.

So, really, if you're a reasonably high level (50ish or higher), I think you're better off farming acrylia or just using your XP group loot to finance acrylia attempts. If you're lower level, then maybe the TS is a good alternative.

Tat

[Footsore]

Thought I'd give this a try this past weekend. Started with the micro servers (thank goodness). Used a Level 29 Druid and started with clarity. Tracking helped, but after a while I found the mechanical spiders pretty much spawn in just 2 areas. One area within sight of the Mino cave entrance and lower level ones over the hill in sight of the windmills. Was able to completely clear both spawns before a repop, even after the clarity wore off, so using a higher level wouldn't necessarily produce better results.

After about 2.5 hours, I had 11 micro servers. I kept the scrap metal and rusty boxes to turn in for faction and a little (very little) coin.

I haven't collected the rest of the components yet, but even with druid ports and PoK books for most of the locations, that still means at least a one-way boat ride to sister island.

I suppose if you are REALLY broke and have no higher level toon this might be a viable alternative . But I gotta say that I can probably make enough, in the same amount of time, to buy acrylia for 11 combines while xping on my level 52 warrior. And have a little more fun while doing it.

[andyhre]

Translocators

This wekeend I had to do some epic work in Timorous Deep and I discovered the translocators.

I think you can port from Butcherblock to Sister Island:

http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com/search.shtml?id=12818

and then back again:

http://eqbeastiary.allakhazam.com/search.shtml?id=12482

So unless this is obsolete (I know the equivalent to Timorous is functioning as of yesterday), this will save you the boat ride.

[metopu sureflight]

Translocator

Just recently I was in Butcherblock and found a new translocator that takes you to the island in Ocean of Tears where you get the Kiola nuts for the Dwarven wire portion of the quest. I was unable to find the translocator to get back however, so I just took the boat. Along with selling Trueshots I also trade them to young rangers for the ingredients required and sometimes get the extras they have as well. I would suggest using the Trueshots as kind of a bonus and make arrows and bows as your main skill ups.


Metopu Sureflight
Ranger of Tunare
Firiona Vie

[Footsore]

Didn't realize these translocators were permanent. Thought they were meant only as a temporary work-around for bugged boats. (That give you an idea of how long it's been since I was in OT?)

Way back when they first started these, I found that the translocator that was supposed to be standing at the end of the dock at Sister Island was often swimming under the dock instead. If they're still around, you might try checking for him there.