The SOF Tradeskill Quest!

[Telorea]

Combine for shadowspike arrow tip (smithing, triv 100):
- celestial essence
- small piece of high quality steel
- shadowspike arrow tip mold

Combine for shadowspike arrow (fletching, triv 400):
- small grove nocks
- set of ceramic arrow vanes
- bundled ceramir arrow shafts
- vial of viscous mana
- shadowspike arrow tip
- swirling shadow essence

For the second combine I am a little stuck, I need a swirling shadow essence and I have no idea how to make that. I looked at how other essences were made and many are just a water flask + one item, but that didnt work. Any ideas?

I believe that swirling shadow essence was the item that was dropping off the rk2-invis Slithering Shadows insdie the Crypt in Hills of Shade. You need a class with a spell that can see rk2-invis to see them, or you might be able to use a pet by ordering it "/pet attach a slith" although you won't know how many you are gonna get aggroing that way, heh.

[Telorea]

I think that it is becoming increasingly clear that it was a mistake to have the reward for this "TS Epic" as an item, it really should have been an augment.

As was suggested from the start: this item is going to be come obsolete far too quickly, and for a large number of people is only a border-line upgrade (if an upgrade at all) which will rapidly be replaced within only a month or so after the expansion has gone live.

In its current form, the final reward for this task will never come close to being as sought-after as the Aid Grimel earrings were in their day. Anyone who has raided CoA or higher (which is a very old expansion now) will not find much benefit from this item - in either caster or melee form.

If the reward was converted to an augment, say [15 or 20 AC, 150 HP/Mana/End, +10 vs all saves, Focus Effect: Imp Dodge 5] then it would become an attractive and sought-after item by all players alike.

[Ngreth Thergn]

For rings the only thing I've managed to find is off Ragewind in Devestation which I guess is technically a raid since the drops are type 8 and he has a raid ooc timer, but was regularly 1 grouped in the expansion it came from including by non raiders. That ring is Warped Emerald Ring of Insanity. That's only 30 ac however, but a level 70 30 ac ring vs a level 80 30 ac ring. I would think there would be some progression there.

Ears are alittle easier, if I understand the new JC system properly it would be possible to make a 39 AC 250 hp/mana/end (if it's changed so you can aug two of the same type 10 in an item). Alternatively you could do I think a 29 AC 325 hp ear? Both of those are rather close to this item. Aside from that there is Colossus Shard Earring which is technically a raid item again but was also 1 grouped by non raiders in the expansion it came from, and again was from PoR so level 70 content in an open zone. Yellow Fang Earring is out of a level 60 zone, granted it has no stats other than AC however level 60 and level 80 items having the same AC isn't really right.

HP/Mana can't really be found that's comparable however but a large portion of this is due to massive HP inflation on items for the past couple expansions now which means pretty much anything from a prior expansion won't have comparable amounts. Because of this, any disagreement over an item being too weak ends up having to be looked at as "is the item too close to alternative items?" or "is the item significantly better to old items?" or "does the item's rewards justify the effort placed into it?" rather than simply "is the item better to alternative items?" since the HP/Mana will not get equaled without jumping from non raid to raid items.

If all stats have to be modified by the same amount in a script what if the item had rather high base stats which could then be altered by slot? From what I understand whole numbers have to be used on the percentages (not really sure on item stats) so fine tuning isn't really possible but what if the stats were:
Base
AC: 78
STR: 54 DEX: 54 STA: 54 CHA: 22 WIS: 22 INT: 22 AGI: 54
HP: 920 MANA: 880 ENDUR: 880
SV FIRE: 36 SV DISEASE: 36 SV COLD: 36 SV MAGIC: 36 SV POISON: 36
Shielding: 3 Spell Shield: 3 Avoidance: 22 Stun Resist: 3 DoT Shielding: 3 Attack: 35 Regeneration: 13

From there the item could be given stats as a percentage of the base depending on the slot, for example Ear - 44%, Finger - 44%, Neck - 50%, Waist - 53%, Wrist - 59%.

That would place the final stats on the melee/hybrid version at:
Ear/Finger 44%
AC: 34
STR: 24 DEX: 24 STA: 24 CHA: 10 WIS: 10 INT: 10 AGI: 24
HP: 405 MANA: 387 ENDUR: 387
SV FIRE: 16 SV DISEASE: 16 SV COLD: 16 SV MAGIC: 16 SV POISON: 16
Shielding: 1 Spell Shield: 1 Avoidance: 10 Stun Resist: 1 DoT Shielding: 1
Attack: 15 Regeneration: 6

Neck 50%
AC: 39
STR: 27 DEX: 27 STA: 27 CHA: 11 WIS: 11 INT: 11 AGI: 27
HP: 460 MANA: 440 ENDUR: 440
SV FIRE: 18 SV DISEASE: 18 SV COLD: 18 SV MAGIC: 18 SV POISON: 18
Shielding: 1 Spell Shield: 1 Avoidance: 11 Stun Resist: 1 DoT Shielding: 1
Attack: 18 Regeneration: 7

Waist 53%
AC: 41
STR: 29 DEX: 29 STA: 29 CHA: 12 WIS: 12 INT: 12 AGI: 29
HP: 488 MANA: 466 ENDUR: 466
SV FIRE: 19 SV DISEASE: 19 SV COLD: 19 SV MAGIC: 19 SV POISON: 19
Shielding: 1 Spell Shield: 1 Avoidance: 12 Stun Resist: 1 DoT Shielding: 1
Attack: 19 Regeneration: 7

Wrist 59%
AC: 46
STR: 32 DEX: 32 STA: 32 CHA: 13 WIS: 13 INT: 13 AGI: 32
HP: 543 MANA: 519 ENDUR: 519
SV FIRE: 21 SV DISEASE: 21 SV COLD: 21 SV MAGIC: 21 SV POISON: 21
Shielding: 1 Spell Shield: 1 Avoidance: 13 Stun Resist: 1 DoT Shielding: 1
Attack: 21 Regeneration: 8

Alternatively, if it's possible changing the base Shielding, Spell Shield, Stun Resist, and DoT Shield to 3.39 would allow for the item to have 2 to each of those mods rather than 1 on the wrist while reamining at 1 in all other slots helping to counter the still low (although better) AC, which combined with the higher HP in that slot would leave it as a solid item there as well.

Integers (whole numbers no decimals) and Integer math only (which is why it rounds down... it is actually automatically (I have absolutely no control over this) cast as an INT (truncated) at every step in the math for those that know coding...) I can also only go by non-decimal percentages... so no 55.5% or anything like that... only a whole %.

[Ngreth Thergn]

A quick thing, any chance you could remove the "must equip" from the clicky? as depite being a silk caster, i'd quite like the AC clicky while solo'ing

I was only allowed to get those effects because I restricted it to class.

[Ngreth Thergn]

I am on the 4th task (Scrap Oil).

I made the setting and the mold Eron gave me was used up in the combine.

I then went to make the Jewelry item and failed (a 250 trivial and I am 336 with trophy). The setting was LOST in the failure.

Now -- there is no way to make another setting as the mold was used up.

There is no way to try the combine again because the setting was lost.

I tried to go to Eron and hand in another Bar to see if it would trigger him giving me another mold. No luck.

This has really frustrated me. The setting should have NEVER been lost in a failed combine... or at the very least, the Mold should have never been used up in that combine.

It appears the only option I have is to dump a nearly completed difficult task and start over.

This needs fixing (/hint Ngreth)

Hopefully they will approve my /petition, all though they have not responded in going on 2 days now).

hrm. could have sworn I had all of those as a return on fail...

[Ngreth Thergn]

Task 5 - Fletching

Gem Covered Box dropped for me by Ebontail in the bird area HoS, was clearing ph's for both him and The Collector since I heard TC dropped it as well.

for the 3 of these (at least 2) I am fairly certain I stuck it on the rare mob in the area as 100% chance, and then as a RARE drop on the base mobs in the area (so it would not all be competition for the rare NPC... you could also just hunt in the area and get it) In the end they have about the same chance to drop if you consider the rarity of the rare NPC itself to spawn. Definitely all 3 have a chance to drop from the "base" mob. I am not 100% certain on it also being on a rare mob.

[Ratblaster]

The finished caster version is 450/470, 25ac, other stats same, clicks Aura of Taelosia. Given the ease of getting Girdle of Efficiency, this is extremely weak. Chaotic Enlightenment would be better, or is there any chance of some version of the finished product with FoEndurance for casters and the melees that don't want AC as much?

Blech... Despite having lowish AC and other stats that didn't really make this a standout tradeskill quest item the way similar quests in past have been, I was doing the quest anyway just for the mana reen clicky on a piece of jewelry I might wear, so I could stop carying around my old Ikkins cloak for the Maelins Methodical Mind clicky (8 mana regen). I agree that Chaotic Enlightenment would have been a more appropriate focus effect.

Now I find out the ultimate tradeskill quest from the new SoF expansion, only gives Aura of Taelosia, a 7 mana regen clicky? No better than the clickies we had back in GoD expansion which was 6 expansions ago?!? Or the easy to obtain OOW belt from 5 expasions ago?

I think I'm done with this quest and glad I didnt go further than step 4. The lack of desireable stats and lack of useful focus effects really cripple this item non-raiders. Event the new 300hp attuenable earrings/rings are coming out with more useful lvl 80 focus effects, and the nodrop stuff from named will be better still, and for raiders, much more desireable jewelry loot exists TSS and later raid zones.

[Telorea]

for the 3 of these (at least 2) I am fairly certain I stuck it on the rare mob in the area as 100% chance, and then as a RARE drop on the base mobs in the area (so it would not all be competition for the rare NPC... you could also just hunt in the area and get it) In the end they have about the same chance to drop if you consider the rarity of the rare NPC itself to spawn. Definitely all 3 have a chance to drop from the "base" mob. I am not 100% certain on it also being on a rare mob.

For the Hills of Shade box I can confirm that I have had it drop from Trash in crypt, Trash Aviak, and 3x on The Collector (named) - never seen Collector die without dropping it.

[Xcoz]

Well, still trying to finish here. I just can not get the energized brownie hair to combine. I know where the combine can be made, but I just cant get the metal folks out of all 4 rooms. I can of course get them trained out of the room I am trying to combine in, but there is "activity nearby". I increased the radius of mobs I could get trained out, but still to no avail. So I tried to get all the beasts out, but 45-60 mobs (all mobs from all 4 rooms) will simply not aggro 1 toon it seems.

There is really no way a group could remove all the metal mobs from all the rooms before repops, perhaps 3-4 groups could, but this isnt supposed to be a raid item.

Lost 10% real exp on the cleric and necro trying the train method. Hopefully the answer is simpler then I am making it.

[Dunhere]

for the 3 of these (at least 2) I am fairly certain I stuck it on the rare mob in the area as 100% chance, and then as a RARE drop on the base mobs in the area (so it would not all be competition for the rare NPC... you could also just hunt in the area and get it) In the end they have about the same chance to drop if you consider the rarity of the rare NPC itself to spawn. Definitely all 3 have a chance to drop from the "base" mob. I am not 100% certain on it also being on a rare mob.

Might want to double check the Loping Plains drop; I killed a lot of orcs in 3 different camps in the zone trying for it, and I only saw it off the named.

I was only allowed to get those effects because I restricted it to class.

Is it possible to keep it class restricted and remove the must equip, just for the sake of convenience in use?

[Xcoz]

Got the LP ones off shaman, shaman and mystic if I remember correctly. All casters, just took forever.

[Telorea]

I was only allowed to get those effects because I restricted it to class.

I am sorry, but that makes zero sense.

BOTH the current clicky effects very old/weak and are already available to all classes on a varity of different items (many of which are ALL/ALL) which are fairly easy to get.

You are saying that someone told you that you had to class-restrict common clicky effects that *every* single class can easily get on other pieces of gear?

Proof: Aura of Taelosia is available on: Lana's Crystal Shield; Pendant of Discord; Verok's Bauble of Aberration - all of these are ALL/ALL - and there are plenty of other mana-regen clickies that are better than this way-old one.

Proof: Form of Defence 3 is available on: Hanvar's Hoop (ALL/ALL), Skull of Vish (ALL except MNK, BST, BER), All classes except Int-Silk-Casters can also get Form of Defence 4 which is better.

Whoever told you you had to keep these old clicky effects class restricted doesn't appear to know much about what items those effects (or better) are already available on.

Seriously, the clicky effects as they stand are largely useless. The number of people who can do this quest and don't already have these clicky effects, or better, on other items is going to be almost zero.

If having class-restricted versions of this item allows you to put decent clickies on them - then please let us have decent clickies.

Serious, constructive, helpful suggestions to make these the clicky effects useful:

1) Mana-regen effects are a very bad choice to start with, the game is over-flowing with mana-regen clickies already. This item needs to add something unusual or different.

2) Any raider in CoA+ (which is the majority of guilds that do any raiding) will probably already have Form of Defence 3 or better. If you want to have Form of Defence as a clicky then it needs to be at least Form of Defence 4, maybe 5.

3) Remember that different classes have different needs, so be very careful about making the clicky effect too specialised. Although there has been a recent tendancy in itemisation to group classes into "melee" and "caster", each of these groupings contains classes with completely opposite needs - thus has been an extremely bad idea and made it almost impossible to balance items to what the classes actually want/need.

4) You need to pick an uncommon clicky effect that is useful to a large spread of classes. Your choice of Imp.Dodge.5 focus was an *extremely* good choice, it was perfect! Your choice of clicky effects however was extremely poor because: (a) the effects chosen are extremely common; (b) are low powered/weak versions of the effects chosen; (c) are not universally attractive to the classes in the arbitary class groupings used. You need to pick something that has appeal to more classes, this is why I suggested something like "Unliving Ward" or "Prismatic Ward" - they have AC and Saves so have features attractive to all classes; they have excellent stackability with other effects; they are uncommonly found on other items.

[KyrosKrane]

Is it possible to keep it class restricted and remove the must equip, just for the sake of convenience in use?

So just make it clickable from inventory? "Can equip" as opposed to "Must equip"?

[Quaras]

I am surprisingly non-plussed as well. As a casual grouper - girdle of efficiency has an 8 mana regen clicky and can be done with a group of level 80s extremely easily. The 450/470 outclasses the vast majority of my gear and I am probably the target audience for this type of item with respect to stats and gear, but the caster version of the item is really not as useful as I was expecting. Going back in time a bit, the dedicated tradeskill quests (Coldain Shawl, Aid Grimel) always thrilled me a little bit -- I was able to get a piece of gear that was aspirational and would just verge on that which the high end raiders could use. I will try to complete the quest anyway, but am unfortunately disappointed.

[Durew]

The clicky on the caster/priest version is asstastic!