Top researchers

[Qaladar Bragollach]

That is only true if you are saving all those runics for a certain skill level to begin the combines. I waited to 243 before I started truly making 65 spells just because of the improved success rate.

I took that as a given (so did I)... its fairly trivial given a bit of starting capital. I meant skilling beyond 243. I stopped the moment I hit 243 and devoted myself entirely to GoD spells. I've skilled up 4 times just on those and am making money quickly.

Personally I think you're insane at 261 and looking to go higher... but more power to you. That Master Researcher title would look real good I must admit.

[GnekroeGnomicon]

I took that as a given (so did I)... its fairly trivial given a bit of starting capital. I meant skilling beyond 243. I stopped the moment I hit 243 and devoted myself entirely to GoD spells. I've skilled up 4 times just on those and am making money quickly.

Yes, you are right, "just skilling up" isn't good, but if you can plan it right and make a diverse set of desireable spells, you can pay for your skillups with 63 and 64 spells - albeit slowly

Personally I think you're insane at 261 and looking to go higher... but more power to you. That Master Researcher title would look real good I must admit.

It is insane - I have just decided to abandon tailoring for the time being so I can cash in on my tailoring assets (hundreds of othmir furs and nightmare silks) to further fund the push to 300. The rate at which spells are selling it is very difficult to keep enough money coming in to purchase more parchments - with the increased rate of parchments incoming to my buyer, I pick up about 50-100k in parchments a day now... usually can make most of that back through sales (65's are not selling for huge money atm on Drinal) each day only to reinvest it again each night. All in the pursuit of a title

It will be a good day to rest when I hit 300 (still a very, very long path ahead) as I am sure any others who are heading for 300 will agree. I also hope that future expansions will show that getting to 300 will be worthwhile in itself, though I am sure not hurrying towards it is not a big deal as there will be plenty of time for skillups and profit over the coming year or two.

[Simba]

EQPlayers is buggy yeah.

I looked at individual profiles.

1. Animaetrix Fennin Ro 300
2. Akephalos <Voidrunners> Tunare 300
3. Dargari Saryrn 300
(Assume these aren't real)

4. Drakkano <Pactus Aquilus> Druzzil Ro 270
This one looks suspicious with double entries for skills. I can't find on Magelo, but interestingly did find another Necro on that server with 266 skill, which doesn't show in EQPlayers.

5. Ysall <Crimson Eternity> Erollisi Marr 267
6. Baramoz <Sanctus Solum> Saryrn 265
7. Aaryanna <Township Rebellion> Luclin 264
8.Gnekroe <Legacy of the Heroes> Drinal 261
9. Artaint Cazic Thule 258
10. Gudlizy <Unity> Prexus 257

5 through 10 look legit, but who knows. I know of players still on my current server who aren't showing up at all in EQplayers, and others whose stats are totally screwy as shown there.

Until they get the bugs worked out I'll believe the posts on this forum VS the list on EQPlayers.

[Melkior]

The necro you mentioned on Druzzil Ro was probably me, as I dinged 267 research yesterday, and have not seen myself on eqplayers. That system is still very buggy, and I'm sure will improve over time. I don't know Drakkano, but I know the guild is an active one. I'll have to look him up and see.

Seems as though skillups come as in other tradeskills, tend to come in bunches (better to do several combines in a sitting), and it seems as though more come from runic spell combines than from vellum or fine vellum (though more likely just random chance). Anywho, we still have a few spells missing for recipes, so we'll have to keep trying to fill in the holes =)

[Ngreth Thergn]

don't forget

/eqplayersupdate in game to help it along

And remember. Magelo was not bug free when it came out

[GnekroeGnomicon]

it seems as though more come from runic spell combines than from vellum or fine vellum

In terms of averages, I have noticed I skill up far more from combining a runic than the others. But the number of runics that I have done in one sitting is still not a significant number.

[Ysall]

Yup, my skill level is indeed genuine, and I am rather relieved the profiles with 300 skill are not. When I first saw them, all I could think was 'How did they do it!!'

On my server, I think there is only me and one other researcher active, and I'm sucking up parchments as soon as they come on the market. I'm having to pay 5kp for the 62-64 parchments, and 10kp for the runics, so I'm breaking even with a little to spare. However, I'm producing around 50 spells per week, and already saturating the market. The lvl 65 GoD spell runes are selling ok, but the lvl 62-54 spells are selling considerably slower than the rate I'm making them, and I've got more spells than my vendor mule can hold.

At a rate of 1-2 skill-ups per week, its probably going to be 4-5 months before I hit 300. I rather wish the 'improved chance of skill-up' modifier could be used for the runic parchments, or perhaps the triv level for mechaninstructions could be increased, and the formula applied to those instead. At current rates, I reckon I need about 600-800 more parchments, and at 5-10kp a pop, thats 3-4 million pp I'm going to need to spend on ingrediants.

[Simba]

Right I agree on the mechanoinstructions. I think they should be in the 351 range like the 65 spells.

[Wymp]

Oh, sweet lord .. no higher on mechanoinstruction trivials, please.

Already have to deal with losing a rare component (Shadowmane Pelts) in a 351 combine. No reason to add another one ... the Dreadspire Gargoyle Dust in the ink.


Bad enough we're screwed on coarse silk, etc. for who knows how long. And having half the AAAA parts at 351 triv is plenty of hassle, heh.

No reason to complicate the process even more just to create an alternate skillup path somewhere else.


It would, of course, be nice to have something to use besides spells after 243; but add something new to do it with.

[GnekroeGnomicon]

It would, of course, be nice to have something to use besides spells after 243; but add something new to do it with.

I really hope they come up with some creative research in the future and make it worthwhile going to 300...

[Simba]

I wouldn't want the Mechanoinstruction trivial to go up to provide an alternative route to skilling up (although that's a nice added benefit).

I just think 231 is way too low. GoD/PoP spells should not be, in my opinion, the pinnacle of a Researcher's power.

The idea of Holepoked Mechanoinstructions as Items Arcana and only to be obtained by the extraordinary skill of one well-versed in Research and who has also obtained (405 skill, Tinker) the Holepoker is one that appeals to me.

231 is a Trivial combine. It takes less skill than the Solution we use to scrub the Parchments we scribe spells on.

[Wymp]

If you compare the mechanoinstructions to the other trades' (besides Tinkering, of course) items used in the subcombines, you'll notice they all kinda sit at a level that is within reach of pretty much anyone (with some geerlok help). Not just the "hardcore" tradeskillers.

Baking combine - 276
Fletching combine - 276
Brewing combine - 252
Tailoring combine - 252 (276 for prepared skins)
Jewelcraft combine - 202
Smithing combine - 252 (in the holepoker)
Pottery combine - 252 .. at first


From the trivial levels involved, I can't help but think that it was planned this way; so people can at least make some pieces themselves or even all of it among their friends/guilds with varied skills to share.


As for the mechanoinstructions being "trivial" .. there is probably only a handful of researchers who are more than 5 points over that trivial level so far. Compare that to the number of ~300-skill people in the other trades, and I think 231 is reasonable for that item for how it is to be used considering the smaller number of higher-skilled researchers in game atm.

[Simba]

I'm referring to "trivial" from a roleplay standpoint, not the level at which it "trivials".

In any case, in my view this is akin to an Expert level combine. Your examples further illustrate this idea with an average level over 250. And why exclude Tinkering?

The number of Researchers who have achieved this level is irrelevant in my view. I like seeing a high difficulty factor in tradeskills and a raising of the bar as we progress through the game and think the roleplay factor is particularly relevant with this ingenious implementation of the 4A and all of the subcombines.

If Saltpeter and Sulfur were still rare I'd agree with you wholeheartedly. However, getting to 243 is now as easy as a trip to the Bazaar and is just clicks away.

I do agree that the trivial of this combine was likely pondered carefully.

I just don't think it's appropriate considering the context.

[Simba]

Speaking of Skill-ups

Speaking of Skill-ups...

Hit 270 the other day. Since then I've used 30+ Runic Parch and a combination of Shabby and Grimy Fine Vellums totaling 30 (60+ spell combines) with zero skillups. (I gave a guy who was hoarding them a 4A token for all these).

So yeah, it's going to be a long haul to 300.