parchment drops?

[baldysm]

According to Alla's, dragorn elite armsman drop shabby runic vellum's in noble's causeway.

I've killed over 100 of them, and never seen one drop.

I'm looking to farm parchments for spells 65-70. Anybody have suggestions for spots to places to hunt to get them?

[Gorse]

According to Alla's, dragorn elite armsman drop shabby runic vellum's in noble's causeway.

I've killed over 100 of them, and never seen one drop.

I'm looking to farm parchments for spells 65-70. Anybody have suggestions for spots to places to hunt to get them?

Alla's uses information recorded by players. Someone has killed and it droped for them, or at least they reported that it did.

Spell (hide, paper, papyrus, parchment and vellum) drops only drop from caster type mobs. The drops from those caster type mobs will be drop items for spells appropriate to the level of the mob it drops from.


Gorse

[Shadrok]

Reliable drop rate

The only reliable drop rate for parchments is in the bazaar. Start hunting the player-vendors.

Honestly, I've been making spells since DoDh came out, and I buy most of my parchements there. I continue to sell spells 61-65.

[Kinil]

I've killed over 100 of them, and never seen one drop.

If you didn't see a binding powder in those 100 either, then I'd say the reported drop was wrong.

[Tiroon]

The mob is a melee and as such doesn't drop what you're after. The info on Alla's in this case is wrong as comfirmed by Magelo who has never recorded a parchment in about 4.000 observed lootings.

With the exception of the level 70 one, the parchments you're after drop off the Sunderock Springs drakes (the ones that are casters) for example. An easy enough mob for the level and present in numbers that make farming feasible.

[Roanne]

There is a clear statistical disparity in the drop rates of parchments in their various "blocks." As you approach the the higher levels of the block, the drops rates taper off, then spike up again when you enter the next block. So level 64 and 69 parchments are rarer than level 65 and 70 parchments respectively. This is as determined by reported Magelo drop rates.

The vellums (level 67-70 spells) seem to drop from level 66-70 caster class mobs. The Shabby Runic Vellum in particular is the rarest of all parchments in my experience (even counting when you're killing the "right" mobs). As soon as you start killing level 71+ caster class mobs you see Papers instead of Vellums. I suppose theres a chance for level 70 and 71 to drop the level 69 parchment buts its such a low chance as to make farming it unrealistic. Maybe thats the point, but I had the impression global drops were to give more options in where to obtain a specific drop v. making the drop unfarmable.

Although I have experience farming several reported sources, even targeting the ikaavs in RCoD (level 67-69 mages, wizards, and enchanters) I have yet to see a single parchment of any type drop in almost 100 kills. Maybe I've just been unlucky or maybe these specific NPCs are individually exempt from the global loot table or maybe we don't actually understand how the global loot table for hides and parchments are set.

I don't know if the drop rate peaks and troughs occur because the global loot tables are set up that way or because the population of potential droppers are what actually follow the pattern rather than the drops.

I do know for sure that Shabby Runic Vellum is the hardest to find parchment in both the bazaar and field, but your most reliable source remains the bazaar.

[YthanEQ]

Drakes in Sunderrock is certainly one place.

I get a reasonable quantity killing elementals in Infected Paw (aka Splitpaw), perhaps 3 or 4 an hour in the 65-69 level range. I get other levels, including paper and papyrus, too, though less often.

I play a mage so Paw is ideal for me to farm and it may not be so easy for others.

Ythan

[Ngreth Thergn]

There is a clear statistical disparity in the drop rates of parchments in their various "blocks." As you approach the the higher levels of the block, the drops rates taper off, then spike up again when you enter the next block. So level 64 and 69 parchments are rarer than level 65 and 70 parchments respectively. This is as determined by reported Magelo drop rates.

The vellums (level 67-70 spells) seem to drop from level 66-70 caster class mobs. The Shabby Runic Vellum in particular is the rarest of all parchments in my experience (even counting when you're killing the "right" mobs). As soon as you start killing level 71+ caster class mobs you see Papers instead of Vellums. I suppose theres a chance for level 70 and 71 to drop the level 69 parchment buts its such a low chance as to make farming it unrealistic. Maybe thats the point, but I had the impression global drops were to give more options in where to obtain a specific drop v. making the drop unfarmable.

Although I have experience farming several reported sources, even targeting the ikaavs in RCoD (level 67-69 mages, wizards, and enchanters) I have yet to see a single parchment of any type drop in almost 100 kills. Maybe I've just been unlucky or maybe these specific NPCs are individually exempt from the global loot table or maybe we don't actually understand how the global loot table for hides and parchments are set.

I don't know if the drop rate peaks and troughs occur because the global loot tables are set up that way or because the population of potential droppers are what actually follow the pattern rather than the drops.

I do know for sure that Shabby Runic Vellum is the hardest to find parchment in both the bazaar and field, but your most reliable source remains the bazaar.

The issue is not in the tables.
It is the fact that there are for whatever reasons, less NPC that are designated as "caster" in that range.

[Sihk]

Hi Ngreth

Okay, after having returned for the LL promo after a 2 year hiatus, I have a few observations about spell research.

First, would it be possible to increase the stack size from 20 to 100 of spells, components, sub-combines, runes, words, et al? Other tradeskills such as jewelcraft etc have their raw materials set at 100.

Secondly, with the replacement of words runes etc with velium gem crusted runes for example, it seems we have a new bottleneck that didn't exist before. In the past, I could spend a few hours in Veksar (for instance) and pick up a nice assortment of runes/components to make various spells. Now...in the same amount of time, I get basically nothing but the vendor sell gem runes that you replaced.

Added to this...the parchments required to make spells only drop off caster-type npcs which...you admit...are a definite minority in the game.

If you go to any bazaar at any given time, you'll find there isn't a huge selection of the more choice type of parchments for sale. And farming them isn't exactly easy as you have changed the resources from all EQ-verse mobs of a given range to specific npc types.

My first choice would be to ditch the "xxxx gem dusted rune" items and replace the drop table with parchments based on the level of the npc. My second choice would be to place the parchments in the drop table along with the runes for ALL mobs...not just caster types.

New new recipes / spell component system is, to me, more burdensome. I really preferred the old sytem of putting words together in a book to get a spell. It was simple and easy to understand.

But I guess I'm in the minority. My bank is full of quest items and clickies etc...this new complex spell research system has me pulling my hair out. And I can't make spells for my other characters because I cannot find parchments. In 3 solid days of playing, I have seen ONE parchment and I have killed about a 1,000 mobs ranging in level from 58 to 75. Before, I would have been able to put together a number of spells from the drops from that many mobs.

Am I the only one who thinks there is something wrong with this picture?

[Sihk]

As a follow-up, I spent an afternoon plowing through Skyshrine. From the entrance all the way to the room with the globe that you click with the golems in it...I killed every named, roamer and static mob I could find. There were plenty of caster mobs including clerics, necros, wizards and magician types.

An entire afternoon...an entire zone destroyed...I received ONE parchment.

I must have plowed 200 to 300 mobs...ranging in level from 35-40? to around 65.

Am I missing something about parchments or are their drop rates less than one tenth of one percent?

[Ngreth Thergn]

Hi Ngreth

Okay, after having returned for the LL promo after a 2 year hiatus, I have a few observations about spell research.

First, would it be possible to increase the stack size from 20 to 100 of spells, components, sub-combines, runes, words, et al? Other tradeskills such as jewelcraft etc have their raw materials set at 100.

Spells themselves... no. There are already problems with them being at 20 (we don't plan on changing it... but issues with people buying stacks when they meant to buy 1... not gonna make it worse by making it 100)
Paper already stacks high.
At some point I plan to make quills stack more.
Cleaners no.
Ink, I may go to 50

Secondly, with the replacement of words runes etc with velium gem crusted runes for example, it seems we have a new bottleneck that didn't exist before. In the past, I could spend a few hours in Veksar (for instance) and pick up a nice assortment of runes/components to make various spells. Now...in the same amount of time, I get basically nothing but the vendor sell gem runes that you replaced.

Added to this...the parchments required to make spells only drop off caster-type npcs which...you admit...are a definite minority in the game.

If you go to any bazaar at any given time, you'll find there isn't a huge selection of the more choice type of parchments for sale. And farming them isn't exactly easy as you have changed the resources from all EQ-verse mobs of a given range to specific npc types.

My first choice would be to ditch the "xxxx gem dusted rune" items and replace the drop table with parchments based on the level of the npc. My second choice would be to place the parchments in the drop table along with the runes for ALL mobs...not just caster types.

New new recipes / spell component system is, to me, more burdensome. I really preferred the old sytem of putting words together in a book to get a spell. It was simple and easy to understand.

But I guess I'm in the minority. My bank is full of quest items and clickies etc...this new complex spell research system has me pulling my hair out. And I can't make spells for my other characters because I cannot find parchments. In 3 solid days of playing, I have seen ONE parchment and I have killed about a 1,000 mobs ranging in level from 58 to 75. Before, I would have been able to put together a number of spells from the drops from that many mobs.

Am I the only one who thinks there is something wrong with this picture?

It is something I continue to evaluate, but in the end, despite the seeming bottleneck, the components are actually much better to find than before the revamp.

As a follow-up, I spent an afternoon plowing through Skyshrine. From the entrance all the way to the room with the globe that you click with the golems in it...I killed every named, roamer and static mob I could find. There were plenty of caster mobs including clerics, necros, wizards and magician types.

An entire afternoon...an entire zone destroyed...I received ONE parchment.

I must have plowed 200 to 300 mobs...ranging in level from 35-40? to around 65.

Am I missing something about parchments or are their drop rates less than one tenth of one percent?

as you noted. Casters only

I have plans for a bit more of a spread on parchments. I still have some thinking to do on it though.

[Andarriel]

woot

I cant wait for the quils and inks to go up as 20 just isnt very much.

Andarriel

[Sihk]

Ngreth

Thank you for your thoughtful response. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with. Spell research is a skill that I like doing...I really like raising by making spells...as opposed to alternative skill-ups vis a vie binding powders et al.

From my own experiences, it seems that parchment drops are pretty rare. I hope you revisit the idea of putting them only on caster mobs. If they are to stay on caster mobs, please consider at least upping the drop rate to somewhere near the rate of blue diamond drops on a mob such as POFire doomfire guardians etc.

When it comes down to it....a full day of hunting mobs that have drop potential should yield at least a handful of spell parchments don't you agree?

as you noted. Casters only

I have plans for a bit more of a spread on parchments. I still have some thinking to do on it though.

That was 2-300 CASTER mobs...one parchment drop...

[Akenta]

I'm looking forward to it also. I had my necromancer get ready to try and learn this new system. She's only in her early twenties, but was collecting a lot of binding powders while trying to get her tailoring trophey. She sat down ready to use them only to find out she needed hides too, but she had found was one :-( On the plus side, that one hide got her one skill up, so with a skill of 2 she's ready to try again when the next hide drops.

[Ngreth Thergn]

That was 2-300 CASTER mobs...one parchment drop...

you would be hard pressed to find 300 caster mobs in this game to kill in any reasonable amount of time. To find 300 caster mobs you probably had to go through 2000 mobs total.

Often you will unfortunately find warriors that cast spells. This is almost always true of raid mobs, but it does happen for basepop as well.