(Probably wrong) Theory regarding SS drops

[Malodium]

Has anyone else noticed, when camping swirling shadows in Twilight, that the shadows seem to drop quite a few the first time you zone in and clear them, but as you kill them right when they start respawning, they dont drop nearly as many??

This has happened often and consitantly enough that it makes me wonder if Sony has any code in EQ that causes additional loot to be put on the mob the longer they are up.
Average SSs I get on a first clearing is about 16-22. Average SSs I get after that, if I kill them as soon as they begin repopping, 8-14.
Happens all the time.

[leahcim]

I got this impression as I started my SS route as well... but.

I've come to the conclusion that the drop rate isn't really changing. What's happening is when you first zone in, theres ... I dunno probably 20 Shadows up, and for about an hour or whatever as you clear them there are always more to be found, so you're killing them quickly. But, after you clear the camp, you start waiting for the spawns and you're killing them much more slowly. I think it's just a psychological effect of waiting around for them to spawn and not the actual drop rate.

[Kahmon]

My advice: Don't think so much.

Just kill til your time is up or you get the shadows you need or a better offer comes along.

[Malodium]

I think it's just a psychological effect of waiting around for them to spawn and not the actual drop rate.

Thats my guess as well, as ive never heard of this sort of thing happening in any other situation.

Maybe ive gotten some lucky drops on those first spawns too. Cleared the island the other day and got 2 SSs on 90% of the mobs. I was thrillin!

[Bennan]

Swirling Shadow Drops

I have experienced both. Normally I will clear the Isle, then duck over and do two AOE's on the elemental Isle and come back.

In my experience it really varies, first off I can get as low as 5 drops or 20 odd (although like the original poster, I very often get a good 16ish). Next wave of spawns I can get anything again.

Most I have ever got from a clearing was 32 I think, lowest was about 4 or 5.

[GraemeFaelban]

Being a non AoE, one mob at a time class, I have noticed no difference at all. I can pretty well keep the island clear, and the number of SS drops per mob does not appear to change at all.

[cartier]

It specifically states even before you login that 'gameplay may change'
EVERYTIME you go to a new zone for the first time and kill some stuff, you get awesome drops for loot. Then, when you go back, it sucks horribly. It's the same with Las Vegas and Atlantic city, they know when it's your first time there and you win big so you'll come back.