My way of smithing 188+

[Mounds]

Just thought i'd post the way i do smithing. Whether it be Shadow Scream or old cultural, i never do more than 20 combines at a time. Back in the day of 190(202 now), i had a run of 45 combines with no skill up. Frankly, that bothered me Lol. Since then, i've done 20 combines at a time and always gotten at least one skill up. When the time comes (and i know it will) that i don't get a skill off my run of 20, i won't be nearly as bummed out as using up 40+ combines. I started doing that after i heard about the rumor of the RNG having bad streaks. Again, since then, never had a run of 20 combines that didn't get a skill up. Just my way of doing it

Mounds Mightymace
57 Templar of Rodect Nife
Mystical Lightfighters
Morrel Thule Server

[Bennan]

I always do 40 or less myself. If nothing else its a nice psychological crutch, to think I only did a small-ish run with no skill ups when I don't get a skill up.

[Zeralenn]

I think this is one of the Great Myths of the RNG. I have seen people saying "camp after every 10 combines" or "only do small batches".

I've done large batches (60+ combines) and gotten multiple skillups. I've done large batches (60+ combines) and not gotten a single one. I've done small runs without a skillup and small runs with a skillup.

Yes, the RNG is streaky but very occasionally it is streaky in your favor.

I do combines when the mood hits me and when I have materials. I think trying to "outguess" the RNG is largely a waste of time.

...Zera

[Fallwell]

I would always do batches of 50-60 combines. Mostly because I could carry about that many seaweed back to Freeport. Sometimes I would get 3-4 skillups, sometimes 0-1. I could do this about every other night, and it was sweet when I would go 3 days and get 8 skillups in the 200s. When I look at my skillup path from 200ish to 240ish, It would always look something like this....

211 8 combines
212 17 combines
213 11 combines
214 36 combines

with about every 4th or 5th point taking many more combines (most 108, 65, 57.)

~Fall

[Dunhere]

I always preferred to do large runs, 50-100, so that I'd have better odds of getting at least one skill up. I hate doing a batch of practice without a gain in it somewhere.

[Naelia]

This is one of those fun things about games - the details, the individualities, the ways in which different people find a balance of excitement and comfort in the gaming medium.

I too prefer small batches, but only because I have a fragile ego when it comes to larger runs of "failure." Had I gotten no skillups at all, it wouldn't have crushed my spirit, but I was freaky-happy to get 3 skillups in my 20 attempt run last night

[Solastar]

Last night and the RNG

True story.

I'm definitely one of those individuals who likes to do things on a large scale. I spent the last week or 2 farming to enough shadows/wailer/shriekers to do a 10 stack run of combine (200 combines). Including gaining a few extra wailers and shriekers to cover trivial failures on orbs).

Last night I grabbed a KEI to put my wis over 255, pulled up a spot at the forge and went to work. After 5 stacks + 13 of wailers/shriekers (113 attempts on shadow scream - trivial failures on orbs being replaced from my "spares" stock) I'd had exactly 2 skillups. Was a little disapponted - was hoping for the so called "average" of 1 skillup per 20. And then...

You have created an alternate product.
You have increased your skill in smithing (224)
You have created an alternate product.
You have increased your skill in smithing (225)
/gu Lol!!!! 2 points in 2 combines!!!!!!
You have created an alternate product.
You have increased your skill in smithing (226)
/gu bwahahahahahahaha!!!!!!! 3!!!!!!!!!
Scravaas says to guild: Hehehe. Don't jinx yourself.
You have created an alternate product.
You have increased your skill in smithing (227)
/gu OMG!!!!!!!! I DON'T BELIEVE THIS!!!!! 4!!!!!!!

And 3 more attampts with no further joy. Yes, that's right - 4 skillups in 4 attempts. I was astonished.

And during the last 3 attempts. I received my popup message saying I was due to disconnect shortly (4 hour limit on ISP). Now I KNOW you don't get rolled-back on a LD. But after people getting rolled-back during the last patch when the servers went down (I was camping shadows and lost 3 or 4 of them myself - I'm an Aussie and patches are always right in the middle of our prime evening game time), you can bet I sat my ass down and camped to reconnect. I know servers coming down are completely different but I was taking NO risks - I was NOT going to lose those last 4 points.

So I get back on and I feel the great and holy all-powerfull RNG has spoken to me. It took pity on my sorry little self sitting there with only 2 skillups. In it's benevolence it laid it's hands upon me and granted 4 additional points but then caused my disconnect notifiacation to popup, clearly saying "thy smithing is done for this night. Go now from the forge and out into the world. Return once more when you are once again ready to face the trials of orb and shadow".

So I now have 4 stacks worth in the bank. Do I go back on this morning and use up those 4? Or do I farm another 2 stacks knowing that if I'd stopped at 4 last night I'd be sitting on 2 points gained right now?

I don't really believe it for a second, but there's a feeling deep inside me that...

"And the Holy RNG spake unto me, saying: The number of stacks that thou shalt smith shall be six. Six is the number of thy smithing - and the number of thy smithing shall be six. Seven thou shalt NOT smith. And neither shalt thou smith five, excepting that thou then proceed to six. EIGHT IS RIGHT OUT!"

(to paraphrase the Holy Hand-grenade of Antioch bit by Monty Python )

Moral of the story: Bottom line is believe nothing about theories such that when having a poor run you should zone or camp or whatever to "reset" the RNG. You can't beat it. IT decides when it's your time to attain your skillups, and nothing you do will influence it. Except obeying the Holy Law of Six, obviously .

Oh... and rumour has it sacrificing virgins to appease the Holy RNG works wonders, too. So if any virgins would like to leave theire contact details here...

[Ihnanna]

Solastar

[Sanna]

(4 hour limit on ISP)

I will not complain about my college deciding to boot us once every ~24 hours (for about 2 days ^_^). Four hours would SUCK. Omgosh, /hug for you.

Altho since the addition of EQ Windowed Mode, I can Alt Enter out, and sign-out-sign-back-in JUST quickly enough to keep EQ online. Once I stayed on EQ for over a day and 4 hours. I wish I had screenshotted it, maybe I did. (Yes, lots of bazaar time there, didn't actually PLAY-play for all that time.)


re monty python and sacrificing virgins, etc...
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA sir you rock. you are hilarious. I needed that laugh. you rock.

[Solastar]

4 Hour disconnect

I will not complain about my college deciding to boot us once every ~24 hours (for about 2 days ^_^). Four hours would SUCK

Aussie here. 4 hourly disconnects has pretty much become the standard with Australian dial-up over the past year or 2. And apparently I can't get ADSL in my area - something about a "RIM" network whereby there's optic fibre cable from the exchange to a box in the area and copper wire from the box to my house - but ADSL requires copper right through. So, you put up with it. *shrug*

(The "4 hourly disconnect notification" I mentioned is actually nothing of the sort - it's the in game timer recently added that I normally set for about 3 hrs 45 mins so it will warn me when disconnect is due shortly. That thing is a godsend).

[Reflan]

Anything in any game can get bugged. Certainly we've seen more than proof enough of it in this game.

If you feel you are bugged, log out for a few minutes. If nothing else, it will make you feel better and put your mind at rest -- and how much could that hurt?

Anecdotal stories are always fun, but a large sample is needed before saying you cannot be bugged. Six hours for me at 265 wisdom to go from 201 to 202 baking is not just a streakiness in the RNG. Mule right next to me, stuffed full of everything needed. One example.

Here's another to the opposite effect: one day at a casino playing seven card stud I got dealt three 9's for my first three cards -- THREE TIMES IN A ROW. Any math types like to come up with the odds on that? Much easier to win the lottery.

That may go to show that unlikely things happen, but if you were sitting at the table, would you think there was something amiss? Personally, I'd get up and walk away just to be safe. As in, including physically safe.

Some odds are just too long.