Scarcity of glossy drake hides

[Ixiola]

I've done 3 creator missions, and seen 1 metallic drake scale and 2 glossy drake hides drop. On our server, the drake hides retail in the bazaar for 5 - 10K less than the scales do. So I would surmise that either the drop rate on the hides is higher than the scales, or that there's a higher demand for the plate and chain armor. Or possibly both.

[Phantron]

Demand for plate/chain is obviously much higher than leather since GM armor's biggest stat is AC and it isn't as useful on leather classes compare to plate/chain classes.

[Jinjianmu]

On Drinal, for the first month + after the expansion glossy drake hides were rarely in the bazaar and priced at far more than I wanted to pay (around 40k) while metallic scales were around 20-30. Prices have started to level out at around 20k per scale or hide on my server, and I hope when I get back to EQ at the end of the month i will see dirt cheap glossy drake hides. I have also noticed that the drop rates have been around 2:1, metallic to glossy on the high level creator missions I have gone on. I don't see this being a terrible problem either since the metallic scales will be in high demand to create tank armor while monks and beastlords seem the only likely candidates to turn the glossy hides into armor. Creator missions are where I've personally seen the most drops, I suspect that you need at least a 68+ average level to see the good drops on the DoN missions. I've done around 20 creator missions and seen 12+ hides/scales drop, but only when I'm with a high level group. Can anyone confirm seeing a scale or hide drop on a lower level mission?

Jinjianmu

[Wyvernwill]

Glossy Drake Hides are also a needed component in doing the symbol combines for tailoring (MDS are needed for smithing).

That's one aspect that will keep GDH higher cost also.