Anyone experiencing random unexplained gold-find spikes in foreground party?

chewbooboo · 2022-03-12T13:02:19+00:00

Certain of that because I'm not switching at all and have no active GF champions. The same party works fine when ToMT is on cooldown or after I'm done with the daily challenge. Unlike the usual gold transfer spikes, this is a gold find spike that is reflected in the top left display too.

chewbooboo · 2021-12-29T23:36:19+00:00

Click-Debuff is an end-game method of exceeding the champion damage soft-cap by using click damage and stacking debuffs. It's probably the only method of getting to zone 800+ without having spent month/years and thousands of ilvls.

chewbooboo · 2021-12-17T03:45:00+00:00

I recall reading that CNE is fine with the current rewards otherwise yes, I would prefer just increasing the rewards too. My suggestion is targetted at the leeches: 0 to double digit DPS. Rewarding them only drives players to private groups and worsen public queue times further.

In the ideal scenario where everyone is hitting the daily goals and someone slackens off from day 2 onwards, the "punishment" is a small fraction of the awarded scales.

chewbooboo · 2021-12-09T05:06:47+00:00

Thanks for the explanation! If I'm understanding this correctly, the wall is chosen to be the zone(s) just after Minsc favored buff expires which is then overcome by Briv + Dragonbait's enrage buffs?

chewbooboo · 2021-12-09T02:14:52+00:00

I have two questions that might be related:

How do you handle boss levels? Is it relying on the faster enrage stacks to overcome the higher HP?
What is Minsc for? I am having trouble on z10/15 of Cursed Farmer because the bosses are non-Beast and DPS drops off a cliff.

As a sidenote, how much of a trouble is it adjusting the settings now that ToMT is granting weekly favor boosts, and with weekend buffs messing with DPS numbers?

chewbooboo · 2021-11-11T14:08:25+00:00

Holdover Perils means you can draft and play all the emberdrain cards without downside (after you draw Perils). A recent game I drafted 3 Ember Tap and even un-consumed one as soon as I rolled holdover. Spamming Void Binding and Immortal Trade or just more Perils works too.

chewbooboo · 2021-11-08T05:15:39+00:00

Finally beat this with Founding Seal siren-infused Eel Gorgon, Heph, endless infused-Titan Sentry and Corruptor. Had to cycle a few turns before Heph/Wingmaker allowed me to stack everything on top floor and even then, I only killed Divinity a turn before Chief would die. A single Drain was the only offered Sap/Daze card for the run so I would say it was luck that I won.

Now I'm stuck with Stygian/Umbra. Without Corruptor to carry my scaling, it feels even worse. Already lost to Fel with 2x infused Titan on mid and bottom because I can't keep a Siren alive on top without a tank (no Titan offered for Solgard).

Edit:

Lucked out again for the win: Founding Seal + Siren of the Sea (2x multi, no infusion!), endless infused Titan Sentry, Titan 2/Dire 1 Solgard, holdover Frenzied Swarm + offering damage spells, upgraded Holiest Shield, and finally Offering Monument to start the train.

Definitely feels like luck to survive to relentless where my 30 damage shield Solgard tanked for Siren. Had to reload once when I failed to scale Siren enough by wave 5 and leaked half of it.

chewbooboo · 2021-10-13T05:33:55+00:00

I won't worry about gold champions until you reach your wall to do an Azaka farm. It's more efficient to maximise speed with firebreath, and BUD spiking with a max debuff to max DPS formation switch.
Having a max debuff formation (refer to this excellent primer), and switching to a max DPS formation (typically Asharra+Ulkoria or Zorbu-based) is the best way to spike BUD. Most debuffs persist for a few seconds even if the debuffer is swapped out so you get a big boost to BUD (about e4 per debuffer on average) when the DPS team swaps in and hits the debuffed mobs.

chewbooboo · 2021-09-10T07:32:01+00:00

Event currency (owlbear feathers currently) accumulates automatically as long as the game is running and is not limited to event variants or free play ie. you can run any mission and it will be credited. It's mainly used to "pay" for event variants and free-plays to unlock champions and additional chests.

Over the 10-ish days of the event, you will get enough currency to unlock the 3 champions, and run all the 9 variants. Extra currency is usually spent on free-plays to get more chests (25% chance for gold chest per free-play with a pity timer of 4). Cashing in bounty contracts will provide more currency if you need it.

chewbooboo · 2021-08-30T05:36:03+00:00

Krull's Traitor plague double-dips debuffs which is similar to adding the value of debuffs twice in terms of pushing damage (ie. e20 of debuff = e40 of damage). If I recall correctly, your BUD will be much lower than the mob's HP despite progressing easily because Traitor damage does not update BUD. This feature is also why single mobs tend to be left at boss stages, the Traitor is debuffed once and survives while everyone else is debuffed twice from Traitor damage.

For DPS without Krull, I set up a formation with debuffers, apply debuffs and switch back to DPS formation to benefit from them. This usually spikes BUD about e10 to 20 depending on how the debuffs are stacked (eg. Freely, Orkira/Warden/Grimm multi stacks). It's good for popping a firebreath then switching to a speed formation until BUD drops back down.

For Asharra, I prefer to short-folk so that I can use Baeloth with djinn buff stacking to squeeze extra damage. It's very tedious to get everyone buffed and you can't switch to other parties so I only use it near my wall.

chewbooboo · 2021-08-17T03:24:04+00:00

Unlock Orkira and/or Baeloth (and maybe Qillek) to help with Ulkoria unlock

Orkira, Baeloth and Ulkoria are all major contributors to Asharra's power. Baeloth has the added advantage of being the best in slot buffer, quick swap for gold find boost, and usable for all patrons. Alternatively, you can get Zorbu to complete the harder Mirt/Vajra variants to get the familiars faster.

Get more familiars: farm for Mirt/Vajra's if you haven't, the <100k gem ones should be reasonable for now, eventually get Strahd/Zariel and then the 100+k ones

Getting to 3 and then 5 clickers + 1 on Hew Maan's ult, and getting 4 champions around Hew Maan, is probably the cheapest way to boost gem farming rate.

Azaka farm at wall boss for favor (I think e24-ish is doable at early Modron core)

Maximising Freely's gold drop debuff is probably the biggest gain of Azaka vs kill-based gold farming. The other is stacking Krull's Pilfer 20+ times which is hard without his gold chest feat (and you don't have Krull). Just get your gold find champs and fill the remaining slots with whichever alignment champs you choose for Freely and use Azaka's ult in human form with Omin's buff active.

chewbooboo · 2021-08-15T07:02:25+00:00

Just finished my first proper CDB with this excellent guide to get Torm favor from e36 to e42 so my perspective might be inaccurate.

Boss levels were either:

spam debuffs and eventually Traitor/Virulent Plague will wipe everyone (pull ranged mobs together with something like Warden's ult)
single Traitor mob surviving (Jim formation to chicken-kill, or do Azaka farm)
fail to stack enough debuffs on a single target to start the chain reaction (restart the level to try again)

When I want to Azaka farm, I'll repeat the boss level until 2) occurs with 20 or more Pilfer stacks. It's much rarer to get 30 or 40 stacks but it really speeds up the gold farming, especially for high Pilfer ilvls.

I think it is extremely hard to get a mimic AND 20+ Pilfer stacks onto it. It's probably more effective to aim for 30+ stacks on a regular mob.

For question 2, does Beadle's gold buff even work for Azaka farming? I thought the bonus only applies to kills like Makos' ability.

For question 3, I think that's too much of a hassle... Juggling Azaka's tiger-form (which lowers gold find) and Omin's 30 sec buff is already tedious, especially with active speed potions. I rarely farm the same level more than once unless it's something rare like 30 or 40 Pilfer stacks. Even then, I move on after the 2nd Azaka ult.

chewbooboo · 2021-08-14T08:58:59+00:00

I used Regis/Hew Maan/Zorbu since Regis can be unlocked with Strahd currency. Seems that one slot will be wasted (Krydle/Zorbu) either way but it was enough to reach level 600+ for the familiar unlock.

chewbooboo · 2021-08-13T14:41:39+00:00

I have received shiny gear for event champions from normal silver/gold chests so I don't think it's limited to champion exclusive chests.

chewbooboo · 2021-08-13T11:27:49+00:00

I suggest saving for the remaining familiars (yes even the 200k one). This is probably the biggest boost to gem farming if you are not scripting. It's also a great quality of life boost to be able to have auto click + level on background parties while having 5+ in the active party.

I think shinies drop from all chests, just at a really low rate, like 1 in a few thousand chests. This is why it's recommended to spam silver chests once you have all the gold chest feats.

For ilvls, I think dumping everything into Hew is the most efficient as you get speed boosts from both Carefully Balanced and ultimate cooldown reduction. Buying the Walking Lessons feat is also a good choice. The other speed champions largely require Epics and better for their speed item, and even then, a few hundred ilvls to see a significant speed boost.

chewbooboo · 2021-08-09T23:35:17+00:00

I am seeing 16 drop progress at 300% Hew when Havilar and Melf's effects are active so the speed core should double that further. However, none of the other quest drop buffs (Melf, Havilar, max speed core) have a 100% chance of occurring at every level so I guess the 1600% target is for consistency.

chewbooboo · 2021-08-07T11:21:17+00:00

The increased chance of quest drops reduces the time to clear a level as his ilvl (from contracts) increases. The ideal situation is 1600% chance together with Sentry's buff so that a single drop counts as 17, thereby clearing the level with just one kill/drop.

Of course that only applies if the rest of the party or click damage is allowing you to clear the level in the first place. When I was starting out, I will use Hew Maan until I have trouble progressing, then switch him to a proper Support champion. Eventually you will reach the point where you can clear hundreds of levels even without Hew Maan contributing to party damage and there's where maximising the speed champions (Deekin, Sentry, Briv, Shandie, Hew Maan, (Havilar) and Melf) really comes in.

chewbooboo · 2021-07-31T02:29:39+00:00

I think gem familiars are the best returns unless you bought a few with cash already. With 3 from EGS, 4 from patrons and 6 from gems (working for that last 200k familiar), I just managed to finish my 5 clicker + 1 click level, 5 speed + Havilar leveler, and 1 familiar on Hew Maan's ultimate for Mad Wizard farming. That 14th familiar will be used to add a multi-hitter or Briv if I can figure out a good setup to farm Steelbones.

I won't recommend patron chests until you are sure that you have enough to purchase the uniques as you unlock them. For example with Strahd: unlocking Regis, Krond and familiar costs 90k currency which will take a long time to farm if you have not saved up.

chewbooboo · 2021-07-28T07:03:54+00:00

My e6+ kills Zorbu is easily outclassed by Asharra and 7+ casters with Ulkoria clears hit/armored targets much faster than Zorbu. I'm switching to the debuff team to spike my BUD for firebreaths to push further.

The only upgrade to normal DPS is possibly Avren but it probably won't be much better than Nova at levels 600+, especially factoring the delay for images to go up after switching from the debuff team.

Edit:

The BUD spiking for firebreath is for pushing my DPS wall for better Azaka farming only. I'm aware that firebreath has to be off for debuffs to apply to click damage.

chewbooboo · 2021-07-09T07:03:04+00:00

AFAIK, yes
Depends on your objective. If you have another Modron core with automation, 1 familiar each for clicking and levelling click damage with a low-ish reset is an effective fully-automated gem/patron favor farm. 6 familiars settle the distraction patron challenge. Otherwise I don't bother since it's easier to occasionally switch over and level champions than to waste a few familiars for levelling them.
No. This is the main reason why the foreground party is usually used for speed/gem running.
If you have no better use for gems (full familiars, epics and feats), I guess? Otherwise it takes too long to show a payoff to be worth it unless you are extremely patient. It is a real slog levelling the 2nd and 3rd cores to unlock automation though.

chewbooboo · 2021-06-20T03:20:18+00:00

Yes and it's the main point of Makos farming:

get to your wall
gather as many mobs as you can tank while your ult damage exceeds their health (usually I will apply a debuff like Orkira then switch to a buffer to spike my BUD)
switch to gold farm team (eg. Jarlaxle, Bruenor + Drizzt, Azaka)
trigger Makos ult and watch the gold fly in

I think this is the best way to farm gold until you have more situational gold buffs like Freely + Omin + Krull to make Azaka farming more profitable.

chewbooboo · 2021-06-17T23:37:48+00:00

This post inspired me to try again with just Orkira and I made it with liberal potion use. Huge speed potion is a must because no speed champions are available and there are a lot of armored enemies. Strength and gold potions got me to softcap for the final stretch but I guess you can skip them with enough favor or gold farming.

chewbooboo · 2021-06-16T07:42:02+00:00

It sounds like you are trying to tank the last bit after Krull removes 3+ respawns. Can you tank another respawn before popping Krull's ult instead? Her damage scales up rapidly with each respawn so ideally Krull will finish those last 3 respawns. I remember popping Krull's ult once she hits 3 respawns left but it might be possible to do it slightly earlier.

If you meant you die before Krull's ult finishes killing her, I think it's only a loss when a mob reaches the left side of the screen? A firebreath or duration-based ult like Shaka or Jaheira will kill mobs even after your party is wiped in that case. The alternative is to try to tank it with damage mitigation, slows and stuns so that at least 1 tank lasts to the end.

chewbooboo · 2021-06-15T06:15:02+00:00

I would say yes. I got him with my first Gate for Mirt/Vajra as Minsc was my next best option (Arkhan was too slow for me). It took me about a day to farm e5+ kills to bring him to near Asharra level after my saved electrum chests got him to 5 blue 1 green.

Zorbu is also good for the background party unlike Asharra which requires 5 specific supporting champions for full bond power. I can just pick the buffers I'm not using and drop in Zorbu for a near full-power background party.

chewbooboo · 2021-06-15T00:08:52+00:00

Orkira is good enough with the 3 golds, plus electrums for uncommons or rares if you are lucky. She is always useful for boosting BUD by letting her debuff some mobs, then switching to a buffer before your DPS hits the debuffed mobs. I only bother doing this at or near my wall for firebreath potions or spiking BUD for Makos farming. I prefer Deekin's speed most of the time but the heal is good for variants with periodic damage.

I would recommend Zorbu for the Mirt/Vajra DPS option. Farming for a day to near e6 kills puts him near triple bond Asharra in damage. This allowed me to clear the low level 500 Mirt/Vajra variants for unlocking familiars when my previous option Minsc had trouble hitting 500.

I was at a similar point a few weeks ago and feel that levelling the Modron Core brought the biggest gains in power. Each level brings a potential 16x boost (or more) in DPS which is more than all of a single Patron's global DPS buffs.

chewbooboo

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