Farming trolls a fool's errand?

I'm just getting started farming and have set up my ranger for trapping. I've read that trolls outside of Droknar's is a good place because it's easy to get to and very straightforward.

So I just tried it, after spending a good bit of gold for the skills I needed and then getting from LA to Droknar's over the weekend. Now, I know farming was nerfed so I wasn't expecting the moon and the stars, but after clearing the first part of the cave, all that dropped was a white bow ... and nothing else. Not even a single coin. Is this an anomaly or is it typical of farming this way now? I mean, I get more worthwhile drops in a group of eight, just wandering around.

If I'm spinning my wheels, I'd like to know. So much information out there is unreliable because it's old, so I don't really know what to expect. Like I said, I'm just getting started and have never even created a solo build before.

And if there's a better way to use my trapper than this, I wouldn't mind being pointed in that direction. After this, I don't trust any of the farming recommendations I've read. Maybe I need to start up a Monk and create a 55 build instead?

Thanks.

since loot scaling this place is not a viable place to chill and farm

Trolls are very outdated. I suppose they're good to get to know your build and test it a bit but the profit from it is very low now. There is a thing called loot scaling that will reduce your drops. There is also a theory (a well tested one that has at least some truth to it) that rate of kill affects your drops. Killing all the foes at once tends to only result in a couple of drops whereas killing them individually results in many more drops.

http://guildwars.wikia.com/wiki/Loot...g#Loot_scaling

Quote: Originally Posted by Cyannasi

It sounds like trapping isn't going to help me much since I'm really just trying to make some money to buy stuff I can't get on my own with an H/H team. If loot is scaled down because of simultaneous kills, that pretty much wrecks my prospects. At least it still works flawlessly for the Zaishen Challenge.

I guess I'll need to decide on another solo build then.

Thanks for the confirmation. It's disappointing but at least I know not to waste any more time with it.

Solo farming now has become so over done that drops are usually terrible.
Raptor farming is nearly dead for drops, Vaettir is too.
As a ranger and you want to solo farm to make some money i would advise taking a spirit spammer into uw just go as R/Rt and try to farm some ecto.
If you want to make some money my advice would be to look into doing some of the speedclears that people do. They are for the most part easy to learn and can be fun and profitable.
As a Ranger you can do R/A in FoW and in UW.
DoA you can do R/Rt as a glaiver in DoA glaiveway <very assured way to make money

Other than that, an assassin can do dungeons SCs and other roles in fow and uw

monks can do fow and doa

mesmers are widely used in doa uw

rits are used in HM doa uw and fow

just to list a few ^

If you are going to farm with a Ranger, spirit spam. You can do feathers in Jaya Bluffs, or outside Lion's Arch kill the chickens out there. If Nick the Traveler has a farmable drop you can sometimes make out like a bandit spirit spamming for that.

This thread. http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/u...t10384445.html

Lots of fun videos of the build, and it is just plain fun to tell the honest truth. In odd moments I go out and blast around in various areas. Sometimes I get good loot, sometimes I don't. Go get plant fibers outside Temple of the Ages. Talmark Wilderness lots of plant fibers, dust, and maybe a k of pickup per run. Low stress environment too.

You can take down light groups of White Mantle with care, but the heavy groups will simply lunch your spirits. White Mantle tend to drop pure crap, however.

Feathers still go for 9k a stack, sometimes 10. And if you do the UW and FoW stuff you might get lucky. Me, I don't know. Looks too much like work to me! Keep it casual and fun and it will be a rewarding experience.

I get lots of rune/insignia drops from the undead outside of Bergen Hot Springs.

The only spot I do much 55 monking these days is at The Marketplace in Factions. Go Mo/Mes and slap some empathy on the Jade Knights just outside and they'll drop like flies in hardmode because they attack so fast!

holleratchalater,

Fellfoot

Did you turn on HM?

also agree with Wilebill. Feather farming is one of the most profitable yet easiest farm out there.

However, you may also try SCing FoW or DoA. Although SC isn't actually farming.

Ironically, right after my last post, I found a spirit farming build which I tried out with my Mesmer, who is much further along in the game than my Ranger. It worked really well. My first outing into Sunquaa Valley netted me a full five golds, another handful of purples and sundry other worthwhile stuff. That's with skipping the whole mountainous area because my bags were full. Worked nicely outside Gates of Kryta and into North Kryta province as well.

I've never seen UW. In fact, I've never even seen a single ecto. But maybe now with a viable solo build, I'll take a closer look at it. By the way, how would this build fare in Zaishen Elite? I've been sticking to the challenge because my trapper was getting mauled by the mixed opponents. This looks more promising.

Thanks for all the sound advice. My goals don't seem quite so insurmountable now.

The problem with Zaishen Elite is that some skills have different functionalities for PvE and PvP. Signet of Spirits returns a bit of energy rather than creating 3 spirits and the binding rituals take 3-5 seconds to cast. It may work, but it will certainly be less efficient than in PvE.

You can trap Zaishen Elite with henchmen. I miss heroes.



I can post details if there is interest. I messed up on spirit placement in that shot - here is a better one showing ideal usage.

How long does it usually take to reach the 6k Balth cap?

16 flawless consecutive victories rewards just over 6K. The time it takes for me varies depending on which opposing teams we encounter, and I did not record how long. Henchmen do take a little longer than the heroes to dispatch the remainder of the degen and obsidian ele team. All the other teams wipe on my traps.

below 20 mins if you don't wipe. Not the best farm, but definitely not bad. Plus it's easy to find a group.

Wilebill and MisterB hit the nail on the head as far as easy money goes for rangers. What boggles me is how feathers have been able to maintain a steady 9k to 10k price for such an easy farm, lol? And farming Balths in Elite for Z Keys is super easy with the right group. You usually want 3 trappers and one nuker or spirit spammer.

And although other professions may do it better now, you can also offer running services to outposts in EotN and Proph. (if you have it.)

Quote: Originally Posted by FyrFytr998

And farming Balths in Elite for Z Keys is super easy with the right group. You usually want 3 trappers and one nuker or spirit spammer. I usually do it with a friend who brings prot spirit plus the monk and ele hench. Friend can bring anything else he wants in the other 7 slots, a bit of healing and a bit of damage, whatever, spare frozen soil, rez etc.

Prot spirit is only needed for the ele team.