Any DS2 Guru's here? (question about item drop patterns)

Leto Eu`Acumen · Post by **Leto Eu`Acumen** » Sat Apr 01, 2006 11:27 pm

I have played through DS2 more than a few times now, (mostly months ago though I am getting back into it again), and I have noticed something that bothers the heck out of me.

Each time I roll a new character/new game, it seems to have its own personality. Particularly concerning the drops. With some characters, nice drops seem to fall from the sky at a very fast rate....while on others you can barely buy a decent drop. But it goes even further than that..it seems that each character is prone not only to certain drop rates, but to certain specific drops as well. For instance, on one character I may see 3 or even 4 of one set item without even trying and on another one I can run the same areas over and over and over again relentlessly and never see the item at all.

One of my questions is this: Is the game setting some kind of random integer and attaching it to the character for the life of that character/party that determines item drop rates etc?

It really, really, REALLY seems that way.

If someone knows any of the technical details on this it would really help me out a lot.

My current party I have been playing for about 4 days now (I play a lot), and I swear that I have barely gotten any set items at all. It is really getting disheartening.

I just spent 6, close to 7 strait hours just mowing down mobs one after another without a break, and got ZERO set items to drop. Not even some crappy one. None at all. And this doesn't seem to be the exception for this party, I've only gotten like 2 set drops total at all. The only set items I have otherwise gotten is the set from Act 1 that everyone gets from opening those chests, and a couple as quest rewards (one from act 1, one from the armor guy in act 2, reward from act 1 blacksmith quest)...

Anyway, I'm wondering if anyone has any information on this stuff. Set items are the part of the game that I enjoy the most, and not getting any in close to 7 hours of strait grinding on mobs is frustrating. If the game does set a permanent integer attached to a party at the characters creation, then maybe if the party isn't looking good after a day of playing then it would be worth the investment to simply re-roll a new party to try for a better chance at set item drops.

I lost all my previous DS2 partys (had to reformat the Hard drive), so I can't go play my old ones and I did have a couple there that had a lot of good luck (and some that didn't), so I am having to start from scratch this time around anyway.

I'd just like any information and/or advice relating to any of this. I'm 4 solid days into my current party, but if this is a sign of things to come, then I'm not sure it would be worth it....frankly the droprates are so bad in my current party that if it is always going to be like this, then it just isn't going to be any fun to play it. (not to be overly dramatic or anything, its just the truth)

Also, I have noticed that in some specific places that there are even less mobs than there were in some of my previous games (a distinct lack of mobs in specific locations actually). Nothing drastic, just that in previous parties I have played, there might be a room here, or a landmark there with 4 or 5 mobs around it, and in my current party some of those locations have zero mobs at all, (mobs before, after and around those areas but not AT them), even if I exit the game and reload. It just seems set that in my current game not only do I see less "set" items but I am also seeing less mobs entirely. Very very weird.

Just as a FYI, my current party is a DW Warrior, a Bow/Crossbow Rogue, a Nature Mage (with pet) and a Combat Mage (with pet).

Elhp Please!

Thing · Post by **Thing** » Wed Apr 19, 2006 2:19 pm

In short, the best way to improve the "drop" rate is to wear items that increase the chance of finding magic items - buy them in the trading posts..

Killer Koala · Post by **Killer Koala** » Fri Apr 21, 2006 7:49 am

If you choose a human as your race, you do get a 10% bonus to finding magic items right off the bat. Humans can be made to be any class but they won't be as powerful as a race specifically designed for that class (i.e. A Half-Giant may start with 4 strength and a Human will start at 3 strength).

But like as stated above, if you want to improve your drop rates. Start customizing items like rings to improve the "Find Magic items" stat. I've heard of people being able to get a 600% chance to find Magic Items but I doubt that myself. Even a 10-20% chance to find magic items should improve your chances to find set, rare, and magic items.

I've also found that sometimes using your special powers to defeat mobs help to get a better drop.

VampirePenguin · Post by **VampirePenguin** » Fri May 05, 2006 3:55 am

I have taken an enchantable legendary ring for each character and enchanted it with the following:

6 Prismatic baubles (+15% chance to find magic items) == 90%
2 Rainbow Trinkets (+5% chance to find magic items) == 10%

That left me 2 squares on the ring to boost whatever attribute I felt I needed, while giving me a 100% chance to find magic items for each party member. In theory at any rate.

I have had some seriously good drops, and most of the set items have popped up. I have also seen "???" quite a few times (32 to be exact acording to my beastiary) and haven't started the horns yet on the Vet level. I have YET to kill the bugger tho.

Happy Gaming,
Vamp

Thing · Post by **Thing** » Sun May 07, 2006 7:30 am

Yup, ??? is more than a challenge...... He (?) has shown up at least 30 times during the three levels and I have only now managed to kill (defeat) him so as to get the final item for the Mysterious Quest - even then it was touch and go with a few level 83 and level 84 Quatal Minions around at the same time!.

a_v_o_n · Post by **a_v_o_n** » Wed May 10, 2006 1:48 pm

Hi all,

I think that the chance to find magic items is very important in this game ( and I like it because it works well if you have it high). Try to use also (apart rings) the legendary spellbook full of prismatic baubles

I have two of them in my party and I'm finding a lot of unique and set items

Another things: maybe you are finding less good items because you are using two pets and they don't have chance to find magic items.

Valerian · Post by **Valerian** » Fri May 12, 2006 11:36 pm

[QUOTE=VampirePenguin]
...while giving me a 100% chance to find magic items for each party member. In theory at any rate....
[/QUOTE]

One thing I've been wondering about for a while. Let's say one character has 50% chance to find magic items, and another has 20%. Does it matter which one opens the chest, gets the killing blow, etc? Is it summed/averaged across the party, or is it calculated individually according to the specific party member causing the drop?

VampirePenguin · Post by **VampirePenguin** » Sat May 13, 2006 9:55 am

The percentage is based on the character that opens the chest/ delivers the kill shot/ etc. It isn't a party average.

Screaming Johny · Post by **Screaming Johny** » Thu May 18, 2006 10:17 am

Does character level matter for drops?

I think this is related enough to keep under the same post. Does character level matter for drops? I have noticed that even gold gets better through the game. Is that planned by the location in the game (i.e. how far you have gotten), or determined by the character level?

For example, if I complete an area and leave the chests, then come back 10 levels later, will the items be better then if I had opened them the first time I am there? One reason I ask is it seems there are many areas that you need to visit more than once (especially if you are doing all the secondary quests). Until now I open/destroy every object as soon as I see it. For areas I know I will be coming back to, should I wait?

Any insights appreciated.

a_v_o_n · Post by **a_v_o_n** » Thu May 18, 2006 10:39 am

Hi all,

Yes your level is very important for drops. For example ( walktrough docet ) it's better to wait to open the ten chests in the Amanlu arena, also after Valdis quest. I founded two complete sets there at merc mode

Your level doesn't count for more drops but only to find high level ( depending on your level ) items so it's better to wait

I use this post also to give a lots of compliments to all the staff for the perfect walktrough

Thanks a lot guys

VampirePenguin · Post by **VampirePenguin** » Thu May 18, 2006 3:37 pm

I agree with a v o n. The higher level you are, the better the drops and chests get, but only to a certain point. As I tend to try and max out my party before finishing the horns, I go over the same ground a lot. I have noticed that I was getting pretty much the same drops from the Eirulan area at level 40 as I am at level 65, with minor variations.

Happy gaming,
Vamp

blubbber · Post by **blubbber** » Fri May 19, 2006 2:48 am

mf

its dependent on monster level. I didn't care about magic find while playing the game and I have seen every item listed drop in the game except endless memory and that's just going through the whole elite level twice...first party built wrong but still beat it, second party to me..perfect build. Each party has 3 character. Any of my second party char can probably solo the entire thing now without dieing.