Updated! Now with Video!
The purpose of this run is to get fast faction as with heroes/henchies. It got me from 0 to 100k faction in one weeked so I thought I'd share.
Where: Arborstone Explorable Hard Mode
With: Warrior/Dervish/Geotank/SoA monk/anything that can take a beating.
What: 1040 faction from kuzik blessings
How: video here
How long: 4-6 minutes
Important note: Make sure that you do not have the quest "Song and Stone" active
The team:
Human Warrior
[skill]dragon slash[/skill][skill]Whirlwind Attack[/skill][skill]Silverwing Slash[/skill][skill]Galrath Slash[/skill][skill]Gash[/skill][skill]Enraging Charge[/skill][skill]Flail[/skill][skill]"Watch Yourself!"[/skill]
BHA Hero
[skill]Broad Head Arrow[/skill][skill]Distracting Shot[/skill][skill]Savage Shot[/skill][skill]Forked Arrow[/skill][skill]Screaming Shot[/skill][skill]Read the Wind[/skill][skill]Lightning Reflexes[/skill][skill]Edge of Extinction[/skill]
Spiteful + SV/AV Hero
[skill]Spiteful Spirit[/skill][skill]Barbs[/skill][skill]Enfeebling Blood[/skill][skill]Well of Silence[/skill][skill]Signet of Lost Souls[/skill][skill]Sympathetic Visage[/skill][skill]Ancestor's Visage[/skill][skill]Frustration[/skill]
Generic Nuker Hero
[skill]Fire Attunement[/skill][skill]Mark of Rodgort[/skill][skill]Searing Flames[/skill][skill]Liquid Flame[/skill][skill]Glowing Gaze[/skill][skill]Fireball[/skill][skill]Glyph of Lesser Energy[/skill][skill]Putrid Explosion[/skill]
Henchmen:
Danika & Redemptor Karl - They'll keep you alive
Sheena - Putrid Explosion and Risng Bile are full of armour ignoring goodness.
Brutus - Icy Veins and Risng Bile make sure that mobs all drop at once.
The path to take
Group 1 3 warriors, 2 ritualists.
Method: Flag the henchies at the bottom of the his and bodyblock the corner. The SS nec will have the warriors dead in a couple of seconds, then release the henchies and take out the two ritualists. See image below for positioning
Group 2/3: 3 Rangers
No threat at all, just run in and mob them. If they are patrolling in inconventient spots, attacking their spirits will draw them to you.
Group 4/5: 3 warriors, 2 ritualists
With clever body blocking, you can take both these groups at once. See below for positioning. Kill the warriors first then mop up the ritualists.
Group 6: Varies
This group tends to fall over pretty quickly, so its not worth body blocking. Just go in ahead of the henchmen and any tree wardens will fall over fast enough.
Group 7: Stonereap
BHA renders him harmless
Group 8: Stonewrath
See stonereap
Group 9: Stoneweaver
If you have a bar like mine prepare to be hit for 450 by signet of rage, but otherwise bha kills him quick smart.
Variant:
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Antithesis
[skill]Enraging Charge[/skill][skill]Flail[/skill][skill]Splinter Weapon[/skill][skill]Hundred Blades[/skill][skill]Whirlwind Attack[/skill][skill]Sun and Moon Slash[/skill][skill]Warmonger's Weapon[/skill][skill]Wailing Weapon[/skill]
Template Code: OQgjEpUroSGW8VYM9F7gTNXbaMA
Splinter Weapon goes off like a bomb on the Warriors using Enraging Charge > Flail > Splinter Weapon > Hundred Blades > Splinter Weapon > Whirlwind Attack > Splinter Weapon > Sun and Moon Slash.
Flail + Hundred Blades / Sun and Moon Slash combines well with Broad Head Arrow for additional interrupts on your target.
Wailing Weapon keeps the Ritualists permanently on their arses and does the same to the Monk boss.
Warmonger's Weapon completely neutralises both the Necro and Ele bosses.
I haven't tried it myself but it looks like a very good addition (I'm far to lazy to switch off my normal pve build before going on a run :P)
Have fun and happy hunting
18 Jun 2007 at 01:21 - 2
Looks good! I play as a SF elem, I don't know if you're stopping at 100k faction but if not, I'd definitely do some runs with you...my IGN is The Great Al, give me a whisper anytime...same goes for anyone else who reads this and is interested.
18 Jun 2007 at 03:40 - 3
Nice touch for ppl who dont like to FFF or AB this is good choice.
18 Jun 2007 at 05:59 - 4
hehe. With lowering of titles per faction amount and affect on PvE skills, and faction bounties, it seems faction farming will get popular again!
I guess you didnt do the classic fast faction farming (fff) method back in Factions hayday. One could get upwards of 10k an hour, essentially 100k in 10 hours. I was always part of the alliance that controlled HzH in those days, and we had refined it to a virtual science...
Place: Melandru's Hope (right outside of Lutgardis). Quest: Securing Echovald Forest.
No fighting needed, 1-2 minute runs, learn the route, refine your skill choices, gain gold/faction/xp per run. Best with multiple runners. You may be able to find running guides for fff here on GwG in the Community Works section, or elsewhere.
GL, HF! and get those titles maxed! will make ur faction PvE skills that much more fun! 
cheers.
EDIT::
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Avatar Exico
Nice touch for ppl who dont like to FFF or AB this is good choice.
Oh yay, good point. Btw cellardweller, nice work on the guide!
18 Jun 2007 at 07:25 - 5
The FFF run is faster if you've got enough friends to do it with. If you're alergic to strangers like me, and have to run it alone, then it can take 5+ minutes.
BTW Don't expect any good drops here. Even in hard mode you can regulary kill the 28 bad guys and only have a warden's horn to show for your troubles. During the 100 runs I did a single stonereaper was the only green dropped and the only golds were a couple of passage scrolls. Makes you wonder what all the bots are doing lol.
18 Jun 2007 at 09:59 - 6
wow, wait what?
Do u get faction for killin monsters these days?
18 Jun 2007 at 12:14 - 7
Yes you can with blessings.... 
18 Jun 2007 at 13:19 - 8
I took some time to optimise the builds for speed tonight, and with the following setup I'm regularly getting sub 5 minute runs now which puts the farm on par with FFF runs (Yay!). The two bits you need to get right are:
1) Successfully Pulling groups 4/5 together. I've found by letting one warrior through before closing the bodyblock, it will draw the ritualists into the SV/AV zone as they try to cast on him and they drop in seconds.
2) Attacking spirits to draw the 2 rangers into the correct positions so you don't have to wait for them to patrol to the right spot.
<build removed to prevent confusion. Use the one in the OP>
On a side note, its funny how fast the bosses drop under frustration/BHA
18 Jun 2007 at 17:26 - 9
Thank you very much, i will totoaly try
18 Jun 2007 at 17:57 - 10
cellardwellar, what's your IGN?
18 Jun 2007 at 20:00 - 11
pretty sure its better to take off forked arrow for serpent's quickness. 10 second recharge on BHA= good.
19 Jun 2007 at 04:35 - 12
Quote:
Originally Posted by cellardweller
The FFF run is faster if you've got enough friends to do it with. If you're alergic to strangers like me, and have to run it alone, then it can take 5+ minutes.
That run takes two minutes for me... And I hate strangers.. damn leachers. So I usually do it by myself, best sin build Evar.
1. Dark Escape
2. Storm Chaser
3. Zojuns Haste
4. Dodge
5. Shadow form
6. Shadow refuge (or troll ungeunt)
Can run anything, and it's faster than all those dark prison crap builds. I've been using that one for about 6 months now.
Now that's how you ff, and it's not fff, it's ff. :P
Btw, what's the difference between fff and ff?
19 Jun 2007 at 05:40 - 13
Any chance of posting a video run cellardweller?
It's taking me a solid 15 mins to do each run and the mobs are very different. Are you getting the stone guys popping out of the columns near the bosses? I have Song and Stone as an active quest, maybe that's affecting the spawn.
[edit] Dropped Song and Stone, much easier!  Got it down to 10mins first run with your build. Doing consistent 5-6 min runs now, thanks for the build!
19 Jun 2007 at 06:07 - 14
Quote:
Originally Posted by «Ripskin
That run takes two minutes for me... And I hate strangers.. damn leachers. So I usually do it by myself, best sin build Evar.
1. Dark Escape
2. Storm Chaser
3. Zojuns Haste
4. Dodge
5. Shadow form
6. Shadow refuge (or troll ungeunt)
Can run anything, and it's faster than all those dark prison crap builds. I've been using that one for about 6 months now.
Now that's how you ff, and it's not fff, it's ff. :P
Btw, what's the difference between fff and ff?
FFF = Fast Faction Farm.
how you're doing the scouting mission in 2 minutes by yourself is beyond me since groups that are optimized for it are getting it in just around 1 minute.
19 Jun 2007 at 08:21 - 15
Not exactly a blessing farm, but I've found that repeating the Duel of the Houses quests outside Brauer (sp) is a nice way for hero/hench FFing ... my average speed is 400 faction / 1min 20-30sec.
With 2-3 copies of "Charge!" / "Fall Back!", the walk to the fight is ~45 seconds. Make someone /R for frozen soil. Splinter Weapon + Barrage/Cyclone Axe along with some other AoE practically destroys the initial mob clump, while 2 SF mop up the rest for me.
The only issue is the Assassin+Warrior team, which sometimes isn't too willing to bunch up for a clean AoE spike.
Can go into more detail if wished, though the builds can easily be switched around depending on your profession.
19 Jun 2007 at 13:44 - 16
Quote:
Originally Posted by Enko
FFF = Fast Faction Farm.
how you're doing the scouting mission in 2 minutes by yourself is beyond me since groups that are optimized for it are getting it in just around 1 minute.
Yes, but what's the difference between fff and ff?
And I hate ff-ers, they annoy me.
I never stop except for once right after shrooms, and only for 3 seconds. But I dunno I only get 2 minutes /age whenever I finish.
19 Jun 2007 at 15:07 - 17
As a side note, on the Luxon side, does anyone have a stronger option than the Jade Arena? I nail the quest in just over 3 minutes; I figure that's about 7,000 faction every hour, or closer to 8,500 if I grab the blessing. It's also minimally profitable; I'd say about 3-4 platinum and levels per hour, if you don't spend for the blessing.
20 Jun 2007 at 02:21 - 18
Hmm when I go outside I never see a group at 1 or 3 on your map and i usually have 15 kills by the time i get to stonereap and the whole run I probably net 800 or so xp...is there some quest you keep active? Or am I just missing something completely?
20 Jun 2007 at 09:02 - 19
Quote:
Originally Posted by «Ripskin
That run takes two minutes for me... And I hate strangers.. damn leachers. So I usually do it by myself, best sin build Evar.
1. Dark Escape
2. Storm Chaser
3. Zojuns Haste
4. Dodge
5. Shadow form
6. Shadow refuge (or troll ungeunt)
Can run anything, and it's faster than all those dark prison crap builds. I've been using that one for about 6 months now.
Now that's how you ff, and it's not fff, it's ff. :P
Btw, what's the difference between fff and ff?
Bullcrap you can do it in 2 minutes. Video proof or you're lying.
And the shadowstepping builds are faster, since you can take a massive shortcut and just step down off hills.
20 Jun 2007 at 09:52 - 20
@ batou: virtual science? hmm, ab quest run and lutgard's is science? who woulda thought......
Luxon's are obviously disadvantaged in FF, look at the faction difference between HzH and Cavalon (are they still competitively keeping the outposts? to me faction went down the drain months ago....). The only way I've been gaining lux faction is through ab, though I haven't done the jade arena for a while (been wrapped up in survivor title/NF/TA). I think that luxon FF is severely slow and crippled compared to kurz....
20 Jun 2007 at 10:21 - 21
Quote:
Originally Posted by volgaris
Hmm when I go outside I never see a group at 1 or 3 on your map and i usually have 15 kills by the time i get to stonereap and the whole run I probably net 800 or so xp...is there some quest you keep active? Or am I just missing something completely?
I have 0 echovald quests left. If you have song and stone active it will change the spawn.
20 Jun 2007 at 12:52 - 22
I just checked wiki on the blessing:
Quote:
Faction gained in Normal Mode when killing a boss is equal to the formula 5 x (foes killed) = (maximum 125)
Faction gained in Hard mode when killing a boss is equal to the formula 10 x (foes killed) = (maximum 250)
So the max cap on faction gain from killing monsters is 250? how are you guys getting 1000 fac a run then?
20 Jun 2007 at 13:29 - 23
28 creatures @10 each = 280
Stonereap = 250
Stonewrath = 250
Stoneweaver = 250
Total/run 1030
20 Jun 2007 at 13:40 - 24
Aaah, now I understand, I just misinterpreted the text, sorry my bad.
21 Jun 2007 at 07:44 - 25
where do you get that blessing?
21 Jun 2007 at 08:15 - 26
Talk to the Kurzick Priest near the rez shrine
21 Jun 2007 at 23:28 - 27
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrSlayer
Bullcrap you can do it in 2 minutes. Video proof or you're lying.
And the shadowstepping builds are faster, since you can take a massive shortcut and just step down off hills.
I dont know how to make a video, but will a ss with a /played and me getting the exp work?
And if so, let me get home, I might not be able to tonight, got stuffs to do.
21 Jun 2007 at 23:42 - 28
Download Game Cam Lite from www.planetgamecam.com
Install and follow the game wizard, it'll pick up GW automatically
Run GW from Game Cam, a preview screen tucks neatly into the bottom right corner of GW.
Press the Home key to toggle recording of video.
Optionally, edit video in Windows Movie Maker.
Create a YouTube account and upload your video.
Drop link into forum.
Done! It's really easy
25 Jun 2007 at 19:36 - 29
Quote:
Originally Posted by Star Alfur
Not exactly a blessing farm, but I've found that repeating the Duel of the Houses quests outside Brauer (sp) is a nice way for hero/hench FFing ... my average speed is 400 faction / 1min 20-30sec.
With 2-3 copies of "Charge!" / "Fall Back!", the walk to the fight is ~45 seconds. Make someone /R for frozen soil. Splinter Weapon + Barrage/Cyclone Axe along with some other AoE practically destroys the initial mob clump, while 2 SF mop up the rest for me.
The only issue is the Assassin+Warrior team, which sometimes isn't too willing to bunch up for a clean AoE spike.
Can go into more detail if wished, though the builds can easily be switched around depending on your profession.
Uhhhhhh. Yeah. I got a question. How do you handle those Durheim guys? They are they ones that use Unsteady Ground, and it does crazy damage. All my heroes and henchies nearly die because of it, and they are finished off by whatever they get hit by a few moments later. It's nearly impossible to defeat them with Frozen Soil. I really need to rez some of my henchies back to finish them... it's really tough, and extremely frustrating. I do this as a W/R, and only one SF ele hero. All the other groups are easy though. This really is a great farm.
25 Jun 2007 at 23:57 - 30
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tahlia Tane
Uhhhhhh. Yeah. I got a question. How do you handle those Durheim guys? They are they ones that use Unsteady Ground, and it does crazy damage. All my heroes and henchies nearly die because of it, and they are finished off by whatever they get hit by a few moments later. It's nearly impossible to defeat them with Frozen Soil. I really need to rez some of my henchies back to finish them... it's really tough, and extremely frustrating. I do this as a W/R, and only one SF ele hero. All the other groups are easy though. This really is a great farm.
For the ele/necro groups, it can become ugly but usually worked out ok in the end. The mass of enemy AoE (Unsteady Ground, Defile Enchantments and stuff) does indeed do a number on the henchies/heroes, and a couple casters would usually die. Despite that, the setup I use has a high initial spike, which usually kills the bulk of the enemy team before they can spike my own team.
I have the team set up like this: (keep in mind I haven't been doing this for a couple weeks now, so maybe fuzzy memory)
1.) W/E [Myself] -- key skills: [skill]"Charge!"[/skill][skill]Cyclone Axe[/skill][skill]Glyph of Sacrifice[/skill][skill]Phoenix[/skill]
2.) E/P [Hero #1] -- key skills: [skill]Searing Flames[/skill][skill]"Fall Back!"[/skill]
3.) E/P [Hero #2] -- key skills: [skill]Searing Flames[/skill][skill]"Fall Back!"[/skill]
4.) Rit/R [Hero #3] -- key skills: [skill]Splinter Weapon[/skill][skill]Spirit Rift[/skill][skill]Ancestors' Rage[/skill][skill]Frozen Soil[/skill]
5.) Cynn
6.) Eve
7.) The mesmer or necro hog hench
8.) Danika
After running to a spot near the enemy team, I would have Razah cast Splinter Weapon on myself and begin casting Frozen Soil, as I use Glyph of Sacrifice. I then move towards the (currently green) enemy team, and wait for the quest to update. Once they become red, they all rush together - when they began moving, I target one which will move to roughly the middle of the clump and hit Cyclone -> Phoenix, which usually deals a huge deal of damage within 1sec. After that, it's topped with the other AoE in the team, with the bulk of the enemy team dying as the monks are attempting to cast Healing Seed.
26 Jun 2007 at 15:08 - 31
Well I don't have a second ele that is level 20 so I guess I should start leveling him up. :P Right now I did it with only one SF ele and myself as W/R, /R because of Frozen Soil... so yeah I'll go try that build you have. Thanks. Should be easier.
26 Jun 2007 at 17:08 - 32
This is actually nice because you can green farm it as well as get some loot from drops. (I would take my monk to try and solo the area but Holy Crap it has turned into a bot zone.)
28 Jun 2007 at 05:06 - 33
is it just me or did they add some stone mobs around the 3 bosses? geesus, anet....
28 Jun 2007 at 12:27 - 34
Quote:
Originally Posted by RainwalkerC
is it just me or did they add some stone mobs around the 3 bosses? geesus, anet....
Drop the Song and Stone quest 
28 Jun 2007 at 23:31 - 35
Quote:
Originally Posted by Antithesis
Drop the Song and Stone quest
i dont have that quest, in fact i dont ahve any kurzick quests active
29 Jun 2007 at 01:36 - 36
Yeah, those stone guys popped out and beat the crap out of me. Is this new? Or is it cause I am in a Luxon alliance?
29 Jun 2007 at 02:09 - 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by RainwalkerC
i dont have that quest, in fact i dont ahve any kurzick quests active
My first 20 or so runs were with Song and Stone active - just flag henchies back a bit, agro stoneys, body block the warriors and take them down. Makes the run a couple of minutes longer but no harder.
[edit] Just tried the run a few times, no stone mobs popped out. My guess is it's a low chance random spawn, or it's bugged causing the spawn. I've only had it happen once in 100+ runs without the quest active.
29 Jun 2007 at 14:00 - 38
I just did a run with them not spawning again, so it has nothing to do with quests or alliances. Just random. I'm thinking that they are suppose to spawn, but some bug usually prevents them from spawning. It doesn't make sense for bosses to be just standing there for you to gang up on them and slaughter.
Now if I can only find a good Luxon spot...
29 Jun 2007 at 19:07 - 39
Quote:
28 creatures @10 each = 280
Stonereap = 250 + 10
Stonewrath = 250 + 10
Stoneweaver = 250 + 10
Total/run 1060
Is that what it is?
01 Jul 2007 at 12:08 - 40
can you solo this area, i remember asking for some horns here and a 55 mo/me said he could get me some quickly, went out, came in again 2 mins later with 5 horns, or has it changed since then
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